LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Gl  FT    OF 

Ol/lM, 

Class 


But  ever  came  back  without  fail, 

And  perched  on  his  standard  staff.— Page  369. 


PREFACE. 


In  the  preparation  of  this  volume,  it  lias  been  the  design  of  the 
editor  to  preserve  the  most  notable  anecdotes  and  incidents  of  the 
late  war,  and  such  songs,  ballads,  and  other  pieces  of  versification 
as  are  worthy  of  perpetuation.  The  tragic  incidents,  humorous 
episodes,  and  brilliant  and  heroic  adventures  of  the  conflict,  all  lie 
buried  in  the  columns  of  inaccessible  newspapers;  and  it  is  not 
strange,  therefore,  that  the  editor  should  almost  daily,  for  years 
past,  have  received  letters  requesting  a  re-issue  of  the  work.  The 
present  edition  is  published  in  response  to  that  demand. 


NEW  YORK,  1882. 


F.   M. 


183093 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


ANECDOTE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 

.  THE  following  was  told  by  an  officer  of  Gen 
eral  Grant's  staff:  — 

The  hero  and  veteran,  who  was  citizen,  cap 
tain,  colonel,  brigadier  and  major-general  within 
a  space  of  nine  months,  though  a  rigid  disciplin 
arian,  and  a  perfect  Ironsides  in  the  discharge  of 
his  official  duties,  could  enjoy  a  good  joke,  and 
is  always  ready  to  perpetrate  one  when  an  oppor 
tunity  presents.  Indeed,  among  his  acquaint 
ances,  he  is  as  much  renowned  for  his  eccentric 
humor  as  he  is  for  his  skill  and  bravery  as  a  com 
mander. 

When  Grant  was  a  brigadier  in  South-east 
Missouri,  he  commanded  an  expedition  against 
the  rebels  under  JelF.  Thompson,  in  North-east 
Arkansas.  The  distance  from  the  starting-point 
of  the  expedition  to  the  supposed  rendezvous  of 
the  rebels  was  about  one  hundred  and  ten  miles, 
and  the  greater  portion  of  the  route  lay  through 
a  howling  wilderness.  The  imaginary  suffering 
that  our  soldiers  endured  during  the  two  first 
days  of  their  march  was  enormous.  It  was  im 
possible  to  steal  or  "  confiscate  "  uncultivated  real 
estate,  and  not  a  hog,  or  a  chicken,  or  an  ear  of 
corn  was  anywhere  to  be  seen.  On  the  third 
day,  however,  affairs  looked  more  hopeful,  for  a 
few  small  specks  of  ground,  in  a  state  of  partial 
cultivation,  were  here  and  there  visible.  On 
that  day,  Lieutenant  Wickfield,  of  an  Indiana 
cavalry  regiment,  commanded  the  advance-guard, 
consisting  of  eight  mounted  men.  About  noon  he 
came  up  to  a  small  farm-house,  from  the  outward 
appearance  of  which  he  judged  that  there  might 
be  something  fit  to  eat  inside.  He  halted  his 
company,  dismounted,  and  with  two  second  lieu 
tenants  entered  the  dwelling.  He  knew  that 
Grant's  incipient  fame  had  already  gone  out 
through  all  that  country,  and  it  occurred  to  him 
that  by  representing  himself  to  be  the  general 
he  might  obtain  the  best  the  house  afforded.  So, 
assuming  a  very  imperative  demeanor,  he  ac 
costed  the  inmates  of  the  house,  and  told  them 
he  must  have  something  for  himself  and  staff 
to  eat.  They  desired  to  know  who  he  was,  and 
he  told  them  that  he  was  Brigadier-General 
Grant.  At  the  sound  of  that  name  they  flew 
around  with  alarming  alacrity,,  and  served  up 
about  all  they  had  iu  the  house,  taking  great 


pains  all  the  while  to  make  loud  professions  of 
loyalty.  The  lieutenants  ate  as  much  as  they 
could  of  the  not  over-sumptuous  meal,  but  which 
was,  nevertheless,  g<fbd  for  that  country,  and  de 
manded  what  was  to  pay.  "Nothing."  And 
they  went  on  their  way  rejoicing. 

In  the  mean  time  General  Grant,  who  had 
halted  his  army  a  few  miles  further  back  for  a 
brief  resting-spell,  came  in  sight  of,  and  was 
rather  favorably  impressed  with,  the  appearance 
of  this  same  house.  Riding  up  to  the  fence  in 
front  of  the  door,  he  desired  to  know  if  they 
would  cook  him  a  meal. 

"  No,"  said  a  female  in  a  gruff  voice  ;  "  Gen 
eral  Grant  and  his  staff  have  just  been  here  and 
eaten  everything  in  the  house  except  one  pump 
kin  pie." 

44  Humph,"  murmured  Grant ;  "  what  is  your 
name  ?  " 

"  Selvidge,"  replied  the  woman. 

Casting  a  half-dollar  in  at  the  door,  he  asked 
if  she  would  keep  that  pie  till  he  sent  an  officer 
for  it,  to  which  she  replied  that  she  would. 

That  evening,  after  the  camping-ground  had 
been  selected,  the  various  regiments" were  noti 
fied  that  there  would  be  a  grand  parade  at  half- 
past  six,  for  orders.  Officers  would  see  that  their 
men  all  turned  out,  etc. 

In  five  minutes  the  camp  was  in  a  perfect  up 
roar,  and  filled  with  all  sorts  of  rumors ;  some 
thought  the  enemy  were  upon  them,  it  being  so 
unusual  to'  have  parades  when  on  a  inarch. 

At  half-past  six  the  parade  was  formed,  ten 
columns  deep,  and  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in 
length. 

After  the  usual  routine  of  ceremonies  the  Act 
ing  Assistant  Adjutant-General  read  the  follow 
ing  order : 

HEAD-QUARTERS,  ARMY  IN   THE   FIELD. 

SPECIAL  ORDER  No. . 

Lieutenant  Wickfield,  of  the Indiana  cav 
alry,  having  on  this  day  eaten  everything  in  Mrs. 
Selvidge's  house,  at  the  crossing  of  the  Ironton 
and  Pocahontas  and  Black  River  and  Cape  Girar- 
deau  roads,  except  one  pumpkin  pie,  Lieuten 
ant  Wickfield  is  hereby  ordered  to  return  with 
an  escort  of  one  hundred  cavalry  and  eat  that 
pie  also.  U.  S*.  GRANT, 

Brigadier-General  Commanding 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND   INCIDENTS. 


LITTLE  EDDIE   THE  DRUMMEB^-BOY. 

A   REMINISCENCE   OF   WILSON'S   CREEK. 

A  FEW  days  before  our  regiment  received  or 
ders  to  join  General  Lyon,  on  his  march  to  Wil 
son's  Creek,  the  drummer  of  our  company  was 
taken  sick  and  conveyed  to  the  hospital,  and  on 
the  evening  preceding  the  day  that  we  were  to 
march,  a  negro  was  arrested  within  the  lines  of 
the  camp,  and  brought  before  our  captain,  who 
asked  him  "  what  business  he  had  within  the 
lines  ?  "  He  replied :  "  I  know  a  drummer  that 
you  would  like  to  enlist  in  your  company,  and  I 
have  come  to  tell  you  of  it."  He  was  immediate-^ 
ly  requested  to  inform  the  drummer  that  if  h^ 
would  enlist  for  our  short  term  of  service,  he 
would  be  allowed  extra  pay.  and  to  do  this,  he 
must  be  on  the  ground  early  in  -  the  morning. 
The  negro  was  then  passed  beyond  the  guard. 

On  the  following  morning  there  appeared  be 
fore  the  captain's  quarters  during  the  beating  of 
the  reveille,  a  good-looking,  middle-aged  woman, 
dressed  in  deep  mourning,  leading  by  the  hand 
a  sharp,  sprightly-looking  boy,  apparently  about 
twelve  or  thirteen  years  "of  age.  Her  story  was 
soon  told.  She  was  from  East  Tennessee,  where 
her  husband  had  been  killed  by  the  rebels,  and 
all  their  property  destroyed.  She  had  come  to 
St.  Louis  in  search  of  her  sister,  but  not  finding 
her,  and  being  destitute  of  money,  she  thought  if 
she  could  procure  a  situation  for  her  boy  as  *a 
drummer  for  the  short  time  that  we  had  to  remain 
in  the  service,  she  could  find  employment  for 
herself,  and  perhaps  find  her  sister  by  the  time 
we  were  discharged. 

During  the  rehearsal  of  her  story  the  little  fel 
low  kept  his  eyes  intently  fixed  upon  the  counte 
nance  of  the  captain,  who  was  about  to  express 
a  determination  not  to  take  so  small  a  boy,  when 
he  spoke  out :  "  Don't  be  afraid,  captain,  I  can 
drum."  This  was  spoken  with  so  much  confidence, 
that  the  captain  immediately  observed,  with  a 
smile  :  "  A  Veil,  well,  sergeant,  bring  the  drum, 
and  order  our  fit'er  to  come  forward."  In  a  few 
moments  the  drum  was  produced,  and  our  fifer, 
a  tall,  round-shouldered,  good-natured  fellow, 
from  the  Dubuque  mines,  who  stood,  when  erect, 
something  over  six  feet  in  height,  soon  made  his 
appearance. 

Upon  being  introduced  to  his  new  comrade,  he 
stooped  down,  with  his  hands  resting  upon  his 
knees,  that  were  thrown  forward  into  an  acute 
angle,  and  after  peering  into  the  little  fellow's 
face  a  moment,  he  observed  :  "  My  little  man, 
can  you  drum  ?  "  "  Yes,  sir,"  he  replied,  "  I 
drummed  for  Captain  Hill  in  Tennessee."  Our 
filer  immediately  commenced  straightening  him 
self  upward  until  all  the  angles  in  his  person  had 
disappeared,  when  he  placed  his  fife  at  his  mouth, 
and  played  the  "  Flowers  of  Edinborough,"  one 
of  the  most  difficult  things  to  follow  with  the  drum 
that  could  have  been  selected,  and  nobly  did  the 
little  fellow  follow  him,  showing  himself  to  be  a 
master  of  tte  drum.  When  the  music  ceased, 
our  captain  turned  to  the  mother  and  observed  : 
"  Madam,  1  will  take  your  boy.  What  is  his 


name  ?  "  "  Edward  Lee,"  she  replied ;  then 
placing  her  hand  upon  the  captain's  arm,  she 
continued,  "  Captain,  if  he  is  not  killed  "  —  here 
her  maternal  feelings  overcame  her  utterance, 
and  she  bent  down  over  her  boy  and  kissed  him 
upon  the  forehead.  As  she  arose,  she  observed: 
"Captain,  you  will  bring  him  back  Avith  you, 
won't  you  V  " 

"  Yes,  yes,"  lie  replied,  "  we  will  be  certain  to 
bring  him  back  with  us.  We  shall  be  discharged 
in  six  weeks." 

In  an  hour  after,  our  company  led  the  Iowa 
First  out  of  camp,  our  drum  and  fife  playing 
u  The  girl  I  left  behind  me."  Eddie,  as  we  call 
ed  him,  soon  became  a  great  favorite  with  all  the 
men  in  the  company.  When  any  of  the  bo}rs  had 
returned  from  a  horticultural  excursion,  Eddie's 
share  of  the  peaches  and  melons  was  the  first  ap 
portioned  out.  During  our  heavy  and  fatiguing 
march  from  Holla  to  Springfield,  it  was  often 
amusing  to  see  our  long-legged  fifer  wading 
through  the  mud  with  our  little  drummer  mount 
ed  upon  his  back,  and  always  in  that  position 
when  tbrding  streams. 

During  the  fight  at  Wilson's  Creek  I  was  sta 
tioned  with  a  part  of  our  company  on  the  right  of 
Totten's  battery,  while  the  balance  of  our  com 
pany,  with  a  part  of  the  Illinois  regiment,  was 
ordered  down  into  a  deep  ravine  upon  our  left, 
in  which  it  was  known  a  portion  of  the  enemy 
was  concealed,  with  whom  they  were  soon  en 
gaged.  The  contest  in  the  ravine  continuing 
some  time,  Totten  suddenly  wheeled  his  battery 
upon  the  enemy  in  that  quarter,  when  they  soon 
retreated  to  the  high  ground  behind  their  lines. 
In  less  than  twenty  minutes  after,  Totten  had 
driven  the  enemy  from  the  ravine,  the  word  pass 
ed  from  man  to  man  throughout  tlie  army,  "  Lyon 
is  killed  ! "  and  soon  after,  hostilities  having  ceased 
upon  both  sides,  the  order  came  for  our  main 
force  to  fall  back  upon  Springfield,  while  a  part  of 
the  Iowa  First  and  two  companies  of  the  Missouri 
regiment  were  to  camp  upon  the  ground  and 
cover  the  retreat  next  morning.  That  night  I 
was  detailed  for  guard  duty,  my  turn  of  guard 
closing  with  the  morning  call.  When  I  went 
out  with  the  officer  as  a  relief,  I  found  that  my 
post  was  upon  a  high  eminence  that  overlooked 
the  deep  ravine  in  which  our  men  had  engaged 
the  enemy,  until  Totten's  battery  came  to  their 
assistance.  It  was  a  dreary,  lonesome  beat.  The 
moon  had  gone  down  in  the  early  part  of  the 
night,  while  the  stars  twinkled  dimly  through  a 
hazy  atmosphere,  lighting  up  hnperfectly  the 
surrounding  objects.  Occasionally  I  would  place 
my  ear  near  the  'ground  and  listen  for  the  sound 
of  footsteps,  but  all  was  silent  save  the  far-olF 
howling  of  the  wolf,  that  seemed  to  scent  upon 
the  evening  air  the  banquet  that  we  had  been 
preparing  for  him.  The  hours  passed  slowly 
away,  when  at  length  the  morning  light  began 
to  streak  along  the  eastern  sky,  making  surround 
ing  objects  more  plainly  visible  Presently  I 
heard  a  drum  beat  up  the  morning  call.  At  first 
I  thought  it  came  from  ths  camp  ct'  the  enemy 
across  the  reek;  I. ut  as  I  listened.  I  found  that 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


it  came  up  from  the  deep  ravine ;  for  a  few  min 
utes  it  was  silent,  and  then  as  it  became  more 
light  I  heard  it  again.  I  listened  —  the  sound 
of  the  dram  was  familiar  to  me  —  and  I  knew 
that  it  was 

Our  drummer-boy  from  Tennessee 
Beating  for  help  the  reveille. 

I  was  about  to  desert  my  post  to  go  to  his  as 
sistance,  when  I  discovered  the  officer  of  the 
guard  approaching  with  two  men.  We  all  listen 
ed  to  the  sound,  and  were  satisfied  that  it  was 
Eddie's  drum.  I  asked  permission  to  go  to  his 
assistance.  The  oflicer  hesitated,  saying  that  the 
orders  were  to  march  in  twenty  minutes.  I 
promised  to  be  back  in  that  time,  and  he  consent 
ed.  I  immediately  started  down  the  hill  through 
the  thick  undergrowth,  and  upon  reaching  the 
valley  I  followed  the  sound  of  the.  drum,  and  soon 
found  him  seated  upon  the  ground,  his  back  lean 
ing  against  the  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree,  while  his 
drum  hung  upon  a  bush  in  front  of  him,  reaching 
nearly  to  the  ground.  As  soon  as  he  discovered 
me  he  dropped  his  drumsticks  and  exclaimed, 
"  O  Corporal  i  I  am  so  g!:id  to  see  you.  Give  me 
a  drink,"  reaching  out  his  hand  for  my  canteen, 
which  was  empty.  I  immediately  turned  to  bring 
him  some  water  from  the  brook  that  I  could  hear 
rippling  through  the  bashes  near  by,  when,  think 
ing  that  I  was  about  to  leave  him.  he  commenced 
crying,  saying:  "  Don't  leave  me,  Corporal —  1 
can't  walk."  I  was  soon  back  with  the  water, 
when  I  discovered  that  both  of  his  feet  had  been 
shot  away  by  a  cannon-bull.  After  satisfying  his 
thirst,  he  looked  up  into  my  face  and  said:  ''  You 
don't  think  1  will  die,  Corporal,  do  you '?  This 
man  said  J  would  not  —  he  said  the  surgeon  could 
cure  my  feet."  I  now  discovered  a  man  lying  in 
the  grass  near  him.  By  his  dress  I  recognized 
him  as  belonging  to  the  enemy,  h  appeared  that 
he  had  been  shot  through  the  bowels,  and  fallen 
near  where  Eddie  lay.  Knowing  that  he  could 
not  live,  and  seeing  the  condition  of  the  boy,  he 
had  crawled  to  him,  taken  olF  his  buckskin  sus 
penders,  and  corded  the  little  fellow's  legs  below 
the  knee,  and  then  laid  down  and  died."  While 
he  was  telling  me  these  particulars,  I  heard  the 
tramp  of  cavalry  coming  down  the  ravine,  and 
in  a  moment  a  scout  of  the  enemy  \yas  upon  us, 
and  I  was  taken  prisoner.  I  requested  the  officer 
to  take  Eddie  up  in  front  of  him,  and  he  did  so, 
carrying  him  with  great  tenderness  and  care. 
When  we  reached  the  camp  of  the  enemy  the 
lit  tie  fellow  was  dead. 


How  TO  CROSS  A  RIVER.  — Colonel  Weer,  at 
the  head  of  his  division,  arrived  at  White  River, 
Arkansas,  at  night  and  found  the  stream  impassa 
ble.  The  recent,  snow  had  gone  off  with  a,  rain, 
raising  the  water  very  fast,  and  the  whole  army 
•was  hurrying  by  forced  marches  to  cross  the 
river  before  it  rose,  as  it  was  so  low  as  to  be 
fordable  ;  but,  with  ail  his  haste-,  his  forces  were 
too  sow.  Colonel  Weer  ordered  Captain  Stock 


ton  to  cross  his  battery  "  as  soon  as  possible.* 
The  captain  asked,  "  Where  are  the  boats  ? " 
Colonel  Weer  determined  to  beat  Gens.  Schofield 
and  Herron,  who  marched  upon  two  other  roads, 
replied  :  "  Make  them,  sir,  the  quickest  way  pos 
sible  !  "  Captain  Stockton  took  two  wagon  beds 
of  his  mule  wacrons,  and  covered  them  with 
tarpaulins,  and  making  a  cable  out  of  prolongs, 
was  crossing  h''j  battery  within  two  hours  !  The 
next  morning  tluj.  rope  across  the  stream  broke, 
and  all  attempts  to  get  across  by  swimming 
horses  and  tying  it  to  mules'  tails,  failed,  when 
Stockton  drove  a  plug  into  a  shell  and  fired  it 
across  !  His  lieutenant  on  the  opposite  shore, 
ran  and  picked  it  up,  and  all  things  went  on 
swimmingly  again.  A  trip  with  this  boat  was 
made  and  loaded  in  ten  minutes  !  The  boat  was 
in  constant  use  four  days,  and  not  a  single  acci 
dent  happened. 


A  IJRAVK  WOMAN.  —  Captain  Boightof  Corn 
pany  II,  Twenty-Third  Kentucky  Regiment,  re 
lated  the  following  anecdote  of  the  war. 

During  the  retreat  of  the  army  of  Kirby  Smith 
from  Cumberland  Gap,  the  regiment  to  which  lie 
belonged  was  in  the  van  of  the  Federal  army. 
|  One  morning,  when  the  regiment  was  about 
twenty-six  miles  east  of  the  Wild  Cat  Moun 
tains,  they  were  surprised  to  see  a  file  of  tc-n 
men,  all  of  them  secesh,  marching  toward  their 
lines,  and  a  woman  inarching  in  their  rear  wii.h 
a  musket  in  her  hands;  on  their  coining  within 
the  Federal  lines  she  coolly  gave  them  up  to  the 
officer  commanding  as  prisoners.  In  accounting 
for  their  capture,  she  said  that  her  husband  had 
joined  a  military  company  in  the  Federal  ser 
vice,  and  had  left  lici  alone  to  take  care  of  the 
house,  which  lay  between  the  two  armies.  Eleven 
secessionists  had  come  into  the  house  that 
j  morning  and  proceeded  to  make  themselves  per 
fectly  at  home,  first  killing  all  her  chickens,  and 
setting  them  to  roast  by  the  fire.  They  then 
proceeded  to  dispose  of  the  things  around  the 
house,  taking  up  the  carpets,  and  constructing, 
horse  blankets  out  of  them. 

They  next  perpetrated  other  atrocities  of  a  de 
structive  and  objectionable  character,  which  had-, 
the  effect  of  making  the  lady  of  the  house  "  furi 
ously  wild,"  as  the  captain  expressed  it,  and  she 
determined  that  such  outrageous  conduct  should 
not   go    unpunished.      She   accordingly   carried 
away  their  muskets  to  a  place  of  safety,  reserving 
two  for  her  own  use,  and  then  going  to  the  room 
in  which  they  were  regaling  themselves  on  her 
defunct  chickens,  she  informed  them  that  they 
were  her  prisoners.     One  of  them  jumped  up  to 
seize  her,  when  she  levelled  her  gun  at  him  and 
fired,  causing  him  to   bite  the   dust,  which  lay 
i  thickly  strewed  on  the  carpetless  floor.     Throw- 
•  ing  away  the  now  useless  gun,  she  took  the  other 
i  in  her  hand  and  ordered  the  remaining  ten   to 
:  inarch  toward    the  Union  camp  threatening  to, 
shoot    the    first   who   attempted   to    run   away. 
Having  a  wholesome  fear  of  sharing  a  similar  fate- 
;  to  that  of  their  companion,  they  weut  quietly 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,   AND   INCIDENTS. 


along,  and  were  accordingly  handed  over  to  the 
military  authorities.  On  being  laughed  at  for 
being  taken  prisoner  by  a  woman,  they  said  they 
had  been  wanting  to  get  captured  for  some  time 
past,  and  were  heartily  glad  that  they  were  pris 
oners  at  last.  They  were  entirely  sick  of  the 
war,  they  said,  and  did  not  care  how,  so  that 
they  got  out  of  it. 


UNDER  THE  WASHINGTON  ELM. 

CAMBRIDGE,  APRIL  27, 1861. 
BT    OLIVER  WENDELL    HOLMES. 

EIGHTY   years  have  passed,  and  more, 

Since  under  the  brave  old  tree 
Our  fathers  gathered  in  arms,  and  swore 
They  would  follow  the  sign  their  banners  bore, 

"And  fight  till  the  land  was  free. 

Half  of  their  work  was  done, 

Half  is  left  to  do  — 

Cambridge  and  Concord  and  Lexington  ! 
When  the  bartle  is  fought  and  won, 

What  shall  be  told  of  you  ? 

Hark  !  'tis  the  south  wind  moans  — 

Who  are  the  martyrs  down  1  — 
Ah,  the  marrow  was  true  in  your  children's  bones, 
That  sprinkled  with  blood  the  cursed  stones 

Of  the  murder  haunted  town  ! 

What  if  the  storm-clouds  blow  ? 

What  if  the  green  leaves  fall  ? 
Better  the  crashing:  tempest's  throe, 
Than  the  army  of  worms  that  gnawed  below  ; 

Trample  them  one  and  all ! 

Then,  when  the  battle  is  won, 

And  the  land  from  traitors  free, 
Our  children  shall  tell  of  the  strife  begun 
When  Liberty's  second  April  sun 

Was  bright  on  our  brave  old  tree  ! 


FUN  ox  THE  RAPPAHAXNOCK  : — A  soldier 
of  the  Eighth  Ohio  regiment,  writing  from  Fal- 
mouth,  makes  the  following  notes  on  the  move 
ments  in  that  vicinity:  — 

"  Everything  seemed  to  be  progressing  finely 
until  Tuesday  night,  when  the  "  heavens  opened 
and  the  Hood  descended."  "  Epli  "  suggested  j 
that  the  flood  gates  must  be  entirely  off  their 
hinges,  as  his  sleeping  apartment  suddenly  be 
came  a  bath  house,  and  his  bunk  a  bathing  tub. 
Indeed  our  "brown  stone  front"  came  near 
being  dissolved,  and  the  "  aristocratic  "  inmates 
drowned.  The  storm  continued  with  very  little 
cessation  until  Friday  morning,  and  as  every 
hour  made  the  "  soil"  more  soft  than  "  sacred," 
the  roads  soon  became  blocked  with  an  indescrib 
able  mass  of  artillery  wagons,  and  "  pontoons," 
hopelessly  stuck  in  the  mud.  It  was  very  evi 
dent  that  this  "  delay  of  the  pontoons  "  was  not 
attributable  to  a  lack  of  energy  on  the  part  of  Q. 
M.  General  Meigs,  nor  yet  on  account  of  a  inis- 
un  lerstanding  between  Messrs.  Generals  Ilalleck 


and  Burnside.  "  Eph  "  thinks  a  greater  General 
than  any  of  these  had  something  to  do  with  it, 
and  remarked  that  "  it  was  undoubtedly  on  ac 
count  of  the  same  One  to  whom  Victor  Hugo  as 
cribes  Napoleon's  failure  to  win  the  battle  of 
Waterloo." 

One  thing  is  certain,  the  artillery  and  "  pon 
toon  "  lould  move  no  more  at  prr  sent.  The 
"  meet  ng  "  was  postponed,  and  after  lying  out  in 
the  mud  and  rain  for  three  days  and  nights,  the 
troops  that  had  mcved  up  the  river  came  back, 
probably  belicviny  tnat  it  was  •'  all  for  the  best," 
but  on  account  of  the  mud  that  obstructed  their 
vision  they  failed  to  "  see  it."  As  we  were  to 
have  crossed  the  river  nearly  opposite  our  camp, 
we  did  not  leave  our  quarters,  and  had  a  good 
opportunity  to  witness  the  return  of  the  muddy, 
straggling  mass.  The  scene  was  anything  but  a 
pleasant  one,  yet  there  were  many  ludicrous  in 
cidents  connected  with  it.  "  Eph  "  and  three  or 
four  of  the  "  boys"  were  standing  near  our  man 
sion,  looking  at  the  floating  mass  of  men,  horses, 
mules,  artillery,  and  wagons,  when  we  observed  a 
conglomeration  of  blue  cloth  and  mud  approach 
ing.  As  it  had  on  a  gun,  knapsack,  haversack 
and  canteen,  we  concluded  it  was  a  ''  straggler," 
and  "  Eph  "  hailed  him  with  — 

"  Hallo  !  Earthen-ware  !  what  regiment  do 
you  belong  to  ?  " 

The  figure  never  paused,  but  the  earth  ;  visible 
under  the  visor  of  a  cap, moved,  displaying  a  cav 
ern  from  which  issued  the  words  :  — 

"  Don't  speak  to  me !  I'm  a  spared  monu 
ment!  I've  marched  in  mud,  swam  mud,  drank 
mud,  and  slept  in  mud  for  three  days  and  nights. 
My  colonel  and  regiment  were  all  drowned  in 
mud.  I'm  the  only  man  left,  and  I'm  demoral 
ized  as " 

"Eph"  extracted  the  leather  pontoons  he 
wears  from  the  rich  soil  in  which  he  was  stand 
ing,  retreated  ''  without  loss "  to  the  "  sitting 
room,"  threw  himself  into  the  "  easy  "  chair  be 
fore  the  "  coal  grate,"  elevated  his  pontoons  to 
the  "  mantel-piece,"  and  remained  in  this  position 
evidently  meditating  until  we  came  in.  After 
we  had  requested  him  to  remove  his  muddy 
"  pontoons"  from  the  "  furniture,"  he  said :  — 

u  That's  the  first  demoralized  monument,  I  ever 
saw.  He  was  probably  a  brother  of  the  Fire 
Zouave  we  saw  over  in  Fredericksburg  the 
other  day,  and  I  am  inclined  to  believe  most  of 
his  story."  At  this  juncture  some  one  called  him 
out  to  look  at  the  new  balloon  which  was  going 
up  from  near  General  Sumner's  headquarters. 
On  his  return  we  asked  him  "  what  he  supposed 
the  professor  saw  that  attracted  him  to  such  a 
dizzy  height  so  often  ?  "  "  Well,"  said  "  Eph," 
(at  the  same  time  setting  one  of  his  soiled  "  pon 
toons"  down  on  our  boots  just  polished  for  ''in 
spection,")  "  I  guess  it  ain't  what  he  sees  while 
he's  up  there  so  much  as  it  is  the  Jive  thousand 
dollars  he  sees  every  time  he  comes  down." 

To-day  we  rode  down  to  the  river  to  look  at 
the  enemy's  fortifications,  see  their  cannon  and 
ask  their  j  ickets  the  price  of  cotton.  At  Fal- 
mouth  we  visi'ed  the  ruins  of  an  old  bridge,  on 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY",  AND  INCIDENTS. 


the  end  of  which  we  had  a  picket  to  watch  a 
gray-back  "  picket  who  was  stationed  at  the  op 
posite  end,  and  whose  duty  was  evidently  to 
watch  ours.  All  along  the  river  we  found  the 
pickets  of  the  opposing  armies  within  easy  hailing 
distance,  and  apparently  quite  friendly,  but  as 
conversation  was  not  allowed,  we  asked  no  ques 
tions. 

The  hills  back  of  Fredericksburg  looked  as 
though  they  were  in  possession  of  an  enterprising 
oil  company  who  were  engaged  in  boring  for 
"  ile,"  but  from  the  fact  that  the  piles  of  fresh 
earth  increased  daily  we  suspected  they  had  not 
"struck  a  vein."  On  our  return  we  passed 
through  the  little  hollow  near  General  Sum- 
ner's  headquarters,  where  a  part  of  our  hos 
pitals  were  located  during  the  battle  of  the  12th 
ult.,  and  stopped  to  read  some  of  the  names  ap 
pearing  upon,  the  little  headboards  that  were 
planted  in  a  regular  row  on  one  side.  "  Eph  " 
made  the  discovery  of  several,  that  read  "Pri 
vate,  Unknown,"  and  one  "  Lieut.,  Unknown," 
whereupon  he  immediately  seated  himself  upoTi  a 
log,  and  crossing  his  "  pontoons  "  —  upon  each  of 
which  he  had  strapped  a  "  buzz  saw"  the  two 
constituting  what  he  calls  his  "  spurs,"  and 
said :  — 

"  Death  is  a  rude  customer  to  meet  at  any 
time  and  at  any  place  ;  he  is  not  welcome  even 
at  home  and  among  friends  —  but  to  think  of  a 
fellow  dyinu  as  it  were  alone,  with  not  even  an 
old  comrade  or  a  familiar  face  near,  and  upon 
whose  monument- — a  pine  board  two  by  three 
—  appears  the  inscription  '  Private  or  Lieutenant 
Unknown,'  reminds  me  that  I  am  not  well  and 
ought  to  be  discharged."  Here  he  looked  pale, 
and  we  began  to  think  he  ?ra.<?  unwell,  but  he 
continued :  "  I  wonder  if  the  one  who  wrote 
those  epitaphs  had  an  idea  that  when  the  Chief 
Bugler  comes  to  sound'  the  last  'reveille/  he 
icould  pause  to  learn  whether  the  ashes  that 
slumber  beneath  these  -pine  boards  ever  wore 
straps  or  not  V "  Here  he  paused  again  and 
looked  at  his  old  blouse,  shrugged  his  shoulders, 
and  concluded  — 

"  When  the  epauletted  general  who  commands 
and  the  soldier  without  straps  who  obeys,  both 
stand  before  One  in  whose  presence  all 

*        #         *     'tinsel  of  time, 

Must  fade  and  die  in  the  light  of  that  region  sublime,' 

I  wonder  if  they  will  remain  Unknown  ?  " 

"WHEN  YOU  is  AHOUT,  WE  is."  —  During  the 
passage  of  the  national  troops  through  Missouri, 
in  pursuit  of  General  Price,  a  crowd  of  negroes 
came  out  from  a  large  house  to  see  them,  when 
the  following  colloquy  took  place  "  Boys,  are 
you  all  for  tne  Union  ?  "  "  Oh  !  yes,  massa, 
when  you's  about  we  is."  "And  when  Price 
conies,  you  are  secesh,  are  you?"  "Lor,  yes, 
massa,  we's  good  secesh  then.  Can't  allow  de 
white  folks  to" git  head  niggers  in  dat  way." 


ARMY    SPORTS. —  The    following  extract  is 
from  the  letter  of  a  soldier  in  the  army   of  the 


Potomac  :  —  "I  was  accidentally  a  witness  of  a 
most  interesting  scene  the  other  day,  which  oc- 
cured  close  to  the  cairn  of  the  141st  New  York 
regiment.  It  was  a  "rabbit  hunt,  in  which  a 
whole  company  participated,  and  conducted  it 
on  strictly  military  principles.  They  first  de 
ployed  as  skirmishers,  and  each  with  a  stick  in 
nis  hand,  moved  in  good  order  through  a  piece 
of  land  from  which  most  of  the  wood  had  been 
taken ;  heaps  of  branches  and  limbs  scattered 
here  and  there,  afforded  excellent  retreats  for 
the  game  in  question.  As  they  marched  along, 
each  one  beat  every  bush  within  reaching  dis 
tance  of  his  stick,  until  a  rabbit  was  started. 
This  was  announced  by  a  yell,  that  instantly  put. 
every  one  on  the  alert,  and  the  scene  that  fol 
lowed  was  exciting  and  ludicrous  in  the  extreme  ; 
the  yell  was  caught  up  by  every  soldier,  and  a 
chase  of  the  most  vigorous  description  was  the 
rapid  result.*  The  Hankers  strained  every  nerve 
to  Hank  or  surround  the  terrified  creature,  who, 
bewildered  by  the  tumult  on  every  side,  would 
double  at  each  point  where  a  soldier  opposed 
him,  until  his  retreat  was  effectually  cut  oil',  and 
he  was  either  caught  alive  or  felled  by  a  blow  of 
a  stick.  Where  the  rabbit  was  an  old  one,  he 
often  escaped  by  fleeing  to  the  cover,  yet  un 
disturbed  by  the  axe,  and  the  chase  would  have 
to  be  abandoned.  I  stood  on  a  small  hill  tor 
more  than  an  hour,  watching  them,  and  the 
shouts  of  the  men,  the  efforts  of  the  quarry  to 
escape,  which  was  almost  always  in  sight,  tho 
agile  movements  of  the  soldiers  and  the  roars 
of  laughter  which  followed  when  one  less 
cautious"  or  more  excited  than  the  others,  tripped 
and  fell  his  length  in  the  bushes,  while  his  com 
panions  either  ran  over  him  or  around  him, 
(never  stopping)  making  altogether  a  most 
pleasing  spectacle.  Although  ten  blows  hit  a 
soldier  where  one  hit  the  rabbit  when  he 
was  surrounded,  still  the  utmost  good  hu- 
nior  prevailed,  and  the  fallen  ones  took  the  laugh 
of  their  comrades  without  the  slightest  sign  of  an 
ger  or  ill  feeling.  Such  little  episodes  in  the  life 
of  a  soldier  are  not  only  invaluable  as  regards 
his  health  and  the  important  part  they  take  in 
preventing  a  depressed  state  of  mind,  but  furnish 
also  a  welcome  change  in  the  place  of  "  hard 
tack,"  and  salt  beef,  which  comprise  the  staple 
articles  of  the  soldier's  food,  for  the  company 
just  mentioned  caught  eleven  in  less  than  two 
hours,  which  was  about  one  half  the  number 
started." 


SKEDADDLE. 

The  shades  of  night  were  falling  fast, 
As  through  a  Southern  village  passed 
A  youth,  who  bore,  not  over  nice, 
A  banner  with  the  gay  device, 
Skedaddle  ! 

His  hair  was  red,  his  toes  baneath 
Peeped,  like  an  acorn  from  its  sheath, 
While  with  a  frightened  voice  he  sung 
A  burden  strange   to  Yankee  tongue, 
Skedaddle  I 


10 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,  AND   INCIDENTS. 


He  saw  no  household  fire  where  ne 
Might  warm  his  tod  or  hominy ; 
Beyond  the  Cordilleras  shone, 
And  from  his  lips  eseapcd  a  groan, 
Skedaddle  I 

"  Oh  !  stay,"  a  cullercd  pusson  said, 
"  An'  on  dis  hossora  res'  your  lied  ! " 
The  octoroon  she  winked  her  eye, 
But  still  he  answered,  with  a  sigh, 
Skedaddle! 

"  Beware  McClcllnn,  Bucll,  and  Banks, 
Beware  of  Ilaileclc's  deadly  ranks  !  " 
This  was  the  planters  last  Good  Night; 
The  chap  replied,  far  out,  of  sight, 
Skedaddle ! 

At  brcnk  of  day,  as  several  boys 
From  Maine,  New  York  and  Illinois 
Were  moving  Southward,  in  the  air 
They  heard  these  accents  of  despair, 
Skedaddle ! 

A  chap  was  found  and  at  his  side 
A  bottle,  showing  how  he  died, 
Still  grasping  in  his  hand  of  iee 
That  banner  with  the  strange  device, 

Skedaddle! 

There  in  the  twilight,  thick  and  gray, 
Considerably  played  out  he  lay; 
And  through  the  vapor,  gray  and  thick, 
A  voice  foil  like  a  rocket-stick, 

Skedaddle  I 


AN  INCIDENT.  —  When  the  United  States 
vessels  were  on  their  way  to  attack  Fernandina, 
Florida,  they  picked  up  a  contraband  who  had 
ventured  to  sea  in  a  small  boat  to  notify  them 
that  the  rebels  were  deserting  the  place.  While 
questioning  the  black,  some  of  the  officers  of  the 
Alabama  remarked  that  he  should  have  brought 
them  newspapers  to  let  them  know  what  AVQS  go 
•ng  on.  "  i  thought  of  dat,"  replied  the  contra 
band,  "  and  fetched  a  Charleston  paper  wid  me." 
With  this  he  put  his  hand  in  his  bosom  and  brought 
forth  a  paper,  and  with  the  air  of  a  man  who  was 
rendering  an  important  service,  handed  it  to  the 
circle  of  "inquirers.  They  grasped  it  eagerly,  but 
one  glance  induced  a  general  burst  of  laughter,  to 
the  profound  astonishment  of  poor  Cuftee,  who, 
it  seems,  could  not  read,  and  imagining  that  one 
paper  was  as  good  as  another,  had  brought  one 
dated  1822.  it  is  a  little  odd  that  this  paper,  j 
which  had  floated  so  long  down  the  stream  of  \ 
time,  contained  an  article  in  favor  of  negro  eman 
cipation. 


POSTAL  AFFAIRS.  —  THE  following  is  the 
superscription  of  a  k  tter  that  passed  through  the 
Louisville,  Ky.,  post-  office : 

"Feds  and  Con  feds,  let  this  go  free 
i^own  to  Nashville,  Tennessee  ; 
This  three-cent  stamp  will  pay  the  cost 
Until  you  iinu  Sophia  Yost. 


:  Postmasters  North,  or  even  South, 
May  open  it  ami  find  (he  truth ; 
I  merely  Jay  my  wife's  got  well, 
And  has  a  baby  cross  as ,  you  know. 


WHO    FIRST    ANSWERED    THE    PRESIDENT^ 

CALL  ?  —  On  the  morning  of  the  sixteenth  of 
April,  1861,  at  nine  o'clock,  the  Logan  Guards 
received  orders  from  Gov.  Curtin  to  proceed  im 
mediately  to  Harrisburgh,  and  by  nine  o'clock 
that  night  they  were  ready  to  leave  for  that  place 
with  one  hundred  members.  Through  some  mis 
management  of  the  railroad  company,  they  did 
not  get  off  until  the  next  morning  at  lour  o'clock. 
As  a  consequence,  they  arrived  in  Harrisburgh 
about  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  seven 
teenth,  which  was,  at  least  one  hour  before  the 
arrival  of  any  other  company.  After  the  other 
companies  arrived,  they  were  all  sworn  in  togeth 
er  ;  and  on  the  morning  of  the  eighteenth  the 
five  companies  left  Harrisburgh  for  Washington 
city.  During  their  passage  through  Baltimore, 
and  their  entrance  into  Washington,  the  Logan 
Guards  /tad  Ike  riy/'tl,  and  n:ere  tliefirtt  company 
to  report  tJi&hsclves  for  di*ty  to  the  Adjutant  Gen 
eral.  The  credit  .should  fall  on  those  who  deserve 
it  —  the  gallant  Logan  Guards,  Capt.  John  B. 
Selheimer,  of  Lewiston,  Miiilin  County  Pennsyl 
vania. 


Torciiixcr  FAREWELL  ADDRESS.  —  Orpheus 
C.  Kerr  thus  wrote,  about  the  time  General  Mc- 
Clellan  was  relieved  from  the  command  of  the 
army  of  the  Potomac :  — 

But  the  whole  body  of  the  Mackerels,  sane  and 
insane  alike,  unite  in  a  feeling  of  strong  anguish 
blended  with  enthusiasm,  at  the  removal  of  the 
beloved  General  of  the  Mackerel  Brigade,  lie 
has  been  so  much  a  father  to  them  all,  that  they 
never  expected  to  get  a  step  farther  while  he 
was  with  them. 

There's  a  piece  of  domestic  philosophy  for  you, 
my  boy. 

When  the  General  heard  of  his  removal,  my 
boy,  he  said  that  it  w;is  like  divorcing  a  husband 
from  a  wife  who  had  always  supported  him,  and 
immediately  let  fly  the  following  tare  well  address  : 

HEAD-QUAUTKRS  OF  AKMY  OF  ACCOM  AC,  ) 
FOOT  OK  THE  BLUE  KIDGE.         ) 

MY  CHILDREN  :  An  order  from  the  Honest 
Abe  divorces  us,  and  gives  the  command  of  all 
these  attached  beings  to  Major  General  Wobert 
Wobinsoi:  [Heartrending  and  enthusiastic 
cheers.] 

In  parting  with  you  I  cannot  express  how 
much  I  love  your  dear  bosoms.  As  an  army,,  you 
have  grown  from  youth  to  old  age  under  my  care. 
In  you  I  never  found  doubt  or  coldness,  nor  any 
thing  else.  The  victories  you  have  won  under 
my  command  will  live  in  the  nation's  work  of  fic 
tion.  The  strategy  we  have  achieved,  the  graves 
of  many  unripe  Mackerels,  the  broke  i  forms  of 
those  disabled  by  -.he  emancipation  proclaiua- 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND   INCIDENTS. 


11 


tjon  —  the  strongest  associations  that  can  exist 
among  men —  still  make  it  advisable  that  you 
should  vote  for  me  as  President  of  the  United 
States  in  18G5.  Thus  we  shall  ever  be  comrades 
in  supporting  the  Constitution,  and  making  the 
Constitution  support  us. 

THE  GEXKUAL  OF  THE  MACKEREL  BRIGADE. 
[Green  Seal.] 


ADROIT    SMUGGLING  :  —  Some  Irish  women 
searched  the  market  for  a  very  large  chicken,  and 

on  beiniz  shown  one,  asked  if  it  would  hold  a  pint 
flask.  The  dealer  thought  that  it  would,  and  the 
flask  being  produced,  he  satisfied  them  that  it 
would.  That  was  the  chicken  they  wanted.  The 
women  finally  admitted  that  they  were  going  to 
cook  the  chicken,  place  the  flask,  after  filling  it 
with  brandy,  inside  of  it  for  stalling,  and  send 
it  to  camp. 

THERE'S   LIFE  IN  THE  OLD  LAND  YET  ! 

BY  JAS.  R.  RANDALL, 

BY  blue  Patapsco's  billowy  dash, 

The  tyrant's  war-shout  comes., 
Along  with  the  cymbal's  fitful  clash, 

Ami  the  growl  of  his  sullen  drums, 
We  hear  it !  we  heed  it,  with  vengeful  thrills, 

And  we  shall  not  forgive  or  forget ; 
There's  fuith  iu  the  streams,  there's  hope  in  the  hills, 

There's  life  in  the  old  land  yet ! 

Minions  !  we  sleep,  but  we  are  not  dead ; 

We  are  crushed,  we  are  scourged,  \ve  are  scarred  ; 
We  crouch  —  'tis  to  welcome  the  triumph  tread 

Of  the  peerless  BEAUKEGARD. 
Then  woe  to  your  vile,  polluting  horde 

When  the  Southern  braves  are  met, 
There's  faith  in  the  victor's  stainless  sword, 

There  is  life  in  the  old  land  yet ! 

Bigots  !  ye  quell  not  the  valiant  mind, 

With  the  clank  of  an  iron  chain, 
The  spirit  of  freedom  sings  in  the  wind, 

O'er  Merry  man,  Thomas,  arid  Kane  ; 
And  we,  though  we  smite  not,  and  are  not  thralls, 

We  arc  piling  a  gory  deht ; 
While  down  by  Mclk-ury's  dungeon-walls, 

There's  Life  in  the  old  laud  ytt  ! 

Our  women  have  hung  their  harps  away, 

And  they  scowl  on  your  brutal  bands, 
While  the  nimble  poignard  dares  the  day, 

In  their  dear  defiant  hands. 
They  will  strip  their  tresses  to  string  our  bows, 

Ere  the  Northern  sun  is  set ; 
There's  faith  in  their  unrelenting  woes, 

There's  life  in  the  old  land  yet ! 

There's  life,  though  it  throbbeth  in  silent  veins, 

'Tis  vocal  without  noise, 
It  gushed  o'er  Manassas'  solemn  plains, 

From  the  blood  of  the  MARYLAND  BOYS  ! 

That  blood  shall  cry  aloud,  and  rise 

With  an  everlasting  threat, — 
By  the  death,  of  the  brave,  by  the  God  in  the  skies, 

There's  life  in  tin  old  land  t/c-t  ! 


A  HERO  INDEED.  —  Colonel  Edward  E. 
Cross,  thus  described  his  experience  at  the  bat 
tle  of  Fredericksburg :  — "It  came  near  being  my 
last  battle.  As  we  were  advancing  to  those  fatal 
heights  in  line  of  battle,  I  was  near  my  colors. 
A  twelve-pounder  shell,  from  the  Washington 
battery,  burst  right  in  front  of  me.  One  frag 
ment  struck  me  just  below  the  heart,  making  a 
bad  wound.  Another  blew  off  my  hat ;  another 
(small  bit)  entered  my  mouth,  and  broke  out 
three  of  my  best  jaw-teeth,  while  the  gravel,  bits 
of  frozen  earth,  arid  minute  fragments  of  shell 
covered  my  face  with  bruises. 

"  I  fell  insensible,  and  lay  so  for  some  time, 
when  another  fragment  of  shell,  striking  me  on 
the  left  leg,  below  the  knee,  brought  me  to  my 
senses.  My  mouth  was  full  of  blood,  fragments 
of  teeth  and  gravel,  my  breast-bone  almost  bro 
ken  in,  and  I  lay  in  mud  two  inches  deep.  Mv 
brave  boys  had  gone  alon^.  I  always  told  them 
never  to  stop  for  me.  Dead  and  wounded  lay 
thick  around.  One  captain  of  French's  division 
was  gasping  in  death  within  a  foot  of  my  head, 
his  bowels  all  torn  out.  The  air  was  full  of  hiss 
ing  bullets  and  bursting  shells.  Getting  on  my 
hands  and  knees,  I  looked  for  my  flag.  Thank 
God,  there  it  fluttered  right  amid  the  smoke  and 
fire  of  the  front  line.  I  could  hear  the  cheers  of 
my  brave  men.  Twice  the  colors  dropped,  but 
were  up  in  an  instant.  I  tried  to  crawl  along, 
but  a  shot  came  and  struck  the  steel  scabbard  of 
iny  sabre,  splitting  it  open,  and  knocking  me 
down  flat. 

"  Dizzy  and  faint,  I  had  sense  enough  to  lay 
myself  out  decently,  'feet  to  the  foe.'  Two 
lines  pased  over  me,  but  soon  they  swayed  back, 
trampling  on  the  dead  and  dying.  Halting  abouf 
thirty  yards  in  the  rear,  one  line  laid  down  and 
commenced  firing.  Imagine  the  situation.  Right 
between  two  fires  of  bullets  and  shell — for  our 
own  artillery  fire  from  over  the  river  was  mostly 
too  short,  and  did  great  damage  to  our  own 
troops.  I  lay  on  the  field  for  hours,  the  most 
awful  moments  of  my  life.  As  the  balls  from 
our  lino  hissed  over  rne  within  a  foot  of  my  head, 
1  covered  my  face  with  both  hands,  and  counted 
rapidly  from  one  to  one  hundred,  expecting 
every  moment  my  brains  would  spatter  the 
around.  I>ut  they  didn't. 

"  The  guardian  angels  (if  there  be  such  person 
ages)  or  my  destiny  saved  me.  The  end  of  my 
days  was  reserved  for  another  and  I  hope  more 
fortunate  occasion.  For  if  I  am  to  die  on  the 
battle-field,  I  pray  that  it  may  be  with  the  cheers 
of  victory  in  my  ears.  When  it  became  dark 
some  of  my  men  found  me  and  I  was  carried  to 
the  hospital." 

And  the  prayer  of  the  brave  New  Hampshire 
Colonel  was  answered,  for  he  did  "  die  with  the 
cheers  of  victory  in  his  ears,"  on  the  ever  memo 
rable  field  oi*  Gettysburg. 


ADVENTURES      IN     EAST      TENNESSEE.  —  A 

rifleman  belonging  t  >  the  Southern  army  give* 


12 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


the  following  account  of  his  experiences  in  the 
service :  — 

In  the  beginning  of  the  American  war  I  be 
longed  to  a  regiment  of  mounted  riflemen,  and 
we  were  sent  into  Eastern  Tennessee,  where 
there  was  a  good  deal  of  bushwhacking  about 
that  time.  We  were  picketed  one  day  in  a  line 
about  two  miles  long  across  country,  and  I  was 
on  the  extreme  left.  I  took  my  saddle  off,  hols 
ters  and  all,  and  hung  it  on  a  branch  of  a  peach- 
tree,  and  my  carbine  on  another.  We  knew 
there  were  no  Yankees  near,  and  so  I  was  kind 
o'  off  guard,  eating  peaches.  By  and  by  I  saw  a 
young  woman  coming  down  to  where  I  was,  on 
horseback.  She  wanted  to  know  if  there  were 
many  of  the  boys  near,  and  if  they  would  buy 
some  milk  of  her  if  she  took  it  down  to  them.  I 
said  I  thought  they  would,  and  took  about  a 
quart  myself;  and  as  she  hadn't  much  more,  I 
emptied  the  water  out  of  my  canteen  and  took 
the  rest.  Says  she,  "  If  you'll  come  up  to  the 
house  yonder,  I've  got  something  better  than 
that ;  you  may  have  some  good  peach  brandy  — 
some  of  your  fellows  might  like  a  little."  I  said 
I'd  go,  and  she  says,  u  You  needn't  take  your 
saddle  or  carbine,  it's  just  a  step,  and  they  are 
safe  enough  here  —  there's  nobody  about."  So  I 
mounted  bareback,  and  she  led  the  way.  When 
we  passed  the  bars  where  she  came  in,  she  says, 
"  You  ride  on  a  step,  and  I'll  get  down  and  put 
up  the  bars."  I  went  on,  and  as  she  came  up 
behind,  she  says  pretty  sharp,  "  Hide  a  little 
faster,  if  you  please."  I  looked  round  and  she 
had  a  revolver  pointed  straight  at  my  head,  and 
I  saw  that  she  knew  how  to  use  it.  I  had  left 
everything  behind  me  like  a  fool,  and  had  to 
give  in  and  obey  orders.  "  That's  the  house  if 
you  please,"  she  says,  and  showed  me  a  house  in 
the  edge  of  the  woods  a  quarter  of  a  mile  away. 
We  got  there,  and  she  told  me  to  get  down  and 
eat  something,  for  she  was  going  to  give  me  a  long 
ride  —  into  the  Yankee  lines,  about  twenty  miles 
away.  Her  father  came  out  and  abused  me  like 
a  thief,  and  told  me  that  he  was  going  to  have 
me  sent  into  the  Federal  lines  to  be  hung.  It 
seems  he  had  a  son  hung  the  week  before  by 
some  of  the  Confederates,  and  was  going  to  have 
his  revenge  out  of  inc.  I  ate  pretty  well,  for  I 
thought  I  might  need  it  before  I  got  any  more, 
and  then  the  old  fellow  began  to  curse  me  and 
abuse  me  like  anything.  Ue  said  he  would  shoot 
me  on  the  spot  if  it  wasn't  'hat  he'd  rather  have 
me  hung;  and  instead  of  giving  me  my  own 
horse,  he  took  the  worst  one  he  had  in  his  stables, 
and  they  put  me  on  that  with  my  feet  tied 
together  under  his  belly.  Luckily  they  didn't 
tie  my  hands,  for  they  thought  I  had  no  arms,  and 
couldn't  help  myself:  but  I  always  carried  a 
small  revolver  in  my  shirt-bosom.  The  girl  kept 
too  sharp  watch  on  me  for  me  to  use  it.  She 
never  turned  her  revolver  from  ine,  and  I  knew 
that  the  first  suspicious  move  I  made  I  was  a 
dead  man.  We  went  about  ten  miles  in  this 
way,  when  my  old  crow-bait  gave  out  and 
wouldn't  go  any  further.  She  wouldn't  trust  me 
afoot,  and  so  had  to  give  up  her  own  horse  ;  but 


she  kept  the  bridle  in  her  own  hands,  and 
walked  ahead  with  one  eye  turned  back  on  me, 
and  the  rt  I'olver,  conked,  with  her  finger  on  the 
trigger,  so  that  I  never  had  a  chance  to  put  my 
hand  in  my  bosom.  We  finally  came  to  a  spring, 
and  she  asked  me  if  I  wanted  to  drink.  I  didn't 
feel  much  like  drinking,  but  I  said  yes,  and  ^so 
she  let  me  down.  I  put  my  head  down  to  the 
water,  and  at  the  same  time  put  my  hand  down 
to  where  the  revolver  was,  and  pulled  it  forward 
where  I  could  put  my  hand  on  it  easily ;  but 
she  was  on  the  .watch,  and  I  couldn't  pull  it  out. 
I  mounted  again,  and  the  first  time  slje  was  off 
her  guard  a  little,  I  fired  and  broke  the  arm  she 
held  the  pistol  in.  "  Now,"  says  I,  "  it's  my  turn : 
you'll  please  get  on  that  horse,  and  we'll  go 
back."  She  didn't  flinch  or  say  a  word,  but  got 
on  the  horse,  and  I  tied  her  legs  as  they  had  mine, 
and  we  went  bacK  to  the  house.  The  old  man 
he  heard  us  come  up  to  the  door  and  looked  out 
of  the  window.  He  turned  as  pale  as  a  sheet 
and  ran  for  his  rifle.  I  knew  what  he  was  after, 
and  pushed  the  door  in  before  he  was  loaded. 
Says  I,  "  You  may  put  that  shooting-iron  down 
and  come  with  me."  He  wasn't  as  brave  as  the 
girl,  but  it  was  no  use  to  resist,  and  he  knew  it ; 
so  he  came  along.  About  half  way  back  we  met 
some  of  our  fellows  who  had  missed  me,  and 
come  out  to  look  me  up.  They  took  them  both, 
and  I  don't  know  what  they  did  with  them,  but 
I  know  very  well  what  they  would  have  done 
with  me. 


A  RAINY  DAY  IN  CAMP. 

'Tis  a  cheerless,  lonesome  evening 
When  the  soaking,  sodden  ground 

Will  not  echo  to  the  footfall 
Of  the  sentinel's  dull  round. 

God's  blue  star-spangled  banner 

To-night  is  not  unfurled, 
Surely  He  has  not  deserted 

This  weary,  warring  world. 

I  peer  into  the  darkness, 

And  the  crowding  fancies  come ; 
The  night  wind  blowing  northward 

Carries  all  my  heart  towards  home. 

For  I  'listed  in  this  army 

Not  exactly  to  my  mind  ; 
But  my  country  called  for  helpers, 

And  I  could  not  stay  behind. 

Lo,  I  have  had  a  sight  of  drilling, 
And  have  roughed  it  many  ways, 

And  Death  has  nearly  had  me, — 
Still  I  think  the  service  pays. 

It's  a  blessed  sort  of  feeling, 

Whether  you  live  or  die, 
To  know  you've  helped  your  countey, 

And  fought  right  loyally. 

But  I  can't  help  thinking,  sometimes 
When  a  wet  day's  leis  ire  comes, 

That  I  hefr  the' old  hone  voices 
Talking  Louder  than  t  ae  ii  ims. 


AXECDOTFS,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


13 


And  that  far  familiar  faces 

Press  in  at  the  tent  door, 
And  the  little  children's  footsteps 

Go  pit-pat  on  the  floor. 

I  can't  help  thinking,  sometimes, 

Of  all  the  parson  reads 
About  that  other  soldier-life 

Which  every  true  man  leads. 

And  wife,  soft-hearted  creature, 
Seems  a  saving  in  mine  ear, 

"  I'd  rather  have  you  in  those  ranks 
Than  see  you  Brigadier." 

I  call  myself  a  brave  one, 

But  in  my  heart  I  lie  ; 
For  my  country  and  her  honor 

I'm  fiercely  free  to  die, 

But  when  the  Lord  who  bought  me, 

Asks  for  my  service  here, 
To  fight  the  good  fight  faithfully 

I'm  skulking  in  the  rear. 

And  yet  I  know  that  Captain 

All  love  and  care  t>  be ; 
He  would  not  get  impatient 

With  a  raw  recruit  like  me. 

And  I  know  He'd  not  forget  me, 
When  the  day  of  peace  appears, 

I  should  share  with  Him  the  victory 
Of  all  the  volunteers. 

And  it's  kind  of  cheerful  thinking 

Beside  the  dull  tent  fire, 
About  that  grdat  promotion 

When  He  says  "  Come  up  higher.1 

And  though  'tis  dismal  rainy, 
E'en  now  with  thoughts  of  Him, 

Camp-life  looks  extra  cheery,  - 
Aud  death  a  deal  less  grim. 

For  I  seem  to  see  him  waiting 
Where  a  gathered  Heaven  greets 

A  great  victorious  army, 

Surging  up  the  golden  streets. 

And  I  hear  him  read  the  roll-call, 
And  my  heart  is  all  a  flame 

When  the  dear  "  Recording  Angel  ' 
Writes  down  my  happy  name. 

But  my  fire  is  dead  white  ashes, 
And  the  tent  is  chilling  cold, 

And  I'm  playing  win  the  battle, 
When  I've  never  been  enrolled. 


BEAU  HACKETT  AS  A  ZOUAVE.  —  Militia 
companies  have  always  been  popular,  but  never 
so  much  so  as  since  the  war  broke  out.  Young 
men  with  stay-at-homc-and-take-care-of-the-wo- 
men  proclivities,  are  more  than  ever  inclined  to 
join  the  Home  Guards,  in  consequence  of  in 
creased  mortality  in  the  army  of  the  United 
States,  as  shown  by  the  newspaper  statistics. 

With  a  laudable  ambition  to  support  the  Gov 
ernment,  in  any  and  every  emergency,  I  have  re 


cently  become  a  member  of  the  War  Department 
myself.  I  joined  the  Ellsworth  Zouaves,  a  rem 
nant  of  what  used  to  be  a  troupe  of  acrobats,  who 
distinguished  themselves  all  the  way  from  Chicago 
to  Washington,  by  turning  double  somersaults, 
with  muskets  in  their  mouths  and  bayonets  in 
their  hands. 

There  are  no  members  of  the  Old  Zouave  bat 
talion  in  the  new  one,  but  tLa  new  one  retains 
the  name  of  Ellsworth  because  one  of  the  mem 
bers  has  a  brother  that  once  saw  a  picture  of 
Colonel  Ellsworth's  grandfather.  The  names 
of  organisations  frequently  have  a  more  remote 
origin  than  this,  and  many  of  them  are  about  as 
consistent  and  reasonable  as  a  mau  claiming 
relationship  to  the  President  of  the  United  States 
because  he  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  or  suppos 
ing  he  would  be  Governor  if  he  married  a  gov 
erness,  or  trying  to  pass  free  at  a  circus  as  a  rep 
resentative  of  the  press  because  he  is  a  cheese- 
maker. 

I  was  put  through,  a  rigid  course  of  examina 
tion  before  I  could"  be  made  a  Zouave,  and  1  say 
it  with  feelings  of  gratification  and  self-esteem, 
that  I  was  remarkably  well  posted  in  the  cate 
chism.  My  father  was  a  hero  of  the  revolution, 
having  been  caught  once  in  a  water-wheel,  and 
whirled  around  rapidly  a  number  of  times. 
Others  of  the  family  have  also  distinguished  them 
selves  as  military  men  at  different"  periods,  but 
their  deeds  of  courage  are  too  well  known  to 
need  repetition. 

The  following  is  a  copy  verbatim  et  literatim 
et  wordim  of  most  of  the  questions  propounded 
to  me,  and  the  answers  thereto,  which  my  inti 
mate  acquaintance  wi4^  the  Army  Regulations 
and  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Conduct 
of  the  War  enable  me  to  answer  readily  and 
accurately.  My  interrogator  was  a  little  man  in 
Federal  blue,  with  gold" leaves  on  his  shoulders. 
They  called  him  Major,  but  he  looked  young 
enough  to  be  a  minor.  He  led  off  with  — 

"  How  old  are  you,  and  what  are  your  qualifi 
cations  ?  " 

"  Twenty-two  and  a  strong  stomach." 

Then  I  requested  him  to  tire  his  interrogations 
singly,  which  he  did : 

"  What  is  the  first  duty  to  be  learned  by  a 
soldier  ?  " 

"  How  to  draw  his  rations." 

"  What  is  the  most  diilicult  feat  for  a  soldier 
to  perform  V  " 

"Drawing  his  bounty." 

"  If  you  were  in  the  rear  rank  of  a  company 
during  an  action,  and  the  man  in  the  front  rank 
before  you  should  be  wounded  and  disabled,  what 
would  you  do  V  " 

"  I  would  despatch  myself  to  the  rear  for  a  sur 
geon  immediately.  Some  men  would  step  for 
ward  and  take  "the  wounded  man's  place,  but 
that  is  unnatural." 

"  If  you  were  commanding  skirmishers,  and 
saw  cavalry  advancing  in  the  front  and  infantry 
in  the  rear,  which  would  you  meet  V  " 

"Neither;  I  would  mass  myself  for  a  bold 
movement,  and  shove  out  sideways.* 


14 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND   INCIDENTS. 


"If you  were  captured  what  line  of  conduct 

would  you  pursue  '?" 

"  I  would  treat  my  captors  with  the  utmost 
civility." 

"  What  are  the  duties  of  Home  Guards  ?  " 

"  Their  duty  is  to  see  that  they  have  no 
duties." 

"  What  will  you  take  ?  " 

The  latter  question  may  have  been  answered 
with  too  much  vehemence,  and  may  have  im 
pressed  listeners  with  the  belief  that  I  am  in  the 
habit  of  jumping  at  conclusions.  Such,  however, 
is  not  the  case. 

I  am  a  Zouave  ;  I  am  a  Home  Guard.  I  have 
been  through  all  the  manoeuvres,  and  can  right 
about  face ;  J  can  also  write  about  any  other 
part  of  the  body.  I  can  do  the  hand-springs, 
and  the  tumbling,  and  the  lay  down  and  roll 
overs,  which  are  done  with  or  without  a  musket. 
I  have  been  drilled  till  the  drill  has  become  a 
bore.  I  have  drilled  in  all  the  marches  and 
leaps  and  vaults,  and  in  the  bayonet  exercises, 
F,nd  in  all  the  steps,  —  the  common  step,  the 
quick  step,  the  very  quick  step,  and  the  double 
quick  step,  and  the  trot  and  the  run ;  also  in  slow 
time  and  long  time,  which  I  never  learned  from 
my  landlady  nor  my  tailor.  I  can  shoulder  arms, 
and  bear  arms,  and  carry  arms,  (if  they  are  not 
too  heavy,)  and  reverse  arms,  and  support  arms, 
(ordinarily  my  arms  support  me,)  and  I  can 
order  arms  better  than  I  can  pay  for  them  after 
they  are  ordered.  I  can  parry  and  tierce,  and  I 
can  throw  a  hand-spring  with  a  sword-bayonet 
in  my  hand  without  breaking  the  sword-bayonet 
in  more  than  three  pieces,  and  I  can  bite  off  a 
cartridge  without  breaking  rny  teeth  out. 

Once,  when  an  order  was  given  to  sling  knap 
sacks,  I  slung  mine  out  of  the  window,  and  when 
the  order  was  given  to  unsling  knapsacks,  I  went 
out  and  slung  it  back  again  quicker  than  any 
body  else  could  have  done  it.  1  have  got  a  pretty 
knapsack  too  —  there  are  letters  on  it.  It  is 
just  the  thing  to  sit  down  on  in  the  time  of  an 
action,  and  is  big  enough  for  a  breastwork  in 
case  of  danger  from  bullets  or  anything  of  that 
sort.  It's  heavy,  though,  and  I  felt  that  there 
was  an  immense  responsibility  resting  on  me  the 
first  time  I  shouldered  it.  I  must  have  felt  some 
thing  like  Atlas  did  the  first  time  he  shouldered 
the  world.  It  was  so  heavy  that,  as  a  piece  of 
masterly  strategy,  1  fell  back  the  first  time  I 
strapped  it  on;  and  as  a  piece  of  unmastcrly 
strategy  I  came  near  breaking  my  head  against 
the  iloor.  The  Major  had  promised  to  put  saw 
dust,  softened  with  soda-water,  on  the  floor 
hereafter. 

I  have  been  getting  a  Major  General's  uni- 
'orm  made.  There  is  every  opportunity  that 
could  be  desired  for  promotion,  in  our  corps, 
where  real  merit  exists,  and  a,  Major  General  of 
Home  Guards  is  not  to  be  sneezed  at.  I  may 
have  to  keep  my  uniform  a  few  years  before  I 
"will  have  occasion  to  wear  it,  but  a  Major  Gen 
eral's  toggery  is  a  good  thing  to  have  in  case  of 
promotion.  I  trust  my  friends  will  give  them 
selves  no  uneasiness,  as  I  feel  sure  of  ultimate 


success  in  the  enterprise  I  have  undertaken.  I 
mean  to  strike  the  keynote  of  my  campaign 
soon,  and  then  look  out  for  a  sensation  in  military 
circles. 

I  haven't  shaved  my  upper  lip  since  yesterday 
afternoon.  To-morrow  will  be  the  third  day.  I 
mean  to  grow  a  moustache  that  will  be  an  object 
of  admiration  and  envy.  Mustachios  are  indis 
pensable  to  the  achievement  of  a  Major  General 
ship.  Mustachios  are  absolutely  necessary  to  the 
achievement  >f  anything  that  is  useful. 

In  the  event  of  a  war  between  the  United 
States  and  the  Esquimaux,  Chicago  my  residence 
will,  in  all  likelihood,  be  one  of  the  first  cities  at 
tacked  by  the  invading  enemy,  arid  every  precau 
tion  should  be  taken'to  be 'fully  prepared  for 
them.  Should  such  attack -ever  be  made  by  the 
warlike  and  bloodthirsty  Esquimaux,  or  any 
other  of  the  great  powers  of  the  earth,  and  should 
it  be  my  misfortune  to  be  unable  personally  to 
command  my  forces,  (for  I  have  often  observed 
that  an  invasion  is  productive  of  sickness.)  I  shall 
take  care  that  my  second  officer  is  a  man  of  suffi 
cient  capacity  to  defend  the  city  as  ably  as  I 
would  do  it  myself.  Should  the  worst  come  to 
to  the  worst,  I  stand  ready  to  sacrifice  a  substi 
tute  on  the  altar  of  my  country. 

BISHOP  ROSECRANS. —  As  Bishop  Rosecrana 
(brother  of  the  General)  was  at  dinner,  the  con 
versation  reverted  to  the  war. 

"  It  would  seem  to  me,  Bishop,  that  you  and 
vour  brother,  the  General,  are  engaged  in  very 
iifferent  callings,"  remarked  a  gentleman. 

"  Yes,  it  appears  so,"  returned  the  Bishop. 
"  And  yet,"  he  continued,  "  Ave  are  both  fighting 
men.  While  the  General  is  wielding  the  sword 
of  flesh,  I  trust  that  I  am  using  the  sword  of  the 
Spirit.  He  is  fighting  the  rebels,  arid  I  am  tight- 
ing  the  spirits  of  darkness.  There  is  this  differ 
ence  in  the  terms  of  our  service  :  he  is  fighting 
with  Price,  while  I  am  fighting  without  price." 


INCIDENT  OF  FORT  PILLOW.  —  When  Com 
mander  Davis  took  possession  of  Fort  Pillow  af 
ter  its  evacuation  by  the  Confederates  the  follow 
ing  letter  was  found  lying  on  a  table  in  the  offi 
cers'  quarters : 

"  FORT  PILLOW,  TENN. 
To  the  first  Yankee  who  reads  this  : 

I  present  this  table  not  as  a  manifestation  of 
friendship,  yet  I  entertain  no  personal  animosity 
to  him,  but  because  I  can't  transport  it.  After 
six  weeks'  bombardment,  without  doing  us  any 
harm  whatever,  I  know  you  will  exult  over  the 
occupation  of  this  place,  but  our  evacuation  will 
hurt  you  from  another  point  with  disastrous  effect. 
Five  millions  white  men  fighting  to  be  relieved 
from  oppression  will  never  be  conquered  by 
twenty  millions  actuated  by  malice  and  pecuni 
ary  gain,  mark  that.  We  have  the  science,  en 
ergy  and  vigor,  with  the  help  of  God,  to  extricate 
ourselves  from  this  horrible  and  unnatural  diffi 
culty  pressed  upon  us  by  the  North ;  the  day  of 


ANr.cix>Ti-:s,  POHTRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


15 


retribution  is  approaching,  and  will  fall  upon  you 
deadly  as  a  bolt  from  heaven  ;  may  your  sojourn 
at  this  place  be  of  few  days  and  full  of  trouble." 


SOLDIER  WIT.  —  The  Colonel  of  an  Alabama 
regiment,  was  famous  for  having  everything  done 
up"  in  military  style.  Once,  while  field  officer  of 
the  day,  and  going  his  tour  of  inspection,  he  came 
on  a  sentinel  from  the  eleventh  Mississippi  regi 
ment,  silting  flat  down  on  his  post,  with  his  gun 
taken  entirely  to  pieces,  when  the  following  dia 
logue  took  place  : 

Colond.  "  Don't  yon  know  that  a  sentinel 
while  on  duty,  should  always  keep  on  bis  feet  ?  " 

Sentinel  (without  looking  up).  "  That's  the 
way  we  used  to  do  when  the  war  first  began  ;  but 
that's  played  out  long  ago." 

Colond  (beginning "to  doubt  if  the  man  was 
on  duty).  Are  you  the  sentinel  here  ?  " 

Sentinel.     ."  Well,  I'm  a  sort  of  a  sentinel." 

Colonel.  "  Well  I'm  a  sort  of  officer  of  the 
day." 

Sentinel.  "  Well,  if  you'll  hold  on  till  I  sort 
of  git  my  gun  together,  I'll  give  you  a  sort  of  sa 
lute." 


SOUTH    CAROLINA    GENTLEMAN. 
AIR—  The  Fine  Old  English  Gentleman. 

DOWN  in  a  small  Palmetto  Stato  the  curious  ones 
may  find, 

A  ripping,  tearing  gentleman  of  an  uncommon  kind, 

A  staggering,  swaggering  sort  of  chap  who  takes  his 
whiskey  straight, 

And  frequently  condemns  his  eyes  to  that  ultimate 
vengeance  which  a  elcr<jynum  of  high  stand 
ing  h;>s  assured  must  he  a  sinner's  fate; 

This  South  Carolina  gentleman,  one  of  the  present 
time. 

You  trace  his  genealogy,  and  not  far  back  you'll  see, 
A  most  undoubted  Octoroon  or  mayhap  a  nm.stee, 
And  if  you  note  the  shaggy  locks  that  cluster  on  his 

brow, 
You'll  find  every  other  hair  is  varied  with  a  kink  that 

seldom  denotes  pure  Caucasian  blood,  but  on 

the  contrary,  betrays  an  admixture  with  a  race 

not  purticuhir  popular  now: 
This  South   Carolina  gentleman,  one  of  the  present 

time. 

Ke  always  wears  a  full  dress  coat,  pie- Adamite  in 
cut. 

With  waistcoat  of  the  broadest  style,  through  which 
his  ruffles  jut ; 

Six  breast-pins  deck  his  hoirid  front,  and  on  his  fin 
gers  shine 

Whole  invoices  of  diamond  rings  which  would  hardly 
pass  muster  with  the  original  Jacobs  in  Chat 
ham  street  for  jewels  gen-u-ine  ; 

This  South  Carolina  gentleman,  one  of  the  present 
time. 

He  chews  tobacco  by  the  pound  and  spits  upon  the 

floor, 

If  there  is  not  a  box  of  sand  behind  the  nearest  door ; 
And  when  he  takes  his  weekly   spree,  he  clears  a 

mighty  track 


Of  everything  that  boars  the  shape  of  whiskey-akin. 

gin  and  sugar  —  brandy  sour,  peach,  and 
honey,  irrepressible  cocktail,  rum  and  gum, 
and  luscious  apple-jack, 

This  South  Carolina  gentleman,  one  of  the  present 
time. 

lie  ta.es  to  euchre  kin  lly,  too,  and  plays  an  awful 
hand* 

Especially  when  those  "ae  tricks  his  style  don't  under 
stand, 

And  if  he  wins,  why,  then,  he  stops  to  pocket  all  the 
stakes, 

But  if  he  loses,  then  he  says  to  the  unfortunate 
stniMger  who  had  chanced  to  win,  "  It's  my 
opinion  you  are  a  cursed  Abolitionist,  an'd  if 
you  don't  leave  South  Carolina  in  one  hour, 
you  will  be  hung  like  a  dog;"  but  no  oiler 
to  pav  his  losses  he  makes, 

This  South  Carolina  gentleman,  one  of  the  present 
time. 

Of  course  he's    all  the  time  in  debt  to   those  who 

credit  give, 

Yet  manages  upon  the  best  the  market 'yields  to  live, 
But  if  a  Northern  creditor  asks  him  his  bill  to  heed, 
This  honorable  gentleman  instantly  draws  his  bowie- 
knives  and  a  pistol,  dons  a  blue  cockade,  and 
declares  that  in   consequence  of  the  repeated 
aggressions  of  the  North,  and  its  gross  viola 
tions  of  the  Constitution,  he  feels  that  it  would 
utterly  degrade  him  to  pay  any  debt  whatever, 
am!  that  in  fact  he  has  at  last  determined  to 
SECEDE, 

This  South  Carolina  gentleman,  one  of  the  present 
time. 


TRUE  SOLDIERS.  —  The  following  occurred  on 
board  the  steamer  Canada  during  her  passage 
from  Dubuque  to  St.  Louis. 

In  the  evening  while  many  of  the  passengers 
were  engaged  in  conversation,  others  whiling  away 
their  time  at  u  euchre,"  while  some  more  rude 
perhaps,  with  the  ribald  jest  arid  ungenticmanly 
oath,  were  passing  the  evening  away,  .a  young 
man  seated  himself  at  one  of  the  tables,  and  en 
gaged  in  reading  his  Bible.  Another,  and  still 
another  took  their  places  around  this  temporary 
altar,  until  nearly  all  of  that  little  band  of  soldiers, 
numbering  about  twenty,  were  reading  the  Scnp- 
tures.  An  aged  man  took  his  station  in  their 
midst.  He  had  a  pious  and  venerable  air,  for 
his  hoary  locks  proclaimed  that  many  a  winter 
had  passed  over  his  head.  There,  those  fanning 
boys,  with  that  old  man,  formed  a  group,  whose 
actions  indeed  were  worthy  of  all  commendation. 
The  creaking  machinery  of  the  boat,  the  dirge- 
like  music  of  the  wind,  was  loud;  yet,  above  the 
clatter,  all  things  else,  we  know  those  boys  were 
heard  in  heaven,  and  that  their  prayers  will  be 
answered  !  Their  Bibles,  precious  gift  of  home, 
are  sacred  with  them,  and  will  shield  them  too, 
when  the  glittering  mail  of  yore  would  fall.  Pa 
rents  and  friends  of  home,  fear  not  for  such  brave 
sons,  who,  relying  on  Heaven,  are  not  ashamed 
nor  afraid  to  praise  God,  and  do  battle  for  tlis 
Star-Spangled  Banner. 

These  were  soldiers  of  the  regular  army  enlist 
ed  in  Dubuque,  by  Captain  Washington. 


18 


AXECDOTES,   POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


go  down  to  meet  the  Maj  jr.  He  said,  "  Yes,  do 
so."  The  Sergeant  moved  forward  to  a  sharp 
curve  in  the  road  and  saw  the  Major  and  two 
citizens,  at  sixty  rods'  distance,  talking  to  the 
sentinels  at  the  bridge.  He  came  back  out  of 
sight,  dismounted  three  men  and  himself,  sent 
the  horses  back  to  the  column  halted  up  the  road, 
and  secreted  his  men  in  a  fence  corner  behind 
the  road  curve  to  await  the  Major's  coming. , 
When  the  Major  and  the  two  citizens  came  up. 
conversing  about  the  "Yankees  "to  within  five 
feet  of  the  ambush,  they  were  appalled  by  the 
sight  of  the  bright  revolving  rifles  close  to  their 
heads  at  full  cock.  The  Sergeant  said,  "  You  are 
my  prisoners."  Involuntarily  they  halt,  wheel 
their  horses  to  flee,  when  a  sharp  halt !  brought 
them  to  front  face  again.  The  Sergeant 
moved  them  up  toward  the  column.  Colonel 
Campbell  had  come  to  the  point  with  Colonel 
Carter.  Colonel  Campbell  addressed  the  Major, 
took  his  hand  and  told  him  he  had  come  to  take 
hi*  />f>.s£,  and  if  he  did  not  surrender  uncondi 
tionally  he  would  take  it  at  ant/  rate  ;  saying 
also,  "My  men  are  posted  to  fire  on  you  — 
you  have  not  a  moment  to  lose  to  avoid  use 
less  bloodshedding.  The  Major  wrote  a  note 
to  the  Captain  in  command 'at  the  post  and 
advised  its  surrender.  It  was  sent  down  with  a 
Hag  of  truce  and  the  place  was  surrendered  at 
once ;  the  rifles  peering  across  the  Ilolston  from 
the  hill  commanding  the  camp  being  persuaders 
too  potent  to  be  gainsaid.  The  telegraph  was 
instantly  destroyed  before  an  intimation  of  our 
presence  could  be  conveyed  and  the  railroad 
bridge  fired.  The  two  hundred  prisoners  (who 
appeared  to  be  rejoiced)  were  placed  under 
guard,  and  the  Ninth  Pennsylvania!!  and  Seventh 
Ohio  ordered  forward  from  the  Blountsville  road. 
On  their  arriving,  an  expedition  was  ordered 
under  Colonel  Walker  and  Colonel  Carter  to 
capture  and  burn  the  bridge  nine  miles  south 
west  across  Watauga  river,  consisting  of  compan 
ies  A,  C,  and  D,  the  twelve  rifles  of  Co.  B,  fifteen 
of  Co.  F,  Ninth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry ;  compa 
nies  A,  and  F,  Second  Michigan  Cavalry,  and  two 
companies  of  the  Seventh  Ohio  Cavalry.  The 
balance  of  the  troops  were  kept  back  by  Gen 
eral  Carter  to  destroy  the  county  bridge,  the 
turn-table,  cars,  ammunition,  camp  and  commis 
sary  stores,  and  to  follow  us  down  to  Watauga 
and  defend  our  rear  from  the  enemy's  800  troops 
at  Bristol,  fourteen  miles  by  railway,  and  Hum 
phrey  Marshall's  force  at  Abingdon,  thirty  miles 
off  by  railway.  At  five  miles  out  the  Watauga 
expedition  heard  a  whistle.  The  troops  were 
instantly  dismounted  and  ambushed  at  both  ends 
and  besides  a  deep  cut,  a  rail  cut  out  with  our 
axes  in  front,  and  men  ambushed  with  orders  to 
cut  out  a  rail  in  her  rear  the  instant  the  engine 
ran  into  the  deep  cut — all  in  less  time  than  it 
takes  me  to  write  it.  A  locomotive  and  tender 
came  in  sight,  ran  into  the  cut,  saw  the  rail  out, 
reversed  and  backed  out  instaiiter,  but  not  be 
fore  the  rail  was  up  in  their  rear,  and  they  were 
fully  caged  on  the  rifles  peering  over  the  bank. 
We  had  gotten  a  prize,'  having  captured  Col. 


Love,  of  the  Sixty-second  North  Carolina,  a 
Major,  a  Captain  and  a  telegraphic  staff  coming 
up  to  ascertain  why  the  telegraph  would  not 
work.  Five  minutes  sufficed  to  put  a  guard  on 
the  locomotive  and  run  her  down  after  us,  and 
we  were  again  0:1  our  way  and  on  the  alert.  It 
had  been  raining  slowly  all  day  and  now  came 
on  heavily.  Nesting  therrbel  camp,  Col.  Car 
ter,  who  knew  all  the  ground,  arranged  the  attack. 
Col.  Walker  assisting.  Companies  A  and  F, 
Second  Michigan,  dismounted  on  the  right ;  the 
twelve  rifles  of  Company  A,  Ninth  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry,  in  the  centre,  and  Company  D,  Seventh 
Ohio,  with  their  rifles,  on  the  left,  were  to  sur 
round  the  cam}),  the  balance  of  the  rifles  being 
posted  as  rear  guard  and  on  the  left  of  the  road, 
and  then  it  was  to  be  summoned  to  surrender, 
to  save  useless  bloodshed.  Unfortunately  there 
were  some  rebel  soldiers  on  the  ourtskirts  of  the 
'jamp  chopping  wood,  six  of  whom  were  captured 
as  the  troops  deployed,  but  two  ran  in  and 
alarmed  the  camp.  A  shot  was  fired  by  some 
one  on  the  left,  and  the  attack  became  general. 
The  rebels  were  under  arms  and  the  firing  was 
very  heavy  on  both  sides  for  the  numbers  en 
gaged,  for  ten  minutes,  whun  the  Ninth  Pennsyl 
vania,  followed  by  the  Seventh  Ohio,  charged 
on  the  camp  pistol  in  hand,  and  the  enemy  fled. 
Companies  C  and  D  and  the  balance  of  Company 
A,  Ninth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  had  been  formed 
in  fours  around  the  hill  to  charge  with  sabre 
should  there  be  resistance.  When  the  firing 
•slacked  they  were  ordered  to  charge,  and  did  so, 
on  the  camp.  Finding  it  almost  abandoned, 
they  galloped  over  the  Watauga.  Companies  C 
and  D  filed  left  into  a  ploughed  field  to  head  off 
the  retreating  enemy.  Company  A  kept  the 
road,  and  at  full  charge  came  on  them  drawn  up 
in  two  ranks  by  the  roadside.  Capt.  Jones 
ordering  them  to  throw  down  their  arms  at  thirty 
paces,  the  rebels  were  so  startled  by  the  rush  of 
horses  and  glancing  of  sabres  that  they  all  obeyed 
the  order,  but  a  half  dozen,  who  came  near  losing 
their  lives  by  not  doing  so.  There  were  two 
lieutenants  and  seventy-two  men  who  surren 
dered  and  saved  much  blood-shedding.  They 
were  making  their  way  to  a  log  house  close  at 
hand  —  a  capital  fortress  —  which  we  would 
have  been  compelled  to  have  stormed  at  once. 
Companies  C  and  D  went  down  the  road  and 
overhauled  sixteen  more.  The  short,  sharp  action 
cost  several  lives.  One  man  of  Company  D, 
Seventh  Ohio,  shot  dead ;  one  man  of  Company 
A,  Second  Michigan,  mortally  wounded  in  the 
abdomen,  and  two  of  the  twelve  men,  Company 
A,  Ninth  Pennsylvania,  wounded  in  the  leg;  one 
had  to  be  amputated  and  the  man  left  with  the 
rebel  wounded.  Of  the  rebel  forces,  there  were 
two  killed  and  fifteen  wounded.  Our  surgeou 
assisted  in  dressing  their  wounded,  and  two  of 
our  wounded  men  were  left  at  the  station,  Col. 
Love  and  Lieut.  Hill  promising  they  should  have 
the  same  care  as  their  own  men.  The  two  Lieu 
tenants,  Hill  aid ,  of  the  Sixty-second 

North    Carolina,   fought   their   commands   with 
great  gallantry.     What  a  rity  thit  it  should  be 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,   AND  INCIDENTS. 


19 


exerted  in  so  evil  a  cause  as  the  disruption  of 
their  country. 

Our  prisoners  were  all  paroled  on  the  road, 
and  here,  amounting  to  near  four  hundred  and 
fifty,  inclusive  of  one  Colonel,  two  Majors,  two 
Captains  and  five  Lieutenants.  It  was  now  dark. 
The  telegraph  was  instantly  destroyed,  the  camp 
and  the  bridge  fired,  the  arms  broken  and  put 
on  the  locomotive,  and  after  the  bridge  had  fall 
en,  steam  was  drawn  on  the  engine  and  she  was 
run  over  the  abutment  on  to  the  burning  mass 
below  with  a  great  crash.  In  our  haste  to  ex- 


were  moved  from  Rogersville  to  Kingsport  to  in 
tercept  us ;  but  we  passed  between  "  Scylla  "  on 
the  one  hand  and  "Charybdis"  on  the  other, 
and  came  out  ahead  of  them  all.  While  on  our 
rout  to  Kingsport,  a  man  by  the  roadside  told 
me  that  the  infantry  and  artillery  stationed  there 
had  crossed  our  route  six  hours  before  marching 
to  Blountsville,  expecting  to  intercept  us  there. 
While  on  'lie  high  rlige  above  Kingsport  we 
had  a  beauuful  view  of  a  snowy  mountain,  illum 
ined  by  the  setting  sun.  At  fifty  miles  distance 
towered  up  the  black  mountain  'of  North  Caro- 


pedite  these  matters  we  lost  a  prize  of  another  •  lina,  six  thousand  nine  hundred  feet  in  the  air, — 
locomotive  and  train  that  came  up  in  sight  at  the  \  the  highest  land  in  the  old  United  States  proper, 
burning  bridge,  reversed  her  wheels  and  scudded  [  standing  like  Saul  a  full  head  and  shoulders  over 
down  the  road  toward  Knoxville.  Jeff  Davis  |  all  his  companions.  It  looked  exceedingly  rug- 


himself  might  have  been  on  the  train.  It  is  the 
only  thing  we  have  to  reproach  ourselves  for  dur 
ing  the  expedition  as  being  left  undone,  or  half 
done.  There  were  two  hundred  and  fifty  cav 
alry  came  up  after  dark  to  reinforce  the  infan- 
tiy.  Hearing  of  the  fight  they  wheeled  about 
arid  inarched  over  into  North  Carolina,  report- 


ged  at  that  great  distance,  with  its  rude  con 
cave  side  towards  us,  seamed  and  furrowed  by 
tremendous  chasms  from  top  to  bottom.  It  had 
a  crest  of  two  or  three  miles  in  length,  and  is 
crescent-shaped  on  top,  very  steep  on  both  ends, 
and  towering  so  high  above  all  others,  seemed 
not  to  be  a  member  of  any  chain  of  mountains 

distance.     For  an 


ing  there  were  thirty  thousand  of  us  at  the  rail-   that  I  could  perceive  in  the 

way.     Our  men  were  ordered  to  feed  their  horses  |  is'olated  mountain  it  was  very  picturesque  in  ap- 


on  the  rebel  corn,  and  rest  for  a  few  hours  ;  but 
there  was  no  rest  after  the  excitement  of  the 
day  and  night,  and  at  one  o'clock  on  the  night  of 
December  30th,  we  commenced  our  retreat,  and 
by  strategy  to  baffle  the  enemy  that  our  scouts 
told  us  were  massing  to  cut  us  off  and  pursue  us. 
We  felt  confident  they  must  be  great  adepts  if 
they  could  outmanoeuvre  Gen.  and  Col.  Carter 
and  our  guides.  Our  poor  horses  were  sinking 
UJider  the  severe  toil  of  marching,  and  it  became 
a  matter  of  prime  military  necessity  to  replenish 
the  stock  or  leave  straggling  men  on  our  re 
treat.  Every  man  having  a  worn-out  horse  was 
sent  out  with  a  sergeant  or  corporal  to  trade 
off  his  horse  at  any  farm-house  right  or  left,  day 
and  night,  leaving  his  own  horse  in  exchange,  it 
taking  only  one  to  make  a  horse-trade  Morgan 
fax/iion.  Some  hundreds  of  horses  were  thus 
pressed  into  the  service,  but  some  six  unwary 
men  fell  behind  the  column  and  were  captured 


by  the  rebel  troops  that  were  following 
safe  distance  for  themselves  in  our  rear. 


us  at  a 
I  find 


that  the  Richmond  papers  give  us  the  credit  of 
doing  no  marauding,  nor  injury  to  private  prop 
erty.  Our  scouts  informed  us  that  five  hours 
after  we  left  Watauga  river  the  enemy  had  six 
teen  hundred  infantry  and  four  pieces  of  artil 
lery  brought  up  by  railway  from  Jonesboro  or 
Greenville,  and  put  upon  our  trail.  WTe  laugh 
ed  at  the  idea  of  footmen  and  field-pieces  fol 
lowing  up  the  paths  we  came  across  the  farms 


Our   guides 


coon-hunting  over  that 


certainly 
coun- 


and  lanes  and   ravines, 
must  have  been 

try  all  their  lives  at  dark  nights,  to  have  guided 
us  so  unerringly.  We  got  so  that  we  left  the 
horses  to  follow  up  in  the  dark,  and  although  it 
felt  sometimes  as  if  both  horse  and  saddle  were 
going  from  under  one  and  we  going  to  perdition, 
we  came  out  all  right  on  the  ravine  bottom  at 
last.  Humphrey  Marshall  moved  troops  from 
Abingdon  to  Blountsville  on  our  right,  and  trcops 


pearance,  and  was  beautified  by  being  covered 
with  snow,  while  the  surrounding  landscape  was 
dark.  It  looked  a-riftcd,  inaccessible,  and  un 
inhabitable  as  the  high  Alps  of  Switzerland. 
Hiding  at  night  down  the  South  Holston  at 
Kingsport,  —  there  a  broad  and  beautiful  stream 
fit  for  steamboating,  —  we  were  fired  upon  from 
over  the  river,  the  bullets  whistling  over  our 
heads  and  striking  the  fence  between  our  horses. 
I  got  tired  at  the  one-sided  arrangement  and  or 
dered  some  of  my  lads,  who  are  adepts  with  their 
rifles,  to  try  some  long  shots  in  the  moonlight  — 
dismounted ;  they  never  require  a  second  bid 
ding  for  that  kind  of  work,  and  the  popping  from 
over  the  river  was  quickly  ended.  I  cannot  tell 
if  there  was  "  anybody  hurt,"  but  we  came  off 
clear.  After  fording  the  north  Holston  at  its 
junction  with  the  main  stream,  we  marched  on 
to  a  very  fine  and  extensive  farm,  where  the 
horses  were  fed  and  the  men  had  their  coffee. 
The  night  had  become  unusually  nipping,  and 
large  fires  with  fence-rails  were  a  great  luxury 
to  benumbed  fingers  and  toes.  The  enemy  would 
not  let  us  rest  in  peace  to  enjoy  our  coffee,  but 
kept  popping  at  us  from  the  hill-tops  occasionally. 
There  was  quite  a  little  skirmish  back  in  town. 
Some  of  the  cavalry  following  us  up  had  the  au 
dacity  after  dark  to  attack  Col.  Carter,  his  orderly 
and  a  private,  at  a  hotel  in  Kingsport,  where  he 
was  acquainted,  and  had  halted  "behind  the  col 
umn  to  appease  his  hunger.  Some  twenty  or 
thirty  shots  were  exchanged  in  the  dark.  The 
orderly  got  a  ball  through  his  hand,  an1  our 
force  of  three  were  compelled  to  beat  a  retreat 
to  camp  across  the  North  Fork.  Our  pickets 
dashed  into  the  town,  but  the  enemy  had  fled 
and  all  was  quiet  again.  After  resting  three 
hours,  we  were  in  the  saddle  again  at  midnight, 
understanding  there  were  some  two  hundred 
2avalry  forward  of  us  whom  we  desired  to  cap 
ture.  Our  advance  caine  near  their  camp  neai 


18 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,  AND   INCIDENTS. 


go  down  to  meet  the  Maj  jr.  He  said,  "  Yes,  do 
so."  The  Sergeant  moved  forward  to  a  sharp 
curve  in  the  road  and  saw  the  Major  and  two 
citizens,  at  sixty  rods'  distance,  talking  to  the 
sentinels  at  the  bridge.  He  came  back  out  of 
sight,  dismounted  three  men  and  himself,  sent 
the  horses  back  to  the  column  halted  up  the  road, 
and  secreted  his  men  in  a  fence  corner  behind 
the  road  curve  to  await  the  Major's  coming. 
When  the  Major  and  the  two  citizens  came  up. 
conversing  about  the  "Yankees  "to  within  five 
feet  of  the  ambush,  they  were  appalled  by  the 
sight  of  the  bright  revolving  rifles  close  to  their 
heads  at  full  cock.  The  Sergeant  said, "  You  are 
my  prisoners."  Involuntarily  they  halt,  wheel 
their  horses  to  flee,  when  a  sharp  halt !  brought 
them  to  front  face  again.  The  Sergeant 
moved  them  up  toward  the  column.  Colonel 
Campbell  had  come  to  the  point  with  Colonel 
Carter.  Colonel  Campbell  addressed  the  Major, 
took  his  hand  and  told  him  he  had  come  to  take 
hi*  />o.s£,  and  if  he  did  not  surrender  uncondi 
tionally  he  would  take  it  al  any  rate  ;  saying 
abo,  "My  men  are  posted  to  fire  on  you  — 
you  have  not  a  moment  to  lose  to  avoid  use 
less  bloodshedding.  The  Major  wrote  a  note 
to  the  Captain  in  command  at  the  post  ami 
advised  its  surrender.  It  was  sent  down  with  a 
Hag  of  truce  and  the  place  was  surrendered  at 
once ;  the  rifles  peering  across  the  Ilolston  from 
the  hill  commanding  the  camp  being  persuaders 
too  potent  to  be  gainsaid.  The  telegraph  was 
instantly  destroyed  before  an  intimation  of  our 
presence  could  be  conveyed  and  the  railroad 
bridge  fired.  The  two  hundred  prisoners  (who 
appeared  to  be  rejoiced)  were  placed  under 
guard,  and  the  Ninth  Pennsylvania!!  and  Seventh 
Ohio  ordered  forward  from  the  Blountsville  road. 
On  their  arriving,  an  expedition  was  ordered 
under  Colonel  Walker  and  Colonel  Carter  to 
capture  and  burn  the  bridge  nine  miles  south 
west  across  Watauga  river,  consisting  of  compan 
ies  A,  C,  and  D,  the  twelve  rifles  of  Co.  B,  fifteen 
of  Co.  F,  Ninth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry ;  compa 
nies  A,  and  F,  Second  Michigan  Cavalry,  and  two 
companies  of  the  Seventh  Ohio  Cavalry.  The 
balance  of  the  troops  were  kept  back  by  Gen 
eral  Carter  to  destroy  the  county  bridge,  the 
turn-table,  cars,  ammunition,  camp  and  commis 
sary  stores,  and  to  follow  us  down  to  Watauga 
and  defend  our  rear  from  the  enemy's  800  troops 
at  Bristol,  fourteen  miles  by  railway,  and  Hum 
phrey  Marshall's  force  at  Abingdon,  thirty  miles 
off  by  railway.  At  five  miles  out  the  Watauga 
expedition  heard  a  whistle.  The  troops  were 
instantly  dismounted  and  ambushed  at  both  ends 
and  besides  a  deep  cut,  a  rail  cut  out  with  our 
axes  in  front,  and  men  ambushed  with  orders  to 
cut  out  a  rail  in  her  rear  the  instant  the  engine 
ran  into  the  deep  cut — all  in  less  time  than  it 
takes  me  to  write  it.  A  locomotive  and  tender 
came  in  sight,  ran  into  the  cut,  saw  the  rail  out, 
reversed  and  backed  out  instanter,  but  not  be 
fore  the  rail  was  up  in  their  rear,  and  they  were 
fully  caged  on  the  rifles  peering  over  the  bank. 
We  had  gotten  a  prize,-  having  captured  Col. 


Love,  of  the  Sixty-second  North  Carolina,  a 
Major,  a  Captain  and  a  telegraphic  staff  coming 
up  to  ascertain  why  the  telegraph  would  not 
work.  Five  minutes  sufficed  to  put  a  guard  on 
the  locomotive  and  run  her  down  after  us,  and 
we  were  again  0:1  our  way  and  on  the  alert.  It 
had  been  raining  slowly  all  day  and  now  came 
on  heavily.  Ne<iring  the  rr  bel  camp,  Col.  Car 
ter,  who  knew  all  the  ground,  arranged  the  attack. 
Col.  Walker  assisting.  Companies  A  and  F, 
Second  Michigan,  dismounted  on  the  right ;  the 
twelve  rifles  of  Company  A,  Ninth  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry,  in  the  centre,  and  Company  1),  Seventh 
Ohio,  with  their  rifles,  on  the  left,  were  to  sur 
round  the  camp,  the  balance  of  the  rifles  being 
posted  as  rear  guard  and  on  the  left  of  the  road, 
and  then  it  was  to  be  summoned  to  surrender, 
to  save  useless  bloodshed.  Unfortunately  there 
were  some  rebel  soldiers  on  the  ourtskirts  of  the 
'janip  chopping  wood,  six  of  whom  were  captured 
as  the  troops"  deployed,  but  two  ran  in  and 
alarmed  the  camp.  A  shot  was  fired  by  some 
one  on  the  left,  and  the  attack  became  general. 
The  rebels  were  under  arms  and  the  firing  was 
very  heavy  on  both  sides  for  the  numbers  en 
gaged,  for  ten  minutes,  whun  the  Ninth  Pennsyl 
vania,  followed  by  the  Seventh  Ohio,  charged 
on  the  camp  pistol  in  hand,  and  the  enemy  fled. 
Companies  C  and  D  and  the  balance  of  Company 
A,  Ninth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  had  been  formed 
in  fours  around  the  hill  to  charge  with  sabre 
should  there  be  resistance.  When  the  firing 
slacked  they  were  ordered  to  charge,  and  did  so, 
on  the  camp.  Finding  it  almost  abandoned, 
they  galloped  over  the  Watauga.  Companies  C 
and  1)  filed  left  into  a  ploughed  field  to  head  off 
the  retreating  enemy.  Company  A  kept  the 
road,  and  at  full  charge  came  on  them  drawn  up 
in  two  ranks  by  the  roadside.  Capt.  Jones 
ordering  them  to  throw  down  their  arms  at  thirty 
paces,  the  rebels  were  so  startled  by  the  rush  of 
horses  and  glancing  of  sabres  that  they  all  obeyed 
the  order,  but  a  half  dozen,  who  came  near  losing 
their  lives  by  not  doing  so.  There  were  two 
lieutenants  and  seventy-two  men  who  surren 
dered  and  saved  much  blood-shedding.  They 
were  making  their  way  to  a  log  house  close  at 
hand  —  a  capital  fortress  —  which  we  would 
have  been  compelled  to  have  stormed  at  once. 
Companies  C  and  D  went  down  the  road  and 
overhauled  sixteen  more.  The  short,  sharp  action 
cost  several  lives.  One  man  of  Company  D, 
Seventh  Ohio,  shot  dead ;  one  man  of  Company 
A,  Second  Michigan,  mortally  wounded  in  the 
abdomen,  and  two  of  the  twelve  men,  Company 
A,  Ninth  Pennsylvania,  wounded  in  the  leg;  one 
had  to  be  amputated  and  the  man  left  with  the 
rebel  wounded.  Of  the  rebel  forces,  there  were 
two  killed  and  fifteen  wounded.  Our  surgeou 
assisted  in  dressing  their  wounded,  and  two  of 
our  wounded  men  were  left  at  the  station,  Col. 
Love  and  Lieut.  Hill  promising  they  should  have 
the  same  care  as  their  own  men.  The  two  Lieu 
tenants,  Hill  aid ,  of  4he  Sixty-second 

North     Carolina,   fought   their   commands   with 
great  gallantry.     What  a  rity  thit  it  should  be 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,   AND  INCIDENTS. 


19 


exerted  in  so  evil  a  cause  as  the  disruption  of 
their  country. 

Our  prisoners  were  all  paroled  on  the  road, 
and  here,  amounting  to  near  four  hundred  and 
fifty,  inclusive  of  one  Colonel,  two  Majors,  two 
Captains  and  five  Lieutenants.  It  was  now  dark. 
The  telegraph  was  instantly  destroyed,  the  camp 
and  the  bridge  fired,  the  arms  broken  and  put 
on  the  locomotive,  and  after  the  bridge  had  fall 
en,  steam  was  drawn  on  the  engine  and  she  was 
run  over  the  abutment  on  to  the  burning  mass 
below  with  a  great  crash.  In  our  haste  to  ex 
pedite  these  matters  we  lost  a  prize  of  another  • 
locomotive  and  train  that  came  up  in  sight  at  the  • 
burning  bridge,  reversed  her  wheels  and  scudded  ! 
down  the  road  toward  Knoxville.  Jeff  Davis  | 
Himself  might  have  been  on  the  train.  It  is  the 
only  thing  we  have  to  reproach  ourselves  for  dur 
ing  the  expedition  as  being  left  undone,  or  half 
done.  There  were  two  hundred  and  fifty  cav 
alry  came  up  after  dark  to  reinforce  the  infan 
try.  Hearing  of  the  fight  they  wheeled  about 
and  marched  over  into  North  Carolina,  report 
ing  there  were  thirty  thousand  of  us  at  the  rail 
way.  Our  men  were  ordered  to  feed  their  horses 
on  the  rebel  corn,  and  rest  for  a  few  hours  ;  but 
there  was  no  rest  after  the  excitement  of  the 
day  and  night,  and  at  one  o'clock  on  the  night  of 
December  30th,  we  commenced  our  retreat,  arid 
by  strategy  to  baffle  the  enemy  that  our  scouts 
told  us  were  massing  to  cut  us  off  and  pursue  us. 
We  felt  confident  they  must  be  great  adepts  if 
they  could  outmanoeuvre  Gen.  and  Col.  Carter 
ami  our  guides.  Our  poor  horses  were  sinking 
Uiidcr  the  severe  toil  of  marching,  and  it  became 
a  matter  of  prime  military  necessity  to  replenish 
the  stock  or  leave  straggling  men  on  our  re 
treat.  Every  man  having  a  worn-out  horse  was 
sent  out  with  a  sergeant  or  corporal  to  trade 
off  his  horse  at  any  farm-house  right  or  left,  day 
and  night,  leaving  his  own  horse  in  exchange,  it 
taking  only  one  to  make  a  horse-trade  3forr/an 
fa*  hi  an.  Some  hundreds  of  horses  were  thus 
pressed  into  the  service,  but  some  six  unwary 
men  fell  behind  the  column  and  were  captured 
by  the  rebel  troops  that  were  following  us  at  a 
safe  distance  for  themselves  in  our  rear.  I  find 
that  the  Richmond  papers  give  us  the  credit  of 
doing  no  marauding,  nor  injury  to  private  prop 
erty.  Our  scouts  informed  us  that  five  hours 
after  we  left  Watauga  river  the  enemy  had  six 
teen  hundred  infantry  and  four  pieces  of  artil 
lery  brought  up  by  railway  from  Jonesboro  or 
Greenville,  and  put  upon  our  trail.  AVe  laugh 
ed  at  the  idea  of  footmen  and  field-pieces  fol 
lowing  up  the  paths  we  came  across  the  farms 
and  lanes  and  ravines.  Our  guides  certainly 
must  have  been  coon-hunting  over  that  coun 
try  all  their  lives  at  dark  nights,  to  have  guided 
us  so  unerringly.  We  got  so  that  we  left  the 
horses  to  follow  up  in  the  dark,  and  although  it 
felt  sometimes  as  if  both  horse  and  saddle  were 
going  from  under  one  and  we  going  to  perdition, 
we  came  out  all  right  on  the  ravine  bottom  at 
last.  Humphrey  Marshall  moved  troops  from 
Abingdon  to  filountsville  on  our  right,  and  trcops 


were  moved  from  Rogersville  to  Kingsport  to  in 
tercept  us ;  but  we  passed  between  "  Seylla  "  on 
the  one  hand  and  "Charybdis"  on  the  other, 
and  came  out  ahead  of  them  all.  While  on  our 
rout  to  Kingsport,  a  man  by  the  roadside  told 
me  that  the  infantry  and  artillery  stationed  there 
had  crossed  our  route  six  hours  before  marching 
to  Blountsville,  expecting  to  intercept  us  there. 
While  on  'lie  high  ridge  above  Kingsport  we 
had  a  beautiful  view  of  a  snowy  mountain,  illum 
ined  by  the  setting  sun.  At  fifty  miles  distance 
towered  up  the  black  mountain  'of  North  Caro 
lina,  six  thousand  nine  hundred  feet  in  the  air, — 
the  highest  land  in  the  old  United  States  proper, 
standing  like  Saul  a  full  head  and  shoulders  over 
all  his  companions.  It  looked  exceedingly  rug 
ged  at  that  great  distance,  with  its  rude  con 
cave  side  towards  us,  seamed  and  furrowed  by 
tremendous  chasms  from  top  to  bottom.  It  had 
a  crest  of  two  or  three  miles  in  length,  and  is 
crescent-shaped  on  top,  very  steep  on  both  ends, 
and  towering  so  high  above  all  others,  seemed 
not  to  be  a  member  of  any  chain  of  mountains 
that  I  could  perceive  in  the  distance.  For  an 
isolated  mountain  it  was  very  picturesque  in  ap 
pearance,  and  was  beautified  by  being  covered 
with  snow,  while  the  surrounding  landscape  was 
dark.  It  looked  a-riftcd,  inaccessible,  and  un 
inhabitable  as  the  high  Alps  of  Switzerland. 
Hiding  at  night  down  the  South  Holston  at 
Kingsport,  —  there  a  broad  and  beautiful  stream 
fit  for  steamboating,  —  we  were  fired  upon  from 
over  the  river,  the  bullets  whistling  over  our 
heads  and  striking  the  fence  between  our  horses. 
I  got  tired  at  the  one-sided  arrangement  and  or 
dered  some  of  my  lads,  who  are  adepts  with  their 
rifles,  to  try  some  long  shots  in  the  moonlight  — 
dismounted ;  they  never  require  a  second  bid 
ding  for  that  kind  of  work,  and  the  popping  from 
over  the  river  was  quickly  ended.  I  cannot  tell 
if  there  was  "  anybody  hurt,"  but  we  came  off 
clear.  After  fording  the  north  Holston  at  its 
junction  with  the  main  stream,  we  marched  on 
to  a  very  fine  and  extensive  farm,  where  the 
horses  were  fed  and  the  men  had  their  coffee. 
The  night  had  become  unusually  nipping,  and 
large  fires  with  fence-rails  were  a  great  luxury 
to  benumbed  fingers  and  toes.  The  enemy  would 
not  let  us  rest  in  peace  to  enjoy  our  coffee,  but 
kept  popping  at  us  from  the  hill-tops  occasionally. 
There  was  quite  a  little  skirmish  back  in  town. 
Some  of  the  cavalry  following  us  up  had  the  au 
dacity  after  dark  to  attack  Col.  Carter,  his  orderly 
and  a  private,  at  a  hotel  in  Kingsport,  where  he 
was  acquainted,  and  had  halted  "behind  the  col 
umn  to  appease  his  hunger.  Some  twenty  or 
thirty  shots  were  exchanged  in  the  dark.  The 
orderly  got  a  ball  through  his  hand,  and  our 
force  of  three  were  compelled  to  beat  a  retreat 
to  camp  across  the  North  Fork.  Our  pickets 
dashed  into  the  town,  but  the  enemy  had  fled 
and  all  was  quiet  again.  After  resting  three 
hours,  we  were  in  the  saddle  again  at  midnight, 
understanding  there  were  some  two  hundred 
:ava)ry  forward  of  us  whom  we  desired  to  cap- 
;uie.  Our  advance  caine  near  their  camp  neai 


20 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND   INCIDENTS. 


Clinch  river,  but  they  fled  and  our  poor  horses 
were  too  jaded  to  pursue  them.  The  "bush 
whackers  "  had  quite  a  busy  time,  popping  at  us 
crossing  Clinch  river.  Rested  at  night  for  a  few 
hours  on  a  limestone  mountain,  and  exchanged 
a  few  long  shots  with  the  enemy  to  no  purpose. 
Started  at  daybreak,  without  breakfast  or  horse- 
feed,  on  our  last  long  day's  march  to  the  Cum 
berland  mountain,  crossing  Powell's  mounta:n, 
river,  and  valley.  The  "bushwhackers"  here 
had  an  unusually  busy  day  at  it,  even  for  them, 
lively  as  they  are.  But  they  are  either  miser 
able  shots  or  have  miserable  guns,  for  they  have 
not  touched  a  man  since  we  left  the  railroad,  ex 
cept  Col.  Gaiter's  orderly,  shot  in  the  hand-to- 
hand  fight ;  whereas  two  of  the  Michigan  sharp 
shooters  "incontinently"  rolled  two  of  them 
down  the  rocks  at  about  seven  hundred  yards. 
While  I  was  fording  Powell's  river,  they  were 
darting  in  and  out  among  the  trees  and  rocky 
hill-tops,  and  throwing  down  some  lead  in  a  very 
spiteful  way,  but  did  no  damage.  I  concluded, 
after  crossing  and  seeing  one  fellow  blazing  away 
among  the  rocks,  to  try  and  cure  him  with  a 
little  xaltpetre,  as  salt  was  scarce,  and  called  two 
of  my  lads  out  of  the  ranks.  One  of  them  drew 
a  siyht  on  him,  and  he  cut  up  some  very  ludi 
crous  antics  for  a  sane  man.  lie  flew  round  and 
scrabbled  about  among  the  rocks,  and  then  made 
a  dart  up  the  hill,  rattling  down  the  stones  at  an 
alarming  rate ;  he  bounced  about  it  as  if  burnt 
with  a  hot  iron,  and  not  at  all  pleased  with  the 
impression  made. 

At  Jonesville,  Va.,  the  rebels  had  quite  a 
force.  After  our  column  had  passed  they  en 
gaged  our  rear  guard  of  the  Seventh  Ohio,  and 
we  were  all  halted,  the  General  sending  back  the 
rifles  of  Co.  B,  Ninth  Pa.  Cavalry,  to  deploy  as 
skirmishers  and  engage  them  in  the  open  field, 
and  Co.  D,  Ninth  Pa.,  with  sabres.  It  was  un 
derstood  that  they  expected  to  engage  our  at 
tention,  so  long  as  to  enable  a  force  to  move 
around  by  Poor  valley,  occupy  the  mountain 
pass,  engage  our  front,  and  have  us  between  two 
tires.  We  were  crossing  at  our  old  gap  (only 
twenty  miles  from  the  Cumberland  Gap),  con 
trary  to  their  expectations.  There  was  some 
little  firing  on  our  front,  and  quite  a  brisk  little 
skirmish  in  the  rear.  As  usual  they  kept  at  too 
great  a  distance  for  their  shooting  and  did  no 
harm,  but  there  were  several  rebels  shot  down 
by  our  rear  guard  and  skirmishers,  among  whom 
were  some  Michigan  rifles,  when  they  concluded 
to  draw  off  and  let  us  go  on  our  "  winding  way," 
which  we  did  without  further  molestation.  We 
had  made  a  very  severe  day's  march,  with  a 
little  sprinkling  of  fighting,  and  nothing  to  eat 
since  the  night  before  for  man  or  beast,  and 
while  we  were  at  Jonesville,  there  was  a  very 
tair  prospect  of  a  regular  mountain  battle  for  the 
possession  of  the  pass.  I  had  been  giddy  from 
want  of  food  and  rest,  while  marching  down  to 
Watauga,  but  did  not  feel  it  much  during  the  ex 
citement  of  the  homeward  march.  I  slept  on 
my  horse  during  the  bushwhacking  of  the  day  ; 
and  while  waiting  for  the  rear  to  scatter  the  ene- 


|  my  at  Jonesville,  one  of  my  men  said  he  was 
i  hungry.  I  had  entirely  forgotten  that  I  had  not 
|  eaten  for  twenty-four  hours,  and  felt  no  symptoms 
of  hunger,  and  told  him  that  we  might  yet  have 
a  two  days'  figh'.  up  the  cliffs  of  the  Cumberland 
mountain  withou',  coffee,  and  I  felt  as  if  I  would 
be  able  to  stand  it  for  three.  We  moved  on  to 
the  foot  of  the  mountain,  and  now  there  was  the 
excitement  to  know  whose  ^orse  would  reach 
the  top  and  whose  would  fail.  They  were  all 
very  carefully  handled,  but  many  a  one  of  them 
failed,  and  the  poor  cavalryman  would  be  seen 
breaking  up  his  saddle  with  a  rock  and  catting 
up  the  leather  with  a  knife  to  prevent  secesh 
from  using  it.  The  poor  horse  wanted  no 
quietus  ;  he  generally  dropped  dead  in  his  efforts 
to  scale  a  rock,  and  fell  over  out  of  the  path,  ex 
cept  one  that  made  a  convenient  stepping-plaoe 
for  his  more  fortunate  fellow  horse.  There  must 
have  been  thirty  horses  fallen  dead  ascending 
the  Cumberland.  The  men  shouldered  their 
blankets,  gave  one  last  look  at  their  steed  stiff 
ening  in- the  keen  frosty  night  air,  and  clambered 
on  over  the  rocks.  When  I  reached  the  topmost 
crest  I  cried,  "  All  hail,  Kentucky  !"  and  stretch 
ed  out  my  arm  as  if  to  grasp  and  welcome  a  long 
lost  friend.  The  excitement  was  over,  and  •  I 
felt  faint  and  giddy.  I  scarcely  know  how  I 
got  down;  and  when  I  reached  the  little  valley 
at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  and  had  a  fire  of 
rails  kindled,  fatigue  overpowered  all  the  animal 
wants  and  ailments,  and  the  moment  I  lay  down 
upon  the  frozen  earth,  I  was  fast  asleep,  and  so 
continued  until  well  shaken  after  sunrise.  Our 
horses  had  corn  here,  but  we  were  on  short  ra 
tions.  The  ground  was  frozen  hard,  and  all  the 
shoes  had  been  put  on  the  horses'  feet,  and  none 
short  of  Richmond  or  Nicholasville.  There  had 
been  no  kegs  of  shoes  brought  to  McKees  with 
the  corn,  and  the  prospects  ahead  were  dark  for 
the  men  who  had  limping  horses  whose  feet  were 
worn  to  the  quick.  I  saw  them  cut  up  clothes 
and  blankets  arid  tie  them  on  their  feet,  but  it 
j  did  no  good;  nothing  but  iron  would  answer 
!  on  the  frozen  and  rocky  creek  beds  and  gullies 
j  which  formed  our  path.  We  had  been  signally 
|  favored  by  Providence  with  unfrozen  roads  in 
;  the  enemy's  country,  but  now  they  were  telling 
on  horse-flesh.  Every  day  a  score  or  more  of 
men  were  compelled  to  drop  their  horses  and 
shoulder  their  muskets.  There  was  no  mur 
muring;  nor  did  I  hear  a  whimper  from  any 
man  who  marched  twenty  or  thirty  miles  in  a 
day  (all  unused  to  walking  as  he  was),  with  his 
boots  worn  and  torn,  and  his  feet  on  the  rocks 
and  frozen  ground.  Two  days  after  our  arrival 
on  Kentucky  soil,  we  encountered  a  storm,  which 
raised  alJ  the  Tennessee  rivers  and  made  them 
unfordable.  Two  days  after  our  arrival  here  at 
Nicholasville,  has  come  upon  us  the  heaviest 
snow-storm  for  many  years.  I  lift  my  hands 
in  praise  when  I  think  of  our  escape  from  this 
storm  among  the  mountains,  and  shudder  at  the 
thought  of  what  would  have  been  the  condition 
of  n  an  and  beast  there  without  f(  od  or  forage. 
We  should  have  been  complied  to  adopt  the 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


21 


plan  Duroc  proposed  to  Napoleon  at  Moscow: 
to  slaughter,  salt,  and  cat  his  horses  to  save  his 
men.  Our  most  arduous  and  hazardous  march 
of  five  hundred  miles  to  and  fro  in  twenty  days, 
over  an  almost  impracticable  mountain  country 
in  mid-winter,  has  been  a  complete  success.  Of 
one  thousand  men,  there  were  only  two  killed, 
two  wounded,  and  six  missing  —  supposed  tc  be 
captured. 

I  must  relate  a  little  incident  of  the  march  com 
ing  down  the  Red  Bird,  in  a  country  where 
"  corndodgers "  are  worth  a  dime.  A  part  of 
one  I  have  preserved  as  a  curiosity,  for  its  fos 
sil-like  appearance,  to  show  what  a  soldier  can 
subsist  on  when  he  is  put  to  it.  I  think  I  must 
have  it  engraven  for  Harper  or  Frank  Leslie,  with 
all  the  finger-marks  on  it.  The  "corndodger" 
is  an  institution;  and  he  is  fitly  named,  as  any 
one  can  tell 'who  takes  him  in  hand;  for  if  he  is 
mixed  up  as  usual  with  water  and  no  salt,  and 
well  baked  and  thrown  at  you,  if  you  do  notflodge, 
and  he  hits  you,  his  name  will  be'  remembered  for 
many  a  long  day,  I  warrant  it. 

In  the  western  counties  of  Kentucky  saw-mills 
and  grist-mills  are  known  to  but  few  inhabitants. 
The  corn  is  broken  into  coarse  grains  with  a  pes 
tle  attached  to  a  spring-pole,  or  grated  on  a  piece 
of  tin  or  iron  punched  out  rough  with  a  nail.  The 
country  is  clear  of  wind-mills  or  sieves  to  clear  it 
of  husks  ;  such  superfluities  have  been  played  out, 
or  rather  they  have  never  been  played  in ;  but 
hospitality  has  not  been  played  out.  I  will  relate 
an  incident.  The  horse  of  one  of  my  soldiers 
yielded  up  his  life  on  the  rugged  paths  this  side 
of  the  Cumberland  mountain.  The  soldier  was 
making  his  way  in  the  rear  of  the  column  over 
the  rocks  of  the  Red  Bird,  with  his  pistol  at  his 
belt  and  his  trusty  ride,  which  had  done  him  such 
good  service  at  Watauga  river  (his  "  Betsy  Ann," 
as  he  called  it),  on  one  shoulder  and  his  blankets 
on  the  other,  trudging  along  at  sunset  for  the 
camp,  miles  ahead  of  him,  and  "  whistling  as  he 
went  for  want  of  thought,"  when  a  native  over 
took  him.  "  Stranger/'  said  he,  "  you  have  a 
heavy  load ;  give  me  your  blankets "  (and  he  ' 
took  them  off  his  shoulder).  "  You  must  come 
and  stay  with  me  to-night  down  to  my  house  at 
the  Big  Rocks."  So  soldier,  nothing  loth,  acqui 
esced,  and  they  trudged  through  mud  and  over 
rocks,  and  in  the  bed  of  the  creek  for  some 
miles,  and  arrived  at  his  clay-chinked  cabin, 
where  were  his  "  household  gods "  in  form  of 
a  wife  and  a  host  of  children,  such  as  are  to  be 
found  in  every  poor  man's  cabin  in  Kentucky. 
You  will  almost  see  the  exact  counterpart  of  the 
primer-book  picture  of  John  Rogers'  wife,  ex 
cepting  there  will  be  ten,  eleven,  or  twelve  children 
who  can  just  peep  over  each  others'  heads  in 
regular  gradation  beside  "  the  one  at  the  breast." 
The  host  says,  "  Mary  Ann,  can  you  get  supper 
for  this  tired  soldier  ?  "  "  Yes,"  says  the  wife, 
44  if  you  pound  the  corn,"  and  she  handed  him 
four  ears,  which  he  soon  manipulated  with  his 
spring  pole  and  pestle  in  the  yard.  The  supper 
was  soon  prepared  of  the  corn  mixed  with  water 
(no  salt,  for  they  had  none),  and  scraps  of  bacon 


fried,  and  he  ate  on  the  principle  of  the  Indian, 
"  eat  much,  get  strong  ! "  The  tired  soldier,  who 
had  not  seen  the  inside  of  a  house  for  months, 
rested,  after  six  days'  march  and  no  sleep,  as 
only  such  men  can  rest  when  they  know  the 
pickets  are  posted  and  the  guard  mounted ;  he 
taking  the  Kentuckian  for  his  guard.  At  sun 
rise  he  was  wakened  by  the  "  thud,  thud,"  of  the 
corn-grinding  machine,  and  presently  the  good 
dame  invited  him  to  sit  at  the  table  to  the  corn 
dodgers,  the  bacon  scr  ips,  an  i  the  corn-coffee, 
innocent  of  sugar  or  cream,  so  as  to  expedite 
him  on  his  way  before  the  children  were  up  to 
have  their  remnants  of  clothes  put  on  them. 
After  he  had  eaten,  not  before,  his  host  apologized 
for  the  lateness  of  his  breakfast,  saying  that  his 
corn  was  all  eaten  over  night,  and  he  had  to  go 
four  miles  to  borrow  some  of  his  near  neighbor  for 
the  soldier's  breakfast.  The  soldier  donning  his 
load,  having  received  no  pay  for  more  than  four 
months,  thanked  him  as  he  should  have  been 
thanked  by  a  man  ready  and  willing  to  pay,  but 
having  no  money  in  his  pocket,  and  with 
unwonted  full  stomach  went  on  his  way  rejoicing 
to  overtake  his  comrades. 

Where  indeed  among  the  rich  will  such  hospi 
tality,  such  abnegation  of  self  be  found  ?  or 
where  among  them  the  man  that  will  contribute 
such  a  mite  to  his  country  V  It  is  like  the 
scriptural  widow,  who,  out  of  her  poverty  "gave 
even  all  that  she  had."  When  we  arrived  at 
Big  Hill  we  were  met  by  a  wagon  train  ladened 
with  rations  and  corn  that  had  been  sent  for  by 
Gen.  Carter's  messenger  pressed  on  before  us  at 
Manchester,  on  our  homeward  route,  to  order  the 
train  forward  to  us.  When  the  white-topped 
wagons  were  seen  by  our  men,  one  universal 
shout  went  up  as  a  glorification  for  the  hard 
bread  they  knew  them  to  contain.  To  men  who 
had  been  roasting  lumps  of  corn  meal  or  of 
wheat  flour  in  the  ashes  for  days,  the  transition 
was  great  indeed,  and  ere  dark  the  "  slow 
enough  "  colfee  was  boiling,  the  bacon  toasting  on 
the  sticks,  and  "  there  was  a  great  feast  of  fat 
things "  that  night.  Resting  at  Big  Hill  a  few 
hours,  with  the  cares  and  perplexities  of  the 
march  oil'  my  shoulders,  I  had  time  to  look  back 
at  the  beauties  of  the  place,  which  I  had  not 
done  when  we  moved  forward.  Here  is  a  table 
land  four  hundred  feet  high,  which  was  once  the 
shore  of  the  great  lake  of  which  the  "  blue  grass 
region  "  is  the  bottom.  The  sand-stone  strata  of 
seventy  feet  crowning  this  table  land  has  been 
washed  into  many  singular  and  unique  forms, 
each  cliff  so  unlike  the  other  that  each  would 
make  a  separate  picture.  In  one  place  there  is 
a  genuine  mountain,  apart  as  it  were.  The  wa 
ter  had  washed  entirely  around  it.  The  soil 
under  strata  giving  way  was  only  saved  by  the 
capping,  which,  covered  with  some  earth  and 
trees,  once  formed  an  island  in  the  lake  some 
distance  from  shore.  Moving  along  for  several 
miles  these  sand-stone  cap  rocks  are  seen  in 
fantastic  array  succeeding  each  other,  and  you 
are  astonished  at  the  varied  forms  of  them  and 
at  the  sudden  eta  ige  in  tL  e  form  of  each  as  you 


22 


ANECDOTES.  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


view  it  from  another  point.  They  are  all  well 
worth  transferring  to  canvas,  and  as  they  have 
been  somewhat  noted  in  these  wars,  they  should 
oe  placed  with  its  illustrations.  The  quiet  "  blue 
grass  region  "  possessed  a  great  charm  to  our 
worn  and  anxious  minds  longing  for  rest,  and 
the  old  walnut-trees  near  Richmond,  covered 
with  mistletoe  until  they  looked  like  pine-trees, 
had  a  charm  of  still  life  in  them  that  was  very 
soothing,  lulling  the  mind  into  dreams  of  the 
Druids  and  of"  that  olden  time  when  rushing, 
fiery  modern  wars  were  unknown. 


THE  VOICE  OF  THE  NORTH. 

BY   JOHN    G.   WHITTIER. 

UP  the  hill-side,  down  the  glen, 
Rouse  the  sleeping  citizen  : 
Summon  out  the  might  of  men  I 

JLike  a  lion  growling  low  — 
Like  u  night-storm  rising  slow- 
Like  the  tread  of  unseen  foe  — 

It  is  coming  — it  is  nigh  ! 
Stand  your  homes  and  altars  by, 
On  your  own  free  threshold  die. 

Clang  the  bells  in  all  your  spires, 
On  the  gray  hills  of  your  sires 
Fling  to  heaven  your  signal-fires. 

Oh  !  for  God  and  duty  stand, 
Heart  to  heart,  and  hand  to  hand, 
Round  the  old  graves  of  the  land. 

Whoso  shrinks  or  falters  now, 
Whoso  to  the  yoke  would  bow, 
Brand  the  craven  on  his  brow. 

Freedom's  soil  has  only  place 
For  a  free  and  fearless  race  — 
None  for  traitors  false  and  base. 

Perish  party  —  perish  clan  ; 
Strike  together  while  you  can, 
Like  the  strong  arm  of  one  man. 

Like  the  angels'  voice  sublime, 
Heard  above  a  world  of  crime, 
Crying  for  the  end  of  Time. 

With  one  heart  and  with  one  mouth, 
Let  the  North  speak  to  the  South ; 
Speak  the  word  befitting  both. 


CHRISTMAS  AMONG  THE  FREEDMEN. —  It  is 
well  understood  that  Christmas  was  the  grand 
holiday  of  the  slaves  on  the  southern  planta 
tions.  In  some  parts  of  the  South,  the  colored 
people  have  this  year,  1863,  celebrated  it  with 
unusual  zest.  A  correspondent  writes  home  about 
one  celebration  by  the  soldiers  of  the  Ninth  Lou 
isiana  Regiment,  corps  d'  Afrique,  and  tells  how 
they  met  and  gave  expression  to  their  feelings,  on 
Christmas  day  —  their  first  free  Christmas.  After 
prayer,  and  speeches  were  in  order,  one  man. 
says  the  correspondent,  spoke  about  as  follows : 


"  Fellow  Soldiers  of  the  Sebemh  Regiment :  I  is 
mighty  glad  to  enjoy  dis  portnnity  for  enjoying 
dis  fust  free  Christmas  in  dis  world  what  we  live 
in.  A  year  ago,  where  was  we  ?  We  was  down 
in  de  dark  la:\d  of  slavery.  And  now  where  are 
we  ?  We  are  free  men,  and  soldiers  of  the  United 
States.  And  what  have  we  to  do  ?  We  have  to 
fight  de  rebels  so  dat  we  never  more  be  slaves. 
When  de  day  of  battle  come  what  will  we  do  ? 
I  speak  for  me,  and  I  say  for  myself,  I  go  and 
fight  ie  rebels  till  de  last  man  die.  Yes,  under 
de  flags  what  was  presented  to  us  from  New 
York,  we  fight  till  de  last  man  die;  and  if  I  be 
de  last  man,  what  will  I  do  ?  I  hold  up  de  flags, 
and  if  I  die,  uen  I  go  to  my  grave  consified  for 
doing  my  duty.  De  President  of  de  United 
States  is  one  great  man  what  has  done  more 
good  dan  any  oder  man  what  ever  was  horned. 
I  bless  de  Lord  we  fight  for  so  good  Commander. 
I  have  no  more  to  say  now  and  evermore  — - 
Amen." 


CONSCRIPT  QUAKERS.  —  An  amusing  incident 
occurred  at  the  Provost  Marshal's  olfice  at  Gen. 
Lee's  head-quarters  at  Orange  Court  House,  Va. 
Four  Quakers  were  brought"  in  as  conscripts  from 
Loudon.  They  were  ordered  to  fall  in  the  ranks, 
in  order  to  be  inarched  to  the  command  to  which 
they  were  to  be  assigned.  They  refused,  saying, 
"  We  will  not  fall  in,  but  will  follow  whitherso 
ever  thou  leadest."  A  few  persuasive  arguments, 
however,  in  the  shape  of  thrusts  with  bayonets, 
changed  their  opinions,  and  they  fell  in  and 
marched  off  to  camp. 


THE  PRESIDENT  AND  THE  PAYMASTER.  — 
One  of  the  numerous  paymasters  at  Washington 
sought  an  introduction  to  Mr.  Lincoln.  He 
arrived  at  the  White  House  quite  opportunely, 
and  was  introduced  to  the  President  by  the 
United  States  Marshal,  with  ,his  blandest  smile. 
While  shaking  hands  with  the  President  the  pay 
master  remarked,  "  I  have  no  official  business 
with  you,  Mr.  President,  I  only  called  to  pay  my 
compliments."  "  I  understand,"  replied  "  honest 
Abe,"  "  and  from  the  complaints  of  the  soldiers,  I 
think  that  is  all  you  do  pay" 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  VICKSBURG.  —  A  corre 
spondent  relates  the  following: — A  wife  who 
dwelt  in  the  West,  beyond  the  lakes,  whose1  hus 
band  is  an  officer  in  the  army,  had  not  heard 
from  him  for  some  weeks.  Two  small  boys 
were  with  him,  —  their  only  ones.  While  she  sat 
at  home,  reading  a  paper,  her  eyes  fell  upon  a 
notice  of  the  death  of  her  husband.  All  the 
tenderness  of  a  mother's  love,  all  the  strength  of 
a  wife's  devotion,  nerved  her  to  start  immediately 
for  her  children,  and  clasp  them  to  a  widowed 
heart.  Day  after  day  passed ;  how  slowly  let  a 
mother  tell ;  how  tedious  let  a  widow  speak  who 
knows  her  idol  broken  in  a  distant  land.  Two 
weeks  were  past  ere  she  reached  Vicksburg 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


23 


Three  days  a  sand  bar !  What  torture  !  At 
last  she  reached  the  hoped-for  city.  As  the  boat 
neared  the  wharf  one  looked  at  the  crowd,  and 
saw  her  two  boys  upon  ponies,  and  beside  them 
the  father  and  husband.  One  long,  piercing  cry 
of  joy  filled  the  air ;  the  husband  flew,  rather 
than  ran,  and  took  the  lifeless  form  in  his  arms. 
It  was  too  much  of  joy  for  a  heart  overcharged 
with  grief.  The  strings  snapped  and  reason  tot 
tered  for  a  time,  to  fall,  in  two  days,  to  the  sleep 
of  death. 


THE  AMNESTY  PROCLAMATION. — A  few  days 
after  the  publication  of  the  President's  Message 
and  Proclamation,  the  fact  of  its  promulgation 
having  been  made  known  to  the  rebel  pickets, 
they  maniiested  great  curiosity  to  hear  it ;  and 
one  of  our  men  consenting  to  read  it  to  them, 
quite  a  party  collected  on  the  opposite  bank  to 
listen.  While  it  was  reading,  the  utmost  silence 
and  attention  were  preserved  by  the  listening 
rebels,  and  after  it  was  finished  one  of  them 
called  out :  "  Well,  that  sounds  about  right. 
We'll  go  back  to  camp  and  tell  the  boys  about 
it."  Papers  are  frequently  exchanged  by  the 
pickets,  but  the  rebels  tell  our  men  that  their 
officers  do  not  like  them  to  get  our  papers  of  late 
as  "  there  is  nothing  encouraging  in  them." 


LETTERS  TO  SOLDIERS.  —  The  army  corre 
spondent  of  the  Atalunta  "  Intelligencer,"  relates 
the  following  incident  to  show  how  welcome  a  let 
ter  from  home  was  to  the  soldier,  and  how  de 
pressing  it  was  when  those  at  home  neglected  to 
write  to  him : 

"  I  witnessed  an  incident  yesterday  which  goes 
far  to  show  how  welcome  a  letter  is  to  the  soldier, 
and  how  sad  he  feels,  when  those  at  home  neg 
lect  to  write  to  him.  As  I  was  riding  to  town  I 
heard  a  man  on  horseback  hail  another  in  a 
wagon,  and,  going  up,  handed  him  a  letter. 
Another  man  in  the  same  wagon  inquired  if 
there  was  no  letter  for  him,  and  the  reply  was 
*  none.'  It  was  at  that  moment  I  noted  the 
feeling  between  the  two  men  by  their  changed 
countenances.  The  features  of  one  lit  up  with 
pleasure,  as  he  perused  the  epistle  in  his  hand,  — 
doubtless  the  letter  of  some  dear  wife  or  mother, 
—  and  as  he  read  it,  a  smile  of  joy  would  illumi 
nate  his  weather-beaten  face.  This  was  happi 
ness.  It  was  an  oasis  on  the  desert  of  his  rough 
life  of  danger  and  suffering,  and  no  doubt  was 
welcomed  "by  him  as  the  dearest  gift  a  relative 
could  send.  With  the  other  the  opposite  effect 
was  observed ;  as  soon  as  the  word  '  none '  had 
passed  the  lips  of  the  man  addressed,  the  look  of 
anxiety  with  which  the  question  was  put  faded 
away,  and  an  appearance  of  extreme  sorrow 
could  have  been  seen  plainly  stamped  on  his  feat 
ures,  while  a  feeling  of  envy  at  his  fortunate  com 
rade  was  very  apparent.  This  was  unhappiness. 
The  song  of  hope  that  had  illuminated  his  heart 
when  he  inquired  if  there  was  any  letter  for  him 
had  died  a^vay,  and  a  feeling  of  loneliness  and  re 


gret  at  the  neglect  of  those  at  home  took  posses 
sion  of  him.  Happy  are  they  who  have  homes 
and  loved  ones  to  hear  from!  While  it  is  the 
cruelest  of  all  neglect  not  to  write  to  those  rela 
tives  in  the  army  ;  if  it  makes  them  sad  and  un 
happy,  how  much  more  must  those  feel  whose 
homes  are  in  possession  of  the  enemy,  and  they 
'  annot  hear  from  their  relatives." 


ABOU  BEN  BUTLER. 

Anou  Ben  Butler  (may  his  tribe  increase  !) 
Awoke  one  night  down  by  the  old  Beii/e, 
And  saw,  outside  the  comfort  of  his  room, 
Making  it  warmer  for  the  gathering  gloom, 
A  black  man  shivering  in  the  winter's  cold. 
Exceeding  courage  made  Ben  Butler  bold, 
And  to  the  presence  in  the  dark  he  said  : 
"  What  wantest  thou  1 "     The  figure  raised  its 

head, 

And  with  a  look  made  of  all  sad  accord 
Answered  :    "  The  men  who'll  serve  the  purpose 

of  the  Lord." 

"  And  am  I  one  ?  "  said  Butler.    "  Nay,  not  so," 
Replied  the  black  man.    Butler  spoke  more  low, 
Bat  cheerily  still  and  said:    "  As  I  am  Ben, 
You'll  not  have  cause  to  tell  me  that  again." 

The  figure  bowed  and  vanished.    The  next  night 
It  came  once  more,  environed  strong  in  light, 
And  showed  the  names  whom  love  of  freedom 

blessed, 
And  lo !   Ben  Butler's  name  led  all  the  rest. 


ANECDOTE  OF  GENERAL  SUMNER.  —  When 
a  young  man,  he  was  a  stage-driver  among  the 
Berkshire  hills,  in  Massachusetts,  and  this  is  how 
he  happened  to  get  into  the  army  :  At  a  time  in 
winter  when  tlie  roads  were  dangerous,  going 
down  a  steep  hill,  the  stage  slewed  and  turned 
over,  but  the  horses  kept  on.  One  of  the  passen 
gers  pushed  out  the  door  on  the  upper  side  of  the 
coach  and  climbed  upon  the  box,  and  attempted 
to  take  the  reins  from  Sumner's  hands.  **  You 
let  the  reins  alone  or  I'll  throw  you  off!  "  said  the 
driver,  with  determination.  The  passenger  wise 
ly  abandoned  his  attempt  at  interference,  and 
Sumner  guided  the  team  firmly  till  it  was  safe  to 
stop  them,  dragging  the  overturned  coach  along, 
and  so  saved  passengers  and  team.  The  passen 
ger  who  attempted  to  take  the  reins  was  General 
Worth.  Ho  was  so  impressed  with  young  Sum 
ner's  sterling  qualities  that  he  cultivated  his  ac 
quaintance  and  induced  him  to  join  the  army, 
and  the  cool  and  determined  driver  made  an  in 
trepid  commander." 

THE    BIBLE    ON    THE    BATTLE-FIELD.  — 

Among  the  dead  of  one  of  the  battle-fields  before 
Richmond  was  a  rebel  soldier,  who  lay  unburied 
several  days  after  the  conflict.  Already  the 
flesh  had  been  eaten  by  the  worms  from  his  fin 
gers,  but  underneath  the  skeleton  hand  lay  an 
open  copy  of  the  Bible,  and  the  fingers  pressed 
upon  those  precious  words  of  the  twenty-thiid 
P^alm,  "  Thj  rod  a:id  %  staff  they  comfort  me." 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND   INCIDENTS. 


ENLISTED. 


BY    W.   A.   KENDALL. 

"  YOU'VE  donned  the  peerless  uniform 

Of  good  old  Uncle  Sam  "  — 
Around  my  neck  her  arms  she  threw, 
A  nd  to  her  breast  my  own  she  drew  — 
With  tears  her  fond  eyes  swam. 

'  Y  lu're  dearer  to  me  than  I  thought  — 

Since  in  this  steadfast  hue 
Your  form  was  draped,  its  impress  takes 
A  depth  such  as  a  hero's  makes  — 
Ail  hail,  my  own  true  blue ! 

"  Prouder  am  I  to  see  you  thus  — 
Though  it  preludes  good-by  — 
Than  were  you  crowned  perchance  a  king 
Whose  name  in  action  ne'er  did  ring, 
Whose  soul  gives  fame  the  lie. 

"  Your  stature  seems  to  gain  in  height 

From  your  high  motive's  aim  ; 
And  to  such  eminence  my  heart 
Is  lifted,  I  am  strong  to  part  — 
Oli !  to  reserve  were  shame ! 

"  (Jo,  save  our  country  !  she  is  first  — 

Stand  guard  until  you  fall ; 
Or  '.ill  the  danger  overcome 
Shall  respite  the  alarum-drum  — 

I  will  delay  recall. 

"  Go,  where  along  the  lurid  front 
The  Union  vanguards  tramp ! 
Do  your  whole  duty,  danger  spurn, 
When  Freedom's  laurelled,  then  return  — 
These  arms  shall  be  your  camp ! 

"  As  I  would  ask,  so  you  have  done  — 

'  God  shield  you !  '  is  my  charm  : 
Should  you  survive,  redeem  this  ki»3 
And  should  you  perish,  one  will  miss 
From  life  its  sweetest  balm. 

"  These  tears  attest  the  grief  I  feel  — - 

God's  and  my  own  true  blue ! 
For  every  one  speed  thoa  a  shot; 
When  quietus  the  foe  has  got, 
Valor  for  love  may  sue." 

So  spoke  my  own  brave  girl,  and  fled 

Fearing  her  heart's  dread  pain 
Would  traitor  prove  unto  her  will, 
And  rising  with  rebellious  thrill, 
Persuade  me  to  remain. 

To  die  for  her  were  sweeter  far 

Than  loved  by  less  to  live ; 
Such  natures  wear  an  aspect  grand, 
As  with  an  unreserving  hand 

They  answer  Duty's  "  give !  " 

O  woman  !  how  much  patriot  fire 
Thy  breath  lias  woke  to  flame ! 
How  many  heroes  were  not  such 

But  for  thy  consecrating  touch, 
None  less  than  God  can  name 


A  REMARKABLE  PROPHECY. 

THE  vision  or  prophecy  of  Joseph  Hong,  which 
is  published  below,  is  so  remarkable  in  theaccura 
cy  of  SOIL-.J  of  its  details,  that  were  its  authenticity 
not  attested  by  tlie  most  respectable  and  reliable 
living;  witnesses,  we  should  hardly  credit  it.  The 
predicted  u  civil  ivar,"  through  r/hich  we  have 
just  passed  is  not  more  singular  than  ai-e  several 
other  features  in  the  vjion  which  have  been 
verified. 

Joseph  Hoag  was  an  eminent  minister  of  the 
Gospel  in  the  Society  of  Friends.  At  the  date  of 
his  subjoined  vision,  in  1803,  this  Society  was  a 
unit,  the  division  in  it  not  having  occurred  until 
1827  After  the  separation,  lloag  affiliated  with 
the  orthodox  branch,  in  which  connection  he  con 
tinued  until  his  death,  at  the  age  of  forty-five, 
His  ancestors  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
New-England,  and  lived  for  several  generations  in 
the  State  of  New  Hampshire,  although  he  was 
born  in  Duchess  County,  New  York,  but  in  early 
life  removed  to  the  home  of  his  ancestors.  In  his 
services  as  a  minister  he  travelled  extensively 
throughout  the  United  States,  and  he  is  well  re 
membered  by  a  large  number  of  the  old  members 
of  the  Society  of  Friends  in  Philadelphia  as  a 
very  gifted  and  spiritual-minded  minister.  Those 
who  knew  him  best  say  that  he  was  a  man  of 
great  piety  and  very  correct  life  and  conversation 
from  his  youth  ;  also,  that  his  spiritual  perceptions 
were  very  deep  and  clear,  somunh  so  that  he  was 
often  favored  with  a  sense  of  the  condition  of 
other  people  v/ithout  outward  knowledge,  and,  in 
many  instances,  known  to  persons  still  living, 
foretold  circumstances  which  occurred  long  after 
ward,  and  of  which  he  could  have  had  no  knowl 
edge  when  he  predicted  them.  A  journal  of  his 
life  exists,  in  which  the  author  says  lloag  "  was  a 
i  man  of  good  understanding,  retentive  memory, 
'  and  a  mind  seasoned  with  grace.  His  conversation 
was  truly  instructive.  He  appeared  most  conspic 
uous  in  the  gift  of  the  ministry,  and  the  spirit  of 
prophecy."  The  following  is  Joseph  iloag's  vis 
ion  as  transcribed  by  his  daughter — who  is  still 
living — in  the  year  1805,  since  which  time  many 
duplicate  MS.  copies  have  been  made  and  pre 
served  by  members  of  the  Society,  as  a  curious, 
interesting,  and,  as  the  sequel  has  shown,  an  amaz 
ingly  premonitory  document : 

"In  the  year  1803,  in  the  eighth  or  ninth 
month,  I  was  one  day  alone  in  the  field,  and  ob 
served  that  the  sun  shone  clear,  but  a  mist 
eclipsed  its  brightness. 

"  As  I  reflected  upon  the  singularity  of  the 
event,  my  mind  was  struck  into  a  silence  the  most 
solemn  I  ever  remembered  to  have  witnessed,  for 
all  my  faculties  were  low,  and  unnsally  brought 
into  deep  silence.  I  said  to  myself:  '  What  can 
all  this  mean  ?  I  do  not  recollect  ever  before  to 
have  been  sensible  of  such  feelings.' 

"  And  I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven,  saying : 
4  This  which  thou  seest  is  a  sign  of  the  present 
coming  times.  I  took  the  forefathers  of  this  country 
from  a  land  of  oppression  ;  I  planted  them  here 
among  the  peoj  le  of  the  f  bjes: ;  1  sustained  them  and 


1  You're  dearer  to  me  than  I  thought."— Page  24. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


25 


while  the}  were  humble  I  blessed  them,  and  fed 
them,  and  they  became  a  numerous  people.  But 
they  have  now  become  proud,  and  forgotten  me, 
who  nouiislied  them,  and  protected  them  in  the 
wilderness,  and  are  running  into  every  abomina 
tion  and  evil  practice  of  which  the  old  countries 
are  guilty,  and  have  taken  quietude  from  the  land, 
and  suffered  a  dividing  spirit  to  come  among 
them  —  lift  up  thine  eyes  and  behold.'  And  I 
saw  them  dividing  in  great  heat.  The  division 
began  in  the  churches  on  points  of  doctrine.  It 
commenced  in  the  Presbyterian  Society,  and 
went  through  the  various  religious  denomina 
tions,  and  in  its  progress  and  close,  its  effects 
were  the  same.  Those  who  dissented  went  off 
with  high  heads  and  taunting  language,  and  those 
who  kept  to  their  original  sentiments  appeared 
exercised  and  sorrowful.  And  when  the  dividing 
spirit  entered  the  Society  of  Friends,  it  raged  in 
as  high  degree  as  in  any  I  had  noticed  or  before 
discovered  ;  and,  as  before,  those  who  separated 
went  off  with  lofty  looks,  and  taunting,  censuring 
language.  Those  who  kept  their  ancient  princi 
ples  retired  by  themselves.  It  next  appeared  in 
the  Lodges  of  the  Free  Masons ;  it  broke  out  in 
appearance  like  a  volcano,  inasmuch  as  it  set  the 
country  in  an  uproar  for  a  time. 

"  Then  it  entered  politics  throughout  the  United 
States,  and  did  not  stop  until  it  produced  a  civil 
war.  An  abundance  of  blood  was  shed  in  the 
course  of  the  combat ;  the  Southern  States  lost 
their  power,  and  slavery  was  annihilated  from 
their  borders.  Then  a  monarchical  power  sprang 
up,  took  the  government  of  the  States,  established 
a  national  religion,  and  made  all  societies  tribu 
tary  to  support  its  experises.  I  saw  them  take 
property  from  Friends.  I  was  amazed  at  be 
holding  all  this,  and  I  heard  a  voice  proclaiming : 
'  This  power  shall  not  always  stand,  but  with  it  I 
will  chastise  my  Church  until  they  return  to  the 
faithfulness  of  their  forefathers  ;  thou  seest  what 
is  coming  upon  thy  native  country  for  their  in 
iquities  and  the  blood  of  Africa,  the  remembrance 
of  which  has  come  up  before  me.' 

"  This  vision  is  yet  for  many  days.  I  had  no 
idea  of  writing  it  for  many  years,  until  it  became 
such  a  burden,  that,  for  my  own  relief,  I  have 
written  it." 


THE  TRUE  BALANCE.  —  Two  councilmen  of 
New  Orleans  were  one  evening  in  February,  1881, 
reeling  down  to  the  city  hall  steps  discussing 
politics,  as  well  as  their  cups  and  hiccups  would 
permit  them.  One  said  solemnly, — 

"  The  South's  true  balance  must  not  be  over 
thrown  ;  "  to  which  the  other  replied,  — 

"  Confound  the  South's  balance ;  try  to  keep 
your  own." 


AN  IRISH  REGULAR.  —  The  following  dialogue 

took  place  between  Lieutenant  A.  C.  C d,  late 

of  the  United  States  Texan  army,  and  Pat  Fletch 
er,  one  of  the  privates  of  the  Second  Cavalry,  at 
Carlisle,  then  near  Fort  Bliss  :  — 


Officer.  —  Well.  Pat,  ain't  you  going  to  follow 
the  General  (Twiggs)  ? 

Pat.  —  If  Gineral  Scott  ordhers  us  to  folly  him, 
sir,  beg  or,  Toby  (Pat's  lorse)  can  gallop  as  well 
as  the  best  of  'em. 

Officer.  —  I  mean,  won't  yo'i  leave  the  abolition 
army,  and  join  the  free  South  ? 

Pat.  —  Begor,  I  nevcr  enlisted  in  th'  abolition 
army,  and  never  will.  I  agreed  to  sarve  Uncle 
Sam'  for  five  year,  and  the  divil  a  pin  mark  was 
made  in  the  contract,  with  my  consint,  ever  since. 
When  my  time  is  up,  if  the  army  isn't  the  same 
as  it  is  now,  I  won't  join  it  agin. 

Officer.  —  Pat,  the  "Second"  (Cavalry)  was 
eighteen  months  old  when  you  and  I  joined.  Ihe 
man  who  raised  our  gallant  regiment  is  now  the 
Southern  President ;  the  man  who  so  lately  com 
manded  it,  is  now  a  Southern  General.  Can  you 
remain  in  it,  when  they  are  gone  ? 

Pat.  —  Well,  you  see,  the  fact  of  the  matther 
is,  Lieut.  C.,  1  ain't  much  of  a  scholar  ;  I  can't 
argue  the  question  with  you  ;  but  what  would  my 
mother  say,  if  I  desarted  my  colors?  Oh,  the 
divil  a  give-in  I'll  ever  give  in,  now,  and  that's 
the  ind  of  it.  I  tried  to  run  away  once,  a  few 
weeks  after  enlistin',  but  a  man  wouldn't  be 
missed  thin.  It's  quite  different  now,  Lieutenant, 
and  I'm  going  not  to  disgrace  naither  iv  my 
countries. 

^Officer.  —  Do  you  know  that  you  will  have  to 
fire  on  green  Irish  colors,  in  the  Southern  ranks  ? 

Pat.  —  And  won't  you  have  to  fire  on  them 
colors,  (pointing  to  the  flag  at  Fort  Bliss,)  that 
yerself  and  five  of  us  licked  nineteen  rangers  un 
der?  Sure,  it  isn't  a  greater  shame  for  an  Irish 
man  to  fire  on  Irish  colors,  than  for  an  American 
to  fire  on  American  colors.  An'  th'  oath  '11  be 
on  my  side,  you  know,  Lieutenant. 

Officer.  —  Confound  the  man  that  relies  on 
Paddies,  I  say. 

Pat.  —  The  same  compliments  to  desarters, 
your  honor. 


ANECDOTE  OF  ROGER  A.  PRYOR.  —  The  fol 
lowing  occurred  during  the  attack  on  Fort  Sum- 
ter  in  1861.  Roger  A.  Pryor,  of  Virginia, 
ex-member  of  Congress,  was  one  of  the  second 
deputation  .that  waited  upon  Major  Anderson. 
He  was  the  very  embodiment  of  Southern  chiv 
alry.  Literally  dressed  to  kill,  bristling  with 
bowie-knives  and  revolvers,  like  a  walking  arse 
nal,  he  appeared  to  think  himself  individually 
capable  of  capturing  the  fort,  without  any  extra 
neous  assistance.  Inside  of  the  fort  he  seemed 
to  think  himself  master  of  every  thing  —  mon 
arch  of  all  he  surveyed- — and,  in  keeping  with 
this  pretension,  seeing  upon  the  table  what  ap 
peared  to  be  a  glass  of  brandy,  drank  it  without 
ceremony.  Surgeon  (afterward  General  Craw 
ford,  who  had  witnessed  the  feat,  approached  him 
and  said :  "  Sir,  what  you  have  drank  is  poison 
—  it  was  the  iodide  of  potassium  —  yon  are  a 
dead  man ! "  The  representative  of  chivalry  in 
stantly  collapsed,  bowie-knives,  revolvers  and  all, 
and  passed  into  the  hands  of  Surgeon  Crawford, 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    A>7D    INCIDENTS. 


•who,  by  purgings,  pumpings,  and  pukings,  de 
feated  his  own  prophecy  in  regard  to  his  fate. 


Mr.  I'ryor  left 
better  man." 


rort  Sumter  a  "  wiser  if  not  a 


TAKEN    BY    THE    PIRATES. 

The  following  letter  is  from  a  young  Scotch 
man,  who  married  a  wife,  and  set  sail  from  New 
York  for  Cardenas ;  the  vessel  was  taken  by  a 
rebel  piratical  craft,  and  the  party  had  the  pleas 
ure  of  a  visit  to  Charleston,  S.  C.  :  — 

MATANZAS,  Nov.  it,  IS61. 


did  not  know  where  we  were.  Some  of  the  cre\j 
said  we  were  north  of  Charleston ;  but,  as  it 
turned  out,  wf  were  south  of  North  Edisto,  where 
we  ran  agrou,  d  and  lost  our  false  keel,  but  got 
off  again,  and  went  to  sea.  On  the  following  day 
we  saw  no  land,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  27th 
we  made  the  land  of  St.  Helena,  almost  the  exact 
pla:e  \vhere  \A  i  were  ra  the  25th.  After  tacking 
off  and  on  all  night,  ws  were  still  in  the  same  place. 
Then  we  beat  up  to  the  North  Edisto  Inlet. 

While  beating  up  we  espied  a  schooner,  wrhich 
fact  caused  the  crowd  to  take  alarm,  and,  to  a 
man,  they  rushed  below,  armed  themselves  with 
their  swords,  knires,  and  pistols,  bagged  their 


We  sailed  from  New  York  on  board  the  brig   clothing  and  a  few  little  valuables,  then  prepared 

i  t-\     .      i  ,-^1  -r  11      _  .        •__       A     '      .1    _    i_       .  .     ..1 •      /_„  ,1  _  ,1    j._    1. 1.    il-..    1_.   •   _ 


Betsy  Ames,  on  October  5th.  In  all  we  were  six 
passengers,  beside  Mrs.  Bartlett,  the  wife  of  the 
captain.  We  were  bound  for  Cardenas,  and  all 
went  well  until  the  morning  of  the  17th  ult, 
when  we  observed  a  schooner  making  right  for 
us.  There  was  nothing  suspicious  about  her  at 
first  sight,  but  about  nine  A.  M.  she  fired  at  us, 
her  shot  falling  short  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile. 
Captain  Bartlett  then  ordered  all  sail  to  be 
made,  but  the  breeze  shortly  after  died  away, 
and  the  now  suspicious  schooner  made  upon  us, 
and  fired  another  shot,  which  also  fell  a  little 
short  of  our  vessel.  A  third  shot  was  fired, 
but  we  could  not  see  in  what  direction  it  went. 
They  fired  a  fourth  shot,  which  passed  close 
alongside  our  brig.  This  latter  result  caused 
our  captain  to  take  in  sail  and  jog  along  more 
leisurely,  till  the  schooner  made  up  to  us  about 
twelve  o'clock,  M.  Still,  we  could  not  tell  what 
the  little  craft  was,  as  she  had  no  color  flying. 

When  she  came  up  to  us,  the  captain  of  the 
schooner  ordered  our  captain  to  take  one  of  his 
boats  and  come  on  board  with  his  papers,  to 
which  he  responded,  "  My  boats  are  unfit  for  ser 


vice/ 


The 


captain  of  the  schooner  then  said, 
"  I  will  come  on  board  your  brig,  then."  which  he 
immediately  did.  He  came  in  his  own  boat,  with 
an  officer  and  four  men,  when  the  captain  and  his 
officer  wrent  down  into  the  cabin  with  our  captain, 
and  took  possession  of  all  his  papers ;  then  told 
him  that  he  was  a  prisoner  of  the  Confederate 
States  of  America. 

While  the  officers  were  in  the  cabin,  the  men 
who  were  left  in  the  boat  sprang  QH  deck  and 
into  the  forehold,  from  which  they  took  two  bar 
rels  of  potatoes,  about  t\vo  dozen  cabbages,  and 
a  coil  of  rope,  and  put  them  into  their  boat. 

When  the  officers  came  up  on  deck  again,  they 
ordered  our  crew  to  the  boat,  and  thence  to  the 
privateer,  wrhich  proved  to  be  the  Flying  Sally, 
of  Charleston,  on  board  of  which  there  were 
about  sixty  men  and  two  pivot-guns.  In  a  short 
time  a  prize  crew  was  sent  on  board,  and  as  our 
captain  had  his  wife,  they  did  not  transfer  him. 

The  prize  crew  were  seven  in  all.  The  master 
was  an  old  cooper,  named  Joseph  Tully,  who 
used  to  cooper  both  at  Matanzas  and  Cardenas. 
lie  evidently  knew  nothing  of  seamanship. 

About  two  o'clock  we  parted  with  the  pirate 
schooner  and  nothing  particular  occurred  until 
the  24th,  at  daybreak,  when  we  made  land,  but 


for  the  boats,  as  they  in '..ended  to  beach  the  brig. 
They  were  apprehensive  that  the  vessel  sighted 
was  a  United  States  gunboat.  When  they  came 
on  deck,  however,  and  took  another  observation, 
they  discovered  that  it  was  only  a  little  schooner. 
Then  we  made  the  inlet,  when  a  boat's  crew, 
armed  to  the  teeth,  came  on  board,  and  pilotec 
us  up  to  the  anchorage,  about  forty  miles  inland. 
There  they  discharged  their  prizes,  and  the  ves 
sels  were  towed  up  to  Charleston  by  tow-boats. 

We  arrived  at  Charleston  at  about  three  o'clock, 
P.  M.,  on  the  27th.  Next  morning  the  steamer 
General  Clinch  took  us  on  board,  with  our  bag 
gage.  I  may  also  state,  that  the  steamer  Planter 
towed  us  up  to  this  safe  "  pirates'  village  ground." 

When  wre  got  into  Charleston  the  prize  captain 
took  us  to  a  private  boarding-house,  his  agent 
having  closed  his  office  previous  to  our  arrival. 

Next  morning  we  strolled  about  the  city,  and 
called  upon  the  British  Consul,  who  told  us, 
strange  as  it  may  seem;  that  he  could  render  us 
no  assistance,  as  we  had  done  wrong  in  taking 
our  passage  on  board  an  American  vessel,  know 
ing  that  the  two  countries  were  at  war ;  therefore, 
if  the  owners  of  the  prize  had  the  good  feeling  to 
pay  our  expenses,  it  was  only  to  be  expected  from 
their  generous  character.,  but  they  could  not  be 
forced  to  do  so.  About  twelve  o'clock  we  were 
called  upon  to  go  to  the  marshal's  office,  and 
when  we  got  there  the  marshal  told  us  that  we 


were  prisoners. 


We  were  then  sent  to  the  cit 


jail.  The  captain's  wife,  and  the  other  lady  of 
our  company,  did  not  accompany  us  to  the  jail. 
We  remained  in  this  limbo  till  half  past  eight 
o'clock,  P.  M.,  having  been  released  at  that  time 
through  the  exertions  of  Her  British  Majesty's 
Consul,  Mr.  Bunco,  who  had  been  induced  to  act 
then  only  because  an  old  English  captain,  who 
saw  us  in  prison,  went  to  him  and  prevailed  upon 
him  to  use  his  influence  in  our  behalf. 

The  next  day  we  looked  round  to  see  if  we 
could  devise  any  means  of  getting  away.  The 
Spanish  Consul  informed  us  that  the  only  schoon 
er  which  was  going  for  some  time  had  been 
loaded,  and  had  sailed  already  for  Matanzas. 
However,  we  had  the  good  fortune  to  meet  Mr. 
Salas,  the  owner  of  two  vessels  which  were  ready 
for  sea,  and  it  appeared  that  Mr.  Bunce  had  been 
to  him  to  endeavor  to  procure  m  a  passage  ;  and 
as  he  could  not  assist  us,  Mr.  Saks  offered  tc 
take  us  to  Ma:ar.zas  on  credit.  'II: at  arrange- 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


27 


ment  included  the  other  British  passengers,  my 
wife,  and  myself.  The  other  three  passengers 
were  Germans,  having  American  passports,  and 
could  not.  be  taken  on  board  the  schooner  Jasper. 
The  crew  on  board  this  craft  declared  her  un- 
sea worthy,  after  getting  their  advanced  pay,  and 
left.  Mr.  Sal':s  had  therefore  to  ship  another 
evew,  and  we  got  ready  for  sea.  As  the  bark 
Kowena  was  getting  her  name  changed  to  the  St. 
Helena  of  Charleston,  S.  C.,  having  been  loaded 
with  a  cargo  of  naval  stores,  awaiting  a  favorable 
opportunity  to  run  the  blockade,  we  waited  and 
went  out  with  her.  So,  on  the  night  of  the  2d 
inst.,  she  was  taken  in  tow  by  a  steamer,  and  we 
followed  her  as  closely  as  we  could  out  past  the 
United  States  vessels,  and  in  half  an  hour  were 
after  her,  and  could  see  the  lights  of  the  United 
States  ships  quite  distinctly,  although  none  of 
them  seemed  to  make  any  movement,  and  did  not 
observe  us.  It  was  about  ten  o'clock,  P.  M., 
when  we  got  clear  of  their  lights.  Then  we 
thought  ourselves  safe  on  the  sea  once  more. 
We  arrived  here  safely  on  the  night  of  Saturday, 
the  9th  inst. 

And  now,  when  I  think  of  the  scenes  I  have 
passed  through  since  I  left  New  York,  (the  scenes 
of  a  honeymoon  excursion,)  what  impressed  me 
most  was  the  almost  death-like  solemn  appearance 
of  Charleston,  and  the  entire  absence  of  anything 
like  business.  It  appeared  as  if  a  Scotch  fast  day 
was  being  observed.  At  least  one  half  of  the 
stores  have  "  To  Let "  posted  upon  the  shut 
doors,  and  those  which  are  occupied  are  all  closed 
at  noon  every  day,  and  every  man  has  to  turn  out 
to  drill,  or  be  fined  by  the  police  the  next  day. 

Another  thing  which  struck  me  was  the  almost 
entire  absence  of  "  hard  cash."  One  of  my  com 
panions  and  I  went  into  a  bar-room  to  have  a 
drink,  and  the  only  money  \ve  had  to  offer  was 
Spanish.  My  friend  offered  a  two  dollar  piece, 
but  the  bar-keeper  was  bewildered  ;  he  did  not 
know  its  value,  and  asked  us  what  it  was  worth. 
Being  informed  that  it  was  worth  two  dollars 
twelve  and  a  half  cents  in  Cuba,  he  offered  two 
dollars  twenty-five  cents  in  paper  change.  Then 
a  crowd  gathered  around  us,  staring  their  eyes 
out  of  their  heads,  almost,  at  the  novelty  of  the 
sight  of  gold,  and  many  of  them  seemed  really 
anxious  to  be  the  possessors.  We  saw  no  small 
change  except  pieces  of  paper,  which  certify  that 
they  are  "good  for  five  cents,"  "good  for  ten 
cents,"  and  so  on. 

I  must  say  that  men,  women,  and  children  in 
Charleston  seem  united  in  the  cause  of  secession. 
When  they  found  that  one  of  my  fellow-passen 
gers  and  myself  were  Scotchmen,  they  treated  us 
very  respectfully.  Though  our  Consul  did  not  at 
first  seem  to  sympathize  with  us,  still  he  exerted 
himself  well  on  our  behalf  when  he  found  that 
we  were  in  prison.  All  seemed  to  have  great  re 
spect  for  him  in  Charleston. 


A  PEOPHECY. —  The  following,  translated  a 
few  years  since  by  a  lady,  who  is  an  inmate  of  a 
religious  institution  in  the  vicinity  of  Washing 


ton,  has  a  peculiar  interest.  The  origin! }  is  in 
Latin,  and  bears  marks  of  greit  antiquity.  It  is 
said  to  have  been  written  by  a  recluse,  some  cen 
turies  sine*;  :  -  - 

4  Be -ore  th'rteen  united 

Shall  I"  thrive  what  thoy  are, 
The  eagle  shall  be  blighted 
By  the  lightning  of  war. 

When  sixty  is  end-  d, 

And  one  takes  its  place, 
Iher*  brothers  offended 

Shall  deal  mutual  disgrace. 

If  white  remain  white, 

And  black  sti.U  be  black, 
Once  more  they'll  unite 

Arid  bring  happiness  back. 

But  whenever  the  Cross 

Stands  aloft  'mong  the  Stars, 

They  shall  gain  by  their  loss, 
And  thus  end  all  their  wars." 


Occr*  \TION  OF  FORT  SUMTER.  —  The  follow 
ing  impressive  incident  occurred  at  Fort  Sumtei 
on  Major  Anderson  taking  possession  of  that 
place  in  December,  I860  :  It  is  known  that  the 
American  flag  brought  away  from  Fort  Moultrie 
was  raised  at  Sumter  precisely  at  noon  on  the 
27th  of  that  month.  It  was  a  scene  that  will 
be  a  memorable  reminiscence  in  the  lives  of  those 
who  witnessed  it.  A  short  time  before  noon, 
Major  Anderson  assembled  the  whole  of  his  little 
force,  with  the  workmen  employed  on  the  fort, 
around  the  foot  of  the  flag-staif.  The  national 
ensign  was  attached  to  :he  cord,  and  Major  An 
derson,  holding  the  end  of  the  lines  in  his  hand, 
knelt  reverently  down.  The  officers,  soldiers, 
and  men  clustered  around,  many  of  them  on  their 
knees,  all  deeply  impressed  with  the  solemnity 
of  the  scene.  The  chaplain  made  an  earnest 
prayer  —  such  an  appeal  for  support,  encourage 
ment,  and  mercy  as  one  would  make  who  felt 
that  "  man's  extremity  is  God's  opportunity."  As 
the  earnest,  solemn  words  of  the  speaker  ceased, 
and  the  men  responded  Amen  with  a  fervency 
that  perhaps  fehey  had  never  before  experienced, 
Major  Anderson  drew  the  "  Star-spangled  Ban 
ner  "  up  to  the  top  of  the  staff,  the  band  broke 
out  with  the  national  air  of  "  Hail,  Columbia !  " 
and  loud  and  exultant  cheers,  repeated  again  and 
again,  were  given  by  the  officers,  soldiers,  and 
workmen.  "  If,"  said  the  narrator,  "  South  Caro 
lina  had  at  that  moment  attacked  the  fort,  there 
would  have  been  no  hesitation  upon  the  part  of 
any  man  within  it  about  defending  the  flag." 


INCIDENT  OF  THE  WHITE  HOUSE,  VA.  On 
the  occupation  of  the  White  Home,  Va.,  by  the 
soldiers  of  General  McLellan,  a  s'na.1!  piece  nf 
paper,  bearing  'he  following  i  isoription,  was 
found  pinned  or  ,he  casing  of  t.n  inier  door:  — 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


"  Northern  soldiers,  who  profess  to  reverence 
Washington,  forbear  to  desecrate  the  house  of  his 
first  married  life,  the  property  of  his  wife,  now 
c IT ned  by  her  descendants. 

"A  granddaughter  of  Mrs.  Washington." 

BeLeath  tLe  inscription  was  written  the  folio w- 
iug : 

"  LADY  :  A  Northern  officer  has  protected  your 
property  in  the  sight  of  the  enemy,  and  at  the 
rt  quest  of  your  overseer." 


A  FIGHTING  CLERGYMAN.  —  Rev.  B.  C.  Ward, 
pastor  of  a  Congregational  church  in  the  village 
of  Geneseo,  Illinois,  conceived  it  to  be  his  duty 
to  forsake  the  pulpit  for  the  field.  He  received 
authority  to  raise  a  company  of  infantry,  but 
proposed  to  enlist  clergymen  only.  An  appeal  to 
his  clerical  brethren,  published  over  his  own  sig 
nature,  called  upon  "  the  fighting  stock  of  the 
church  militant"  to  prove  to  the  world  their  will 
ingness  to  "  seal  with  their  blood  what  they  have 
talked  in  their  pulpits,"  and  closed  with  this  ex 
traordinary  passage : 

"  Much  as  we  have  said  and  done  to  prove  our 
loyalty,  we  have  not  yet  resisted  unto  blood, 
striving  against  sin.  Shall  we  now,  at  the  call 
of  Christ,  come  out  from  behind  our  velvet-cush 
ioned  barracks,  whence  we  have  so  often  hurled 
bold,  indignant  words  at  the  giant  iniquity  of  the 
age,  and  meet  it  face  to  face  with  the  hot  shot  of 
rifled  artillery,  with  the  gleaming  bayonet,  or  with 
clashing  sabres  in  hand-to-hand  encounter  ?  " 


THE  LAST  MAN  OF  BEAUFORT.  —  On  the  day 
the  town  of  Beaufort,  S.  C.,  was  entered  by  the 
national  troops,  all  the  inhabitants  were  found  to 
have  fled,  except  one  white  man,  who,  being  too 
much  intoxicated  to  join  his  compatriots  in  flight, 
had  been  forced  to  remain  behind. 

«•  'Tis  the  last  man  at  Beaufort 

Left  sitting  alone ; 
All  his  valiant  companions 

Had  '  vamosed  '  and  gone  ; 
No  secesh  of  his  kindred 

To  comfort  is  nigh, 
And  his  liquor's  expended, 

The  bottle  is  dry  ! 
We'll  not  leave  thee,  thoni  lone  one, 

Or  harshly  condemn  — 
Since  your  friends  have  all  « mizzled,' 

You  can't  sleep  with  them  ; 
And  it's  no  joking  matter 

To  sleep  with  the  dead  ; 
So  we'll  take  you  back  with  us  — 

Jim,  lift  up  his  head  ! 
He  muttered  some  words 

As  they  bore  him  away, 
And  the  breeze  thus  repeated 

The  words  he  did  say  : 
«  When  the  liquor's  all  out, 
,    And  your  friends  they  have  flown, 
O,  who  would  inhabit 

This  Beaufort  alone  ? '  " 


J.  M.  LEARNED,  of  Oxfordville,  New  Hamp 
shire,  had  three  twins  in  the  army.  Two  of 
them,  twenty -three  years  old,  were  in  the  Massa 
chusetts  Fourteenth.  The  third,  whose  mate  is 
a  girl,  was  in  the  Fifth  New  Hampshire  regiment. 


A  REWT.NISCENCI  IF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN.— 
When  the  jonventkn  was  held  in  Chicago,  which 
nominated  Mr.  Lii.coln  for  the  Presidency  in 
1860,  a  respectable  gentleman  in  Massachusetts 

—  not  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  party  —  was  induced  to 
take  the  opportunity,  in  company  with    several 
delegates  and  others  interested  in  the  objects  of 
the  convention,  to  go  out  to  Chicago,  and  spend 
a  few  days  in  visiting  that  section  of  the  country. 
In  a  very  few  minutes   after  the  final  balloting 
was  had,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  was  nominated,  it  hap 
pened  that  a  train  of  cars  started  upon  the  Cen 
tral  Railroad,  passing  through   Springfield,  the 
place  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  residence,  and  Mr.  R.,  the 
gentleman  alluded  to,  took  passage  in  the  same. 
Arriving   at  Springfield,  he  put  up  at  a  public 
house,  and  loitering  upon  the  front  door  steps, 
had  the  curiosity  to  inquire  of  the  landlord  where 
Mr.    Lincoln   lived.     Whilst   giving   the   neces 
sary  directions,  the  landlord  suddenly  remarked, 
"  There  is  Mr.  Lincoln  now,  coming  down  the 
sidewalk  ;  that  tail,  crooked  man,  loosely  walk 
ing  this  way ;  if  you  wish  to  see  him  you  will 
have  an  opportunity  by  putting  yourself  in  his 
track." 

In  a  few  moments  the  object  of  his  curiosity 
reached  the  point  our  friend  occupied,  who  ad 
vancing,  ventured  to  accost  him  thus :  "  Is  this 
Mr.  Lincoln  ?  "  "  That,  sir,  is  my  name."  "  My 
name  is  R.,  from  Plymouth  county,  Massachu 
setts,  and  learning  that  you  have  to-day  been 
made  the  public  property  of  the  United  States,  I 
have  ventured  to  introduce  myself  with  a  view  to 
a  brief  acquaintance,  hoping  you  will  pardon  such 
a  patriotic  curiosity  in  a  stranger."  Mr.  Lincoln 
received  his  salutations  with  cordiality,  told  him 
no  apology  was  necessary  for  his  introduction,  and 
asked  him  to  accompany  him  to  his  residence. 
He  had  just  come  from  the  telegraph  office,  where 
he  had  learned  the  fact  of  his  nomination,  and 
was  on  his  return  home  when  our  friend  met  and 
accompanied  him  thither. 

Arriving  at  Mr.  Lincoln's  residence,  he  was  in 
troduced  to  Mrs.  Lincoln  and  the  two  boys,  and 
entered  into  conversation  in  relation  to  the  Lincoln 
family  of  the  old  colony  —  the  Hingham  General 
Lincoln  of  the  Revolutionary  army,  and  the  two 
Worcester  Lincolns,  brothers,  who  were  Govern 
ors  of  Massachusetts  and  Maine  at  one  and  the 
same  time.  In  reply  to  Mr.  R.'s  inquiry  whether 
Mr.  Lincoln  could  trace  his  ancestry  to  either  of 
those  early  families  of  his  own  name,  Mr.  Lin 
coln,  with  a  characteristic  facetiousness,  replied 
that  he  could  not  say  that  he  ever  had  an  ancestor 
older  than  his  father,  and  therefore  had  it  not  in 
his  power  to  trace  his  genealcgy  to  so  patriotic 
as'urce  as  old  General  Lincoln  of  the  revolution 

—  though   *e  wished  he  cculd.    After  »ome  fur- 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


29 


ther  pleasant  conversation,  chiefly  relating  to  the 
early  history  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers,  with  which 
he  seemed  familiar,  Mr.  R.  desired  the  privilege 
of  writing  a  letter  to  be  despatched  by  the  next 
moil.  Mr.  Lincoln  very  promptly  and  kindly  pro 
vided  him  with  the  necessary  means.  As  he  be 
gan  to  write,  Mr.  Lincoln  approached,  and  tap 
ping  him  on  the  shoulder,  expressed  the  hope 
that  he  was  not  a  spy  who  had  come  thus  early 
to  report  his  faults  to  the  public.  "  By  no  means, 
sir,"  protested  Mr.  R. ;  "I  am  writing  home  to 
my  wife,  who,  I  dare  say,  will  hardly  credit  the 
fact  that  I  am  writing  in' your  house."  "  O,  sir," 
exclaimed  Mr.  Lincoln,  "  if  your  wife  doubts  your 
word,  I  will  cheerfully  indorse  it,  if  you  will  give 
me  permission  ;  "  and  taking  the  pen  from  Mr. 
R.,  he  wrote  the  following  words,  in  a  clear  hand, 
upon  the  blank  page  of  the  letter : 

"  I  am  happy  to  say  that  your  husband  is  at  the 
present  time  a  guest  in  my  house,  ;md  in  due  time  I 
trust  you  will  greet  his  sate  return  to  the  bosom  of 
his  family.  A.  LINCOLN." 

This  gave  our  friend  an  excellent  autograph 
of  Mr.  Lincoln,  besides  bearing  witness  to  his 
hospitable  and  cheerful  spirit. 

Whilst  thus  engaged  in  pleasant  conversation, 
the  cars  arrived  that  brought  from  Chicago  the 
committee  of  the  convention  appointed  to  notify 
Mr.  Lincoln  of  his  nomination.  He  received 
them  at  the  door,  and  conducted  them  to  seats 
in  his  parlor.  Our  friend,  who  related  the  inter 
view  to  us,  says  that  on  the  reception  of  this 
committee  Mr.  Lincoln  appeared  somewhat  em 
barrassed,  but  soon  resumed  his  wonted  tran- 
.quillity  and  cheerfulness.  At  the  proper  time  the 
chairman  of  the  committee  arose,  and,  with  be 
coming  dignity,  informed  Mr.  Lincoln,  that  he 
and  his  fellows  appeared  in  behalf  of  the  con 
vention  now  in  session  at  Chicago,  to  inforn  him 
that  he  had  that  day  been  unanimously  nomi 
nated  to  the  office  of  President  of  the'  United 
States,  and  asked  his  permission  to  report  to  that 
body  his  acceptance  of  the  nomination.  Mr. 
Lincoln,  with  becoming  modesty,  but  very  hand 
somely,  replied,  that  he  felt  his  insufficiency  for 
the  vast  responsibilities  which  must  devolve  upon 
that  office  under  the  impending  circumstances 
of  the  times,  but  if  God  and  his  country  called 
for  his  services  in  that  direction,  he  should  shrink 
from  no  duty  that  might  be  imposed  upon  him, 
and  therefore  he  should  not  decline  the  nomi 
nation. 

After  this  ceremony  had  passed,  Mr.  Lincoln 
remarked  to  the  company,  that  as  an  appropriate 
conclusion  to  an  interview  so  important  and  in 
teresting  as  that  which  had  just  transpired,  he 
supposed  good  manners  would  require  that  he 
should  treat  the  committee  with  something  to 
drink  ;  and  opening  a  door  that  led  into  a  room 
in  the  rear,  he  called  out,  "  Mary !  Mary !  "  A 
girl  responded  to  the  call,  whom  Mr.  Lincoln 
spoke  a  few  words  to  in  an  under-tone ;  and,  closing 
the  door,  returned  again  to  converse  with  his 
guests.  In  a  few  minutes  the  maiden  entered, 
bearing  a  large  waiter,  containing  several  glass 
tumblers,  and  a  large  pitcher,  in  the  midst,  and 


placed  it  ui.^n  the  centre-Aable.  Mr.  Lincoln 
arose,  and  gravely  add^^sing  the  company,  said, 
— "  Gentlemen,  we  must  pledge  our  mutual 
healths  in  the  most  healthy  beverage  which  our 
God  has  given  to  man  ;  it  is  the  only  beverage  I 
have  ever  use:l  or  allowed  in  my  family,  and  I 
cannot  conscientiously  depart  from  it  on  the 
present  occasion  ;  it  is  ?tire  Adam's  ale  from  the 
spring ; "  and  taking  a  tumbler,  he  touched  it  to 
his  lips  and  pledged  them  his  highest  respects  in 
a  cup  of  cold  water.  Of  course,  all  his  guests 
were  constrained  to  admire  his  consistency,  and 
to  join  in  his  example. 

Mr.  II.,  when  he  went  to  Chicago,  had  but  little 
political  sympathy  with  the  Republican  conven 
tion  which  nominated  Mr.  Lincoln  ;  but  when  lie 
saw,  as  he  did  see  for  himself,  his  sturdy  adher 
ence  to  a  high  moral  principle,  he  returned  an 
admirer  of  the  man,  and  a  zealous  advocate  of 
his  election. 


•ALL  WE  ASK  IS  TO  BE  LET  ALONE." 

BY  H.  H.  BRCAVNELL. 

As  vonce  I  valked  by  a  dismal  swamp, 
There  sot  an  old  cove  in  the  dark  and  damp, 
And  at  everybody  as  passed  that  road 
A  stick  or  a  stone  this  old  cove  thro  wed. 
And  vcnever  he  flung  his  stick  or  his  stone, 
He'd  set  up  a  song  of  "  Let  me  alone." 

"  Let  me  alone,  for  I  loves  to  shy 

These  bits  of  things  at  the  passers-by  ; 

Let  me  alone,  for  I've  got  your  tin, 

And  lots  of  oihcr  traps  snugly  in  ; 

Let  me  alone —  I  am  rigging  a  boat 

To  grab  votever  you've  j/ot  a.Ioat; 

In  a  veek  or  so  I  expects  to  come, 

And  turn  you  out  of  your  ouse  and  ome ; 

I'm  a  quiet  old  cove,"  says  he,  with  a  groan ; 

"  All  I  axes,  is,  Let  me  alone." 

Just  then  came  along,  011  the  self  same  vay, 
Another  old  cove,  and  began  for  to  say : 
"  Let  you  alone  !    That's  comin'  it  strong ! 
You've  ben  let  alone  —  a  darned  sight  too  long  ! 
Of  all  the  sarce  that  ever  I  heerd ! 
Put  doAvn  that  stick !  (You  may  well  look  sheered. 
Let  go  that  stone !    If  you  once  show  fight, 
I'll  knock  you  higher  than  ary  kite. 

"  YTou  must  have  a  lesson  to  stop  your  tricks, 
And  cure  you  of  shying  them  stones  and  sticks ; 
And  I'll  have  my  hardware  back,  and  my  cash, 
And  knock  your  scow  into  tarnal  smash; 
And  if  ever  I  catches  you  round  my  ranch, 
I'll  string  you  up  to  the  nearest  branch. 
The  best  you  can  do  is  to  go  to  bed, 
And  keep  a  decent  tongue  in  your  head  ; 
For  I  reckon,  before  you  and  I  are  done, 
You'll  wish  you  had  let  honest  folks  alone." 

The  old  cove  stopped,  and  the  other  old  COTC, 
He  sot  quite  still  .n  his  cypress  grove. 
And  he  looked  at  his  stick.,  revolvin*  slow, 
Vether  'twere  safe  to  shy  it  or  nc  ; 
And  he  grumbled  on,  ia  an  injured  tone, 
"  All  that  I  axed  vos,  .Ltt  me  alone." 


so 


ANECDOTES,     :'OETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


THE  MAN  WHO  WOULDN'T  BE  MADE  A  PIUS- 
ONER. —  During  the  last  week  in  December,  1861, 
while  about  a  dozen  oyster  smacks  were  on  their 
way  to  the  "banks "in  Mississippi  Sound,  they 
were  surrounded  by  a  number  of  launches  from 
the  national  ships  :  all  were  seized  in  the  name  of 
the  Government,  and  a  guard  put  aboard  each 
to  conduct  them  under  the  guns  of  the  ships  of 
war.  One  of  the  smacks  thus  seized  was  the 
"  Glide,"  commanded  and  owned  by  Capt.  King, 
a  man  who  had  resided  in  New  Orleans  since 
boyhood,  and  who  was  well  known  as  a  brave 
and  determined  seaman  by  all  of  his  acquaint 
ances  around  the  New  Basin.  A  sergeant  and 
one  soldier  were  placed  aboard  the  "  Glide,"  with 
orders  to  steer  for  the  New  London,  then 
some  twelve  or  eighteen  miles  off.  The  wind 
wa3  ahead,  and  the  boat  had  to  beat  all  the  way. 
The  "  Glide,"  somehow,  strange  to  say,  worked 
badly;  all  the  rest  of  the  smacks  were  soon  sev 
eral  miles  ahead,  and  still  the  contrary  wind  was 
blowing,  and  the  lazy  boat  dragging  slowly  along. 
So  passed  the  greater  part  of  the  day,  and  at  five 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  fleet  was  yet  several 
miles  off.  The  soldiers  on  board  the  "  Glide " 
grew  hungry,  and  asked  Gapt.  King  if  he  had 
anything  to  eat  aboard.  He  politely  told  them 
that  there  was  plenty  in  the  cabin  —  a  sort  of  lit 
tle  hold  in  the  after  part  cf  the  craft,  reached  by 
a  narrow  scuttle  and  two  or  three  crooked  steps. 
The  sergeant  volunteered  to  go  down  and  get  the 
victuals,  directing  the  soldier  to  keep  a  sharp 
watch  while  he  did  so.  He  started  down  the 
steps  with  rifle  in  hand,  Capt.  King  standing 
near,  officiously  showing  the  way.  As  soon  as 
he  had  got  into  the  cabin,  and  was  about  to  stoop 
and  go  forward,  the  hitherto  polite  and  kind  cap 
tain  suddenly  seized  his  rifle,  and  jerking  it  from 
his  hand,  shot  him  dead  on  the  spot.  Not  stop 
ping  to  swap  jack-knives,  Gapt.  King  jumped  for 
ward,  and  seizing  the  other  soldier's  gun  before 
he  had  time  to  recover  from  his  fright  and  aston 
ishment,  commanded  him  to  surrender,  'ihe 
soldier  saw  there  was  no  use  to  resist,  gave  up, 
and  was  securely  tied  and  laid  in  the  hold. 

Gapt.  King  then  set  sail  for  Fort  Pike,  and  as 
if  understanding  the  necessity  for  haste,  the  little 
craft  recovered  from  her  languor,  and  sped  over 
the  water  at  railroad  speed.  And  it  was  well  she 
did,  for  the  men  on  the  other  boats  had  heard 
the  musket  shot,  and  suspecting  something  wrong 
from  seeing  the  "  Glide "  suddenly  change  her 
course,  nuide  chase,  one  and  all.  The  affair  then 
grew  exciting,  and  for  a  while  Capt.  King's  chances 
for  safety  were  rather  squally ;  but  his  gallant 
little  craft  was  in  earnest,  and  rushed  on  towards 
the  haven  of  safety  as  if  she  understood  the  whole 
anair.  Night  soon  came  on,  and  darkness  hiding 
her  from  the  view  of  her  pursuers,  enabled  her  to 
get  safely  to  Fort  Pike,  where  Capt.  King  recited 
his  adventures,  and  excited  the  admiration  of  the 
garrison.  Leaving  the  fort  the  next  morning,  he 
arrived  in  the  New  Basin  with  his  prisoner  and 
dead  sergeant,  who  were  placed  in  the  hands  of 
the  military  authorities.  Besides  his  prisoner, 
Capt.  King  captured  a  fine  six-oared  launch, 


nearly  new,  one  Minie  rile,  one  musket,  three 
bayonets,  one  sergeant's  sv\  ord,  and  four  cartridge 
boxes  filled  -with  dnr-mmution —  nuite  a  good  day's 
work  for  a  ;imp>,  oystern.  m. 


GEN.  CHEATIIAM'S  ESCAPE.  —  The  following 
story  was  told  by  Gen.  Cheatham  of  the  manner 
in  which  he  escaped  capture  at  the  battle  of  Bel- 
mont,  Mo. :  — 

Just  as  the  opposing  armies  were  approaching 
one  another,  Gen.  Cheatham  discovered  a  squad 
ron  of  cavalry  coming  down  a  road  near  his 
position.  Uncertain  as  to  which  force  it  belonged, 
accompanied  only  by  an  orderly,  he  rode  up  to 
within  a  few  yards  of  it,  and  inquired, — 

"  What  cavalry  is  that?" 

"  Illinois  cavalry,  sir,"  was  the  reply. 

"  O  !  Illinois  cavalry.  All  right ;  just  stand 
where  you  are !  " 

The  cavalry  obeyed  the  order,  and  unmolested 
by  them,  who  supposed  he  was  one  of  the  Fed 
eral  officers,  the  general  rode  safely  back,  directly 
under  the  guns  of  another  Federal  regiment, 
which  had  by  that  time  come  up,  but  who,  seeing 
him  coming  from  the  direction  of  the  cavalry, 
also  supposed  that  he  was  one  of  them.  Some 
of  the  national  officers  remembered  the  incident, 
and  agreed  with  the  hero  of  it,  that  if  they  had 
known  who  he  was,  it  was  very  probable  that 
there  would  have  been  one  general  less  that 
night. 


AN  INCIDENT  WITH  A  MORAL.  —  A  chaplain  in 
one  of  the  regiments  on  the  Potomac  narrates 
the  case  of  a  sick  soldier,  which  strikingly  illus 
trates  the  reasoning  of  many  men  in  the  camp 
and  out  of  it.  Some  one  had  mentioned  to  the 
soldier  the  case  of  the  Vermonter  who  was  sen 
tenced  to  be  shot  for  sleeping  on  his  post.  During 
the  evening  following,  the  fever  set  in  violently ; 
the  sick  man  imagined  he  was  the  one  sentenced 
to  be  shot.  The  surgeon  being  called,  the  fol 
lowing  conversation  ensued :  — 

"  Doctor,  I  am  to  be  shot  in  the  morning,  and 
wish  you  to  send  for  the  chaplain.  I  desire  to 
make  all  necessary  preparations  for  my  end." 

"  They  shall  not  shoot  you ;  I'll  take  care  of 
you.  Whoever  comes  to  take  you  from  here,  I 
shall  have  them  arrested  and  put  under  guard." 

"Will  you,  dear  doctor?  Thank  you,  thank 
you  —  well,  then,  you  need  not  send  for  the 
chaplain  'just  yet.3'" 

THE   SPOTTED   HAND. 

AN  ANECDOTE  OF  JOHN  C.  CALHOUN. 

ONE  morning,  at  the  breakfast  table,  when  I, 
an  unobserved  spectator,  happened  to  b«?  present, 
Calhoun  was  observed  to  gaze  frequently  at  his 
right  hand,  and  brush  it  with  his  left  in  a  hurried 
and  nervous  manner.  He  di.l  this  so  often  that 
it  excited  attention.  A*:  leng';h  one  of  the  per- 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


8OH8  comprising  the  breakfast  party  —  his  name, 
I  think,  is  Toombs,  and  he  is  a  member  of 
Congress  from  Georgia  —  took  upon  himself 
to  ask  the  occasion  of  Mr.  Calhoun's  disquie 
tude. 

"  Does  your  hand  pain  you?  "  he  asked  of  Mr. 
Calhoun. 

To  this  Mr.  Calhoun  replied,  in  rather  a  hur 
ried  manner,  — 

"  Pshaw !  it  is  nothing  but  a  dream  I  had 
last  night,  and  -which  makes  me  see  perpetually 
a  large  black  spot,  like  an  ink  blotch,  upon  the 
back  of  my  right  hand  ;  an  optical  illusion,  I 
suppose." 

Of  course  these  words  excited  the  curiosity  of 
the  company,  but  no  one  ventured  to  beg  the  de 
tails  of  this  singular  dream,  until  Toombs  asked 
quietly,  — 

"  What  was  your  dream  like  ?  I  am  not  very 
superstitious  about  dreams  ;  but  sometimes  they 
have  a  great  deal  of  truth  in  them." 

"  But  this  was  such  a  peculiarly  absurd  dream," 
said  Mr.  Calhoun,  again  brushing  the  back  of  his 
right  hand  ;  "  however,  if  it  does  not  intrude  too 
much  on  the  time  of  our  friends,  I  will  relate  it 
to  you." 

Of  course  the  company  were  profuse  in  their 
expressions  of  anxiety  to  know  all  about  the 
dreum,  and  Mr.  Calhoun  related  it. 

"  At  a  late  hour  last  night,  as  I  Avas  sitting  in 
my  room,  engaged  in  writing,  I  was  astonished 
by  the  entrance  of  a  visitor,  who,  without  a  word, 
look  a  seat  opposite  me  at  my  table.  This  sur 
prised  me,  as  I  had  given  particular  orders  to 
the  servant  that  I  should  on  no  account  be  dis 
turbed.  The  manner  in  which  the  intruder  en 
tered,  so  perfectly  self-possessed,  taking  his  seat 
opposite  me  without  a  word,  as  though  my  room 
and  all  within  it  belonged  to  him,  excited  in  me 
as  much  surprise  as  indignation.  As  I  raised 
my  head  to  look  into  his  features,  over  the  top 
of  my  shaded  lamp,  I  discovered  that  he  was 
wrapped  in  a  thin  cloak,  which  effectually  con 
cealed  his  face  and  features  from  my  view ;  and 
as  I  raised  my  head,  he  spoke  :  — 

"  *  What  are  you  writing,  senator  from  South 
Carolina  P ' 

"  I  did  not  think  of  his  impertinence  at  first, 
but  answered  him  voluntarily,  — 

" '  I  am  writing  a  plan  for  the  dissolution  of 
the  American  Union.' 

"  (You  know,  gentlemen,  that  I  am  expected 
to  produce  a  plan  of  dissolution  in  the  event  of 
certain  contingencies.)  To  this  the  intruder  re 
plied,  in  the  coolest  manner  possible,  — 

"  '  Senator  from  South  Carolina,  will  you  allow 
me  to  look  at  your  hand,  your  right  hand  ?  ' 

"  He  rose,  the  cloak  fell,  arid  I  beheld  his  face. 
Gentlemen,  the  sight  of  that  face  struck  me  like 
a  thunder-clap.  It  was  the  face-^of  a  dead  man, 
whom  extraordinary  events  had  called  back  to 
life.  The  features  were  those  of  Gen.  George 
Washington.  He  was  dressed  in  the  Revolu 
tionary  costume,  such  as  you  see  in  the  Patent 
OSice  " 


Here  Mr.  Calhoun  pa  ised,  apparc  atly  agitated. 
His  agitation,  I  need  net  tell  you,  was  shared  by 
the  company.  Toombs  at  length  broke  the  em 
barrassing  pause. 

"  Well,  what  was  the  i:Bue  of  this  scene  ?  " 

Mr.  Calhoun  resumed  :  — 

"  The  intruder,  as  I  ha^e  said,  rose  and  asked 
to  look  at  my  right  hand.  As  though  I  had  not 
the  power  to  refuse,  I  extended  it.  The  truth 
is,  I  felt  a  strange  thrill  pervade  me  at  his  touch ; 
he  grasped  it,  and  held  it  near  the  light,  thus 
affording  full  time  to  examine  every  feature.  It 
was  the  face  of  Washington.  After  holding  my 
hand  for  a  moment,  he  looked  at  me  steadily, 
and  said  in  a  quiet  way,  — 

"  '  And  with  this  right  hand,  senator  from 
South  Carolina,  you  ,wouid  sign  your  name  to  a 
paper  declaring  the  Union  dissolved  ? ' 

"  I  answered  in  the  affirmative. 

"  *  Yes,'  I  said,  *  if  a  certain  contingency  arises, 
I  will  sign  my  name  to  the  Declaration  of  Disso 
lution.' 

"  But  at  that  moment  a  black  blotch  appeared 
on  the  back  of  my  hand,  which  I  seem  to  see 
now. 

"  '  What  is  that  ? '  said  I,  alarmed,  I  know  not 
why,  at  the  blotch  on  my  hand. 

"  '  That,'  said  he,  dropping  my  hand,  '  is  the 
mark  by  which  Benedict  Arnold  is  known  in  the 
next  world.' 

"  He  said  no  more,  gentlemen,  but  drew  from 
beneath  his  cloak  an  object  which  he  laid  upon 
the  table  —  laid  upon  the  very  paper  on  which  I 
was  writing.  This  object,  gentlemen,  was  a 
skeleton. 

" '  There,'  said  he,  '  there  are  the  bones  of 
Isaac  Hayne,  who  was  hung  at  Charleston  by  the 
British.  He  gave  his  life  in  order  to  establish 
the  Union.  When  you  put  your  name  to  a  Dec 
laration  of  Dissolution,  why,  you  may  as  well 
have  the  bones  of  Isaac  Hayne  before  you  —  he 
was  a  South  Carolinian,  and  so  are  you.  But 
there  was  no  blotch  on  his  right  hand.' 

"  With  these  words  the  intruder  left  the  room. 
I  started  back  from  the  contact  with  the  dead 
man's  bones,  and  —  awoke.  Overcome  by  labor, 
I  had  fallen  asleep,  and  had  been  dreaming.  Was 
it  not  a  singular  dream  ?  " 

All  the  company  answered  in  the  affirmative, 
and  Toombs  muttered,  "  Singular,  very  singular/9 
and  at  the  same  time  looking  curiously  at  the 
back  of  his  right  hand,  while  Mr.  Calhoun  placed 
his  head  between  his  hands,  and  seemed  buried 
in  thought. 


A   CONTRABAND   REFRAIN, 

MUCH  IN  VOGUE  AT  FOUTRKSS  MONROK. 

WAKE  up,  snakes,  pelicans,  and  Sesh'ners! 
Don't  yer  hear  'um  comin'  — 

Comin'  on  de  run  ? 

Wake  up,  I  tell  yer  !     Git  up,  Jefferson  I 
Bobolishion's  coraiti'  — 
Bob-o-lish-i-on. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


ANECDOTE  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.  —  The 
following  is  one  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  stones.  These 
he  told  often  in  private  conversation,  rarely  in  his 
speeches. 

"  I  once  knew  a  good,  sound  churchman,  whom 
we'll  call  Brown,  who  was  on  a  committee  to  erect 
a  bridge  over  a  very  dangerous  and  rapid  river. 
Architect  after  architect  failed,  and  at  last  Brown 
said  he  had  a  friend  named  Jones,  who  had  built 
several  bridges,  and  could  build  this.  '  Let's  have 
him  in,'  said  the  committee.  In  came  Jones.  '  ( 'an 
you  build  this  bridge,  sir  ?  '  '  Yes,'  replied  Jones  ; 
*  I  could  build  a  bridge  to  the  infernal  regions,  if 
necessary.'  The  sober  committee  were  horrified  ; 
but  when  Jones  retired,  Brown  thought  it  but  fail- 
to  defend  his  friend.  '  I  know  Jones  so  well,'  said 
lie,  '  and  he  is  so  honest  a  man,  and  so  good  an 
architect,  that,  if  he  states  soberly  and  positively 
that  he  can  build  a  bridge  to  Hades  —  why,  1  be 
lieve  it.  But  I  have  my  doubts  about  the  abut 
ment  on  the  infernal  side.'  So,"  Lincoln  added, 
"  when  politicians  said  they  could  harmonize  the 
Northern  and  Southern  wings  of  the  Democracy, 
why,  I  believed  them.  But  I  had  my  doubts 
about  the  abutment  on  the  Southern  side." 


ME..  WINTHROP,  one  of  the  Boston  Union  Com 
mittee,  called  on  Senator  Mason,  in  January,  1801^ 
and,  referring  to  his  former  visit  to  Massachusetts, 
remarked  in  the  blandest  tones :  "  I  hope,  Mr. 
Mason,  we  shall  see  you  again  at  Bunker  Hill." 
To  which  the  senator  stiffly  jerked  out  the  re 
sponse  :  "  Not  unless  I  come  as  an  ambassador, 
sir."  

GENERAL  ROUSSEAU  AND  A  REBEL  CLERGY 
MAN.  —  Rev.  Frederick  A.  Ross  had  just  been  ex 
amined  on  a  charge  of  treason,  and  convicted  upon 
his  own  showing.  Under  charge  of  a  guard  he 
was  about  to  leave  the  General's  tent.  Putting 
on  a  particularly  sanctimonious  expression  of 
countenance,  he  took  up  his  hat,  turned  to  the 
General,  and  said:  "  Well,  General,  we  must  each 
do  as  we  think  best,  and  I  hope  we  will  both  meet 
in  heaven."  The  General  replied  :  "  Your  getting 
to  heaven,  sir,  will  depend  altogether  upon  your 
future  conduct ;  before  we  can  reasonably  hope  to 
meet  in  that  region,  you  and  I  must  become  bet 
ter  men."  The  effect  of  this  brief  rejoinder  was 
irresistible. 


REBELS. 

REBELS  !  'tis  a  holy  name  ! 

The  name"  our  fathers  bore, 
When  battling  in  the  cause  of  Right, 
Against  the  tyrant  in  his  might, 

In  the  dark  days  of  yore. 

Rebels  !  'tis  our  family  name  ! 

Our  father,  Washington, 
Was  the  arch-rebel  in  the  fight, 
And  gave  the  name  to  us  —  a  right 

Of  father  unto  son. 


Rebels  !  'tis  oxir  given  name ! 

Our  mother,  Liberty, 
Received  the  title  with  her  fame, 
In  days  of  grief,  of  fear  and  shame, 

When  at  her  breast  were  we. 

Rebels !  'tis  our  sealed  name  ! 

A  baptism  of  blood  ! 
The  war  —  ay,  and  the  din  of  strife  — 
The  fearful  contest,  life  for  life  — 

The  mingled  crimson  flood. 

Rebels  !  'tis  a  patriot's  name  ! 

In  struggles  it  was  given  ; 
We  bore  it  then  when  tyrants  raved, 
And  through  their  curses  'twas  engraved 

On  the  doomsday  book  of  heaven. 

Rebels  !  'tis  our  righting  name  ! 

For  peace  rules  o'er  the  land, 
Until  they  speak  of  craven  woe  — 
Until  our  rights  receive  a  blow, 

From  foe's  or  brothers'  hand. 

Rebels  !  'tis  our  dying  name! 

For  although  life  is  dear, 
Yet,  freemen  born  and  freemen  bied, 
We'd  rather  live  as  freemen  dead, 

Than  live  in  slavish  fear. 

Then  call  us  Rebels  if  you  will  — 

We  glory  in  the  name  ; 
For  bending  under  unjust  laws, 
And  swearing  faith  to  an  unjust  cause, 

We  count  a  greater  shame. 


AN  EDITOR  BEFORE  THE  CABINET.  —  -  The  ed 
itor  of  the  Chatauque  (N.  Y.)  Democrat  w as  spend 
ing  his  time  in  Washington,  and  writing  home  let 
ters  for  publication.  One  of  them,  it  was  claimed, 
contained  "  contraband  news,"  and  the  editor  (if 
his  statement  may  be  believed)  was  summoned  be 
fore  the  Cabinet  to  answer  for  the  heinous  offence. 
Here  is  his  account  of  the  affair :  — 

"  So  many  weeks  had  slipped  away  since  my 
friends  in  Jamestown  commenced  sending  the 
Democrat  regularly  to  the  members  of  the  Cabi 
net  and  General  McClellan,  that  the  vision  of  a 
file  of  ferocious  soldiers  had  departed  from  my 
imagination,  when  one  morning  the  subscriber  re 
ceived  a  gilt-edged,  joekey-club-scented  note,  re 
questing  his  distinguished  presence  at  the  White 
House  at  a  certain  hour.  1  had  no  doubt  but  the 
note  was  from  Mrs.  Lincoln,  who,  I  supposed, 
wished  to  apologize  for  the  blunder  that  she  made 
in  my  not  receiving  her  invitation  to  the  White 
House  ball. 

"  So,  giving  my  boots  an  extra  blacking,  and  my 
moustache  an  extra  twist,  I  wended  my  way  to  (he 
President's  domicile.  After  disposing  of  hat, 
cane,  &c.,  I  was  conducted  into  the  room  used  for 
Cabinet  meetings,  and  soon  found  myself  in  the 
presence  of  the  President,  Messrs.  Seward,  Stan- 
ton,  and  Welles.  Mr.  Seward,  whom  I  had  met 
at  a  dinner-party  at  General  Risley's,  in  Fredonia, 
during  the  campaign  of  1860,  recognized  me,  and 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


S3 


at  once  alluded  to  the  excellence  of  General  Ills- 
ley's  brandy,  and  proposed  to  Abe  that  he  should 
send  over  to  his  cellar  at  the  State  Department, 
and  get  a  nice  article  that  he  had  there.  I  noticed 
three  copies  of  the  Chatauque  Democrat  spread 
out  on  the  table,  bearing  certain  initials,  which  for 
the  sake  <f  avoiding  personalities  I  will  not  men 
tion.  I  also  noticed  ominous  black  lines  drawn 
around  certain  passages  which  I  recognized  as 
being  part  of  ray  letter  of  several  weeks  ago. 
They  looked  like  Mr.  Benton's  expunged  resolu 
tions  on  the  Senate  Journal. 

Mr.  Welles  was  so  deeply  engaged  in  reading 
a  fourth  copy,  that  he  did  riot  look  up  as  I  went 
in.  It  seems  that  the  "  mailing  clerks  "  at  James 
town  had  neglected  to  furnish  the  Navy  Depart 
ment  with  a  copy,  and  the  Secretary  was  deeply 
absorbed  in  its  perusal.  Mr.  Stanton  was  buay 
writing  his  recent  order,  thanking  God  and  Gen 
eral  Halleck  for  the  victory  and  slaughter  at 
Pittsburgh  Landing,  and  paid  no  attention  to  my 
entrance. 

Mr.  Lincoln  said  :  "  A  Cabinet  meeting  had  been 
called  at  the  request  of  General  McClellan,  to  con 
sider  my  offence  in  writing  the  letter  conspicuous 
ly  marked  in  the  Democrat  before  us,  and  which 
had  been  kindly  furnished  several  of  their  number 
by  certain  patriotic  and  high-toned  gentlemen  in 
Jamestown,  N.  Y.  But  they  would  have  to  delay 
a  few  minutes,  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  Commo 
dore  from  Yorktown,  with  despatches  from  Gen 
eral  McClellan,  who  had  telegraphed  that  .the 
business  must-  not  go  on  till  his  despatches  ar 
rived/' 

During  the  interval,  me,  and  Abe,  and  Seward, 
sauntered  through  the  rooms,  looking  at  the  vari 
ous  objects  of  interest.  On  entering  the  library, 
we  found  that  the  messenger  had  returned  from 
Seward's  cellar,  with  some  of  the  Secretary's  best 
Auburn  brand.  The  cork  was  drawn,  and  we 
sampled  the  fluid.  We  next  visited  the  ladies' 
parlor,  and  were  presented  to  "  Mary."  who  came 
forward,  and  shook  me  cordially  by  the  hand,  and 
desired  to  know  "  how  I  nourished  ;  "  said  "  she 
never  should  forgive  me  for  not  attending  her 
ball."  She  was  greatly  shocked  to  hear  that  there 
had  been  a  failure  to  connect,  about  getting  the 
card  of  invitation. 

We  were  soon  summoned  to  the  council ;  the 
Commodore  had  arrived,  bringing  seventeen  of 
General  McClellan's  staff',  who  had  been  delegated 
by  him  to  transmit  to  the  President  his  copy  of 
the  Democrat,  which  he  had  received  at  Fortress 
Monroe.  On  opening  it,  the  same  ominous  ink- 
marks  were  drawn  around  the  passages  intended 
to  be  brought  to  the  especial  notice  of  the  Gen 
eral.  The  staff-officers  then  withdrew,  and  the 
President  proposed  to  proceed  to  business.  At 
this  juncture  Mr.  Welles  looked  up  from  the  paper 
he  had  been  so  busily  perusing,  and  inquired  of 
the  President :  "  If  he  had  ever  heard  anything 
about  the  fight  the  Democrat  spoke  of,  between 
the  Monitor  and  the  Merrimac,  and  the  danger 
there  was  of  the  latter  getting  out  and  coming  up 
the  Potomac  and  bombarding  Washington  ?  "  j 
Mr.  Lincoln  said :  "  It  was  a  fact."  The  Secretary  j 


seemed  greatly  surprised,  and  said :  "  lie  mupt 
Avrite  to  his  brother-in-law  in  New  York,  to  ser 1 
round  a  vessel  to  Hampton  Roads,  to  Avatcb  the 
Merrimac,  and  also  to  send  him  the  Weekly  Post, 
so  that  he  could  get  the  news."  He  chose  the 
Post,  because  he  had  been  in  the  habit,  aforetime, 
of  contributing  essays  for  its  columns.  He  also 
remarked  that  there  wt  s  "  much  valuable  and 
deeply  interesting  news  in  the  Democrat"  which 
was  then  only  some  four  weeks  ol  1. 

Mr.  Stanton  hiie  proposed  that  the  contraband 
article  should  be  read,  as  he  had  been  so  busy  of 
late,  he  h&.  I  not  read  the  copy  sent  him  by  his 
patriotic  correspondents  at  Jamestown.  So  Mr. 
Seward  read  the  article  through  carefully.  When 
it  w^s  completed,  Mr.  Stanton  brought  his  fist 
dow.i  on  the  table  with  the  energy  and  vigor  for 
|  which  he  is  celebrated,  and  says  he  :  "Them's  my 

1  sentiments,  by ."     The   Secretary,   contrary 

to  the  opinion  of  many  who  know  him  only  by 
his  short,  pungent,  pious,  pithy,  patriotic,  and  pe*- 
culiar  proclamations,  profanes  pretty  profusely 
when  excited.  During  the  reading  he  had  been 
fumbling  his  vest-pocket.  Says  he :  "  What's 
the  price  of  that  paper  per  annum  ?  "  I  informed 
him  that  it  was  furnished  to  advance  paying  sub 
scribers  at  one  dollar.  He  handed  me  a  gold  dol 
lar,  and  says  he  :  '*  Send  it  along."  Mr.  Welles, 
who  was  just  then  absorbed  in  reading  the  account 
of  the  "embarkation"  of  the  army  from  Alexan 
dria,  looked  up  and  said  :  "  He  had  thought  of  sub 
scribing  himself,  but  as  Mr.  Stanton  had  done  so, 
he  would  have  George  send  him  the  Post,  aud 
they  could  exchange." 

The  President  now  called  for  an  opinion  from 
the  other  members  of  the  Cabinet,  Mr.  Stanton 
having  voted,  as  I  have  before  remarked.  Mr. 
Seward,  who  was  in  a  happy  frame  of  mind,  said 
that :  "  Perhaps  it  was  impolitic  to  have  written 
just  such  an  article,  as  he  was  always  opposed  to 
the  expression  of  any  decided  opinions,  but  he 
thought  the  editor  of  the  Democrat  knew  good" 
liquor  when  he  smelt  it,  and  in  view  of  the  fact 
that  he  hailed  from  Old  Chatauque,  whose  inhab 
itants  he  remembered  with  pride,  having  once 
been  a  resident  there,  he  voted  that  the  article 
was  not  contraband,  but  that  the  writer  must  not 
do  so  again." 

Mr.  Welles  said :  "  He  did  not  know  enough 
about  the  subject  under  consideration  to  give  an 
opinion.  He  had  been  much  interested  in  the 
perusal  of  the  article,  and  had  found  some  useful 
hints  in  it  in  regard  to  the  danger  to  be  appre 
hended  from  the  Merrimac,  which  he  thought  he 
should  act  upon  by  next  year  —  on  the  whole, 
he  thought  the  good  balanced  the  evil,  and  he 
was  for  calling  it  square." 

It  was  the  President's  turn,  now,  to  decide  the 
matter.  He  always  gets  the  opinion  of  his  "  con 
stitutional  advisers"  all  round,  and  then  dee* 
as  he  has  a  mind  to.  Abe  turned  to  me  with  a 
merry  twinkle  in  his  eye,  and  his  lovely  and  ex 
pressive  countenance  seemed  more  seraphic  than 
ever,  and  says  he  to  me,  says  he :  "  Your  letter 
on  McClellan  reminds  me  of  a  story  that  I  heard 
in  the  days  of  John  Tyler's  Administration  There 


34 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


was  an  editor  in  Rhode  Island,  noted  for  his  love 
of  fun  —  it  came  to  him  irresistibly  —  and  he 
couldn't  help  saying  just  what  came  into  his  mind. 
He  was  appointed  Postmaster  by  Tyler.  Some 
time  after  Tyler  vetoed  the  Bank  Bill,  and  came 
into  disrepute  with  the  Whigs,  a  conundrum  went 
the  rounds  of  the  papers.  It  was  as  follows  : 
'  Why  is  John  Tyler  like  an  ass?'  This  editor 
copied  the  conundrum,  and  could  not  resist  the 
temptation  to  answer  it,  which  he  did  as  follows  : 
'  Because  he  is  an  ass.'  This  piece  of  fun  cost 
him  his  head,  but  it  was  a  fad. 

"  On  the  whole,"  said  Abe,  "  here's  a  dollar  ; 
send  me  your  valuable  paper  for  a  year,  and  be 
careful  in  future  how  you  disclose  Government 
secrets  that  have  been  published  in  the  Norfolk 
.,  )a.if  Book  only  two  weeks." 

1  promised  to  be  more  discreet  hereafter,  pledg 
ing  myself  not  to  interfere  further  with  General 
Thomas  "  or  any  other  man "  in  his  exclusive 
right  to  give  the  rebels  the  earliest  information 
possible  ;  also  pledging  myself  to  the  best  of  my 
ability  to  aid  the  Government  in  its  patriotic  ef 
forts  to  promote  "  loyal  ignorance "  among  the 
masses  of  the  Northern  people. 


"CALL  ALL!    CALL   ALL!" 

BY  "  GEORGIA." 

WHOOP  !  the  Doodles  have  broken  loose, 
Roaring  round  like  the  very  deuce  ! 
Lice  of  Egypt,  a  hungry  pack  ; 
After  'em,  boys,  and  drive  -em  back. 

Bull-dog,  terrier,  cur  and  fice, 
Back  to  the  beggarly  land  of  ice, 
Worry  'cm,  bite  'em,  scratch  and  tear 
Everybody  and  everywhere. 

Old  Kentucky  is  caved  from  under, 
Tennessee  is  split  asunder, 
Alabama  awaits  attack, 
And  Georgia  bristles  up  her  back. 

Old  John  Brown  is  dead  and  gone ! 
Still  his  spirit  is  marching  on, 
Lantern-jawed,  and  legs,  ray  boys, 
Long  as  an  ape's  from  Illinois ! 

Want  a  weapon  ?    Gather  a  brick ! 
Club  or  cudgel,  or  stone  or  stick, 
Anything  with  a  blade  or  butt ! 
Anything  that  can  cleave  or  cut ! 

Anything  heavy,  or  hard,  or  keen  ! 
Any  sort  of  slaying-machine  ! 
Anything  with  a  willing  mind, 
And  the  steady  arm  of  a  man,  behind. 

Want  a  weapon  ?     Why,  capture  one  ! 
Every  Doodle  has  got  a  gun, 
Belt  and  bayonet,  bright  and  new : 
Kill  a  Doodle  and  capture  two! 

Shoulder  to  shoulder,  son  and  sire  ! 
All,  call  all !  to  the  feast  of  fire  ! 
Mother  and  maiden,  and  child  and  slave 
A  common  triumph  or  a  single  grave. 


"  ETHAN  SriKE "  writes,  that  Hornby  has 
"  seceded,"  and  that  he  consequently  resigns  his 
seat  in  the  Maine  Legislature.  The  following 
resolutions  were  passed  at  a  public  meeting  of 
the  new  "  sovereignty  "  : 

Resolved,  That  we  are  opposed  to  koertion, 
except  when  exercised  by  ourselves. 

Resolved,  That  the  okepation  of  the  Baldwin 
lightus,  by  a  State  keeper,  is  a  irritatin'  circum 
stance,  an'  onless  he  is  withdrawn,  aour  army  be 
instructc  1  to  take  possession  of  the  same  in  the 
name  of  the  taoun. 

Resolved,  That  ef  aour  reasonable  demands  is 
not  complied  to,  that  we  will  take  possession  of, 
and  hold  for  aour  own  use,  the  State's  prison, 
and  the  insane  assylum. 

Resolved,  That  the  haybius  korpus  act,  taxes, 
an'  the  Main  law  be  an'  is  suspended.  Also  an 
ordnance  relating  to  weights  and  measures  as 
used  in  the  likker  trade.  Be  it  enacted,  That 
henceforth  and  for  ever,  in  this  ere  realm,  every 
quart  pot  shall  hold  a  gallon. 

Ordered,  that  the  forgoin'  articles  shall  be  the 
constitution  of  this  suvrinty. 


To  THE  OFFICERS  OF  THE  NAVY.  —  Lieut. 
Craven,  commanding  the  United  States  steamer 
Mohawk,  which  arrived  at  New  York  February 
7,  1801,  from  Key  West,  published  the  follow- 
ing  letter,  addressed  to  the  officers  of  the  navy : 

Basely  unprincipled  incendiaries  have  scattered 
throughout  our  land  doctrines  of  a  revolutionary 
character  —  doctrines  calculated  to  inflame  the 
minds  of  the  excitable  and  thoughtless  multitude 
—  calculated  to  mislead  the  weak  and  wavering, 
and  to  lead  on  and  incite  to  frenzy  the  needy  ad 
venturers  —  those  wolves  of  the  human  race  who 
rejoice  in  that  anarchy  and  disorder  which  loosen 
the  restraints  of  law,  and  afford  them  occasion 
for  indulgence  in  license  and  rapine. 

Sad  indeed  in  the  history  of  the  world  will  be 
the  day  which  witnesses  the  dismemberment  of 
this  Confederation  —  disastrous  to  the  march  of 
human  freedom  and  civilization,  the  event  which 
blots  from  the  page  of  history  our  £reat  and  glo 
rious  nation  of  self-ruled  men. 

The  oppressed  of  the  earth,  with  hopeful  hearts, 
have  long  regarded  us  as  the  exponents  of  "  lib 
erty,  fraternity,  equality."  God  avert  from  us 
the  abasing  acknowledgment  that  man  is  not 
capable  of  self-government.  What  a  humiliating 
reflection,  that  man,  in  his  passions,  can  be  ruled 
only  by  the  bayonet,  by  force  —  despotic  force  ; 
his  "reasoning  faculties  gone,  he  sinks  to  the  level 
of  the  brute ;  with  no  principle  to  guide  him,  he 
yields  only  to  force. 

Officers  of  the  navy,  be,  as  ever,  loyal,  brave, 
and  true  ;  our  beloved  country  is  convulsed  with 
distracting  troubles ;  our  country  is  in  danger ; 
the  great  temple  of  liberty,  founded  by  our  fathers, 
and  dedicated  to  the  use  of  the  human  race,  now 
reek;  and  totters  to  its  base  ;  destruction  threatens 
it;  the  machmatnns  of  designing  n  en  have 
brc  -ght  it  to  the  verge  of  ruin. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Officers  of  the  navy,  our  country  is  in  peril, 
and  it  behooves  us,  my  friends,  to  consider  well 
and  earnestly  what  are  our  duties  to  the  nation 
which  has  given  us  honored  places  among  her 
sons  ;  has  enrolled  us  among  her  defenders  ;  has 
"  reposed  special  trust  and  confidence  in  our  valor, 
patriotism,  and  fidelity." 

There  is  no  one  among  us,  my  friends,  however 
humble  his  station,  who  has  not,  with  laudable 
pride,  enjoyed  the  honor  of  being  a  servant  of  his 
country ;  one  of  her  defenders  on  the  seas ;  one 
of  the  fostered  sons  of  the  favored  arm  of  national 
defence.  There  can  be  no  feeling  more  ennobling 
than  that  of  him  who  bears  arms  in  his  country's 
defence ;  let  us  be  slow  to  throw  aside  that  ar 
mor;  slow  to  abjure  all  allegiance,  and  never 
betray  the  trust  reposed  in  us. 

We  have  in  a  marked  manner  been  the  honored 
and  cherished  sons  of  our  country  ;  our  country 
men  have  with  exalted  estimate  valued  the-  ex 
ploits  of  our  heroic  men,  whose  deeds  have  shed 
such  lustre  on  our  flag,  and  carried  it  in  triumph 
and  honor  to  all  parts  of  the  world  ;  recollect,  my 
friends,  that  each  one  of  us  is  a  sharer  in  all  the 
glories  won  by  naval  valor  ;  our  great  men  have 
passed  away, 'but  they  have  left  the  honor  of  the 
navy,  the  honor  of  the  flag,  in  our  keeping. 
Some  among  us  have  had  the  fortune  to  do  battle 
against  our  country's  foes ;  all  of  us  have  had 
each  our  individual  rule  in  the  great  machinery 
by  which  the  whole  is  moved ;  the  fame  of  our 
flag  belongs  to  us,  and  our  duty  is  to  rally  to  its 
tupport. 

We  must  not  forget  that  our  initiation  into 
1he  service  of  our  country  was  by  taking  a  solemn 
oath  "  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States."  That  vow,  my  friends,  is  recorded  on 
high ;  that  vow  was  heard  by  Him  who  has  said, 
"Render  unto  Caesar  the  things  which  are 
CaBsar's."  We  must  beware  how  we  lightly  treat 
so  solemn  an  oath ;  it  cannot  be  thrown  off ;  we 
cannot  ignore  the  claims  of  our  country ;  we  may, 
it  is  true,  cease  to  serve,  but  we  cannot,  dare  not, 
oft'end  the  Most  High  by  turning  our  arms  against 
those  laws  which  we  have  sworn  to  sustain ;  nor 
can  we  be  too  guarded,  lest  by  any  act  of  ours  a 
single  stain  is  brought  upon  our  bright  escut 
cheon. 

Let  us  not  be  deceived  by  the  vain  and  idle 
sophistries  of  those  deluded  men  who  would  tell 
us  that  the  United  States  are  only  bound  together 
by  a  weak  alliance,  to  be  shaken  off  at  pleasure 
by  any  one,  without  even  so  much  notice  of  the 
abrogation  as  common  decency  has  established 
as  customary  among  the  civilized  nations  of  the 
earth.  Let  us  discard  from  our  minds  the  illu 
sions  of  those  who  would  in  fact  persuade  us  that 
we  never  had  any  nationality.  If  their  arguments 
are  correctly  based,  we  have  never  indeed  been 
one  nation.  We  are  mere  pretenders,  who  have, 
without  shadow  of  right,  adopted  a  national  style 
and  law  by  which  to  impose  upon  mankind. 

Let  us  not  listen  to  the  reasoning  of  those  who 
would  seduce  us  from  our  allegiance  by  special 
pleading  and  abstract  questions  of  State  sover 
eignty.  "  Remember  your  oath  "  —  "  Remem 


ber  ! "  What  have  we  to  do  with  States  ?  What 
indeed  have  you  to  do  with  States,  those  of  you 
who,  by  virtue  of  your  national  office,  are  dis 
franchised  by  the  laws  of  the  States  in  which  you 
reside  ? 

The  Union  is  our  country ;  the  Union  is  our 
State;  the  Constitution  is  our  law.  A  great  trust 
devolves  on  us.  Let  not  tr.e  poisonous  bane  of 
revolution  have  any  spread  among  our  ranks. 
Let  us  show  ourselves  ever  worthy  of  the  confi 
dence  of  our  coun'ry  aien.  We  are  not  partisans, 
We  must  not  listen  to  treason  in  any  shape  or 
form.  We  cannot  abjure  our  duties  without 
being  guilty  of  treason ;  and  by  no  train  of  rea 
soning  can  acts  against  the  Government  be  styled 
by  any  other  name  than  treason. 

The  fame  of  our  proudly-waving  flag  belongs 
to  us,  and  whatever  be  the  fate  of  that  honored 
emblem  of  our  country,  —  that  honored  badge  of 
our  power,  —  whatever  be  its  fate,  my  friends,  let 
as  beware  that  it  sufl'er  no  stain  through  the  navy. 
T.  AUGS.  CRAVEN, 

Lieutenant  commanding  U.  S.  steamer  "  Mohawk." 


A  DARING  EXPLOIT.  —  During  the  month  of 
December,  1861,  a  squad  of  some  half  dozen  left 
Col.  Shackleford's  regiment,  at  Calhoun,  Ky.,  on 
Green  River,  to  bring  back  three  soldiers  who 
had  gone  to  Todd  County.  While  on  their  route, 
after  night,  they  came  upon  some  rebel  cavalry, 
and  our  men  seeing  that  resistance  would  be  use 
less,  took  to  the  woods.  One  of  them,  named 
Wilkins,  was  separated  from  his  companions,  and 
in  winding  about  through  the  woods,  came  sev 
eral  times  in  close  proximity  to  rebel  squads,  but 
succeeded  in  eluding  them.  He  at  last  overtook 
three  of  them,  and  seeing  that  his  chances  were 
desperate,  he  determined  to  join  them,  and  pass 
himself  off  as  one  of  their  number.  By  keeping 
a  little  in  the  rear,  he  watched  a  favorable  oppor 
tunity,  when  he  drew  his  revolver,  and  firing 
rapidly,  killed  one,  badly  wounded  another,  and 
caused  the  third  to  take  to  flight.  Wilkins  suc 
ceeded  in  making  his  escape,  and  returned  to 
camp  at  Calhoun,  where  a  gentleman  arrived  the 
next  day  from  Elkton,  and  stated  that  the  rebel 
cavalry  reported  that  the  country  was  overrun 
with  Federal  troops,  and  that  they  had  been 
forced  to  retreat  before  a  superior  force.  The 
camp  at  Calhoun  contained  plenty  of  such  pluck 
in  the  regiments  under  Cols.  Shackleford,  Jack 
son,  Hawkins,  and  Bur  bridge. 


AN  INCIDENT  that  carries  its  own  comment  is 
related  by  a  visitor  on  his  way  to  one  of  the 
patriot  camps  in  the  Old  Dominion.  Seated  by 
the  roadside  was  a  soldier,  his  musket  in  one 
hand,  and  a  volume  in  tne  other,  which  he  was 
reading  with  deep  interest.  He  was  clad  roughly 
but  comfortably,  and  bore  the  evidences  of  hav 
ing  seen  hard  service.  As  tli3  party  approached, 
he  rose  to  his  feet,  advanced  into  tie  road,  and 
exclaimed,  "  Halt !  Let  me  ses  your  pass."  Aftei 


36 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


carefully  inspecting  the  strangers  and  their  pass, 
he  quietly  told  them  to  move  on,  and  resumed 
his  seat  and  his  book.  One  of  the  party  glanced 
at  the  volume,  and  found  that  it  was  a  beautiful 
copy  of  Tennyson's  Poems. 


A  HEROINE  IN  BALTIMORE.  —  The  band  of  the 
Sixth  Regiment  that  left  Boston  in  April,  1861, 
consisted  of  twenty-four  persons,  who,  together 
with  their  musical  instruments,  occupied  a  car  by 
themselves  from  Philadelphia  to  Baltimore.  By 
some  accident,  the  musicians'  car  got  switched 
off  at  the  Canton  Depot,  so  that,  instead  of  being 
the  first,  it  was  left  in  the  rear  of  all  the  others, 
and  after  the  attack  had  been  made  by  the  mob 
upon  the  soldiers,  they  came  upon  the  car  in 
which  the  band  was  still  sitting,  wholly  unarmed, 
and  incapable  of  making  any  defence.  The  in 
furiated,  demons  approached  them  howling  and 
yelling,  and  poured  in  upon  them  a  shower  of 
stones,  broken  iron,  and  other  missiles,  wounding 
some  severely,  and  demolishing  their  instru 
ments.  Some  of  the  miscreants  jumped  upon 
the  roof  of  the  car,  and  with  a  bar  of  iron  beat  a 
hole  through  it,  while  others  were  calling  for 
powder  to  blow  them  all  up  in  a  heap.  Finding 
that  it  would  be  sure  destruction  to  remain  longer 
in  the  car,  the  poor  fellows  jumped  out  to  meet 
tfceir  fiendish  assailants  hand  to  hand.  They 
were  saluted  with  a  shower  of  stones,  but  took 
to  their  heels,  fighting  their  way  through  the 
crowd,  and  running  at  random,  without  knowing 
in  what  direction  to  go  for  assistance  or  shelter. 
As  they  were  hurrying  along,  a  rough-looking 
man  suddenly  jumped  in  front  of  their  leader, 
and  exclaimed,  "  This  way,  boys  !  this  way  ! "  It 
was  the  first  friendly  voice  they  had  heard  since 
entering  Baltimore,  and  they  stopped  to  ask  no 
questions,  but  followed  their  guide,  who  took 
them  up  a  narrow  court,  where  they  found  an 
open  door,  into  which  xthey  rushed,  being  met 
inside  by  a  powerful-looking  woman,  who  grasped 
each  one  by  the  hand,  and  directed  them  up 
stairs.  The  last  of  their  band  was  knocked 
senseless  just  as  he  was  entering  the  door,  by  a 
stone,  which  struck  him  on  the  head ;  but  the 
woman  who  had  welcomed  them  immediately 
caught  up  their  fallen  comrade,  and  carried  him 
in  her  arms  up  the  stairs. 

"  You  are  perfectly  safe  here,  boys,"  said  the 
Amazon,  who  directly  proceeded  to  wash  and 
bind  up  their  wounds. 

.  After  having  done  this,  she  procured  them 
food,  and  then  told  them  to  strip  off  their  uni 
forms,  and  put  on  the  clothes  she  had  brought 
them,  a  motley  assortment  of  baize  jackets,  rag 
ged  coat?,  and  old  trousers.  Thus  equipped,  they 
were  enabled  to  go  out  in  search  of  their  com 
panions,  without  danger  of  attack  from  the  Plug 
Uglies  and  Blood  Tubs,  who  had  given  them  so 
rough  a  reception. 

They  then  learned  the  particulars  of  the  attack 
upon  the  soldiers,  and  of  their  escape,  and  saw 
lying  at  the  station  the  two  men  who  had  been 


killed,  and  the  others  who  had  been  wounded. 
One  of  their  own  band  was  missing,  and  he  has 
not  yet  been  found,  and  it  is  uncertain  whether 
he  was  killed  or  not.  On  going  back  to  the 
house  where  they  were  so  humanely  treated,  they 
found  that  their  clothes  had  been  carefully  tied 
up,  and  with  their  battered  instruments,  had 
been  sorit  to  the  depot  of  the  Philadelphia  Kail- 
road,  where  they  were  advised  to  go  themselves. 
They  did  not  long  hesitate,  but  started  in  the 
next  train,  and  arrived  at  Philadelphia  just  in 
time  to  meet  the  Eighth  Regiment  of  Massachu 
setts  Volunteers,  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Butler,  who  told  them  \o  hurry  back  to  the  Old 
Bay  State  to  show  their  battered  faces  and 
broken  limbs,  and  that  they  should  yet  come 
back,  and  play  Hail  Columbia  in  the  streets  of 
Baltimore,  where  they  had  jeen  so  inhumanly 
assaulted. 

The  noble-hearted  woman  who  rescued  these 
men  is  a  well-known  character  in  Baltimore,  and 
according  to  all  the  usages  of  Christian  society, 
is  an  outcast  and  a  polluted  being ;  but  she  is  a 
true  heroine,  nevertheless,  and  entitled  to  the 
grateful  consideration  of  the  country.  When 
Gov.  Hicks  had  put  himself  at  the  head  of  the 
rabble  rout  of  miscreants,  and  Winter  Davis  had 
fled  in  dismay,  and  the  men  of  wealth  and  official 
dignity  had  hid  themselves  in  their  terror,  and 
the  police  were  powerless  to  protect  the  handful 
of  unarmed  strangers  who  were  struggling  with 
the  infuriated  mob,  this  degraded  woman  took 
them  under  her  protection,  dressed  their  wounds, 
fed  them  at  her  own  cost,  and  sent  them  back  in 
safety  to  their  homes.  As  she  is  too  notorious 
in  Baltimore  not  to  be  perfectly  well  known  by 
what  we  have  already  told  of  her,  it  will  not  be 
exposing  her  to  any  persecution  to  mention  her 
name.  Ann  Manley  is  the  name  by  which  she 
is  known  in  the  city  of  Blood  Tubs,  and  the 
loyal  men  of  the  North,  when  they  march  again 
through  its  streets,  should  remember  her  for  hei 
humanity  to  their  countrymen. 


THE   MODERN   GILPIN. 

A  BALLAD  OF  BULL  RUN. 

WILL  RUSSELL  was  a  writer  rare, 

Of  genius  and  renown, 
A  war-trained  correspondent  he 

From  famous  London  town. 

On  Indian  and  Crimean  coasts 
He  wrote  of  guns  and  drums, 

And  now  as  through  our  land  he  posts, 
To  Washington  he  comes. 

Will  Russell  said  to  chosen  friend, 
"Though  four  months  I  have  been 

In  search  of  some  great  Yankee  fight, 
No  skritnmage  have  I  seen. 

To-morrow's  sun  will  see  a  fight 
On  Bull  Run's  banks,  they  say ; 

So  there,  ray  friend,  we'll  early  go, 
All  in  a  two-'os*  shay. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


57 


I'll  also  take  a  saddle-horse 

To  bear  the  battle's  brunt, 
Wheison  in  my  Crimean  style, 

I'll  see  the  fight  in  front. 

And  I  will  don  the  coolest  of 

My  Himalayan  suits  — 
My  belt,  felt  hat,  revolver,  and 

My  old  East  Indian  boots. 

Fresh  stores  of  pens  I'll  surely  need, 

And  foolscap,  too,  I  think  ; 
And  in  one  holster  snugly  thrust 

A  pint  of  Dovell's  ink. 

While  in  the  bottom  of  the  gig 
We'll  stow  the  choice  Bordeaux, 

And  eke  this  bottle  of  cold  tea  — 
To  cool  us  off,  you  know  ! 

And  for  that,  in  this  heathen  land, 

The  grub  is  all  a  sham, 
I've  here  wrapped  up  some  sausage,  too, 

And  sandwiches  of  'am. 

Experience  on  Crimean  shores 

Has  taught  me  how  to  forage, 
And  how  these  creature  comforts  tend 

To  keep  up  martial  courage." 

Smack  !  went  his  lips  at  thought  thereof, 

Off  rolled  the  Yankee  gig, 
Before  the  shouts  and  rolling  whites 

Of  starers,  small  and  big  ! 

I  ike  clouds  of  dust  his  spirits  rise, 

W7hil3  merry  cracks  the  whip ; 
The  led-horse  pranced  and  "bobbed  around" 

Like  porpoise  round  a  ship. 

The  Long  Bridge  planks  jumped  up  and  down 

In  sympathetic  jig  — 
They  little  thought  he  would  return 

Minus  the  "  creaking  gig." 

That  rotten  Rubicon  is  passed, 

And  likewise  frowning  "  Runyon  "  — 

Its  outline  marked  with  many  a  black 
Columbiad  on  its  trunnion. 

Past  fields  where  just  the  day  before 
The  harvest-scythe  was  sweeping, 

They  rushed  where  soon  its  human  sheaves 
Death's  sickle  would  be  reaping ! 

As  rise  the  distant  cannon's  tones, 
So  mounts  his  martial  ardor,        ^ 

His  thoughts  half  on  the  work  "  in  front "  — 
Half  on  his  meagre  larder. 

At  length  he's  there  at  Centreville ! 

In  sight  and  sound  of  what 
He  came  so  far  to  see  and  sketch, 

Where  rained  the  shell  and  shot ! 

But  ere  he  ventures,  careful  soul ! 

To  reach  that  scene  of  death, 
He  seeks  a  cool  and  shady  place 

"  To  give  his  horses  breath." 

Then  forth  he  draws  the  precious  stores,  — 

Cold  tea,  Bordeaux,  and  'am,  — 
'Mid  cannon-shots  and  bottle-pops, 

Enjoys  his  lunch  and  dram. 


The  dubious  issue  of  the  fight 

Contents  him  with  his  seat, 
Until  a  courier  from  the  field 

Reports  the  foe's  retreat ! 

Up  sprarg  Will  Russell  from  the  charms 

Of  tea  and  'am  so  vile  — 
His  toilet  for  "the  front"  prepares 

In  his  Crimean  style. 

"  My  'oss  !  my  'os*     quick,  bring  it  me ! 

What  would  the  Hiunderer  say, 
If  they  should  end  this  Bull  Run  fight, 

While  I  lunch  in  my  shay?" 

His  "  Indian"  sack  hangs  down  and  hides 

Each  short  and  sturdy  limb  ; 
His  hat  o'erhangs  his  jolly  form 

With  amplitude  of  brim. 

Beneath  its  shade,  his  round,  red  face 
Flames  like  St.  George's  banner  ; 

While  from  its  rim,  in  havelock  style, 
A  buff  and  red  bandanna ! 

In  guise  like  this,  he  grandly  mounta 

And  starts  in  warlike  trot, 
That  did  not  turn  to  gallop  as 

He  neared  the  deadly  spot. 

But  lo  !  a  motley  frightened  crowd 

Before  him  doth  appear, 
Of  such  as  ever  follow  camps, 

All  hurrying  to  the  rear. 

And  pushing  through  this  heaving  niatw 

Of  human  breakers,  soon 
He  found  himself  'mid  reeling  ranks, 

Battalion  and  platoon ! 

But  'mid  that  frightened  crowd,  he  says 

He  only  kept  his  Avits, 
And  puffs,  and  scolds,  and  wonders,  too, 

What  trouble  "  gave  them  fits ! " 

"  I  do  declare  !     What  means  all  this  ? 

What  has  your  vict'ry  nipped  ? 
Why  run  you  so  ?  "  —  the  sole  reply 

Was  panted  forth,  "  We're  whipped !  * 

"  Dear  me  !     I  fain  would  get  in  front  1 

How  would  the  people  stare, 
If  Fame  should  ask  my  whereabouts, 

And  echo  say,  '  the  rear  I ' 

"  You  cravens,  stand  !  why  do  you  run  ? 

Return  to  the  assault  !  " 
Bang  !  bang  !  —  a  shell  bursts  o'er  his  head 

Will  Russell  calls  a  halt ! 

"  Aw  !  that  was  near  !  no  further  need 

For  me  to  make  researches  — 
I'll  simply  book  what  I  have  seen, 

Behind  yon  grove  of  birches." 

Bang!  bang!  "Aw!  there's  another  shell ! 

And  one  that  is  a  screamer  ; 
And,  let  me  think  —  I  must  leave  now, 

To  write  by  Wednesday's  steamer  ! 

And  though  my  steed  has  come  to-day 

Full  thirty  miles  and  better, 
Needs  must  he  now  to  take  me-  back 

To  mail  my  battle-letter." 


S8 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


He  turns  his  horse  !  both  are  afloat 

On  the  retreating  wave  ! 
But  as  he  struggles  back,  he  scoffs 

In  words  —  not  accents  brave. 

To  clear  the  road  and  let  him  pass, 

He  hails  each  runaway ; 
But  their  respect  for  rank,  alas  ! 

Is  broke  and  done  away  ! 

Wagon  and  cart,  and  man  and  beast, 

All  in  the  turnpike  jammed  ; 
Mess  pork  and  hams,  and  shot  and  grain, 

No  thoroughfare  so  dammed  ! 

The  dainty  stores  that  fed  "  the  staff" 
Mixed  with  the  private's  fare  ! 

Sad  waste  !  "  O,  what,  my  countrymen, 
A  falling  off  was  there  !  " 

The  teamsters  "  cut  and  ran,"  and  left ; 

No  traces  you  could  find  ; 
While  those  afoot  from  horsemen  feared 

A  dreadful  ««  cut  behind  ! " 

"  The  Cavalry  !  "  at  that  dread  sound 
Will's  courage  was  bereft  him  ; 

Although  he  tried,  by  valiant  words, 
To  show  it  had  not  left  him. 

And  eke  before  his  mental  eye 

The  dreadful  vision  rose, 
Of  that  warm  suit  the  Southern  press 

Had  threatened  him  for  clothes  ! 

"  That  threat !  when  'tis  so  'orrid  "ot  — 
Beyond  East  Indian  weather  ! 

Hnw  my  too  solid  flet-h  would  melt 
In  suit  of  tar  and  feather  !  " 

His  anxious  looks,  yet  valiant  words, 
Make  many  jeer  and  hoot  him, 

While  every  random  shot  he  fears 
Is  some  attempt  to  shoot  him. 

While  thus  he  trembles  for  his  life, 

By  coward  taunt  and  curse, 
So,  to  his  eye,  each  ambulance 

Seems  an  untimely  hearse  ! 

At  each  artillery  ««  thud  "  he  hears, 

Up  close  his  legs  he  tucks, 
Then  down  upon  his  saddle  bow 

His  anxious  visage  ducks  ! 

And  eke  behind  his  Indian  sack 
Swells  in  balloon-like  manner, 

While  flaps  and  flies  around  his  neck 
The  buff  and  red  bandanna ! 

.Again  he's  back  at  Centreville, 

In  search  of  friend  and  gig ; 
•'  They  are  not  here  !  nor  'am,  nor  tea  — 

They're  just  the  things  to  prig. 

O  for  a  glass  of  wine,  or  slice 
Of  thoj?e  fine  wasted  'ams  !  — 

But  though  there's  plenty  on  the  road, 
They'ie  no  longer  Uncle  Sam's  ! 

So  now  for  Washington,  my  steed ! 

It  is  no  use  to  whine ; 
You  brought  me  here  to  see  a  fight, 

Now  take  me  back  to  dine  !  " 


A  sudden  squad  of  fugitives 

Here  through  the  village  fled, 
And  Bill's  great  fancy  for  the  front 

Soon  placed  him  at  their  head. 

But  as  he  leads  the  flying  herd 

Adown  a  hill's  decline, 
Behold,  across  the  road  drawn  up 

A  regiment  ir  line  ! 

"  What  brings  3  tu  here  ?  "  the  Colonel  shout* 
14  Back  !  back  !  .'•  say  :  I'll  shoot 

The  coward  that  across  my  ranks 
Would  dare  to  place  his  foot  !  " 

The  herd  recoils,  save  Russell  wild, 

Who,  fumbling  in  his  vest  : 
"  But,  sir  —  you  know  !  —  I'm  English  !  Come  ! 

You  must  not  me  arrest  ! 

I  have  a  pass  —  aw  !  here  it  is  ! 

'Tis  signed  by  General  Scott  — 
Don't  keep  me  here  !  "     "  Pass  this  man  up  1  "* 

Replied  the  Colonel,  hot. 

Nor  time  lost  Will,  as  off  he  dashed, 

In  sudden  bolt  that  snapped 
A  loop  of  sack  and  havelock  both, 

That  now  far  rearward  flapped  ! 

At  Fairfax  Court  House  next  he  stops, 

To  breathe  his  horse  and  sup  ; 
But  here  his  rest  by  Boniface 

Is  quickly  broken  up. 

Quoth  he,  "  They  fear  Virginia's  horse  * 

Well  may  they,  stranger,  when 
These  mountain  riders  number  now 

Full  twenty  thousan  1  men  !  " 

"  Good  'eavens  !  no  ?  —  but  do  they  though  I  * 

Our  startled  hero  cries. 
Then  off  again,  though  cruel  need, 

To  Washington  he  flies  ! 

"Night  finds  him  bravely  spurring  on 
Past  wood,  and  grove,  and  thicket, 

With  brave  words  frequent  cheering  up 
Each  watchful,  anxious  picket. 

"  What  news  ?  What  news  ?  "  they  all  do  shout 

Says  Russell  in  reply  : 
"  It  is  no  rout  !  the  army's  safe  ! 

Keep  up  your  heart  —  don't  fly  !  " 

"  Stop  !  stop  !  Bill  Russell  !  tell  us  why," 

Loud  after  him  they  bawl, 
"  If  all  is  safe,  you  run  so  fast, 

Or  why  you  run  at  all  ?  " 

Yet  on  he  flies  ;  up  hill,  down  dale, 

In  very  ghost-like  manner  ; 
While  ever  rearward  flaps  and  flies 

The  buff  and  red  bandanna  ! 


The  night  wranes  on,  the  moon  is  up, 
And  soon  our  correspondent, 

Though  near  his  goal,  with  new-born 
Grew  suddenly  despondent. 

"  The  guards  are  set  upon  the  bridge 
Dear  me,  what  fate  is  mine  ! 

They'll  hail  me  soon,  and  I  may  -lie 
Ar.d  give  no  countersign  !  " 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


39 


His  fears  are  vain  —  that  ret' ran  name 

Is  good,  as  you'll  agree, 
(As  has  been  often  said  before,) 

To  pass  him  through,  Scott  free. 

At  last  he's  safe  upon  the  bridge  ! 

He  sees  the  lights  of  town, 
Mirrored  in  broad  Potomac's  tide, 

Hang  brightly  dripping  down  ! 

Thiii  droops  his  head,  then  droops  his  steed, 

In  sympathetic  manner  ; 
Then  droops  his  sack,  then  droops  also 

The  buff  and  red  bandanna ! 

Can  this  be  he  that  o'er  these  planks 

At  morning  dashed  so  trig  ? 
Revisiting  beneath  the  moon 

In  such  a  dismal  rig ! 

The  bridge  is  passed  !  and  he  again 

Resumes  his  martial  port, 
And  swells,  and  puffs,  and  comforts  all 

With  words  of  valiant  sort. 

But  sudden  from  the  rising  clouds 

A  vivid  lightning  flash  ! 
"  The  foe  !  "  he  cries,  and  fearful  lists 

To  hear  the  cannon's  crash  ! 

He's  off  again  !  up  Fourteenth  Street ! 

Once  more,  like  ghostly  banner, 
Behind  him  dimly  flaps  and  flies 

The  buff  and  red  bandanna  ! 

His  rooms  are  reached,  he  bolts  his  door, 

When  lo  !  before  his  eyes, 
A  midnight  supper  ready  spread, 

To  which  he  instant  flies. 

No  time,  by  doffing  hat  or  dress, 

'I  -,  ba'.k  his  famished  jaws  ! 
Eu1    Ca?sius-like,  he  "  plunges  in, 

Accoutred  as  he  was  !  " 

Sausage,  and  cheese,  and  'am  again, 
With  draughts  of  wine  between  ; 

Down  that  vast  throat  of  British  gauge, 
In  quick  procession  seen  ! 

What  grunts  of  bliss  beneath  that  hat 

O'er  this  unlooked-for  manna  ! 
While  as  he  munched  still  rose  and  fell 

The  buff  and  red  bandanna  ! 

At  last  he's  full !  but  quickly  now 

His  brain  i*  all  astir  ; 
To  forge  fit  bolts  of  caustic  for 

His  chief,  the  Thunderer  ! 

His  pen  is  drawn,  and  o'er  his  sheet 

Fast  its  vocation  plies, 
In  telling  what  he  thought  he  saw  — 

Wherein  his  genius  lies  1 


Bat  soon  the  inspiration's  o'er  ! 

With  wine  and  sausage  pressed, 
His  eyelids  close,  his  burly  head 

Down  drops  upon  his  breast. 

Hark  to  the  thunders  of  his  snore ! 

In  deep,  bassoon-like  manner  ! 
While  with  each  swell  still  rose  and  fell 

The  biff  and  red  bandanna  1 


Rest,  Russell   rest !  thy  race  is  o'er  ; 

And  well  you  won  it,  too  ; 
For  no  such  time  was  ever  made 

Since  days  of  Waterloo  ! 

Now  let  us  sing,  in  jolly  ring, 
Great  Russell's  martial  spree  — 

When  next  he  goes  to  see  a  fight, 
Mty  he  get  there  to  see ! 

Ye  poets  !  who  may  sing  some  day, 
In  strains,  rich,  racy,  full. 

The  race  from  Bull  Run,  don't  forget 
The  run  of  Mr.  Bull. 


INCIDENTS  OF  BULL  RUN.  —  At  the  battle, 

when  the  order  came  from  the  headquarters  for 
the  retreat,  word  was  passed  down  the  line  to  the 
New  York  Zouaves.  "  Do  not ! "  exclaimed  a 
score  of  the  "  pet  lambs "  in  a  breath.  "  Do 
not ! "  "  We  are  ordered  to  retreat,"  said  the 
commander.  "  Wot'n  thunder's  that  2  "  respond 
ed  one  of  the  hard-heads,  who  evidently  did  not 
comprehend  the  word  exactly.  "Go  back  —  re 
tire,"  continued  the  commander.  "Go  back  — 
where?"  "Leave  the  field."  "Leave?  Why, 
that  ain't  what  we  come  for.  We're  here  to  fight," 
insisted  the  boys.  "We  came  here  with  1,040 
men,"  said  the  commander.  "  There  are  now  000 
left.  Fall  back,  boys !  "  and  the  "  lambs  "  sulkily 
retired,  evidently  displeased  with  the  order. 

Two  of  the  New  Hampshire  Second  were  leav 
ing  the  field,  through  the  woods,  when  thoy  M  ere 
suddenly  confronted  by  five  rebels,  who  ordered 
them  to  "  halt !  or  we  fire."  The  Granite  boys 
saw  their  dilemma,  but  the  foremost  of  them  pre 
sented  his  musket,  and  answered,  "  Halt  you,  or 
we  fire  !  "  and,  at  the  word,  both  discharged  their 
pieces.  The  rebel  fell,  his  assailant  was  unharmed. 
Seizing  his  companion's  musket,  he  brought  it  to 
his  shoulder,  and  said  to  the  other,  "  Fire !  " 
Both  fired  their  guns  at  once,  and  two  more 
rebels  fell.  The  others  fled.  The  leader's  name 
was  Hanford,  from  Dover,  N.  H. 

As  the  Maine  troops  were  leaving  the  field  of  bat 
tle,  a  soldier  stepped  up  to  one  of  the  officers  of  the 
Fifth  regiment,  and  requested  him  to  lend  him  a 
knife.  The  officer  took  out  a  common  pocket- 
knife,  and  handed  it  to  the  soldier,  who  Rat  down 
at  the  side  of  the  road,  pulled  up  the  leg  of  his 
trousers,  and  deliberately  dug  a  musket-ball  out 
of  his  leg,  jumped  up,  and  resumed  his  march. 

When  the  news  of  the  repulse  reached  the 
camp  meeting  at  Desplaines,  111.,  Ilev.  Henry 
Cox,  who  was  preaching  at  the  time  the  intelli 
gence  was  received,  remarked,  on  closing  his  ser 
mon,  "  Brethren,  we  had  better  adjourn  this 
camp  meeting,  and  go  home  and  drill." 


ADVENTURE  OF  A  SPY.  —  I  have  lately  re 
turned  from  the  South;  but  my  exact  where 
abouts  in  that  region,  for  obvious  reasons,  it 
would  not  be  politic  to  state.  Suspected  of  being 
a  Northerner,  it  was  often  my  advantage  to  court 


S 


' 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


obscurity.  Known  as  a  spy,  a  "  short  shrift "  and 
a  ready  rope  would  have  prevented  the  blotting 
of  this  paper.  Hanging,  disguised,  on  the  out 
skirts  of  a  camp,  mixing  with  its  idlers,  laughing 
at  their  jokes,  examining  their  arms,  counting 
their  numbers,  endeavoring  to  discover  the  plans 
of  their  leaders,  listening  to  this  party  and  pur 
suing  that,  joining  in  the  chorus  of  a  rebel  song, 
betting  on  rebel  success,  cursing  Abolitionism, 
reviling  Lincoln,  traducing  Scott,  extolling  Gen. 
Btauregard,  despising  Northern  fighters,  laugh 
ing  at  their  tactics  and  sneering  at  their  weapcns, 
praising  the  beauty  of  Southern  belles  and  de 
crying  that  of  Northern,  calling  New  York  a  den 
of  cutthroats,  and  New  Orleans  a  paradise  of  im 
maculate  chivalry,  is  but  a  small  portion  of  the 
practice  of  my  profession  as  a  spy.  This  may  not 
seem  honorable  nor  desirable.  As  to  the  honor, 
let  the  country  that  benefits  by  the  investigations 
and  warnings  of  the  spy  be  judge  ;  and  the  dan 
ger,  often  incurred,  is  more  serious  and  personal 
than  that  of  the  battle-field,  which  may,  perhaps, 
detract  from  its  desirability. 

It  was  a  dark  night.  Not  a  star  on  the  glim 
mer.  I  had  collected  my  quotum  of  intelligence, 
and  was  on  the  move  for  the  Northern  lines.  I 
was  approaching  the  banks  of  a  stream  whose 
waters  I  had  to  cross,  and  had  then  some  miles 
to  traverse  before  I  could  reach  the  pickets  of  our 
gallant  troops.  A  feeling  of  uneasiness  began  to 
creep  over  me ;  I  was  on  the  outskirt  of  a  wood 
flinging  the  dark  waters  at  my  feet,  whose  pres 
ence  could  scarcely  be  detected  but  for  their  sul- 
sen  murmurs  as  they  rushed  through  the  gloom. 
The  wind  sighed  in  gentle  accordance.  I  walked 
forty  or  fifty  yards  along  the  bank.  I  then  crept 
on  all-fours  along  the  ground,  and  groped  with 
my  hands.  I  paused — I  groped  again  —  my 
breath  thickened,  perspiration  oozed  from  me  at 
every  pore,  and  I  was  prostrated  with  horror  !  I 
had  missed  my  landmark,  and  knew  not  where  I 
was.  Below  or  above,  beneath  the  shelter  of  the 
bank,  lay  the  skiff  I  had  hidden  ten  days  before, 
when  I  commenced  my  operations  among  the  fol 
lowers  of  Jeff'.  Davis. 

As  I  stood  gasping  for  breath,  with  all  the  un 
mistakable  proofs  of  my  calling  about  me,  the  sud 
den  cry  of  a  bird  or  plunging  of  a  fish  would  act 
like  magnetism  on  my  frame,  not  wont  to  shud 
der  at  a  shadow.  No  matter  how  pressing  the 
dnnger  may  be,  if  a  man  sees  an  opportunity  for 
escape,  he  breathes  with  freedom.  But  let  him 
be  surrounded  by  darkness,  impenetrable  at  two 
yards'  distance,  within  rifle's  length  of  concealed 
foes,  for  what  knowledge  he  has  to  the  contrary ; 
knowing,  too,  with  painful  accuracy,  the  detec 
tion  of  his  presence  would  reward  him  with  a 
sudden  and  violent  death,  and  if  he  breathes  no 
taster,  and  feels  his  limbs  as  free  and  his  spirits 
as  light  as  when  taking  a  favorite  promenade,  he 
is  more  fitted  for  a  hero  than  I  am. 

In  the  agony  of  that  moment  —  in  the  sudden 
and  utter  helplessness  I  felt  to  discover  my  true 
bearings  —  I  was  about  to  let  myself  gently  into 
the  stream,  and  breast  its  current,  for  life  or 
death.  There  was  no  alternative.  The  Northern 


pickets  Yiust  be  reached  in  safety  before  the 
morning  broke,  or  I  should  soon  swing  between 
heaven  and  earth ,  from  some  green  limb  of  the 
black  forest  in  wnich  I  stood. 

At  that  moment  the  low,  sullen  bay  of  a  blood 
hound  struck  my  ear.  The  sound  was  reviving 
—  the  fearfd  stillress  broken.  The  uncertair 
dread  flew  before  the  certain  danger.  I  was 
standing  to  my  mic,  lie  in  the  shallow  bed  of  the 
river,  just  beneath  the  jutting  banks.  After  a 
pause  of  a  few  seconds  I  began  to  creep  mechani 
cally  and  stealthily  down  the  stream,  followed,  as 
I  knew  from  the  rustling  of  the  grass  and  fre 
quent  breaking  of  twigs,  by  the  insatiable  brute : 
although,  by  certain  uneasy  growls,  I  felt  assured 
he  was  at  fault.  Something  struck  against  my 
breast.  I  could  not  prevent  a  slight  cry  from 
escaping  me,  as,  stretching  out  my  hand,  I  grasp 
ed  the  gunwale  of  a  boat  moored  beneath  the 
bank.  Between  surprise  and  joy  I  felt  half 
choked.  In  an  instant  I  had  scrambled  on  board, 
and  began  to  search  for  the  painter  in  the  bow, 
in  order  to  cast  her  from  her  fastenings. 

Suddenly  a  bright  ray  of  moonlight —  the  first 
gleam  of  hope  in  that  black  night  —  fell  directly 
on  the  spot,  revealing  the  silvery  stream,  my  own 
skiff,  (hidden  there  ten  days  before,)  lighting  the 
deep  shadows  of  the  verging  wood,  and,  on  the 
log  half  buried  in  the  bank,  and  from  which  I  had 
that  instant  cast  the  line  that  had  bound  me  to 
it,  the  supple  form  of  the  crouching  bloodhound, 
his  red  eyes  gleaming  in  the  moonlight,  jaws  dis 
tended,  and  poising  for  the  spring.  With  one 
dart  the  light  skiff  was  yards  out  in  the  stream, 
and  the  savage  after  it.  With  an  oar  I  aimed  a 
blow  at  his  head,  which,  however,  he  eluded  with 
ease.  In  the  effort  thus  made  the  boat  careened 
over  towards  my  antagonist,  who  made  a  desper 
ate  effort  to  get  his  forepaws  over  the  side,  at 
the  same  time  seizing  the  gunwale  with  his  teeth. 

Now  or  never  was  my  time  to  get  rid  of  the 
accursed  brute,  I  drew  my  revolver,  and  placed 
the  muzzle  between  Lis  eyes,  but  hesitated  to  fire, 
for  that  cue  report  might  bring  on  me  a  volley 
from  the  shore.  Meantime  tke  strength  of  the 
dog  careened  the  frail  craft  so  much  that  the 
water  rushed  over  the  side,  threatening  to  swamp 
her.  I  changed  my  tactics,  threw  my  revolver 
into  the  bottom  of  the  skiff',  and  grasping  my 
"  bowie,"  keen  as  a  Malay  creese,  and  glittering, 
as  I  released  it  from  the  sheath,  Hke  a  moonbeam 
on  the  stream.  In  an  instant  I  .lad  severed  the 
sinewy  throat  of  the  hound,  cutting  through 
brawn  and  muscle  to  the  nape  of  the  neck.  The 
tenacious  wretch  gave  a  wild,  convulsive  leap 
half  out  of  the  water,  then  sank,  and  was  gone. 

Five  minutes'  pulling  landed  me  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river,  and  in  an  hour  after,  without 
further  accident,  I  was  among  friends,  encom 
passed  by  the  Northern  lines.  That  night  I  re 
lated  at  headquarters  the  intelligence  I  had 
gathered.  

A  FIDDLER.  —  When  Wright's  Georgia  regi 
ment  was  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle,  to  go  into 
its  first  fight  in  North  Carolina,  Wright,  (after- 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


41 


wards  a  Major- General,)  in  passing  in  front  of  his 
regiment,  observed  a  tall,  gaunt  fellow,  with  a 
\iolin  case  strapped  to  his  back.  Wright  asked 
him  "  wnat  he  was  going  to  do  with  his  fiddle  ?  " 
I  he  rude  soldier  had  never  heard  of  Mirabeau's 
dying  exclamation,  but  he  almost  quoted  it  when 
h&  said,  he  wanted  to  "die  to  the  sound  of  Betsy," 
this  being  the  term  of  endearment  which  he  ap 
plied  to  his  violin. 

After  the  fight  was  over,  the  fiddling  soldier  did 
not  answer  at  roll-call.  He  was  found,  with  a 
broken  leg,  at  the  root  of  a  tree,  to  which  he  had 
crawled,  quietly  sawing  the  strings  of  "  Betsy." 


THE    STORY   OF  BALL'S  BLUFF. 

BY  AN   OFFICER  WHO  TOOK  PART  IN  IT. 

THE  history  of  the  battle  of  Ball's  Bluff  has 
never  been  published.  No  event  of  the  war  since 
the  assault  upon  Fort  Sumter  created  a  like  sensa 
tion  ;  and  the  cause  of  the  disaster,  the  name  of  the 
persons  culpable,  or  the  plans  and  purposes  of  the 
officers  who  ordered  the  movement,  have  not 
officially  or  certainly  been  made  known.  The 
report  of  General  Stone,  in  command,  was  not 
satisfactory  to  the  country,  and  Congress  called 
upon  the  War  Department  for  the  tacts.  Major- 
General  McClellan,  who,  it  was  known,  ordered 
the  movement,  refused  to  furnish  the  facts.  The 
insulted  Congress  repeated  its  demand,  and  re 
ceived  a  second  time  the  same  answer.  A  joint 
committee  of  both  Houses  of  Congress  was  ap- 
p  *inted  to  inquire  into  the  "  conduct  of  the  pres 
ent  war,"  especially,  as  was  remarked  in  the  debate, 
"  as  regards  the  battle  of  Ball's  Bluff'."  That  com 
mittee  has  as  yet  made  no  report.*  General 
Stone,  by  order  of  the  President,  was  arrested 
and  imprisoned  upon  several  charges  involving 
disloyalty,  and  "  for  misconduct  at  the  battle  of 
Ball's  Bluff."  After  a  confinement  of  six  months 
he  was  discharged  without  trial,  and  the  cherished 
expectations  of  the  public  for  the  facts  so  long 
withheld  were  again  disappointed. 

Ball's  Bluff,  so  called  from  Mr.  Ball,  a  farmer 
living  in  the  vicinity,  is  a  bold  embankment,  of  one 
hundred  feet  elevation,  on  the  Virginia  shore  of 
the  Potomac,  three  miles  from  Leesburg  north 
westerly,  and  aft  equal  distance  from  Edwards' 
Ferry  in  a  southern  direction.  Poolsville,  Md., 
lies  opposite,  five  miles,  and  by  the  road  running 
easterly,  Washington  is  distant  thirty-four  miles. 
From  the  river's  edge  to  the  summit,  the  Bluff  is 
covered  with  trees  and  bushes,  which,  joining  with 
the  woods  on  either  side,  enclose  above,  in  the 
form  of  a  half  circle,  an  open  natural  clearing  of 
seven  acres.  In  the  middle  of  the  Potomac,  in 
front  of  the  Bluff',  lies  Harrison's  Island,  a  fertile 
stiip  of  land  two  hundred  yards  wide  and  four 

*  This  paper  \vas  written  in  July,  1862.  The  report  of 
ihc  War  Committee,  published  in  March,  1863,  corrobo 
rates  all  its  statements.  The  late  restoration  of  Gen. 
Stone  to  active  duty  is  a  vindication-  and  acquittal  of 
misconduct  charged  upon  him,  and  places  the  respon 
sibility  upon  another. 


miles  long.  At  a  distance  of  half  a  mile  north  of 
the  Bluff  is  Smoot's  Mill,  situated  upon  a  gentle 
slope  of  the  bank ;  and  near  to  it  a  road  leads 
from  the  river,  by  an  »asy  ascent,  to  the  Leesburg 
turnpike,  .vhich, running  southerly  to  Drainesvillt, 
passes  near  to  Edwards'  Ferry.  On  the  day  of 
the  battle  General  McCall,  with  twenty-four  thou 
sand  men,  was  in  that  turnpike,  nine  miles  from 
Ba"'s  Bluff,  and  General  Gorman,  with  fourteen 
hundred  men  \vas  at  Edwards'  Ferry,  on  the 
Virginia  side.  The  whole  distance  from  Ball's 
Bluff  to  the  Maryland  side  of  the  Potomac,  acrosa 
Harrison's  Island,  is  not  six  hundred  yards. 

On  Sunday  night,  Oct.  20,  1861,  in  obedience 
to  orders  of  General  Stone,  Colonel  Devens,  of  the 
Fifteenth  Mass.  Volunteers,  proceeded,  with  three 
hundred  men,  from  camp  at  Poolsville  to  a  point 
opposite  Bali's  Bluff'  and  Harrison's  Island,  and 
in  three  small  boats  crossed  to  the  Virginia  shore, 
arriving  at  the  summit  just  before  daylight.  The 
landing-place  was  soft  and  mucky,  and  the  ascent 
winding  and  difficult.  At  the  same  time  four 
companies  of  the  First  Minnesota  Volunteers 
crossed  the  river  at  Edwards'  Ferry.  No  enemy 
was  encountered  at  either  place,  and  his  pickets 
had  not  been  seen  for  two  days.  Whatever 
knowledge  of  the  topography  of  our  country  our 
forces  possessed  had  been  acquired  by  distant 
observation  from  Maryland,  and  no  guide  accom 
panied  them. 

At  daybreak  Colonel  Devens  led  his  troops 
over  the  open  field,  and  through  the  woods  to 
wards  and  within  one  mile  of  Leesburg,  where,  in 
scattered  small  numbers,  he  descried  rebels,  and 
after  exchanging  several  volleys  with  them  at 
long  range,  fell  back  to  the  woods.  Here  being 
attacked,  he  repulsed  the  enemy  with  small  loss 
on  both  sides,  and  then  retired  to  the  Bluff,  where 
he  was  joined  by  the  remainder  of  his  regiment, 
and  by  Colonel  Lee  with  one  hundred  men  of  the 
Twentieth  Mass.  Volunteers,  making  in  all  seven 
hundred  and  twenty  Federal  troops  across  the 
river.  The  day  was  fair. 

At  the  same  time,  eight  o'clock,  A.  M.,  Colonel 
Baker  arrived  from  his  camp  near  Poolsville  on 
the  Maryland  side,  opposite,  where  he  found  the 
first  battalion  of  the  California  regiment,  six 
hundred  and  eighty  officers  and  men,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Wistar  commanding.  He  was  informed 
of  an  order  from  General  Stone,  then  at  Edwards' 
Ferry,  that  in  the  event  of  heavy  firing  in  front, 
the  California  battalion  should  cross  and  reinforce 
Colonel  Devens.  Upon  inquiring  as  to  the  meana 
of  transportation,  and  learning  that  they  consisted 
of  two  frail  scows,  each  capable  of  carrying  twen 
ty-five  men,  and  the  river  deep  and  rapid,  Col 
onel  Baker  rode  in  haste  to  Edwards'  Ferry  that 
he  might  have  better  assurance  of  an  order  so 
extraordinary.  Meanwhile  several  dead  and 
wounded  arrived  from  the  Bluff',  where  firing  was 
growing  more  frequent,  and  three  companies  of 
the  California  regiment  crossed  to  Harrison's  Isl 
and.  Colonel  Baker  returned  from  Edwards' 
Ferry  at  eleven  o'clock,  bearing  a  written  order 
from  General  Stone  to  reinforce  or  retire  Colonel 
Devens, ' '  in  his  discretion.' '  The  returned  wounded 


42 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


reported  the  enemy  in  force,  pressing  Colonel 
Devens.  How  could  seven  hundred  men  be 
safely  retired  in  two  small  boats  under  the  fire 
of  a  bloodthirsty  and  superior  enemy  ?  Shall 
they  be  left  to  their  fate,  or  will  he  reinforce  them 
and  share  their  peril  ?  Colonel  Baker  was  not 
long  in  determining  upon  his  course  of  duty. 

A  larger  scow,  discovered  in  the  canal  running 
parallel  to  the  river,  was  with  great  labor  dragged 
across  the  tow-path  and  launched  in  the  channel. 
Placing  Captain  Hitman  in  charge  of  the  trans 
portation  of  the  troops,  and  directing  that  they 
should  cross  as  rapidly  as  possible,  with  his  staff 
composed  of  Assistant  Adjutant-General  Harvey 
and  Captain  Young,  Brigade  Quartermaster, 
Colonel  Baker  embarked  for  the  Island,  where, 
on  the  western  side,  he  found  three  hundred  men 
awaiting  their  chance  to  go  over  to  the  Virginia 
shore.  Impressed  with  the  grave  responsibility 
of  his  position,  Colonel  Baker  was  silently  re 
marking  the  two  small  boats  plying  with  their 
heavy  freight  of  reinforcements,  when  his  atten 
tion  was  called  to  an  officer  of  one  of  the  Massa 
chusetts  regiments  standing  on  the  Virginia  shore, 
who  cried  out,  "  We  can  see  three  regiments  of  the 
enemy  coming  down  from  Leesburg."  Colonel 
Baker  responded,  "  All  right ;  be  of  good  cheer  — 
there  will  be  the  more  for  us  to-  whip  "  —  and  im 
mediately  crossed  the  river.  On  reaching  the 
summit,  and  assuming  command,  he  found  the 
M  .i.ssachusetts  troops  drawn  up  on  the  right  of  the 
field  in  good  order,  quietly  awaiting  a  nearer  at 
tack  of  the  enemy,  who,  though  silent,  with  the  ex- 
ceptiwn  of  occasional  shots,  were  known  to  be  in 
large  force  in  the  woods  in  the  front  and  on  the 
right.  It  was  three  o'clock  before  all  of  the  Cal 
ifornia  battalion  had  crossed  and  climbed  the  Bluff, 
which,  joined  to  two  companies  of  the  Tammany 
regiment,  made  with  the  Massachusetts  troops,  our 
wimole  force  seventeen  hundred.  An  order  was  re 
ceived  from  General  Stone  advising  Colonel  Baker 
that  the  enemy  was  four  thousand  strong,  and  that 
he  might  count  upon  General  Gorman  coming  to 
his  reinforcement  from  Edwards'  Ferry,  on  the  left. 
He  decided,  therefore,  not  to  advance,  but  await 
the  arrival  of  the  promised  aid,  formed  his  line 
of  battle  by  placing  Colonel  Devens  and  his  com 
mand  on  the  right  at  the  border  of  the  woods, 
resting  upon  and  making  a  right  angle  with  the 
centre,  composed  of  two  companies  of  Twentieth 
Mass,  and  two  companies  of  the  Tammany  regi 
ment  ;  the  California  battalion  forming  the  left  and 
touching  the  woods  bounding  the  plateau  to  the 
south.  The  ground,  sloping  from  a  point  distant 
thirty  yards  from  the  edge  of  the  cliff,  afforded  a 
fair  cover  for  men  lying  upon  their  faces,  from 
the  increasing  fire  of  the  enemy  in  the  woods. 
At  three  o'clock  Colonel  Coggswell  of  the  Tain- 
many  regiment  arrived  upon  the  field,  and  being 
received  by  Colonel  Baker  with  much  enthusiasm, 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  artillery,  consist 
ing  of  one  six-pounder  and  two  mountain  howit 
zers,  then  in  charge  of  Lieutenant  Bramhall,  of  the 
Ninth  New  York  State  Militia.  The  pieces  were 
drawn  into  the  open  field,  twenty  yards  in  ad 
vance  of  the  centre  of  the  line  of  battle.  Colonel 


Baker,  with  his  staff  on  foot,  —  there  were  nc 
mounted  officers  on  the  field,  —  traversed  severa. 
times  the  whole  line  of  forces  under  his  command, 
addressing  pleasant  words  to  officers  and  men, 
and  se  Ling  them  an  examrle  of  coolness,  courage, 
and  confidence.  From  tne  Maryland  shore  fre 
quent  shells  came  flying  over  the  river  and  bluff, 
bursting  harmlessly  far  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy, 
who  seemed  patiently  to  defer  his  attack  until  we 
crossed  in  greater  numbers. 

At  precisely  four  o'clock  loud  yells  preceded 
a  flashing  line  of  fire  in  the  woods,  and  the  report 
of  a  thousand  rifles  announced  the  opening  of  the 
engagement  with  part  of  the  enemy,  several  of 
whom  had  climbed  into  the  trees,  that  they  might 
have  a  better  aim  at  our  recumbent  men.  For 
nearly  an  hour  showers  of  bullets  and  buck-shot 
continued  to  pour  upon  our  devoted  line  ;  but 
considering  the  nearness  of  the  enemy,  the  cas 
ualties  were  not  very  great.  On  our  part  the 
cannon  alone  for  the  first  half  hour  responded 
with  thundering  voice,  clearly  telling  General 
Stone  and  the  Union  forces  at  Edwards'  Ferry 
of  the  hot  engagement  near  them;  and  flying 
farther,  reached  the  ears  of  General  McCall  and 
his  division,  which,  by  order  of  Major-General 
McClellan,  was  returning  to  its  camp  at  DrainB.s- 
ville.  Six  thousand  troops  had,  during  the  afttr- 
noon,  assembled  at  the  crossing-place  opposite 
the  Bluff,  but  by  reason  of  the  small  means  of 
transportation,  were  obliged  to  remain  there  re 
garding  in  helplessness  and  rage  the  unequal  con 
test.  A  rope  had  been  stretched  across  the  chan 
nel  to  the  island,  which  aided  much  in  the  passage 
of  the  boats  ;  but  from  the  Virginia  side  there  was 
no  rope,  and  the  solitary  leaky  scow  was  poled 
over  and  back  slowly.  By  five  o'clock  nearly 
two  thousand  men  had  ascended  the  Bluff,  and 
engaged  in  most  part  in  returning  the  fire  of  the 
enemy.  Notwithstanding  the  discouraging  as 
pect  of  matters,  our  troops  generally  exhibited 
good  feeling,  determined  courage,  and  obedience 
to  command.  The  wounded  and  some  dead  were 
carried  by  their  comrades  down  the  hill,  who, 
after  placing  them  in  the  boat,  returned  to  the 
field.  The  enemy  was  several  times  driven  back 
with  great  loss  by  discharges  of  the  cannon, 
which,  after  the  artillery  men  had  been  killed  or 
wounded,  was  loaded  and  fired  by  Colonel  Coggs 
well,  Lieutenant  Bramhall,  and  other  officers.  A 
volley  of  musketry  from  the  thick  forest  on  the 
left  attracted  our  attention,  and  Colonel  Baker, 
thinking  it  came  from  the  expected  and  promised 
reinforcement  from  Edwards'  Ferry,  ordered  a 
company  of  the  California  men  to  advance  cau 
tiously,  and  discover  if  they  were  friends  or  foes. 

The  officer  commanding  the  company,  having 
called  out,  "  Who  are  you  ?  "  received  for  answer, 
"  Confederates  I  "  and  another  volley  following  im 
mediately,  many  of  our  men  were  killed  and  wound 
ed.  Colonel  Baker  fell  dead,  struck  with  three 
balls.  Five  or  six  rebels  ran  from  the  woods 
towards  his  body,  lying  ten  yards  in  advance 
of  the  line  of  battle,  when  Captain  Bieral,  of 
the  California  regiment,  with  a  dozen  of  hi* 
men,  dashed  fc  rwurd,  and  driving  the  others  back, 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


43 


rescued  the  corpse  and  sword,  which  were  imme 
diately  carried  from  the  field  by  Captain  Young, 
who  had  but  a  moment  before  been  ordered  by 
Colonel  Baker  to  go  to  General  Stone,  and  re 
port  the  state  of  the  engagement,  and  ask  for 
reinforcements.  At  the  same  time  Lieutenant 
(Lionel  Wistar  and  Lieutenant  Bramhall,  being 
severely  wounded,  were  helped  down  the  hill,  and 
with  Colonel  Baker's  body,  safely  reached  the 
island.  At  the  last  discharge  of  the  cannon  it 
recoiled  even  to  the  edge  of  the  cliff,  and  falling 
over,  was  inextricably  lost  in  the  rock  and  jungle. 
Later  the  two  howitzers,  which  had  not  been  fired 
during  the  engagement,  were  thrown  over  the 
bank,  and  they  with  the  cannon  were  afterwards 
recovered  by  the  enemy.  By  seniority  Colonel 
Coggswell  assumed  command,  and  regarding  the 
battle  as  hopelessly  lost,  and  there  being  no  re 
treat  by  the  river,  he  determined  to  fight  his  way 
to  Edwards'  Ferry.  By  his  order  the  Fifteenth 
Massachusetts  moved  across  the  field  from  the 
right  to  the  left  of  the  line,  where  the  two  com 
panies  of  the  Tammany  regiment  had  already 
moved.  While  making  the  proper  arrangements 
for  retreat,  a  rebel  officer  misled  our  troops  by 
approaching  them  and  giving  a  command  to  charge 
upon  a  large  body  of  the  enemy  who  now  occu 
pied  our  late  position  on  the  right.  Rushing  for 
ward  en  masse,  our  men  received  a  destructive  fire, 
and  the  line  being  broken,  general  confusion  en 
sued  for  a  few  moments.  Re-forming  in  line, 
several  volleys  were  exchanged  with  the  enemy, 
who  were  now  near,  in  sight,  in  front,  with  con- 
iHerable  loss  on  both  sides ;  but  night  coming 
or,,  and  no  one  knowing  the  road  to  Edwards'" 
Feiry,  Colonel  Coggswell  abandoned  his  plan  of 
retreat  to  that  point,  and  gave  an  order  to  fall 
back  to  the  river's  bank,  below  the  Bluff',  leaving 
two  companies  above  to  hold  the  enemy  in  check. 
At  this  moment,  the  only  boat  in  the  channel  was 
seen  to  go  down,  overloaded  with  wounded  and 
fugitives  ;  and  thus  disappeared  the  only  means 
of  escape,  except  by  swimming.  The  enemy  soon 
occupied  the  heights,  and  poured  down  a  fatal 
fire  upon  the  crowded  mass  below.  Three  times 
bodies  of  our  men  climbed  to  the  summit,  and 
after  delivering  their  fire,  returned  to  their  help 
less  comrades  below.  Throwing  their  arms  and 
clothing  into  the  river,  many  swam  for  the  island, 
while  others,  aided  by  the  increasing  darkness, 
crept  along  the  bank  above  and  below  the  Bluff', 
and  on  logs,  arid  in  a  small  skiff  which  by  good 
fortune  was  found,  escaped. 

There  was  no  formal  surrender,  but  a  sullen 
submission  to  adverse  fate.  The  colors,  heavily 
weighed  with  stones,  were  cast  into  the  stream. 
At  eight  o'clock  all  firing  and  noise  had  ceased, 
save  the  moans  of  the  wounded,  and  the  shrieks 
of  the  drowning  in  their  vain  attempts  to  swim 
to  the  island.  At  midnight  twenty-two  commis 
sioned  officers  and  seven  hundred  and  ten  men 
were  prisoners  of  war,  on  their  march  to  Lees- 
burg. 

Never  was  a  conquered  army  less  subdued  in 
spirit.  Astounded,  bewildered,  indignant,  there 
was  no  feeling  of  shame,  for  never  did  soldiers 


conduct  themselves  with  more  courage.  Each 
man  felt  that  something  had  gone  wrong.  ''  Some 
one  had  blundered,"  or  may  be  worse,  and  silently 
marching  under  the  rebel  guard,  each  sought  in 
his  own  mind,  or  in  whispering  voices  of  his  com 
panions,  for  an  explanation  of  the  disaster. 

The  enemy's  force  engaged  is  not  known,  but  is 
stated  in  the  report  of  Colonel  Evans,  who  com 
manded  them,  at  twenty-six  hundred.  It  is  be 
lieved  that  there  were  full  four  thousand.  His 
loss  was  not  less  than  four  hundred,  mostly 
killed.  On  our  side  the  casualties  cannot  be  pre 
cisely  stated,  as  many  were  missing  whose  death 
by  drowning  or  killed  on  the  field  could  not  be 
ascertained.  The  total  loss  was  one  hundred  and 
fifty  killed,  two  hundred  wounded,  and  seven 
hundred  and  ten  taken  prisoners. 

Such  is  the  narrative  of  the  affair  at  Ball's  Bluff, 
as  told  by  those  who  were  engaged  in  it,  but  had 
no  part  in  its  planning,  and  are  still  ignorant  of 
its  purpose.  As  stated,  all  attempts  to  discover 
the  object  of  sending  across  the  Potomac  at  that 
point  a  small  force,  while  Generals  McCall  and 
Smith,  with  over  twenty  thousand  men,  were 
already  on  the  Virginia  side,  within  nine  miles  of 
Leesburg,  have  not  been  successful.  In  vain  is  the 
inquiry  repeated,  "  Why  was  Ball's  Bluff  chosen 
as  a  crossing-place,  while,  at  a  distance  of  one 
half  mile  above  it,  the  land  slopes  to  the  river 
bank,  and  an  easy  ascent  and  open  country  would 
have  placed  our  force  on  equal  footing  with  the 
en6my  ?  Why  was  not  transportation  provided  in 
advance,  adequate  for  a  successful  withdrawal  ">f 
Colonels  Devens  and  Lee  and  their  commands,  or 
for  throwing  over  a  large  force  fir  their  support  ? '" 
The  movement  was  not  unpremeditated,  and  there 
was  no  want  of  boats  or  material  for  pontoons 
and  bridges  in  the  vicinity  of  Harrison's  Island. 
An  army  of  ten  thousand  men  had  been  lying 
idle  at  Poolsville  fc  r  months,  expecting  at  some 
time  to  cross  the  river.  The  canal  leading  to 
Washington  offered  excellent  facilities  for  furnish 
ing  the  necessary  means  for  crossing,  and  three 
frail  scows,  made  of  inch  plank,  and  one  skiff', 
were  all  that  our  army  found  there  on  the  day  of 
the  battle. 

Why  were  not  the  promised  reinforcements 
sent  to  our  aid  from  Edwards'  Ferry  ?  During 
the  engagement  fourteen  hundred  troops,  under 
the  command  of  General  Gorman,  awaited  on  the 
Virginia  shore,  at  Edwards'  Ferry,  an  order  to 
march  to  our  aid  ;  and  in  his  report  General 
Gorman  says,  that  at  the  moment  Colonel  Baker 
fell,  General  Stone  sent  an  order  for  them  to 
throw  up  intrenchments !  There  was  no  enemy 
between  Edwards'  Ferry  and  the  battle-field,  and 
we  may  fairly  suppose  that  one  hundred  men 
coming  up  and  attacking  them  on  their  flank 
would  have  changed  the  fortunes  of  that  day. 
That  night  General  McClellan,  at  Washington, 
having  learned  of  the  disastrous  result  of  the  ex 
pedition  he  had  ordered,  despatched  an  order  to 
General  Banks,  at  Darnstown,  Md.,  twelve  miles 
from  Ball's  Bluff',  to  march  his  division  to  the 
Pctomac,  at  the  same  points,  which,  during  the 
day,  had  been  ccc  pied  by  eight  thou«an  I  of  our 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCH  ENTS. 


troops,  vainly  demanding  transportation  to  their 
commands  over  the  river !  Generals  McCall  and 
Smith,  at  Drainesville,  Va.,  received  no  orders. 
Two  days  afterwards,  all  of  the  Federal  forces 
returned  to  their  respective  camps  ;  and  thus  con- 
dudes  the  affair  of  Bail's  Bluff. 


ON  THE   SHORES   OF  TENNESSEE. 

"  MOVE  my  arm-chair,  faithful  Pompey, 

In  the  sunshine  bright  and  strong, 
For  this  world  is  fading,  Pompey  — 

Massa  won't  be  with  you  long  ; 
And  I  fain  would  hear  the  south  wind 

Bring  once  more  the  sound  to  me 
Of  the  wavelets  softly  breaking 

On  the  shores  of  Tennessee. 

"  Mournful  though  the  ripples  murmur, 

As  they  still  the  story  tell, 
How  no  vessels  float  the  banner 

That  I've  loved  so  long  and  well, 
I  shall  listen  to  their  music, 

Dreaming  that  again  I  see 
Stars  and  Stripes  on  sloop  and  shallop, 

Sailing  up  the  Tennessee. 

4«  And,  Pompey,  while  old  Massa's  waiting 

For  death's  last  despatch  to  come, 
If  that  exiled  starry  banner 

Should  come  proudly  sailing  home, 
You  shall  greet  it,  slave  no  longer  — 

Voice  and  hand  shall  both  be  free 
That  shout  and  point  to  Union  colors, 

On  the  waves  of  Tennessee." 

"  Massa's  berry  kind  to  Pompey ; 

But  ole  darky's  happy  here, 
Where  he's  tended  corn  and  cotton 

For  'ese  many  a  long-gone  year. 
Over  yonder  Missis  sleeping  — 

No  one  tends  her  grave  like  me ; 
Mebbe  she  would  miss  the  flowers 

She  used  to  love  in  Tennessee. 

'« 'Pears  like  she  was  watching,  Massa, 

If  Pompey  should  beside  him  stay  ; 
Mebbe  she'd  remember  better 

How  for  him  she  usod  to  pray  ; 
Telling  him  that  way  up  yonder 

White  as  snow  his  soul  would  be, 
If  he  served  the  Lord  of  heaven 

While  he  lived  in  Tennessee." 

Silently  the  tears  were  rolling 

Down  the  poor  old  dusky  face, 
As  he  stepped  behind  his  master, 

In  his  long-accustomed  pla0^ 
Then  a  silence  fell  around  them, 

As  they  gazed  on  rock  and  tree, 
Pictured  in  the  placid  waters 

Of  the  rolling  Tennessee ;  — 

Master,  dreaming  of  the  battle 

Where  he  fought  by  Marion's  side, 
When  he  bid  the  haughty  Tarleton 

Stoop  his  lordly  crest  of  pride ; 
Man,  remembering  how  yon  sleeper 

Once  he  held  upon  his  knee, 
Ere  she  loved  the  gallant  soldier, 

Ralph  Vervair,  of  Tennessee. 


Still  the  south  wind  fondly  lingers 

'Mid  the  veteran's  silvery  hair; 
Still  the  bondman,  c-ose  beside  him, 

Stands  behind  tho  old  arm-chair. 
With  his  dark-h"i<Hl  hand  uplifted, 

Shading  3yes,  ne  bends  to  see 
Where  the  tvoodland,  boldly  jutting, 

Turns  aa:de  the  Tennessee. 

Thus  he  watches  cloud-born  shadows 

Glide  from  tree  to  mountain  crest, 
Softly  creeping,  aye  and  ever, 

To  the  river's  yielding  breast. 
Ha  !  above  the  foliage  yonder 

Something  flutters  wild  and  free  ! 
"Massa!  Massa!  Hallelujah! 

The  flag's  come  back  to  Tennessee  !  " 

«'  Pompey,  hold  me  on  your  shoulder. 

Help  me  stand  on  foot  once  more, 
That  I  may  salute  the  colors 

As  they  pass  my  cabin  door. 
Here's  the  paper  signed  that  frees  you ; 

Give  a  freeman's  shout  with  me  — 
'  God  and  Union  ! '  be  our  watchword 

Evermore  in  Tennessee." 

Then  the  trembling  voice  grew  fainter, 

And  the  limbs  refused  to  stand  ; 
One  prayer  to  Jesus  —  and  the  soldier 

Glided  to  that  better  land. 
When  the  flag  went  down  the  river, 

Man  and  master  both  were  free, 
While  the  ring-dove's  note  was  mingled 

With  the  rippling  Tennessee. 


INCIDENTS  OF  ROANOKE  ISLAND. —  Colonel 
Russell,  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut  regiment,  fell 
dead  from  his  horse  at  the  head  of  his  regiment, 
while  marching  against  the  enemy.  Strange  as  it 
may  appear,  not  a  scratch  was  found  upon  his 
body  when  examined,  and  his  death  must  have 
come  from  the  wind  of  a  cannon  ball,  or  from  ex 
citement. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  De  Monteil,  who  volun 
teered  in  the  assault  upon  the  rebel  battery, 
received  his  death  wound  while  heading  the 
advance,  and  while  in  the  act  of  shouting  : 
"  Come  on,  boys  !  we'll  show  them  how  to 
fight!" 

In  the  course  of  the  action  a  shell  burst  on  the 
United  States  gunboat  Hetzel,  and  set  her  maga 
zine  on  fire.  Lieutenant  Franklin,  her  executive 
officer,  ordered  the  men  to  the  magazine  to  ex 
tinguish  the  fire ;  but  seeing  that  they  hesitated, 
he  took  the  hose  in  his  own  hands,  and  sprang 
down  and  extinguished  the  flames  before  they 
reached  the  powder. 

A  similar  occurrence  took  place  on  board  the 
Ceres,  from  the  bursting  of  a  gun,  when  Acting- 
Master  Diarmaid  sprang  into  the  magazine  and 
extinguished  the  fire. 

A  shell  entered  the  ccal-bunks  of  another  of 
the  steamers,  setting  tlie.ii  on  fire.  The  flames 
were  subd  led  after  mu  h  difficulty,  with  b'.it  little 
damage  tc  the  vessel. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


45 


EXPLOITS   OF   CAPT.   CARPENTER,    OF 
THE   « JESSIE   SCOUTS." 

THE  secret  history  of  any  military  campaign 
would  be  of  absorbing  interest ;  much  more  the 
secret  story  of  our  war.  In  all  camps  there  are 
men  whose  occupation  it  is  to  gain  for  the  com 
manding  general  information  of  the  enemy's  force, 
positions,  and  movements.  Much  depends  on 
this ;  and  the  most  successful  generals  have  al 
ways  been  the  best  informed. 

In  our  own  service,  during  the  present  war, 
the  spy  service  has  been  performed  by  different 
classes  of  men.  Some  of  our  commanders  have 
had  the  wit  and  fortune  to  secure  the  vservices  of 
men  whose  hearts  were  full  of  zeal  for  the  Union 
and  of  hatred  for  the  slave  aristocracy  and  their 
rebellion.  Such  men,  when  they  have  also  the 
activity,  presence  of  mind,  ingenuity,  and  cour 
age  needed  for  this  office,  are  the  best  that  can 
be  got.  Such,  we  have  reason  to  know,  are  the 
company  known  as  the  "  Jessie  Scouts,"  who  first 
served  under  Gen.  Fremont  in  Missouri,  after 
wards  in  Tennessee  under  Grant,  McClernand, 
and  others,  and  again  in  Virginia  under  Fremont, 
Milroy,  £c. 

There  is  another  class,  hirelings,  who  serve  not 
for  the  sake  of  the  cause,  but  for  the  sake  of  the 
reward. .  Such  men,  too,  are  valuable ;  but  a 
great  commander  seeks  rather  to  use  men  who, 
from  devotion  to  a  principle,  or  else  by  reason  of 
some  personal  wrong,  are  animated  by  enmity  to 
the  opposite  side. 

Our  spy  system  has  not  always  been  well  con 
ducted,  else  Stuart's  "  raids  "  would  not  have  be 
come  famous  ;  else  Jackson  could  not  have  made 
his  march  down  the  Valley;  else  Corinth  could 
not  have  been  secretly  evacuated  by  Beauregard, 
nor  Yorktown  by  Johnson,  nor  Winchester  before 
the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run,  by  the  same  officer. 
If  we  had  an  efficient  spy  service,  Gen.  McClellan 
would  have  known  that  after  the  battle  of  Fair 
Oaks,  Richmond  lay  in  his  power ;  and  Patterson 
would  have  held  Johnson  in  check,  or  else  fol 
lowed  him  pell-mell  into  the  first  battle-field  of 
Bull  Run,  and  saved  the  day. 

There  is  a  story  told  of  that  first  campaign  in 
Virginia  which  does  not  redound  to  the  credit  of 
our  military  authorities.  Some  weeks  before  Bull 
Run,  Patterson,  it  is  said,  sent  a  man  us  spy  into 
Winchester.  The  fellow  rode  there,  examined 
thoroughly  the  rebel  camp,  works,  and  forces, 
and  returned  with  a  full  report.  He  was  sent  to 
Washington  to  get  his  pay,  and  when  he  got 
there,  received  from  the  officer  under  Gen.  Scott, 
who  attended  to  his  case,  the  sum  of  twenty-five 
dollars,  which  did  not  pay  the  expenses  of  his 
journey.  It  is  added  that  he  swore  he  would  go 
over  to  the  enemy;  probably  he  did.  If  spies 
and  scouts  were  treated  thus  in  our  first  Virginia 
campaign,  no  wonder  Johnson  got  away  from 
Patterson. 

Probably  no  man  in  this  war  has  lived  through 
as  many  exciting  and  desperate  adventures  as 
Capt.  Carpenter,  who  was  leader  of  the  "  Jessie 
Scouts."  He  was  originally  one  of  "  John 


Brown's  men/'  and  participated  in  the  attack  on 
Harper's  Ferry,  where  he  escaped  by  crawling 
through  a  long  culvert,  or  covered  drain,  which  led 
from  the  famous  engine-house  to  the  river.  The 
Captain  does  not  love  the  slave  lords ;  he  has 
notions  abc'it  the  crime  of  claiming  ownership  in 
men  which  to  some  would  seem  extreme,  and  he 
certainly  thinks  almost  anything  good  enough 
for  a  man-selling  aristocrat  \vho  rebels  against 
the  Union. 

The  writer  of  this  passed  a  few  quiet  hours 
with  Capt.  Carpenter  lately,  while  the  latter  was 
an  invalid  from  a  severe  wound  received  last  fall 
in  Western  Virginia.  Some  of  the  campaigning 
stories  then  heard  will  interest  the  reader,  and 
will  attract  the  sympathy  of  all  who  admire 
daring,  skill,  and  invention  —  especially  where, 
as  in  this  case,  all  these  faculties  are  sharpened 
and  vivified  by  a  single-hearted  and  fiery  devo 
tion  to  liberty  and  the  Union.  Capt.  Carpenter 
boasts,  in  a  quiet  way,  that  no  army  for  which 
he  has  scouted  has  ever  suffered  from  a  "  raid  " 
in  its  rear,  or  has  ever  been  surprised.  He  has 
an  idea  that  such  things  cannot  be  done  where 
trustworthy  and  zealous  scouts  are  employed. 

"  Did  you  ever  see  Price  ?  "  he  was  asked. 

He  replied,  "  Several  times." 

Once  he  drove  a  team  in  Price's  army  two 
days,  at  the  end  of  which  time,  unluckily,  the 
team  and  wagon,  and  a  negro  who  happened  to 
be  in  it,  ran  away,  "  and  curiously  enough,  never 
stopped  till  we  got  into  our  own  lines,"  said  the 
Captain,  with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye. 

"  The  black  man  is  working  for  himself  now 
in  Iowa,  and  I  sold  the  mules  to  pay  my  ex 
penses." 

Once  he  rode  down  to  the  rebel  pickets  at 
Wilson's  Creek,  dressed  as  a  woman,  to  deliver 
a  letter  to  a  supposititious  brother  in  Price's 
army.  He  bears  witness  to  the  politeness  of  the 
rebel  officer  who  escorted  the  lady  half  back  to 
our  lines.  This  trip  was  made  because  "  the 
General  "  wanted  to  know  precisely  the  position 
of  a  part  of  the  rebel  lines. 

"  After  the  surrender  of  Lexington,"  said  the 
Captain,  "  Gen.  Fremont  suspected  that  the  tele 
graph  operators  between  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph 
were  disloyal,  and  had  given  information  to  the 
enemy,  and  I  was  ordered  to  make  an  investiga 
tion.  The  fact  was,  however,  the  rebels  had 
'  tapped '  the  wire.  A  woman  in  St.  Louis  told 
me.  She  asked  me  if  I  knew  a  rebel  spy  was  in 
town.  I  asked  who  he  was  and  what  he  did ;  and 
she  replied  that  he  had  a  telegraph  apparatus  on 
the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad,  and  had 
told  her  so.  He  was  to  see  her  and  take  her  to 
a  theatre  that  evening. 

"  I  told  her  I  would  give  her  fifty  dollars  if  she 
would  say,  when  he  came,  that  she  was  sick,  and 
would  not  go.  She  agreed,  and  I  arranged  that 
she  should  introduce  me  to. him  as  a  rebel  spy 
from  Pillow's  camp,  which  she  did.  I  immedi 
ately  gained  his  confidence.  We  drank  wine  to 
gether,  and  the  fool  told  me  everything.  Soon 
he  left  the  city,  and  I  took  one  of  my  men  with 
me,  and  off  we  started  after  him. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


On  board  of  the  Huzza,  which  carries  the  left 
wing  of  the  Twenty-third,  they  have  their  full 
share  of  sweet  singers,  and  a  very  excellent  band 
of  music,  under  the  lead  of  Henry  C.  Brown,  of 
Boston.  In  the  centre  of  the  fleet,  which  covers 
an  area  of  some  two  miles  of  the  bay,  is  anchored 
the  S.  R.  Spaulding,  the  present  flag-ship  of  Gen. 
Burnside.  From  her  high  deck  he  can  easily 
survey  the  entire  fleet,  and  observe  all  that  is 
going  on.  On  the  deck  of  one  or  two  vessels 
near  us  are  gathered  quiet  groups  of  soldiers,  and 
the  sublime  strains  of  "  Old  Hundred,"  which 
float  across  the  waters,  human  voices  mingling 
with  the  bands,  testify  that  they  are  engaged  in 
religious  worship.  To  many  of  these  brave  and 
earnest  men  it  will  be,  perhaps,  their  last  Sabbath 
on  earth.  

INCIDENTS  OF  THE  PAINTVILLE  BATTLE. — A 
body  of  the  enemy  was  posted  on  a  commanding 
hill,  and  it  became  necessary  to  dislodge  them. 
The  Fourteenth  Kentucky  volunteered  for  the 
service,  as  they  knew  the  nature  of  the  ground. 
Said  Col.  Garfield :  "  Go  in,  boys ;  give  them 
Hail  Columbia ! " 

The  hill  was  cleared,  and  soon  the  reserve  of 
the  brigade  came  in  at  a  double-quick.  As 
soon  as  he  saw  them,  Col.  Garfield  pulled  off  his 
ecat,  and  flung  it  up  in  the  air,  where  it  lodged 
in  a  tree,  out  of  reach.  The  men  threw  up  their 
caps  with  a  wild  shout,  and  rushed  at  the  enemy, 
Col.  Garfield,  in  his  shirt-sieves^  leading  the  way. 

As  the  Federal  troops  reached  the  top  of  the 
hill,  a  rebel  officer  shouted  in  surprise :  "  Why, 
how  many  of  you  are  there  ?  "  "  Twenty-five 

thousand  men,  you ! "  yelled  a  Kentucky 

Union  officer,  rushing  at  the  rebel.  In  an  instant 
the  rebels  broke  and  ran  in  utter  confusion. 

Several  instances  of  personal  daring  and  cool 
ness  were  related.  A  member  of  Capt.  Bushnell's 
company,  in  the  Forty-second,  was  about  to  bite  a 
cartridge,  when  a  musket-bali  struck  the  cartridge 
from  his  fingers.  Coolly  facing  the  direction  from 
which  the  shot  came,  he  took  out  another  car 
tridge,  and  exclaimed :  "  You  can't  do  that  again, 
old  fellow."  

MARYLAND. 

BY   J.    R.    RANDALL. 

THE  despot's  heel  is  on  thy  shore, 

Maryland! 
His  torch  is  at  thy  temple  door, 

Maryland ! 

Avenge  the  patriotic  gore 
That  flooded  the  streets  of  Baltimore, 
And  be  the  battle  queen  of  yore, 

Maryland !     My  Maryland ! 

Hark  to  thy  wandering  son's  appeal, 

Maryland ! 
My  mother  State  !  to  thee  I  kneel, 

Maryland  ! 

For  life  and  death,  for  woe  and  weal, 
Thy  peerless  chivalry  reveal, 
And  gird  thy  beauteous  limbs  with  steel, 

Maryland  !     My  Maryland  ! 


Thou  wilt  not  cower  in  the  dust, 

Maryland ! 
Thy  beaming  sword  shall  never  lust, 

Maryland ! 

Remember  Carroll's  sacred  trust, 
Remember  Howard's  warlike  thrust, 
And  all  thy  slumberers  with  the  just, 

Maryland  !     My  Maryland! 

Come !  'tis  the  red  dawn  of  the  day, 

Maryland  ! 
Cornel  with  thy  panoplied  array, 

Maryland ! 

With  Ringgold's  spirit  for  the  fray, 
WTith  Watson's  blood  at  Monterey, 
With  fearless  Lowe  and  dashing  May, 

Maryland  !     My  Maryland ! 

Come  !  for  thy  shield  is  bright  and  strong, 

Maryland  ! 
Come  !  for  thy  dalliance  does  thee  wrong, 

Maryland  ! 

Come  !  to  thine  own  heroic  throng, 
That  stalks  with  Liberty  along, 
And  give  a  new  Key  to  thy  song, 

Maryland  !     My  Maryland ! 

Dear  Mother  !  burst  the  tyrant's  chain, 

Maryland ! 
Virginia  should  not  call  in  vain, 

Maryland ! 

She  meets  her  sisters  on  the  plain  — 
"  Sic  semper"  'tis  the  proud  refrain, 
That  baffles  minions  back  amain, 

Maryland  ! 
Arise  in  majesty  again, 

Maryland  !     My  Maryland  1 

I  see  the  blush  upon  thy  cheek, 

Maryland ! 
But  thoii  wast  ever  bravely  meek, 

Maryland  ! 

But  lo  !  there  surges  forth  a  shriek 
From  hill  to  hill,  from  creek  to  creek  — 
Potomac  calls  to  Chesapeake, 

Maryland !     My  Maryland ! 

Thou  wilt  not  yield  the  Vandal  toll, 

Maryland  ! 
Thou  wilt  not  crook  to  his  control, 

Maryland ! 

Better  the  fire  upon  thee  roll, 
Better  the  blade,  the  shot,  the  bowl, 
Than  crucifixion  of  the  soul, 

Maryland  !     My  Maryland  I 

I  hear  the  distant  thunder  hum, 

Maryland  ! 
The  Old  Line's  bugle,  fife,  and  drum, 

Maryland ! 

She  is  not  dead,  nor  deaf,  nor  dnrrb  — 
Huzza  !  she  spurns  the  Northern  scum ! 
She  breathes  —  she  burns!  she'll  come  !  shf  U 


come ! 
Maryland ! 


My  Maryland  I 


A  RACE  FOR  LIFE.  —  A  soldier  from  Rhode 
Island,  while  on  picket-guard,  was  rushed  upon 
by  a  party  of  rebel  cavalry.  He  instantly  fired 
his  piece  at  the  foremost,  and  ran.  The  way  be 
fore  him  was  an  open  field,  about  fifty  rods  across, 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


49 


the  other  side  being  hemmed  in  by  an  old,  rotten, ! 
log  fence,  and,  still  beyond,  a  sort  of  chaparral  i 
of  brier  bushes  and  underbrush.  To  this  retreat ! 
the  soldier  started,  on  quadruple  quick,  with  half  | 
a  dozen  horsemen  after  him.  Fortunately  for  the 
soldier,  the  rains  had  made  the  field  quite  muddy, 
and  the  horses  slumped  through  the  turf  so  badly 
that  they  could  not  lessen  the  distance  between 
them  and  the  fugitive.  All  this  time  the  rebels 
were  keeping  up  a  roar  of  pistolry,  one  of  the 
balls  passing  through  the  soldier's  hat,  and 
another  went  clean  through  his  cartridge  box  and 
lodged  in  his  coat.  Still  on  ran  the  hero,  and 
still  on  splashed  the  horsemen.  The  picket  at 
last  reached  the  fence,  and  with  one  bound  landed 
on  the  top,  intending  to  give  a  long  spring  ahead ; 
but  the  fence  was  frail,  and  crumbled  beneath  his 
weight.  It  so  chanced  that  a  hog  had  rooted  out 
a  gutter  at  this  place,  and  was  lying  snoring 
therein.  At  the  cracking  of  the  fence,  his  swine- 
khip  evacuated  his  hole,  and  scampered,  barking, 
into  the  underbrush.  As  luck  would  have  it,  the 
soldier  fell  in  that  hole,  muddy  as  it  was,  and  the 
fence  rattled  down  upon  him.  This  was  no  more 
than  fairly  done,  when  up  came  the  horsemen, 
and,  hearing  the  rustling  of  leaves,  and  not 
doubting  it  was  their  prey,  dashed  through  the 
gap  in  the  fence,  and,  seeing  a  path  in  the  brush, 
they  put  through  it  after  the  hog,  and  were  soon 
out  of  sight.  When  the  sound  of  their  footsteps 
died  away,  the  picket  returned  to  camp  and  re 
ported.  The  next  day  one  of  these  rebel  horse 
men  was  taken  prisoner.  When  our  hero  saw 
him  he  recognized  him  at  once,  and  sung  out: 

"  I  say,  old  fellow,  did  you  catch  that  hog  yes 
terday  ? " 

"  We  did  that,"  retorted  the  prisoner,  "  but  it 
wasn't  the  one  we  were  after" 


A  SHARP  RIDE.  —  A  correspondent  with  Gen 
eral  Grant's  army  gives  the  following  amusing  ac 
count  of  a  cotton  broker  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Lagrange,  Tennessee.  He  says : 

The  experience  of  a  Mr.  Cones,  who  was  cap 
tured  near  Lagrange,  was  relieved  by  some  flashes 
of  humor  which  may  be  an  apology  for  the  very 
emphatic  language  which  was  used  by  the  actors. 

Cones,  in  company  with  two  or  three  other 
buyers,  had  bought  some  cotton  out  at  Moscow, 
twelve  miles  from  Lagrange,  just  before  our  army 
marched  from  the  latter  place,  and  as  General 
Quinby's  division  had  just,  removed  from  there, 
they  thought  the  sooner  they  got  the  cotton  into 
Lagrange  the  better ;  consequently  four  of  them, 
besides  the  drivers  of  the  teams,  started  out  after 
it.  Cones  was  the  only  one  of  the  four  who  was 
not  armed  and  was  not  on  horseback,  he  riding 
in  one  of  the  teams.  They  succeeded  in  getting 
the  cotton,  and  hurried  back  until  they  came  in 
sight  of  the  Union  pickets  at  Lagrange,  and  then 
Cones'  three  friends,  thinking  the  mules  were 
out  of  danger,  left  him,  and  rode  on  into  town. 

Only  two  or  three  minutes  after  they  had  left, 
and  as  the  wagons  went  down  into  a  hollow,  out 


of  sight  of  the  picket-guards,  five  guerrillas 
dashed  out  of  the  wood  and  were  alongside  in  an 
instant.  "  Halt !  '*'  Every  one  of  the  teams  halted 
as  though  they  had  run  against  a  stone  wall. 
The  next  instant  the  muzzle  of  a  revolver  was  at 
the  ear  of  every  one  of  them,  Cones  included,  who 
was  riding  on  the  cotton. 

'k  Are  you  armed  ? "  said  the  guerrilla,  who 
held  his  pistol  at  Cones'  head. 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Then  get  down  and  unhitch  them  mules,  and 
turn  'em  around  devilish  quick  !  " 

It  was  done  in  the  time  specified. 

Guerrilla.  —  "Have  you  a  match?  I  want  to 
touch  off  this  cotton." 

Cones.  —  "  Xo,  sir.    I  am  glad  to  say  I  haven't." 

Guerrilla.  —  "  Then  git  on  to  that  mule,  quick." 

In  an  instant,  Cones  was  mounted  on  what  he 
says  was  "  a  wonderful  sharp-backed  mule." 

Guerrilla  (giving  the  mule  a  terrific  slash  with 
the  wagon  whip).  —  "  Now,  lick  them  mules  up' 
Make  'em  go  !  Give  Teni  thunder !  " 

And  away  they  went  at  a  pace  which,  to  Cones 
on  his  razor-back  mule,  he  thought  must  split 
him  in  two  before  many  miles,  three  guerrillas  be 
hind  lashing  the  mule  at  every  jump.  Five  miles 
or  more  they  went  at  this  pace,  and  not  another 
word  had  been  spoken  by  any  one,  when  they 
turned  out  of  the  main  road  into  an  old  and  un 
frequented  road,  that  wound  its  zigzag  through  one 
of  the  densely-wooded  creek  bottoms.  "Halt!" 
said  the  guerrilla,  and  he  who  gave  the  command 
commenced  hurriedly  to  relieve  himself  of  somfl 
of  his  accoutrements,  as  though  he  was  about  to 

fo  to  work  in  earnest  at  some  devilish  deed, 
'he  place  was  lonely  and  fitting  to  such  murder 
ous  intents,  and  Cones  says  he  felt  a  cold  sort  of 
chill  run  down  the  full  length  of  even  his  long  legs. 

Guerrilla  (drawing  the  cork  out  of  his  canteen) 
—  "  You  look  a  pretty  good  feller.  Let's  take  a 
drink  ;  and  for  fear  you  might  think  it's  pizen,  I'll 
drink  first ! " 

And  suiting  the  action  to  his  words,  he  placed 
the  canteen  to  his  lips,  and  turned  his  face  up  in 
the  position  of  one  making  astronomical  observa 
tions.  After  a  long  pull,  he  passed  the  canteen 
over  to  Cones,  who  thought  it  '  mightn't  be  pizen,' 
and  imbibed. 

Guerrilla.  —  "  Now,  lick  up  them  mules  ;  give 
'em  thunder!  Hurry  up!"  ,  » 

At  each  injunction  he  emphasized  on  the  rear 
of  the  riving  mules  with  his  whip. 

They  bivouacked  in  a  thicket  that  night,  but 
early  the  next  morning  began  their  journey  at  the 
same  pace,  and  toward  evening  of  that  day  they 
galloped  into  a  rude-looking  camp,  which  turned 
out  to  be  the  nest  of  Richardson  and  his  guerrilla, 
band,  within  a  few  miles  of  Fort  Pillow.  In  a  few 
minutes  Cones  was  marched  up  before  Colonel  Rich 
ardson.  After  a  number  of  questions  as  to  what 
was  his  business,  whether  he  hud  served  against 
the  Confederate  States,  &c.,  Richardson  said: 

"  Well,  sir.     I'll  parole  you." 

At  the  mention  of  "  parole,"  the  guerrilla  who 
had  been  the  most  prominent  in  the  capture,  and 
had  invited  Cones  "  to  drink,''  began  to  remonstrate 


50 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Guerrilla.  —  "  Why,  Colonel,  you  ain't  a  goin' 
to  parole  that  infernal  cotton-buyer,  are  you  r1 " 

Richardson.  —  "  Well,  I've  got  to  parole  him  or 
shoot  him ;  and  (turning  to  Cones  inquiringly) 
you'd  rather  be  paroled  than  shot,  hadn't  you  ?  " 

Cones.  —  "  Yes,  but  I  don't  want  to  take  another 
ride  on  that  mule." 

The  parole  was  soon  written,  and  much  to  his 
Astonishment,  without  being  robbed  of  his  money 
and  watch,  he  was  told  that  he  was  at  liberty  to 
walk  back  to  Lagrange,  forty  miles.  In  an  hour 
afterward  he  started,  and  soon  after  leaving  the 
camp  he  was  startled  again  by  the  command 
"  Halt ! "  lie  halted,  and  out  started  the  guerrilla 
who  had  been  most  prominent  in  his  capture,  and 
had  gone  away  sulky  because  the  Colonel  would 
not  shoot  "  that  infernal  cotton-buyer,"  instead 
of  paroling  him. 

Cones  was  unarmed,  and  began  to  have  serious 
apprehensions  of  what  wras  to  follow,  when  the 
guerrilla  said  :  "  Old  feller,  let's  take  a  drink !  " 
(Jones'  heart  felt  lighter  immediately.  So  did 
tue  canteen. 

During  the  next  three  days  he  footed  it  back 
to  Lagnmge,  but  he  never  alter  looked  at  a  lean, 
s»\arp-backed  mule  without  a  shudder. 


CAMP  ANECDOTE.  —  The  Sergeant  of  the  picket- 
giiard  being  stationed  near  Pohick  Church,  Va., 
had  his  attention  drawn  to  the  tinkling  of  a  cow 
bell  in  the  bushes.  With  visions  of  new  milk 
running  through  his  head,  he  examined  carefully, 
and  to  his  intense  astonishment  made  the  discov 
ery  that  as  he  advanced  the  cow-bell  retreated. 
The  Sergeant  made  a  double  quick  retrograde 
movement,  and  immediately  reported  the  affair  to 
Colonel  Hays.  The  Colonel  secreted  a  squad  of 
men  in  the  woods,  and  the  Sergeant  again  made 
himself  conspicuous.  He  brushed  about  among 
the  bushes,  and  the  cow-bell  approached.  The 
squad  soon  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  —  not 
the  cow,  but  a  "  Secesher  "  with  a  cow-bell  hung 
to  his  neck,  and  a  six  shooter  in  his  belt.  When 
he  got  within  easy  range,  and  in  sight  of  the  squad, 
the  Sergeant  hailed  him  : 

"  I  say,  old  fellow,  would  you  rather  go  to  the 
devil  or  to  Washington  ?  " 

The  squad  at  the  same  time  rushed  forward. 

44  To  Washington,  I  reckon,"  drawled  the  rebel. 
"  I  ain't  clothed  for  a  warm  climate." 

And  he  accordingly  delivered  himself  up. 


A  JOKE  ON  A  REBEL  EDITOR.  —  The  editor 
of  the  Rebel  Banner,  published  at  Murfreesboro' 
until  Bragg's  retreat  to  Shelbyviile,  and  after 
wards  hailing  from  the  latter  town,  tells  the  fol 
lowing  good  story : 

On  Wednesday,  the  31st  of  December,  18G3,  we 
went  to  the  battle-field  in  search  of  glory  and  items. 

While  following  up  the  charge  of  General  Mc- 
Oown's  division,  we  met  a  body  of  prisoners  mov 
ing  to  the  rear,  and  at  once  struck  up  a  conversa 
tion  with  them.  Unfortunately,  we  were  Pressed 


in  cerulean  habiliments,  and,  upon  attempting  to 
leave,  were  ordered  by  the  guard  to  remain  where 
we  were.  With  a  smile  of  ineffable  contempt,  we 
drew  from  our  pocket  a  pass  ;  but  what  was  our 
chagrin  when  we  were  accosted  with,  "  I  say,  my 
boy,  none  of  us  can  read  ;  but  that  thar  trick's  too 
old ;  and  I'll  tell  you  another  tiling,  yer  infernal 
blue-bellied  Yankee,  if  you  try  any  more  of  them 
dodges,  I'll  souse  this  thing  into  yer  giz2ard." 

Think  of  that,  O  ye  tribe  of  brother  quill- 
drivers  ?  The  editor  of  this  paper,  the  leading 
journal  of  the  South,  to  be  called  a  Yankee,  and 
to  be  accredited  with  possessing  an  azure  abdo 
men. 

GENERAL  ROUSSEAU  relates  the  following  in 
cident  of  Shiloh : 

TAVO  days  after  the  battle  I  walked  into  the 
hospital  tent  on  the  ground  where  the  fiercest 
contest  had  taken  place,  and  where  many  of  our 
men  and  those  of  the  enemy  had  fallen.  The 
hospital  -vas  exclusively  for  the  wounded  rebels, 
and  they  were  laid  thickly  around.  Many  of  them 
were  Iventuckians,  of  Breckinriuge's  command. 
As  I  stepped  into  the  tent,  and  spoke  to  some 
one,  I  was  addressed  by  a  voice,  the  childish  tone 
of  which  arrested  my  attention  :  "  That's  General 
Rousseau  \  General,  I  knew  your  son  Dickey. 
Where  is  Dick  ?  I  knew  him  very  well."  Turn 
ing  to  him,  I  saw  stretched  on  the  ground  a  hand 
some  boy  about  sixteen  years  of  age.  His  face 
was  a  bright  one,  but  the  hectic  glow  and  flush 
on  the  cheeks,  his  restless  manner,  and  his  grasp 
ing  and  catching  his  breath  as  he  spoke,  alarmed 
me.  I  knelt  by  his  side  and  pressed  his  fevered 
brow  with  my  hand,  and  would  have  taken  the 
child  into  my  arms,  if  I  could.  "  And  who  are 
you,  my  son  P  "  said  I.  "  Why,  I  am  Eddy  Mc- 
Fadden,  from  Louisville,"  was  the  reply.  "  I 
know  you,  General,  and  I  know  your  son  Dick. 
I've  played  with  him.  Where  is  Dick  ? "  I 
thought  of  my  own  dear  boy,  of  what  might  have 
befallen  him ;  that  he,  too,  deluded  by  villains, 
might,  like  this  poor  boy,  have  been  mortally 
wounded,  among  strangers,  and  left  to  die.  My 
heart  bled  for  the  poor  child  ;  for  he  was  a  child  ; 
my  manhood  gave  way,  and  burning  tears  at 
tested,  m  spite  of  me,  my  intense  suffering.  I 
asked  him  of  his  father.  He  had  no  father.  His 
mother.  He  had  no  mother.  Brothers  and  sis 
ters.  "  I  have  a  brother,"  said  he.  "  I  never 
knew  what  soldiering  was.  I  was  but  a  boy,  and 
they  got  me  off  down  here."  He  was  shot  through 
the"  shoulder  and  lungs.  I  asked  him  what  b.c 
needed.  He  said  he  was  cold  and  the  ground  was 
hard.  I  had  no  tent  nor  blankets  ;  our  baggage 
was  all  in  the  rear  at  Savannah.  But  I  sent  the 
poor  boy  my  saddle-blanket,  and  returned  the 
I  next  morning  with  lemons  for  him  and  the  rest ; 
I  but  his  brother,  in  the  Second  Kentucky  regiment, 
I  had  taken  him  over  to  his  regiment  to  nurse  him. 
j  I  never  saw  the  child  again.  He  died  in  a  day  or 
j  two.  Peace  to  his  ashes.  I  never  think  of  this 
I  incident  that  I  do  not  ^11  j;>  as  if  he  were  my  own 
:  child. 


A  mid  the  darkling  forest's  shade  and  sheen 
Speechless  in  death  he  lay.— Page  51. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


51 


THE   DEAD   DRUMMER   BOY. 

'MiDsT  tangled  roots  that  lined  the  wild  ravine, 
Where  the  fierce  fight  raged  hottest  through  the 

day, 

And  where  the  dead  in  scattered  heaps  were  seen, 
Arnid  the  darkling  forest's  shade  and  sheen, 
Speechless  in  death  he  lay. 

The  setting  sun,  which  glanced  athwart  the  place 

In  slanting  lines,  like  amber-tinted  rain, 
Fell  sidewise  on  the  drummer's  upturned  face, 
Where  Death  had  left  his  gory  finger's  trace 
In  one  bright  crimson  stain. 

The  silken  fringes  of  his  once  bright  eye 

Lay  like  a  shadow  on  his  cheek  so  fair; 
His  lips  were  parted  by  a  long-drawn  sigh, 
That  with  his  soul  had  mounted  to  the  sky 
On  some  wild  martial  air. 

No  more  his  hand  the  fierce  tattoo  shall  beat, 

The  shrill  reveille,  or  the  long  roll's  call, 
Or  sound  the  charges,  when,  in  smoke  and  heat 
Of  fiery  onset,  foe  with  foe  shall  meet, 
And  gallant  men  shall  fall. 

Yet  may  be  in  some  happy  home,  that  one, 
A  mother,  reading  from  the  list  of  dead, 
Shall  chance  to  view  the  name  of  her  dead  son, 
And  move  her  lips  to  say,  "God's  will  be  done  I" 
And  bow  in  grief  her  head. 

But  more  than  this  what  tongue  shall  tell  his  story  ? 

Perhaps  his  boyish  longings  were  for  fame. 
Re  lived,  he  died;  and  so  memento  mori. 
Enough  if  on  the  page  of  War  and  Glory 
Some  hand  has  writ  his  name. 


THE  BADGE  OF  THE  FIFTEENTH  ARMY  CORPS. 
—  The  troops  from  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  sent 
to  join  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  carried  with 
them  various  ornamental  habits  and  customs  that 
were  new  to  the  Western  soldiers.  Among  them 
was  the  corps  badge,  which  designated  the  corps 
to  which  officers  and  men  were  attached.  For 
instance,  the  badge  of  the  Eleventh  Corps  is  a 
crescent,  that  of  the  Twelfth  a  star.  The  badge 
is  made  of  any  material,  —  gold,  silver,  or  red 
flannel,  —  and  is  worn  conspicuously  on  some 
part  of  the  clothing.  The  Western  corps  had 
no  such  badge.  How  an  Irishman  explained  the 
matter  is  thus  told :  A  soldier  came  by  the  head 
quarters  of  Gen.  Butterfield,  —  a  tired,  weather- 
beaten  straggler.  He  was  one  of  those  who 
made  Sherman's  march  from  Memphis  to  Chat 
tanooga,  thence  to  Knoxville,  and  was  now  re 
turning  in  the  terrible  cold  of  that  returning 
march,  thinly  clad,  one  foot  covered  with  a  badly 
worn  army  shoe,  the  other  with  a  piece  of  raw 
hide  bound  with  strings  about  a  sockless  foot  — 
both  feet  cut  and  bleeding.  "  Arms  at  will,"  he 
trudged  past  the  headquarters'  guard,  intent  only 
upon  overtaking  his  regiment, 

"  Halt,"  said  a  sentinel  with  a  bright  piece, 
clean  uniform,  and  white  gloves.  "  What  do  you 
belong  to  ?  " 

"  Eighth  Misshoory,  sure." 


"  What  division  ?  " 

"Morgan  L.  Smith's,  av  coorse." 

"  What  brigade  ?  " 

"  Giles  Smith's  Second  Brigade  of  the  Second 
Division." 

"  But  what  army  corps  ?  " 

"  The  Fifteenth,  you  fool.  I  am  one  of  the 
heroes  of  Vicksburg.  Anything  more,  Mr.  Sen 
tinel  ?  " 

"  Where  is  your  badge  ?  " 

"  My  badge,  is  it  ?     What  is  that  ?  " 

"  Do  yo'i  see  this  star  on  my  cap  ?  That  is 
the  badge  of  the  Twelfth  Corps.  That  crescent 
on  my  partner's  cap  is  the  badge  of  the  Eleventh 
Corps." 

"  I  see  n  SN.  That's  how  yez  Potomick  fellers 
gits  home  uv  dark  nights.  Ye  takes  the  moon 
and  shtars  with  ye." 

"  But  what  is  the  badge  of  your  corps  ?  " 

Making  a  rour.  d  about,  and  slapping  his  car 
tridge-box,  cur  soldier  replied,  "  D'ye  see  that  ? 
A  cartridge-box,  with  a  U.  S.  on  a  brash  plate, 
and  forty  rounds  in  the  cartridge-box,  and  sixty 
rounds  in  OUT  pockets.  That's  the  badge  of  the 
Fifteenth,  that  came  from  Vicksburg  to  help  ye 
fight  Chattanoogy." 


SLAVE'S  PRAYER.  — -  A  Virginia  slave,  who  had 
heard  of  the  President's  promise  concerning  the 
proclamation  to  be  issued  on  the  1st  of  January, 
then  only  a  few  days  in  the  future,  was  heard 
praying,  and  with  great  earnestness  and  a  deeply 
affected  heart,  thus  : 

"  O  God  Almighty  !  keep  the  engine  of  the 
rebellion  going  till  New  Year's  !  Good  Lord ! 
pray,  don't  let  off  the  steam ;  Lord,  don't  reverse 
the  engine ;  dcn't  back  up ;  Lord,  don't  put  on 
the  brakes  !  But  pray,  good  Lord,  put  on  more 
steam !  Make  it  go  a  mile  a  minute !  Yes, 
Lord,  pray  make  it  go  sixty  miles  an  hour ! 
('  Amen  ! '  '  DC  ,  good  Lord  ! '  responded  the 
brethren  and  sisters.)  Lord,  don't  let  the  ex 
press  train  of  rebellion  smash  up  till  the  1st  of 
January!  Don't  let  the  rebels  back  down,  but 
harden  their  hearts  as  hard  as  Pharaoh's,  and 
keep  all  hands  going,  till  the  train  reaches  the 
Depot  of  Emancipation  ! " 


How  THE  VETERAN  MAKES  HIMSELF  COM 
FORTABLE.  —  An  army  letter  gives  the  following 
description  of  the  manner  in  which  a  veteran 
soldier  makes  himself  comfortable  in  camp  : 

"  It  is  a  trite  remark  that  a  man  never  knows 
how  much  he  can  do  without  until  he  tries  it,  but 
it  is  more  to  my  present  purpose  to  say  that  he 
never  knows  with  how  little  he. can  make  himself 
comfortable  until  he  makes  the  experiment.  No 
body  possesses  this  invaluable  knowledge  so 
much  as  a  veteran.  Put  a  recruit  into  a  "forest 
of  pine  trees,  with  his  shelter  tent,  ard  if  he  have 
nobody  but  recruits  f.b'jut  him,  ten  to  one  you 
will  find  him  under  ais  shelttr  tent  three  wtv.k* 
from  that  time. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


"  Not  so  with  the  veteran.  If  he  be  camped  in 
the  pine  forest,  give  him  an  old  axe,  a  boot-leg, 
a  mud-puddle,  a  board  or  two,  and  a  handful  of 
nails,  and  he  builds  him  a  house,  and  a  house, 
too,  comfortable  and  commodious,  and  not  want 
ing  in  architectural  beauty.  First  he  fells  his 
breej,  I  hen  cuts  and  notches  his  logs,  and  lays 
tltfin  together  to  the  required  height.  His  roof 
he  puts  on,  giving  it  a  great  slope,  and  thatching 
it  with  the  green  of  the  pine  trees. 

"  He  has  been  careful  to  leave  window  spaces, 
find  tacking  pieces  of  his  shelter  tent  over  these, 
he  has  provided  light,  but  he  keeps  out  the  nip 
ping  air  of  winter.  Then  with  his  board  he  makes 
the  door,  and  the  boot-leg  supplying  the  hinges, 
it  soon  swings  into  its  place.  Then  he  fills  the 
spaces  between  the  logs  with  soft  earth  from  his 
mud-puddle,  and  his  house  is  done,  except  the 
chimney,  and  the  forest  and  the  mud-puddle  soon 
provide  that,  for  his  chimney  is  nothing  but  a 
pile  of  sticks,  plentifully  plastered  without  and 
within  with  mud.  Then  with  his  old  axe  he  man 
ufactures  out  of  pine  logs  a  full  assortment  of 
furniture,  —  bedstead,  chairs,  table,  wardrobe, 
and  generally  adds  a  mantel.  Then,  with  a 
bright  fire  upon  his  hearth,  he  is  prepared  to 
laugh  at  winter,  and  generally  does." 


A  COMMITTEE  of  the  Louisiana  State  Conven 
tion,  appointed  to  prepare  a  flag  and  seal  for  that 
State,  thus  expressed  their  opinion  of  that  Peli 
can  which  had  so  long  been  the  cherished  emblem 
of  Louisiana :  "  On  consultation,  and  especially 
with  those  descended  from  the  ancient  colonists 
of  the  country,  the  Committee  found  that  what 
has  been  considered  the  symbol  of  Louisiana, 
commands  neither  their  favor  nor  their  affection. 
The  pelican  is  in  form  unsightly,  in  habits  filthy, 
in  na  ture  cowardly."  The  Committee  also  learned 
from  Audubon,  to  their  amazement,  that  the  story 
of  the  pelican's  feeding  its  young  with  its  own 
blood  is,  in  expressive  phrase,  "  gammon."  There 
fore  they  did  not  commend  this  water-fowl  as  a 
fit  subject  for  their  flag,  but  rather  as  one  of 
loathing  and  contumely. 


UNION  IN  TENNESSEE.  —  A  traveller,  passing 
through  one  of  the  counties  of  Tennessee  on 
horseback,  stopped  at  a  modest  cottage  on  the 
roadside,  and  asked  for  shelter,  as  it  was  quite 
dark  and  raining.  The  "head  of. the  family" 
came  to  the  door,  and  accosted  the  traveller 
with,  — 

"  What  do  you  want  ?  " 

"  I  want  to  stay,  all  night,"  was  the  reply. 

"  What  are  yer  ?  " 

This  interrogatory  was  not  fully  understood  by 
the  traveller,  and  he  asked  an  explanation. 

"  I  mean,  what's  yer  politics  ?  "  rejoined 
the  former.  "  Air  yer  fur  this  Union,  or 
agin  it?" 

This  was  a  poser,  as  the  traveller  was  not  cer 
tain  whether  the  "  man  of  the  house "  was  a 
Union  man  or  a  secessionist,  and  he  -vas  anxious 


to  "tie  up"  for  the  night;  so  he  made  up  his 
mind,  and  said, — 

"  My  friend,  1  am  for  the  Union." 

"  Stranger,  you  kin  kum  in." 


TO    CANAAN  ! 
A   30NG  OF  THE  SIX  HUNDRED  THOUSAND.* 

BY   OLIVER  WENDELL  HOLMES. 

WHERE  are  you  going,  soldiers, 
With  banner,  gun,  and  sword  ? 
We're  marching  South  to  Canaan 

To  battle  for  the  Lord  ! 
What  Captain  leads  your  armies 

Along  the  rebel  coasts  ? 
The  Mighty  One  of  Israel, 
His  name  is  Lord  of  Hosts  ! 
To  Canaan,  to  Canaan, 

The  Lord  has  led  us  forth, 
To  blow  before  the  heathen  walla 
The  trumpets  of  the  North  ! 

What  flag  is  this  you  carry 
Along  the  sea  and  shore  ? 
The  same  our  grancteires  lifted  up, 

The  same  our  fathers  bore  ! 
In  many  a  battle's  tempest 

It  shed  the  crimson  rain  : 
What  God  has  woven  in  his  l(K>m 
Let  no  man  rend  in  twain  ! 
To  Canaan,  to  Canaanr 

The  Lord  has  led  us  forth, 

To  plant  upon  the  rebel  toweri 

The  banners  of  the  North ! 

What  troop  is  this  that  follows, 

All  armed  with  picks  and  spades  ? 
These  are  the  swarthy  bondsmen, 

The  iron-skin  brigades ! 
They'll  pile  up  Freedom's  breastwork, 

They'll  scoop  out  rebels'  graves  ; 
Who  then  will  be  their  owner, 
And  march  them  off  for  slaves  ? 
To  Canaan,  to  Canaan, 

The  Lord  has  led  us  forth, 
To  strike  upon  the  captive's  chain 
The  hammers  of  the  North  I 

What  song  is  this  you're  singing  ? 

The  same  that  Israel  sung 
When  Moses  led  the  mighty  choir, 

And  Miriam's  timbrel  rung  ! 
To  Canaan  !  to  Canaan  ! 

The  priests  and  maidens  cried ; 
To  Canaan  !  to  Canaan  ! 
The  people's  voice  replied. 
To  Canaan,  to  Canaan, 

The  Lord  has  led  us  forth, 
To  thunder  tnroujih  its  adder-deni 
The  anthems  of  the  North  ! 

When  Canaan's  hosts  are  scattered, 

And  all  her  walls  lie  flat, 
What  i  /Hows  next  in  order  ? 

The  Lc  rd  will  see  to  -.fcat  J 

*  See.  N urn.  i.  45,46. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


53 


We'll  break  the  tyrant's  sceptre, 

We'll  build  the  people's  throne  — 
When  half  the  world  is  Freedom's, 
1'hen  all  the  world's  our  own  ! 
To  Canaan,  to  Canaan, 

The  Lord  has  led  us  forth, 
To  sweep  the  rebel  threshing-floors, 
A  whirlwind  from  the  North  ! 


THE   SECRET   SERVICE. 

"GENERAL  ORDERS  No.  .  —  Captain  Carter, 
— th  Indiana  Volunteers,  is  hereby  relieved  from 
his  command  indefinitely,  and  will  report  at  these 
headquarters  immediately. 

By  order  of  Major-General  ROSECRANS. 

Lieut.  Col.  C.  GODDARD,  A.  A.  G. 

(Current  Series.)  " 

The  above  order  was  read  upon  dress  parade 
to  the  gallant  old  — th,  in  January,  1863.  The 
cotton  fields  and  cedar  thickets  of  "  Stone  River  " 
were  as  yet  scarcely  dry  from  the  loyal  blood 
which  had  there  been  given  up  to  freedom's  cause. 
The  regiment  was  struck  dumb,  so  to  speak,  and 
the  captain  most  of  all.  What  could  such  an 
crder  mean  ?  Surely,  none  deserved  censure  less 
than  Captain  Carter.  He  was  the  idol  of  the 
regiment  —  a  perfect  specimen  of  manly  strength ; 
bold  and  fearless  in  battle,  perfect  master  of  the 
"  sword  "  and  "  gloves,"  kind  and  gentle-hearted, 
always  found  upon  the  side  of  the  weak.  He  had 
been  frequently  spoken  of  by  his  superiors  for  his 
gallantry.  These  thoughts  passed  through  the 
minds  of  some  after  this  order  was  read,  but  none 
could  give  a  sufficient  reason  why  he  should  be 
thus  relieved ;  for,  said  they,  does  not  the  order 
imply  disgrace  ?  But  these  mutterings  were  not 
beard  at  headquarters,  and  were  of  no  avail.  The 
Captain  retired  to  his  tent,  relieved  himself  of  his 
accoutrements,  called  his  servant  Tom,  and  set 
out  for  headquarters,  with  none  but  his  sable 
companion. 

General  Rosecrans  was  quartered  in  Judge 
Ready's  house,  and  had  a  private  suit  of  rooms 
on  the  second  floor,  with  windows  opening  upon 
a  veranda.  He  was  sitting  before  a  bright  fire 
on  the  evening  our  story  opens,  in  undress  uni 
form,  with  nothing  but  the  buttons  to  betoken 
rank.  An  orderly  entered  and  announced  Captain 
Carter.  The  General  arose  quickly,  and  advanced 
to  meet  him,  with  that  easy,  smiling  look,  that 
put  the  Captain's  fears  at  rest.  The  General 
took  him  by  the  hand,  while  his  countenance  as 
sumed  a  more  thoughtful  look,  or  rather  settled 
in  repose,  and  said : 

"  This  is  Captain  Carter,  of  the  — th  Indiana  ?  " 

"  It  is,  sir,"  replied  the  Captain. 

"  You  received  a  peremptory  order  this  evening 
to  report  forthwith." 

"  I  did,  sir,  and  have  done  so." 

"  Yes,  yes  ;  take  a  seat,  Captain.  I  am  in  want 
of  a  man  of  some  experience,  Captain,  who  has 
not  only  a  '  hand  to  do  and  a  heart  to  dare,'  but 
also  has  judgment  to  guide  and  direct  both. 
General  Thomas,  after  quietly  looking  through 


hit  command,  has  picked  on  you;  and  I  have 
such  confidence  in  the  'grizzled  old  hero'  that  1 
have  summoned  you  here  for  secret  service.  Are 
you  willing  to  undertake  it, with  all  its  risks?" 

"Anything,  General,  for  our  cour. try's  good." 

"  vTery  well,  sir  ;  you  will  remain  here  to-night 
Any  of  your  effects  you  may  need,  send  for  by  tlw 
orderly  a:  the  door.  During  the  night  I  will  in 
form  you  what  your  duties  will  be." 

Genera.  Bragg's  headquarters  were  at  Tulla 
homa.  The  two  armies  were  lying  in  a  semicircle 
the  re'-jel  right  resting  on  the  Cumberland  at 
Hartsv'.lle,  above  Nashville,  their  left  resting  a\ 
the  "  shoals  "  below. 

General  Van  Dorn  commanded  the  left,  with 
headquarters  at  Spring  Hill.  Our  right  rested 
at  Franklin,  which  is  nearly  on  a  direct  line  be 
tween  Spring  Hill  and  Nashville.  This  much  by 
way  of  explanation. 

One  morning  in  February,  1863,  two  persons 
were  making  their  way  on  horseback  from  Shelby- 
ville  to  Spring  Hill.  The  first  of  these  was 
dressed  in  Quaker  garb,  and  bestrode  a  light-built, 
dapple  bay  stallion,  whose  small,  sinewy  limbs, 
broad  chest,  and  open  nostrils  betokened  both 
speed  and  bottom.  Horse  and  rider  were  ill- 
matched,  but  seemed  to  have  a  perfect  under- 
tanding. 

The  other  person  was  a  negro,  dressed  like 
his  master,  broad  brim,  white  neck-tie  and  all, 
mounted  on  a  stout  roadster.  They  were  fast 
approaching  a  vidette  post ;  were  shortly  halted 
by  a  cavalryman  ;  they  drew  rein  and  dismounted. 

"Is  thee  a  man  of  war ? "  asked  the  Quaker. 

"  Don't  know  ;  reckon,  tho',  I  mought  be.  But 
what's  your  business,  Quaker  r  " 

"  Does  thee  know  a  Mr.  Van  Dorn  about 
here  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  reckon  I  does ;  but  he'll  mister  ye  it 
you  call  him  that." 

"  Well,  I  have  business  with  him,  and  I  desire 
admittance  into  thy  camps." 

"  All  right,  old  fellow  ;  wait  till  I  call  the  cor 
poral." 

General  Van  Dorn  was  examining  some  maps 
and  charts,  when  an  orderly  entered  and  an 
nounced  that  a  Quaker  desired  to  see  him. 

"  Admit  him,"  said  the  General. 

"  Is  thee  Mr.  Van  Dorn,  whom  carnal  men  call 
General  J  " 

"  What  is  your  business  with  me,  sir  ?  "  asked 
the  General,  without  answering  the  question. 

"  I  am  sent,  friend  Van  Dorn,  by  my  society,  to 

dminister  comforts  arid  consolation  to  these  men 

of  war,  arid  would  ask  permission  to  bring  such 

hings   as   they   may   need   or    my   means   may 

supply." 

"  Have  you  any  recommendations?  " 

14  Yes,  verily ;  "  and  the  Quaker  produced  » 
bundle  of  papers  and  commenced  assorting  them 
out.  "  Here  is  cne  from  friend  Quaktnbush,  and 
here  —  " 

;<  Never  mind,"  said  the  General,  while  the  cor 
ners  of  his  mouth. commenced  to  jerk;  "here, 
Mr.  —  " 

"  Thurston,"  suggeste  1  the  Quaker. 


54 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


"  Mr.  Thurston.  here  is  a  pass  through  the  lines 
at  will  for  such  articles  as  you  may  see  proper  to 
bring.  This  is  all,  sir  ?  " 

"  May  I  ask,  friend,  how  far  it  is  to  those  un 
godly  men  who  are  persecuting  our  people  with 
tiro  and  sword,  whom  the  carnal  men  call  the 
Yankees  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  About  fourteen  miles.  See  that  you 
g:  r-e  them  a  wide  berth,  for  they  have  a  curious 
**y  of  burning  men  of  your  persuasion." 

"  Yes,  verily  will  I ;  "  and  with  this  the  Quaker 
retired. 

"  Queer  character,  that,"  remarked  the  General 
to  himself;  "but  it  takes  all  kinds  to  make  a 
world." 

The  Quaker  passed  out  among  the  camps, 
meeting  a  smile  here,  and  a  rough  jest  there; 
but  they  seemed  not  to  ruffle  the  placidity  of  his 
countenance,  though  the  negro's  eyes  flashed, 
who  followed  a  few  steps  in  the  rear.  The 
Quaker  seemed  to  have  a  good  supply  of  tracts 
and  religious  papers,  which  he  scattered  freely, 
with  a  word  of  gentle  admonition  to  the  card- 
players,  and  a  hint  of  the  world  to  come  to  all. 
He  was  particular  in  his  inquiries  for  the  sick, 
and  even  visited  all  the  forts  and  fortifications, 
and  made  particular  inquiries  in  and  about  them 
for  the  sick,  writing  a  letter  for  one,  furnishing 
a  stamp  to  another ;  so  that  at  the  close  of  the 
day  he  had  visited  all,  and  made  a  memorandum 
of  what  was  needed,  and  was  preparing  to  leave 
(.•amp  when  a  Lieutenant  came  and  accosted  him 
with,  "I  say,  stranger,  haven't  we  met  before?" 

"  Nay,  verily,"  replied  the  Quaker,  "I  go  not 
about  where  carnal  men  do  battle." 

"  No  !  Well,  I  must  have  seen  you  at  some 
place,  but  I  don't  recollect  where.  Likely  I'm 
mistaken." 

"  Very  like,  friend  ;  good  day  to  you." 

"  Massa,  did  ye  see  dat  debbil's  eyes  brighten 
up  towards  the  last  ?  Tells  ye,  sure,  we'd  better 
be  trablin." 

"  Yes,  Sam,  I  saw  it,  and  my  recollection  is 
better  than  his,  for  I  took  him  prisoner  at  Stone 
River,  though  he  escaped  soon  after.  We  will 
pass  out  as  soon  as  possible." 

Not  long  after,  the  Quaker  and  his  colored 
companion  were  galloping  over  the  smooth  pike. 
As  they  approached  a  house,  they  slackened 
their  speed,  but  when  out  of  sight,  they  again 
increased  it.  Thus  they  pushed  on  till  after 
dark,  when  they  came  to  a  by-road,  into  which 
they  rode  some  miles,  and  finally  drew  rein  at  a 
little  log-cabin,  to  which,  after  reconnoitring  a 
little,  the  negro  advanced,  and  knocked,  and  a 
voice  from  the  inside  bade  him  enter,  which  he 
did,  followed  by  his  master. 

That  night  a  despatch  went  to  Gen.  Bragg, 
which  road : 

"  Look  out  for  a  Quaker,  followed  by  a  nigger. 
II  e  is  a  spy.  Arrest  him. 

"  Gen.  VAN  DORN." 

The  next  day  a  negro  rode  into  Murfreesboro', 
and  passed  on  to  Gen.  Rosecrans'  headquarters, 
and  presenting  a  pass,  was  admitted  to  his  pri 


vate  apartments,  and  handed  the  General  a  papei 
which  read :  "  2  overcoats  and  6  hats,  37  shirts, 
3200  tracts,  2000  for  the  unconverted  at  Spring 
Hill." 

Gen.  Rosecrans  was  eagerly  looking  over  the 
document  when  Gen.  Thomas  was  announced. 
The  latter  was  cordially  met  by  Gen.  Rosecrans, 
who  immediately  handed  him  the  paper  he  had 
just  received. 

"  This  is  all  cipher  to  me,  General,"  said  Gen. 
Thomas. 

"  I  suppose  eo,"  said  the  former,  who  had  been 
writing.  *  W  >\l,  here  is  something  more  intelli 
gible  :  « T  vo  fi<rts  of  six  guns  each ;  thirty-seven 
additional  guns ;  3200  troops,  2000  of  which  are 
cavalry,  at  Spring  Hill.' " 

"  Humph  !  Some  of  Capt.  Carter's  ingenuity," 
said  Gen.  Thomas. 

"  Yes,  he  is  doing  his  work  nobly,  so  far.  I 
only  hope  no  harm  may  come  to  him." 

"  Well,  General,"  said  Thomas,  "  Col.  B , 

of  the  — th  Indiana,  was  asking  me  to-day  why 
the  Captain  was  relieved  of  his  command ;  of 
course  I  knew  nothing  about  it." 

"  That  was  right,"  said  Rosecrans  ;  "  the  effec 
tiveness  of  the  '  secret  service '  would  be  greatly 
impaired  by  having  the  names  of  those  engaged 
in  it  made  known.  I  enjoined  the  utmost  secrecy 
upon  the  Captain,  and  kept  him  here  that  night 
that  he  might  not  be  questioned  too  closely  by 
his  comrades.  We  will  hear  from  him  by  ten 
o'clock  to-morrow." 

"  Where  do  you  reside?  "  asked  Gen.  Bragg. 

"  I  live  near  Brandyville,  General,  and  came 
down  to  see  if  something  can't  be  done  to  keep 
these  infernal  Yankees  from  our  section.  They 
was  down  there  yesterday,  and  took  off  over  two 
thousand  bushels  of  corn,  and  nearly  all  the 
wheat  in  the  country." 

The  speaker  was  a  middle-aged  man  of  rather 
good  features,  but  his  countenance  betokened  the 
too  free  use  of  Confederate  whiskey. 

"  What  did  you  say  your  name  was,  Colonel  ?w 

"  Ashcroft,  sir." 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  have  heard  of  your  family.  You 
have  done  nobly  for  our  cause,  from  report." 

"  We  have  tried  to  do  our  duty,  General,  and 
what  little  I  have  left  you  are  welcome  to,  but  I 
don't  want  the  Yankees  to  get  it.  I  sent  down 
by  Gen.  Wheeler's  command,  the  other  day.  a 
hundred  bushels  of  meal  as  a  gift." 

"  I  wish  we  had  more  like  you,"  said  Bragg. 
"  Let  me  fill  your  glass  again,  Colonel.  I  wish  I 
had  something  better  to  offer  you." 

"  Permit  me,  General,  to  send  to  my  portman 
teau  for  a  bottle  of  wine." 

"  Yes,  sah." 

"  Rare  vintage,  this,  General.  It's  one  of  a 
lot  I  got  North  before  the  war." 

"  Excellent,"  says  Bragg.  "  I  would  like  to 
have  a  supply.  By  the  way,  0,:bnel,  did  you  see 
anything  of  a  Quakei-like  perg'nage  on  the  road 
this  morning  ?  " 

"  Riding  &  bay  horse,  rith  a  nigger  follow 
ing  ?  " 

"  The  same." 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


55 


"  Why,  yes.  He  came  to  my  plantation  last 
night.  I  insisted  on  his  staying  all  night,  but  he 
was  in  a  hurry,  and  could  not  stop." 

"  He  was  a  Yankee  spy,"  said  Bragg. 

"  The  devil !  and  to  think  I  gave  the  rascal  his 
tup  pei  !  " 

"  Well,  well,  never  mind,  Colonel;  we'll  pick 
him  up  yet.  I'm  going  to  make  a  feint  on  the 
enemy's  Hanks  to-morrow  with  my  cavalry,  and 
we'll  probably  get  him.  He  has  information  that 
wuuld  be  valuable  to  the  enemy.  I  look  for  a 
couple  of  officers  back  in  a  few  days,  that  I  sent 
up  to  Franklin  to  find  out  the  enemy's  strength. 
If  they  bring  me  a  correct  report,  I'll  match  Rose- 
crans,  with  all  his  low  cunning.  Besides  this, 
Colonel,  I'm  looking  for  some  Georgia  and  Ala 
bama  troops  up  shortly,  and  if  the  cowardly 
Dutchman  don't  run,  I'll  make  another  Stone 
River  for  him." 

"  Good  for  you,  General.  Don't  leave  even 
one  of  the  cussed  mudsills  on  our  soil.  But  it's 
getting  late,  and  I  must  try  and  get  some  sup 
plies  before  I  go  back.  Will  you  accommodate 
DGe  with  a  pass?" 

"  Certainly,  and  here  is  a  bill  of  protection  for 
your  person  and  property.  No  thanks ;  good 
day  to  you." 

"  Golly,  Massa  Cap'n,  you's  bin  talkin'  to  de 
ole  debbil  hissef." 

"  Hush !  not  so  loud,  Tom.  I've  got  one  more 
to  visit,  and  then  we'll  be  off,  and  take  a  straight 
thoot  up  Hoover's  Gap." 

"  Cap'n,  Cap'n!  dey's  a  regiment  ob  dese  dirty 
Ksbelrf  just  started  up  de  Manchester  road,  clat's 
going  up  from  Hoober's  Gap,  for  I  heard  de 
Kernel  say  so." 

"All  right,  Tom;  we'll  take  the  Shelbyville 
road,  and  run  the  risk  of  meeting  Van  Dorn.  Go 
out  through  the  '  abatis,'  the  same  way  we  came 
in  with  the  horses,  and  I'll  meet  you  in  hah"  an 
hour  by  that  old  house." 

"  Missus,  dey's  a  gentleman  dat  got  a  frow  off 
his  hoss  out  here,  and  would  like  to  stop  awhile 
wid  ye,  if  ye  please,  Missus." 

"  Very  well ;  I'll  send  a  boy  out  to  help  him 
in.  —  Are  you  much  hurt,  sir  ?  " 

"  No,  madam,  I  think  not ;  my  horse  got 
frightened  at  some  object  in  the  road,  and  threw 
me  heavily  on  my  right  shoulder.  A  night's 
rest,  madam,  will  enable  me  to  pursue  my  jour 
ney,  I  think." 

Our  hero  found,  upon  examination,  that  there 
were  no  bones  broken,  and  yet  the  4jrui.se  was 
severe  enough  to  make  him  covet  a  night's  rest, 
in  preference  to  passing  it  on  the  saddle.  So 
without  more  ado,  he  submitted  to  his  hostess's 
desire  to  bathe  the  bruised  shoulder,  and  prepare 
him  a  comfortable  bed  by  the  fire. 

During  the  night  he  was  awakened  by  the  loud 
clatter  of  horses'  roofs,  followed  immediately  by 
u  loud  "  hilloa." 

^  During  the  conversation  which  occurred  out 
side,  he  heard  the  name  of  Van  Dorn  mentioned, 
and  the  thought  that  they  might  meet  was  any 
thing  but  comfortable  to  him  just  at  that  time ; 
but  he  resolved  to  trust  to  luck,  and  if  that  failed, 


he  would  try  what  virtue  there  was  in  "right 
angles,  horizontals,"  &c.  Presently  the  door 
opened,  and  an  officer  entered,  dressed  in  the 
height  of  Confederate  style,  —  gilt  buttons,  gold 
lace,  and  all,  —  a  glance  at  which  showed  that  he 
bore  the  rank  of  Lieutenant-General.  The  con 
versation  th  it  ensued  informed  our  hero  that  he 
had  the  honor  of  occupying  the  same  room  with 
Gen.  Hardee.  He  had  as  yet  feigned  sleep. 
He  heard  the  General  ask  the  lady  if  she  knew 
\vho  he  was,  and  her  reply  was,  that  she  did  not. 
Then  followed  the  story  of  his  getting  thrown, 
and  so  on.  He  was  anj  ious  to  establish  his 
reputation  with  the  General  fis  a  sound  secesh, 
and  a  little  ruse  occurred  to  him,  which  he  re 
solved  to  practise  even  to  the  extent  of  making 
himself  ridiculous,  suddenly  bawling  out,  as  if 
asleep,  — 

"  Kun,  Tom  ;  the  infernal  Yankees  are  coming ; 
put  all  the  horses  in  the  back  pasture ;  take 
away  every  nigger  with  you." 

"Ha,  ha!"  laughed  the  General;  "he's  all 
right.  I'll  bet  on  him.  But  you  see,  madam, 
there  is  a  spy  in  our  lines  that  we  are  anxious  to 
catch,  and  he  •  has,  so  far,  eluded  us,  and  if  we 
meet  a  stranger,  we  are  anxious  to  find  out  his 
standing.  I'm  satisfied  with  this  one,  for  a  man 
will  tell  the  truth  when  he's  asleep." 

"  Your  supper's  ready,  sah." 

"  And  I'm  ready  for  it,"  replied  the  General, 
and  left  the  room.  \ 

Our  hero  moved,  grunted,  and  finally  turned 
over,  and  found  his  hostess  still  in  the  room,  and 
behind  her  he  saw  Tom  making  motions  for  him 
to  come  out. 

The  lady  asked  if  he  felt  comfortable,  had  he 
slept  well,  &c.,  to  all  of  which  he  replied  in  the 
affirmative  ;  upon  which  she  left  the  room,  and  he 
followed  soon  after,  and  found  Tom  waiting  for  him. 

"  Massa,  dese  debbils  has  '  sprised  *  us,  and 
we'd  better  be  a  leabin.  I'se  got  a  '  nigh  shoot ' 
from,  de  niggahs,  dat  W3  can  cut  across  to  Man 
chester  and  up  fru  de  gap  from  heah." 

"  All  right,  Tom  ;  where's  the  horses?" 

"  I'se  got  um,  Massa,  out  below  here." 

"Here's  for  them,  then,  Tom;  come  on 
quickly." 

It  is  needless  to  follow  them  further  ;  suffice  it 
to  say  they  reached  our  lines  the  following  even 
ing,  and  reported  to  Gen.  Rosecrans. 

The  following  order  explains  itself :  — 

SPECIAL  FIELD  ORDER,  No.  — . 

Capt.  Carter  ( — th  Ind.  Vols.)  is  hereby  or 
dered  to  return  to  his  command,  and  is  recom 
mended  for  promotion.  By  order 

W.  S.  ROSECRANS,  Maj.-Gen, 
Lieut.-Col.  C.  GODDARD,  A.  A.  G. 


SOLDIERS'  AID  SOCIETIES. 

To  the  quiet  nooks  of  home, 
To  the  public  halls  so  wide, 

The  women,  all  .oyal,  hurrying  comer 
And  sit  down  side  \  y  side. 


56 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


To  fight  for  their  native  land, 

With  womanly  weapons  girt, 
For  dagger  a  needle,  scissors  for  brand, 

While  they  sing  the  song  of  the  shirt. 

O  women  with  sons  so  dear, 

O  tender,  loving  wives, 
It  is  not  money  you  work  for  now, 

But  the  saving  of  precious  lives. 
'Tis  roused  for  the  battle  we  feel  — 

O  for  a  thousand  experts, 
Armed  with  tiny  darts  of  steel, 

To  conquer  thousands  of  shirts ! 

Stitch  —  stitch  —  stitch 

Under  the  sheltering  roof, 
Come  to  the  rescue,  poor  and  rich, 

Nor  stay  from  the  work  aloof; 
To  the  men  who  are  shedding  their  blood, 

To  the  brave,  devoted  band, 
Whose  action  is  honor,  whose  cause  is  good, 

We  pledge  our  strong  right  hand. 

Work  —  work  —  work, 

With  earnest  heart  and  soul  — 
Work  —  work  —  work, 

To  keep  the  Union  whole. 
And  'tis  O  for  the  land  of  the  brave, 

Where  treason  and  cowardice  lurk, 
Where  there's  all  to  lose  or  all  to  save, 

That  we're  doing  this  Christian  work. 

Brothers  are  fighting  abroad, 

Sisters  will  help  them  here, 
Husbands  and  wives  with  one  accord 

Serving  the  cause  so  dear. 
Stand  by  our  colors  to-day  — 

Keep  to  the  Union  true  — 
Under  our  flag  while  yet  we  may 

Hurrah  for  the  Red,  White,  and  Blue. 


A  MAN  OF  NERVE.  —  A  venerable  judge  re 
lated  the  following  anecdote : 

The  morning  following  the  battle  of  York  town, 
I  had  the  curiosity  to  attend  the  wounded. 
Among  others  whose  limbs  were  so  much  in 
jured  as  to  require  amputation,  was  a  musician, 
who  had  received  a  musket  ball  in  his  knee.  As 
usual  in  such  a  case,  preparations  were  made  to 
prevent  the  possibility  of  his  moving.  Says  the 
sufferer,  "  Now,  what  would  you  be  at  ?  "  "  My 
lad,  I'm  going  to  take  off  your  leg,  and  it  is  ne 
cessary  that  you  should  be  lashed  down."  "  I'll 
consent  to  no  such  thing.  You  may  pluck  my 
heart  from  my  bosom,  but  you'll  not  confine  me. 
Is  there  a  violin  in  the  camp  ?  if  so,  bring  it  to 
rue."  A  violin  was  furnished,  and  tuning  it,  he 
said,  "  Now,  Doctor,  begin."  And  he  continued 
to  play  until  the  operation,  which  lasted  about 
forty  minutes,  was  completed,  without  missing  a 
note  or  moving  a  muscle. 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  DESPATCH  BEARER.  —  The 
folio  wing  account  of  the  adventures  of  Lamar 
Fontaine,  who  acted  as  a  despatch  bearer  for  the 
Southern  forces  around  Vicksburg,  was  written 
by  the  fathei  of  young  Fontaine  : 


Lamar  is  almost  continually  in  the  saddle,  and 
employed  in  very  hazardous  enterprises.  His 
last  feat  of  arms  was  the  most  daring  he  has  yet 
performed. 

He   left   my   hou<"L,  under   orders   from  Gen. 
Johnston,  x>  bear  a  verbal  despatch  to  Gen.  Peni- 
berton,  in  Vicksburg,  and  to  carry  a  supply  of 
percussion  caps  to  our  troops  in  that  besieged 
city.     1  parted  with  him,  hardly  hoping  ever  to 
see  him  again  alive,  for  I  kr.2w  that  Vicksburg 
[was  closely  invested  en  all  sides.     The  enemy's 
j  lines    of   circumvallation   extend   from    Snyder's 
j  Bluff,  on  the  Yazoo,  to  Warrenton,  on  the  Mis 
sissippi,  and  the  rivers  and  their  opposite  shores 
are  filled  and  lined  with  their  forces. 

He  was  well  mounted,  but  was  burdened  with 
forty  pounds  of  percussion  caps,  besides  his 
blanket  and  crutches.  He  has  no  use  of  his 
broken  leg,  and  cannot  walk  a  step  without  a 
crutch ;  and  in  mounting  his  horse  he  has  to  lift 
it  over  the  saddle  with  his  right  hand.  But  he 
accomplishes  this  operation  with  much  dexterity, 
and  without  assistance.  I  loaned  him  a  very  fine 
sabre,  with  wooden  scabbard,  to  prevent  rattling, 
and  a  very  reliable  revolver,  which  has  never 
missed  fire  when  loaded  by  me. 

The  family  were  called  together  for  prayers, 
and  we  prayed  fervently  that  the  God  of  our 
fathers  would  shield  him  from  all  danger,  and  en 
able  him  to  fulfil  his  mission  to  Vicksburg  suc 
cessfully,  and  give  him  a  safe  return  to  us  alL  T, 
then  exhorted  him  to  remember  that,  if  it  was  lh<! 
will  of  God  for  him  to  live  and  serve  his  country, 
all  the  Yankees  owned  by  LINCOLN  could  not 
kill  him  ;  but  if  it  was  the  divine  will  that  ho 
should  die,  he  wotdd  be  in  as  much  danger  at 
home  as  in  Vicksburg,  raid  death  would  certainly 
find  him,  no  matter  where  he  mi^ht  oe.  I  charged 
him  to  use  his  best  endeavors  to  kill  every  one 
of  the  jackals  who  should  attempt  to  stop  his 
course,  or  come  within  reach  of  his  sword  or 
pistol. 

He  crossed  Big  Black  Paver  that  night,  and  the 
next  day  got  between  their  lines  and  the  division 
of  their  army,  which  was  at  Median icsburg.  He 
hid  his  horse  in  a  ravine,  and  ensconced  himself 
in  a  fallen  tree,  overlooking  the  road,  during  that 
day.  From  his  hiding-place  he  witnessed  the  re 
treat  of  the  Yankees,  who  passed  him  in  consider 
able  haste  and  confusion.  After  their  columns  had 
gone  by,  and  the  night  had  made  it  safe  for  him 
to  mov'e,  he  continued  his  route  in  the  direction 
of  Snyder's  Bluff.  As  he  entered  the  telegraphic 
road  from  Yazoo  City  to  Vicksburg,  he  was  hailed 
by  a  picket,  but  dashed  by  him.  A  volley  was 
fired  at  him  -by  the  Yankees.  He  escaped  un 
hurt  ;  but  a  Minie  ball  wounded  his  horse  mor 
tally.  The  spirited  animal,  however,  carried  him 
safely  to  the  bank  of  the  Yazoo  River,  where  he 
died,  and  left  him  afoot.  He  lost  sne  of  his 
crutches  in  making  his  escape.  This  was  jerked 
from  him  by  the  limb  of  a  tree,  and  he  had  no 
time  to  pick  it  up. 

With  the  assistance  of  one  <rutch,  he  carried 


his  baggage,  and  grcped  akr  g  the  Yazoo,  until 
he  provident 'ally  dis-ovtred  a  small  log  canoe, 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


tied  by  a  rope,  within  his  reach.  He  pressed 
this  into  his  service,  and  paddled  down  the  river, 
until  he  met  three  Yankee  gunboats  coming  up 
to  Yazoo  City.  He  avoided  them  by  running  un 
der  some  willows  overhanging  the  water,  and 
lying  Concealed  until  they  passed.  Soon  after 
wards  he  floated  by  Snydcr's  Bluff,  which  was 
illuminated,  and  alive  with  Yankees  and  negroes, 
participating  in  the  amusement  of  a  grand  ball 
of  mixed  races.  He  lay  Hat  in  his  canoe,  which 
was  nothing  but  a  hollow  log,  and  could  hardly 
be  distinguished  from  a  piece  of  drift-wood,  and 
glided  safely  through  the  gunboats,  transports, 
and  barges  of  the  amalgamationists.  He  reached 
the  back-water  of  the  Mississippi  before  day,  and 
in  the  darkness  missed  the  outlet  of  the  Yazoo, 
and  got  into  what  is  called  "  Old  River."  After 
searching  in  vain  for  a  pass  into  the  Mississippi, 
day  dawned,  and  he  discovered  his  mistake.  He 
was  forced  to  conceal  his  boat  and  himself,  and 
lie  by  for  another  day.  He  had  been  two  days 
and  nights  without  food,  and  began  to  suffer  the 
pangs  of  hunger. 

At  night  he  paddled  back  into  the  Yazoo,  and 
descended  it  to  the  Mississippi,  passing  forty  or 
fifty  of  the  Yankee  transports.  Only  one  man 
hailed  him,  from  the  stern  of  a  steamboat,  and 
asked  him  where  he  was  going.  He  replied  that 
he  was  going  to  his  fishing  lines.  In  the  bend 
aoove  Vicksburg,  he  floated  by  the  mortar  fleet, 
Ij  ing  flat  in  his  canoe.  The  mortars  were  in  full 
biast,  bombarding  the  city.  The  next  morning 
he  tied  a  white  handkerchief  to  his  paddle,  raised 
himself  up  in  the  midst  of  our  picket  boats  at 
\icksburg,  and  gave  a  loud  huzza  for  JEFF. 
DAVIS  and  the  Southern  Confederacy,  amid  the 
vivas  of  our  sailors,  who  gave  him  a  joyful  re 
ception,  and  assisted  him  to  Gen.  Pemberton's 
headquarters. 

After  resting  a  day  and  night  in  the  city,  he 
started  out  with  a  despatch  from  Gen.  Pemberton 
to  Gen.  Johnston.  He  embarked  on  his  same 
canoe,  and  soon  reached  the  enemy's  fleet  below 
the  city.  He  avoided  their  picket-boats  on  both 
shores,  and  floated  near  their  gunboats.  He 
passed  so  near  one  of  these,  that  through  an 
open  port-hole  he  could  see  men  playing  cards, 
and  hear  them  converse.  At  Diamond  Place  he 
landed,  and  bade  adieu  to  his  faithful  "dug-out." 
After  hobbling  through  the  bottom  to  the  hills, 
he  reached  the  residence  of  a  man  who  had  been 
robbed  by  the  savages  of  all  his  mules  and  horses, 
except  an  old  worthless  gelding  and  a  half-broken 
colt.  He  gave  him  the  choice  of  them,  and  he 
mounted  the  colt,  but  found  that  he  travelled 
badly.  Providentially  he  came  upon  a  very  fine 
horse  in  the  bottom,  tied  by  a  blind  bridle, 'with 
out  a  saddle.  As  a  basket  and  old  bag  were 
lying  near  him,  he  inferred  that  a  negro  had  left 
him  there,  and  that  a  Yankee  cam])  was  not  far 
distant.  He  exchanged  bridles,  saddled  the  horse 
and  mounted  him,  after  turning  loose  the  colt. 
^  After  riding  so  as  to  avoid  the  supposed  posi 
tion  of  the  Yankees,  he  encountered  one  of  the 
thieves,  who  was  returning  to  it  from  a  success 
ful  plundering  excursion.  He  was  loaded  with 


chickens  and  a  bucket  of  honey.  He  commenced 
catechising  Lamar  in  the  true  Yankee  style,  who 
concluded  it  best  to  satisfy  his  curiosity  by  semi- 
ing  him  where  he  could  know  all  that  the  devil 
could  teach  him.  With  a  pistol  bullet  through  his 
forehead,  he  left  him,  with  his  honey  and  poultry 
lying  in  the  path,  to  ex:  te  the  conjectures  of  his 
fellow- thieves. 

He  approached  with  much  caution  the  next 
sr.tlement.  There  he  hired  a  guide,  for  fifty  dol 
lars,  to  pilot  him  to  Hankerson's  ferry  on  Big 
B.ack  Itiver,  which  he  wished  to  reach  near  that 
point,  without  following  any  road.  The  fellow 
he  hired  proved  to  be  a  traitor.  When  he  got 
near  the  ferry,  Lamar  sent  him  ahead  to  ascertain 
whether  any  Yankees  were  in  the  vicinity.  The 
conversation  and  manners  of  the  man  had  ex 
cited  his  suspicions,  and  as  soon  as  he  left  him 
he  concealed  himself,  but  remained  where  he 
could  watch  his  return.  He  remained  much  long 
er  than  he  expected ;  but  returned  and  reported 
that  the  way  was  open,  and  that  no  Yankees  were 
near  the  ferry.  After  paying  him,  he  took  the 
precaution  to  avoid  the  ferry,  and  to  approach 
the  river  above  it,  instead  of  following  the  guide's 
directions.  By  this  he  flanked  a  force  of  the 
Yankees  posted  to  intercept  him  ;  but  as  he  en 
tered  the  road  near  the  river  bank,  one  of  them, 
who  seemed  to  be  on  the  right  flank  of  a  long 
line  of  sentinels,  suddenly  rose  up  within  ten  feet 
of  him,  and  ordered  him  to  halt.  He  replied  with 
a  pistol  shot,  which  killed  the  sentinel  dead,  and, 
wheeling  his  horse,  galloped  through  the  bottom 
up  the  river ;  but  the  Yankees  sent  a  shower  of 
balls  after  him,  two  of  which  wounded  his  right 
hand,  injuring  four  of  his  fingers.  One  grazed 
his  right  leg,  cutting  two  holes  through  his  pan 
taloons,  and  another  cut  through  one  side  of  my 
sword  scabbard,  spoiling  its  beauty,  but  leaving 
a  mark  which  makes  me  prize  it  more  highly. 
Seven  bullets  struck  the  horse,  which  reeled  un 
der  him,  but  had  strength  and  speed  to  bear  him 
a  mile  from  his  pursuers  before  he  fell  and  died. 
Lamar  than  divided  his  clothes  and  arms  into 
packages,  and  swam  Big  Black  River  safely.  He 
did  not  walk  far  before  a  patriotic  lady  supplied 
him  with  the  only  horse  she  had  —  a  stray  one, 
which  came  to  her  house  after  the  Yankees  had 
carried  cfl'  all  the  animals  belonging  to  the  place. 
On  this  he  reached  Raymond  at  two  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  changed  his  horse  for  a  fresh  one, 
carried  his  despatch  to  Jackson  that  morning,  and 
rejoiced  us  all  by  an  unexpected  visit  the  same 
day.  

A  WEDDING  PARTY  BROUGHT  TO  GRIFF. — 
A  correspondent  of  a  Southern  paper,  after  nar 
rating  "the  outrages  committed  by  Averill  and 
his  band,"  concludes  his  letter  with  the  following 
amusing  yet  unfortunate  incident: 

"  Few  tragedies  are  without  their  comic  and 
grotesque  interludes.  And  Averill's  devastating 
march  had  its  farce.  On  the  very  top  of  Price's 
or  Eleven  Mile  Mountain,  as  it  is  sometimes 
called,  dwells  a  widow  woman,  with  a  considera 
ble  family,  including  several  grar  dchiliren.  Sh« 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


eeems  to  defy  the  elements  of  the  most  tempestu 
ous  height  I  know  of.  Up  to  this  elevated  position, 
where  everything  may  be  supposed  to  be  pure  and 
nice  from  its  thorough  ventilation,  a  romantic  jus 
tice  of  the  peace  had  carried  his  affections,  and 
fixed  them  on  a  fair  daughter  of  the  widow.  His 
aspirations  met  with  the  highest  favor,  and  on  the 
very  night  of  Averill's  advent  their  mutual  loves 
fulminated  in  a  wedding  feast,  celebrated  amidst 
the  wild  shrieking  and  howlings  of  the  tempest  on 
the  mountain.  The  festivity  had  progressed  to 
the  fourth  degree  with  uncommon  energy.  The 
gentler  sex  were  paying  their  respects  to  the  sup 
per  table,  and  some  of  the  more  vigorous  of  the 
mountaineers  were  employing  their  time  with  a 
powerful  jig.  A  famous  Boniface  from  the  valley 
below  Jiad  thrown  off  coat,  jacket,  and  shoes,  and 
was  spreading  himself.  Indeed,  the  dance  prom 
ised  to  rival  that  of  Tarn  O'Shanter,  beheld  in 
Kirk  Alloway  —  the  locality  and  surroundings, 
and  the  tempest,  all  favored  a  scene  of  no  small 
dramatic  effect.  But  just  then  —  O,  untimely 
event !  —  the  Yankees  obtruded  upon  the  scene, 
and  dissipated  all  its  joys,  and  terminated  for  the 
night  all  its  physical  recreations.  They  ate  up  all 
the  supper  —  took  some  thirty  horses,  ridden  up 
^y  the  guests  from  the  '  valley  below '  —  and 
•arried  off  as  prisoners  the  male  portion  of  the 
Quests,  including  the  hero  of  the  dance,  and,  worst 
of  all,  the  bridegroom  besides  !  To  the  inexpres 
sible  mortification  of  the  prisoners,  they  saw  one, 
of  the  ladies  of  the  wedding  party  kiss  a  Yankee 
fur  a  cupful  of  coffee,  which  he  had  offered  to  any 
one  of  them  who  would  bestow  such  a  mark  of 
favor  on  him.  The  prisoners  were  marched  off, 
and  detained  a  day  or  two  before  they  were  per 
mitted  to  return,  on  foot." 

Thus  ended  the  comedy  of  the  terrible  moun 
tain  raid  of  Averill  —  a  warning  to  wedding  par- 
tics  on  the  border  to  look  out  for  Yankees. 


THE  DEAD  BROUGHT  TO  LIFE  AGAIN.  —  The 
follow  ing  remarkable  incident  occurred  in  Dodge- 
ville,  Wisconsin : 

When  the  war  first  broke  out,  a  young  man 
who  resided  in  the  above  village  joined  a  com 
pany  commanded  by  Captain  Tom  Allen,  which 
was  afterwards  incorporated  in  the  Second  regi 
ment  of  Wisconsin  Volunteers,  and  was  present 
ftt  the  terrible  and  disastrous  battle  of  Bull  Run. 
The  intelligence  came  back  to  his  family  at  Dodge- 
viile  that  he  was  slain  upon  the  battle-field,  and 
his  body  left  to  be  cared  for  by  the  enemy.     The 
news  nearly  killed  his  affectionate  mother,  and  she, 
with  the  remainder  of  those  relatives  who  had 
been  nearly  related  to  him,  wore  mourning  for 
him  who  had  poured  out  his  blood  and  sacrificed 
his    young  life    for  his   country.     This  gnawing  j 
grief  had  preyed  upor    these  loving  hearts  for  j 
many  months,  until  they  had  learned  to  view  it  j 
with  a  species  of  resignation.     What  could  then  • 
depict  their  unspeakable  astonishment  and  joy, 
whon  he  walked  into  the  house,  hearty  and  well !  j 

His  story  is  briefly  told  thus :  He  had  been  left ! 
severely  wounded,  with  many  others,  upon   the  | 


battle-field.  After  the  engagement  was  over,  and 
his  friends  had  retreated  in  confusion,  a  company 
of  secessionists  came  where  they  were  lying,  and 
actually  bayoneted  his  wounded  companions  be 
fore  his  eyes.  They  even  went  so  far  as  to  stab 
the  bodies  of  senseless  corpses,  lest  there  be  some 
spark  cf  life  left  in  them !  A  man  came  to  where 
he  was  lying  on  the  ground,  an^  raised  his  ensan 
guined  w'3aj::>n  for  the  fatal  tlmst,  which  he  fully 
expected  vonk)  end  his  mortal  carreer.  He  closed 
his  eyps,  laiilj  tick  with  the  horrid  emotion,  and 
waited  tc  rece.  ;e  his  fate.  His  enemy  hesitated. 
He  lowered  his  musket,  and  finally  raised  him 
carefully  up,  and  gave  him  water  from  his  canteen. 
He  was  afterwards  removed  to  the  hospitals  of 
Richmond,  where  he  received  careful  treatment, 
and  at  last  was  exchanged  and  allowed  to  return 
home.  

ANECDOTE  OF  COMMODORE  FOOTE.— He  at- 
tended  a  Presbyterian  church.  A  large  congre 
gation  was  in  attendance,  but  the  preacher  did  not 
make  his  appearance.  A  general  impatience  be 
ginning  to  manifest  itself,  the  Commodore  sought 
the  elder  of  the  church,  and  urged  him  to  perform 
the  services.  The  elder  refusing,  the  Commodore, 
on  the  impulse  of  the  moment,  took  the  pulpit, 
read  a  chapter  in  the  Bible,  prayed,  and  delivered 
a  short  discourse  from  the  tjxt :  "  Let  not  you? 
hearts  be  troubled.  Ye  believe  in  God:  believe 
also  in  me."  The  congregation  was  delighted. 
On  coming  down  from  the  pulpit,  the  minister, 
who  had  arrived  just  after  the  prayer,  approached 
and  tendered  his  thanks;  but  the  Commodore 
rebuked  him  for  his  tardiness  of  duty,  and  re 
proached  him  for  his  neglect  to  take  the  pulpit 
immediately  on  his  arrival.  This  incident  is  illus 
trative  of  the  Commodore's  energetic,  earnest 
character  and  sincere  piety. 


NEGRO  PATRIOTISM.  —  I  sat  in  my  tent-door 
thoughtfully,  but  very  thoughtlessly  humming 
"  Dixie."  1  had  not  observed  '•  Charles,"  a  servant, 
or  "  contraband,"  here,  who  sat  just  within  the  tent. 

"We  stop  a-smgiu'  dat  song  now,  massal"  said 
he,  interrupting  me. 

"  Why  P  "  I  inquired. 

Charles  was  confused  for  a  moment,  Lut  I 
pressed  the  question. 

"  Well,"  he  replied  hesitatingly,  "  it  don't  b'long 
to  my  perfession,  sir ;  dat's  all,  I  s'pose.  —  I  don't 
wish  1  was  in  Dixie,  I'se  sure!"  continued  he. 
"  None  o'  de  niggers  does ;  you  may  bet  your  soul 
o'  dat!" 

"Where  is  Dixie,  Charles?" 

"'S  Norfolk  —  dat's  whar  'tis,"  was  the  indig 
nant  reply.  "  Kills  da  niggers  in  Dixie,  jist  like 
sbeep,  a-working  in  de  batteries!  " 

The  idea  of  our  contest  is  fully  appreciated  by 
the  colored  people.  The  representations  at  the 
North,  that  the  slaves  do  not  understand  the  cause 
for  which  the  Federal  army  are  moving  upon  the 
JSouth,  are  utterly  false.  I  have  seen  here  and  in 
Hampton  scores  of  ',he  fugitives,  arid  conversed 
with  them;  arid  I  hare  never  fou  id  one  who  did 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


59 


not  perfectly  understand  the  issue  of  the  war,  and 
hang  with  terrible  anxiety  upon  its  success  or 
failure. 

I  was  particularly  struck  with  this  at  Hampton, 
when  the  battle  of  Great  Bethel  was  progressing. 
They  crowded  together  in  little  squads  about  the 
streets,  listening  to  the  reports  of  the  cannon  in 
the  distance,  or  the  accounts  of  those  who  came 
in  from  the  field.  Many  of  them  were  almost  in- 
spno  \x-itVi  anxiety,  and  expressed  themselves  ex 
travagantly. 

"  If  the "'  Unioners '  get  the  fight,"  I  said,  "  what 
will  it  do  for  you  ?  " 

"  Den  we'll  be  free ! "  answered  all  who  stood 
near  me,  almost  in  one  breath. 

"  But  if  they  lose  the  battle  ?  " 

"  O,  den  it  be  worser  for  us  dan  ebber,"  they 
said,  shaking  their  heads  mournfully,  and  in  their 
simplicity  believing  that  all  the  issue  of  the  war 
hung  upon  the  result  of  that  day. — Letter  from 
Fort  Monroe.  

LIFE  IN  EASTERN  TENNESSEE.  —  A  traveller 
in  East  Tennessee  gives  the  following  graphic 
pictures  of  life  in  that  region: 

"  In  Dry  Valley  lived  the  Methodist  preacher 
named  Dugan,  (of  Brownlow  notoriety,)  weigh 
ing  some  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  that 
these  devils  incarnate  arrested  for  his  loyalty  to 
the  Government,  making  him  walk  some  ten 
miles  through  the  hot  sun,  and  riding  in  his  buggy 
themselves.  The  poor  old  man  fainted  time  and 
again  on  the  journey,  but  there  was  no  relenting 
with  them.  They  told  him  they  would  sweat  the 
Lincoln  fever  out  of  him.  They  robbed  him  of 
ail  he  had,  and  imprisoned  him ;  but  he  managed 
in  some  way  to  escape,  and  is  now  preaching  again 
at  his  old  stand.  What  rendered  the  crime  more 
heinous  was  the  fact  that  his  enemies  (some  of 
them)  were  those  with  whom  he  had  taken  sweet 
counsel  in  the  house  of  God,  and  with  whom  he 
had  knelt  around  the  altar  of  prayer.  What  can 
be  more  appropriate  to  this  persecuted  class  of 
men  than  those  lines  of  Captain  Grishain,  of  the 
10th  East  Tennessee  cavalry  : 

« They  struggled,  fell ;  their  life-blood  stained 

The  cruel  murderer's  hand  ; 
They  clasped  their  country's  flag,  and  cried, 

"God  and  our  native  land  !" 
Let  angels  spread  their  wings  above ; 

Let  flowers  forever  bloom  ; 
Let  bays,  green  bays,  spring  forth  to  mark 

The  martyr's  sacred  tomb.' 

"  At  early  dawn  we  left  our  kind  friend  and  his 
family,  and  rode  on  towards  Athens.  It  was  a 
lonesome  ride,  resembling  very  much  some  of  the 
bluff  roads  on  the  Illinois  River.  We  passed  only 
one  house  the  whole  distance,  and  that  was  a  mis 
erable  log  house  situated  in  a  clump  of  pines. 
As  we  rode  past  the  house,  we  were  astonished 
at  the  number  of  tow-head  children  at  the  wood 
pile  —  the  tallest  of  whom  was  not  over  three 
feet  in  height.  We  commenced  counting,  two, 
four,  six,  eight ;  and  to  the  question  asked  the 
oldest,  '  Are  you  all  here  ?\  «  O  no,'  says  he,  '  the 


two  little  ones  are  in  the  house.'  They  hurrahed 
for  Old  Abe,  and  we  rode  on.  We  travelled  this 
lonesome  road  a  few  miles  farther,  and  came  at 
last  to  the  crest  of  the  hill,  some  f  ve  hundred  feet, 
directly  overlooking  the  valley.  T  here  it  lay  at  ou  r 
feet,  extending  north  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach, 
and  at  least  three  miles  in  width  —  dotted  with 
neat  farm-houses,  and  just  below  us  Mouse  Creek 
Station,  with  its  dozen  or  more  neat  white  cot 
tages,  and  one  large  brick  mansion.  A  couplet 
in  that  beautiial  ryinn  by  Heber,  as  I  surveyed 
this  beautiful  valley,  ran  through  my  tead  con- 


Where  every  prospect  pleases, 
And  only  i.ian  is  viie.' 

"  We  passed  on  through  this  valley,  and,  night 
overtaking  us  nine  miles  south  of  Loudon,  we 
called  at  a  fine  farm-house,  and  requested  permis 
sion  to  tarry,  which  was  readily  granted.  To  the 
question,  '  Are  you  Union  or  rebel  ?  '  the  answer 
was,  '  Both.'  '  Well,'  says  I,  '  that  is  a  new  state 
of  things,  which  I  do  not  understand.'  This  was 
the  house  of  a  widow  lady,  and  her  story  was  a 
simple  statement  of  facts,  which  we  listened  to 
very  attentively.  When  she.  had  finished  her 
story,  she  drew  one  long,  deep  sigh,  and  retired. 
I  pitied  the  poor  woman  from  the  bottom  of  w<y 
heart.  She  said  she  had  two  sons  in  the  rebel 
army,  and  one  in  the  Union.  Her  son  now  al 
home  had  fled  to  the  mountains  to  avoid  con 
scription.  Her  two  daughters  now  at  home, 
young  ladies,  eighteen  and  twenty  years  of  a};e, 
were  divided,  one  Union  and  one  rebe1..  Foi 
herself,  she  had  nothing  to  say  —  the  divisions  in 
her  family  had  made  her  prematurely  gray,  (hold 
ing  up  a  lock  of  hair,)  and  the  only  wish  she  had 
was,  that  the  war  might  speedily  end  in  some 
way  ;  and  when  I  asked  the  usual  question,  the 
Union  girl  stepped  into  the  other  room,  and  re 
turned  with  a  beautiful  silk  Union  flag.  If  a 
rebel  officer  should  stay  there  next  week,  the  rebel 
girl,  no  doubt,  would  bring  out  just  as  neat  a 
rebel  flag.  Such  is  life  in  Eastern  Tennessee." 


How  ROGER  A.  PRYOR  WAS  CAPTURED  AND 
ESCAPED.  —  Brig.  Gen.  Roger  A.  Pryor,  during 
the  battle  between  Gen.  Pope  and  the  Confeder 
ates,  near  Manasses,  in  August,  1862,  had  the 
misfortune  to  be  taken  a  prisoner,  but  the  cor 
responding  good  fortune  to  escape. 

He  had  started  oft'  on  foot  to  call  up  two  or 
three  regiments  for  reinforcements,  and  on  his 
return  found  his  command  moved  from  the  posi 
tion  in  which  he  had  left  it.  Thinking  it  had 
gone  ahead,  he  too  went  on,  wondering  all  the 
time  where  his  men  were,  until  he  suddenly  en 
countered  two  Yankee  soldiers,  sitting  at  the 
foot  of  a  hay-rick.  His  uniform  being  covered 
by  a  Mexican  poncho,  they  did  not  observe  that 
he  was  not  one  of  their  cwn  men  ;  nor  was  there 
any  mark  visible  upon  his  person  to  indicate  that 
he  was  an  officer. 

They  accordingly  familiarly  inquired  how  every 
thing  was  going  in  in  front.  He  replied,  "  Very 


60 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS 


well,"  and  in  the  conversation  which  ensued, 
learned  that  he  was  a  mile  and  a  half  within  the 
Federal  lines.  They  asked  him  numerous  ques 
tions,  under  some  of  which  he  began  to  quake 
and  grow  uneasy,  fearing  his  inability,  good 
lawyer  though  he  is,  to  cope  successfully  with  a 
cross-examination  of  such  a  dangerous  charac 
ter.  He  accordingly  began  to  look  about  him 
to  discover  some  means  of  escape.  There  was 
apparently  none.  He  observed  standing  near 
him,  however,  the  two  muskets  of  the  men,  one 
of  them  with  a  bayonet,  and  the  other  without. 

The  colloquy  had  not  proceeded  much  further 
before  one  of  them,  looking  at  him  keenly,  asked 
him  to  what  regiment,  brigade,  and  division  he 
belonged ;  and  as  Pryor  hesitated  and  stammered 
out  his  reply,  the  Yankee  sprang  to  his  feet  and 
exclaimed  :  "  You  are  a rebel,  and  my  pris 
oner."  In  an  instant,  the  General,  who  is  a  pow 
erful  man  and  as  active  as  a  squirrel,  seized  the 
gun  with  the  bayonet,  and,  before  his  antagonist 
could  turn,  ran  him  through  the  body  twice.  The 
other  now  jumped  to  his  feet,  apparently  as  if 
to  escape,  but  he  also  received  from  Pryor  a 
lunge  that  left  him  helpless  on  the  field.  Throw 
ing  down  the  musket,  the  General  moved  rapidly 
away  in  the  direction  from  whence  he  came,  and 
after  dodging  Federal  stragglers  for  an  hour  or 
two,  had  the  satisfaction  of  finally  regaining  his 
command. 

Anxious  to  know  the  fate  of  the  two  men 
whom  he  had  so  summarily  disposed  of,  he  sent 
one  of  his  aids  the  next  day  to  examine  the  hos 
pitals  in  that  neighborhood,  and  ascertain,  if  pos 
sible,  whether  any  men  were  present  wounded 
with  a  bayonet.  The  aid  returned  with  the  in 
formation  that  he  had  found  one  so  injured. 
Whereupon  Pryor  mounted  his  horse,  and  went 
in  person  to  see  him.  The  man  was  asleep  when 
he  entered  the  hospital,  but  the  surgeon  awoke 
him,  and  the  General  asked  if  he  recognized  him. 
"  Yes,  sir,  I  do,"  was  the  reply.  "  You  're  the  man 
who  stuck  me."  The  wounded  man  was  not  less 
surprised  when  he  learned  that  the  author  of  his 
misery  was  the  redoubtable  Roger  A.  Pryor. 


JAMES  GARRABRANT,  a  member  of  Co.  D.,  13th 
Nev-r  Jersey  regiment,  while  fighting,  at  a  battle 
on  ihe  Rappahannock,  saw  a  daguerreotype  fall 
from  the  pocket  of  a  dead  rebel.  Impelled  by 
curiosity,  he  picked  it  up  and  placed  it  in  the 
breast  pocket  of  his  blouse.  Soon  he  was  struck 
by  a  bullet  and  fell.  His  brother,  who  was  near 
him,  picked  him  up,  supposing  him  to  be  killed. 
Upon  examination,  the  ball  was  found  to  have 
pierced  his  clothing,  gone  through  the  front  of 
the  daguerreotype,  shivered  the  glass,  and  in 
dented  deeply  the  metal  plate  upon  which  the 
likeness  was,  which,  however,  it  failed  to  pene 
trate,  thus  saving  the  young  man's  life,  as  it  lay 
light  over  his  heart.  The  wooden  back  of  the 
picture  was  shivered  to  splinters  by  the  concus 
sion.  The  bullet  was  shown  us  with  the  picture, 
fitting  neatly  into  the  indentation  of  the  plate. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  force  of  the 


ball  was  destroyed  by  the  gradual  yielding  of 
the  so;t  copper  plate.  Had  the  material  been 
more  rigid,  the  ball  would  probably  have  gone 
through.  The  likeness  is  that  of  a  young  and 
not  unattractive  looking  female  ;  ard  it  may  well 
be  imagined  that  our  gallant  solti.er  prizes  the 
"  counterfeit  presentment  "  of  the  southern  dam  • 
sel  as  the  saviour  of  his  life. 


SKETCHES  IN  THE  HOSPITALS.  —  One  evening 
I  found  a  lately-emptied  bed  occupied  by  a  large, 
fair  man,  with  a  fine  face  and  the  serenest  eyes  I 
ever  met.  One  of  the  earlier  comers  had  often 
spoken  cf  a  friend  who  had  remained  behind, 
that  those  apparently  worse  wounded  than  him 
self  might  reach  a  shelter  first.  It  seemed  a 
David  and  Jonathan  sort  of  friendship.  The 
man  fretted  for  his  mate,  and  was  never  tired  of 
praising  John,  his  courage,  sobriety,  self-denial, 
and  unfailing  kindliness  of  heart,  always  winding 
up  with :  "  He's  an  out  and  out  fine  feller,  ma'am, 
you  see  if  he  ain't."  I  had  some  curiosity  to  be 
hold  this  piece  of  excellence,  and  when  he  came, 
watched  him  for  a  night  or  two  before  I  made 
friends  with  him ;  for,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  was 
afraid  of  the  stately-looking  man,  whose  bed  had 
to  be  lengthened  to  accommodate  his  command 
ing  stature,  who  seldom  spoke,  uttered  330  con- 
plaint,  asked  no  sympathy,  but  tranquilly  ob 
served  all  that  went  on  about  him,  and  as  he  lay 
high  upon  his  pillows,  no  picture  of  dying  states 
man  or  warrior  was  ever  fuller  of  real  dignity 
than  this  Virginia  blacksmith. 

A  most  attractive  face  he  had,  framed  in  brown 
hair  and  beard,  comely-featured  and  full  of  vigor, 
as  yet  unsubdued  by  pain,  thoughtful  and  often 
beautifully  mild  while  watching  the  afflictions  of 
others,  as  if  en.irely  forgetful  of  his  own.  His 
mouth  was  firm  and  grave,  with  plenty  of  will 
and  courage  in  its  lines,  but  a  smile  could  make 
it  as  sweet  as  any  woman's  ;  and  his  eyes  were 
child's  eyes,  looking  one  fairly  in  the  face,  with  a 
clear,  straightforward  glance,  which  promised 
well  for  such  as  placed  their  faith  in  him.  He 
seemed  to  cling  to  life  as  if  it  were  rich  in  duties 
and  delights,  and  he  had  learned  the  secret  cf 
content.  The  only  time  I  saw  his  composure 
disturbed  was  when  my  surgeon  brought  another 
to  examine  John,  who  scrutinized  their  faces  with 
an  anxious  look,  asking  of  the  elder :  "  Do  you 
think  I  shall  pull  through,  sir  ?  "  "  1  hope  so, 
my  man."  And  as  the  two  passed  on,  John's 
eyes  followed  him  with  an  intentness  which  would 
have  won  a  clearer  answer  from  f'eni,  had  they 
seen  it.  A  momentary  shadow  flitted  over  his 
face ;  then  came  the  usual  serenity,  as  if,  in  that 
brief  eclipse,  he  had  acknowledged  the  existence 
of  some  hard  possibility,  and,  asking  nothing,  yet 
hoping  ail  things,  left  the  issue  in  God's  hand, 
with  that  submission  which  is  of  true  piety. 

The  next  night,  as  I  went  my  rounds  with  Dr 

P ,  I  happened  to  ask  which  man  in  thf 

room  probably  suffered  most,  and  to  my  great 
surprise  he  glanced  at  John. 

"  Every  breath  he  draws  is  like  a  stab  ;    for 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


61 


the  ball  pierced  the  left  lung,  broke  a  rib.  and  j 
did  no  end  of  damage  here  and  there ;  so  the  j 
poor  lad  can  find  neither  forgetfulness  nor  ease, 
because  he  must  lie  on  his  wounded  back  or  suf 
focate.     It  will  be  a  hard  struggle,  and  a  long 
one,  for  he  possesses  great  vitality ;  but  even  his 
temperate  life  can't  save  him.     I  wish  it  could." 

"You  don't  mean  he  must  die,  doctor!" 

"  Bless  you,  there  is  not  the  slightest  hope  for 
him,  and  you'd  better  tell  him  so  before  long. 
Women  have  a  way  of  doing  such  things  com 
fortably  ;  so  I  leave  it  to  you.  He  won't  last 
more  than  a  day  or  two,  at  farthest." 

I  could  have  sat  down  on  the  spot  and  cried 
heartily  if  I  had  not  learned  the  propriety  of 
bottling  up  one's  tears  for  leisure  moments. 
Such  an  end  seemed  very  hard  for  such  a  man, 
when  half  a  dozen  worn-out,  worthless  bodies 
round  him  were  gathering  up  the  "remnants  of 
wasted  lives  to  linger  on  for  years,  perhaps  bur 
dens  to  others,  daily  reproaches  to  themselves. 
The  army  needed  men  like  John,  earnest,  brave, 
and  faithful,  fighting  for  liberty  and  justice  with 
both  heart  and  hand,  a  true  soldier  of  the  Lord. 
I  could  not  give  him  up  so  soon,  or  think  with 
any  patience  of  so  excellent  a  nature  robbed  of 
its  fulfilment,  and  blundered  into  eternity  by  the 
rashness  or  stupidity  of  those  at  whose  hands  so 
many  lives  may  be  required.  It  was  an  easy 

thing  for  Dr.  P to  say,  "  Tell  him  he  must 

die,"  but  a  cruel,  hard  thing  to  do,  and  by  no 
means  as  "  comfortable  "  as  he  politely  suggested. 
1  had  not  the  heart  to  do  it  then,  and  privately 
indulged  the  hope  that  some  change  for  the  bet 
ter  might  take  place,  in  spite  of  gloomy  prophe 
cies,  so  rendering  my  task  unnecessary. 

After  that  night,  an  hour  of  each  evening  that 
remained  to  him  was  devoted  to  his  ease  or 
pleasure.  He  could  not  talk  much,  for  breath 
was  precious,  and  he  spoke  in  whispers,  but  from 
occasional  conversations  I  gleaned  scraps  of  pri 
vate  history  which  added  to  the  affection  and 
respect  I  felt  for  him.  Once  he  asked  me  to 
write  a  letter,  and  as  I  settled  pen  and  paper,  I 
said  with  an  irrepressible  glimmer  of  female  curi- 
ositv :  "  Shall  it  be  addressed  to  mother  or  wife, 
John?" 

"  Neither,  ma'am  ;  I've  got  no  wife,  and  will 
write  to  mother  myself  when  I  get  better.  Did 
you  think  I  was  married  because  of  this  ?  "  he 
asked,  touching  a  plain  gold  ring  which  he  wore, 
and  often  turned  thoughtfully  on  his  finger  when 
he  Lty  alone. 

"  Partly  that,  but  more  from  a  settled  sort  of 
look  you  have,  a  look  young  men  seldom  get 
until  they  marry." 

"  I  didn't  know  that,  but  I'm  not  so  very 
wrong,  ma'am,  —  thirty  in  May,  —  and  have  been 
what  you  might  call  settled  this  ten  years,  for 
mother's  a  widow.  I'm  the  oldest  child  she 
has,  anil  it  wouldn't  do  for  me  to  marry  till  Lizzie 
has  a  home  of  her  own,  and  Laurie  has  learned 
his  trade ;  for  we're  not  rich,  and  I  must  be 
father  to  the  children,  and  husband  to  the  dear 
old  woman,  if  I  can." 

"  No  doubt  you  are  both,  John ;   yet  how  came 


you  to  go  to  the  wt:,  if  you  felt  so  ?  Wasn't  en 
listing  as  bad  as  mairying  ?  " 

"  No,  ma'am,  not  as  I  see  it ;  for  one  is  helping 
my  neighbor,  the  other  pleasing  myself.  I  went 
because  I  couldn't  help  it.  I  didn't  want  the  glory 
or  the  nay.  I  wanted  the  right  thing  done,  and 
the  pe  jple  said  the  men  who  were  in  earnest 
ought  to  fight.  I  was  n  earnest,  the  Lord  knows, 
but  I  held  off  as  long  as  I  could,  not  knowing 
which  was  my  duty.  Mother  saw  the  case,  gave 
me  her  ring  to  keep  me  steady,  and  said,  '  Go. '  I 
went." 

A  short  story  and  a  simple  one  ;  but  the  man 
and  the  mother  were  portrayed  better  than  pages 
of  fine  writing  could  have  done  it. 

"  Do  you  ever  regret  that  you  came,  when  you 
lie  here  suffering  so  much  ?  " 

"  Never,  ma'am.  I  haven't  helped  a  great 
deal,  but  I've  shown  I  was  willing  to  give  my 
life,  and  perhaps  I've  got  to ;  but  I  don't  blame 
anybody,  and  if  it  was  to  do  over  again,  I'd  do  it. 
I'm  a  little  so  ry  I  wasn't  wounded  in  front.  It 
looks  cowardly  to  be  hit  in  the  back  ;  but  I  obeyed 
orders,  and  it  don't  master  much  in  the  end,  I 
know." 

Poor  John  !  it  did  not  matter  now,  except  that 
a  shot  in  front  might  have  spared  the  long  agony 
in  store  for  him.  He  seemed  to  read  the  thought 
that  troubled  me,  as  he  spoke  so  hopefully  when 
there  was  no  hope,  for  he  suddenly  added  : 

"  This  is  my  first  battle  —  do  they  think  it*a 
going  to  be  my  last  ?  " 

"  I'm  afraid  they  do,  John." 

It  was  the  hardest  question  I  had  ever  bef  n 
called  upon  to  answer ;  doubly  hard  with  those 
clear  eyes  fixed  upon  mine,  forcing  a  truthful 
answer  by  their  own  truth.  lie  seemed  a  little 
startled  at  first,  pondered  over  the  hateful  fact  a 
moment,  then  shook  his  head  with  a  glance  at 
the  broad  chest  and  muscular  limbs  stretched  out 
before  him. 

"  I'm  not  afraid,  but  it's  difficult  to  believe  all 
at  once.  I'm  so  strong  it  does  not  seem  possible 
for  such  a  little  wound  to  kill  me." 

"  Shall  I  write  to  your  mother  now  ?  "  I  asked, 
thinking  that  these  sudden  tidings  might  change 
all  plans  and  purposes  ;  but  they  did  not ;  for  the 
man  received  the  order  from  the  Divine  Com- 
inander  to  march,  with  the  same  unquestioning 
obedience  with  which  the  soldier  had  received 
that  of  the  human  one,  doubtless  remembering 
that  the  first  led  him  to  life,  the  last  to  death. 

"No,  ma'am:  to  Laurie,  just  the  same;  he'll 
break  it  to  her  best,  and  I'll  add  a  line  to  her  my 
self,  when  you  get  done." 

So  I  wrote  the  letter  which  he  dictated,  finding 
it  better  than  any  I  had  sent,  for,  though  here 
and  there  a  little  ungrammatical  or  inelegant, 
each  sentence  came  to  me  briefly  worded,  but 
most  expressive,  full  of  excellent  counsel  to  the 
boy,  tenderly  bequeathing  "  mother  and  Lizzie " 
to  his  carer  and  bidding  him  good  by  in  words 
the  sadder  for  their  simplicity.  He  added  a  few 
lines  with  steady  hand,  and,  as  I  sealed  it,  said, 
with  a  patient  sort  of  sigh,  "  I  hope  the  answer 
will  come  in  time  frr  me  to  see  it ;  "  then,  turning 


62 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


away  his  face,  laid  the  flowers  against  his  lips,  as 
if  he  would  hide  some  quiver  of  emotion  at  the 
thought  of  such  a  sudden  sundering  of  all  the  dear 
home  ties. 

These  things  had  happened  two  days  before. 
Now,  John  was  dying,  and  the  letter  Vad  not 
come.  I  had  been  summoned  to  mai.7  death 
beds  in  my  life,  but  tc  none  that  made  my  heart 
ache  as  it  did  then,  since  my  mother  called  me  tc 
watch  the  departure  of  a  spirit  akin  to  this,  in  its 
gentleness  and  patient  strength.  As  I  went  in, 
John  stretched  out  both  hands. 

"  I  knew  you'd  come  !  I  guess  I'm  moving  on, 
ma'am." 

He  was,  and  so  rapidly,  that  even  while  he 
spoke,  over  his  face  I  saw  the  gray  veil  falling 
that  no  human  hand  can  lift.  I  sat  down  by  him, 
wiped  the  drops  from  his  forehead,  stirred  the 
air  about  him  with  the  slow  wave  of  a  fan,  and 
waited  to  help  him  die.  He  stood  in  sore  need 
of  help,  and  I  could  do  so  little;  for,  as  the  doc 
tor  had  foretold,  the  strong  body  rebelled  against 
death,  and  fought  every  inch  of  the  way,  forcing 
him  to  draw  each  breath  with  a  spasm,  and  clench 
bis  hands  with  an  imploring  look,  as  if  he  asked, 
"  How  long  must  I  endure  this,  and  be  still?" 
For  hours  he  suffered  dumbly,  without  a  mo- 
ir^nt's  respite  or  a  moment's  murmuring.  His 
l.jibs  grew  cold,  his  face  damp,  his  Jps  white, 
and  again  and  again  he  tore  the  covering  off  his 
breast,  as  if  the  lightest  weight  added  to  his  ag 
ony  ;  yet,  through  it  all,  his  eyes  never  lost  their 
perfect  serenity,  and  the  man's  soul  seemed  to 
git  theiein,  undaunted  by  the  ills  that  vexed  his 
flesh. 

One  by  one  the  men  woke,  and  round  the 
room  appeared  a  circle  of  pale  faces  and  watchful 
eyes,  full  of  awe  and  pity  ;  for,  though  a  stranger, 
John  was  beloved  by  all.  Each  man  there  had 
wondered  at  his  patience,  respected  his  piety,  ad 
mired  his  fortitude,  and  now  lamented  his  hard 
death  ;  for  the  influence  of  an  upright  nature  had 
made  itself  deeply  felt  even  in  one  little  week. 
Presently  Jonathan,  who  so  loved  this  comely 
David,  came  creeping  from  his  bed  fora  last  look 
and  word.  The  kind  soul  was  full  of  trouble,  as 
the  choke  in  his  voice,  the  grasp  of  his  hand,  be 
trayed  ;  but  there  were  no  tears,  and  the  tare- 
well  of  the  friends  was  the  more  touching  for  its 
brevity. 

"  Old  boy,  how  are  you  ?  "  faltered  the  one. 

"  Most  through,  thank  Heaven !  "  whispered 
the  other. 

"  Can  I  say  or  do  anything  for  you  any 
wheres  ?  " 

"  Take  my  things  home,  and  tell  them  that  I 
did  my  best." 

"  I  wil)  !  1  will !  " 

"  Good  by,  Ned." 

"  Good  by,  John,  good  by  !  " 

They  kissed  each  other  tenderly  a  8  women, 
and  s1)  parted  ;  for  poor  Ned  could  net  stay  to 
see  his  comrade  die.  For  a  little  while  there  was 
no  sound  in  the  room  but  the  drip  of  water  from 
a  pump  or  two,  and  John's  distressful  gasps  as 
he  slowly  breathed  his  life  away.  I  thought  him 


nearly  gone,  and  had  laid  down  the  fan,  believ 
ing  its  help  no  longer  Deeded,  when  suddenly  he 
rose  up  in  his  bed,  and  cried  out  with  a  bitter 
cry  that  broke  the  silence,  sharply  startling  every 
one  with  its  agonized  appeal.  "  For  God's  sake, 
give  me  air  !  " 

It  was  the  only  cry  pain  or  death  had  wrung 
from  him,  the  only  boon  he  Had  asked,  and  none 
of  us  could  grant  it,  for  ai.  the  airs  that  blow 
were  useless  now.  Dan  ft  ing  up  the  window  ; 
the  first  red  streak  of  dawn  was  warning  the 
gray  east,  a  herald  of  the  coming  sun.  John  saw 
it,  and  with  the  love  of  light  that  lingers  in  us  to 
the  end,  seemed  to  read  in  it  a  sign  of  hope ;  for 
over  Hs  whole  face  broke  that  mysterious  ex 
pression,  brighter  than  any  smile,"  which  often 
comes  to  eyes  that  look  their  last.  He  laid  him 
self  down  gently,  and  stretching  out  his  strong 
right  arm,  as  if  to  grasp  and  bring  the  blessed 
air  to  his  lips  in  fuller  flow,  lapsed  into  a  merci 
ful  unconsciousness,  which  assured  us  that  for  him 
suffering  was  forever  past. 

As  we  stood  looking  at  him,  the  ward  master 

:  handed  me  a  letter,  saying  it  had  been  forgotten 

I  the    night   before.     It    was   John's  letter,    come 

Just  an  hour  too  late  to   gladden  the  eyes  that 

I  had  looked  and  longed  for  it  so  eagerly  —  yet  he 

had  it ;  for  aftetf  I  had  cut  some  brown  locks  for 

his  mother,  and  taken  »off  the  ring  to  send  her, 

telling  how  well  the  talisman  had  done  its  work, 

I  kissed  this  good  son  for  her  sake,  and  laid  th.3 

letter  in  his  hand,  still  folded  as  when  I  drew  my 

own  away.  

A  BABY  ON  THE  CATTLE-FIELD.  —  At  the  bat 
tle  of  the  Hatchie,  when  the  conflict  was  waging 
fiercest,  upon  advancing,  midway  between  the 
contending  forces,  we  found  —  what  do  you 
think?  Not  a  masked  battery  —  not  an  insidi 
ous  trap,  inviting  but  to  destroy  —  not  any  terri 
ble  engine  of  death  —  but  a  sweet  little  blue- 
eyed  BABY.  Sweet  little  thing,  as  I  saw  it  there, 
hugging  the  cold  earth,  its  only  bed  —  the  little 
tear  on  its  cheek, — 

"That  nature  bade  it  weep,  turned 
An  ice-drop  sparkling  in  the  morning  beam." — 

Unalarmed  'mid  the  awful  confusion  of  that  fear 
ful  battle,  with  the  missiles  of  death  flying  thick 
about  it  and  crowding  close  upon  its  young  ex 
istence,  yet  unhurt,  it  seemed  a  wonderful  verifi 
cation  of  the  Divine  declaration  :  "  Out  of  the 
mouths  of  babes  and  sucklings  I  will  ordain  wis 
dom."  That  little  "  child  of  war,"  as  it  lay  in  its 
miraculous  safety,  seemed  to  say  to  me  these 
words  of  profound  instruction:  "My  helpless 
ness  and  innocence  appealed  to  God,  and  he  pre 
served  me  in  the  midst  of  this  wrecking  carnage. 
If  you  will  make  your  plaint  to  Heaven,  God 
will  preserve  your  poor  bleeding  country." 

Littio  child  of  destiny,  born  'mid  the  flash  of 
musket"y,  the  thunder  of  cannon,  ai^d  the  clash 
of  arms,  I  will  watch  your  course  through  life, 
and  witness  whether  an  existence  so  auspiciously 
begun  will  pass  by  the  masses  unnoticed,  and  end 
wit} "cut  leaving  a  name  "damned  to  everlasting 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


fame  ! "  Who  would  suppose  that  in  the  wild, 
fierce  battle  of  the  Hatchie,  when  the  field  was 
strewn  with  the  dead,  and  the  shrieks  of  the 
wounded  rent  the  heavens  with  agony,  a  great 
a^my  would  pause  in  the  thickest  of  the  conflict 
tD  save  a  harmless,  a  helpless  child?  Yet  the 
brave  Fourteenth,  that  never  yet  has  quailed  in 
battle,  did  pause,  and  an  officer  of  the  regiment 
ordered  "our  little  baby"  carried  to  headquar 
ters  and  tenderly  cared  for. 

I  remember  having  read,  somewhere  in  Grecian 
history,  a  story  something  like  the  one  I  have  re 
lated.  A  little  child  was  found  on  the  battle 
field,  and  by  an  infuriated  soldiery  trampled  in 
the  dust.  After  the  battle  the  victorious  general, 
in  an  address  to  his  army,  said :  "  But  for  the 
blood  of  a  little  child  that  mars  it,  our  victory 
would  be  complete."  Thank  God,  the  blood  of 
no  little  child  mars  our  victory. 

The  next  day  after  the  battle  "  our  babe  "  was 
brought  before  the  Fourteenth,  and  unanimously 
adopted  "  Child  of  *Jie  Regiment."  Three  or 
four  clays  later,  strar.ge  as  it  may  seem,  a  poor, 
heart-stricken,  poverty-pinched  mother  came 
searching  the  battle-field  in  quest  of  her  child. 
My  dear  reader,  imagine  if  you  can  the  wild  e*x- 
clamations  of  thanksgiving  "'hat  burst  from  that 
poor  woman's  heart,  when  informed  that  her  child 
had  been  rescued,  and  with  a  mother's  tender 
ness  cared  for.  I  saw  the  mother  receive  her 
child,  heard  her  brief  prayer  for  the  soldiers  who 
saved  it,  and,  with  the  blessings  of  a  thousand 
men  following  her  and  hers,  she  took  away 

"Our  little  baby  — 
Little  blue-eyed,  laughing  baby." 


A  NEW  WAY  TO  ATTACK  FORT  PICKENS. — 
A  Southern  paper  put  forth  the  following  propo 
sition  : 

"  Let  General  Bragg  detail  a  few  thousand  of 
his  ten  thousand  to  the  work  of  catching  snakes, 
and  as  soon  as  they  have  collected  several  cart 
loads  of  these  interesting  reptiles,  let  tin  or  sheet- 
iron  shell  or  canisters  be  charged  with  them  — 
the  enclosure  being  cylindrical  and  of  size  to  fit 
the  largest  mortar,  and  so  made  that  it  will  break 
to  pieces,  and  liberate  its  contents  upon  falling 
within  the  fort.  We  would  warn  those  who 
charge  the  shells  to  put  only  the  same  species  into 
each,  as  if  the  different  snakes  were  mixed  they 
would  sting  each  other  to  death  before  having  a 
chance  to  operate  on  Billy  Wilson's  Zouaves. 
The  corners  and  interstices  in  each  shell  might 
be  filled  up  with  a  few  quarts  of  tarantulas,  scor 
pions,  centipedes,  and  lizards,  however,  to  make 
close  work,  as  the  snakes  would  pack  loosely." 


A  CAPTAIN'S  STRATEGY.  —  On  the  passage  of 
the  steamer  Fitzhugh  up  the  Mississippi  River, 
her  officers  were  informed  that  they  would  proba 
bly  meet  with  trouble  from  a  company  of  guer 
rillas  stationed  at  Curlew,  Kentucky,  and  were 
advised  to  be  on  their  guard.  There  was  not  a  gun 


on  board,  but  the  master  managed  to  procure  a 
piece  of  timber  about  five  feet  long  and  a  foot  in 
diameter,  which,  with  a  little  jaint,  te  managed 
so  as  to  make  resemble  a  cannon,  covered  it 
with  a  tarpaulin,  and  mounted  it  on  a  pair  of 
trucks,  and,  thus  armed,  prepared  to  meet  the 
enemy.  Arriving  at  Curlew,  they  found  fifty 
guerrillas  drawn  up  in  line,  who  incontinently  de 
manded  their  surrender.  Those  on  the  boat  said 
nothing,  but  brought  up  from  the  hold  a  number 
of  small  pieces  of  limestone  sewed  »p  in  canvas 
bags  to  represent  ammunition,  and  Carefully  laid 
them  alongside  the  gun.  The  harmless  bit  of 
wood  was  then  turned  towards  the  rascals,  and  the 
tarpaulin  was  about  to  be  removed,  when  the 
doughty  warriors  took  to  their  heels,  and  ran  as 
if  the  Old  Nick  was  after  them.  At  Battery  Hock, 
on  the  Illinois  shore,  another  party,  numbering 
about  forty,  who  had  crossed  over  the  night  pre 
vious  in  an  old  flatboat,  essayed  the  same  un 
dertaking  ;  but  these,  too,  were  put  to  flight  by 
this  mighty  piece  of  ordnance. 


A  UNION  WOMAN.  —  The  following  incident 
is  told  concerning  the  independent  and  success 
ful  stand  taken  by  a  woman  in  New  Orleans,  on 
behalf  of  the  Union.  She  and  her  husband — a 
Mississippi  steamboat  captain  —  occupied  the 
middle  front  room  of  the  lowest  range  of  sleep 
ing  apartments  in  the  St.  Charles  Hotel,  at  the 
time  when  the  city  was  to  be  illuminated  in  honor 
of  secession.  She  refused  to  allow  the  illumi 
nating  candles  to  be  fixed  in  the  windows  of  her 
room,  and  the  proprietors  remonstrated  in  vain 
—  she  finally  ordering  them  to  leave  the  room,  of 
which  she  claimed,  while  its  occupant,  to  have 
entire  control.  The  rest  of  the  story  is  thus 
told : 

"  Determined  not  to  be  outdone  in  a  matter  of 
such  grave  importance,  the  captain,  who  was  not 
in  the  room  during  the  above  proceedings,  was 
next  found  and  appealed  to.  He  heard  their 
case ;  said  his  wife  had  reported  him  correctly  on 
the  Union  question  ;  nevertheless,  he  would  go 
with  them  to  the  room  and  see  if  the  matter 
could  be  amicably  arranged.  The  captain's  dis 
position  to  yield  was  not  to  be  seconded  by  his 
better  half.  The  proprietors  next  proposed  to 
vacate  the  best  chamber  in  her  favor,  in  some 
other  part  of  the  house,  if  that  would  be  satis 
factory  ;  but  the  lady's  '  No ! '  was  still  as  per 
emptory  as  ever.  Her  point  was  gained,  and 
the  St.  Charles  was  doomed  to  have  a  dark  front 

chamber.  Pleased  with  this  triumph,  Mrs. 

devised  the  following  manoeuvre  to  make  the 
most  of  her  victory.  Summoning  a  servant, 
she  sent  him  out  to  procure  for  her  an  American 
Hag,  which,  at  dusk,  she  suspended  from  her 
window.  When  evening  came,  the  streets,  ani 
mated  by  a  merry  throng,  were  illuminated ;  but, 
alas!  the  St.  Charles  was  disfigured  by  its  sombre 
chamber,  when  suddenly  a  succession  of  lamps, 
suspended  on  both  sides  of  the  flag,  revealing 
the  Stars  and  Stripes,  were  lit  up,  and  the  ensign 
of  the  Union  (vaved  from  the  centre  of  a  note) 


64 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


illuminated  in  honor  of  its  overthrow !  The  ef 
fect  was,  to  give  the  impression  that  the  whole 
house  was  thus  paying  homage  to  the  American 
flag ;  and  what  is  more  significant,  is  the  fact 
that  the  latter  was  greeted  by  the  passing  crowd 
with  vociferous  applause.  So  much  for  the  firm 
ness  of  a  true  Union  woman." 


PETER  APPLE,  of  Oakland,  Marion  County, 
Indiana,  was  recruited  for  the  Eleventh  regiment 
of  that  State,  and  took  part  in  the  attempt  to 
stoim  one  of  the  Vicksburg  batteries.  The 
rebel  fire  was  so  destructive,  that  the  Union 
forces  recoiled.  Apple,  the  "  raw  recruit," 
"didn't  see"  the  backward  movement,  and  kept 
going  ahead,  until  he  came  right  up  to  one  of 
the  rebel  guns,  caught  a  gunner  by  the  collar, 
and  brought  him  within  our  lines,  saying:  "Boys, 
why  didn't  you  come  on?  Every*  fellow  might 
have  ot  one." 


ISCEXCES  OF  SIIILOH.  —  An  eye-witness 
gives  tlit  following  pictures  of  the  battle-field  of 
Shiloh  : 

"  On  that  peaceful  Sunday  morning  of  April 
6,  1S62,  the  sun  was  rising  with  splendor.  I  had 
walked  out  to  enjoy  the  fresh  air,  and,  returning 
by  my  friend  Lieut.  D's  tent,  I  called  upon  him. 
Said  he,  '  II.  ,  take  a  cup  of  coffee;  I  have  found 
some  milk.'  '  Don't  care  if  I  do,'  said  I.  '  I  always 
write  home  on  Sunday  morning,  and  like  to  do 
it  over  a  good  cup  of  coffee.'  '  Yes,  I  mean  to 
write  to  my  little  wife,'  said  D.  '  1  expect  to  re 
sign  soon.  Don't  you  want  a  pair  of  new  shoul 
der-straps,  II.,  and  bran  new  pair  of  gauntlets  ?  ' 
I  told  D.  I  would  take  them  ;  and  in  a  moment 
left  his  tent,  after  making  him  promise  to  take 
tea  with  me. 

"  But  how  were  things  at  tea  time?  D.  was 
mangled  and  dead,  lying  by  the  roadside,  at  the 
hospital  by  the  Landing,  with  hundreds  of  oth 
ers,  and  I  had  passed  the  most  momentous  day 
of  my  life  —  had  participated  (I  am  since  told 
creditably)  in  one  of  the  greatest  battles,  exceed 
ing  in  fury,  courage,  waste,  stupendousness,  and 
gallantry,  the  wildest  dreams  of  my  youth. 
Should  your  happy  city,  on  some  bright  Sunday 
morning,  be  sunk,  with  all  its  life,  by  an  earth 
quake  ,  and  the  cold  waves  rolling  over  it  in  eter 
nal  sclitude  before  night,  the  change  could  be  no 
more  unexpected,  nor  could  it  come  upon  you 
with  more  bewildering  and  stunning  suddenness 
and  awfulness.  On  the  evening  of  the  oth,  the 
18th  Wisconsin  infantry  arrived,  and  were  as 
signed  to  General  Prentiss's  division,  on  the 
front.  Said  Colonel  -  ,  who  had  preceded 
them,  looking  for  the  General's  quarters,  «  Here 
they  come  —  th?  bully  boys  —  they  weigh  just 
166  pounds  apiece.  Just  left  home  six  days  ago.' 
The  1  8th  Wisconsin  cooked  their  first  suppers  in 
the  field  that  night  at  r.ine  o'clock,  and  wrapped 
themselves  in  their  blankets,  to  be  awakened  by 
the  roar  of  battle,  and  receive,  thus  early,  their 
bloody  baptism.  Before  they  had  been  on  the 
field  one  day,  their  magnificent  corps  was  deci 


mated,  most  of  the  officers  killed  —  the  proud 
and  exultant  Colonel  among  the  dead. 

"  1  saw  an  intelligent  looking  man  wirh  his 
whole  diaphragm  torn  off.  He  was  holding  up 
nearly  all  of  his  viscera  with  both  hands  and 
arms.  His  face  expressed  a  longing  for  assist 
ance  and  an  apprehension  of  fatality. 

"  On  going  to  the  field  the  second  day,  our 
regiment  strode  on  in  line  over  wounded,  dying, 
and  dead.  My  office  detaching  me  from  the 
lines,  I  had  an  opportunity  to  notice  incidents 
about  the  field.  The  regiment  halted  amidst  a 
a  gory,  ghastly  scene.  I  heard  a  voice  calling, 
'  Ho,  friend !  ho !  for  God's  sake,  come  here.' 
I  went  to  a  gory  pile  of  dead  human  forms  in  ev 
ery  kind  of  stiff  contortion  ;  I  saw  one  arm  raised, 
beckoning  me.  I  found  there  a  rebel,  covered 
\vith  clotted  blood,  pillowing  his  head  on  the 
dead  body  of  a  comrade.  Both  were  red  from 
head  to  foot.  The  dead  man's  brains  had  gushed 
oUv  in  a  reddish  and  grayish  mass  over  his  face. 
The  live  one  had  lain  across  him  all  that  horrible, 
long  night  in  the  storm.  The  first  thing  he  said 
to  me  was,  '  Give  me  some  water.  Send  me  a 
surgeon  —  won't  you  !  O  God !  What  made 
you  come  down  here  to  fight  us  ?  We  never 
would  have  come  up  there.'  And  then  he  affec 
tionately  put  one  arm  over  the  form,  and  laid  his 
bloody  face  against  the  cold,  clammy,  bloody  face 
of  his  dead  friend.  I  filled  his  canteen  nearly  — 
reserving  some  for  myself —  knowing  I  might  be 
in  the  same  sad  condition.  I  told  him  we  had  no 
surgeon  in  our  regiment,  and  that  we  would  have 
to  suffer,  if  wounded,  the  same  as  he ;  that  other 
regiments  were  coming,  and  to  call  on  them  for  a 
surgeon  ;  that  they  were  humane.  '  Forward  !  ' 
shouted  the  Colonel ;  and  '  Forward ! '  was  're 
peated  by  the  officers.  I  left  him. 

"The  above  recalls  to  mind  one  of  the  hardest 
principles  in  warfare  —  where  your  sympathy  and 
humanity  are  appealed  to,  and*  from  sense  of  ex 
pediency  you  are  forbidden  to  exercise  it.  After 
our  regiment  had  been  nearly  annihilated,  and 
were  compelled  to  retreat  under  a  galling  fire,  a 
boy  was  supporting  his  dying  brother  on  one  arm, 
and  trying  to  drag  him  from  the  field  and  the  ad 
vancing  foe.  He  looked  at  me  imploringly,  and 
said  :  '  Captain,  help  him  — ivon't  you  ?  Do,  Cap 
tain  ;  he'll  live.'  1  said :  '  He's  shot  through  the 
head ;  don't  you  see  ?  and  can't  live  —  he's  dying 
now.'  '  O,  no,  he  ain't,  Captain.  Don't  leave 
me.'  I  was  forced  to  reply:  'The  rebels  won't 
hurt  him.  Lay  him  down  and  come,  or  both  you 
and  I  will  be  lost.'  The  rush  of  bullets  and  the 
yells  of  the  approaching  demons  hurried  me 
away  —  leaving  the  young  soldier  over  his  dying 
brother. 

"  Nearly  every  rebel's  face  turned  black  imme 
diately  after  death.  Union  men's  faces  retained 
the  natural  pallor  two  or  three  days. 

"  I  ate  my  dinner  on  Monday  within  six  paces 
of  a  rebel  in  four  pieces.  Both  legs  were  blown 
off.  His  pelvis  was  the  third  piece,  and  his  head 
and  chest  were  the  fourth  piece.  Those  four 
pieces  occupied  a  space  of  twelve  feet  square.  I 
saw  five  dead  rebels  in  a  row.  with  their  heads 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


knocked  off  by  a  round  shot.  Myself  and  other 
amateur  anatomists,  when  the  regiment  was  rest 
ing  temporarily  on  arms,  would  leave  to  examine 
the  internal  structure  of  man.  We  would  ex 
amine  brains,  heart,  stomach,  layers  of  muscles, 
structure  of  bones,  &c.,  for  there  was  every  form 
of  mutilation.  At  home  I  used  to  wince  at  the 
right  of  a  wound  or  of  a  corpse  ;  but  here,  in  one 
day,  I  learned  to  be  among  the  scenes  I  am  de 
scribing  without  emotion — as  perfectly  cool  as  I 

am  now.  My  friend,  Adjutant ,  and  myself, 

on  the  second  night,  looking  in  the  dark  for  a 
place  to  lie  down,  he  said,  *  Let's  lie  dcwn 
here.  Here's  some  fellows  sleeping.'  We  slept 
in  quiet  until  dawn  revealed  that  we  had  passed 
a  night  among  sprawling,  stiffened,  ghastly 
corpses. 

"  I  saw  one  of  our  dead  soldiers  with  his 
mouth  crammed  full  of  cartridges  until  the 
cheeks  were  bulged  out.  Several  protruded  from 
his  mouth.  This  was  done  by  the  rebels. 

"  On  the  third  day  most  of  our  time  was  em 
ployed  in  burying  the  dead.  Shallow  pits  were 
dug,  which  would  soon  iill  with  water.  Into 
these  we  threw  our  comrades  with  a  heavy  splash, 
or  a  dump  against  solid  bottom.  Many  a  hope 
ful,  promising  youth  thus  indecently  ended  his 
career. 

"  Some  of  our  boys  were  disposed  to  kick  the 
secesh  into  these  pits.  One  fell  in  with  a  heavy 
dump  on  his  face.  The  more  humane  proposed 
to  turn  him  over.  «  O,  that'll  do,'  said  a  Union 
Missourian,  '  for  when  he  scratches,  he'll  scratch 
nearer  hell.'  This  is  a  hard  story,  I  know,  but  I 
want  you  to  see  real  war. 

"  I  stood  in  one  place  in  the  woods  near  the 
spot  of  the  engagement  of  the  57th  Illinois,  and 
counted  eighty-one  dead  rebels.  There  I  saw  one 
tree,  seven  inches  in  diameter,  with  thirty-one 
bullet  holes.  Such  had  been  death's  storm. 
Near  the  scenes  of  the  last  of  the  fighting,  where 
the  rebels  precipitately  retreated,  I  saw  one  grave 
containing  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  dead 
rebels,  and  one  side  of  it  another  grave  contain 
ing  forty-one  dead  Federals.  Several  other 
trenches  were  in  view  from  that  spot. 

'•One  dead  and  uniformed  officer  lay  cov 
ered  with  a  little  housing  of  rails.  On  it  was  a 
fly-leaf  of  a  memorandum-book  with  the  pencil- 
writing:  'Federals,  respect  my  father's  corpse.'' 
Many  of  our  boys  wanted  to  cut  off  his  buttons 
and  gold  cord ;  but  our  Colonel  had  the  body  re 
ligiously  guarded. 

"  Many  of  our  regiments  were  paid  off  just  pre 
viously  to  the  battle,  and  our  dead  comrades 
were  robbed  of  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars. 
The  rebels  were  surprised  and  abashed  at  the  ap 
parent  wealth  of  our  army.  They  attired  them 
selves  in  our  uniforms,  and  rifled  from  officers' 
trunks  tens  of  thousands  of  dollars  worth  of  fine 
clothing,  toilet  articles,  and  interesting  souvenirs 
of  every  man's  trunk.  They  made  themselves 
stupid  and  drunk  over  our  fine  victuals  and 
wines.  They  seem  to  have  gQiie  mad  with  the 
lust  of  plunder. 

41  To  show  how  complete  and  successful  was 


the  advance  of  the  enemy,  their  advance  g"iard 
lay  in  the  woods  on  the  5th,  witnessing  our  pa 
rades  and  reviews.  One  of  our  returned  paroled 
prisoners,  a  mule-driver,  who  was  captured  two 
days  before  the  battle,  has  told  me  that  he  was 
taken  through  their  whole  aimy,  which  was 
camped  three  miles  from  ours,  the  night  before 
the  attack. 

"  A  resident  here  told  me  that  on  the  retreat 
of  the  rebel  army  from  S  liloh,  it  was  utterly 
routed  and  de:nora_ized. 

"  After  the  battle  was,  over,  we,  formerly  citi 
zens  who  had  never  see.:i  or  heard  the  hiss  of 
bullet,  gathered  the  mangled  corpses  of  those  we 
had  known  at  home  and  joked  with  the  day  be 
fore  —  friends  who  were  as  full  of  life,  hope,  and 
ambition  as  ourselves  —  and  buried  them  in  blan 
kets,  or  sent  them  home  in  boxes,  with  as  little 
concern  as  possible,  and  went  immediately  to 
joking  and  preparing  to  fight  again.  What  spirit 
or  principle  was  it  that  in  one  day  gave  us  all 
the  indifference  and  stoicism  of  veterans  ? 

''  Two  women,  laundresses  in  the  16th  Wis 
consin,  runniikg  to  the  rear  when  the  attack  was 
commenced,  Avere  killed. 

"  My  poor  friend  Carson,  — the  scout,  —  after 
having  fought,  and  worked,  and  slaved  from  the 
beginning  of  the  war,  unrequited,  comparatively, 
and  after  having  passed  hundreds  of  hair-breadth 
escapes,  and  through  this  wild  battle,  was  killed 
by  almost  the  last  shot.  A  round  shot  took  off 
his  whole  face  and  fore  part  of  his  head.  Poor 
Carson  !  We  all  remember  your  patriotism, 
your  courage,  your  devotion.  We  will  cheer, 
all  we  can,  the  bereaved  and  dear  ones  you 
have  left. 

"  Surgeons  on  the  field  would  halt  officers  and 
order  them  to  strip  oft'  their  white  shirts  for 
bandages.  >Jany  an  officer,  halted  on  the  field, 
tore  off  his  accoutrements  and  uniform  to  pro 
vide  the  necessary  bandages." 


GENERAL  KELLET  AND  A  SECESSION  GIRL. 
—  When  the  General  was  in  quest  of  guerrillas  in 
Western  Virginia,  he  captured  a  young  woman 
named  Sallie  Dusky,  two  brothers  of  whom  were 
Captains  in  the  rebel  army.  The  General,  feel 
ing  confident  that  the  girl  knew  the  hiding-places 
of  the  guerrillas,  had  a  private  conversation  with 
her,  and  during  the  interview,  having  failed  to 
get  much  satisfaction,  he  told  her,  if  she  would 
make  a  clean  breast  of  it,  he  would  give  her  the 
chances  for  a  husband  of  all  the  young  officers  in 
his  staff.  This  failed  to  bring  the  information, 
and  Sallie  was  taken  away  in  charge  of  Captain 
Baggs.  As  she  moved  away  from  the  General's 
presence,  she  asked  the  Captain  if  the  General 
was  really  in  earnest  in  making  the  last  proposi 
tion.  Baggs  assured  her  that  the  General  was 
sincere,  and  that  he  would  have  lived  up  to  his 
promise.  The  girl  assumed  a  kind  of  thought 
ful  manner,  and  after  a  short  time  replied : 
"  Well,  I  believe  I'd  about  as  lief  have  the  old 
man  (meaning  the  General  h'mself)  as  any  of 
'em." 


66 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


ORIGIN  OF  "  SKEDADDLE."  —  A  correspond 
ent  says  :  The  word  "  skedaddle  "  is  not  derived 
from  the  Greek  verb  Skedao,  to  scatter,  as  has 
been  recently  asserted  by  certain  learned  etymol 
ogists.  The  root  of  "  Skedaddle "  is  found  in 
the  Gaelic,  Celtic,  and  the  ancient  British  or 
Welsh  language.  In  Gaelic,  "  Sgiotadh  "  is  the 
present  participle  from  the  verb  "  Sgiot"  and 
signifies  "  scattering"  the  act  of  scattering.  In  the 
Irish,  which  is,  properly  speaking,  the  Gaelic, 
"  Sgadad  "  signifies  "flight?  and  "  Uile,"  or  "  01" 
all,  or  entirely  —  "  ail  flight."  In  the  Welsh  we 
have  "  Ysgudao"  or  "  Ysgudaw"  to  scud  about. 
So,  also,  in  the  Scandinavian  languages  ;  in  the 
Swedish  we  have  "  Skuddo"  to  throw  or  put  out ; 
"  Sceotan,"  Saxon,  to  nee  or  haste  away ;  in  a 
general  sense,  to  be  driven,  or  to  flee  with  haste. 
"  Skedaddle "  might  be  derived  more  naturally 
from  "  Skud,"  or  "  Scud,"  and  "  Daddle"  than 
from  the  Greek  "  Skedao." 


A  TOUCHING  INCIDENT. — The  war  has  given 
birth  to  many  gems  of  poetry,  patriotic,  humorous, 
and  pathetic,  illustrative  of  the  times.  The  follow 
ing  was  suggested  by  an  affecting  scene  in  one  of 
the  army  hospitals.  A  brave  lad  of  sixteen  years, 
belonging  to  a  New  England  regiment,  mortally 
wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  and  sent  to  the  Pa 
tent  Office  Hospital  in  Washington,  was  anxiously 
looking  for  the  coming  of  his  mother.  As  his 
iact  hour  approached,  and  his  sight  grew  dim,  he 
mistook  a  sympathetic  lady  who  was  wiping  the 
cold,  clammy  perspiration  from  his  forehead,  for 
the  expected  one,  and  with  a  smile  of  joy  lighting 
up  his  pale  face,  he  whispered  tenderly,  "  Is  that 
mother  P  "  "  Then,"  says  the  writer,  "  drawing 
her  towards  him  with  all  his  feeble  strength,  he 
nestled  his  head  in  her  arms  like  a  sleeping  in 
fant,  and  thus  died  with  the  sweet  word  mother 
on  his  quivering  lips." 

"IS  THAT  MOTHER?" 

Is  that  mother  bending  o'er  me, 
As  she  sang  my  cradle  hymn  — 

Kneeling  there  in  tears  before  me  ? 
Say  ?  —  my  sight  is  growing  dim. 

Comes  she  from  the  old  home  lowly, 
Out  among  the  northern  hills, 

To  her  pet  boy  dying  slowly 

Of  war's  battle  wounds  and  ills  ? 

Mother  !  O,  we  bravely  battled  — 
Battled  till  the  day  was  done  ; 

While  the  leaden  hail  storm  rattled  — 
Man  to  man  and  gun  to  gun. 

But  we  failed  —  and  I'm  dying  — 
Dying  in  my  boyhood's  years, 

There  —  no  weeping  —  self-denying, 
Noble  deaths  demand  no  tears. 

Fold  your  arms  again  around  me ; 

Press  again  my  aching  head  ; 
Sing  the  lullaby  you  sang  me  — 

Kiss  me,  mother,  ere  I'm  dead. 


AN  INCIDENT.  —  On  Sunday,  the  29th  of  July, 
862,  a  large  number  of  Union  officers  attende'd 
he  Old  School  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  W.  H.  Mitchell,  at  Florence,  Alabama.  So 
nany  of  them  were  present  that  they  conf 
uted  a  majority  of  the  congregation.  After 
he  usual  opening  hymn,  the  minister  asked  the 
:ongregation  to  unite  in  prayer,  when,  to  their 
utter  astonishment,  the  reverend  traitor  prayed 
or  Jeff.  Davis,  for  the  success  of  the  Confederate 
wms,  and  for  the  attainment  of  the  independence 
f  the  Confederate  people.  The  Union  men  were 
greatly  indignant  at  this  gross  insult,  but  re 
mained  standing  until  the  prayer  was  concluded, 
when  they  all  left  the  church.  After  he  had  com 
menced  his  sermon,  Colonel  Harlan  returned  to 
,he  church,  walked  up  to  the  pulpit,  arrested 
.he  preacher,  and  delivered  him,  in  compliance 
vith  the  orders  of  General  Thomas,  to  a  detach 
ment  of  cavalry,  which  immediately  conveyed 
lim  as  a  prisoner  to  Tuscumbia. 


AN  OLD  BIBLE  CAPTURED  IN  BATTLE.  — 
Mr.  H.  Jallcnack,  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  exhibited 
;o  the  editor  af  the  Journal  of  that  city  a  valua- 
ile  relic  —  a  Protestant  Bible  printed  in  German 
text  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  years  ago  — 
,he  imprint  bearing  date  1637.  The  book  WAS 
n  an  excellent  state  of  preservation,  the  printing 
perfectly  legible,  the  binding  sound  and  substan- 
;ial,  and  the  fastening  a  brass  clasp.  The  follow- 
ng  receipt  shows  how  the  volume  came  into  Mr. 
Jallonack's  possession :  — 

NEW  YORK,  August  21,  1862. 
Received  of  Mr.  H.  Jallonack  one  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  for  a  copy  of  one  of  the  first 
Protestant  Bibles  published  in  the  Netherlands, 
1637,  with  the  Proclamation  of  the  King  of  the 
Netherlands.  This  was  taken  from  a  descendant 
Hollander  at  the  battle  before  Richmond,  in  the 
rebel  service,  by  a  private  of  the  Irish  Brigade. 
JOSEPH  HEIME,  M.  D.,  4  Houston  Street. 


A  REBEL  soldier,  after  burying  a  Federal  who 
had  been  killed  during  one  of  those  sanguinary 
engagements  which  terminated  in  the  retreat  of 
the  Union  army  from  before  Richmond,  fixed  a 
shingle  over  the  grave,  bearing  this  inscription  : 

"  The  Yankee  hosts  with  blood-stained  hands 
Came  southward  to  divide  our  lands. 
This  narrow  and  contracted  spot 
Is  all  that  this  poor  Yankee  got !  " 


INCIDENTS  OF  FORT  PICK  ENS.  —  The  follow 
ing  is  given  by  an  officer  on  board  the  United 
States  steamer  Richmond,  after  the  bombard 
ment  of  Fort  Pickens : 

I  went,  by  invitation  of  I  ieut. ,  of  the  En 
gineers,  to  visit  the  Fort.  Took  a  circuit  first 
of  the  covered  way,  then  of  the  parapet  and  ram 
parts.  All  around  the  Far  I,  in  ide  and  out,  were 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


67 


marks  of  the  enemy's  shot  and  shell.  On  the 
glacis,  here  and  there,  are  deep  grooves,  ending 
in  a  large  hole,  where  the  shot  had  plumped  into 
it,  and  where  there  had  been  shell  which  had 
burst.  The  hole  was  a  great  excavation,  into 
which  you  could  drive  an  ox-cart.  Where  the 
projectiles  have  struck  the  standing  walls,  they 
(rive  clipped  off  patches  of  the  brick-work  (it  is 
a  brick  and  not  a  stone  fort)  perhaps  eight  or  ten 
feet  deep,  and,  where  they  struck  the  corners, 
larger  portions  have  been  removed  ;  but  in  no 
case  has  any  part  of  the  fortifications  received  an 
injury  tending  in  the  least  to  weaken  it,  and  this 
alter  two  days'  heavy  firing.  The  only  man  who 
was  killed  outright  during  the  two  day  '  action, 
was  an  artilleryman,  who  was  passing  iato  the 
casemates  with  some  bread  from  the  bake-house. 
A  shell  exploded  at  the  other  side  of  the  area, 
and  one  piece,  flying  a  distance  of  some  two  or 
three  hundred  feet,  passed  through  his  body, 
under  his  arms.  He  walked  a  few  steps  and 
fell  dead.  There  were  many  almost  miraculous 
escapes.  A  shell  was  heard  coming  towards  a 
gun  on  the  parapet,  and  the  men  dodged  under 
their  bomb-proofs.  The  shell  hit  fair  on  top  of 
the  bomb-proof,  went  through,  and  dropped  into 
a  pail  of  water  beside  the  oificer,  where  it  ex 
ploded.  When  the  men  came  out  again  to 
resume  their  work,  all  they  saw  of  the  officer 
was  his  heels  sticking  out  of  a  pile  of  rubbish. 
After  digging  him  out,  they  stood  amazed  to  see 
that  he  was  not  even  hurt.  He  rose  up,  shook 
the  sand  from  his  hair  and  clothes,  and  coolly 
said :  "  Come,  come !  what  are  you  standing 
there  gaping  at  ?  Load  that  gun  there."  At  it 
they  went  again,  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 
Another  officer,  who  had  charge  of  a  battery  of 
mortars,  had  no  less  than  seventeen  shells  strike 
within  ten  yards  of  him.  I  saw  the  ground 
ploughed  up  in  every  direction,  and  yet  not  a 
man  was  hurt.  About  twenty  of  the  men,  who 
had  been  relieved  from  their  guns,  were  sitting 
smoking  and  watching  the  firing  in  a  corner  pro 
tected  from  shot  by  the  walls,  when  half  of  a 
huge  shell  struck  and  buried  itself  right  in  the 
middle  of  the  group,  without  disturbing  them  in 
the  least.  "  What's  that  ?  "  asked  one.  "  The 
devil  knows,  and  he  won't  tell,"  indifferently 
responded  another,  and  went  on  smoking.  A 
ten-inch  columbiad  came  rolling  towards  a  group, 


the  fuze  whizzing  and  smokim 


Wonder  if 


that'll  hit  us?"  "Guess  not;  we're  too  near 
it !  "  Crack  went  the  shell !  flying  in  every  direc 
tion,  but  fortunately  injuring  none  of  them.  The 
rebel  powder  was  poor ;  as  also  their  shot,  ex 
cept  that  portion  which  they  succeeded  in  stealing 
before  the  rebellion  broke  out.  Their  practice, 
however,  was  said  to  be  good  —  how  could  it 
have  been  otherwise?  Uncle  Sam  taught  them 
at  his  unparalleled  school  at  West  Point,  but  with 
little  thought  that  the  teaching  would  be  thus 
employed. 


^  DISTURBING  AN  ORATOR.  —  When  the  Union 
lines  advanced  towards  Corinth,  a  battery  was 


planted  on  an  eminence  commanding  a  consid 
erable  portion  of  the  country,  but  completely 
shrouded  from  view  by  a  dense  thicket.  Scouts 
were  sent  out  to  discover  the  cxar*  ^osition  of 
the  rebels,  and  were  but  a  short  dismnce  in  ad 
vance,  to  give  a  signal  as  to  the  direction  to  fire, 
if  any  were  discovered. 

One  cf  .he  rebel  crmmanders,  unaware  of  the 
presence  of  the  nationals,  called  around  him  a 
brigade,  and  commenced  addressing  them  in  some 
thing  like  the  following  strain  : 

"  Sons  of  the  South :  We  are  here  to  defend 
our  homes,  our  wive*?  and  daughters,  against  the 
horde  of  Vandal 4  who  have  come  here  to  possess 
the  first  and  violate  the  last.  Here  upon  this 
sacred  soil,  we  have  assembled  to  drive  back  the 
Northern  invaders  —  drive  them  into  the  Ten 
nessee.  Will  you  follow  me  ?  If  we  cannot  hold 
this  place  we  can  defend  no  spot  of  our  Confed 
eracy.  Shall  we  drive  the  invaders  back,  and 
strike  to  death  the  men  who  would  desecrate  our 
homes  ?  Is  there  a  man  so  base  among  those 
who  hear  me  as  to  retreat  from  the  contemptible 
foe  before  us  ?  I  will  never  blanch  before  their 
fire,  nor " 

At  this  interesting  period  the  signal  was  given, 
and  six  shells  fell  in  the  vicinity  of  the  gallant 
officer  and  his  men,  who  suddenly  forgot  their 
fiery  resolves,  and  fled  in  confusion  to  their  breast 
works. 


THE  "  HOME  GUARDS." — Rev.  Mr. 
about  six  feet  four  in  his  stockings,  and  of  pro 
portions  worthy  a  grenadier,  and  whose  heart  is 
as  stout  as  his  frame,  a  thorough  Union  man,  and 
in  for  the  war  until  all  treason  is  thoroughly 
crushed  out,  was  recently  conducting  a  religious 
conference  meeting,  \vhen  a  brother  arose  to 
speak,  who,  after  alluding  to  his  hopes  and  fears 
in  a  religious  point  of  view,  branched  out  in 
reference  to  the  state  of  the  country,  saying  that 
so  great  was  his  devotion  to  the  Stars  and  Stripes, 
that  he  had  enlisted  ;  and,  after  a  few  further 
patriotic  remarks,  begged  an  interest  in  the  prayers 
of  the  church,  that  he  might  be  protected  by  Di 
vine  Providence  on  the  field  of  battle,  and  that 
should  he  fall  a  victim  to  the  bullets  of  the 
enemy,  he  might  be  prepared  for  the  change. 

Such  a  speech  at  any  time  would  thrill  with 
patriotic  fervor  the  brave  heart  of  the  worthy 
minister,  and  he  consequently  spoke  a  few  words 
of  encouragement  to  the  hero,  when  the  wife  of 
the  enlisting  brother  volunteered  her  experience, 
in  the  course  of  which,  alluding  to  her  husband's 
enlistment,  she  expressed  a  willingness  to  give 
him  up,  even  unto  death,  in  the  service  of  hi* 
country. 

In  a  few  moments  after,  the  meeting  came  to 
an  end,  when  the  minister,  all  anxiety  for  the 
welfare  of  the  patriot  volunteer,  proceeded  to 
make  some  inquiries  in  reference  to  his  regiment, 
commencing  with  the  very  natural  question  as  to 
its  name  and  number,  when  he  received  the  star- 
tling  reply  : 

"  I've  ji  ed  the  HOME  Gu  I.RDS  ! " 


08 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


OLD  DICK,  THE  DRUMMER.  —  Dick,  a  vener 
able  darky  in  uniform,  was  arrested  at  Rich 
mond  for  carrying  a  huge  bowie-knife.  He  was 
on  his  return  home  to  Danville  from  a  campaign 
against  the  Yankees,  and  the  Mayor  discharged 
him  after  confiscating  the  knife. 

He  occupied  the  position  of  chief  drummer 
(or  the  Eighteenth  Virginia  regiment,  and  was 
highly  esteemed  by  the  regiment,  not  only  as  a 
musician,  but  as  a  brave  and  gallant  old  man. 
He  is  a  hero  of  two  wars,  and  in  several  instances 
rendered  good  service  to  the  country.  When 
the  war  with  Mexico  broke  out,  he  enlisted  as 
musician  for  a  South  Carolina  regiment,  and  fol 
lowed  it  through  the  war,  and  was  present  when 
the  glorious  Gen.  Butler  fell.  The  war  being 
successfully  terminated,  he  returned  home  to  his 
usual  avocations.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the 
rebellion,  though  old  and  gray,  he  was  among  the 
first  to  respond  to  Virginia's  call  for  volunteers, 
and  was  regularly  mustered  into  service  writh  the 
Eighteenth  regiment. 

In  the  memorable  battle  of  the  21st  July,  1861, 
he  deserted  his  drum,  and,  with  musket  in  hand, 
followed  the  regiment  throughout  the  battle. 
Several  days  after  the  battle,  while  strolling 
through  the  woods,  he  discovered  the  hiding- 
place  of  what  he  thought  a  Yankee,  and  on  re 
porting  it,  went  down  with  several  of  the  regi 
ment,  and  captured  three  of  the  enemy  —  one  of 
them  Col.  Wood,  of  the  Fourteenth  Brooklyn. 
In  every  scene  of  danger  or  of  difficulty,  Old 
Dick  accompanied  the  regiment  with  bowie-knife 
by  his  side  and  musket  in  hand.  When  on 
picket  duty  at  Mason's  Hill,  in  sight  of  the 
enemy,  he  would  go  beyond  the  picket  lines  to 
get  a  fair  crack  at  the  Yankee  pickets.  In  fine, 
Old  Dick  is  a  gentleman  and  true  patriot,  and  it 
is  wrong  that  his  knife,  around  which  clung  so 
many  proud  associations  to  him,  should  have 
been  taken  from  him.  He  valued  it  above  all 
things  except  his  musket.  It  is  true,  the  law 
may  have  required  its  confiscation,  as  setting  a 
bad  example  to  darkies  in  civil  life ;  but  under 
the  circumstances,  it  does  seem  hard  to  have  sub 
jected  the  old  man  not  only  to  the  loss  of  his 
bowie-knife,  but  the  mortification  attendant  on  a 
suspicion  of  evil  designs. 


JOE  PARSONS,  A  MARYLAND  BRAVE.  —  A  cor 
respondent,  writing  from  the  hospitals  of  Alex 
andria,  Va.,  relates  the  following  anecdote  :  Joe 
enlisted  in  the  First  Maryland  regiment,  and  was 
plainly  a  "  rough "  originally.  As  we  passed 
along  the  hall  we  first  saw  him  crouched  near  an 
open  window,  lustily  singing,  "  I'am  a  bold  sol 
dier  boy ; "  and  observing  the  broad  bandage  over 
his  eyes,  I  said :  "  What 's  your  name,  my  good 
fellow  ?  "  "  Joe,  sir,"  he  answered,  "  Joe  Par 
sons."  "And  what  is  the  matter  with  you?" 
"Blind,  sir,  blind  as  a  bat."  "In  battle?" 
"  Yes,  at  Antietam  ;  both  eyes  shot  out  at  one 
crip."  Poor  Joe  was  in  the  front,  at  Antietam 
Creek,  and  a  Minie  ball  had  passed  directly 
through  his  eyes,  across  his  face,  destroying  his 


sight  forever.  He  was  but  twenty  years  old.  but 
he  was  as  happy  as  a  lark  !  "  It  is  dreadful,"  1 
said.  "  I  'm  very  thankful  I  'm  alive,  sir.  It 
might  ha'  been  worse,  yer  see,"  he  continue  d* 
And  then  he  to.d  us  his  story. 

"  I  was  hit,"  he  said,  "  and  it  knocked  me 
down.  I  lay  there  ail  night,  and  the  next  day 
the  fight  was  renewed.  I  could  stand  the  pain, 
yer  see,  but  the  balls  was  flyin'  all  round,  and  I 
wanted  to  get  away.  I  couldn't  see  nothiu', 
though.  So  I  waited  and  listened;  and  at  last 
I  heard  a  feller  groa!.in'  beyond  me.  '  Hello  ! ' 
says  I.  '  Hello  yourself,'  says  he.  '  Who  be 
yer  ? '  SL  ys  I  —  'a  rebel  ?  '  *  You're  a  Yankee/ 
says  he.  'So  I  am, 'says  I;  'what's  the  mat 
ter  with  yer  ? '  '  My  leg's  smashed,'  says  he. 
4  Can't  yer  walk?'  'No.'  'Can  yer  see?' 

'  Yes.'  '  Well,'  says  I,  '  you're  a rebel,  but 

will  you  do  me  a  little  favor ?  '  'I  will,'  says  he, 
'  ef  I  ken.'  Then  I  say.s  :  '  Well,  ole  butternut,  I 
can't  see  nothin.'  '  My  eyes  is  knocked  out ;  but 
I  ken  walk.  Come  over  yere.  Let's  git  out  o' 
|  this.  You  p'int  the  way,  an'  I'll  tote  yer  off  the 
field  on  my  back.'  'Bully  for  you,'  says  he. 
And  so  we  managed  to  git  together.  We  shook 
hands  on  it.  I  took  a  wink  out  o'  his  canteen, 
and  he  got  on  to  my  shoulders. 

"  I  did  the  walkin'  for  both,  an'  he  did  the  nav- 
igatin'.  An'  ef  he  didn't  make  me  carry  him 
straight  into  a  rebel  colonel's  tent,  a  mile  away, 
I'm  a  liar  !  Hows'ever,  the  colonel  came  up,  an' 
says  he,  '  Whar  d'yer  come  from  ?  who  be  yer  ? ' 
I  told  him.  '  He  said  I  was  done  for,  and 
couldn't  do  no  more  shoot'n ;  an'  he  sent  me 
over  to  our  lines.  So,  after  three  days.  I  sume 
down  here  with  the  wounded  boys,  where  we're 
doin'  pretty  well,  all  things  considered."  "  But 
you  will  never  see  the  light  again,  my  poor  fel 
low,"  I  suggested,  sympathetically.  "  That's 
so,"  he  answered,  glibly,  "  but  I  can't  help  it,  you 
notice.  I  did  my  dooty  —  got  shot,  pop  in  the 
eye  —  an'  that's  my  misfort'n,  not  my  fault  —  as 
the  old  man  said  of  his  blind  hoss.  But  —  'I'm 
a  bold  soldier  boy,'  "  he  continued,  cheerily  re 
newing  his  song ;  and  we  left  him  in  his  singular 
merriment.  Poor,  sightless,  unlucky,  but  stout 
hearted  Joe  Parsons ! 


PARTING  WORDS  TO  THE  YANKEES. — The  fol 
lowing  document  was  found  in  one  of  the  dwell 
ings  at  Yorktown,  Va. : 

To  the  Future  Yankee  Occupants  of  this  Place  - 

We  have  retired  to  the  country  for  a  shoit 
time  to  recruit  our  health.  We  find  that  with 
your  two  hundred  thousand  men  you  are  too 
modest  to  visit  this  place,  and  we  give  you  an 
opportunity  to  satisfy  your  curiosity  with  regard 
to  our  defences,  assuring  you  that  we  will  call 
upon  you  soon. 

We  hope  a  few  days'  residence  in  a  house  once 
occupied  by  men  will  induce  enough  courage  in 
your  gallant  hearts  to  enable  you  to  come  within 
at  leas'-  two  miles  of  white  men  hereafter.  Be 
sure  to  have  on  hand  a  s  ipply  of  "  pork'n  beans  " 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


69 


when  we  return ;  also,  some  codfish  and  "  apple 
sass."  When  we  learn  to  relish  such  diet  we 
may  become  like  you  —  Puritanical,  selfish, 
thieving,  God-forgotten,  devil-worshipping,  devil- 
belonging,  African-loving,  blue-bellied  Yankees. 
Ad  vise  fatfief  Abraham  to  keep  his  Scotch  cloak 
on  hand,  to  keep  soberer,  and  your  wise  Con 
gress  to  hunt  up  two  thousand  five  hundred 
millions  of  specie  to  pay  the  debt  you  have  in 
curred  in  winning  the  contempt  of  every  live 
man.  We  have  on  hand  a  few  tools  which  we 
devote  to  the  special  duty  of  loosening  the  links 
of  your  steel  shirts.  Couldn't  you  get  a  few 
iron-clad  men  to  do  your  fighting  ?  Are  you  not 
horribly  afraid  that  we  will  shoot  you  below  the 
shirts?  When  are  you  coming  to  Richmond? 
Couldn't  you  go  up  the  river  with  us  ?  There  is 
one  score  which  we  will  yet  settle  with  you  to  the 
death.  Your  fiend-like  treatment  of  old  men  and 
helpless  women  reads  you  out  of  the  pale  of  civ 
ilized  warfare,  and  if  rifles  are  true  and  knives 
keen,  we  will  rid  some  of  you  of  your  beastly 
inclinations. 

When  you  arise  as  high  in  the  scale  of  cre 
ated  beings  as  a  Brazilian  monkey,  we  will  allow 
you  sometimes  to  associate  with  our  negroes ; 
but  until  then  Southern  soil  will  be  too  hot  for 
the  sons  of  the  Pilgrims.  The  only  dealing  we 
will  have  with  you  is,  henceforth,  war  to  the 
knife.  We  despise  you  as  heartily  as  we  can 
whip  you  easily  on  any  equal  field. 

Most  heartily  at  your  service,  whenever  you 
offer  a  fight.  J.  TRAVISO  SCOTT, 

Company  A,  Sixth  Georgia  Volunteers. 


AN  ELEGY.  —  The  following  lines  were  written 
b>  a  soldier  in  the  hospital  at  New  Haven,  Conn., 
who  lost  his  leg  in  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks : 

L-E-G  ON  MY  LEG. 

Good  leg,  thou  wast  a  faithful  friend, 

And  truly  hast  thy  duty  done  ; 
I  thank  thee  most  that  to  the  end 

Thou  didst  not  let  this  body  run. 

Strange  paradox  !  that  in  the  fight 
Where  I  of  thee  was  thus  bereft, 

I  lost  my  left  leg  for  "the  Right," 

And  yet  the  right's  the  one  that's  left ! 

But  while  the  sturdy  stump  remains, 

I  may  be  able  yet  to  patch  it, 
For  even  now  I've  taken,  pains 

To  make  an  L-E-G  to  match  it. 


THE  REBEL  RETREAT  FROM  MILL  SPRING. 
—  In  the  course  of  a  notice  of  Capt.  C.  C.  Spiller, 
the  following  particulars  of  the  rebel  retreat  from 
Mill  Spring  occur: 

The  Noble  Ellis  was  at  Gainsboro' ;  three  inef 
fectual  attempts  had  been  made  to  take  her  up 
the  river  to  where  our  army  was.  Finally  Capt. 
Spiller  was  ordered  to  bring  the  boat ;  it  was 
executed.  Before  the  fight,  he  asked  permission 
to  lead  his  company ;  but  Gen.  Zollicoffer  or 
dered  him  to  remain  at  the  river,  in  charge  of 


operations  there.  The  battle  was  fought,  and  our 
army  driven  back  to  the  river,  where  a  success 
ful  and  skilful  crossing  alone  could  have  saved  it 
from  utter  ruin.  Spilier  was  the  man  for  the  post 
—  the  world  could  not  have  furnished  a  better. 
The  crossing  began  at  three  o'clock  p.  M.  One 
of  the  enemy's  batteries  opened  on  the  boat,  and 
the  fire  *vas  incessant  until  dark.  The  steamer 
wa&  run  all  night.  At  four  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing,  when  two  thousand  five  hundred  men  were 
yet  to  cross,  the  captain  and  pilot  left.  It  was 
understood  that  the  engineer  would  leave  her  the 
next  trip,  and  Spiller  sent  for  Dick  Fields,  then 
one  of  his  cavalry  company,  but  formerly  an  en 
gineer  on  one  of  his  Tennest  2e  river  boats.  Spil 
ler  knew  Dick  —  together  they  had  braved  dan 
ger  before  that  on  the  water.  Sure  enough,  the 
engineer  and  deck-hands  quit  the  boat,  Dick  took 
his  place,  and  the  boat  was  manned  from  the 
company.  At  daylight  the  work  was  done,  and 
the  last  man  was  over.  During  the  night  the 
enemy  had  placed  a  Parrott  gun  in  position,  and 
at  the  earliest  dawn  the  firing  began.  The  first 
shell  fell  short  but  a  few  yards;  the  third  passed 
through  the  chimney,  and  exploded  over  the 
wheel,  scattering  its  fragments  in  every  direc 
tion.  Now  that  the  troops  were  over,  and  all  the 
horses  that  could  be  saved  were  saved,  the  torch 
was  applied  to  the  Noble  Ellis.  Spiller's  com 
pany  were  near  by  ;  they  had  been  ordered  to  fall 
back  out  of  range  of  the  enemy's  fire,  but  they 
would  not ;  their  captain,  whom  they  loved,  was 
at  his  post,  and  they  would  not  leave  him.  As  the 
flames  spread  over  the  boat,  and  told  that  the  army 
had  crossed,  and  that  all  chance  of  pursuit  was  gone, 
the  gallant  Spiller,  at  the  head  of  histrpops,  moved 
away  to  aid  the  retreating  forces,  but  three  of  hii 
men  left  him,  

A  SOUTHERN  SCENE. 

"  0  MAMMY,  have  you  heard  the  news  ? " 

Thus  spake  a  Southern  child, 
As  in  the  nurse's  aged  face 

She  upward  glanced  and  smiled. 

«« What  news  you  mean,  my  little  one  ? 

It  must  be  mighty  fine, 
To  make  my  darlin's  face  so  red, 
Her  sunny  blue  eyes  shine." 

"  Why,  Abr'am  Lincoln,  don't  you  know, 

The  Yankee  President, 
Whose  ugly  picture  once  we  saw, 
When  up  to  town  we  went  ? 

"  Well,  he  is  goin'  to  free  you  all, 
And  make  you  rich  and  grand, 
And  you'll  be  dressed  in  silk  and  gold, 
Like  the  proudest  in  the  land. 

"  A  gilded  coach  shall  carry  you 

Where'er  you  \\ish  to  ride  ; 
And,  mammy,  all  your  work  shall  be 
Forever  laid  aside." 

The  eager  speaker  paused  for  breath, 

And  then  the  old  nurse  said, 
While  closer  to  her  swarthy  cheek 

She  pieseed  the  golden  head: 


70 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


"  My  little  missus,  stop  and  res'  — 

You'  talkin'  mighty  fas' ; 
Jos'  look  up  dere,  and  tell  me  what 
You  see  in  yonder  glass  ? 

"  You  sees  old  mammy's  wrinkly  face, 

As  black  as  any  coal ; 
And  underneath  her  handkerchief 
Whole  heaps  of  knotty  wool. 

"My  darlin's  face  is  red  and  white, 

Her  skin  is  soff  and  fine, 

And  on  her  pretty  little  head 

De  yallar  ringlets  shine. 

«« My  chile,  who  made  dis  difference 
'Twixt  mammy  and  'twixt  you  ? 
You  reads  de  dear  Lord's  blessed  book. 
And  you  can  tell  me  true. 

"  De  dear  Lord  said  it  must  be  so  ; 

And,  honey,  I,  for  one, 
"Wid  tankful  heart  will  always  say, 
His  holy  will  be  done. 

"  I  tanks  Mas'  Linkum  all  de  same, 

But  when  I  wants  for  free, 
I'll  ask  de  Lord  of  glory, 

Not  poor  b'ickra  man  like  he. 

«« And  as  for  gilded  carriages, 
Dey's  notin'  'tall  to  see; 
My  massa's  coach,  what  carries  him, 
Is  good  enough  for  me. 

•4  And,  honey,  when  your  mammy  wants 

To  change  her  homespun  dress, 
She'll  pray,  like  dear  old  missus, 
To  be  clothed  with  righteousness. 

•«  My  work's  been  done  dis  many  a  day, 

And  now  I  takes  my  ease, 
A  waitin'  for  de  Master's  call, 
Jes'  when  de  Master  please. 

"  And  when  at  las'  de  time's  done  come, 

And  poor  old  mammy  dies, 
Your  own  dear  mother's  soff  white  hand 
Shall  close  these  tired  old  eyes. 

'« De  dear  Lord  Jesus  soon  will  call 

Old  mammy  home  to  him, 
And  he  can  wash  my  guilty  soul 
From  ebery  spot  of  sin. 

«•  And  at  his  feet  I  shall  lie  down, 

Who  died  and  rose  for  me ; 
And  den,  and  not  till  den,  my  chile, 
Your  mammy  will  be  free. 

'« Come,  little  missus,  say  your  prayers ; 

Let  old  Mas'  Linkum  'lone  ; 
The  debil  knows  who  b'longs  to  him, 
And  he'll  take  care  of  his  own." 


THE  CAPTURE  or  SMITHFIELD,  VA.  — The 
rebels  having  retired  from  Norfolk,  Virginia,  in 
May,  1862,  General  Mansfield  sent  his  Aid-de- 
Camp,  Drake  De  Kay,  to  reconnoitre  the  various 
rivers  and  creeks  setting  in  from  the  James  River. 

Captain  De  Kay  started  with  a  sail-boat  a'ld 
eight  men,  and  examined  the  Nansemond  Rr  er 
and  Chuckatuck  Creek,  and  then  proceeded  to 


Smithfield  Creek.  This  being  narrow  and  tor 
tuous,  with  high  banks,  he  hoisted  the  rebel  flag, 
and  ran  up  some  five  miles  to  the  town  of  Smith- 
field.  This  town  is  situated  on  a  hill,  stretching 
back  from  the  river,  contains  some  one  thousand 
two  hundred  inhabitants,  is  very  prettily  laid  out, 
has  several  handsome  churches,  and  fine  "  old 
family  "  homesteads. 

Tie  people  are  all  rank  secesh  —  hardly  a 
man,  woman,  or  child  to  be  seen  in  the  streets 
who  does  not  scowl  at  the  Yankees.  The  ne 
groes,  even,  did  not  speak  to  us,  as  their  masters 
had  forbid  len  it,  and  beaten  them  severely  for  do 
ing  so.  The  whole  negro  population  would  run 
away,  were  it  not  that  every  boat  has  been  bro 
ken  up. 

Upon  arriving  at  the  town  the  rebel  flag  was 
pulled  down  on  board  the  sail-boat,  and  the 
United  States  ensign  run  up,  to  the  horror  of  the 
citizens,  who  had  come  down  to  congratulate  the 
(as  they  supposed)  escaped  rebel  boat.  Captain 
De  Kay  proceeded  on  shore  with  his  body-guard, 
sent  for  the  Mayor  and  authorities,  who  called  a 
meeting  of  the  citizens.  At  this  meeting  a  reso 
lution  was  read  setting  forth  "  that  the  citizens 
would  surrender  as  the  conquered  to  the  con 
querors,  and  that  they  were  and  always  would 
remain  true  and  loyal  citizens  of  the  Confederate 
States  of  America." 

Thereupon  Captain  De  Kay  seized  and  impris 
oned  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Committee  —  no 
resistance  being  made  by  their  fellow-citizens, 
from  the  fear  of  a  supposed  gunboat  outside  the 
bar  of  the  creek  ! 

The  authorities,  left  to  themselves,  and  wisely 
removed  from  all  excitement,  began  now  to  see 
the  error  of  their  ways.  Visions  of  Fortress 
Monroe  dungeons  in  the  foreground,  and  hand 
somely  constructed  gallows,  with  patent  drops,  in 
the  background,  worked  upon  their  imaginations, 
so  that,  one  by  one,  and  stoutly  contesting  point 
after  point,  they  came  down  at  last  to  Captain 
De  Kay's  simple  propositions,  which  were  : 

1.  To  surrender  the  town  and  all  public  prop 
erty  to  the  United  States  forces  unconditionally. 
•  2.  To  hoist  the  American  flag  officially  over 
the  Town  Hall,  and  to  protect  it  there. 

3.  To,  each  and  all,  take  the  oath  of  allegiance 
to  the  United  States  of  America. 

To  this  they  came  at  last,  and  after  the  oath 
the  Mayor  (a  bitter  secesh)  nailed  up  with  his 
own  hand  the  glorious  Stars  and  Stripes. 

Lying  opposite  the  town  was  a  fine  schooner, 
the  Beauregard,  with  a  full  cargo  of  soft  coal  for 
theMerrimac.  A  prize  crew  (one  man)  was  put 
on  board,  and  some  contrabands  to  work  her, 
and  she  was  sent  to  Fortress  Monroe  —  the  first 
prize  vessel  taken  on  James  River. 

Thus  Smithfield  was  captured  by  eight  men. 
The  "  supposed  gunboat  in  the  offing  "  never  ap 
peared  !  

A  PASS  FOR  A  REBEL.  —  The  following  in 
cident  illustrates  the  charac  er  of  the  secession 
ists,  and  the  vigorous  policy  pursued  by  General 
McCook  in  Kentucky : 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


71 


A  man  named  Buz  Howe,  living  near  Bacon 
Creek,  was  early  afflicted  with  the  secession  fe 
ver,  and  when  the  rebels  occupied  that  portion 
of  Kentucky,  the  sickness  assumed  a  malignant 
form.  It  was  his  practice  to  lie  around  a  tavern 
at  Bacon  Creek  Station,  drink  whiskey,  swagger, 
blow  about  Southern  rights,  and  insult  Union 
men.  When  the  Union  troops  advanced  to 
Nevin,  and  the  rebels  fell  back  to  Green  River, 
Buz  changed  his  tune.  He  was  not  disposed  to 
take  up  arms  in  behalf  of  the  cause  he  repre 
sented.  In  fact,  to  secure  peace  and  safety  at 
home,  he  expressed  his  willingness  to  "  take  the 
oath." 

On  being  lectured  by  Union  men,  he  stated 
that  he  was  only  going  through  the  form  to  pre 
vent  being  troubled  at  home,  and  that  when  he 
could  do  good  for  the  rebel  cause  be  would  not  re 
gard  the  obligation  in  the  least.  It  was  some  time 
before  Buz  could  get  a  Union  man  to  go  to  the 
camp  with  him;  but  finally,  in  company  with 
such,  he  called  on  General  McCook,  and  asked  for 
the  privilege  of  taking  the  oath  and  obtaining  a 
pass.  The  General  knew  his  man,  and  addressing  [ 
the  Union  man  who  accompanied  him,  said : 

"  Administer  the  oath  to  him  —  a  ready  traitor 
to  his  country !  What  regard  do  you  suppose 
he  would  have  for  the  solemn  obligations  of  an 
oath  ?  A  man,  sir,  who  would  betray  his  coun 
try  has  no  respect  for  his  oath." 

Buz  turned  pale.  The  truth  cut  him  deep,  and 
he  began  to  see  that  his  time  had  come. 

The  General  absolutely  refused  to  have  the 
oath  administered,  or  to  grant  a  pass.  He  could 
not  get  out  of  camp  without  some  sort  of  a  doc 
ument,  and  he  besought  the  interference  of  those 
whom  he  had  so  greatly  abused  when  they  were 
without  protection.  At  last  General  McCook 
agreed  to  pass  him  out  of  camp,  and  gave  him  a 
document  which  read  something  in  this  way : 

"  To  the  guards  and  pickets : 

"  The  bearer  is  a  traitor  to  his  country.  Pass 
him  ;  but,  in  doing  so,  mark  him  well,  and  if 
you  see  him  hereafter  prowling  about  our  lines, 
shoot  him  at  once." 

This  pass  the  brawling  rebel  had  to  show  to 
the  whole  line  of  guards  and  pickets,  who  all 
marked  him  well  before  they  let  him  pass. 


A  BRILLIANT  EXPLOIT.  —  One  of  the  coolest 
and  most  extraordinary  exploits  of  the  war  is 
thus  described  in  a  letter  by  Brigadier-General 
E.  B.  Brown,  dated  Springfield,  Mo.  After  a 
preliminary  description  of  an  engagement  with 
the  rebels,  eighteen  miles  from  Newtonia,  Gen 
eral  Brown  proceeds  : 

"The  General  (Schofield)  sent  Lieutenant 
Blodgett,  attended  by  an  orderly,  with  orders  to 
Colonel  Hall,  Fourth  Missouri  cavalry,  to  move 
to  the  left,  and  attack  in  that  direction.  The 
foute  of  the  Lieutenant  was  across  a  point  of 
woods,  in  which,  while  passing,  he  suddenly  found 
himself  facing  about  forty  rebels  drawn  up  in  ir 
regular  line.  Without  a  moment's  hesitation, 
he  arid  the  orderly  drew  their  pistols  and  charged. 


At  the  same  time,  tempering  bravery  with  mercy, 
and  not  feeling  any  desire  to  shed  blood  need 
lessly,  he  drew  out  his  handkerchief,  and  waved 
it  in  token  of  his  willingness  to  surround  and 
capture  the  whole  rebel  force  rather  than  shoot 
them  dow\ 

"The  tool  impudence  of  the  act  nonplused 
the  foe,  and  perhar*  thinking  there  was  a  large 
force  in  the  rear  eight  of  them  threw  down  their 
arms  a.id  surrei.ilered,  and  the  balance  '  skedad 
dled.'  It  is  difficult  to  say  which  I  admired  most 
in  the  Lieutenant,  his  bravery  in  making  the 
charge  against  such  odds,  when  to  have  hesitated 
a  moment  was  certain  death,  or  his  presence  of 
mind  and  coolness  in  offering  them  their  lives. 
The  Orderly,  too,  deserves  more  than  a  passing 
notice.  Hi*  name  is  Peter  Basnett,  and  he  was 
at  one  time  Sheriff  cf  Brown  County,  Wis.  The 
Lieutenant  and  Orderly  were  well  matched  — 
both  quiet  and  determined  men.  I  am  glad  of 
having  an  opportunity  of  bearing  testimony  to 
the  bravery  and  soldierly  conduct  of  Lieutenant 
Weils  H.  Blodgett.  I  hope  the  Governor  will 
reward  him  as  he  deserves." 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  MILL  SPPJNG. —  After  the 
battle,  when  the  Minnesota  regiment  returned  to 
its  quarters  at  Camp  Hamilton,  they  marched 
past  the  Colonel's  marquee  with  banners  flying, 
and  their  splendid  band  playing  "  Hail  Colum 
bia."  Standing  in  front  of  the  tent  were  Dr. 
Cliff,  Zollicofi'er's  Brigade  Surgeon,  Lieut.  Coi. 
Carter,  of  the  Twentieth  Tennessee  (rebel)  regi 
ment,  and  several  Union  officers.  "  Hail  Colum 
bia  "  affected  both  the  rebel  officers  to  tears  — 
they  wept  like  children  —  and  Carter  remarked 
that,  although  compelled  to  fight  against  the 
old  flag,  he  loved  it  still. 


A  NATIONAL  HYMN. 

BY   PARK   BENJAMIN. 

GREAT  God !  to  whom  our  nation's  woes, 
Our  dire  distress,  our  angry  foes, 
In  all  their  awful  gloom  are  known, 
We  bow  to  thee,  and  thee  alone. 

We  pray  thee,  mitigate  this  strife, 
Attended  by  such  waste  of  life, 
Such  wounds  and  anguish,  groans  and  tears, 
That  fill  our  inmost  hearts  with  fears. 

O,  darkly  now  the  tempest  rolls 
Wide  o'er  our  desolated  souls  ; 
Yet,  beaten  downward  to  the  dust, 
In  thy  forgiveness  still  we  trust. 

We  trust  to  thy  protecting  power 
In  this,  our  country's  saddest  hour, 
And  pray  that  thou  wilt  spread  thy  shield 
Above  us  in  the  camp  and  field. 

O  God  of  battles,  let  thy  might 
Protect  our  armies  in  the  fight  — 
Till  they  shall  win  the  victory, 
And  set  the  hapless  bondmen  free ;  — •* 


72 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Till,  guided  by  thy  glorious  hand, 
Those  armies  reunite  the  land, 
And  North  and  South  alike  shall  raise 
To  God  their  peaceful  hymns  of  praise. 


INCIDENT  OF  THE  HOSPITAL.  —  I  was  con 
versing  not  long  since  with  a  returned  volunteer. 

I  was  in  the  hospital,  as  nurse,  for  a  long  time, 
stud  lie,  and  assisted  in  taking  off  limbs,  and 
dressing  all  sorts  of  wounds;  but  the  hardest 
thing  I  ever  did  was  to  take  my  thumb  off  a 
man's  leg. 

Ah!  said  I ;  how  was  that?     Then  he  told  m<. 

It  was  a  young  man  who  had  a  severe  wound 
in  the  thigh.  The  ball  passed  completely  through, 
and  amputation  was  necessary.  The  limb  was 
cut  off  close  up  to  the  body,  the  arteries  taken 
up,  and  he  seemed  to  be  doing  well.  Subse 
quently  one  of  the  small  arteries  sloughed  off. 
An  incision  was  made,  and  it  was  again  taken  up. 
'•  It  is  well  it  was  not  the  main  artery,"  said  the 
surgeon,  as  he  performed  the  operation  ;  "  he 
might  have  bled  to  death  before  we  could  have 
taken  it  up."  But  Charley  got  on  finely,  and  was 
a  favorite  with  us  all. 

I  was  passing  through  the  wards  one  night 
about  midnight,  when  suddenly,  as  I  was  passing 

Charley's  bed  he  spoke  to  me.     "  H ,  my  leg 

is  bleeding  again."  I  threw  back  the  clothes,  and 
the  blood  spirted  in  the  air.  The  main  artery 
had  opened  afresh! 

Fortunately,  I  knew  just  what  to  do ;  and  in  an 
"ristunt  I  had  pressed  my  thumb  on  the  place,  and 
stopped  the  bleeding.  It  was  so 'close  to  the 
body  that  there  was  barely  room  for  my  thumb  ; 
but  I  succeeded  in  keeping  it  there,  and  rousing 
one  of  the  convalescents,  sent  him  for  the  sur 
geon,  who  came  in  on  the  run.  "  I  am  so  thank- 

iul,  II ,"  said  he   as  he  saw  me,  "  that  you 

were  up  and  knew  what  to  do,  for  he  must  have 
bled  to  death  before  I  could  have  got  here." 

But  on  examination  of  the  case  he  looked  ex 
ceedingly  serious,  and  sent  out  for  other  surgeons. 
All  came  who  were  within  reach,  and  a  consulta 
tion  was  held  over  the  poor  fellow.  One  conclu 
sion  was  reached  by  all.  There  was  no  place  to 
work  save  the  spot  where  my  thumb  pressed  ; 
they  could  not  work  under  my  thumb,  and  if  I 
moved  he  would  bleed  to  death  before  the  artery 
could  be  taken  up.  There  was  no  way  to  save  his 
life. 

Poor  Charley !  He  was  very  calm  when  they 
told  him,  and  requested  that  his  brother,  who  was 
in  the  same  hospital,  might  be  called  up.  He 
came  and  sat  down  by  the  bedside,  and  for  three 
hours  I  stood,  and  by  the  pressure  of  my  thumb, 
kept  up  the  life  in  Charley  while  the  brothers 
had  their  last  conversation  on  earth.  It  was  a 
strange  place  for  me  to  be  in,  to  feel  that  I  held 
the  life  of  a  fellow-mortal  in  my  hands,  as  it  were, 
and  stranger  yet,  to  feel  that  an  act  of  mine  must 
cause  that  life  to  depart.  Loving  the  poor  fel 
low  as  I  did,  it  was  a  hard  thought,  but  there 
was  no  alternative. 

The  last  words  were   spoken.     Charley  had 


arranged  all  his  business  affairs,  and  sent  tendfci 
messages  to  absent  ones,  who  little  dreamed  how 
near  their  loved  one  stood  to  the  grave.  The 
tears  filled  my  eyes  more  than  once  as  1  listeiu  d 
to  those  parting  words.  All  were  said,  and  Ke 

turned  to  me.     '  Now,  II ,  I  guess  you  Lad 

better  take  off  your  thumb."  "  O  Charley ! 
how  can  I  ? ;>  I  said.  "  But  it  must  be,  you 
know,"  l.e  replied,  cheerfully :  "  I  thank  you  very 
much  for  your  kindness,  and  now  good  by." 

He  turned  away  his  ic.ad.  I  raised  my  thumb. 
Once  more  the  crimson  life-current  gushed  forth. 
In  three  minutes  pooj  Charley  was  dead. 


A  HOME  SCENE.  —  A  member  of  one  of  the 
Chailestori  companies,  on  leave  of  absence  in  the 
city,  received  a  summons  to  appear  at  his  post 
on  Sullivan's  Island  on  one  of  the  nights  when 
the  air  was  rife  with  the  most  startling  rumors 
of  the  coming  of  an  overwhelming  fleet.  With 
cheerful  promptitude  the  brave  soldier  prepared 
to  obey  the  imperative  call.  He  was  a  husband, 
and  the  father  of  a  blue-eyed  little  girl,  who  had 
just  begun  to  put  words  together.  After  the 
preparation  for  the  camp  had  been  made,  the 
soldier  nerved  himself  for  the  good  by.  Those 
present  thought  that  the  wife  felt  the  parting 
less  than  the  husband.  Lively  words  flowed  fast, 
and  her  fair  face  was  as  bright  and  calm  as  i 
morning  in  May.  Her  heart  seemed  to  be  fud 
of  gladness. 

She  cheered  him  with  pleasant  earnestness  to 
show  himself  a  man,  and  running  on  in  a  gleeful 
strain,  admonished  him  not  to  come  back  if  he 
were  shot  in  the  back.  With  incredible  forti 
tude  she  bade  her  child  tell  papa  good  by, 
and  say  to  him  that  she  wTould  not  own  him 
her  father  if  he  proved  to  be  a  coward.  Tha 
echo  of  the  soldier's  footfall  through  the  corridor 
had  hardly  died  away,  when  a  ghastly  pallor  was 
seen  spreading  over  the  lady's  face.  In  a  voice 
weak  and  husky  she  begged  a  friend  to  take  her 
child,  and  before  she  could  be  supported  she  fell 
from  her  chair  prostrate  on  the  floor. 

By  a  tremendous  effort  the  noble  woman  h*d 
controlled  her  feelings ;  but  nature  could  bear  no 
longer,  and  she  fainted.     The  swoon  was  deep, 
and  it  was  some  time  before  consciousness  re 
turned.      At   length   she    opened  her  eyes  lan 
guidly,  and  looked  around  upon  the  sympathizing 
roup,  and  in  a  tremulous  tone  inquired  "  if  she 
ad  fainted  before  her  husband  left  the  room." 


THE  FEAST  OF  DOUGHNUTS.  —  The  ladies  of 
Augusta,  Me.,  distributed  over  fifty  bushels  of 
doughnuts  to  the  Third  Volunteer  regiment  of 
Maine,  previous  to  their  departure  for  the  seat 
of  war  in  1861.  A  procession  r.f  ladies,  headed 
by  music,  passed  between  double  lines  of  troops, 
who  presented  arms,  and  were  afterwards  drawn 
jp  in  hollow  square  to  receive  the  welcome  dough- 
nation. 

Never  before  was  seen  such  an  aggregate  of 
doughnuts  since  the  world  began.  The  circum- 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


73 


ambient  air  was  redolent  of  doughnuts.  Every 
breeze  sighed  doughnuts  —  everybody  talked  of 
doughnuts.  The  display  of  doughnuts  beggared 
description.  There  was  the  molasses  doughnut 
and  the  sugar  doughnut —  the  long  doughnut  and 
the  short  doughnut  —  the  round  doughnut  and 
the  square  doughnut  —  the  rectangular  dough 
nut  and  the  triangular  doughnut  —  the  single 
twisted  doughimt  and  the  double  twisted  dough 
nut  —  the  "  light  riz "  doughnut  and  the  hard- 
kneaded  doughnut  —  the  straight  solid  doughnut 
and  the  circular  doughnut,  with  a  hole  in  the 
centre.  There  were  doughnuts  of  all  imaginary 
kinds,  qualities,  shapes,  and  dimensions.  It  was 
emphatically  a  feast  of  doughnuts,  if  not  a  flow 
of  soul. 

LIEUT.  GREBLE  AT  GREAT  BETHEL. — As  soon 
as  the  confusion  arising  from  the  mistake  (the 
cross  firing)  was  over,  Gen.  Pierce  ordered  the 
troops  to  advance.  No  scouts  were  thrown  out, 
nor  were  troops  aware  of  the  vicinity  of  the 
enemy's  batteries  until  they  came  within  their 
fire.  Lieut.  Greble  was  ordered  to  unlimber  his 
gv;n.  He  advanced,  firing  his  gun  alternately, 
until  he  came  within  two  hundred  yards  of  the 
masked  battery  of  the  rebels. 

Soon  after  the  firing  commenced,  he  was  left 
alone  with  his  original  command  of  eleven  men, 
in  an  open  road,  the  volunteers  having  retreated 
before  the  telling  fire  of  the  rilled  cannon. 

He  worked  his  guns  until  he  had  silenced  all 
those  of  the  enemy,  except  one  riiied  cannon. 

The  Zouaves  made  a  demonstration,  and  only 
desired  permission  to  storm  the  fort,  but  no  gen 
eral  officer  was  seen  from  the  commencement  of 
the  action,  and  fifteen  hundred  troops  were  kept 
lying  on  the  ground  for  an  hour  and  forty  minutes, 
waiting  for  a  commander. 

Lieut.  Greble  stood  the  brunt  of  the  action  for 
two  hours ;  he  was  begged  by  several  officers  to 
retreat,  but  he  refused.  Lieut.  Butler  asked  him 
at  least  to  take  the  same  care  of  himself  that  the 
rest  did,  and  dodge.  He  replied,  "  I  never  dodge, 
and  when  I  hear  the  notes  of  the  bugle  calling  a 
retreat,  I  shall  retreat,  and  not  before."  The 
enemy  made  a  sortie.  Lieut.  Greble  said  to  Capt. 
Bartlett,  who  was  standing  alongside  of  him, 
"  Now,  Charley,  I  have  something  to  fire  at,  just  see 
how  I  will  make  them  scamper."  He  immediately 
loaded  with  grape,  and  fired,  when  the  enemy  at 
once  retreated  behind  their  intrenchment. 

Seeing  himself  left  entirely  alone,  with  five 
men  at  his  own  gun,  he  turned  to  Corporal  Peo 
ples,  and  said,  "  All  he  could  do  would  be  useless 
-  -  limber  up  the  gun  and  take  it  away."  At  this 
moment  a  shot  struck  him  on  the  left  temple.  He 
Immediately  fell,  and  his  only  exclamation  was, 
"  O,  my  gun  !  "  The  same  ball  went  through  the 
body  of  another  man,  and  took  the  leg  off  a  third. 

Throughout  the  firing  he  had  sighted  every 
gun  himself,  and  examined  the  effect  of  every 
jhot  with  his  glass.  It  was  remarked  by  his  own 
men,  that  every  ball  was  placed  in  the  very  spot 
that  he  aimed  for.  The  men  say  that  he  exhibited 
the  same  coolness  that  he  would  on  parade. 


The  enemy  did  not  come  out  again  until  the 
Federal  troops  had  been  withdrawn  a  half  hour. 

Lieut.  Greble  did  not  spike  his  gun,  but  kept 
it  charged  in  preparing  to  withdraw  his  com 
mand.  The  Sergeant  spiked  it  after  the  Lieu 
tenant  was  killed.  

A  HUMOROUS  INCIDENT.  —  One  of  the  Jus 
tices  of  the  I'-.jlice  Court,  in  Boston,  Mass.,  who 
had  :een  mucn  service  in  the  Volunteer  Militia, 
was  jolding  court,  when  a  company  of  Volunteers 
passed  the  court-house,  marching  to  the  immortal 
tune  of  the  "  Star  Spangled  Banner."  The  spec 
tators  sprang  to  their  feet,  responsive  to  the  un 
derstood  order  of  '  Forward,  to  the  door ! "  Run 
ning  feet  shufileti.  in  the  entry.  Boom !  boom ! 
sounded  the  band.  ll  O,  long  may  it  wave  ! " 
screamed  a  patriotic  urchin  outside  the  window. 
" First  Regiment,  take  the  witness  stand!" 
thundered  the  Court,  which  must  have  imagined 
itself  on  the  green  field,  at  the  head  of  its  com 
mand. 

THE  OTHER  "  ABOU-BEN-ADHEM." —  The  fol 
lowing  ingenious  and  witty  parody  of  a  poem 
universally  known,  is  from  a  feminine  pen.  The 
tart  and  somewhat  malicious  allusions  to  "  Rye  " 
refer,  we  suppose,  to  President  Buchanan's  letter 
to  some  Western  friends,  acknowledging,  with 
thanks,  the  receipt  of  some  excellent  rye  whis 
key  : 

James  JB-TJchanan —  may  his  tribe  decrease  — 
Awoke  one  night  from  a  strange  dream  of  peace, 
And  saw,  within  the  curtains  of  his  bed, 
Making  his  t'other  eye  to  squint  with  dread  — 
Old  Jackson,  writing  in  a  book  of  gold. 
Exceeding  Rye  had  made  Buchanan  bold, 
And  to  the  stern  Ex-President  he  said  : 
"  Wha  —  what  writ'st  thou?"     The  spirit  shook 

his  head, 

The  while  he  answered,  with  the  voice  of  old: 
"  The  names  of  those  who  ne'er  their  country  sold !  " 
"  And  is  mine  one  ? "  asked  J.  B.     "  Nary!"  cried 
The  General,  with  a  frown.     Buchanan  sighed, 
And  groaned,  and  turned  himself  upon  his  bed, 
And  took  another  "nip"  of  "rye,"  then  said: 
"  Well,  ere  thou  lay  thy  record  on  the  shelf, 
Write  me  at  least  as  one  who  sold  himself! 
'  Democs '  and  '  Rye  '  so  long  my  spirits  were, 
That  when  the  «  Crisis '  came  —  I  wasn't  there !  " 
The  General  wrote,  and  vanished ;  the  next  night 
He  came  again,  in  more  appalling  plight, 
And  showed  those  names  that  all  true  men  detest, 
And  lo  !  Buchanan's  name  led  all  the  rest ! 


YOUNG  HART  THE  GUIDE.  —  Rich  Mountain 
is  famous  as  the  scene  where  the  first  decisive 
battle  was  fought  in  West  Virginia,  between  Gen. 
McClellan  and  Gen.  Garnett. 

Rich  Mountain  range,  as  it  is  sometimes  called, 
is  in  Randolph  County,  sixty  miles  from  Glen- 
ville,  one  hundred  miles  from  Parkersburg,  and 
twelve  miles  from  Beverly,  the  county  seat  of 
Randolph  County.  It  is  long,  narrow,  and  high  ; 
and,  except  the  summit,  whereon  is  Mr.  Hart's 
farm,  it  is  covered  with  timber  densely,  save  a 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


narrow  strip  on  one  side,  which  is  thickly  covered 
with  laurel.  The  Parkersburg  and  Staunton 
Pike  winds  round  the  mountain,  and  passes,  by 
the  hoads  of  ravines,  directly  over  its  top.  The 
soil  is  black  and  rich,  differing  from  that  of  all 
adjacent  mountains,  and  it  is  from  this  circum 
stance  that  its  name  is  derived. 

The  topographical  formation  of  the  mountain 
,op  is  admirably  adapted  for  the  erection  of  strong 
military  defences  ;  and  on  this  account  Gen.  Gar- 
nett  had  selected  it  as  a  stronghold  for  his  army. 
He  had  erected  formidable  fortifications,  render 
ing  an  attack  fatal  to  the  assailing  party,  on  the 
road  leading  up  the  mountain,  which  was  deempd 
the  only  route  by  which  the  enemy  could  possibly 
reach  his  position.  Gen.  McClellan  was  advan 
cing  with  an  army  of  five  thousand  men  from 
Clarksburg,  on  the  Parkersburg  and  Staunton 
Turnpike,  intending  to  attack  Garnett  early  in 
the  morning  where  his  works  crossed  the  road, 
not  deeming  any  other  route  up  the  mountain 
practicable.  Had  he  carried  his  plan  into  execu 
tion,  subsequent  examination  showed  that  no 
earthly  power  could  have  saved  him  and  his  army 
from  certain  defeat.  The  mountain  was  steep  in 
front  of  the  fortifications  ;  reconnoisance,  except 
in  force,  was  impossible  ;  and  McClellan  had  de 
termined  to  risk  a  battle  directly  on  the  road, 
where  Garnett,  without  McClellan's  knowledge, 
had  rendered  his  defences  impervious  to  any  pow 
er  that  man  could  bring  against  him. 

Mr.  Hart,  whose  farm  is  on  the  mountain,  was 
a  Union  man,  knew  the  ground  occupied  by  Gar 
nett,  and  had  carefully  examined  his  fortifica 
tions  on  the  road  coming  up  the  mountain.  Hear 
ing  that  McClellan  was  advancing,  and  fearing 
that  he  might  attempt  to  scale  the  works  at  the 
road,  he  sent  his  little  son,  Joseph  Hart,  in  the 
night,  to  meet  McClellan  and  inform  him  of  the 
situation  of  affairs  on  the  mountain.  Joseph,  be 
ing  but  a  boy,  got  through  the  rebel  lines  with 
out  difficulty,  and  travelling  the  rest  of  the  night 
and  part  of  the  following  day,  reached  the  ad 
vanced  guard  of  the  Union  army,  informed  them 
of  the  object  of  his  coming,  and  was  taken,  under 
guard,  to  the  General's  quarters.  Young  as  he 
was,  the  Federal  commander  looked  upon  him 
with  suspicion.  He  questioned  him  closely.  Jo 
seph  related  in  simple  language  all  his  father  had 
told  him  of  Garnett's  position,  the  number  of  his 
force,  the  character  of  his  works,  and  the  impos 
sibility  of  successfully  attacking  him  on  the 
mountain  in  the  direction  he  proposed.  The 
General  listened  attentive!)  to  his  simple  story, 
occasionally  interrupting  him  with :  "  Tell  the 
truth,  my  boy."  At  each  interruption  Joseph 
earnestly  but  quietly  would  reply :  "  I  am  tell 
ing  you  the  truth,  General."  "  But,"  says  the 
latter,  "  do  you  know,  if  you  are  not,  you  will  be 
shot  as  a  spy  ?  "  "I  am  willing  to  be  shot  if  all 
1  say  is  not  true,"  gently  responded  Joseph. 
"  Well,"  says  the  General,  after  being  satisfied 
of  the  entire  honesty  of  his  little  visitor,  "  if  I 
cannot  go  up  the  mountain  by  the  road,  in  what 
way  am  I  to  go  up  ?  "  Joseph,  who  now  saw 
that  he  was  believed,  from  the  manner  of  his  in 


terrogator,  said  there  was  a  way  up  the  other 
side,  leaving  the  turnpike  just  at  the  foot,  and 
going  round  the  base  to  where  the  laurel  was. 
There  was  no  road  there,  and  the  mountain  was 
very  steep  ;  but  he  had  been  up  there :  there  were 
but  few  trees  standing,  and  none  fallen  down  to 
be  in  the  way.  The  laurel  was  very  thick  up  the 
side  of  the  mointain.  and  the  top  matted  togeth 
er  so  closely  that  a  man  could  walk  on  the  tops. 
The  last  statement  of  Joseph  once  more  awakened 
a  slight  suspicion  of  Gen.  McClellan,  who  said 
sharply,  "  Do  you  say  men  can  walk  on  the  tops 
of  the  laurel?  "  "  Yes  sir,"  said  Joseph.  "  Do  you 
think  my  army  can  go  up  the  mountain,  over  the 
tops  of  the  laurel  ?  "  "  No,  sir,"  promptly  answered 
Joseph  ;  "  but  /  have  done  so,  and  a  man  might,  if 
he  would  walk  slowly  and  had  nothing  to  carry." 
"  But,  my  boy,  don't  you  see,  I  have  a  great 
many  men,  and  horses,  and  cannon  to  take  up,  and 
how  do  you  think  we  could  get  up  over  that  lau 
rel?  "  "  The  trees  are  small ;  they  are  so  small 
you  can  cut  them  down,  without  making  any 
noise,  with  knives  and  hatchets ;  and  they  will  not 
know  on  the  top  of  the  mountain  what  you  are 
doing  or  when  you  are  coming,"  promptly  and 
respectfully  answered  Joseph,  who  was  now  really 
to  be  the  leader  of  the  little  army  that  was  to  de 
cide  the  political  destroy  of  West  Virginia. 

The  Federal  commander  was  satisfied  with 
this ;  and  although  he  had  marched  all  day,  and 
intended  that  night  to  take  the  easy  way  up  the 
mountain  by  the  road,  he  immediately  changed  his 
plan  of  attack,  and  suddenly  the  army  of  the 
Union  were  moving  away  in  the  direction  pointed 
out  by  Joseph  Hart.  When  they  came  to  the  foot 
of  the  mountain,  they  left  the  smooth  and  easy 
track  of  the  turnpike,  and  with  difficulty  wound 
round  the  broad  bf.se  of  the  mountain,  through 
ravines  and  ugly  gorges,  to  the  point  indicated 
by  the  little  guide.  Here  the  army  halted.  Mc 
Clellan  and  some  of  his  staff,  with  Joseph,  pro 
ceeded  to  examine  the  nature  of  the  ground,  and 
the  superincumbent  laurel  covering  the  mountain 
from  its  base  to  its  summit.  All  was  precisely 
as  Joseph  had  described  it  in  the  chiefs  tent  on 
the  Staunton  Pike  ;  and  the  quick  eye  of  the  hero 
of  Rich  Mountain  saw  at  a  glance  the  feasibility 
of  the  attack.  It  was  past  midnight  when  the 
army  reached  the  foot  of  the  mountain.  Though 
floating  clouds  hid  the  stars,  the  night  wa*  not 
entirely  dark,  and  more  than  a  thousand  knives 
and  hatchets  were  soon  busy  clearing  away  the 
marvellous  laurel.  Silence  reigned  throughout 
the  lines,  save  the  sharp  click  of  the  small  blades 
and  the  rustle  of  the  falling  laurel.  Before  day- 
bre,ak  the  narrow  and  precipitous  way  was 
cleared,  and  the  work  of  ascending  commenced. 
The  horses  were  tied  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain. 
The  artillery  horses  were  taken  from  the  car 
riages.  One  by  one  the  cannon  were  taken  up 
the  rough  and  steep  side  of  the  mountain  by 
hand,  and  left  within  a  shoit  distance  of  the 
top,  in  such  a  situation  as  to  be  readily  moved 
forward  when  the  moment  of  attack  should  ar 
rive.  The  main  army  then  commenced  the 
march  up  by  companies,  many  falling  down,  but 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


75 


suddenly  recovering  their  places.  The  ascent 
was  a  slow  and  tedious  one.  The  way  was  wind 
ing  and  a  full  mile.  But  before  daybreak  all 
was  ready,  and  the  Yankee  cannon  were  booming 
upon  and  over  the  enemy's  works,  nearly  in  his 
rear,  at  an  unexpected  moment,  and  from  an  en 
tirely  unexpected  quarter.  They  were  thunder 
struck,  as  well  as  struck  by  shell  and  canister. 
They  did  the  best  they  could  by  a  feeble  resist 
ance,  and  fled  precipitately  down  the  mountain, 
pursued  by  the  Federals  to  Cheat  River,  where 
the  brave  Garnett  was  killed.  Two  hundred  fell 
on  the  mountain,  and  are  buried  by  the  side  of  the 
turnpike,  with  no  other  sign  of  the  field  of  inter 
ment  than  a  long  indentation  made  by  the  sink 
ing  down  of  the  earth  in  the  line  where  th^  Bod 
ies  lie.  

A  COURAGEOUS  WOMAN.  —  A  good  story  is 
told  of  the  courageous  conduct  of  the  wife  of 
Capt.  McGilvery,  master  of  the  ship  Mary  Goodell. 
which  was  captured  by  a  rebel  privateer,  and  sub 
sequently  released,  and  arrived  at  Portland.  Mrs. 
McGilvery  was  on  the  voyage  with  her  husband, 
and  when  the  ship  was  boarded  by  the  pirates, 
she  was  asked  by  them  for  a  supply  of  small 
stores  for  their  use,  as  they  were  rather  short. 
She  immediately  replied  that  she  had  nothing 
but  arsenic,  and  would  gladly  give  them  a  supply, 
but  that  they  could  have  nothing  else  from  her. 
Seeing  the  national  flag  near  at  hand,  they  started 
to  secure  it,  when  she  sprang  forward,  and  grasp 
ing  the  flag,  threw  it  into  a  chest,  and  placing 
herself  over  it,  declared  they  should  not  have  it 
unless  they  took  her  with  it.  Finding  the  lady 
rather  too  spunky  for  them,  they  retired  without 
further  molesting  her. 


THE  GREAT  BELL  ROLAND.  * 

BY   THEODORE    TILT  ON. 

(Suggested  by  the  President's  first  call  for  Volunteers.) 


TOLL!  Roland,  toll! 
In  old  St.  Bavon's  tower, 
At  midnight  hour, 
The  great  bell  Roland  spoke  ! 
All  souls  that  slept  in  Ghent  awoke  I 
What  meant  the  thunder- stroke  ? 
Why  trembled  wife  and  maid  ? 
Why  caught  each  man  his  blade  ? 
Why  echoed  every  street 
With  tramp  of  thronging  feet  ? 

All  flying  to  the  city's  wall  I 

It  was  the  warning  call 
That  Freedom  stood  in  peril  of  a  foe  I 
And  even  timid  hearts  grew  bold 
Whenever  Roland  tolled, 
And  every  hand  a  sword  could  hold  1 

So  acted  men 

Like  patriots  then 
Three  hundred  years  ago  ! 

*  The  famous  bell  Roland,  of  Ghent,  was  an  object 
of  great  affection  to  the  people,  because  it  rang  to  arm 
them  when  Liberty  was  in  danger. 


Toll !  Roland,  toll ! 
Bell  never  yet  was  hung, 
Between  whose  lips  there  swurg 
So  gran  I  a  tongue  ! 

If  men  be  patriots  still, 
At  thy  first  sound 
True  hearts  will  bound, 
Great  souls  will  thrill ! 
Then  toll  and  strike  the  test 
Through  ^ach  man's  breast, 
Till  loyal  hearts  shall  stand  confest,  — 
And  may  God's  wrath  smite  all  the  rest ! 

in. 

Toll !  Roland,  toll ! 
Not  now  in  old  St.  Bavon's  tower  — 
Not  now  at  midnight  hour  — 
Not  now  from  River  Scheldt  to  Zuyder  Zeft  — 

But  here,  —  this  side  the  sea!  — 

Toll  here,  in  broad,  bright  day  1  -  - 

For  not  by  ni^ht  awaits 

A  noble  foe  without  the  gates, 
But  perjured  friends  within  betray, 
And  do  the  deed  at  noon  ! 

Toll !  Roland,  toll  I 
Thy  sound  is  not  too  soon  ! 
To  arms  !  Ring  out  the  leader's  call ! 
Re-echo  it  from  East  to  West 
Till  every  hero's  breast 
Shall  swell  beneath  a  soldier's  crest  I 

Toll !  Roland,  tell ! 
Till  cottager  from  cottage  wall 
Snatch  pouch  and  powder-horn  and  gun  f 
The  sire  bequeathed  them  to  the  son 
When  only  half  their  work  was  do^e! 

Toll !  Roland,  toll ! 
Till  swords  from  scabbards  leap  ! 

Toll !  Roland,  toll  ! 
What  tears  can  widows  weep 
Less  bitter  than  when  brave  rren  fall ! 

Toll !  Roland,  toll ! 
In  shadowed  hut  and  hall 
Shall  lie  the  soldier's  pall, 
And  hearts  shall  break  while  graves  are  filled  I 

Amen  !  so  God  hath  willed ! 
And  may  His  £race  anoint  us  all  i 


Toll !  Roland,  toll ! 
The  Dragon  on  thy  tower 
Stands  tentry  to  this  hour, 
And  Freedom  so  stands  safe  in  Ghc.-nt» 
And  merrier  bells  now  ring, 
And  in  the  land's  serene  content, 
Men  shout,  "  God  save  the  King!  " 

Until  the  skies  are  rent  I 
So  let  it  be  \ 
A  kingly  king  is  he 
Who  keeps  his  people  free  ! 

Toll !  Roland,  toll ! 
Ring  out  across  the  sea  f 
No  longer  They,  but  We, 
Have  now  such  need  of  thee  ! 

Toll !  Roland,  toll ! 
Nor  ever  may  thy  throat 
Kee  p  dumb  its  warning  note, 
Till  Freedom's  perVs  be  outbraved  l: 

Toll !  -Ro tan  1,  toll! 


76 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Till  Freedom's  flag,  wherever  waved, 
Shall  shadow  not  a  man  enslaved ! 

Toll !  Roland,  toll ! 
From  northern  lake  to  southern  strand  ! 

Toll !  Roland,  toll ! 
Till  friend  and  foe,  at  thy  command, 
Once  more  shall  clasp  each  other's  hand, 
And  shout,  one-voiced,  "  God  save  the  land !  " 
And  love  the  land  that  God  hath  saved  ! 

Toll !  Roland,  toll ! 


HORSES  AT  BULL  RUN.  —  One  of  the  guns  of 
Sherman's  battery  was  rescued  from  capture  by 
the  rebels,  and  brought  oft'  the  field  by  two  horses 
that  had  been  shot  through  by  Minie  musket- 
halls.  When  the  order,  "-Forward,"  was  given, 
they  resolutely  straightened  out,  and  absolutely 
brought  oft'  the  gun. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  battle,  Lieut.  Has- 
brouck,  of  the  West  Point  battery,  was  riding  a 
little  sorrel  horse.  In  a  short  time  he  was  shot 
three  times,  and  from  loss  of  blood  became  too 
weak  for  further  service.  He  was  stripped  of 
bridle  and  saddle,  and  turned  loose,  as  his  owner 
supposed,  to  die.  In  the  heat  of  the  contest 
nothing  more  was  thought  of  the  little  sorrel,  nor 
was  he  seen  again  until  the  remnant  of  the  bat 
tery  was  far  towards  Washington  on  the  retreat. 
It  paused  at  Centreville,  and  while  resting  there, 
Lieut.  Hasbrouck  was  delighted  to  be  joined  by 
his  faithful  horse,  which,  by  a  strong  instinct,  had 
obeyed  the  bugle  call  to  retreat,  and  had  found 
his  true  position  with  the  battery,  which  is  more 
than  most  of  the  human  mass  engaged  on  the 
tk'ld  could  boast  of  doing.  He  went  safely  into 
Washington,  recovered  of  his  wounds,  ready  for 
another  fight.  

INCIDENTS  or  THE  PENINSULA.  —  At  the  bat 
tle  of  Hanover  Court  House,  Va.,  two  sergeants 
met  in  the  woods  ;  each  drew  his  knife,  and  the 
two  bodies  were  found  together,  each,  with  a 
knife  buried  in  it  to  the  hilt.  Some  men  had  a 
cool  way  of  disposing  of  prisoners.  One,  an 
officer  of  the  Massachusetts  Ninth,  well  known 
in  Boston  as  a  professor  of  muscular  Christianity, 
bettor  known  as  "  the  child  of  the  regiment," 
while  rushing  through  the  woods  at  the  head  of 
his  company,  came  upon  a  rebel.  Seizing  the 
"  grayback "  by  the  collar,  he  threw  him  over 
his  shoulder,  with,  "  Pick  him  up,  somebody."  A 
little  Yankee,  marching  down  by  the  side  of  a 
fence  which  skirted  the  woods,  came  upon  a 
strapping  secesh,  who  attempted  to  seize  and  pull 
him  over  the  rails ;  but  the  little  one  had  too 
much  science.  A  blow  with  the  butt  of  a  musket 
levelled  secesh  to  the  ground,  arid  made  him  a 
prisoner.  

'CUTENESS     OF    A     CONTRABAND     SCOUT. — A 

private  letter  from  West  Point,  Va.,  narrates  an 
exciting  adventure  which  befell  a  negro  scout  in 
the  employ  of  the  Union  forces,  and  his  shrewd 
ness  in  escaping  from  the  rebels.  His  name  was 
Claiborne,  and  he  was  a  full-blooded  African, 


with  big  lips,  flat  nose,  &c.  He  lived  in  the  vi 
cinity  all  his  life,  and  was  therefore  familiar  with 
the  country,  which  rendered  him  a  very  valuable 
scout.  Oil  Claiborne's  last  trip  inside  the  ene 
my's  lines,  after  scouting  around  as  much  as  he 
wished,  bs  picked  up  eight  chickens  and  started 
for  camp.  His  road  led  past  the  house  of  a  secesh 
doctor  named  Roberts,  who  knew  him,  and  who 
ordered  him  to  stop,  which,  of  course,  Claiborne 
had  no  idea  of  doing,  and  kept  on,  when  the  doc 
tor  fired  on  him,  and  ga  ;e  chase,  shouting  at  the 
top  of  his  voice.  The  negro  was  making  good 
time  towards  camp,  when  all  at  once  he  was  con 
fronted  by  a  whole  regiment  of  rebel  soldiers, 
who  ordered  him  to  halt.  For  a  moment  the 
scout  was  dumbfounded,  and  thought  his  hour 
had  come  ;  but  the  next  he  sung  out : 

"  The  Yankees  are  coming  !  the  Yankees  are 
coming  ! " 

"  Where  ?  where  ?  "  inquired  the  rebels. 

"  Just  up  in  front  of  Dr.  Roberts'  house,  in  a 
piece  of  woods,"  returned  Sambo.  "  Dr.  II.  sent 
me  down  to  tell  you  to  come  up  quick,  or  they'll 
kill  the  whole  of  us." 

"  Come  in,  come  into  carnp,"  said  the  sol 
diers. 

"  No,  no,"  says  the  'cute  African,  "  I  have  got 
to  go  down  and  tell  the  cavalry  pickets,  and  can't 
wait  a  second."  So  off  he  sprang  with  a  bound, 
running  for  dear  life,  the  rebs,  discovering  the 
ruse,  chasing  him  for  three  miles,  and  he  running 
six,  when  he  got  safely  into  camp,  but  minus  his 
chickens,  which  he  dropped  at  the  first  fire. 


AN  AFFECTING  INCIDENT.  —  An  incident  is 
related  which  affords  a  striking  but  sad  illustra 
tion  of  the  effects  of  civil  war.  The  lady  in  ques 
tion  has  resided  with  an  only  daughter  for  many 
years  in  Alexandria.  About  nine  months  since, 
a  mutual  friend  introduced  a  young  gentleman 
of  Richmond  to  the  family.  The  young  people 
soon  became  intimately  acquainted,  and,  quite 
naturally,  fell  in  love.  The  parents  on  both  sides 
consenting,  the  parties  were  betrothed,  and  the 
marriage  day  was  fixed  for  the  4th  of  July  In 
the  mean  time,  however,  the  Virginians  were 
called  upon  to  decide  on  which  side  they  would 
stand.  The  ladies  declared  themselves  on  the 
side  of  the  Government,  but  the  gentleman  joined 
the  forces  of  his  State.  No  opportunity  was  af 
forded  for  the  interchange  of  sentiments  between 
the  young  folks,  or  anything  settled  as  to  their 
future  movements.  Matters  thus  remained  till 
the  4th  of  July,  when,  exactly  within  i*n  hour  of 
the  time  originally  fixed  for  the  marriage,  intelli 
gence  was  received  at  the  residence  of  the  ladies 
that  the  young  man  had  been  shot  by  a  sentry- 
two  days  before,  while  attempting  to  desert  and 
join  his  bride.  His  betrothed  did  not  shed  a 
tear,  but,  standing  erect,  smiled,  and  then  re 
marking  ta  her  mother,  "  I  am  going  to  desert 
too,"  fell  ro  the  floor,  while  the  blood  bubbled 
from  her  lips  as  her  soul  passed  back  to  Him 
who  gave  .t. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


77 


A  DRAFT  AT  SAVANNAH,  GA.  —  A  correspond 
ent  at  Charleston  furnished  the  following  descrip 
tion  of  the  scene  which  ensued  on  the  occasion 
of  a  draft  for  four  hundred  men  in  Savannah,  to 
complete  a  requisition  for  troops,  the  requisite 
number  not  having  volunteered.  Fifteen  hundred 
of  the  business  men  and  mechanics  of  the  city 
were  diawn  up  in  a  hollow  square  on  the  parade- 
ground,  all  in  a  high  state  of  excitement,  when 
the  following  proceedings  took  place : 

"  The  Colonel  now  takes  his  place  in  the  centre, 
and  from  the  back  of  a  magnificent  horse,  in  a 
few  well-timed  remarks,  calls  for  volunteers. 
He  said  it  was  a  shame  that  a  Georgian  should 
submit  to  be  drafted,  and  dishonorable  to  a  citi 
zen  of  Savannah  to  be  forced  into  the  service  of 
his  country.  He  appealed  to  their  patriotism, 
their  pluck,  and  their  —  pelf.  He  told  them  of 
good  clothes,  good  living,  and  fifty  dollars  bounty ; 
and  on  the  strength  of  these  considerations,  in 
vited  everybody  to  walk  three  paces  in  front. 
Nobody  did  it.  An  ugly  pause  ensued,  worse 
than  a  dead  silence  between  the  ticking  of  a  con 
versation.  The  Colonel  thought  he  might  not 
have  been  heard  or  understood,  and  repeated  his 
catalogue  of  persuasions.  At  this  point  one  of 
the  sides  of  the  square  opened,  and  in  marched 
a  company  of  about  forty  stalwart  Irishmen, 
whom  their  Captain,  in  a  loud  and  exultant  tone, 
announced  as  the  Mitchell  Guards.  'We  volunteer, 
Colonel,  in  a  body.'  The  Colonel  was  delighted. 
He  proposed  '  three  cheers  for  the  Mitchell 
Guards,'  and  the  crowd  indulged  not  inordinately 
in  the  pulmonary  exercise.  The  requisite  num 
ber  did  not  seem  to  be  forthcoming,  however,  and 
the  Colonel  made  another  little  speech,  winding 
up  with  an  invitation  to  the  black  drummer  and 
filer  to  perambulate  the  quadrangle  and  play 
Dixie  ;  which  they  did,  but  they  came  as  they 
went  —  solitary  and  alone;  not  the  ghost  of  a 
volunteer  being  anywhere  visible  in  the  Ethio 
pian  wake.  The  Colonel  looked  as  blank  as  if  he 
was  getting  desperate,  and  a  draft  seemed  indis 
pensable. 

As  a  dernier  resort  the  Colonel  directed  all 
who  had  excuses  to  advance  to  the  centre,  and 
submit  them  for  examination.  Did  you  ever  see 
a  crowd  run  away  from  a  falling  building  at  a 
fire,  or  towards  a  dog-fight,  or  a  street-show  ?  If 
you  have,  you  can  form  some  idea  of  the  tem 
pestuous  nature  of  the  wave  that  swept  towards 
the  little  table  in  the  centre  of  the  square,  around 
which  were  gathered  the  four  grave  gentlemen 
who  were  to  examine  the  documents.  It  Avas  a 
scene,  which,  as  an  uninterested  outsider,  one 
could  only  hold  his  sides  and  laugh  at.  Hats 
were  crushed,  ribs  punched,  corns  smashed,  and 
clothes  torn.  Every  hand  held  its  magical  bit 
of  paper,  from  the  begrimed  digits  of  the  indi 
vidual  just  from  a  stable  or  a  foundery,  to  the 
dainty  gloved  extremity  of  the  dry  goods  clerk, 
just  from  his  counter.  Young  and  old,  rich  and 
poor,  neat  and  nasty,  Americans,  Englishmen, 
Irishmen,  Germans,  Frenchmen,  Italians,  Israel 
ites,  and  Gentiles,  all  went  to  make  up  the  mot 
ley  mass.  What  a  pretty  lot  of  sick  and  disa 


bled  individuals  there  were,  to  be  sure !    Swelled 
arms,   limping   legs,   spine    diseases,   bad   eyes, 
|  3orns,  toothaches,  constitutional  debility  in  the 
|  bread-basket,  eruptive  diseases,  deafness,  rbeu- 
|  matisrn,  not  well  generally  —  these,  and  a  thou 
sand  other  complaints,  were  represented   as  va 
riously  and  heterogeneously  as  by  any  procession 
of  pilgrims  that  ever  visited  the  Holy  Land. 

"  And  so  the  day  progressed,  nearly  ten  hours 
being  consumed  in  th»  endeavor  to  secure  a 
draft.  This  afternoon  the  absentees  were  gath 
ered  together,  and  the  efforts  renewed,  when, 
strange  to  say,  every  man  who  found  the  liability 
imminent  of  his  being  forced  to  enlist,  protested 
that  he  was  just  on  the  point  of  doing  so,  and 
willingly  put  his  name  to  the  roll." 


SOUTHERN  WOMEN.  —  A  gentleman  from 
Charleston  says  that  everything  there  (Jan.  7, 
1861,)  betokens  active  preparations  for  fight. 
Last  Sunday,  he  says,  not  a  lady  was  at  the 
church  he  attended.  They  were  all  at  home 
making  cartridges  and  cylinders,  and  scraping 
lint.  The  thousand  negroes  busy  in  building 
batteries,  so  far  from  inclining  to  insurrection, 
were  grinning  from  ear  to  ear  at  the  prospect 
of  shooting  the  Yankees.  Extravagant  reports 
were  current  as  to  the  hostile  designs  of  the 
Federal  Government,  such  as  that  the  Macedo 
nian  was  on  her  way  with  five  hundred  troops. 


A  MODEL  BODY-GUARD.  —  "Brick"  Pome- 
roy,  of  the  La  Crosse  Wisconsin,  on  being  in 
vited  to  assist  in  forming  a  body-guard  for  Pres 
ident  Lincoln,  after  due  consideration  decided  to 
"go  in,"  provided  the  following  basis  could  be 
adopted  and  rigidly  adhered  to  throughout  the 
war : 

The  company  shall  be  entirely  composed  of 
colonels,  who  shall  draw  pay  and  rations  in 
advance. 

Every  man  shall  have  a  commission,  two  ser 
vants,  and  white  kids. 

Each  man  shall  be  mounted  in  a  covered  bug 
gy,  drawn  by  two  Avhite  stallions. 

Under  the  seat  of  each  buggy  shall  be  a  cup 
board,  containing  cold  chicken,  pounded  ice,  and 
champagne,  a  la  members  of  Congress  and  mil* 
itary  officers  at  Bull  Run. 

Each  man  shall  have  plenty  of  cards  and  red 
chips  to  play  poker  with. 

The  only  side-arms  to  be  opera-glasses,  cham 
pagne  glasses,  and  gold-headed  canes. 

The  duty  of  the  company  shall  be  to  take  ob 
servations  of  battle,  and  on  no  account  shall  it 
be  allowed  to  approach  nearer  than  ten  miles  to 
the  seat  of  war. 

Behind  each  buggy  shall  be  an  ambulance,  so 
arranged  as  to  be  converted  into  a  first-class 
boarding-house  in  the  daytime,  and  a  sumptuous 
sleeping  and  dressing  room  at  night. 

The  regimental  band  must   be  composed  of 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


pianos  an.d  guitars,  played  by  young  ladies,  who 
shall  never  play  a  quickstep  except  in  case  of 
retreat. 

Reveille  shall  not  be  sounded  till  late  break 
fast  time,  and  not  then  if  any  one  of  the  regiment 
has  a  headache. 

In  case  of  a  forced  march  into  an  enemy's 
country,  two  miles  a  week  shall  be  the  maximum, 
arid  no  marches  shall  be  made  except  the  coun 
try  abound  in  game,  or  if  any  member  of  the 
regiment  object. 

Kid  gloves,  gold  toothpicks,  cologne,  hair- 
dressing,  silk  underclothes,  cosmetics,  and  all 
other  rations,  to  be  furnished  by  the  Govern 
ment. 

Each  member  of  the  regiment  shall  be  allowed 
a  reporter  for  some  New  York  paper,  who  shall 
draw  a  salary  of  two  hundred  dollars  a  week,  for 
puffs,  from  the  incidental  fund. 

Every  member  shall  be  in  command,  and  when 
one  is  promoted,  all  are  to  be. 

Commissions  never  to  be  revoked. 


THE  FIGHT  AT  BIG  BETHEL.  —  The  follow 
ing  account  of  the  battle  of  Big  Bethel  was  given 
by  a  Confederate  soldier,  who  participated  in  the 
defence :  "  An  engagement  lasting  four  hours 
took  place  yesterday,  June  10,  between  five  regi 
ments  of  the  troops  from  Old  Point,  and  1100 
Confederate  troops,  consisting  of  Virginians  and 
North  Carolinians  under  Gen.  Magruder,  at 
Bethel  Church,  York  County.  Before  telling  you 
of  the  battle,  I  will  give  you  some  circumstances 
preceding  it.  About  two  weeks  ago,  a  party  of 
three  hundred  Yankees  came  up  from  Hampton, 
and  occupied  Bethel  Church,  which  position  they 
held  a  day  or  two,  and  then  retired,  leaving 
written  on  the  walls  of  the  church  several  inscrip 
tions,  such  as  '  Death  to  the  Traitors,'  '  Down 
with  the  Rebels,'  &c.  To  nearly  all  these  the 
names  of  the  writers  were  defiantly  signed,  and 
all  of  the  penmen  signed  themselves  as  from  New 
York,  except  one,  who  was  from  Boston,  Mass., 
U.  S.  To  these  excursions  into  the  interior,  of 
which  this  was  the  boldest,  Gen.  Magruder  de 
termined  to  put  a  stop,  and  accordingly  filled 
the  place,  after  the  Yankees  left,  with  a  few  com 
panies  of  his  own  troops.  In  addition  to  this,  he 
determined  to  carry  the  war  into  the  enemy's 
country,  and  on  Wednesday  last,  Stanard's  bat 
tery  of  the  Howitzer  Battalion  was  ordered  down 
to  the  church,  where  it  was  soon  joined  by  a  por 
tion  of  Brown's  battery  of  the  same  corps.  The 
North  Carolina  regiment,  under  Col.  Hill,  was 
also  there,  making  in  all  about  1100  men, 
and  seven  howitzer  guns.  On  Saturday  last  the 
first  excursion  of  considerable  importance  was 
made.  A  detachment  of  200  infantry  and  a  how 
itzer  gun  under  Major  Randolph,  and  one  of  70 
infantry  and  another  howitzer  under  Major  Lane, 
of  the  North  Carolina  regiment,  started  different 
routes  to  cut  off  a  party  which  had  left  Hampton. 
The  party  was  seen  and  fired  at  by  Major  Ran 
dolph's  detachment,  but  made  such  fast  time  that 
they  escaped.  The  troops  under  Major  Lane 


passed  within  sight  of  Hampton,  and  as  they 
turned  .  p  the  road  to  return  to  Bethel,  encoun 
tered  the  Yankees,  numbe'  ing  about  90,  who  were 
intrenched  behind  a  fence  in  the  fidd,  protected 
by  a  high  banV  Our  advance  guard  fired  on 
them,  and  in  another  moment  the  North  Caro 
linians  were  dashing  over  the  fence  in  regular 
French  (not  New  York.)  Zouave  style,  firing  at 
them  in  real  squirrel-hunting  style.  The  Yan 
kees  fied  for  their  lives  after  firing  for  about 
tliree  minutes  without  effect,  leaving  behind 
them  three  dead  and  a  prisoner.  The  fellow  was 
a  stout,  ugly  fellow,  from  Troy,  N.  Y.  He  said 
he  had  nothing  against  the  South,  but  somebody 
must  be  soldiers,  and  he  thought  he  had  as  well 
enlist.  None  of  our  men  were  hurt.  This  bold 
excursion,  under  the  very  guns  of  the  enemy,  de 
termined  t^e  authorities  at  Old  Point  to  put  a 
stop  to  it,  and  clear  us  out  from  Bethel.  This 
determination  was  conveyed  to  us  from  persons 
who  came  from  the  neighborhood  of  the  enemy. 
On  Monday  morning,  600.  infantry  and  two  guns, 
under  Gen.  Magruder,  left  the  camp  and  pro 
ceeded  towards  Hampton,  but  after  advancing  a 
mile  or  two,  received  information  that  the  Yan 
kees  were  coming  in  large  force.  We  then  re 
tired,  and  after  reaching  camp  the  guns  were 
placed  in  battery,  and  the  infantry  took  their 
places  behind  their  breastwork.  Everybody  was 
cool,  and  all  were  anxious  to  give  the  invaders  a 
good  reception.  About  nine  o'clock,  the  glitter 
ing  bayonets  of  the  enemy  appeared  on  the  hill 
opposite,  and  above  them  waved  the  Star-span 
gled  Banner.  The  moment  the  head  of  the  col 
umn  advanced  far  enough  to  show  one  or  two 
companies,  the  Parrott  gun  of  the  Howitzer-Bat 
tery  opened  on  them,  throwing  a  shell  right  into 
their  midst.  Their  ranks  broke  in  confusion,  and 
the  column,  or  as  much  of  it  as  we  could  see,  re 
treated  behind  two  small  farm-houses.  From 
their  position  a  fire  was  opened  on  us,  which  was 
replied  to  by  our  battery,  which  commanded  the 
route  of  their  approach.  Our  firing  was  excel 
lent,  and  the  shells  scattered  in  all  directions 
when  they  burst.  They  could  hardly  approach 
the  guns  which  they  were  firing  for  the  shells 
which  came  from  our  battery.  Within  our  en 
campment  fell  a  perfect  hail-storm  of  canister-Ehot, 
bullets,  and  balls.  Remarkable  to  say,  not  on6 
of  our  men  was  killed  inside  of  our  encampment. 
Several  horses  were  slain  by  the  shells  and  bul 
lets.  Finding  that  bombardment  would  not  an 
swer,  the  enemy,  about  eleven  o'clock,  tried  to 
carry  the  position  by  assault,  but  met  a  terrible 
repulse  at  the  hands  of  the  infantry  as  he  tried  to 
scale  the  breastworks.  The  men  disregarded 
sometimes  the  defences  erected  for  them,  and, 
leaping  on  the  embankment,  stood  and  fired  at 
the  Yankees,  cutting  them  down  as  they  came 
up.  One  company  of  the  New  York  7th  Regi 
ment,  under  Capt/Winthrop,  attempted  to  taks 
the  redoubt  on  the  left.  The  marsh  they  creased 
was  strewn  with  their  bodies.  Their  Captain,  a 
fine-looking  man,  reached  the  fence,  and,  leaping 
on  a  log,  waved  his  sword,  crying,  '  Come  on, 
boys  ;  one  charge,  and  the  day  is  ours ! '  The 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


79 


words  were  his  last,  for  a  Carolina  rifle  ended 
his  life  the  next  moment,  and  his  men  fled  in  ter 
ror  back.  At  the  redoubt  on  the  right,  a  com 
pany  of  about  300  New  York  Zouaves  charged 
one  of  our  guns,  but  could  not  stand  the  fire  of 
the  infantry,  and  retreated  precipitately.  During 
these  charges  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  on  the 
hill  were  attempting  to  concentrate  for  a  general 
assault,  but  the  shells  from  the  Howitzer  Bat 
tery  prevented  them.  As  one  regiment  would 
give  up  the  effort,  another  would  be  marched  to 
the  position,  but  with  no  better  success,  for  a 
shell  would  scatter  them  like  chaff.  The  men  did 
not  seem  able  to  stand  fire  at  all.  About  one 
o'clock  their  guns  were  silenced,  and  a  few  mo 
ments  after,  their  infantry  retreated  precipitately 
down  the  road  to  Hampton.  Our  cavalry,  num 
bering  three  companies,  went  in  pursuit,  and  har 
assed  them  down  to  the  edge  of  Hampton.  As 
they  retreated  many  of  the  wounded  fell  along 
the  road  and  died,  and  the  whole  road  to  Hamp 
ton  was  strewn  with  haversacks,  overcoats,  can 
teens,  muskets,  £c.,  which  the  men  had  thrown 
off  in  their  retreat.  After  the  battle,  I  visited 
the  position  they  held.  The  houses  behind  which 
they  had  been  hid  had  been  burned  by  our  troops. 
Around  the  yard  were  the  dead  bodies  of  the  men 
who  had  been  killed  by  our  cannon,  mangled  in 
the  most  frightful  manner  by  the  shells.  The 
uniforms  on  the  bodies  were  very  different,  and 
many  of  them  are  like  those  of  the  Virginia  sol 
diery.  A  little  farther  on  we  came  to  the  point 
to  which  they  had  carried  some  of  their  wounded, 
who  had  since  died.  The  gay-looking  uniforms 
of  the  New  York  Zouaves  contrasted  greatly  with 
the  pale,  fixed  faces  of  their  dead  owners.  Go 
ing  to  the  swamp,  through  which  they  attempted 
to  pass  to  assault  our  lines,  presented  another 
bloody  scene.  Bodies  dotted  the  black  morass 
from  one  end  to  the  other.  I  saw  one  boyish, 
delicate-looking  fellow  lying  on  the  mud,  with  a 
bullet-hole  through  his  breast.  One  hand  was 

Eressed  on  the  wound,  from  which  his  life-blood 
ad  poured,  and  the  other  was  clinched  in  the 
grass  that  grew  near  him.  Lying  on  the  ground 
was  a  Testament  which  had  fallen  from  his  pock 
et,  dabbled  with  blood.  On  opening  the  cover,  I 
found  the  printed  inscription  :  '  Presented  to  the 
Defenders  of  their  Country  by  the  New  York 
Bible  Society.'  A  United  *  States  flag  was  also 
stamped  on  the  title-page.  Among  the  haver 
sacks  picked  up  along  the  route  were  many  let 
ters  from  the  Northern  States,  asking  if  they 
liked  the  Southern  farms,  and  if  the  Southern 
barbarians  had  been  whipped  out  yet.  The  force 
of  the  enemy  brought  against  us  was  4000,  ac 
cording  to  the  statement  of  the  six  prisoners  we 
took.  Ours  was  1100.  Their  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  must  be  nearly  200.  Our  loss  is  one 
kilbd  and  three  wounded.  The  fatal  case  was 
that  of  a  North  Carolinian  who  volunteered  to 
fire  one  of  the  houses  behind  which  they  were 
stationed.  He  started  from  the  breastwork  to 
accomplish  it,  but  was  shot  in.  the  head.  He 
died  this  morning  in  the  hospital.  The  wounded 
are  Harry  Shook,  of  Richmond,  of  Brown's  bat 


tery,  shot  in  the  wrist ;  John  Werth,  of  Rich 
mond,  of  the  same  battery,  shot  in  the  leg,  and 
Lieut.  Hudnall,  of  the  same  battery,  shot  in  the 
foot.  None  of  the  wounds  are  serious.  Ihe 
Louisiana  regiment  arrived  about  one  hrur  g^e.r 
the  fight  was  over." 


INCIDENT  OF  WAR.  —  One  of  the  most  inter 
esting  incidents  of  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  says  a 
Southern  journal,  is  presented  in  the  case  of 
Willie  P,  Mangum,  Jr.,  son  of  Ex-Senator  Man- 
gum,  of  North  Carolina.  This  young  man  was 
attached  to  Col.  Fisher's  regiment,  and  owes  the 
preservation  of  his  life  to  a  copy  of  the  Bible 
presented  him  by  his  sister.  He  had  the  good 
book  in  his  left  coat-pocket.  It  was  struck  by  a 
ball  near  the  edge,  but  the  book  changed  the  "di 
rection  of  the  bullet,  and  it  glanced  off,  inflicting 
a  severe,  but  not  dangerous  flesh  wound.  The 
book  was  saturated  with  blood,  but  the  advice 
written  on  a  fly-leaf  by  the  sister  who  gave  it  was 
perfectly  legible. 


OLD  HANNAH.  —  "  When  I  was  in  Jefferson,  in 
the  fall  of  1862,"  said  Robert  Colly er,  "  I  found 
the  hospitals  in  the  most  fearful  condition  you 
can  imagine.  I  cannot  stop  to  tell  you  all  the 
scenes  I  saw ;  it  is  enough  to  say  that  one  poor 
fellow  had  lain  there  sick  on  the  boards,  and  seen 
five  men  carried  away  dead,  one  after  another, 
from  his  side.  He  was  worn  to  a  skeleton,  worn 
through,  so  that  great  sores  were  all  over  his 
back,  and  filthy  beyond  description. 

"  One  day,  a  little  before  my  visit,  old  Hannah, 
a  black  woman,  who  had  some  washing  to  do  i'ot 
a  doctor,  went  down  the  ward  to  hunt  him  up. 
She  saw  this  dying  man,  and  had  compassion  on 
him,  and  said,  '  O,  doctor,  let  me  bring  this  man 
to  my  bed,  to  keep  him -off  the  floor.' 

"  The  doctor  said,  '  The  man  is  dying ;  he  will 
be  dead  to-morrow/  To-morrow  came,  and  old 
Hannah  could  not  rest.  She  went  to  see  the 
man,  and  he  was  still  alive.  Then  she  got  some 
help,  took  her  bed,  put  the  man  on  it,  and  car 
ried  him  boldly  to  her  shanty ;  then  she  washed 
him  all  over,  as  a  woman  washes  a  baby,  and  fed 
him  with  a  spoon,  and  fought  death,  hand  to 
hand,  day  and  night,  and  beat  him  back,  arid 
saved  the  soldier's  life. 

"  The  day  before  I  went  to  Jefferson,  the  man 
had  gone  on  a  furlough  to  his  home  in  Indiana. 
He  besought  Hannah  to  go  with  him,  but  she 
could  not  spare  time ;  there  was  all  that  washing 
to  do.  She  went  with  him  to  the  steamboat,  got 
him  fixed  just  to  her  mind,  and  then  kissed  him, 
and  the  man  lifted  up  his  voice,  as  she  left,  and 
Avept  like  a  child.  I  say  we  have  grown  noble  in 
our  suffering." 


A  LOYAL  PIGEON.  —  The  following  is  a  trie 
and  singularly  remarkable  story  of  a  pigeon  cap 
tured  by  Mr.  Tinker,  a  teamster  of  the  Forty- 
second  New  York  Volunteers,  while  the  regiment 


80 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


was  encamped  at  Kalorama  Heights,  Va.  Mr. 
Tinker  made  a  pet  of  him,  and  kept  him  in  camp 
until  they  started  for  Poolesville.  Strange  to 
say,  the  pigeon  followed  on  with  the  train,  occa- 
( eionally  flying  away  at  a  great  distance,  but  al 
ways  returning,  and,  when  weary,  would  alight 
on  some  wagon  of  the  train. 

At  night  he  was  sure  to  come  home,  and, 
watching  his  opportunity,  would  select  a  posi 
tion,  and  quietly  go  to  roost  in  Tinker's  wagon. 

Many  of  the  men  in  the  regiment  took  a  fancy 
to  him,  and  he  soon  became  a  general  favorite. 
From  Poolesville  he  followed  to  Washington,  and 
down  to  the  dock,  where  Tinker  took  him  on 
board  the  steamer  ;  so  he  went  to  Fortress  Mon 
roe,  thence  to  Yorktown,  where  he  was  accus 
tomed  to  make  flights  over  and  beyond  the  ene 
my's  works,  but  was  always  sure  to  return  at 
evening,  to  roost  and  receive  his  food  in  Tinker's 
wagon.  From  thence  he  went  all  through  the 
Peninsular  campaign,  afterwards  to  Antietam, 
and  Harper's  Ferry,  witnessing  all  the  battles 
fought  by  his  regiment. 

By  this  time  he  had  gained  so  much  favor, 
that  a  friend  offered  twenty-five  dollars  to  pur 
chase  him  ;  but  Tinker  would  not  sell  him  at  any 
price,  and  soon  after  sent  him  home  as  a  present 
to  some  friend.  It  might  be  interesting  to  trace 
the  future  movements  of  this  remarkable  speci 
men  of  the  feathered  tribe,  but  none  will  doubt 
his  instinctive  loyalty,  and  attachment  to  the  old 
Tammany  regiment. 

Any  of  the  brave  Forty-second  boys,  who  read 
this  history  of  their  favorite,  will  attest  the  truth 
of  these  statements,  and  be  pleased  to  see  him 
honored  by  this  history  of  his  wanderings.  Such 
devotion  to  the  Stars  and  Stripes  is  a  fair  illus 
tration  of  the  character  of  the  Tammany  regi 
ment  in  the  field,'  and  worthy  of  imitation  by 
those  who  have  more  than  instinct  to  guide 
them.  

SOUTHERN  IDEAS  OF  NORTHERN  BRAVERY. 
—  The  Chinese  and  the  Yankees  are  exceedingly 
alike,  and  we  have  always  thought  that  they  were 
much  more  nearly  related  than  the  Japanese  and 
the  almond-eyed  people  of  the  Flowery  King 
dom. 

When  a  Chinaman  prepares  for  war  —  measur 
ing  his  enemy's  courage  by  his  own  —  he  attempts 
to  work  upon  his  fears.  He  puts  on  a  hideous 
mask,  arms  himself  with  a  huge  shield,  upon 
which  he  paints  some  unearthly  monster ;  and, 
when  thus  accoutred,  he  goes  forth  in  cold  sweat 
tc  encounter  the  enemy.  As  soon  as  he  be 
holds  his  adversary,  he  utters  a  fearful  roar, 
broadsides  his  shield,  and  if  his  opponent  does 
not  at  once  take  to  his  heels,  John  Chinaman  al 
ways  does. 

The  wars  of  New  England  have  always  been 
conducted  upon  the  Chinese  plan.  To  hear  their 
orators,  and  read  their  newspapers,  one  would 
suppose  that  he  was  looking  at  a  Chinaman 
clothed  with  all  the  pomp  and  circumstance  of 
mask,  shield,  and  stink-pot.  The  Yankee  orators 
are  only  equalled  by  the  Yankee  editors  in  deeds 


of  valor.  Let  war  be  breathed,  and  the  first 
swear  to  a  man  that  they  are  ready  and  anxious 
to  exterminate  creation,  whilst  the  latter,  not  con 
tent,  like  Alexander,  to  sigh  for  more  worlds  to 
conquer,  threaten  to  destroy  the  laws  of  gravity, 
and  lay  violent  hands  upon  the  whole  planetary 
system.  Yet,  these  war  mandarins  are  all  mem*, 
bers  of  the  Peace  Society,  and  would  no  more 
think  of  resenting  a  blow  on  the  cheek,  the  se 
duction  of  a  wife,  or  the  dishonor  of  a  daugh 
ter,  than  they  would  of  flying.  We  have  not  for 
gotten  how  all  Massachusetts  collected  in  Boston 
when  Anthony  Burns  was  to  be  delivered  to  his 
Virginia  master,  and  swore  that  it  should  not  be 
done.  A  single  file  of  soldiers,  however,  marched 
the  fugitive  from  State  Street  to  the  lower  end  of 
Long  Wharf,  through  miles  of  streets  packed  with 
valorous  fanatics,  who  did  nothing  but  sing  old 
Puritan  hymns,  with  a  most  hideous  and  barba 
rous  disregard  to  metre.  —  Richmond  Examiner. 


INCIDENTS  OF  THE  FORT  DONELSON  FIGHT. 
—  Immediately  after  the  surrender,  Capt.  T.  I. 
Newsham  (Gen.  Smith's  Assistant  Adjutant  Gen 
eral)  rode  up  to  the  headquarters  of  Gen.  Buck- 
ner,  where  he  was  introduced  to  the  rebel  com 
mander.  Capt.  Newsham  was  mounted  on  a 
splendid  white  charger.  Buckner,  noticing  the 
horse,  inquired  if  he  was  the  individual  who  rode 
that  horse  during  the  battle  the  day  previous. 
Capt.  N.  replied  yes.  "  Then,"  said  Buckne?, 
"  you  certainly  bear  a  charmed  life.  You  at 
tracted  my  attention  during  the  entire  day.  1 
ordered  and  sawT  our  most  experienced  gunners 
fire  at  you  six  times  from  a  six-pounder  rifled 
gun,  and  noticed  other  gunners  aiming  at  you 
also."  Capt.  Newsham  informed  me  that  two 
rifled  ten-pound  solid  shots  passed  close  by  his 
back,  between  it  and  his  horse's  rump.  Several 
passed  above  his  head,  the  wind  of  which  was 
felt  by  him.  Another  passed  so  near  to  his  face 
that  he  felt  the  gust  of  the  concussion  of  the 
air.  Several  others  passed  between  his  body  and 
his  horse's  head,  and  a  charge  of  grape  passed 
under  his  horse  without  injuring  him.  The  skin 
of  his  horse,  however,  was  barked  in  several 
places,  but  the  animal  was  not  disabled. 

When  Capt.  N.  was  riding  into  the  fort,  he 
discovered  a  very  remarkable  looking  gun  lying 
near  the  breastworks.  Near  by  was  a  rebel  who  had 
it  in  charge.  The  Captain  told  the  rebel  he  would 
take  it  in  charge,  when  the  rebel  told  him  that 
it  was  the  property  of  his  Captain,  named  Naugh- 
ton.  Capt.  Newsham  replied  that  it  would  be 
safer  in  his  hands  than  in  those  of  the  rebels,  and 
giving  the  rebel  his  name,  and  telling  him  he 
would  be  responsible  for  it,  he  rode  on.  The 
gun  referred  to  is  most  remarkable ;  if;  is  a 
Turkish  arm,  the  stock  of  which  is  of  a  peculiar 
shape,  and  very  bulky.  The  bands  of  the  piece 
are  of  pure  silver,  inlaid  with  figured  gold  and 
ivory.  The  barrel  is  of  Damascus  steel,  three- 
quarters  of  an  inch  bore,  and  rifled.  The  gun  is 
said  to  have  cost  eleven  hundred  dollars.  The 
owner  of  it,  Capt.  Naughton,  upon  learning  who 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


81 


had  possession  of  it,  Capt.  Newsham  having  been 
described  to  him,  said  that  Capt.  N.  was  welcome 
to  keep  it ;  adding,  at  the  same  time,  that  he  had 
taken  deliberate  aim  at  him  with  it  eleven  times, 
a  nd  had  seldom  before  been  known  to  miss  his  mark. 
Quite  as  much  astonishment  may  be  felt  at  the 
miraculous  escape  of  General  Smith,  as  he  never 
for  a  moment  screened  himself  from  the  contin 
uous  fire  of  the  rebel  cannon  and  musketry.  It 
is  said  of  him,  that  he  was  never  seen  to  dodge 
a  shot  during  the  entire  fight,  while  all  the  of 
ficers  around  him  kept  ducking  their  heads  when 
ever  the  enemy's  cannon  belched  forth  their  fearful 
messengers,  but  rode  majestically  along  his  lines 
and  among  his  men,  where  ball,  and  shot,  and  shell 
fell  like  showers  of  hail  around  him,  as  though 
some  revelation  had  given  him  assurance  of  safety. 

At  one  time,  while  swinging  his  sword  above  his 
head,  a  ten-pound  solid  shot  passed  between  his 
arm  and  head,  another  passed  in  such  close  prox 
imity  to  his  head  as  to  raise  his  cap,  and  a  spent 
grapeshot  struck  him  in  the  stomach.  There  were 
fourteen  mounted  men,  his  staff,  and  orderlies,  at 
tending  upon  Gen.  Smith,  and,  strange  to  relate, 
not  one  of  them  was  hit,  although  men  were  struck 
down  by  shot  and  shell  between  their  horses  and 
on  all  sides  of  them.  Gen.  Smith  showed  himself  a 
true  soldier  in  sharing  the  same  hardships  with  his 
men,  as  on  the  night  of  the  battle,  and  preceding 
the  surrender,  he  slept  by  the  side  of  a  log,  wrapped 
in  his  blankets,  without  any  tent  to  cover  him 
fr»ra  the  inclemency  of  the  weather,  his  feet 
towards  his  camp-fire,  with  the  cold  so  intense 
that  his  blankets  caught  fire  at  his  feet  and  burned 
into  his  boots  before  he  felt  the  heat. 

The  following  is  a  statement  of  a  very  remark 
able  and  praiseworthy  case  of  a  young  man  at 
tached  to  the  Thirty-first  regiment  of  Illinois  vol 
unteers  (Colonel  John  A.  Logan).  He  received 
a  musket-shot  wound  in  the  right  thigh,  the  ball 
passing  through  the  intervening  flesh,  and  lodg 
ing  in  the  left  thigh.  The  boy  repaired  to  the  rear, 
and  applied  to  the  doctor  to  dress  his  wound. 
He,  however,  manifested  a  peculiar  reserve  in  the 
matter,  requesting  the  doctor  to  keep  his  misfor 
tune  a  secret  from  his  comrades  and  officers. 

He  then  asked  the  surgeon  if  he  would  dress  his 
wound  at  once  in  order  that  he  might  be  enabled  to 
return  to  the  fight.  The  surgeon  told  him  that 
he  was  not  in  a  condition  to  admit  of  his  return, 
and  that  he  had  better  go  to  the  hospital ;  but 
the  young  brave  insisted  upon  going  back,  offer 
ing  as  an  argument  in  favor  of  it  the  fact  .that  he 
had  fired  twenty-two  rounds  after  receiving  his 
wound,  and  he  was  confident  he  could  fire  as 
many  more  after  his  wound  should  be  dressed. 
The  surgeon  found  he  could  not  prevent  his  re 
turning  to  the  field  ;  so  he  attended  to  his  wants, 
and  the  young  soldier  went  off  to  rejoin  his  com 
rades  in  their  struggle,  and  remained,  dealing  out 
his  ammunition  to  good  account  until  the  day 
was  over,  as  if  nothing  had  happened  to  him. 
Several  days  after,  he  returned  to  the  doctor  to 
have  his  wound  re-dressed,  and  continued  to  pay 
lain  daily  visits  in  his  leisure  hours,  attending  to 
ilutj  in  the  mean  time. 


A  case  in  some  particulars  not  disshnilur  to  the 
above  is  related  of  a  boy  about  eleven  years  old, 
whose  father,  a  volunteer,  had  been  taken  pm- 
oner  by  the  rebels  some  time  before.     The  buy 
smuggled  himself  on  board  one  of  the  transports 
at  Cincinnati,  laden    ivith    troops  for  this  point. 
On  the   field,  the  miming  of  the  great  fight,  he 
joined    he  Seventy-eighth  Ohio,  and  being  ques 
tioned   by  one  of  the  officers,  he  told  him  of  his 
father  having  bet:,   taken  prisoner,  and,  havi;;;.- 
no  mother,  he  had  no  ;me  to  cure  for  him.  and  he 
wanted  to  fight  his  fa:her's  captors.     The  officer 
tried  to  get  him  to  turn  back,  but  he  was  not  to 
|  be  denied.      So  he  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  mus 
ket,  and  went  into  the  thickest  of  the  battle.     He 
!  finally  by  degrees  crept  up  within  a  short  distance 
|  of  the  rebel  intrenchments,  jnrl  posted  himself 
j  behind  a  tree,  from  which  he  kept  firing  as  often 
j  as  he  could  see  a  head  to  fire  at.     He  was  .soon 
i  discovered   by  the   enemy's   sharpshooters,  who 
!  endeavored  to  drive  him  away  from  his  position, 
I  as  he  kept  picking  them  off  very  frequently.  One 
of  the  rebels,  who  was  outside  of  the  work,  got 
sight  on  the  boy  with  his  rifle,  but  before  he  get 
his  piece  off,   the  little  warrior  fired,  and  down 
went  Mr.  Itetel.     As  the  rebel  had  a  fine  Minie 
rine,  the  boy  ran  out  and  picked  it  up,  taking 
time  to  get  pouch  and  balls,  together  with   his 
knapsack,  while   the   bullets  were  flying  on   ail 
sides  of  him ;  and  then  he  retreated  to  his  wooden 
breastwork,  where  he  renewed  his  fire,  and  wish  a 
little  better  success.;  and,  after  being  in  th»;  light 
all   day,  he   returned   to   the    Seventy-eighth  at 
night  with  his  prizes.     This  story  might  appear 
incredible  for  one  so  young  to  be  "the  hero,  but  it 
is  vouched  for  by  a  number  of  officers  iind  men 
who  saw  the  boy  on  the  field  and  in  the  position 
mentioned,  and  many  saw  him   shoot  the  rebel 
referred  to,  besides  several  others. 

Another  case,  very  similar  to  the  last,  is  that  of 
one  of  Dirge's  sharpshooters,  who  succeeded  in 
getting  within  speaking  distance  of  the  fort, 
where  he  planted  himself  behind  a  stump,  and  by 
his  unerring  aim,  succeeded  in  keeping  one  of 
their  guns  silent  during  the  whole  day.  As  fast  as 
the  men  appeared  to  man  it,  they  were  let  down 
by  a  shot  from  his  rifle.  Every  efiort  was  made  to 
dislodge  him  from  his  death-dealing  position,  but 
without  effect.  He  kept  it  until  the  rebels,  find 
ing  it  to  be  certain  death  to  attempt  to  man  the 
gun,  completely  abandoned  it.  This  case  has 
been  presented  to  General  Grant,  and  will  doubt 
less  receive,  as  it  should,  special  mention. 

A  surprising  case  of  escape  from  instantaneous 
death  is  presented  by  one  of  the  surgeons  who 
\vas  on  the  field  during  the  day.  A  private  in 
the  Eighteenth  Illinois  regiment  was  struck  in 
the  thigh  by  a  twelve-pound  round  shell,  which 
buried  itself  in  the  thigh,  but  did  not  explodn. 
It  was  cut  out  on  the  field  by  Dr.  Davis,  sur 
geon  of  the  Eighteenth  Illinois  regiment.  The 
limb  was,  of  course,  terribly  shattered,  rendering 
j  amputation  necessary. 

An  instance  of  unprecedented  endurance  and 
I  patience  occurred  at  the  hospital  on  the  right 
[wing.  The  columns  laving  been,  fpiced 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


the  hospital,  which  was  a  little  up  from  the  road, 
had  come  within  range  of  the  rebels'  fire,  and  was 
fast  becoming  an  unpleasant  position,  but  no 
damage  was  done  to  it.  Just  about  this  time,  a 
poor  fellow  came  sauntering  leisurely  along,  with 
the  lower  part  of  his  arm  dangling  from  the  part 
above  the  elbow,  it  having  been  struck  with  a 
grape-shot.  Meeting  the  surgeon  in  the  house, 
who  was  busily  attending  to  other  wounded,  he 
inquired  how  long  it  would  be  before  he  could  at 
tend  to  him,  and  was  told,  in  a  few  minutes. 
"  All  right,"  said  the  wounded  man,  and  then 
walked  outside  and  watched  the  progress  of  the 
battle  for  a  short  time,  and  then  returned  and 
waited  the  surgeon's  opportunity  to  attend  to 
him.  The  arm  was  amputated  without  a  mur 
mur  from  the  unfortunate  man.  After  the  stump 
was  bound  up.  the  young  man  put  his  good  hand 
into  his  pocket  and  took  out  a  piece  of  tobacco, 
from  which  he  took  a  chew,  then  walking  over 
to  the  fire,  he  leaned  his  well  arm  against  the 
mantel-piece,  and  rested  his  head  against  his  arm, 
arid  kept  squirting  tobacco-juice  into  the  fire, 
whilst  his  eyes  were  cast  into  the  flames,  all  with 
the  most  astonishing  composure,  as  though  he 
was  indulging  in  some  pleasant  reverie.  He  re- 
maine^.  in  this  position  for  some  time,  then  walked 
off',  and  went  out  of  sight  near  where  the  fighting 
was  going  on. 

A  young  man  came  strolling  down  to  the  tran»- 

Eort  with  one  arm  amputated ;  and  in  the  well 
and  he  held  three  chickens,  which  he  had  cap 
tured.  A  steward  of  one  of  the  boats  stepped  up 
to  him,  and  asked  him  if  he  wanted  to  sell  the 
chickens.  He  looked  at  the  chickens  for  a  little 
while,  and  replied,  "  Well,  no.  I  had  so  much 
trouble  in  catching  the  d — d  things,  I  believe  I'll 
eat  'em  myself; "  and  off  he  went  with  his  fowl 
prisoners. 

Orderly-Sergeant  Charles  A.  Bedard,  Company 
H.  of  the  immortal  Eleventh  Illinois,  was  killed 
in  the  morning  fight  of  the  15th  inst.  Pie  was 
a  brother  of  Frank  W.  Bedard,  of  the  St.  Charles 
Hotel,  at  Cairo.  His  bravery  and  coolness  on 
the  field  during  a  most  terrific  fire  from  the 
enemy  are  spoken  of  in  the  most  praiseworthy 
terms  by  officers  and  men.  His  only  attention 
during  the  severest  of  the  fight  appeared  to 
be  in  keeping  his  men  in  line,  and  preventing 
disorder  in  the  ranks,  moving  along  in  the  face  of 
the  foe,  watching  with  jealous  care  his  men  in 
charge,  as  on  he  pushed,  loading,  firing,  and  re 
loading  his  piece. 


THE  PICKET  GUARD. 

BY    MRS.    HOWLAND. 

!l  ALT,  quiet  along  the  Potomac,"  they  say, 

"Except  now  and  then  a  stray  picket 
is  shot,  as  ho  walks  on  his  beat  to  and  fro, 

By  a  rifbman  in  the  thicket. 
"J'is  nothing —  a  private  or  two,  now  and  then, 

Will  not  count  in  the  news  of  the  battle ; 
Not  an  officer  lost  —  only  one  of  the  men, 

Moaning  out,  all  alone,  the  death-rattle.'* 


All  quiet  along  the  Potomac  to-night, 

Where  the  soldiers  lie  peacefully  dreaming  ; 
Their  tents,  in  the  rays  of  the  clear  9utumn  moon, 

Or  the  light  of  the  watch-fires,  nre  gleaming. 
A  tremulous  sigh,  as  the  gentle  night  wind 

Through  the  forest  leaves  softly  is  creeping ; 
While  stars  up  above,  with  their  glittering  eyes, 

Keep  guard  —  for  the  army  is  sleeping. 

There's  only  the  soiind  of  the  lone  sentry's  tread, 

As  he  tramps  from  the  rock  to  the  fountain, 
And  thinks  of  the  two  in  the  low  trundle-bed, 

Far  a\vay  in  the  cot  on  the  mountain. 
His  musket  falls  .slack  —  his  face,  dark  and  grim, 

Grows  gentle  with  memories  tender, 
As  he  mutters  a  prayer  for  the  children  asleep  — 

For  their  mother  —  may  Heaven  defend  her  ! 

The  moon  seems  to  shine  just  as  brightly  as  then, 

That  night,  when  the  love  yet  unspoken 
Leaped  up  to  his  lips  —  when  low,  murmured 
vows 

Were  pledged  to  be  ever  unbroken. 
Then  drawing  his  sleeve  roughly  over  his  eyes, 

He  dashes  off  tears  that  are  welling, 
And  gathers  his  gun  closer  up  to  its  place, 

As  if  to  keep  down  the  heart-swelling. 

He  passes  the  fountain,  the  blasted  pine  tree  — 

The  footstep  is  lagging  and  weary  ; 
Yet  onward  he  goes,  through  the  broad  belt  of 
light, 

Towards  the  shades  of  the  forest  so  dreary. 
Hark !    was  it  the  night- wind  that  rustled  the 
leaves  ?  • 

Was  it  moonlight  so  wondrously  flashing  ? 
It  looked  like  a  rifle  —  "  Ha  !  MARY,  good-by !  " 

And  the  life-blood  is  ebbing  and  plashing. 

All  quiet  along  the  Potomac  to-night  — 
No  sound  save  the  rush  of  the  river ; 

While  soft  falls  the  dew  on  the  face  of  the  dead  — 
The  picket's  off  duty  forever. 


THE  TONE  OF  BULLETS.  —  A  soldier,  writing 
from  one  of  the  camps  on  the  Potomac,  thus  al 
luded  to  the  peculiar  music  made  by  bullets  pass 
ing  through  the  air :  "  It  is  a  very  good  place  to 
exercise  the  mind,  with  the  enemy's  picket  rat 
tling  close  at  hand.  A  musical  ear  can  study 
the  different  tones  of  the  bullets  as  they  skim 
through  the  air.  I  caught  the  pitch  of  a  large- 
sized  Minie  yesterday  —  it  was  a  swell  from  E 
flat  to  F,  and  as  it  passed  into  the  distance  and 
lost  its  velocity,  receded  to  D  —  a  very  pretty 
change.  One  of  the  most  startling  sounds  is 
that  produced  by  the  Hotchkiss  shell.  It  comes 
like  the  shriek  of  a  demon,  arid  the  bravest  old 
soldiers  feel  like  ducking  when  they  hear  it.  It 
is  no  more  destructive  than  some  other  missiles, 
but  there  is  a  good  deal  in  mere  sound  to  work 
upon  men's  fears. 

"  The  tremendous  scream  is  caused  by  a  ragged 
edge  of  lead,  which  is  left  on  the  shell.  In  fa 
vorable  positions  of  light,  the  phenomenon  can 
sometimes  be  seen,  as  you  stand  directly  behind 
a  gun,  of  the  clinging  of  the  air  to  the  ball.  The 
ball  seems  to  gather  up  the  atmosphere,  and 
carry  it  along,  as  the  earth  carries  its  atmos- 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


phere  through  space.  Men  are  frequently  killed 
oy  the  wind '  of  a  cannon-shot.  There  is  a  law 
which  eauses  the  atmosphere  to  cling  to  the 
earth,  or  which  presses  upon  it  with  a  force,  at 
the  surface,  of  fifteen  pounds  to  the  square  inch  ; 


The  time  drew  near  ;  the  stern  necessity  of 
war  required  that  an  example  should  be  made  of 
some  one  ;  his  was  an  aggravated  case.  But  the 
case  reached  the  ears  of  the  President ;  he  re 
solved  to  save  him ;  he  signed  a  pan.  on  and  sent 


docs  the  same  law,  or  a  modification,  pertain  to  I  it  out ;  the  day  came.     "  Suppose,"  thought  the 

President,    "  my  pardon  has  not  reached  him." 
The   telegraph  was  called  into   requisition  ;    an 

Bring  up  my 


cannon-balls  in  flight?  I  do  not  remember  of 
meeting  with  a  discussion  of  the  subject  in  any 
published  work.  It  is  certainly  an '  interesting 
philosophic  question." 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  ROMNEY.  —  While  the  Na 
tional  forces  were  standing  under  the  enemy's 
fire,  on  the  day  of  the  battle  at  Romney,  Va., 
and  the  shot  and  shell  were  flying  in  every  direc 
tion  around  us,  a  little  incideit  occurred  which  is 
worthy  of  notice. 

Capt.  Butterfield,  of  the  Eighth  Ohio  regi 
ment,  (being  one  of  the  ranking  Captains,)  acted 
as  Major  upon  that  occasion,  and  was  obliged  to 
ride  an  old  sorrel  horse,  which  had  been  used  as 
a  team  horse,  and  required  both  spurs  and  whip, 
which  the  Captain  had  provided  himself  with,  the 
latter  cut  from  a  tree,  and  about  five  feet  Jong. 
It  was  found  that  our  small  six-pound  guns  would 
not  reach  the  enemy's  battery,  and  Col.  Mason 
ordered  Capt.  B.  to  bring  forward  a  brass  twelve- 
pounder,  which  was  in  the  rear.  Off  sped  the 
old  sorrel  and  his  brave  rider,  and  in  a  few  mo 
ments  up  came  the  gun.  Its  position  was  as 
signed,  and  made  ready  for  the  match,  but  the 
Captain  came  dashing  back  in  front  of  the  gun, 
and  the  smell  of  powder,  or  something  else,  had 
made  the  old  sorrel  almost  unmanageable,  for  in 
trying  to  wheel  him  from  the  front  of  the  gun, 
the  more  the  Captain  applied  the  whip  and  spur, 
the  more  the  old  sorrel  would  not  go.  This  kept 
the  gunners  in  terrible  suspense,  for  much  de 
pended  on  that  shot.  Finally,  the  Captain  find 
ing  his  efforts  to  move  his  steed  fruitless,  he 
sang  out,  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  "  Never  mind 
the  old  horse  ;  blaze  away ;  "  and,  sure  enough, 
they  did  blaze  away,  and  it  proved  a  good  shot, 
for  it  caused  the  rebels  to  limber  up  their  bat 
tery,  and  take  to  their  heels.  At  that  moment, 
orders  came  to  charge,  and  off  dashed  the  old  sor- 
sel,  frightened  at  the  discharge  of  the  gun,  which 
had  scorched  his  tail,  and  mingled  in  the  charge. 
He  was  lost  to  view  until  he  arrived  in  the  town, 
where  he  was  brought  to  a  halt,  and  the  Captain, 
standing  in  his  stirrups,  with  his  cap  flying, 
cheered  for  the  glorious  victory  that  had  been 
achieved.  

A  DYING  SOLDIER  PRAYS  FOR  THE  PRESIDENT. 
—  Never,  until  we  stood  by  the  grave  of  \he  Green 
Mountain  boy,  did  we  realize  how  much  stranger 
is  truth  than  fiction.  A  private  was  court-mar- 
1  hi  fid  for  sleeping  on  his  post  out  near  Chain 
Bridge,  on  the  Upper  Potomac.  He  was  con- 
VlcMttl ;  his  sentence  was  death;  the  finding  was 
approved  of  by  the  General,  and  the  day  fixed 
for  his  execution.  He  was  a  youth  of  more  than 
ordinary  intelligence  ;  he  did  not  beg  for  pardon, 
but  was  willing  to  meet  his  fate. 


answer  did  not  come  rvomptly. 
carriage,"  he  ordere  I.  It  came;  and  soon  the 
important  state  papers  were  dropped,  and 
through  the  hot  broiling  sun  and  dusty  roads  he 
rode  tc  the  camp,  about  ten  miles,  and  saw  that 
the  soldier  was  saved ! 

He  had,  doubtless,  forgotten  the  incident,  but 
the  soldier  did  not.  When  the  Third  Vermont 
charged  upon  the  rifle-pits,  the  enemy  poured  a 
volley  upon  them.  The  first  man  who  fell,  with 
six  bullets  in  his  body,  was  William  Scott,  of 
Company  K.  His  comrades  caught  him  up,  and 
as  his  life-blood  ebbed  away,  he  raised  to  heaven, 
amid  the  din  of  war,  the  cries  of  the  dying,  and 
the  shouts  of  the  enemy,  a  prayer  for  the  Presi 
dent,  and  as  he  died  he  remarked  to  his  comrade 
that  he  had  shown  he  was  no  coward,  and  not 
afraid  to  die. 

He  was  interred,  in  the  presence  of  his  regi 
ment,  in  a  little  grove,  about  two  miles  to  the 
rear  of  the  rebel  fort,  in  the  centre  of  a  group  of 
holly  and  vines  ;  a  few  cherry  trees,  in  full  bloom, 
are  scattered  around  the  edge.  In  digging  his 
grave  a  skull  and  bones  were  found,  and  metal 
buttons,  showing  that  the  identical  spot  had  been 
used  in  the  revolutionary  war  for  our  lathers 
who  fell  in  the  same  cause.  The  chaplain  nar 
rated  the  circumstance  to  the  boys,  who  stood 
around  with  uncovered  heads.  He  prayed  for 
the  President,  and  paid  the  most  glowing  tribute 
to  his  noble  heart  that  we  ever  heard.  The  tears 
started  to  their  eyes  as  the  clods  of  earth  were 
thrown  upon  him  in  his  narrow  grave,  where  he 
lay  shrouded  in  his  coat  and  blanket. 

The  men  separated  ;  in  a  few  minutes  all  were 
engaged  in  something  around  the  camp,  as  though 
nothing  had  happened  unusual ;  but  that  scene 
will  live  upon  their  memories  while  life  lasts  ;  the 
calm  look  of  Scott's  face,  the  seeming  look  of 
satisfaction  he  felt,  still  lingered ;  and  could  the 
President  have  seen  him,  he  would  have  felt  that 
his  act  of  mercy  had  been  wisely  bestowed. 


ADVENTURES  OF  Two  HOOSIER  SOLDIERS. — 
A  couple  of  boys,  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Indiana 
regiment,  Marshall  Storey  and  William  Waters, 
were  sent  with  despatches  to  Independence,  Mo., 
distant  from  Sedalia  ninety  miles.  They  were 
dressed  as  citizens,  without  arms  or  papers  that 
would  detect  them  if  captured  or  examined.  The 
despatches  were  snugly  secreted  in  their  hats  and 
boots.  Their  route  was  directly  through  the 
country  infested  by  the  bands  of  jayhawkers  un 
der  the  famous  guerrilla  chief  Quantrell.  The 
boys  made  their  way  without  molestation,  until 
within  about  twenty  miles  of  Independence,  when, 
passing  through  the  brush,  they  were  hailed  by 


84 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


five  snot-gun  armed  rebels,  who  ordered  them  off 
their  horses  and  demanded  their  business.  The 
boys  said  they  were  hunting  for  a  horse  which 
nad  been  stolen  by  some  home-guards,  and,  as 
they  had  learned,  taken  through  that  part  of  the 
country.  They  protested  that  they  were  secesh 
of  the  right  stripe,  and  lived  six  miles  north  of 
Booneville.  They  were,  however,  searched.  Find 
ing  nothing  but  a  few  fishing-hooks,  which  Marsh 
had  in  his  vest-pocket,  and  which  the  rebels  ap 
propriated,  they  were  allowed  to  go  on  their  way. 
The  boys,  thinking  all  safe  now,  pushed  on  ;  but 
in  crossing  a  neck  of  woods  about  five  miles  far 
ther  on,  they  were  again  called  to  a  halt  by  a 
band  of  seven  men,  armed  in  the  regular  jayhawk- 
ing  style,  who  were  some  fifty  yards  from  them. 
Marsh,  whose  wit  is  ready  on  all  occasions,  whis 
pered  to  his  companion  that  he  would  "  play  cra 
zy."  Waters  should  be  his  brother,  taking  him 
home  from  St.  Louis.  Marsh  has  a  peculiar  way 
of  drawing  one  eye  down,  which  makes  him  look 
rather  comical.  This,  with  the  slobber  running 
down  his  dusty  whiskers,  and  his  long  hair  hang- 


shut  up  the  shop.  The  father  remonstrated,  but 
the  boy  would  enlist,  and  enlist  he  did.  Now  the 
old  gentleman  had  two  more  sons,  who  "  worked 
the  farm"  near  Flushing,  Long  Island,  The  mili 
tary  fever  seems  to  have  run  in  the  family  ;  for  no 
sooner  h-\d  the  father  and  two  older  brothers  <m- 
listed,  than  the  younger  sons  came  in  for  a  like 
purpose.  The  paterfamilias. was  a  man  of  few 
words,  but  he  said  that  he  "  wouldn't  stand  this 
anyho"  "  The  blacksmith  business  might  go  to  — 
some  i '.her  place,  but  the  farm  must  be  looked 
after.  So  the  boys  were  sent  home.  Presently  one 
of  them  reappeared.  They  had  concluded  that  one 
could  manage  the  farm,  and  had  tossed  up  who 
should  go  with  the  Fourteenth,  and  he  had  won 
the  chance. 

This  arrangement  was  finally  agreed  to.  But 
on  the  day  of  departure  the  last  boy  of  the  fam 
ily  was  on  har..d  to  join,  and  on  foot  for  march 
ing.  The  old  man  was  somewhat  puzzled  to 
know  what  arrangement  could  have  been  made 
which  would  allow  all  of  the  family  to  go :  but 
the  explanation  of  the  boy  solved  the  dif- 


ing  over  his  forehead,  enabled  him  to  play  tlie  }  ficulty.  "  Father,"  said  he,  with  a  confidential 
game  successfully.  As  soon  as  they  came  near, :  chuckle  in  the  old  man's  ear,  "  I've  let  the  farm 
he  jumped  off  his  horse  and  ran  towards  them, !  on  shares ! "  The  whole  family,  fal 


ither  and  four 
and  Waters  yelled  out :  "  Don't  mind  him ;  he's  •  sons,  went  with  the  Fourteenth  regiment. 

ciazy ;  he  don't  know  what  he's  doing."    Marsh  j  

looked  very  foolishly  at  their  clothes,  guns*, 
horses,  &c.  He  became  particularly  fond  of  a 
pretty  black  pony,  which  he  concluded  he  must 


have  instead  of  the  poor  old  horse  he  had  been 
riding,  and  even  got  on  the  pony  and  started  olf. 
This  tickled  all  the  rebels  except  the  owner  of 
the  pony,  who  caught  him  and  jerked  him  off. 
Marsh,  to  carry  on  the  joke,  gathered  a  stick  of 
wood  and  made  fight.  This  caused  the  others  to 
yell  with  laughter.  Waters  came  to  bis  rescue, 
and  told  them  not  to  provoke  him,  as  it  made 
him  worse.  In  the  mean  time,  Waters  had  been 
searched  from  head  to  foot,  but  with  no  better 
success  than  rewarded  the  first  hand.  Waters 
tried  to  get  Marsh  on  his  horse ;  but  no,  he  must 
have  the  pony,  which  he  almost  fought  for.  Fi 
nally,  one  of  the  band  came  forward  and  assisted 
Waters.  Marsh  very  reluctantly  left  pony  and 
rebels.  As  soon  as  they  were  out  of  sight,  they 
put  spurs  to  their  nags,  and  reached  Indepen 
dence,  after  a  ride,  including  the  two  stops,  of 
four  hours. 


A  PATRIOTIC  BLACKSMITH.  —  Before  the  de 
parture  of  the  14th  New  York  regiment  for  the 
war,  a  man,  who  carried  on  a  blacksmith  shop  in 
connection  with  two  of  his  sons,  went  to  the  head 
quarters,  and  concluded  to  enlist.  He  said  that 
he  could  leave  the  blacksmith  business  in  the 
hands  of  the  boys.  He  couldn't  stand  it  any 
longer,  and  go  he  must.  He  was  enlisted. 

Next  day  down  comes  the  oldest  of  the  boys. 
The  blacksmith's  business  "  wasn't  very  drivin', 
and  he  guessed  John  could  take  care  of  it." 
"We1!,"  said  the  old  man,  "go  it."  And  the 
oldest  son  went  it.  But  the  following  day  John  j 


A  SENTIMENTAL  YOUNG   LADY  in  Northern 


Georgia  indited  the  following  to  some  of  her  ad 


mirers  in  the 


"  Bideament  : 


"  'Tis  hard  for  youens  to  sleep  in 

'Tis  hard  for  youens  to  fight  ; 
'Tis  hard  for  youens  through  snow  to  tramp  j 

In  snow  to  sleep  at  night  ; 
But  harder  for  weans  from  youens  to  part, 
Since  youens  have  stolen  weans  hearts." 


INCIDENTS  IN  THE  BATTLE  OF  WILDCAT. 
—  The  hill  upon  which  it  took  place  is  a  round, 
lofty  elevation,  a  third  of  a  mile  from  our  camp, 
surrounded  by  deeply- wooded  ravines,  and  cleared 
for  the  space  of  about  two  acres  on  top.  To  take 
and  hold  th'.s,  Col.  Coburn,  with  half  his  regi 
ment,  dashed  off  through  the  bushes  in  a  trot 
from  the  camp,  like  boys  starting  out  on  a  turkey 
hunt.  In  ten  minutes  they  could  be  seen  on  the 
high  summit  taking  places.  Very  shortly  they 
were  fired  on  ;  the  fact  is,  it  was  a  scramble  be 
tween  Coburn's  men  and  Zollicoffer's  which  should 
get  on  the  hill  first,  approaching  from  opposite  di 
rections.  When  the  firing  had  fairly  commenced, 
at  intervals  in  the  roar  could  be  heard,  in  the 
camp,  the  shrill,  wild  voices  of  Coburn,  and  Dur 
ham,  his  adjutant,  crying  out,  "  Give  them  heil, 
boys  !  "  "  Dose  them  with  cold  lead!  "  "  Shoot  the 
hounds  !  "  "  Load  up,  load  up,  for  God's  sake  !  " 
"  Give  it  to  old  Golly  whopper  !  "  Then  the  boys 
would  cheer  and  yell  till  the  glens  re-echoed. 

Capt.  Diile,  during  the  fight,  in  rushing  around 
and  helping  on  the  cause,  ran  astiide  a  brier 
bush,  the  nethermost  part  of  his  unmentionables 


was  torn,  and  a  fla: 


made  his  appearance.     He  felt  lonesome,  and  had  j  flaunting  in  thu  air. 


of  white   cotton  was  seen 
One  of  tU  boys  said,  "  Jap- 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


I; 


tain,  it  can't  be  said  of  you  that  you  never  turned 
tail  on  the  enemy."  By  the  way,  the  Captain  is 
a  heroin  fellow,  and  did,  as  the  boys  say,  "  a  big 
ob  of  fighting."  He  has  a  queer  old  fellow  in 
Ills  company  named  John  Memherter,  a  crack 
marksman,  with  a  big  goggle,  rolling  eye.  John 
would  take  his  tree,  fire,  and  then  move  on  a  lit 
tle.  At  one  time  he  was  peeping  over  a  stump 
taking  aim,  when  a  ball  struck  the  stump  a  few 
inches  from  the  top  at  the  opposite  side,  which 
knocked  bark  and  splinters  in  his  eyes.  "  Bully 
for  Jake ! "  says  John.  This  is  now  a  cant  phrase 
in  the  camp.  "  Bully  for  Jake  "  can  be  heard  at 
all  hours. 

When  Major  Ward,  of  the  Seventeenth  Ohio, 
came  over  the  hill  with  a  part  of  the  regiment, 
Col.  Coburn  took  him  down  the  hillside  in  front 
of  the  Iventuckians  in  a  somewhat  exposed 
place.  Some  one  asked  the  Colonel  why  he  put 
him  there.  "  Well,"  said  he,  "  I  eyed  him,  aud 
he  looked  like  an  old  bull-dog ;  so  I  put  him  down 
where  he  could  wool  the  hounds."  The  Major, 
you  know,  never  before  had  a  compliment  paid  to 
his  homely,  sturdy  face,  being  rather  hard-favored. 
Next  day  some  of  the  boys  got  the  joke  on  him 
by  telling  him  they  had  heard  his  beauty  com 
plimented.  He  asked  for  the  compliment,  got  it, 
and  dryly  remarked,  "  that  it  was  rather  an  equiv 
ocal  recommendation  of  his  pretty  face." 

Almost  every  officer  fought  gun  in  hand, 
except  Cols.  Coburn  and  Woodford,  who  were 
armed  with  na\ies.  Capt.  Hauser,  Adj.  Dur 
ham,  Capt.  Dille,  Lieuts.  Maze  and  Scott,  more 
than  the  men  themselves,  blazed  away  at  the  reb 
els.  What  could  not  men  do  with  such  exam 
ples  set  thorn.  When  part  of  the  Kentucky  boys 
fled,  Capt.  Alexander  screamed  out  to  the  men, 
"  Boys,  if  you  are  such  damned  cowards  as  to 
run,  I'll  stay  and  die."  Instantly  a  boy  scarce 
sixteen  years  old  turned  back,  ran  up  to  the  Cap 
tain's  side,  saying,  "  Yes,  Cap,  and  I'll  stay  and 
die  with  you."  He  did  stay,  and  others  followed 
his  example.  In  the  afternoon,  when  the  fighting 
had  ceased,  General  Schoepff  came  over  to  the 
hill,  and  taking  Cols.  Coburn  and  Woodford  by 
the  hand  in  the  presence  of  the  boys,  thanked 
them  for  saving  the  hill,  for  it  saved  Camp  Wild 
cat,  and  prevented  a  retreat  of  our  whole  force  to 
the  other  side  of  the  river.  Just  then  a  shower 
of  balls  whizzed  around,  and  one  knocking  the 
dirt  in  his  eyes,  the  General  quietly  rubbed  it 
out,  and  looked  around  as  unconcerned  as  if  at 
dress  parade.  He  is  a  noble-looking  man,  a  Hun 
garian  patriot,  one  of  Gen.  Bern's  officers,  who 
spent  three  years  in  Turkey  with  him  drilling 
their  army. 

Just  before  the  enemy  made  their  charges,  there 
could  be  seen  two  regiments  in  a  neighboring 
field.  One  of  the  boys  said  to  Col.  Coburn, 
"  We'll  have  to  retreat."  Another  sturdy  little 
fellow  stepped  up  and  swore  he  was  not  of  the 
running  kind,  and  he'd  stay  and  fight  anyhow.  He 
got  three  cheers ;  so  the  boys  concluded  to  stay, 
and  did  stay  about  there  all  that  day  and  night. 
Such  plucli  makes  one  man  equal  to  four.  The 
boys  captured  an  orderly  sergeant's  book,  love 


letters,  a  diary,  &c.,  giving  details  up  to  the  hour 
of  battle.  The  utmost  confidence  in  victory  was 
expressed. 

Since  the  battle,  some  of  our  boys  were  out 
looking  at  a  grave  of  one  of  the  secesh ;  he  had 
not  been  well  buried,  and  one  hand  stuck  out. 
"  H^'s  reaching  for  his  land  warrant,"  says  one. 

When  C/ol.  Coburn  and  Capt.  Dille  were  rally 
ing  "he  dying  Kentuckians,  the  former  found  a 
crowrl  sheltered  behind  one  stump  :  he  cried  out, 
"Pile  oi'%  pile  out,  boys;  it  don't  take  seven 
teen  me',  to  guard  a  black  stump."  It  was  elec 
tric  ;  they  after  this  fought  like  men. 


THE  IRISH  WIT  ALWAYS  READY.  —  It  is  now 
known  that  the  surrender  of  Lexington  was  ren 
dered  a  necessity  by  the  want  of  ammunition,  as 
well  as  by  the  want  of  water.  A  few  of  the 
companies  had  one  or  two  rounds  left,  but  the 
majority  had  fired  their  last  bullet.  After  the 
surrender,  an  officer  was  detailed  by  Price  to  col 
lect  the  ammunition,  and  place  it  in  safe  charge. 
The  officer,  addressing  Adjutant  Cosgrove,  asked 
him  to  have  the  ammunition  surrendered.  Cos- 
grove  called  up  a  dozen  men,  one  after  the  other, 
and  exhibiting  the  empty  cartridge-boxes,  said 
to  the  astonished  rebel  officer,  "  I  believe,  sir, 
we  gave  you  all  the  ammunition  we  had  be 
fore  we  had  stopped  fighting.  Had  there  been 
any  more,  upon  my  word,  you  should  have  had 
it,  sir.  But  I  will  inquire,  and  if  by  accident 
there  is  a  cartridge  left,  I  will  let  you  know." 
The  rebel  officer  turned  away,  reflecting  upon 
the  glorious  victory  of  having  captured  men  who 
had  fired  their  last  shot. 

An  Irishman,  from  Battle  Creek,  Michigan,  was 
at  Bull  Hun  battle,  and  was  somewhat  startled 
when  the  head  of  his  companion  on  the  left  hand 
was  knocked  off  by  a  cannon-ball.  A  few  mo 
ments  after,  however,  a  spent  ball  broke  the  fin 
gers  of  his  comrade  on  the  other  side.  The  lat 
ter  threw  down  his  gun  and  yelled  with  pain, 
when  the  Irishman  rushed  to  him,  exclaiming, 
"  Blasht  your  soul,  you  ould  woman,  shtop  cryinr ; 
you  make  more  noise  about  it  than  the  man  that 
losht  his  head  ! "  

A  WIFE  ON  THE  BATTLE-FIELD.  —  The  fol 
lowing  extract  from  a  letter,  dated  at  Corinth,  on 
the  6th  of  October,  1862,  vividly  portrays  the 
fearful  emotions  and  anxious  thoughts  which  tor 
ture  the  mind  of  an  observer  during  the  progress 
of  battle,  and  narrates  but  one  of  the  many  har 
rowing  scenes  of  war : 

"  O,  my  friend  !  how  can  I  tell  you  of  the  tor 
tures  that  have  nearly  crazed  me,  for  the  last 
three  days?  Pen  is  powerless  to  trace,  words 
weak  to  convey  one  tithe  of  the  misery  I  have 
endured.  I  thought  myself  strong  before.  I 
have  seen  so  much  cf  suffering  that  I  thought 
my  nerves  had  grown  steady,  and  I  could  bear 
anything ;  but  to-day  I  am  weak  and  trembling, 
like  a  frightened  child. 

"  But  do  not  wonder  at  :'t.  My  dear  husband 
lies  besides  me,  wounded  ui.  to  death,  perhaps.  I 


86 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


have  lost  all  hope  of  saving  him,  though  I  thank 
God  for  the  prhilege  of  being  this  moment  be 
side  him.  Arid,  besides  this,  all  around  me  the 
sufferers  lie  moaning  in  agony.  There  has  been 
liitle  time  to  tend  them,  poor  fellows.  True,  the 
surgeons  arc  busy  all  the  time,  but  all  the  wounded 
have  not  yet  been  brought  in,  and  it  seems  as  if 
the  time  will  never  come  when  our  brave  men  shall 
hav-e  been  made  comfortable  as  circumstances  may 
permit.  It  is  awful  to  look  around  me.  I  can 
see  every  imaginable  form  of  suffering,  and  yet 
am  helpless  to  aid  them  any  of  consequence. 

"  Since  night  before  last  I  have  not  left  my 
husband's  side  for  a  moment,  except  to  get  such 
tilings  as  I  required,  or  to  hand  some  poor  fel 
low  a  cup  of  water.  Even  as  I  write,  my  heart 
throbs  achingly  to  hear  the  deep  groans  and 

sharp  cries  about  me.  F is  sleeping,  but  I 

dare  not  close  my  eyes,  lest  he  should  die  while 
I  sleep.  And  it  is  to  keep  awake,  and  in  a  man 
ner  relieve  rny  overburdened  heart,  that  I  am 
now  writing  you  under  such  sad  circumstances. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  third  instant  the  fight 
began.  The  attack  was  made  on  Gen.  McAr- 
thur's  division,  and  we  could  plainly  hear  the  roar 
of  the  artillery  here,  as  it  is  about  two  miles  and 
a  half  distant  only  from  this  place.  O,  the 
fearful  agony  of  that  awful,  awful  day !  I  had 

seen  F a  moment  early  in  the  morning,  but 

it  was  only  a  moment,  when  he  bade  me  good- 
bv",  saying,  hurriedly,  as  he  tore  himself  away : 
*  1'ray  for  me,  my  wife,  and  if  I  fall,  God 
protect  you ! '  There  was  something  in  his  look 
and  tone  which  struck  a  chill  to  my  heart,  and 
every  moment  after  I  knew  the  fight  had  begun, 
I  felt  as  if  he  had  indeed  fallen.  I  cannot  tell 
how  long  it  was  before  I  heard  that  Oglesby's 
brigade  was  engaged,  but  it  seemed  an  age  to 
me.  After  that  my  agony  was  nearly  intolerable. 
I  never  had  a  thought  of  fear  for  myself;  I  was 

thinking  only  of  F .  Then  I  got  the  word 

that  he  had  been  hotly  pursued  by  the  rebels, 
and  had  fallen  back. 

"  Late  in  the  afternoon  I  succeeded  in  gaining 
a  little  intelligible  information.  Poor  Gen.  Hack- 
leman  was  shot  through  the  neck,  while  giving 
a  command,  and  fell  mortally  wounded.  He 
died  between  ten  and  eleven  o'clock  the  same 
night,  I  have  since  learned.  Up  to  the  time  of 
receiving  the  wound  he  had  acted  with  the  great 
est  bravery  and  enthusiasm,  tempered  by  a  cool 
ness  that  made  every  action  effective.  When 
dusk  at  last  put  an  end  to  the  first  day's  conflict, 
I  learned  that  Gen.  Oglesby  had  been  danger 
ously  wounded,  but  could  gain  no  intelligence  of 
my  husband.  I  could  not  bear  the  suspense. 
Dark  as  it  was,  and  hopeless  as  it  seemed  to 
search  for  him  then,  I  started  out  to  the  battle 
field. 

"  O,  Tiow  shall  I  describe  the  search  of  that 
night  ?  It  looked  like  madness.  It  was  mad 
ness.  But  all  night  long  I  staggered  amongst 
111  ceding  corpses,  over  dead  horses,  trampled 
limbs,  shattered  artillery  —  everything  that  goes 
to  make  up  the  horrors  of  a  battle-field  when  the 
conflict  is  over.  They  were  removing  the  wounded  j 


all  night  O,  think  how  awful  to  stumble  over 
the  dead,  and  hear  the  cries  of  the  wounded  and 
dying,  alone,  and  in  the  night-time.  I  had  to 
start  off  alone,  else  they  would  not  have  let 
me  ge. 

"  As  you  may  suppose,  I  could  not  find  him, 
either  amongst  the  living  or  the  dead.  But  the 
next  morning,  just  after  sunrise,  I  came  to  a  lit 
tle  clump  of  t'mbers,  where  a  horse  had  fallen  — 
his  head  shot  off,  and  his  body  half  covering  a 
man  whom  I  supposed  dead.  His  face  was  to 
the  ground ;  but,  as  I  stooped  to  look  closer,  I 
perceived  a  slight  movement  of  the  body,  then 
heard  a  faint  moan.  I  stooped  and  turned  the 
face  upward.  The  head  and  face  were  both  cov 
ered  with  blood,  but  when  1  turned  it  to  the 
light,  I  knew  it  in  spite  of  its  disfiguration.  O 
God  !  the  agony  of  that  moment  sickened  me 
almost  to  suffocation.  With  a  strength  I  thought 
impossible  in  me,  I  drew  him,  crushed  and  bleed 
ing,  from  beneath  the  carcass  of  our  poor  old 
horse,  whom  we  had  both  so  loved  and  petted, 
and  dipping  my  handkerchief  in  a  little  pool  of 
water  amongst  the  bushes,  bathed  his  face,  and 
pressed  some  moisture  between  his  parched, 
swollen  lips.  He  was  utterly  senseless,  and  there 
was  a  dreadful  wound  in  his  head.  Both  limbs 
were  crushed  hopelessly  beneath  his  horse.  He 
was  utterly  beyond  the  reach  of  human  skill  to 
^ave,  but  as  soon  as  possible  I  had  him  conveyed 
to  the  hospital.  I  have  nursed  him  ever  since  — 
hopelessly,  and  with  a  heart  breaking  with  grief. 
O,  how  many  wives,  how  many  mothers,  ave 
to-day  mourning  the  dead  and  dying,  even  as  I 
mourn  my  dying !  He  has  not  opened  his  eyes 
to  look  at  me,  or  spoken  to  me,  since  he  fell.  O, 
could  he  but  speak  to  me  or,  ce  before  he  dies,  i 
should  give  him  up  with  more  resignation.  But 
to  die  thus  —  without  a  look  or  word!  O,  my 
heart  is  breaking ! " 

THE   GUERRILLAS. 


BY 


TEAKLE    WALLIS. 


AWAKE  and  to  horse,  my  brothers  ! 

For  the  dawn  is  glimmering  gray, 
And  hark  !  in  the  crackling  brushwood 

There  are  feet  that  tread  this  way. 

"  Who  cometh  ?"    "A  friend."    "  What  tiding*  ? ' 

««  O  God  !  I  sicken  to  tell ; 
For  the  earth  seems  earth  no  longer, 

And  its  sights  are  sights  of  hell ! 

"  From  the  far-off  conquered  cities 

Comes  a  voice  of  stifled  wail, 
And  the  shrieks  and  moans  of  the  housed  «• 

Ring  out  like  a  dirge  on  the  gale. 

"  I've  seen  from  the  smoking  village 

Our  mothers  and  daughters  fly  ; 
I've  seen  where  the  little  children 

Sank  down  in  the  furrows  to  die, 

•   On  the  banks  of  the  battle-stained  rhreff 

I  stood  as  the  moonlight  shone, 
fc.nd  it  glared  on  the  fr.ce  of  my  brother 

As  the  sad  wave  swept  him  on. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


l<  Where  my  home  was  glad  are  ashes, 
And  horrors  and  shame  had  been  there, 

For  I  found  on  the  fallen  lintel 
This  tress  of  my  wife's  torn  hair  ! 

"  They  are  turning  the  slaves  upon  us, 
And  with  more  than  the  fiend's  worst  art 

Have  uncovered  the  fire  of  the  savage 
That  slept  in  his  untaught  heart ! 

14  The  lies  to  our  hearths  that  bound  him, 
They  have  rent  with  curses  away, 

And  maddened  him,  with  their  madness, 
To  be  almost  as  brutal  as  they. 

«« With  halter,  and  torch,  and  Bible, 
And  hymns  to  the  sound  of  the  drum, 

They  preach  the  gospel  of  murder, 
And  pray  for  lust's  kingdom  to  come. 

•'  To  saddle  !  to  saddle  !  my  brothers  ! 

Look  up  to  the  rising  sun, 
And  ask  of  the  God  who  shines  there 

Whether  deeds  like  these  shall  be  done. 

<«  Wherever  the  Vandal  cometh 

Press  home  to  his  heart  with  your  steel, 

And  when  at  his  bosom  you  cannot, 
Like  the  serpent,  go  strike  at  his  heel. 

"  Through  thicket  and  wood  go  hunt  him, 

Creep  up  to  his  camp-fire  side, 
And  let  ten  of  his  corpses  blacken, 

Where  one  of  our  brothers  hath  died. 

<  In  his  fainting  foot-sore  marches, 

In  his  flight  from  the  stricken  fray, 
In  the  snare  of  the  lonely  ambush, 
The  debts  we  owe  him  pay. 

«'  In  God's  hand  alone  is  vengeance, 
But  he  strikes  with  the  hands  of  men, 

And  his  blight  would  wither  our  manhood 
If  we  smite  not  the  smiter  again. 

"  By  the  graves  where  our  fathers  slumber, 
By  the  shrines  where  our  mothers  prayed, 

By  our  homes,  and  hopes,  and  freedom, 
Let  every  man  swear  on  his  blade, 

"  That  he  will  not  sheath  nor  stay  it, 

Till  from  point  to  hilt  it  glow 
With  the  flush  of  Almighty  vengeance 

In  the  blood  of  the  felon  foe." 

They  swore  —  and  the  answering  sunlight 
Leaped  r°d  from  their  lifted  swords, 

And  the  hate  in  their  hearts  made  echo 
Te  the  wrath  in  their  burning  words. 

There's  weeping  in  all  New  England, 
And  by  Schuylkill's  banks  a  knell, 

And  the  widows  there,  and  the  orphans, 
How  the  oath  was  kept  can  tell. 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  '76. — While  the  Senate  of 
Maryland  were  in  session  in  the  State  House,  at 
Annapolis,  a  number  of  soldiers  entered  the  ante 
room,  and  inquired  if  the  Senate  Chamber  was 
not  the  place  where  Gen.  Washington  once  stood. 
An  employee  of  the  House  answered  that  it  was, 
and  showed  one  of  them,  as  near  as  he  could,  the 


spot  where  Washington  stood  when  he  resigned 
his  commission.  The  young  man  reverently  ap 
proached  the  spot,  and  standing  for  several  min 
utes  apparently  fixed  to  the  place,  hastily  turned 
and  left  the  cj  amber,  ex  il  liming,  that  he  could 
stand  it  no  longer,  for  he  "  felt  his  Fourth  of 
July  rising  too  last." 


THE   CRUISE   OF  TP£E   ALABAMA. 
NARRATED  BY  HER  OFFICEIIS. 

IT  was  the  13th  of  August,  186!,%  that  we  left 
Liverpool  in  the  chartered  steamer  Bahama,  to 
the  Western  Isles,  where  we  were  to  meet  the 
Alabama,  which  had  gone  out  before  us  to  re 
ceive  her  armament,  officers,  and  crew,  for  ser 
vice.  Our  party  consisted  chiefly  of  the  former 
officers  of  the  Sumter  —  the  gallant  little  vessel 
which  created  so  much  terror  amongst  the  Yankee 
bottoms  on  the  American  coast,  and  although 
pursued  by  all  the  Federal  fleet,  crossed  the  At 
lantic  in  winter  with  safety,  and  found  a  harbor 
refuge  un-der  the  guns  of  Gibraltar.  There, 
however,  she  was  blockaded,  and  was  sold  on 
account  of  the  Confederate  States  Government. 
She  was  re-purchased  privately,  and  her  hull  was 
taken  over  to  England,  where  she  was  to  be 
refitted,  and  is  now,  no  doubt,  afloat  again  under 
another  name,  but  still  bearing  proudly  the 
Southern  flag.  Her  officers  followed  their  cap 
tain,  ready  to  obey  his  orders,  for  all  admired 
him  as  a  skilful  seaman,  a  good  tactician,  an 
excellent  diplomatist,  and  a  brave  man.  They 
spent  a  short  time  in  England,  when  the  Alabama, 
or  290,  as  she  was  then  named,  was  purchased, 
and  Capt.  Sernmes  at  once  prepared  to  take 
command  of  her,  under  commission  from  Presi 
dent  Davis,  with  the  object  of  doing  as  much 
damage  as  possible  to  the  enemy's  commerce  on 
the  sea. 

At  Porta  Praya,  in  the  Island  of  Terceira, 
(Azores,)  we  found  our  ship  taking  in  guns,  am 
munition,  £c.,  which  had  been  brought  to  this 
place  by  chartered  vessels.  The  Alabama  pleased 
us  all.  She  is  a  tine  ship  of  1040  tons ;  the 
length  of  keel,  210  feet;  breadth  of  beam,  32 
feet;  depth  of  hold,  17  feet  3  inches;  has  two 
engines  combined  of  300  horse  power,  and  three 
furnaces,  each  below  the  water  line  ;  the  diameter 
of  her  propeller  is  14  feet,  with  two  blades  3 
feet  in  width  and  2 1  feet  pitch  ;  and  is  capable  of 
running  14  knots.  She  mounts  eight  guns  —  one 
rifled  7-inch  Blakeley's  patent,  and  one  8-inch 
shell  or  solid-shot  gun,  (pivots,)  and  six  32- 
pounders  of  forty-two  hundred  weight,  (broad 
sides.)  Her  motto  is :  Aide  toi  et  JJieu  faidera. 
The  officers  numbered  twenty,  and  the  crew  at  this 
time  only  eighty  —  and  the  terms  which  the  latter 
insisted  upon  on  engaging  called  forth  the  remark 
from  Capt.  Semmes,  that  the  modern  sailor  has 
greatly  changed  in  character  ;  for  he  now  stickles 
for  pay  like  a  sharper,  arid  seems  to  have  lost  his 
former  love  of  adventure  and  recklessness.  The 
ordinary  seamen  get  as  much  as  £4  10  per  month  ; 
petty  officers,  £5  to  £6 ;  firemen,  £7.  All  the 


83 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


officers  held  commissions  from  the  Confederate 
States  Government,  and  receive  pay  according  to 
the  regular  scale,  varying  from  £150  to  £800 
pei'  annum. 

On  the  24th  of  August,  the  command  of  the, 
Alubiima  was  formally  handed  over  by  Capt.  Bul 
lock  (who  had  brought  her  out  from  Liverpool) 
to  Capt.  Semmes  ;  and  the  "Stars  and  Bars" 
weie  flung  to  the  wind  amid  the  cheers  of  all 
hands.  The  Captain  called  all  the  cre/r  and  ex 
plained  to  them  the  risks  and  dangers  thty  would 
nave  to  undergo,  and  the  inducement  of  prize 
money  ;  furthermore,  he  said  he  did  not  intend 
to  rush  headlong  into  battle  with  a  whole  fleet 
of  the  enemy,  but  that  he  did  not  intend  to  run 
away  if  he  met  with  any,  and  that  he  would  give 
battle  to  the  last,  so  that  he  expected  every  man 
to  do  his  duty.  He  did  not  wish  to  deceive  or 
entice  any  one  to  go,  and  they  were  free  to  judge 
for  themselves,  either  to  stay  in  the  Alabama  or 
return  with  the  Bahama  to  Liverpool.  This 
speech  had  a  good  effect,  and  was  loudly  cheered, 
and  very  few  left  with  the  Bahama,  which  then 
parted  company  with  us. 

Alter  leaving  Terceira,  several  clays  were  de 
voted  to  putting  our  ship  in  order  and  drilling 
the  crew,  who  were  mostly  good  seamen,  but  un 
acquainted  with  naval  discipline.  On  the  5th 
(September  we  caught  our  first  prize,  the  Ockmul- 
gee,  off  the  Azores,  and  continued  to  cruise  in 
that  vicinity  for  about  ten  days,  capturing  and 
destroying  several  ships  of  the  enemy.  From 
the  Azures  we  proceeded  to  the  Banks  of  New 
foundland,  and  cruised  thence  in  the  direction 
of  New  York,  capturing  and  destroying  several 
other  valuable  ships.  Among  our  seizures  were 
the  Starlight,  on  board  of  which  we  found  some 
despatches  for  Secretary  Seward  ;  the  Toiiawanda, 
bound  from  New  York  to  Liverpool,  with  seventy- 
five  passengers,  forty  of  whom  were  women  ;  and 
the  T.  B.  Wales,  from  Calcutta,  with  an  Ameri 
can  consul  and  his  lady  on  board.  We  provided 
for  them  as  well  as  possible  —  two  of  the  ward 
room  officers  giving  up  their  rooms  for  them. 
The  consul,  however,  got  so  troublesome  and  in 
termeddling,  that  Capt.  Semmes  had  to  tell  him 
that  he  was  only  tolerated  there  on  account  of 
his  lady ;  but  if  he  again  spoke  to  the  men  or 
his  crew,  he  would  be  put  in  double  irons  and 
tied  to  the  gun  rack  —  which  threat  had  its  in 
tended  effect  on  the  Yankee.  The  fate  of  the 
vessels  captured  was  to  be  destroyed  by  fire,  and 
the  night  effect  of  this  spectacle  at  sea  was  some 
times  very  striking.  One  of  the  doomed  vessels, 
the  Levi  Starbuck,  was  set  on  fire  at  six  o'clock  in 
the  evening,  and  was  one  of  the  grandest  sights 
ever  witnessed  by  us.  After  the  decks  took  tire, 
the  flame  sprang  to  the  rigging,  running  from  yard 
to  yard,  until  it  reached  the  royal  truck,  leaving 
half  the  canvas-head  burnt  away,  and  forming 
one  mass  of  glittering  stars ;  in  a  few  minutes 
after  wards  the  powder  charges  exploded,  tearing 
the  vessel  into  a  thousand  pieces. 

When  within  about  250  miles  of  New  York, 
finding  we  had  but  four  days'  coal  on  board, 
CapU  Semmes  bore  off  for  the  island  of  Mar 


tinique,  where  he  had  ordered  a  coal  ship  to  ren 
dezvous.  On  the  way  we  captured  and  destroyed 
two  very  valuable  ships.  We  reached  Martinlqoe 
on  the  18th  November,  where  we  were  received 
with  enthusiasm  by  the  inhabitants  ;  but  finding 
that  our  coal  sHp  had  been  there  a  week  or  ten 
:lays,  and  that  the  object  of  her  visit  was  wril 
tnown,  Capt.  Semmes  sent  her  out  to  sea  again, 
appointing  a  new  rendezvous.  It  was  well  that 
he  did  so,  for  she  had  not  been  gone  twenty-four 
hours  when  the  United  States  frigate  San  Jaeinto 
arrived.  Immediately  she  was  seen,  all  our  hands 
were  called  to  quarters,  ready  for  action,  think 
ing  the  enemy  would  put  his  threat  into  force, 
of-a'uiming  into  us,  wherever  he  found  us  •  but, 
as  usual,  it  turned  out  to  be  tleir  mode  of  gain- 
'.ng  a  victory.  The  San  Jacinto  kept  moving  in 
and  out  so  long,  that  the  Governor  of  the  island 
boarded  her,  and  ordered  her  cither  to  come  to 
anchor  or  proceed  to  sea,  three  miles  clear  of 
the  land,  which  she  obeyed,  and  lay  to,  block 
ading  the  port.  Capt.  Semmes  determined  to  go 
out  and  fight  her ;  but  was  advised  against  this 
by  the  French  officer,  who  came  on  board  of  us, 
who  said  she  was  too  heavy,  as  she  carried  twelve 
eight-inch  broadside  guns,  and  two  eleven-inch 
pivots,  with  a  crew  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
men.  The  Governor  said  that  if  we  desired  to 
take  in  coals  we  must  get  under  the  guns  of  his 
fort,  and  he  would  protect  us  agaii;st  Admiral 
W ilkes  and  his  fleet ;  but  as  the  bark  with  coalu 
was  sent  off  the  day  before,  we  concluded  it  WE» 
best  to  go  to  sea.  So  at  eight  o'clock  that  night 
we  got  ready  for  action,  and  steamed  out  uJ 
harbor,  without  any  molestation  from  the  en 
emy,  who  was  keeping  watch  and  ward  a  ma 
rine  league  off.  "We  coaled  at  the  Inland  of 
Blanquille,  on  the  coast  of  Venezuela,  the  new 
rendezvous  appointed ;  and  here  we  found  a 
United  States  whaling  schooner,  but  forbore  to 
capture  her,  because  of  the  claim  of  Venezuela  to 
the  barren  little  island  —  a  claim  as  barren  as  the 
island,  for  there  was  no  settled  population  on  it, 
and,  of  course,  no  vestige  of  government.  There 
were  only  two  or  three  fishermen's  huts  on  the 
place ;  and  we  put  ashore,  with  the  brand  of 
infamy,  a  seaman  named  Forest,  who  had  de 
serted  from  the  Sumter,  and  was  captured  on 
board  one  of  our  prizes ;  he  was  found  guilty 
of  inciting  the  crew  to  munity. 

Desiring  to  strike  a  blow  at  the  enemy,  the 
Alabama,  after  coaling,  sailed  for  the  east  end 
of  Cuba,  in  the  track  of  the  California  steam 
ers.  On  our  way  we  captured  and  destroyed  a 
bark  from  Boston  for  Aux  Cayes  ;  on  the  7th 
of  November,  after  lying  off  Cape  Muise  for  sev 
eral  days,  we  captured  the  U.  S.  steamer  Ariel 
—  unfortunately  outward,  instead  of  homeward 
bound.  She  was  brought  to  by  a  shot  which  struck 
her  mizzenmast.  She  had  on  board  $8000  in 
United  States  treasury  notes,  and  $1500  in  silver  ? 
and  as.  there  was  no  certificate  or  other  paj^rs  on 
board  claiming  it  as  neutral  property,  it  wafl 
taken  possession  of  as  prize  of  war.  There  were 
one  hundred  and  ferry  mariners  on  board,  with 
six  officers,  all  cf  whom  were  disarmed  and  pa- 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


89 


roled,  as  was  also  Ccmniander  Saston,  U.  S.  A., 
who  was  on  board.  As  this  ship  had  some 
seven  hundred  passengers  and  crew,  many  of 
whom  were  women  and  children,  and  it  was 
alike  impossible  to  take  her  into  a  neutral  port, 
or  to  receive  the  passengers  in  tie  Alabama, 
there  was  no  alternative  hut  to  release  her  under 
a  ransom  bond  of  $2<30,000 ;  and  as  we  parted 
company,  the  j  assengers  gave  three  cheers  for 
Capt.  Sernmca. 

After  this  the  Alabama-  hove  to  on  the  north 
side  of  Jamaica,  to  repair  some  damage  which 
had  happened  to  one  of  our  engines,  and  then 
set  out  for  ihe  Accas  Island,  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
where  we  refilled  with  coal,  and  calked  and  re 
paired  ship.  Here  some  of  our  men  erected  on 
Ihe  island  an  epitaph  in  black,  "  To  the  memory 
of  Al;e  Lincoln,  who  died  January,  1861,  of 
ni'gro  fever  of  the  head,"  with  a  card  on  which 
was  written,  in  Spanish,  instructions  to  those 
wao  visit  the  island  to  forward  the  hoard  to  the 
nearest  United  States  Consul. 

On  board  the  Ariel  we  found  some  New  York 
papers  containing  accounts  of  an  intended  ex 
pedition  by  G(  n.  Banks,  which  we  concluded  was 
destined  for  Texas,  and  we  presumed  would  ren 
dezvous  at  Galveston.  As  it  was  said  that  the 
expedition  was  to  consist  of  twenty  thousand 
men,  v.  e  knew  a  large  number  of  transports 
would  be  required:  many  of  these  vessels  would 
have  to  lie  outside  the  bar,  and  we  determined 
upon  making  a  night  attack  upon  forty  or  fifty 
of  them,  laden  with  troops,  sink  and  set  on  fire 
Diany  of  them,  and  escape  before  our  vessel  could 
be  pursued  by  a  superior  force.  As  it  afterwards 
turned  out,  ve  found  the  expedition  of  Gen. 
liar.ks  took  another  direction,  and  landed  at  New 
Orleans. 

After  coaling  at  Accas,  however,  the  Alabama 
set  sail  for  Galveston,  and  arrived  there  on  the 
llth  January,  arid  before  nightfall  made  out. the 
enemy's  fleet  lying  off  the  bar,  consisting  cf  five 
ehips  of  war.  One  of  their  steamers  we  ob 
served  to  get  under  weigh,  and  come  in  our  di 
rection.  Captain  Seinmes  ordered  steam  to  be 
got  up,  but  kept  sail  on  our  vessel  as  a  decoy,  to 
entice  the  enemy's  ship  sufficiently  far  from  the 
fleet  to  give  battle.  We  wore  ship,  and  stood 
away  from  the  bar,  permitting  the  enemy  to  ap 
proach  by  slow  degrees.  When  she  was  suffi 
ciently  near  we  took  in  all  sail,  and  wearing 
short  round,  ran  up  within  hail.  It  was  now 
dark,  about  nine  o'clock.  The  enemy  hailed: 
"What  ship  is  tnatH"  We  replied:  "Her 
Majesty's  steamer  Petrel."  The  reply  was,  "I'll 
send  a  boat  on  board." 

We  now  hailed  in  turn,  to  know  what  the  en 
emy  was,  and  when  we  received  the  reply  that 
she^was  the  United  States  steamer  Hatteras,  we 
again  hailed  and  informed  him  that  we  were  the 
Confederate  steamer  Alabama ;  and  at  the  same 
time  Capt.  Semmes  directed  the  First  Lieutenant 
to  open  fire  on  him.  This  fire  was  promptly  re 
turned,  and  a  brisk  action  ensued,  which  lasted, 
however,  only  thirteen  minutes,  as  at  the  end  of 
that  time  the  enemy  fired  an  off-gun,  and  showed 


l  a  light ;  and  o\  being  hailed  to  knew  if  he  sur- 
|  rendered,  he  sari  he  did.  and   was  in  a  sinking 
I  condition.     We  immediately  despatched  boats  to 
i  his  «  jsistance,  and  had  just  time  to  rescue  the 
crew,  when  the  ship  went  down.     The   casual 
ties  were  slight  on  both  f-ides,  although  the  ac 
tion  was  fought  at  a   distance   of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  to  four  hun  Irecl  yards.     Our    shot  all 
told  on  his  hull,  aboi  t  the  water-line,  and  hence 
the  small  liuml  :-.r  of  killed  and  wounded  on  the 
part   of   the   enemy  —  two    of  the    former,   and 
three  of  the  latter.     We   had  none  killed,  and 
only    one   wounded,    although  ^he  Alabama  re- 
I  ceived    several    shot-holes,   dr,  ig    no    material 
|  damage.     The  Hatteras  mounted  eight  guns,  and 
|  had  a  crew  of  eighteen  officers  and  one  hundred 
j  and   eight   men.     The  Alabama  had  also  eight 
j  guns,  with  a  small  captured  piece,  (a  twenty-four- 
pounder,  too  light  to   be  of  any  service,)  and  a 
crew  of  one  hundred  and  ten  men,   exclusive  of 
officers.     Four  of  the  Hatteras'  guns  were  thirty- 
two  pounders,  the  same  calibre  as  our  broadside 
guns,    but.   our   pivot   guns   were  heavier   than 
theirs.     This  was  the  only  disparity  betAveeu  the 
two    ships.      The   U.    S.    frigate   Brooklyn    and 
another  steamer  came  out  in  pursuit  soon  after 
the   action    commenced,   but   missed    us    in  the 
darkness  of  the  night.     The  Alabama  then  pro 
ceeded  to  Kingston,  Jamaica,  where  the  prison 
ers  were   landed  on  the  20th   January,  and  v/e 
repaired  damages   and  coaled,  and  on  the  25th 
proceed  again  to  sea. 

We  touched  at  the  Island  of  St.  Domingo,  on 
the  28th,  to  land  twc  enemy's  crews  we  had  cap 
tured  ;  sailed  again  next  day  for  the  Equator, 
and  remained  for  some  days  at  the  Island  of  Fer 
nando  de  Noronha.  From  thence  we  put  into 
Bahia,  where  we  landed  more  prisoners.  The 
Government  at  this  place  demanded  explanations 
of  our  proceedings  at  Fernando  de  Noronha,  as 
the  American  Consul  represented  that  we  had 
made  captures  there  in  Brazilian  waters;  but  as 
we  clearly  showed  that  no  vessel  had  been  taken 
within  a  prescribed  distance  from  the  island,  the 
authorities  were  satisfied,  and  we  were  allowed 
to  remain  ten  days,  refitting.  Meanwhile,  the 
j  Castor,  a  coal  ship,  ostensibly  bound  for  Shanghai, 
I  entered  the  port,  and  we  commenced  coaling 
from  her.  The  American  Consul  again  protested, 
and  wrote  to  the  President  of  Bahia,  stating  that 
the  Castor  had  on  board  guns  and  sailors  for  the 
Confederates.  The  President  next  day  forwai  ded 
this  complaint  to  the  English  Consul  at  Bahia, 
j  inviting  him  to  accompany  the  custom-house  offi- 
'  cers  on  board  the  Castor,  to  see  whether  the  com 
plaint  had  any  foundation.  The  English  Consul 
returned  the  following  reply  : 

"  The  denunciation  of  the  American  Consul  is 

devoid  of  foundation.     The  facts  he  has  put  for- 

I  ward  are  quite  inexact.     The  opinion  he  expresses 

i  is  entirely  illusive.    The  English  Consul  has  been 

on  board  the  Castor;    has  ascertained  that  she 

does  not  carry  arms ;  that  her  crew  consists  only 

j  of  the  men  upon  the  ship's  book? ;  and  that  the 

I  only  real  fact  of  those  alleged  if  rher  delivery  of 

I  coal  —  a  proceeding  which  it  is    he  sole  aim  of 


90 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


the  American  Consul  to  prevent.  The  Consul  is  | 
ready  to  be  present  at  the  visit  proposed  by  the 
President.  The  Captain  of  the  Castor  is  perfectly 
willing  to  permit  such  visit,  but  the  Consul,  in 
any  case,  protests  against  every  act  assuming  the 
character  of  the  right  of  search  or  of  requisition 
hv  the  Consul  of  the  United  States'.  He  (the 
English  Consul)  entertains  grave  doubts  of  the 
American  Consul's  right,  owing  to  the  mere  sup 
ply  of  coal,  to  raise  any  claim  against  an  English  > 
ship,  belonging  to  a  neutral  nation,  at  anchor  in  | 
the  harbor  of  Bahia,  a  neutral  port.  The  neu-  j 
trality  resulting  from  the  independent  exercise  of 
its  right  by  a  state  cannot  obstruct  commercial 
relations,  and  a  belligerent  power  is  not  entitled 
to  demand  their  cessation  in  a  neutral  port  be 
tween  its  opponent  and  the  subjects  of  a  neutral 
nation.  Toleration  by  the  President  of  the,  prov 
ince  of  the  supply  of  coal,  by  an  English  ship,  to 
the  Confederate  cruisers  in  this  port,  cannot 
(without  infringing  common  sense  and  interna 
tional  law)  be  considered  a  hostile  act,  contrary 
to  the  strict  neutrality  of  Brazil." 

The  proposed  visit  on  board  the  Castor  took 
place,  accompanied  by  interrogation  of  Captain 
and  crew.  The  result  showed  no  proof  whatever 
of  the  allegations,  although  it  seemed  pretty  clear 
that  the  cargo  of  coal  had  no  other  original  des 
tination  than  the  Confederate  privateers.  The 
Captain  of  the  Alabama,  indeed,  admitted  the 
tact,  plainly  declaring  that  he  had  a  perfect  right 
to  purchase  coal  in  England,  and  to  provide  for 
it?  discharge  taking  place  out  of  a  neutral  ship, 
•K  ichin  a  neutral  port.  Cnpt.  Semmes,  at  the  ,°ame 
tima,  requested  the  President's  authorization  to 
continue  taking  in  his  coal.  The  President  re- 
pi  ;ed  that  the  coal  must  be  put  on  shore  and  sent 
to  the  market,  where  Capt.  Semmes  could  buy  as 
much  as  he  pleased.  He  added  that  his  instruc 
tions  forbade  him  to  allow  the  delivery  of  any 
kind  of  goods  coming  direct  from  another  coun 
try,  where  the  sale  had  taken  place  abroad.  Un 
der  these  circumstances,  Captain  Semmes  directed 
the  coal  ship  to  meet  him  at  Saldanha  Bay,  Cape 
of  Good  Hope,  —  and  we  left  Bahia.  On  our 
passage  to  the  Cape,  we  captured  the  S.  Gilden- 
sleeve,  the  Justina,  Jabez  Snow,  Amazonian, 
Talisman,  Conrad,  A.  F.  Schmidt,  and  Express  — 
all  valuable  prizes  except  the  Justina,  which,  be 
ing  a  Baltimore  ship,  was  ransomed,  and  a  num 
ber  of  the  crews  of  the  other  vessels  were  trans 
ferred  to  her.  The  Amazonian  attempted  to 
elude  us,  but  we  gave  chase,  and  while  five  miles 
distant  from  her,  fired  our  rifle-gun,  with  a  reduced 
charge  of  7  Ibs.  powder  and  a  100-pound  shot,  at 
an  extreme  elevation,  which  crossed  her  bows, 
and  she  soon  clewed  her  courses  and  hove  to. 

The  Conrad,  which  we  captured,  was  a  fine 
bark,  and  we  fitted  her  out  as  a  tender  to  the  Al 
abama.  The  vessel  was  named  the  Tuscaloosa, 
and  commissioned  at  sea  on  the  21st  June.  The 
command  was  given  to  Lieut.  Lowe,  an  excellent 
officer,  with  fifteen  men ;  she  was  provided  with 
two  brass  rilled  twelve-pounders,  pistols,  rifles, 
and  am  munition,  and  having  provisions  for  three 
mouths,  was  ordered  to  cruise  in  the  direction  of 


the  Cape.  We  then  made  for  Saldanha  Bay, 
where  we  anchored  and  repaired  ship,  expecting 
to  meet  the  coal  vessel;  but  nothing  could  be 
>een  of  her,  and  we  supposed  she  must  have  met 
,vith  some  mishap.* 

From  Saldanha  Bay  we  came  round  to  Tsbls 
Bay,  and  spv?d  the  American  bark  Sea  Bride, 
standing  intc  port,  outside  of  all  headlands,  and 
at  a  distance  from  the  main  land.  As  we  ap- 
prcached  her,  o^r  officei  *  were  directed  by  the 
Captain  to  make  observation  of  the  distance;  and 
all  agreed  that  Jie  capt.ire  was  maxle  from  two 
to  three  miles  ov.tside  of  the  marine  league. 

The  total  number  of  our  captures  has  been 
fifty-six  ships,  by  which  we  estimate  the  damage 
to  the  enemy  to  be  not  less  than  four  million  dol 
lars,  to  say  nothing  of  the  indirect  results  of  the 
cruise  in  the  way  of  loss  of  freights,  high  war  in 
surance,  and  numerous  sales  of  enemy's  ships,  to 
put  them  under  neutral  flags.  In  no  instance, 
however,  have  we  destroyed  a  ship  where  the 
proof  was  complete  that  the  cargo  was  neutral, 
though  there  have  been  some  awkward  attempts 
on-the  part  of  unscrupulous  merchants  to  cover 
property,  —  but  when  such  were  destroyed  the 
proof  of  the  fraud  was  apparent  on  the  papers. 

The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  h^r  captures : 


Ockmulgee, 

Starlight, 

Ocean  Hover, 

Alert, 

Weathergauge, 

Altamaha, 

Benjamin  Tucker, 

Courser, 

Virginia, 

Elisha  Dunbar, 

Brilliant, 

Emily  Farnum, 

Wave  Crest, 

Dwnquerque, 

Manchester, 

Tonawanda, 

Lamplighter, 

Lafayette, 

Crenshaw, 

Lauretta, 

Baron  De  Castine, 

Levi  Starbuck, 

T.  B.  Wales, 


Chastalaire, 
Palmetto, 
Golden  Eagle, 
Olive  Jane, 
Washington, 
Betha  Thager, 
J.  A.  Parker, 
Punjaub, 
Morning  Star, 
Kingfisher, 
Charles  Hill, 
Nora, 

Louisa  Hatch, 
Lafayette, 
Kate  Corey, 
Nye, 

Dorcas  Price, 
Lelah, 
Union  Jack, 
S.  Gildensleevw 
J.  Snow, 
Justina, 
Amazonian, 


*  If  the  Castor  was  the  vessel  expected,  J»  is  very 
probable  that  some  mishap  occurred  to  hei  j  for  by 
late  Rio  papers  we  learn  that  after  the  Alabama  left, 
the  Federal  steam  frigate  Mohican  put  in  at  Bahia, 
and  a  reyiort  was  immediately  circulated  that  she  in 
tended  to  seize  the  Castor.  I'he  Captain  of  the  Eng 
lish  vessel  attempted  to  leave  the  port  without  having 
complied  with  the  forms  required  by  the  customs.  He 
was  brought  to  by  the  guns  of  the  forts,  and  put  back, 
and  went'through  the  accustomed  formalities  prepara 
tory  to  setting  sail  anew.  Before  the  Castor  was  out 
side  the  harbor,  the  Mohican  got  up  steam  and  went 
in  pursuit.  Perceiving  himself  chased,  the  Captain 
of  the  Castor  determined  not  to  leave  the  port,  but  to 
place  himself  under  the  protection  of  Brazilian  shipa 
until  the  arrival  of  an  English  man-of-war.  There- 
upon  the  Mohican  left  Bahia  to  look  after  the  Con 
federate  privateers. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


91 


Martha,                           Talisman,     - 
Union,                             Conrad, 
Ariel,  mail  steamer,      A.  F.  Schmidt, 
U.  S.  gunb't  Hatteras,    Express, 
Golden  Rule,                  Sea  Bride. 

The  Alabama  had  the  usual  quota  of  wits  and 

One  at  a  time  thr.  ships  they  have  to  fight  us  !  hey 
may  come, 
And  rest  assured  that  our  good  ship  from  them  -will 
never  run. 

THE  "STARS  AND  BARS." 

fun-makers  among  her  crew.  An  Irish  fiddlei 
on  board  is  the  life  of  the  forecastle.  When  the 
men  are  off  duty  he  sets  them  dancing  to  his  lighter 
strains,  or,  dividing  them  into  Northerners  and 
Southerners,  like  a  true  Irishman,  he  gets  up  a 
sham  fight  to  the  spirit-stirring  strains  of  a  march, 
in  which  fight  the  Northerners  are,  of  course,  in 
variably  beaten.  Another  sailor,  Frank  Towns- 
hend,  is  no  mean  poet,  as  will  be  seen  from  the 
verses  which  here  follow.  He  had  sung  the  ex 
ploits  of  their  beloved  ship  to  his  messmates  in 
rude  and  vigorous  strains. 

THE    FIGHT    OF    THE    "HATTERAS"    AND 
"ALABAMA." 

OFF  Galveston,  the  Yankee  fleet  secure  at  anchor 

lay, 
Preparing  for  a  heavy  fight  they  were  to  have  next 

day; 
Down  came  the  Alabama,  like  an  eagle  o'er  the 

wave, 
And  soon  their  gunboat  Hatteras  had  found  a  wa- 

teiy  grave. 

"Twas  in  the  month  of  January ;  the  day  was  bright 

and  clear  ; 
The  Alabama  she  bore  down ;  no  Yankee  did  we 

fear : 
Their  Commodore  he  spied  us ;  to  take  us  long  he 

burned  ; 
So  he  sent  the  smartest  boat  he  had,  but  she  never 

back  returned  ! 

The  sun  had  sunk  far  in  the  West  when  down  to 

us  she  came ; 
Our  Captain  quickly  hailed  her,  and  asked  them 

for  her  name  ; 
Then  spoke  our  Frst  Lieutenant,  —  for  her  name 

had  roused  his  ire, — 
"  This  is  the  Alabama  —  now,  Alabamas,  fire." 

Then  flew  a  rattling  broadside,  that  made  her  tim 
bers  shake ; 

And  through  the  holes  made  in  her  side  the  angry 
waves  did  break  ; 

We  then  blew  up  her  engine,  that  she  could  steam 
no  more  — 

They  fired  a  gun  to  leeward,  *nd  so  the  fight  was 
o'er. 

So  thirteen  minutes  passed  away  before  they  gave 

in  beat ; 
A  boat  had  left  the  Yankee's  side,  and  pulled  in  for 

their  fleet ; 
The  rest  we  took  on  board  of  us,  as  prisoners  to 

stay  ; 
Then  stopped  and  saw  their  ship  go  down,  arid  then 

we  bore  away. 

And  now,  to  give  our  foes  their  due,  they  fought 
with  all  their  might ; 

But  yet  they  could  not  conquer  us,  for  God  de 
fends  the  right; 


SEE  yonder  bright  flag,  is  h  floats  on  the  brec-ze  ; 
I(  is  feared  by  its  fo'es,  t  lough  young  on  the  seas  ; 
Asa  bird  on  the  ocean,  'tis  met  all  alone, 
But  a  deed  of  dishonor  it  never  has  known. 
In  defending  its  rights,  mii'jh  blood  has  been  shed ; 
As  an  emblem  of  this,  see  its  borders  all  red. 
Then  look  at  the  centre,  the  blue  and  the  white  — 
An  assurance  our  cause  is  true,  just,  and  right. 
(),  long  may  it  float  o'er  the  ocean's  dark  breast, 
Till  sun,  moon,  and  stars  sink  forever  to  re.-;t ; 
And  its  gallant  defenders  forever  prove  true ; 
With  this  wish,  flag  of  freedom,  1 11  bid  thee  adieu  ! 
With  this  wish,  flag  of  freedom,  I'll  bid  thee  adieu  ! 


THE  SOUTH,  BOYS. 

HAKK,  hark  !  there's  a  sound  in  the  West, 

That's  wafted  far  over  the  sea  ; 
'Tis  the  voice  of  the  brave,  though  oppressed, 

That  are  struggling  hard  to  be  free. 
Basely  wronged  they  have  been  by  a  brother, 

Who  sought  to  oppress  in  his  might ; 
But  the  South,  boys,  the  South,  boys,  IOTPTOT  I 

'Tis  the  cause  that  we  all  know  is  right. 

To  shake  off  the  yoke  of  a  tyrant, 

Their  forefathers  fought  side  by  side ; 
And  ere  they  could  claim  Freedom's  Charter, 

Many  hundreds  of  brave  men  had  died  ; 
But  the  Eagle,  that  then  soared  PO  proudly,, 

Can  now  scarcely  look  on  the  Jght ; 
But  the  South,  boys,  the  South,  boys,  forever ! 

'Tis  the  cause  that  we  all  know  is  right. 


A  TABLEAU.  —  A  correspondent  describes  a 
tableau,  given  at  Murfreesboro',  Tenn.,  for  the 
benefit  of  the  soldiers,  on  the  22d  of  January, 
1862,  as  follows  : 

"  We  should  not  do  justice  to  the  tableau,  un 
less  we  were  to  describe  the  first  scene.  A 
young  gentleman,  representing  King  Cotton,  sat 
upon  a  throne  resembling  a  bale  of  cotton, 
Down  on  one  side  of  the  throne  sat  a  repre 
sentative  of  the  ebon  race,  with  a  basket  of  cot 
ton.  The  king  held  a  cotton  cloth  as  a  sceptre, 
and  one  of  his  feet  rested  on  a  globe.  Around 
him  stood  young  ladies  dressed  in  white,  with 
scarfs  of  re'd  and  white  looped  on  the  shoulder 
with  blue.  On  their  heads  they  wore  appropri 
ate  crowns.  These  represented  the  Confederate 
States.  Missouri  and  Kentucky  were  guarded 
by  armed  soldiers. 

"  While  we  were  gazing  on  this  picture,  a  dark- 
haired  maiden,  robed  in  black,  with  brow  encir 
cled  by  a  cypress-wreath,  and  her  delicate  wrists 
bound  with  clanking  chains,  came  on  and  knelt 
before  his  majesty.  He  extended  his  sceptre, 
and  she  ar  )se.  He  wavftd  Ijis  wand  again,  and 
j  an  arm^d  iol  lier  anpea  ed  with  a  scarf  and 


02 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


crown,  lika  those  worn  by  her  sister  States.  Re 
unchained  this  gentle  girl  at  the  bidding  of  his 
monarch,  changed  her  crown  of  mourning  for  one 
of  joy  and  liberty,  and  threw  the  Confederate 
iU^  across  hur,  raised  the  flag  over  her,  and  led 
htr  forward ;  then  Kentucky  advanced,  took  her 
by  the  hand,  and  led  her  into  the  ranks.  Need 
we  leA  you  whom  this  maiden  of  sable  garments 
was  intended  to  represent?  We  leave  that 
to  be  understood.  If  your  readers  cannot  di 
vine,  it  is  owing  to  our  description,  and  not 
to  the  scene.  The  ceremony  was  performed  in 
pantomime. 

"  We  will  gratify  the  pride  of  the  F.  F.  V.'s 
by  saying  that  their  representative  had  inscribed 
cu  her  crown,  '  Mater  Heroum.'  After  this  at 
tempt  to  praise  you,  dear  Express,  you  will  surely 
pardon  us  if  we  tell  you  that  North  Carolina  wore 
on  her  brow  a  white  crown,  on  which  was  the 
word  '  Bethel.'  Both  of  these  States  were  rep 
resented  by  their  own  daughters." 


A  STRANGE  SCENE  for  a  Sabbath  day  is  pre 
sented  to  a  visitor,  who  will  stand  on  one  of  the 
lulls  back  of  Alexandria,  and  look  around  him. 
Thousands  of  camps  dot  the  hillsides,  which  are 
v  hitened  by  whole  villages  of  them  as  far  as  the 
eye  can  extend.  Frowning  fortifications  crown 
every  hill,  while  innumerable  roads  and  paths 
cross  from  one  to  the  other,  intersecting  at  all 
av.y.p.s.  The  valleys  are  filled  with  soldiers,  who 
are  strolling  about  for  wood,  water,  and  various 
otlier  purposes.  Here  and  there  horsemen,  are 
seen  galloping  from  camp  to  camp.  Guards  are 
stationed  in  every  direction,  pacing  regularly  to 
and  fro,  and  a  strange  activity,  yet  military  pre 
cision,  marks  the  whole.  The  ruin  and  desola 
tion,  as  well  as  the  "  pomp,  pride,  and  circum 
stance  of  glorious  war,"  are  the  distinguishing 
features  of  the  whole  scene. 

Yonder,  amid  all  this  strange  sight,  is  a  funeral 
procession.  In  front,  mounted  on  a  splendid 
charger,  ricles  the  chaplain.  He  is  followed  by  a 
full  band  of  music,  from  which  come  the  sadden 
ing,  yet  thrilling  and  solemn  tones  of  a  dirge, 
whose  reverberations  startle  many  a  warrior  from 
h;s  toil,  to  look  on  the  solemn  procession  as  it 
passes.  Following  these  is  the  ambulance  with 
the  remains,  escorted  by  a  few  companions  of  the 
deceased.  Another  soldier  has  gone  to  rest,  far 
from  home  and  friends.  Who  is  he  ?  "  Only  a 
private  ! "  "  Henry  Sleeper,  Company  H,  13th 
New  Hampshire,  died  November  15,  1862,"  will 
be  the  simple  record  on  his  regimental  rolls,  and 
on  the  rude  board,  placed  on  the  sacred  soil 
where  sleeps  the  brave,  and  then  he  will  be  forgot 
ten.  Fond  friends  in  the  distant  home  will  weep 
for  a  time,  almost  broken-hearted,  and  then  he 
will  be  remembered  only  by  the  wife  or  mother, 
who  will,  in  after  years,  tell  of  the  loved  one  who 
lost  his  life  in  suppressing  the  great  Southern 
rebellion.  Virginia  will,  indeed,  be  "  sacred  soil " 
to  many  an  aching  heart  all  over  our  land  —  sa 
cred  as  the  restii  g-place  of  the  flower  of  thou 
sands  of  families.  —  Nov.  1862. 


A  YOUNG  PATRIOT,  — The  following  was  writ 
ten  by  a  young  Boatoliian,  who  was  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  at  the  place  from  which  he 
dates  his  letter : 

NEW  YORK,  July  29,  18G2. 

My  Dear  Father  and  Mother :  I  wrote  you  a 
day  or  two  ago  on  passing  events.  Now  I  write 
on  the  su.ject  that  lies  nearest  my  heart.  The 
country  calls  for  men,  and  we  must  have  them ! 
Recruiting  lags,  and  we  are  in  danger  of  a  draft. 
It  is  now  useless  to  say  there  are  enough  men 
without  me.  It  is  not  the  fact.  I  want  to  vol- 
inteer  ;  any[  had  I  a  hundred  lives  I  would  now 
place  them  at  the  disposal  of  the  Government, 
for  it  needs  all  the  young  men  who  can  be  spared, 
and  I  am  one  who  can.  Let  me  calmly  state  the 
case  to  you.  First,  if  the  rebellion  succeeds,  we 
shall  have  the  disintegration  of  our  country  to 
look  upon.  We  shall  not  have  North  and  South 
alone,  but  after  that,  State  will  separate  from 
State,  county  from  county,  and  then  it  may  be 
every  man  for  himself.  Then  will  commence  a 
series  of  wars  none  of  us  could  see  the  end  of. 
The  stronger  State  will  make  war  on  the  weaker, 
and  the  successful  military  commander  would  as 
sume  power.  We  should  have  military  despot 
ism  and  anarchy  alternately.  If  we  succeed,  all 
will  be  peace,  and  we  shall  enjoy  the  freedom  of 
institutions,  and  the  perfect  liberty  we  have  hith 
erto  enjoyed. 

Then  you  must  acknowledge  the  power  to  do, 
or  not  to  do,  lies  with  ourselves.  We  have  the 
men,  but  they  must  come  forward.  Money  we 
have,  and  we  must  use  it.  The  South  are  terri 
bly  in  earnest.  The  North  are  fast  asleep,  com 
pared  with  them.  We  are  fighting  for  life,  for 
our  old  institutions,  for  nationality,  for  ail  we 
hold  most  dear.  The  South  are  endeavoring  to 
destroy  all  these,  and  to  prevent  them  we  must 
have  men.  We  must  conquer.  We  can  if  we 
use  our  means.  If  the  South  conquer,  I  don't 
want  to  live  in  this  country  any  longer.  Now  I 
acknowledge  that  a  father's  and  a  mother's  love 
is  one  of  the  greatest  blessings  a  young  man  can 
enjoy,  next  to  the  favor  of  God  himself;  but  that 
love  descends  to  selfishness  when  it  restrains  a 
young  man  from  his  manifest  duty.  The  love 
for  parents,  and  fear  of  their  displeasure  if  they 
disobey  them,  are  what  hold  many  hundred 
young  men  from  joining  our  noble  army. 

Let  all  such  restrictions  be  removed,  and  our 
ranks  will  swell  with  twice  the  rapidity  they  are 
now  doing.  My  duty  is  to  go  —  yours  to  let 
me  go.  The  duties  of  the  country  at  large  are 
patience,  steadfastness,  hope,  and  prayer.  A  very 
fine  preacher  here  says :  "  Pray  for  your  dying 
son,  but  pray  for  your  country  more  than  ten 
thousand  sons."  The  love  of  money  must  be  put 
down.  What  good  is  money  going  to  do  us  if 
we  have  no  country  to  live  in  ?  I  don't  want  a 
living  if  I  have  not  a  country.  Hoping,  pray 
ing,  trusting,  you  will  accede  to  my  wishes,  I 
await  an  answer.  My  name  is  on  the  militia  roils ; 
so  I  am  subject  to  draft ;  and  sooner  than  have 
me  go  with  drafted  men  here,  I  know  you  will  let 
me  go  in  a  Massa  thusetts  regiment.  1  have  writ- 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


93 


ten  this  letter  after  weeks  of  deliberation,  and 
in  no  sudden  burst  of  enthusiasm. 


INCIDENTS  OF  A  FIGHT  WITH  MOSBY. 

FAIRFAX  COURT  HOUSE,  June  2,  1863.  —  The 
sun  glistens  on  a  twelve-pound  brass  howitzer, 
which,  with  its  limber,  occupies  a  position  di 
rectly  in  front  of  Gen.  Stahl's  headquarters. 
The  story  of  the  gun  is  this  :  Made  in  the  year 
1859,  it  was  used  by  the  Union  troops  at  B'all's 
Bluff,  where  it  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels, 
and  since  that  time  has  done  service  in  the  rebel 
army.  After  Mosby  had  been  whipped  several 
times  by  Stahl's  cavalry,  this  gun  was  furnished 
him  to  redeem  his  laurels.  On  Friday  night  last, 
Mosby,  with  about  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
men  and  the  howitzer;  camped  at  Greenwich. 
Early  on  Saturday  they  made  a  hurried  march 
toward  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Kailroad, 
which  they  struck  about  one  and  a  half  miles 
this  side  of  Catlett's  Station.  Here  they  con 
cealed  themselves  in  the  woods,  placed  the  how 
itzer  in  position,  and  awaited  the  arrival  of  the 
train  from  Alexandria,  carrying  forage  and  stores 
to  Bealeton.  As  the  cars  came  opposite  the  am 
buscade,  a  rail,  adroitly  displaced,  caused  the  lo 
comotive  to  run  off  the  track.  At  this  moment 
&  ball  from  the  gun  went  through  the  boiler,  and 
another  pierced  the  smoke-stack.  The  guard 
upon  the  train  were  scared  by  hearing  artillery, 
and  beat  a  hasty  retreat,  leaving  the  train  at  the 
disposition  of  the  rebels.  Had  any  resistance 
been  offered,  it  is  believed  that  the  train  could 
have  been  saved,  and  all  the  rebels  captured.  As 
it  was,  the  guerrillas  destroyed  the  cars,  ten  in 
number,  and  then,  anticipating  a  visit  from  Stahl's 
cavalry,  made  off  in  the  direction  of  Auburn. 
Meanwhile,  Col.  Mann,  of  the  Seventh  Michigan 
cavalry,  who  was  in  command  of  the  portion  of 
Stahl's  cavalry  at  Bristow,  hearing  the  firing, 
started  with  portions  of  the  Fifth  New  York, 
First  Vermont,  and  Seventh  Michigan,  to  learn 
the  cause.  Taking  the  precaution  to  send  the 
Fifth  New  York,  Capt.  A.  II.  Hasbrouck  com 
manding,  across  the  country  to  Auburn,  to  inter 
cept  the  retreat,  he  followed  up  the  railroad  until 
the  sight  of  the  burning  train  told  that  portion 
of  the  story.  Leaving  the  burning  train,  Col. 
Mann  followed  the  track  of  the  retreating  foe,  and 
goon  heard  the  sound  of  cannon  towards  Green 
wich,  indicating  that  Capt.  Hasbrouck,  with  the 
Fifth  New  York,  had  either  intercepted  or  come 
up  with  the  enemy.  As  it  afterwards  proved,  they 
had  come  upon  their  rear,  and  had  been  fired 
upon  from  the  howitzer.  Owing  to  the  nature  of 
the  ground,  the  Fifth  New  York  was  unable  to 
deploy,  so  as  to  operate  effectively,  and  the  en 
emy  again  started  on  the  run,  closely  followed  by 
Capt.  Hasbrouck  and  his  command.  Col.  Mann 
pressed  on  to  reach  the  scene  of  the  firing. 
Learning  the  particulars  of  their  escape,  he  di 
vided  his  force,  sending  Lieut.-Col.  Preston,  with 
part  of  the  First  Vermont  cavalry,  to  reenforce 
the  Fifth  New  York,  and  with  the  balance  he  j 


struck  across  the  country,  again  hoping  to  inter 
cept  them. 

Finding  themseh'-:fi  so  hotly  pressed,  the  Qn- 
emy,  when  near  Grapewood  Farm,  about  two 
miles  from  Greenwich,  took  position  at  the 
head  cf  a  short,  narrow  lane,  with  high  fences 
on  eitaer  side,  placing  the  howitzer  so  as  to 
command  the  lane,  strongly  supported  by  his 
whole  force.  The  advance  of  the  Fifth  New 
York,  about  tvver  ty-five  men,  under  Lieut.  Elmer 
Barker,  coming  up,  the  Lieutenant  determined  to 
charge  the  gun,  fearing,  if  he  halted,  the  rebels 
would  again  run  away.  Gallantly  riding  up  the 
narrow  lane,  with  almost  certain  death  before 
them,  these  brave  men,  bravely  led  by  Lieut. 
Barker,  dashed  with  a  yell  towards  the  gun. 
When  within  about  fifty  yards,  the  rebels  opened 
fire  with  grape  upon  them.  The  result  was,  three 
men  were  killed  and  seven  wounded.  The  rebels 
immediately  charged,  led  by  Mosby  himself. 
Lieut.  Barker,  twice  wounded  in  the  leg,  con 
tinued  with  his  handful  of  men  to  contest  every 
inch  cf  the  ground,  and  himself  crossed  sabres 
with  Mosby.  But  numbers  told,  and  several  of 
the  Fifth  New  York  -were  made  prisoners.  This 
gallant  fight  of  Lieut.  Barker  afforded  Col.  Pres 
ton  an  opportunity  to  come  up  with  the  First 
Vermont.  Lieut.  Hazleton  was  in  advance,  with 
about  seventy-five  men,  and  charged  bravely  un 
the  lane,  the  few  boys  of  the  Fifth  New  York, 
who  were  left,  joining  the  Vermonters.  Again 
and  again  the  gun  dealt  destruction  through  the 
ranks,  but  nothing  could  check  their  impetuosity, 
and  the  brave  fellows  rode  over  the  gun,  sabring 
the  gunners,  and  captured  the  piece.  Serg. 
Carey,  of  the  First  Vermont,  was  shot  dead  by 
the  side  of  the  gun ;  hi^  brother,  a  corporal  in 
the  same  regiment,  although  his  arm  was  shat 
tered,  struck  down  the  gunner  as  he  applied  the 
match  for  the  last  time.  Mosby  and  his  men 
fought  desperately  to  recover  the  gun,  but  in 
vain. 

Meanwhile,  Col.  Preston  had  charged  across 
the  fields  upon  their  flank,  and  the  enemy  flecl  in 
all  directions,  taking  refuge  in  the  thickets,  with 
which  they  are  so  familiar.  One  party  attempted 
to  take  away  the  limber,  but  it  was  speedily  cap 
tured  and  brought  in.  The  long  chase  in  the  hot 
sun,  the  desperate  fight,  and  the  jaded  condition 
of  the  horses,  prevented  further  pursuit,  which, 
with  the  enemy  so  widely  scattered,  and  with 
their  knowledge  of  every  by-path  and  thicket, 
would  have  been  almost  fruitless.  Capt.  B.  S. 
Haskins,  an  Englishman,  and  formerly  a  Captain 
in  the  Forty-Fourth  royal  infantry,  who  was 
with  Mosby,  was  so  badly  wounded  that  he  has 
since  died.  Lieut  Capman,  formerly  of  the  reg 
ular  army,  who  was  in  charge  of  the  gun,  was 
also  dangerously  wounded  and  paroled  on  the 
field,  as  he  could  not  be  removed.  Our  loss  was 
four  killed  and  fifteen  wounded.  The  rebels  had 
six  killed,  twenty  wounded,  and  lost  ten  prison 
ers.  All  the  Fifth  New  York  who  were  taken 
by  the  rebels  were  recaptured. 

The  result  of  this  fight  is.  more  disastrous  tc 
the  rebels  thru  the  previous  engagements.  The 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Southern  Confederacy  will  not  be  apt  to  trust 
Mr.  Mosby  with  other  guns  if  he  cannot  take 
bt-tter  care  of  them  than  he  has  of  this  one. 
The  enemy  was  beaten  by  about  the  same  force, 
in  a  position  chosen  by  themselves,  and  defended 
h\  a  howitzer.  Their  killed  and  wounded  out 
number  ours,  and  the  howitzer  is  ready  to  be 
turned  against  them  at  the  earliest  opportunity. 
The  conduct  of  officers  and  men  is  highly  com 
mended  by  Col.  Mann  in  his  official  report  to 
Gen.  Stahl,  and  the  gallantry  of  the  charge  of 
the  Fifth  New  York  and  the  First  Vermont  is  de 
serving  mention. 


SOUTHRONS,  HEAR  YOUR   COUNTRY 
CALL  YOU. 

BY    ALBERT    PIKE. 

SOUTHRONS  !  hear  your  country  call  you ! 
Up  !  lest  worse  than  death  befall  you  ! 

To  arms  !     To  arms !     To  arms,  in  Dixie ! 
Lo  !  all  the  beacon-fires  are  lighted  — 
Let  all  hearts  be  now  united  ! 

To  arms  !     To  arms  !     To  arms,  in  Dixie  ! 
Advance  the  flag  of  Dixie  ! 

Hurrah  !  hurrah ! 

For  Dixie's  land  we  take  our  stand, 
And  live  or  die  for  Dixie  ! 
To  arms  !     To  arms  ! 
And  conquer  peace  for  Dixie ! 

To  arms  !     To  arms ! 
And  conquer  peace  for  Dixie ! 

U  *ar  the  Northern  thimders  mutter  1 
Northern  flags  in  South  wind  flutter ! 
To  arms !  &c. 

Advance  the  flag  of  Dixie  !  &c. 

Fear  no  -danger  !     Shun  no  labor ! 
Lift  up  rifle,  pike,  and  sabre ! 

To  arms  !  &c. 

Shoulder  pressing  close  to  shoulder, 
Let  the  odds  make  each  heart  bolder  ! 

To  arms !  &c. 

Advance  tbr  flag  of  Dixie !  &c. 

How  the  South' s  great  heart  rejoices 
At  vour  cannons'  ringing  voices  ! 

To  arms  !  &c. 

For  faith  betrayed,  and  pledges  broken, 
Wrongs  inflicted,  insults  spoken, 

To  arms  !  &c. 

Advance  the  flag  of  Dixie  !  &c. 

Strong  as  lions,  swift  as  eagles, 

Back  to  their  kennels  hunt  these  beagles ! 

To  arms  !  &c. 

Cut  the  unequal  words  asunder  ! 
Let  them  then  each  other  plunder  ! 

To  arms  !  &c. 

Advance  the  flag  of  Dixie !  &c. 

Swear  upon  your  country's  altar 
Never  to  submit  or  falter  I 

To  arms !  &c. 

Till  the  spoilers  are  defeated, 
Till  the  Lord's  work  is  completed, 

To  arms !  &c. 

Advance  the  flag  of  Dixie  I  &c. 


Halt  not,  till  our  Federation 

Secures  among  earth's  powers  its  station  ! 

To  arms !  &c. 

Then  at  peace,  and  crowned  with  glory, 
Hear  your  children  tell  the  story  1 

To  arms !  &c. 

Advance  the  flag  of  Dixie  >  &c. 

If  the  loved  ones  weep  in  sadness, 
Victory  soon  shall  bring  them  gladness, 

To  arms  !  &c. 

Exultant  pride  soon  banish  sorrow  , 
Smiles  chase  tears  away  to-morrow. 

To  anas  !  &c. 

Advance  the  fl&g  of  Dixie  !  &c. 


proposition,  that  the  Home 
jruard  should  not  leave  home  except  in  case  of 
nvasion,  is  equal  to  the  -old  story  of  the  Bung- 
;own  Riflemen,  an  Ohio  military  company,  whose 
Dy-laws  consisted  of  two  sections,  namely : 

"  Article  first.  —  This  company  shall  be 
mown  as  the  Bungto^n  Iliflemen. 

"  Article  Second.  —  In  case  of  war  this  com 
pany  shall  immediately  disband." 


INCIDENTS  OF  THE  AVAR. —A  correspondent 
relates  the  following  incidents  :  — 

"  The  Platte  Valley  steamer  was  brought  to  by 
the  guns  of  the  St.  Louis  arsenal,  with  a  load  of 
traitors  and  contrabands.  The  first  shot,  a  blank 
cartridge,  produced  no  effect.  The  next  was  a  shell, 
which  was  made  to  explode  a  little  beyond  the  boat ; 
and  this  also  was  disregarded.  The  third,  a  large 
ball,  passed  just  above  her  deck,  between  the  chim 
neys  and  the  wheel-house,  and  had  the  effect  to  set 
the  bell  ringing  and  the  whistle  screaming,  \&hich 
signals  of  acquiescence  were  continued  till  the 
boat  reached  the  landing.  '  Why,  sir,'  said  the 
Captain  to  the  gunner, '  did  you  mean  to  sink  me  ?  ' 
4  Certainly,'  was  the  cool  reply  ;  '  I  am  ordered 
to  fire  one  harmless  shot  at  least ;  I  gave  you  the 
benefit  of  two,  and  aimed  a  third  at  your  engine, 
but  the  gun  was  ranged  a  little  too  high.  I  did 
not  want  to  hit  your  boilers,  and  scald  you  all 
to  death ;  but  the  next  time  I  shall  sink  you  at 
the  second  shot !  '  '  For  God's  sake,  don't 
trouble  yourself,'  replied  the  Captain  ;  ljust  send 
a  small  boy  down  to  tap  a  drum  whenever  you 
want  me,  and  I'll  come  to  at  once.' 

"  Major  Rawlings  tells  an  anecdote,  in  the  same 
vein,  of  a  prominent  lawyer  of  St.  Louis.  '  Ma 
jor,'  said  he,  lately,  'I'm  a  choleric  man,  and  I 
find  it  won't  do.  I'm  getting  to  have  a  profound 
respect  for  Minie  bullets.  Won't  you  do  me 
the  favor  to  get  me  one  ?  and  whenever  I  find  my 
temper  rising  against  the  Dutch,  I  will  put  my 
hand  in  my  pocket,  and  feel  a  bullet,  and  that 
will  cool  ir.e  off! '  The  Major  got  the  bullet  for 
him,  and  the  effect  seems  to  be  equal  to  the  ex 
pectation.  Certainly  if;  is  better  to  have  one  in 
the  pocket  than  in  the  body,  if  the  effect  on  one's 
loyalty  is  just  the  same. 

"  Some  one  inquired  of  Col.  Boernstein  how 
long  he  e'.ould  remain.  '  1  don't  know.'  he  re- 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


plied  with  a  French  shrug  of  the  shoulder ;  '  per 
haps  a  year ;  so  long  as  the  Governor  chooses  to 
stay  away,  I  am  Governor  now,  you  see,  till  he 
comes  back  ! '  Hi?  notions  of  freedom  of  speech 
hnd  the  press  he  expressed  freely,  like  this  :  '  All 
reople  zall  speak  vot  dey  tink,  write  vot  dey 
pleazhe,  and  be  free  to  do  any  tink  dey  pleazhe 
—  only  dey  zall  speak  and  write  no  treason ! ' "  — 
National  Intelligencer. 


ONE   OF  THE  ARMY   OF  MARTYRS. 

The  telegraph  announces  the  death  of  William 
Fuller,  of  Needham,  a  private  in  the  18th  regi 
ment  of  Massachusetts  Volunteers.  The  tidings 
afflicted  me  much.  I  knew  that  he  joined  the 
army  from  deliberate  convictions  of  duty,  and 
with  the  belief  that  it  was  to  be  a  war  for  free 
dom  ;  and  I  earnestly  desired  that  he  should  live 
to  see  the  glorious  result  he  anticipated.  He  was 
an  ardent  republican,  and  worked  zealously  for 
Fremont  in  the  campaign  of  '56.  He  was  a 
working  man,  and  the  enslavement  of  working 
men  excited  generous-  indignation  in  his  breast. 
He  was  among  the  first  three  years'  men  that 
joined  the  army.  Late  in  September,  1861,  when 
he  had  been  some  time  in  Virginia,  he  wrote  to 
me :  "  I  enlisted  purely  from  principle  ;  to  do 
what  I  could  to  save  the  free  institutions  of  the 
country.  We  are  hard  at  work,  making  intrench- 
ments  and  cutting  roads  through  the  woods  to 
Munson's  Hill.  We  have  to  endure  many  priva 
tions  and  hardships ;  but  these  I  will  not  dwell 
•jpon.  I  am  willing  to  sacrifice  the  comforts  of 
home,  and  even  life  itself,  if  the  desired  end  can 
be  accomplished  by  this  war." 

A  month  later,  he  wrote :  "  Before  I  came 
here,  I  was  often  told  that  I  should  not  think  so 
badly  of  slavery,  if  1  had  been  in  the  Slave 
States.  But  I  must  say  I  have  not  yet  seen  any 
beauty  in  the  system.  When  I  do,  I  will  inform 
you.  While  on  picket  duty,  I  often  meet  with 
slaves,  and  have  opportunities  of  conversing  with 
them.  I  said  to  one,  who  came  into  camp  the 
other  day,  '  How  have  you  been  treated,  Robert  ?  ' 
'Pretty  well,  sar.'  '  Have  you  been  well  fed  and 
clothed  ?  '  '  Pretty  well,  till  dis  year.  Massa 
hab  no  money  to  spare  dis  year.'  'Were  you 
contented  ?  '  '  No,  sar.'  '  You  say  you  were  pret 
ty  well  treated,  and  pretty  well  supplied  with 
food  and  clothes ;  why  wasn't  you  contented  then  ? ' 
'  Cause  I  wanted  to  be  free,  sar.'  '  But  what  could 
you  do  to  support  yourself  arid  your  wife  and 
children,  if  you  were  all  free  ? '  His  face  bright 
ened,  and  you  could  see  his  eyes  sparkle,  as  he 
replied,  '  I'd  hire  a  little  hut,  and  hab  a  little  gar 
den,  and  keep  a  pig  and  a  cow,  and  I'd  work  out 
by  the  day,  and  save  money.  I  could  save  money. 
I've  laid  up  eight  dollars  this  summer  ;  but  if  1 
couldn't  lay  up  a  cent,  I  should  like  to  be  free.  I 
should  feel  better.'  '  Can  you  read  and  write  ?  ' 
'  No,  sar.  But  massa's  mighty  fraid  to  have  us 
touch  a  paper  ;  they  say  Massa  Lincoln  is  going 
to  free  all  the  slaves.'  'Where  did  you  hear 
that  ?  '  '  We  used  to  hear  massa  say  so,  last  fall, 


before  Massa  Lincoln  was  President.'  '  Did  you 
ever  hear  o^  John  Brcnrn  ?  '  '  Yes,  indeed,  sar. 
There  was  great  times  clown  here  when  he  come 
to  Harper's  Ferry.  The  folks  was  all  skeered  to 
death.  They  went  from  all  round  here  to  gee 
him  hung.'  *  Do  you  think  Li  was  a  good  man  ? ' 
'  Yes,  sar,  a  mighty  fine  man.' 

"All  the  slaves  I  have  met  wit  a  talk  in  much 
the  same  way.  I  could  fill  pages  with  similar 
conversations.  It  is  a  false  notion  that  slaves  are 
contented  if  they  are  not  beaten,  and  have  enough 
to  eat.  Liberty  is  just  as  sweet  to  them  as  it  is  to 
us.  I  can  say,  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  may 
we  never  come  to  any  terms  with  the  rebels  till 
this  blot  of  slavery  is  wiped  out.  I,  for  one, 
would  be  willing  to  stay  here  ten  years,  and  en 
dure  any  amount  of  hardship,  if  at  the  end  I 
could  see  America  truly  free.  If  the  war  could 
only  accomplish  this  object,  it  seems  as  if  I  could 
say,  '  Now  let  thy  servant  depart  in  peace.'  " 

At  the  close  of  November,  1861,  he  wrote: 
"  I  have  been  watching  the  tide  of  public  opinion, 
and  I  rejoice  to  see  that  the  sentiments  of  Sum- 
uer,  Wilson,  and  Fremont  are  fast  gaining 
ground.  Emancipation!  Blessed  word!  I  have 
prayed  for  it;  I  came  here  to  fight  for  it ;  I  am 
ready  to  die  for  it.  When  I  first  came  here,  they 
said  I  was  as  bad  as  a  secessionist ;  and  when  I 
indorsed  all  Charles  Sumner  said  at  Worcester, 
tkey  told  me  if  I  had  such  views  I  ought  to  ha^e 
staid  at  home.  But  I  stood  my  giound  firmly,  and 
spoke  the  honest  convictions  of  my  heart ;  for  I 
know  that  Mr.  Sumner  is  right,  and  that  the  right 
will  conquer  at  last.  I  have  sometimes  feared  it 
might  not  be  in  my  day ;  but  I  now  feel  that  the 
tide  is  setting  strongly  in  the  right  direction.  A 
great  change  has  been  wrought  within  a  few 
months.  1  feel  a  stronger  interest  in  the  subject 
than  ever,  since  I  have  seen  the  poor  slaves  and 
talked  with  them.  No  one  that  inquires  of  them 
can  have  a  doubt  that  they  are  longing  for  their 
freedom.  I  know  that  they  are  expecting  us  to 
free  them,  and  are  ready  at  a  word  to  help  us. 
We  have  the  power  to  do  it;  why  do  we  delay? 
The  day  will  come  when  the  Stars  and  Stripes  will 
wave  over  a  country  truly  free  ;  that  it  may  com* 
soon,  is  the  earnest*  prayer  of  a  poor  soldier." 

In  Januaay,  1862,  he  wrote  :  "  The  other  day 
in  going  out  to  the  line  of  our  pickets,  which  :» 
near  to  the  rebels,  I  passed  by  a  house  where  * 
fine-looking  colored  lad,  of  seventeen,  was  hold 
ing  a  horse.  He  told  me  his  master  was  in  the 
rebel  army.  He  had  taken  all  his  money  away 
with  him ;  but  his  mistress,  who  was  a  Union 
woman,  made  heaps  of  money  by  selling  victuals 
to  the  United  States  soldiers,  cooked  by  his 
mother,  who  was  one  of  her  slaves.  He  said  that 
his  mistress  had  a  pass  to  go  to  the  line  of  our 
pickets  whenever  she  liked,  and  that  she  wanted 
to  take  him  with  her,  to  work  for  a  man  near  our 
outposts.  I  advised  him  not  to  go,  lest  it  should 
prove  a  trap.  When  I  passed  the  house  a  fort 
night  later,  I  saw  the  same  lad  chopping  wood, 
with  a  book  peeping  from  his  pocket.  I  asked 
him  what  he  did  with  it.  He  said  he  wanted 
very  much  to  learn  to  read,  and  th  it  a  little  boy 


96 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


of  six  years  was  teaching  him.     What  a  picture  !  rebels  !    O,  it  was  too  painful !    But  they  were  all 

'patient — not  a  murmur  or  complaint.     What  a 


r 

'i> 


it  would  make  —  that  poor  slave  learning  his  let 
ters  of  a  little  child  six  years  old !  I  wish  I  were 
an  artist,  that  I  might  paint  it.  In  the  course  of 
our  short  conversation,  the  lad  tolrl  me  he  had 
found  out  why  his  mistress  wanted  him  to  go  to 
our  outposts  to  work  for  a  man.  -  She  and  her 
husband  hud  agreed  upon  a  meeting  near  the 
lines,  and  he  wanted  to  take  this  young  slave  to 
work  for  the  rebel  army.  So  much  for  this  wo 
man's  pretended  Union  sentiments  !  The  trouble 
is,  too  much  confidence  is  placed  in  the  lo\al  pro 
fessions  of  these  people.  I  am  not  surprised  that 
you  are  sometimes  despondent  concerning  the 
prospects  of  the  country.  1  am  also.  O,  what  a 
chance  is  offered  us  to  make  this  a  really  free 
country  —  a  fitting  home  for  the  oppressed  of  all 
nations  !  Will  this  glorious  opportunity  be  lost  ? 
If  so,  who  will  be  accountable?  It  surely  will 
not  be  the  poor  soldiers,  who,  at  ieir  country's 
call,  have  left  home  and  families  —  all  that  was 
near  and  dear  to  them.  I  have  taken  some 
pains  to  find  out  the  sentiments  of  those  around 
me,  and,  almost  to  a  man,  they  say  we  can  never 
have  permanent  peace  till  slavery  is  abolished. 
Here  are  two  hundred  thousand  men  ready  to 
go  forth,  at  the  word,  to  victory  or  death,  and  I 
believe  they  are  generally  desirous  to  see,  Free 
dom  to  All,  inscribed  upon  their  banners.  1  will 
not  believe  that  the  glorious  opportunity  is'to 
slip  by  us.  Surely  God  will  not  permit  it.  He 
hears  the  prayers  of  the  poor  slaves,  and  of  those 
who  have  been  working  and  praying  for  them  for 
years.  I  still  pray  on,  and  hope  on.  I  want  to 
do  much ;  but  how  can  I  do  more  than  I  am  do 
ing  ?  I  must  perform  my  duty,  and  wait  for  the 
w  heels  of  Government  to  move.  They  seem  to 
move  so  slowly,  that  I  long  to  put  my  shoulder 
to  the  wheels  and  push  them  along. 

"  From  appearances,  I  judge  we  shall  have  a 
battle  soon.  When  the  time  for  action  comes  I 
shall  try  to  do  my  duty,  God  helping  me.  I  have 
written  my  views  to  you  fully,  that  if  it  should  be 
my  lot  to  fall  in  battle,  you  may  know  with  what 
feelings  I  go  into  the  conflict.  The  extermination 
of  slavery,  and  freedom  for  all,  through  the  whole 
length  and  breadth  of  the  land,  is  the  idea  that 
nerves  my  arm.  May  God  give  me  strength! 
May  victory  be  ours  !  And  through  our  efforts 
may  the  millions  now  in  bondage  be  able  to  pro 
claim  to  the  world,  '  Once  we  were  Slaves,  but 
now  we  are  all  Free  Men  !  " ' 

The  expected  battle  was  indefinitely  postponed, 
as  we  all  know ;  and  the  soldiers  waited  patiently 
for  the  slow  wheels  to  move.  The  last  of  July, 
1862,  six  months  later,  after  the  seven  days'  bat 
tle  before  Hichmond,  followed  by  a  retreat  of  the 
United  States  army,  Mr.  Fuller  wrote :  "  We 
have  been  so  hurried  that  I  have  had  no  time  to 
collect  my  thoughts  until  now.  I  was  at  Savage's 
Station  on  Saturday,  after  the  fight  at  Games' 
Mill.  All  day  I  assisted  in  the  care  of  the 
wounded,  some  two  thousand  in  number.  May 
I  never  see  such  dreadful  sights  again  !  And  to 
tldnk  they  had  to  be  left  to  the  mercy  of  the 


lesson  it  taught  me ' ! 

"  Now  we  have  a  little  rest ;  and  as  I  sit  n«ar 
'  the  banks  of  James  Kiver,  my  mind  is  busy  with 
reflections  concerning  the  last  five  months.  I 
need  not  speak  of  the  great  sacrifices  of  life  and 
property,  of  the  recent  bloody  battles  and  the 
J  defeat  of  our  army :  you  know  it  all.  The  thought 
ever  present  to  my  mind  is,  What  have  we  accom 
plished  by  all  our  toil,  and  hardship,  suffering, 
and  death?  Is  freedom  any  nearer  at  hand?  Is 
the  nation  even  so  strong  as  it  was  five  month  a 
ago  ?  What  are  our  prospects  for  the  future  ? 
The  men  are  disheartened.  It  must  be  confessed 
that  something  is  wrong  somewhere.  Who  is 
responsible  for  this  defeat?  The  people  ought 
to  know.  The  poor  soldiers  ought  to  know. 
Let  the  truth  be  made  known  ! 

"It  is  my  firm  conviction  that  if  President 
Lincoln  had  proclaimed  emancipation  at  the 
beginning  of  the  war,  the  end  would  be  much 
nearer  than  it  now  is,  and  there  would  have  been 
far  less  expenditure  of  blood  and  treasure. 
Emancipation  is  a  strong  word,  but  it  must  come 
to  that  before  we  can  have  peace.  1  know  I  am 
not  competent  to  advise  the  President ;  but  these 
are  my  honest  convictions,  confirmed  day  by  day, 
the  more  I  see  of  this  accursed  system  of  slavery, 
which  is  the  cause  of  all  our  trouble.  1  am 
teaching  some  slaves  in  our  camp ;  that  is,  they 
were  slaves,  but  I  pray  to  God  they  may  never  be 
so  again." 

The  next  I  heard  from  Mr.  Fuller  was  that  he 
was  wounded  in  the  last  battle  at  Bull  Hun.  In 
answer  to  my  inquiries,  he  informed  me,  by  an 
other  hand,  that  he  had  been  badly  wounded  in 
the  shoulder,  but  was  doing  well.  He  added, 
"My  consolation  is,  that  I  have  done  what  I 
could." 

A  week  afterwards,  they  told  he  was  dead.  I 
thought  of  him  as  I  last  saw  him,  a  healthy, 
young  man,  full  of  life  and  hope.  He  had  few 
advantages  for  education  in  his  youth,  but  his 
remarks  evinced  good  intelligence  and  a  generous 
heart.  He  left  a  wife  and  young  children  and 
went  into  the  army,  not  from  the  mere  contagion 
of  public  excitement,  but  from  convictions  of 
duty,  after  deliberate  reflection. 

He  was  "  only  a  private  ; "  his  name  is  un 
known  to  fame ;  but  I  honor  his  memory,  as  a 
brave  man,  a  true  patriot,  and,  better  still,  a 
friend  to  the  whole  human  race,  of  all  nations 
and  colors.  It  fills  my  soul  with  sadness  to 
think  of  the  last  words  he  wrote  to  me  :  "  Some 
thing  is  wrong,  somewhere.  The  poor  soldiers 
ought  to  know." 

Alas,  thousands  of  poor,  weary  soldiers  have 
doubtless  gazed  on  the  rivers  and  hills  of  Vir 
ginia,  while  they  asked  themselves,  despondingly, 
"  What  has  been  accomplished  by  all  our  priva 
tions,  toils  and  sufferings  ?  "  Thousands  of  brave 
young  souls  have  passed  away  with  heroic  patience, 
saying,  "  My  consolation  is,  that  I  have  dene  what 
i  I  could."  L.  MAIUA  CHILD. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


LYON. 

SING,  bird,  on  green  Missouri's  plain, 

The  saddest  song  of  sorrow  ; 
Drop  tears,  O  clouds,  in  gentlest  rain 

Ye  from  the  winds  can  borrow ; 
Breathe  out,  ye  winds,  your  softest  sigh, 

Weep,  flowers,  in  dewy  splendor, 
For  him  who  knew  well  how  to  die. 

But  never  to  surrender. 

Up  rose  serene  the  August  sun 

Upon  that  day  of  glory  ; 
Up  curled  from  musket  and  from  gun 

The  war-cloud  gray  and  hoary  ; 
It  gathered  like  a  funeral  pall. 

Now  broken  and  now  blended, 
Where  rang  the  buffalo's  angry  call, 

And  rank  with  rank  contended. 

Four  thousand  men,  as  brave  and  true 

As  e'er  went  forth  in  darinjg, 
Upon  the  foe  that  morning  threw 

The  strength  of  their  despairing. 
They  feared  not  death  —  men  bless  the  field 

That  patriot  soldiers  die  on  — 
Fair  freedom's  cause  was  sword  and  shield, 

And  at  their  head  was  Lyon  ! 

Their  leader's  troubled  soul  looked  forth 

From  eyes  of  troubled  brightness : 
Sad  soul !  the  burden  of  the  North 

Had  pressed  out  all  its  lightness. 
He  gazed  upon  the  unequal  fight, 

flis  ranks  all  rent  and  gory, 
And  felt  the  shadows  close  like  night 

Round  his  career  of  glory. 

*«  General,  come,  lead  iis !  "  loud  the  cry 

From  a  brave  band  was  ringing  — 
««  Lead  us,  and  we  will  stop,  or  die, 

That  battery's  awful  singing." 
He  spurred  to  where  his  heroes  stood, 

Twice  wounded,  —  no  wound  knowing,  — 
The  fire  of  battle  in  his  blood 

And  on  his  forehead  glowing. 

O,  cursed  for  aye  that  traitor's  hand, 

And  cursed  that  aim  so  deadly, 
Which  smote  the  bravest  of  the  land, 

And  dyed  his  bosom  redly ! 
Serene  he  lay  while  past  him  pressed 

The  battle's  furious  billow, 
As  calmly  as  a  babe  may  rest 

Upon  its  mother's  pillow. 

So  Lyon  died  !  and  well  may  flower* 

His  place  of  burial  cover, 
For  never  had  this  land  of  ours 

A  more  devoted  lover. 
Living,  his  country  was  his  bride  ; 

His  life  lie  gave  her,  dying ; 
Life,  fortune,  love  —  he  nought  denied 

To  her  and  to  her  sighing. 

Rest,  Patriot,  in  thy  hillside  grave, 

L'eside  her  form  who  bore  thee  ! 
Long  may  the  land  thou  diedst  to  save 

Her  bannered  stars  wave  o'er  thee  I 
Upon  her  history's  brightest  page, 

And  on  Fame's  glowing  portal, 
She'll  write  thy  grand,  heroic  page, 

And  grave  thy  name  immortal! 


BEFORE  THE  BATTLE  OF  BETHEL.  —  Just  as 
we  halted  to  start  to  the  rear  on  heaiing  firiujr, 
said  Adjutant  Stevens  of  the  First  Verinonts  a 
rebel  scoundrel  came  out  of  a  house  and  cUlifoef" 
ately  fired  his  gun  at  us.  The  ball  passed  so 
close  to  me  that  I  heard  it  whiz  —  on  its  way 
going  through  the  ;oat  and  pants,  and  just  graz 
ing  the  skin  of,  Orderly  Sergeant  Sweet,  of  the 
Woodstock  company.  r\  he  rascal  was  secured, 
and  is  a  prisoner ;  and  what  was  done,  by  way  of 
stern  entertainment,  to  one  of  the  F.  F.  V.'s, 
you  will  hear  if  I  ever  live  to  return.  I  then,  as 
the  firing  to  the  rear  had  ceased,  with  revolver 
in  hand,  accompanied  by  Fifer,  approached  the 
fellow's  house,  having  some  expectation  of  an 
ounce  of  lead  K'ing  deposited  in  ray  tall  body 
without  asking  my  permission.  By  this  time  ail 
our  troops  were  ou;  of  sight  in  the  woods,  by  a 
turn  in  the  road,  and  I  was  alone  with  Fifer, 
when  some  negroes  came  from  the  house,  having 
less  fear  of  two  men  than  of  two  thousand.  On 
inquiry,  the  slaves  told  me  that  Adjutant  Whiting. 
whom  we  had  just  taken  prisoner,  was  the  owner, 
that  he  belonged  to  the  secession  army,  and  that 
no  white  folks  were  in  the  house,  all  having  left. 
Without  the  ceremony  of  ringing,  I  entered  and 
surveyed  the  premises,  and  found  a  most  elegantly 
furnished  house.  I  took  a  hasty  survey  in  search 
of  arms,  but,  finding  none,  left  the  house,  and 
started  to  overtake  our  column.  On  reaching 
the  bend  in  the  road,  I  took  a  survey  of  the  rear, 
to  "  see  what  I  might  see,"  and  discovered  a 
single  soldier  coming  towards  me,  and  waited  for 
him  to  come  up.  .  I  found  it  was  Clark,  of  the 
Bradford  company.  Before  he  reached  me,  I 
observed  a  horseman  coming  at  full  speed  towards 
me.  On  reaching  the  house,  he  turned  in,  which 
induced  me  to  think  him  a  secessionist.  I  ordered 
Clark  to  cover  him  with  his  riile,  and  revolver  in 
hand,  ordered  him  to  dismount  and  surrender. 
He  cried  out,  "  Who  are  you  ?  "  Answer,  "  Ver 
mont  ! "  "  Then  raise  your  piece,  Vermont ;  I 
am  Col.  Duryea,  of  the  Zouaves  ;  "  and  so  it  was. 
His  gay-looking  red  boys  just  appeared  turning 
the  corner  of  the  road,  coming  towards  us.  He 
asked  me  the  cause  of  the  firing  in  the  rear,  and 
whose  premises  we  were  on.  I  told  him  he  knew 
the  first  as  well  as  I  did,  but  as  to  the  last,  could 
give  full  information  ;  that  the  house  belonged 
to  one  Adjutant  Whiting,  who,  just  before,  had 
sent  a  bullet  whizzing  by  me,  and  shot  one  of  my 
boys,  and  that  ray  greatest  pleasure  would  be  to 
burn  the  rascal's  house  in  payment.  "  Your  wish 
will  be  gratified  at  once,"  said  the  Colonel.  "  I 
am  ordered  by  Gen.  Butler  to  burn  every  house 
whose  occupant  or  owner  fires  upon  our  troops. 
Burn  it."  He  leaped  from  his  horse,  and  I  upon 
the  steps,  and  by  that  time  three  Zouaves  were 
with  me.  I  ordered  them  to  try  the  door  with 
the  butts  of  their  guns  —  down  went  the  door, 
and  in  went  we.  A  well-packed  travelling  hag 
lay  upon  a  mahogany  table.  I  tore  it  open  witfj 
the  hopes  of  finding  a  revolver,  but  did  not.  The 
first  thing  I  took  out  was  a  white  linen  coat :  1 
laid  it  on  the  table,  aid  Col.  Uuryea  put  a  lighted 
match  to  it.  Other  clothing  v\  n  added  to  the 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


pile,  and  soon  we  had  a  rousing  fire.  Before 
leaving,  I  went  into  the  large  parlor  in  the  right 
wing  of  the  house  —  it  was  perfectly  splendid. 
A  large  room  with  a  tapestry  carpet,  a  nice  piano, 
a  fine  library  of  miscellaneous  books,  rich  sofas, 
elegant  chairs,  with  superior  needle-work  wrought 
bottoms,  whatnots  in  the  corners,  loaded  with 
articles  of  luxury,  taste,  and  refinement,  and 
upon  a  mahogany  centre-table  lay  a  Bible  and  a 
lady's  portrait.  The  last  two  articles  I  took,  and 
have  them  now  in  my  possession.  I  also  took  a 
decanter  of  most  excellent  old  brandy  from  the 
sideboard,  and  left  the  burning  house.  By  this 
time  the  Zouave  regiment  had  come  up.  I  joined 
them,  and  in  a  short  time  came  up  with  our  rear 
guard,  and  saw  a  sight,  the  like  of  which  I  wish 
never  to  see  again  —  viz.:  nine  of  Col.  Town- 
send's  Albany  regiment  stretched  on  the  floor  of 
a  house,  where  they  had  just  been  carried,  and 
eight  of  them  mortally  wounded,  by  our  own  men. 
O.  the  sight  was  dreadful.  I  cried  like  a  boy, 
and  so  did  many  others.  I  immediately  thought 
of  my  decanter  of  brandy,  took  a  tin  cup  from  a 
soldier  and  poured  into  it  the  brandy,  and  filled 
it  (the  cup)  with  water  from  a  canteen,  and  from 
one  poor  boy  to  another  I  passed  and  poured  into 
their  pale  and  quivering  lips  the  invigorating 
fluid,  and  with  my  hand  wiped  the  sweat-drops 
of  death  from  their  foreheads.  O,  how  gratefully 
the  poor  fellows  looked  at  me  as  they  saw,  by  my 
uniform,  that  the  usually  stern  officer  and  com 
mander  had  become  to  them  the  kind  and  tender 
hearted  woman,  by  doing  for  them  woman's  holy 
duty.  One  strong  fellow,  wounded  in  the  head, 
and  bloody  as  a  butcher's  floor,  soon  rallied,  and 
was  able  to  converse  with  me.  I  asked  him  if  he 
knew  the  poor  fellows  around  him.  He  said  yes, 
an  1  pointing  to  one,  he  said,  "  That  man  stood  at 
mj  siile — he  was  my  section  man  —  I  saw  his 
gu.r.  fly  out  of  his  hands,  being  struck  by  a  grape 
shot,  and  a  moment  after  we  both  tumbled  to  the 
ground  together."  I  went  out  and  picked  up  an 
Enfield  riile,  nearly  cut  in  two  by  a  ball ;  said  he, 
"  That  is  his  gun."  I  saw  its  owner  die,  and 
brought  the  gun  with  me  back  to  my  camp,  and 
have  it  in  my  possession. 


Music  OF  THE  PORT  ROYAL  NEGROES.— 
The  editor  of  Dwight's  Journal  of  Music  pub 
lished  a  letter  from  Miss  Lucy  McKim,  of  Phila 
delphia,  accompanying  a  specimen  of  the  songs 
in  vogue  among  the  negroes  about  Port  Royal. 
Miss  McKim  accompanied  her  father  thither  on  a 
recent  visit,  and  wrote  as  follows  : 

It  is  difficult  to  express  the  entire  character  of 
these  negro  ballads  by  mere  musical  notes  and 
signs.  The  odd  turns  made  in  the  throat,  and 
the  curious  rhythmic  effect  produced  by  single 
voices  chiming  in  at  different  irregular  intervals, 
sBeia  almost  as  impossible  to  place  on  score  as 
the  singing  of  birds  or  the  tones  of  an  ^Eolian 
harp.  The  airs,  however,  can  be  reached.  They 
are  loo  decided  not  to  be  easily  understood,  and 
their  striking  originality  would  catch  the  ear  of 


any  musician.  Besides  this,  they  are  valuable  a« 
an  expression  of  the  character  and  life  of  the 
race  which  is  playing  such  a  conspicuous  part  in 
our  history.  The  wild,  sad  strains  tell,  as  the 
sufferers  themselves  never  could,  of  crushed 
hopes,  keen  sorrow,  and  a  dull,  daily  misery 
which  covered  them  as  hopelessly  as  the  fog  from 
the  rice-swamps.  On  the  other  hand,  the  woids 
breathe  a  trusting  faith  in  rest  in  the  future  — 
in  "  Canaan's  fair  and  happy  land,"  to  which 
their  eyes  seem  constantly  turned. 

A  complaint  might  he  made  against  these  «ongs 
on  the  score  of  monotony.  It  is  true  there  is  a 
great  deal  of  repetition  of  the  music,  but  that  is 
to  accommodate  the  lear  21*,  who,  if  he  be  a  good 
one,  is  always  an  improvisator.  For  instance,  on 
one  occasion,  the  name  cf  each  of  our  party  who 
was  present  was  dexterously  introduced. 

\z  the  same  sonr*s  are  sung  at  every  sort  of 
work,  of  course  the  tempo  is  not  always  alike. 
On  the  water,  the  oars  dip  "  Poor  Rosy  "  to  an 
even  andante  ;  a  stout  boy  and  girl  at  the  hom 
iny-mill  will  make  the  same  "  Poor  Rosy  "  fly,  to 
keep  up  with  the  whirling  stone  ;  and  in  the  even 
ing,  after  the  day's  work  is  done,  "  Heab'n  shall 
a  be  my  home  "  peals  up  slowly  and  mournfully 
from  the  distant  quarters.  One  woman  —  a  re 
spectable  house-servant,  who  had  lost  all  hut  one 
of  her  twenty-two  children  —  said  to  me  : 

"  Pshaw !  don't  bar  to  dese  yar  chiPen,  missifi. 
Dey  jest  rattles  it  off;  dey  don't  know  how  for 
sing  it.  I  likes  '  Poor  Rosy '  better  dan  all  da 
songs,  but  it  can't  be  sung  widout  a  full  heart 
and  a  troubled  sperrit ! " 

All  the  songs  make  good  barcarolles.  Whit- 
tier  "  builded  better  than  he  knew,"  when  he 
wrote  his  "  Song  of  the  Negro  Boatman."  It 
seemed  wonderfully  applicable  as  we  were  being 
rowed  across  Hilton  Head  Harbor  among  United 
States  gunboats  —  the  Wabash  and  the  Vermont 
towering  on  either  side.  I  thought  the  crew 
must  strike  up  : 

"  And  massa  tink  it  day  ob  doom, 
And  we  ob  jubilee." 

Perhaps  the  grandest  singing  we  heard  was  at 
the  Baptist  Church,  on  St.  Helena  Island,  when  a 
congregation  of  three  hundred  men  and  women 
joined  in  a  hymn  : 

"  Roll,  Jordan,  roll,  Jordan  ! 
Roll,  Jordan,  roll !" 

It  swelled  forth  like  a  triumphal  anthem.  That  •' 
same  hymn  was  sung  by  thousands  of  negroes  on 
I  the  ^Fourth  of  July  last,  when  they  marched  in 
procession  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  cheering 
them  for  the  first  time  as  the  "flag  of  our  coun 
try."  A  friend,  writing  from  there,  says  that  the 
chorus  was  indescribably  grand  — "  that  the 
whole  woods  and  world  seemed  joining  in  that 
rolling  sound." 

There  is  much  more  in  this  new  and  curious 
music  of  which  it  is  a  temptation  to  write,  but 
I  must  remember  that  it  can  speak  for  itself 
better  than  any  one  for  h. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


"STONEWALL  JACKSON'S   WAY.' 

COME,  stack  arms,  men  !     Pile  on  the  rails, 

Stir  up  the  camp-fire  bright ; 
No  matter  if  the  canteen  fails, 

We'll  make  a  roaring  night. 
Here  Shenandoah  brawls  along, 
There  burly  Blue  Ridge  echoes  strong, 
To  swell  the  brigade's  rousing  song 

Of  "  Stonewall  Jackson's  way." 

We  see  him  now  —  the  old  slouched  hat 

Cocked  o'er  his  ejre  askew, 
The  shrewd,  dry  smile,  the  speech  so  pat. 

So  calm,  so  blunt,  so  true. 
The  "  Blue-Light  Elder"  knows  'em  well ; 
Says  he,  "  That's  Banks  —  he's  fond  of  shell  $ 
Lord  save  his  soul !  we'll  give  him  "  —  well, 

That's  "  Stonewall  Jackson's  way." 

Silence  !  ground  arms  !  kneel,  all!  caps  off! 

Old  Blue-Light's  going  to  pray. 
Strangle  the  fool  that  dares  to  scoff! 

Attention  !  it's  his  way. 
Appealing  from  his  native  sod, 
In  forma  pauperis  to  God  — 
«•  Lay  bare  thine  arm,  stretch  forth  thy  rod  ! 

Amen  !  "     That's  "  Stonewall's  way." 

He's  in  the  saddle  now.     Fall  in  ! 

Steady,  the  whole  brigade  ! 
Hill's  at  the  ford,  cut  off —  we'll  win 

His  way  out,  ball  and  blade ! 
What  matter  if  our  shoes  are  worn  ? 
What  matter  if  our  feet  are  torn  ? 
"  Quick-step  !  we're  with  him  before  dawn  !" 

That's  '*  Stonewall  Jackson's  way." 

The  sun's  bright  lances  rout  the  mists 

Of  morning,  and,  by  George  ! 
Here's  Longstreet  struggling  in  the  lists, 

Hemmed  in  an  ugly  gorge. 
Pope  and  his  Yankees,  whipped  before, 
*«  Bay'riets  and  grape  !  "  near  Stonewall  roar  ; 
"  Charge,  Stuart !     Pay  off  Ashby's  score ! " 

Is  "  Stonewall  Jackson's  way." 

Ah,  maiden,  wait,  and  watch,  and  yearn 

For  news  of  Stonewall's  band  ! 
Ah,  widow,  read,  with  eyes  that  burn, 

That  ring  upon  thy  hand  ! 
Ah,  wife,  sew  on,  pray  on,  hope  on  ! 
Thy  life  shall  not  be  all  forlorn. 
The  foe  had  better  ne'er  been  born 

That  gets  in  "  Stonewall's  way." 


pletely  exposed  to  a  direct  fire  in  front,  and  to  a 
cross-fire  from  a  water-battery  stationed  on  ihe 
opposite  side  of  the  river,  you  may  readily  be 
lieve  we  hastened  to  obey  orders.  Fortunately, 
the  enemy  did  not  at  once  open  fire,  and  our  boys 
had  a  chance  to  do  some  little  digging  before  the 
storm  of  ball  and  shell  commenced  ;  but  long  be 
fore  the  pits  were  fully  completed,  their  guns 
Vv  L-re  played  i:  )on  us.  Up  to  twelve  o'clock,  the 
enemy  had  fired  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
shell  and  shot,  and  though  nane  of  our  regiment 
were  killed  or  wounded,  there  were  many  narrow 
escapes. 

Li^ it.    Stiles,   commanding   second    company 

sharj.  dieters,   in   the    absence  of  Capt.  Weat- 

!  worth,  b n  dy  escaped  being  struck  by  a  shell. 

i  In  order  to   be  able  to  give  his  men  due  notice 

:  when  to   'Jodge  at  the  nash,  he  bravely  and  fear- 

!  lessly  ex  osed  himself.     In  another  case,  one  of 

[  the  men  was  entirely  buried  by  a  shell  striking 

the  earth  in  front  of  the  pit,  and  had  actually  to 

be  dug  out  by  his  comrades. 

During  the  whole  day  our  boys  kept  themselves 
busy,  while  the  sharpshooters  took  every  chance 
offered.  When  evening  came,  we  were  ordered 
back  to  camp  ;  but  before  we  had  got  fairly  set 
tled,  the  rebels  commenced  shelling  us  again.  A 
piece  of  a  shell  struck  the  Adjutant's  tent,  and 
buried  itself  a  foot  and  a  half  in  the  ground. 
The  Adjutant  and  one  of  the  surgeons  were  in 
the  tent  at  the  time.  At  twelve  o'clock  our  siege 
guns  commenced  operations,  and  the  enemy  ceased 
firing.  The  next  morning  at  five  o'clock,  the 
Twenty-second  were  ordered  to  go  on  picket  duty 
in  front  of  the  enemy's  lines. 

The  regiment,  having  taken  their  position,  soon 
discovered  that  the  works  were  evacuated,  and 
at  once  marched  forward  and  took  possession. 
There  being  no  colors  allowed  with  a  regiment 
on  picket  duty,  Col.  Gove  immediately  sent  to 
his  camp  for  the  American  flag,  and  with  his 
own  hands  planted  it  on  the  works  at  York- 
town.  At  this  time  there  were  no  other  regi 
ments,  or  parts  of  regiments,  present  under  their 
proper  officers;  there  were  simply  only  a  few 
stragglers,  who  followed  after  the  Twenty-sec 
ond.  Col.  Gove  raised  the  flag,  and  was  within 
ten  feet  of  the  concealed  shell,  which  exploded 
and  wounded  seven  of  our  men. 


WHO  RAISED  THE  FLAG  AT  YORKTOWN  ? —  To 

the  Twenty-second  Massachusetts  regiment,  Col. 
Gove,  and  to  the  Twenty-second  alone,  belongs 
the  glory  of  first  planting  the  American  flag  on 
the  works  at  Yorktown :  of  the  truth  of  the 
statement  there  is  and  can  be  no  question.  The 
following  brief  account  can  be  relied  upon  : 

The  day  beforje  the  evacuation,  Saturday,  May 
3d.  the  Twenty-second  regiment  received  or- 
diTe,  to  march  to  a  position  within  one  thousand 
yards  of  the  enemy's  works.  Spades  were  fur 
nished  each  man.  We  were  then  deployed  on  a 
line  six  feet  apart,  and  the  order  came  :  "  Dig 
or  yom  lives."  Considering  that  we  were  com- 


A  TALK  WITH  A  UEBEL  PICKET  IN  MISSIS 
SIPPI.  —  A  private  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  regiment 
gave  the  following  lively  sketch  of  campaigning 
life: 

I  must  record  a  little  adventure,  pleasing  and 
interesting,  I  had  day  before  yesterday  near 
Corinth.  My  last  spoke  about  the  continued 
firing  between  pickets.  To  such  an  extent  was 
it  carried,  so  incessant  the  firing  day  and  night, 
that  nothing  short  of  a  battle  would  alarm  the 
camp,  whereas  a  single  gun  should  be  the  signal 
for  the  long-roll.  But  within  the  last  three  or 
four  days  a  change  for  the  better  has  taken  place. 

On  Mor  lay  our  regment  was  sen'i  to  the  for 
tifications.  It  is  the  custom  for  the  various 


100 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


battalions  to  take  their  turn  in  staying  at  the 
breastworks  for  twenty-four  hours,  forming  a 
sort  of  reserve  picket ;  "and  from  each  regiment 
so  stationed  two  companies  are  sent  to  the  out 
posts.  It  fell  to  our  lot  to  go  out.  The  com 
pany  we  relieved  informed  us  that  the  rebels  were 
disposed  to  be  friendly ;  and  with  instructions 
from  the  field-officer  not  to  fire  unless  fired  upon, 
or  the  enemy  attempted  to  advance,  we  set  to 
work  to  watch  the  movements  of  oar  neighbors. 
The  enemy's  pickets  were  in  the  edge  of  a  wood 
about  two  hundred  yards  from  us,  and  my  post 
—  one  of  the  best  for  observation  —  similarly 
situated  in  another  wood,  with  a  level  between 
us.  For  some  time  we  looked  c'.osely  without 
being  able  to  see  any  of  them,  as  they  were 
disposed  to  be  shy.  We,  on  the  contrary,  exposed 
ourselves  to  their  view,  which  had  the  effect  of 
making  them  bolder  ;  and  occasionally  a  rebel 
passed  from  one  tres  to  another  and  levelled  a 
field-glass  at  us. 

I  waved  a  handkerchief,  which  wras  answered 
from  the  other  side,  and  tacitly  understood  to 
mean  no  firing.  An  hour  later  one  of  our 
Southern  friends  waved  a  handkerchief  and 
shouted:  "Meet  me  half-way."  "All  right;" 
and  arming  myself  with  a  newspaper  profusely 
illustrated  with  pictures  incidental  to  the  capture 
of  New  Orleans,  I  started  out.  A  rebel  surgeon 
of  the  Third  Tennessee  was  the  individual  who 
met  me.  He  was  dressed  in  a  citizen's  suit  of 
black,  with  military  buttons,  and  the  rank  of 
captain  designated,  not  by  shoulder-straps,  but 
by  marks  on  the  collar.  After  shaking  hands 
and  exchanging  the  customary  salutations,  we 
proceeded  to  talk  about  the  war.  lie  was  at 
Fort  Donelson,  and  made  his  escape  the  night 
before  the  surrender;  spoke  of  the  battle  of 
Shiloh,  at  which  he  assisted  ;  said  it  was  their 
intention  to  have  made  the  attack  on  Saturday 
instead  of  Sunday,  but  on  account  of  a  misunder 
standing  between  their  generals  the  plan  failed. 
The  number  of  deserters  from  his  side  appeared 
to  have  a  prominent  place  in  his  mind,  which 
he  vainly  endeavored  to  conceal.  "  Do  you 
have  many  deserters  from  your  ranks  ?  "  he  com 
menced.  1  told  him  of  only  two  cases  which  had 
come  under  my  notice  for  more  than  a  year, 
taking  care  to  add  that  they  ran  home.  He 
wanted  to  know  if  many  of  their  men  came  over 
to  us.  I  answered  rather  equivocally  :  "  A  few." 
"Mow  many0" 

Fearful  now  that  if  I  told  him  the  great  number 
that  actually  did  come  to  us,  the  rebel  leaders 
would  increase  their  vigilance,  I  merely  said  that  I 
had  seen  six,  the  number  I  had  personally  beheld. 
"  I  guess  they  go  the  other  way,"  he  replied, 
thereby  acknowledging  they  suffered  much  from 
desertion.  Mr.  Tennessee  wanted  to  know  why 
we  did  not  make  the  attack  ;  they  were  anxiously 
waiting  for  us,  and  confident  of  victory.  I  said 
i hat  they  could  not  be  more  eager  for  the  bat 
tle,  or  more  sure  of  success,  than  ourselves ; 
thut  to  us  everything  appeared  to  be  ready ; 
but  we  were  not  supposed  to  knov  Gen.  Hal- 
Icck's  plans. 


We  talked  together  some  fifteen  minutes,  both 
of  us  very  wary  about  giving  contraband  infor 
mation.  He  was  a  gentlemanly,  well-educated 
man,  apparently  under  thirty  years  of  age,  and 
from  Maury  County,  Tennessee.  I  gave  him  the 
3ictorial,  and  asked  for  a  Memphis  paper.  He 
lad  none,  but  promised  to  send  me  over  one, 
if  he  could  procure  it  during  the  day.  Before 
parting,  I  remarked  'Jiat  it  would  be  well  to 
n.  ike  some  agreement  about  picket  firing,  and 
learned  that  they  had  received  orders  precisely 
like  ours. 

Gen.  Garfidd,  who  ha:l  the  supervision  of  the 
outposts,  railed  me  it- ;  so  we  again  shook  hands 
and  sepai  ited,  leaving  many  things  unsaid  that 
we  would  like  to  have  spoken  about.  Garfield 
questioned  me  closely  as  to  our  conversation,  and 
seemed  satisfied  that  it  was  all  right.  However, 
being  fearful  that  the  rebels  might  learn  something 
from  us  if  such  intercourse  was  allowed,  he 
ordered  us  not  to  go  out  again,  but  to  let  any 
rebel  that  wished  it  to  come  over  all  the  way.  1 
had  reason  to  regret  this  very  much,  as  in  the 
afternoon  my  friend,  the  doctor,  came  half  way 
with  the  promised  paper.  We  gave  him  to 
understand  that  it  was  against  our  orders  to  leave 
the  post,  and  if  he  would  come  all  the  way  we 
would  do  him  no  harm.  He  said  he  had  a  very 
late  paper,  but  could  not  be  induced  to  conN3 
farther  than  the  neutral  ground,  and  returned, 
much  to  our  disappointment. 

Afrer  the  interview  of  the  morning  all  appre- 
hension  of  danger  from  bullets  from  either  g;il« 
was  at  an  end,  and  the  sentinels  on  both  side* 
paced  their  beats  without  so  much  as 
to  seek  cover. 


OUR   COUNTRY'S  CALL. 

BY    WIILIAM    CULL^N    BUY  ANT. 

LAY  down  the  axe,  fling  by  the  spade ; 

Leave  in  its  track  the  toiling  plough ; 
The  rifle  arid  the  bayonet  blade 

For  arms  like  yours  were  fitter  now ; 
And  let  the  hands  that  ply  the  pen 
.    Quit  the  light  task,  and  learn  to  wield 
The  horseman's  crooked  brand,  and  rein 

The  charger  on  the  battle-field. 

Our  country  calls  ;  away  !  away  ! 

To  where  the  blood-stream  blots  the  greea  j 
Strike  to  defend  the  gentlest  sway 

That  Time  in  all  his  course  has  seen. 
See,  from  a  thousand  coverts  —  see 

Spring  the  armed  foes  that  haunt  her  track ; 
They  rush  to  smite  her  down,  and  we 

Must  beat  the  banded  traitors  back. 

Ho  !  sturdy  as  the  oaks  ye  cleave, 

And  moved  as  soon  to  fear  and  flight, 
Men  of  the  glade  and  forest !  leave 

Your  woodcraft  for  the  field  of  fight. 
The  arms  that  wield  the  axe  must  pour 

An  iron  tempest  on  the  foe  ; 
His  serried  ranks  shall  reel  before 

The  arm  that  lays  the  panther  low. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


101 


And  ye  who  breast  the  mountain  storm, 

By  grassy  steep  or  highland  lake, 
Come,  for  the  land  ye  love  to  form 

A  bulwark  that  no  foe  can  break. 
Stand,  like  your  own  gray  cliffs  that  mock 

The  whirlwind,  stand  in  her  defence  : 
The  blast  as  soon  shall  move  the  rock 

As  rushing  squadrons  bear  ye  thence. 

And  ye,  -whose  homes  are  by  her  grand, 

Swift  rivers,  rising  far  away, 
Come  from  the  depth  of  her  green  land, 

As  mighty  in  your  march  as  they, 
As  terrible  as  when  the  rains 

Have  swelled  them  over  bank  and  bourn 
With  sudden  floods  to  drown  the  plains 

And  sweep  along  the  woods  uptorn. 

And  ye  who  throng,  beside  the  deep, 

Her  ports  and  hamlets  of  the  strand, 
In  number  like  the  waves  that  leap 

On  his  long,  murmuring  marge  of  sand. 
Come,  like  that  deep,  when  o'er  his  brim 

He  rises,  all  his  floods  to  pour, 
And  flings  the  proudest  barks  that  swim, 

A  helpless  wreck,  against  his  shore. 

Few,  few  were  they  whose  swords,  of  oil, 

Won  the  fair  land  in  which  we  dwell ; 
But  we  are  many,  we  who  hold 

The  grim  resolve  to  guard  it  well. 
Strike,  for  that  broad  and  goodly  land, 

Blow  after  blow,  till  men  shall  see 
That  Might  and  Right  move  hand  in  hand, 

And  glorious  must  their  triumph  be. 


THE  CRUISE  OF  THE  FLORIDA. 

MAFFIT'S  ACCOUNT  OF  HIS  ADVENTURES.  — 
Arriving  in  Brest,  by  way  of  Quimper  and 
Chateaulin,  the  first  thing  I  heard  on  getting*  on 
board  the  steamer  which  navigates  the  picturesque 
little  river  Elorn  from  the  latter  place  to  Brest, 
was  the  arrival  of  the  Confederate  States  cruiser 
Florida ;  and  on  crossing  the  glorious  Rade  de 
Brest  for  the  mouth  of  the  harbor,  I  had  no 
difficulty  in  making  out  this  now  celebrated 
vessel,  as  she  lay  at  anchor  among  some  of  the 
giants  of  the  French  navy  —  a  long,  low,  black, 
rakish-looking  craft,  not  over  smart  in  appearance, 
yet  useful,  every  inch  of  her  —  a  pygmy  among 
these  monsters,  and  yet  a  formidable  pygmy,  even 
to  the  unpractised  eye,  the  Palmetto  nag  flying 
proudly  from  her  mizzen.  We  happened  to  have 
a  French  Vice-Adrairal,  a  Russian  Vice-Admiral, 
and  a  Senator  of  the  Empire  on  board ;  and  you 
may  imagine  there  was  an  infinity  of  gossip,  but 
no  reliable  information. 

When  we  landed  at  the  Cale  in  the  harbor,  the 
crowd  which  usually  assembles  to  welcome  or 
pester  new  comers  was  full  of  "  La  Floride  "  and 
her  doings.  "  Elle  a,"  cried  an  enthusiastic 
commissionaire  to  me,  "  die  a,  Monsieur,  je  vous 
assure  sur  ma  parole  d'honneur,pres  deux  millions 
de  litres  sterling  a  lord,  tout  eti  or,  je  vous 
assume,"  "Eh!  mon  Dieu!  c'est  beaucoup!" 
tried  a  smart  little  mousse  from  the  Turenne.  I 


could  not  help  agreeing  with  the  mousse  that  the 
sum  was  certainly  a  great  deal. 

That  evening  (aided  by  my  fellow-traveller, 
Mr.  Henry  Tupper,  Vice-Consul  of  France  in 
Guernsey,  and  one  of  the  jurats  of  that  island) 
I  found  some  of  the  officers  of  the  Florida  at  the 
Hotel  de  Nai:-es,  (Rue  d'Aiguillon.)  Lieut. 
Lingard  Hoole  (a  young  man,  who  apparently 
did  not  number  more  than  23  years)  received  us 
courteously,  and  gave  u*  his  card  to  assure  us 
admission  on  board.  lie  stated,  however,  that 
his  superior  officer  Capt  Maffit,  was  generally  to 
be  found  on  board  nis  vessel,  and  would  be  glad 
to  see  us.  The  frankness,  courtesy,  and  total 
absence  of  boasting  manifested  by  this  young 
officer,  impressed  us  most  favorably. 

All  next  day  it  blew  a  gale  of  wind  in  the 
Rade,  and  we  could  not  find  a  boat  to  venture 
out.  To-day,  however,  the  weather  was  most 
propitious,  and  early  morning  found  us  alongside 
of  the  Florida.  We  sent  our  cards  to  Capt. 
Maffit,  and  were  immediately  admitted  on  board, 
the  captain  himself  coming  to  the  top  of  tht 
companion  to  receive  us.  Directly  Capt.  Maffit 
understood  that  we  were  British  subjects,  he 
invited  us  below  into  his  little  cabin,  and  when  I 
told  him  that  there  were  many  people  in  England 
who  regarded  his  career  with  great  interest,  he 
entered  very  freely  into  a  recital  of  his  adventures. 

I  will  here  subjoin  a  copy  of  some  notes  which 
Capt.  Maffit  subsequently  handed  to  me,  relative 
to  the  career  of  the  Florida,  promising,  at  the 
same  time,  a  continuation,  which  has  not  yet 
arrived.  They  are  as  follows : 

"  The  C.  S.  steamer  Florida,  Commander  J.  N. 
Maffit.  This  steamer  was  built  in  Liverpool,  and 
sent  to  Nassau  in  April,  1862  ;  was  put  in  the 
Admiralty  Court ;  cleared  on  the  6th  of  August, 
when  her  present  commander  took  charge  with 
18  men;  went  to  sea;  met  her  tender,  and  re 
ceived  guns,  &c.  On  the  16th  of  August-  the 
yellow  fever  appeared  on  board,  and  Capt.  Maffit 
had  to  perform  surgeon's  duty,  until  necessity 
forced  the  vessel  into  Cardenas.  There  she  lost 
nearly  all  her  crew,  her  paymaster,  and  third 
engineer.  She  ran  the  blockade  off  Havana,  in 
and  out,  and  on  the  4th  of  September  appeared 
off'  Mobile.  The  entire  blockading  fleet  put  after 
her.  Capt.  Mafiit  was  brought  up  from  a  bed  of 
sickness  (yellow  fever)  to  take  her  in.  For  2 
hours  arid*48  minutes  she  was  under  a  close  fire. 
All  the  crew  were  sent  below,  and  the  officers 
only  remained  on  deck,  for  she  had  but  11  men 
on  duty,  and  her  guns  were  not  furnished  with 
rammers,  quoins,  beds,  or  sights ;  in  fact,  she 
was  almost  helpless.  Three  heavy  shots  struck 
her  hull.  One  shell  struck  her  amidships,  and 
passed  through,  killing  one  man  and  wounding 
seven.  Her  standing  rigging  was  shot  away, 
and  some  1500  shrapnel  shot  struck  her  hull 
and  masts." 

So  far  the  notes  which  Capt.  Maffit  has  as  yet 
found  time  to  send  ire.  Of  the  Captain  himself, 
I  may  say  that  he  is  a  slight,  middle-sized,  well- 
knit  man,  of  about  forty-two  ;  a  merry-looking 
can,  with  a  ready,  determined  air,  ful]  of  life 


102 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


and  business  ;  apparently  the  sort  of  man  who  is 
equally  ready  for  a  fight  or  a  jollification,  and 
whose  preference  for  the  latter  would  by  no  means 
interfere  with  his  creditable  conduct  of  the  former. 
His  plainly  furnished  little  state-room  looked  as 
bu.siuess-like  as  a  merchant's  office.  The  round 
table  in  the  centre  was  strewn  with  books  and  in 
numerable  manuscripts,  and  on  the  shelves  were 
formidable  looking  rows  of  account  books,  charts, 
&c.  I  may  observe  of  the  cabin,  as  of  every  part 
of  the  Florida,  that  none  of  it  appears  to  have 
been  built  for  ornament  —  all  for  use.  "  You  see," 
said  the  Captain,  pointing  to  the  heaps  of  papers, 
letters  on  files,  account  books,  &c.,  which  liter 
ally  littered  the  table,  —  "  you  see  I've  no  sinecure 
of  it.  Since  my  paymaster  died,  I've  had  to  be 
my  own  paymaster.  There's  a  young  man  nsmed 
Davis  (no  "relation  to  our  President)  who  does 
paymaster's  duty ;  but  he's  not  yet  quite  up  to 
the  work." 

Capt.  Maffit  forthwith  began  an  animated  re 
cital  of  his  career  and  adventures.  lie  is  forty- 
two  years  old,  and  is  the  oldest  officer  on  board. 
All  the  officers  were  born  in  the  Confederate 
States,  and  most  of  them  were  officers  in  the 
United  States  Navy  before  the  outbreak  of  the 
war.  The  oldest  of  .he  officers  is  not  more  than 
twenty-three.  Tne  men  are  more  mixed.  There 
are  about  one  hundred  able  seamen  on  board  the 
Florida,  and  about  thirteen  officers.  Four  fine 
fellows  are  from  the  neighborhood  of  Brest. 
Capt.  Maffit  says  that  he  has  hardly  ever  taken  a 
piixf  but  what  some  of  the  crew  of  the  prize  have 
come  forward  to  say,  "  Should  like  to  serve  with 
you,  f.-ir."  Generally  speaking,  he  has  to  refuse  ; 
but  sometimes,  when  he  sees  a  very  likely  fellow, 
he  takes  him  on. 

Capt.  Maffit  was  a  Lieutenant  of  the  United 
States  Navy  before  the  outbreak,  and  in  that 
capacity  distinguished  himself  greatly.  In  1858, 
he  commanded  the  brig  Dolphin,  when  he  cap 
tured,  the  slaver  Echo,  with  four  hundred  slaves 
on  board,  and  took  her  into  Charleston.  For 
this  feat  his  health  was  dra^K  ^  a  public  dinner 
at  Liverpool ;  and  it  is  a  curious  fact,  for  those 
who  maintain  that  the  civil  war  in  America  is 
founded  upon  the  slave  question,  that  the  com 
mander  of  this  important  Confederate  cruiser, 
should  be  the  very  man  who  has  distinguished 
himself  actively  against  the  slave  trade.  In  1859, 
Capt.  Maffit  commanded  the  United  States  steam 
er  Crusader,  and  captured  four  slavers. 

The  Captain  had  a  great  deal  to  say  about  his 
successful  feat  at  Mobile.     In  his  opinion,  it  has 
been  the  greatest   naval   feat  of  modern  times. 
He  dwelt  long  and  warmly  upon  the  incidents  of 
the  affair,  and  pointed  proudly  to  the  marks  of 
jhrapnel,  which  are  numerous  enough,  upon  the 
masts  and  smoke-stacks.    The  Florida  was  struck  [ 
with  three  heavy  shots  on  the  occasion,  and  one  | 
oun  easily  perceive  in  the  side  of  the  ship  where  ; 
the  mischief  caused  by  the  1 1-inch  shell  has  been 
repaired.     The  Florida  made  no  endeavor  to  re 
ply  to  the  fire  which  she  received,  the  sea  running  i 
too  high  to  admit  of  steady  aim,  and  her  small i 
crew  being  too  much  occupied  in  the  management 


of  the  ship.  The  Captain  showed  us  a  water- 
color  sketch  (very  well  drawn  by  one  of  the  mid 
shipmen)  of  the  Florida  running  the  blockade, 
It  would  not  have  disgraced  a  professional  artist. 

The  only  broadside  which  the  Florida  has  fired 
in  anger  was  arainst  the  Ericsson,  an  armed 
merchantman,  w  :ich  she  encountered  some  forty 
mile.s  from  New  York.  The  Ericsson,  a  very 
large  vessel,  did  not  reply,  but  made  the  best  of 
her  way  off,  and  sue .  ceded  in  escaping.  When 
they  \  .ntured  withii:  forty  miles  of  New  York, 
they  d  d  not  know  that  the  arrival  of  the  Tacony, 
one  oi  their  '  outfits,'  had  put  the  New  Yorkers 
on  their  gui/d,  and  they  soon  found  that  there 
were  about  seventy  armed  vessels  out  searching 
for  them,  and  so  were  glad  to  retreat.  "  We 
never  seek  a  fight,"  said  Capt.  Mafiit.  "  and  we 
don't  avoid  one.  You  see,  we've  only  two  ves 
sels  against  fifteen  hundred;  so  we  should  stand  a 
poor  chance.  Our  object  is  merely  to  destroy 
their  commerce,  so  as  to  bring  about  a  peace.  We 
have  taken  altogether  seventy-two  prizes,  and  es 
timate  the  value  at  about  fifteen  million  dollars. 
The  Jacob  Bell  alone  was  worth  two  million  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars."  The  Captain  exhib 
ited  a  book  in  which  all  the  prizes  were  regularly 
entered,  and  all  particulars  relating  thereto.  He 
explained  that  their  mode  of  procedure  was  to 
burn  and  destroy  the  property  of  the  Northern 
States  wherever  they  found  it.  I  asked  if  they 
took  gold  and  precious  articles,  and  the  reply  was, 
"  Pretty  quick,  when  we  get  them." 

The  papers  of  the  burned  prizes  are  all  kept, 
and  a  valuation  is  made  before  the  destruction 
of  the  vessels,  in  the  expectation  that  when  peace 
is  restored,  the  Confederate  Government  will  make 
an  appropriation  of  money  equivalent  to  the  claims 
of  the  captors.  In  consequence  of  this  arrange 
ment  there  is  very  little  actual  treasure  on  board  the 
Florida ;  the  officers  and  crew  are  working  mainly 
on  the  faith  of  the  future  independence  and  sol 
vency  of  the  Confederacy.  "  Any  way,"  said 
Capt.  Maffit,  "  we  have  cost  the  Government  very 
little,  for  we've  lived  on  the  enemy ;  O,  yes,  we've 
served  them  out  beautifully."  In  reply  to  some 
questions  as  to  the  method  of  capture,  the  Cap 
tain  said,  "  We  only  make  war  with  the  United 
States  Government,  and  we  respect  little  prop 
erty.  We  treat  prisoners  of  war  with  the  great 
est,  respect.  Most  of  those  whom  we  have  cap 
tured  have  spoken  well  of  us.  To  be  sure,  we 
have  met  with  some  ungrateful  rascals  ;  but  you 
meet  with  those  all  the  world  over.  The  best 
prize  we  took  was  the  Anglo-Saxon,  which  we 
took  in  the  English  Channel,  the  other  day,  in 
mid  channel,  about  sixty  miles  'from  Cork.  She 
had  coal  on  board,  and  we  burned  her. 

"  The  pilot  was  a  saucy  fellow,  and  maintained 
that  he  was  on  his  piloting  ground.  He  insisted 
on  being  landed  in  an  English  port ;  but  we  could 
jiot  do  that,  i  brought  him  and  twenty-four  men 
here,  (to  Brest,)  and  sent  them  to  the  English 
Consul.  If  tiie  pilot  has  any  just  claim  upon  **&, 
it  will  be  settled  by  the  C  anfederate  Government. 
That's  not  my  business.  My  business  is  to  take 
care  of  the  ship." 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


103 


When  the  Florida  came  into  Brest,  she  had 
been  at  se^i  eight  months  without  .spending  more 
than  four  entire  days  in  port.  Before  entering 
the  port  of  Brest,  she  had  not  been  more  than 
twenty-four  hours  in  any  one  port,  although  she 
had  visited  Nassau,  Bermuda,  Pernambuco,  and 
Sierra  (  Brazil).  "  Yes,  indeed,  sir,"  said  the  Cap 
tain,  "  two  hundred  and  forty-five  days  upon 


solid  junk,  without,  repairs 


or    rovson 


During 


all  this  time,  they  have  only  lost  fifteen  men,  in 
cluding  those  who  were  killed  and  wounded  at 
Mobile,  the  paymaster,  (  who  died  of  consumption,) 
and  one  officer  who  was  accidentally  irowned. 
They  have  come  into  Brest  to  repair  the  engines, 
which  are  somewhat  out  of  order,  the  shaft  being 
quite  out  of  line.  The  Emperor  has  given  orders 
that  the  Florida  is  to  be  admitted  into  the  port 
for  all  necessary  repairs,  and  is  to  be  supplied 
with  everything  she  may  require  except  munitions 
of  war. 

In  the  course  of  conversation,  Capt.  Maffit  gave 
me  an  account  of  what  he  called  the  "  outfits  " 
of  the  Florida.  These  have  been  three  in  num 
ber.  The  Clarence  was  captured  off  Pernambuco 
on  the  5th  of  May,  and  Lieut.  Heed  was  put  on 
board  with  twenty  men  and  one  gun.  These 
were  afterwards  changed  to  the  Tacony,  a  better 
vessel,  %vhich  was  captured  shortly  after,  and  (to 
borrr  w  Capt.  Maffit's  expression)  "  she  captured 
right  and  left."  Finally,  she  took  the  revenue 
cutter  off  Portland  harbor.  The  other  "fit-out" 
was  the  Lapwing,  on  board  of  which  Lieut.  Av- 
rett  was  put  to  cruise  on  the  equator.  He  made 
several  captures,  and  has  now  returned  to  his 
ship. 

Capt.  Maffit  showed  us  over  his  ship,  which 
was  in  pretty  good  order,  considering  the  eight 
months'  almost  interrupted  cruise,  and  he  pre 
sented  us  both  with  a  photographic  picture  of 
her,  which  was  taken  at  Bermuda.  The  Florida 
mounts  only  eight  guns  —  six  48-pounders  of  the 
Blakeley  pattern,  made  at  Low  Moor,  and  stern 
and  bow  chasers. 

On  taking  our  leave,  I  asked  Capt.  Maffit 
whether  he  expected  to  be  intercepted  on  leaving 
Brest,  pointing  at  the  same  time  to  the  Goulet, 
the  narrow  passage  which  affords  the  only  ingress 
and  egress  to  and  from  the  Hade.  "  Well,"  re 
plied  he,  "  I  expect  there  will  be  seven  or  eight 
of  them  out  there  before  long,  but  I'm  not 
afraid.  I've  run  eight  blockades  already,  and 
it'll  go  hard  but  I'll  run  the  ninth." 


BATTLE-HYMN  OF  THE  REPUBLIC. 

BY    MRS.    JULIA    WARD    HOWE. 

MINE  eyes  have  seen  the  glory  of  the  coming  of  the 

Lord : 
He  is  trampling  out  the  vintage  where  the  grapes 

of  wrath  are  stored ; 
He  hath  loosed  the  fateful  lightning  of  his  terriile 

swift  sword : 

His  truth  is  inarching  on. 


I  have  seen  him  in  the  watch-fires  of  a  hundred  cir 
cling  camps  ; 

They  have  builded  him  an  altar  in  the  evening  dewa 
and  damps ; 

I  have  read  his  righteous  sentence  by  the  dim  and 
flaring  lamps : 

His  day  is  marching  on. 

I  have  read  a  fiery  gospel  writ  in  burnished  rows 

cf  steel : 
"  As  ye  deal  with  my  cont/trmers,  so  with  you  my 

grace  shall  deal ; 
Let  the  Hero,  born  of  vvoman,  crush  the  serpent 

w.lh  his  heel, 

Since  God  is  marching  on." 

He  has  sounded  forth  the  trumpet  that  shall  never 
call  retreat ; 

He  is  sifting  out  the  hearts  of  men  before  his  judg 
ment  seat ; 

O,  be  swift,  my  soul,  to  answer  him  !    be  jubilant, 
my  feet ! 

Our  God  is  marching  on. 

In  the  beauty  of  the  lilies  Christ  was  born  across 

the  sea, 
With  a  glory  in  his  bosom  that  transfigures  you 

and  me : 
As  he  died  to  make  men  holy,  let  us  die  to  make 

men  free, 

While  God  is  marching  on. 


INCIDENTS  OF  VICKSBURG.  —  In  the  action 
which  occurred  on  the  twenty-ninth  day  of  De 
cember,  1862,  but  two  divisions  —  those'of  Mor 
gan's  and  Steele's  —  were  generally  and  closely 
engaged.  A  portion  of  Smith's  division  made 
some  advance  under  a  terrible  fire,  in  which  the 
gallant  Sixth  Missouri  were  most  actively  en 
gaged.  This  rf  giment  crossed  the  levee,  which 
had  been  occuj  ied  by  the  enemy  as  an  earth 
work,  and  was  still,  after  being '  crossed,  com 
manded  by  the  enemy's  cannon.  It,  however, 
ted  to  an  advance  upon  Smith's  line,  but  without 
any  positive  advantage  to  us.  From  certain 
points  on  the  new  line  thus  made,  Vicksburg 
could  be  seen.  The  movements  of  the  rebel 
troops  in  the  city,  and  some  portions  of  Vicks 
burg,  were  clearly  and  fairly  in  view.  It  was 
tempting  to  look  straight  in  upon  the  beleaguered 
city,  and  still  know  that  its  occupation  was  im 
probable,  if  not  impossible.  But  so  it  was,  and 
the  Union  troops  lay  down  upon  their  arms  on 
the  night  of  the  twenty-ninth  with  anxious  hearts 
and  high  hopes  that  something  might  occur  to 
make  it  practicable.  The  night  of  the  twenty- 
ninth  passed,  and  the  morning  dawned  without 
any  new  development  being  made,  except  that 
the  enemy  assumed  a  threatening  position  with 
their  artillery.  It  was  evidently  his  intention  to 
shell  the  camp.  It  having  rained  incessantly 
during  the  night,  and  the  men  having  been  ex 
posed  to  it  al),  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  place 
them  in  such  a  position  that  they  would  not  be 
exposed  to  the  enemy's  cannon,  and  where  they 
could  examine  their  ammunition  and  clean  their 
rusttd  arms,  prep: rato/y  to  further  operations. 


104 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


In  the  mean  lime,  the  front  was  to  be  held  firmly, 
and  heavier,  artillery  was  to  be  placed  in  position 
behind  earth-works.  The  threatening  prepara 
tions  in  front  deterred  the  enemy  from  shelling 
the  camps,  and  put  him  on  his  guard,  for  offen 
sive  operations  on  our  part.  Wednesday  was 
occupied  by  both  armies,  in  the  presence  of  each 
other,  throwing  up  new  works,  digging  new  pits, 
preparing  for  operations  offensive  and  defensive. 
During  the  afternoon  of  Tuesday,  the  cries  of  our 
wounded  could  be  heard,  and  an  impromptu  ef 
fort  was  made  to  recover  them  by  a  Hag  of  truce. 
Being  irregular,  and  perhaps  not  authorized,  and 
occasional  skirmishes  still  going  on,  the  flag  was 
fired  on  by  the  enemy.  The  wounded  and  dead 
of  Thayer's  and  Blair's  brigades  had  to  lie  there 
and  await  the  tedious  process  of  official  commu 
nication.  This  is  one  of  the  most  horrible  pic 
tures  which  a  battle-field  presents,  but  frequently 
is  unavoidable.  It  seems  to  have  been  so  in  this 
instance.  While  a  tear  here  and  there  was 
dropped  for  the  dying  and  the  dead,  still  the  great 
purpose  of  the  expedition  was  not  accomplished, 
and  generally  our  army  looked  forward  to  watch 
future  movements. 

Wednesday  morning  came,  and  still  no  change 
from  Tuesday.  The  front  was  kept  up  by  Smith's 
and  Morgan's  divisions,  while  Steele's  division  lay 
along  Chickasaw  Bayou,  ready  to  meet  the  enemy 
if  they  should  make  a  deployment  in  that  direc 
tion.  Everything  was  quiet  on  the  line,  and  this 
being  a  favorable  opportunity,  a  flag  of  truce  was 
sent  to  the  enemy  for  the  purpose  of  recovering 
and  attending  to  our  dead  and  wounded.  The 
flag  was  duly  recognized,  the  message  was  re 
ceived  and  was  answered,  allowing  us  four  hours 
to  bury  our  dead.  The  cessation  of  hostilities 
consequent  to  the  removal  of  the  dead  and 
wounded,  gave  the  sharpshooters  and  pickets 
an  opportunity  to  converse  with  each  other.  The 
conversation  was  opened  by  our  pickets,  by  ask 
ing  :  "  How  far  is  it  to  Vicksburg  ?  " 

Rebel  Picket.  —  So  far  that  you'll  never  gitf 
thar. 

Federal.  —  How  many  men  you  got  ? 

Rebel.  —  Enough  to  clean  you  out. 

One  rebel,  who  seemed  to  be  somewhat  of  a 
stumper,  said  that  "  Banks  had  been  whipped 
out  at  Port  Hudson,  that  Memphis  had  been  re 
taken,  and  that  the  Yankees  would "  not  take 
Vicksburg  till  hell  froze  over."  A  thousand 
questions  were  asked,  and  all  answered  in  the 
same  defiant  way. 

While  this  interesting  parley  was  going  on, 
the  wounded  and  dead  were  removed.  In  a  very 
short  time  the  field  was  cleared,  and  everything 
was  again  quiet  on  the  lines. 

The  camps  were  soon  astir  again ;  orderlies 
and  aids  were  galloping  to  and  from  the  various 
division  and  brigade  headquarters;  of  course  it 
could  be  interpreted  to  mean  nothing  else  than 
further  orders.  The  critical  and  trying  position 
of  our  army  lent  an  additional  interest  to  orders. 
They  were  important,  for  Steele's  division  was 
ordered  to  make  a  night  assault  on  Haines' 
Bluff,  while  the  other  division  commanders  were 


to  hold  their  fronts  firm  and  advance,  if  they 
could,  while  Steele  was  storming  the  enemy's 
works  at  Haines'  Bluff'.  The  movement  prepara 
tory  to  this  was,  for  St^ele  to  mask  his  division 
from  the  enem^  s  lookouts  by  marching  down 
Chickasaw  Bayou  to  the  river,  put  his  troops  on 
board  the  transports,  and  steam  quietly  up  the 
Yazoo,  and  before  daylight  debark  his  troops  un 
der  ,he  enemy's  guns  at  Haines'  Bluff.  In  this 
mater  the  gunboat  and  mortar  fleets  were  to 
play  an  important  part.  The  river  was  lined 
with  torpedoes,  and  it  was  necessary  to  clear  it 
out  before  the  transports  could  go  up.  This  be 
ing  accomplished,  they  were  to  take  a  position 
furtht-r  up  the  river  from  the  point  of  debarka 
tion,  and  engage  the  batteries,  while  the  troops 
should  advance  to  the  Bluffs.  During  the  day, 
the  boilers  of  the  steamboats  designated  for  the 
hazardous  business  were  protected  by  bales  of 
hay  and  otherwise.  Pilots  and  river  men  were 
shaky,  sad  anxiously  inquired  what  it  meant. 
No  information  was  imparted,  as  the  whole  plan 
was  to  be  kept  strictly  secret. 


A  BRAVE  DRUMMER-BOY. —  Orion  P.  Howe, 

of  Waukegan,  Illinois,  drummer-boy  to  the  Fif 
ty-fifth  Volunteers  of  that  State,  was  appointed 
to  fill  a  vacancy  in  the  Naval  School  at  Newport 
The  following  extract  from  a  letter,  written  by 
Mojor-Generai  Sherman  to  Secretfry  Stanton, 
detailing  an  incident  which  transpired  during  the 
assault  upon  the  rebel  works  at  Vicksburg,  on 
May  19th,  doubtless  secured  the  boy's  promo 
tion  : 

"  When  the  assault  at  Vicksburg  was  at  its 
height  on  the  19th  of  May,  and  I  was  in  front 
near  the  road  which  formed  my  line  of  attack, 
this  young  lad  came  up  to  me  wounded  and 
bleeding,  with  a  good,  healthy  boy's  cry :  « Gen. 
Sherman,  send  some  cartridges  to  Col.  Malm- 
borg  ;  the  men  are  nearly  all  out.'  '  What  is  the 
matter,  my  boy  P '  *  They  shot  me  in  the  leg,  sir, 
but  I  can  go  to  the  hospital.  Send  the  cartridges 
right  away.'  Even  where  we  stood,  the  shot  fell 
thick,  and  I  told  him  to  go  to  the  rear  at  once,  I 
would  attend  to  the  cartridges,  and  off  he  limped. 
Just  before  he  disappeared  on  the  hill,  he  turned 
and  called  as  loud  as  he  could :  *  Calibre  54.'  I 
have  not  seen  the  lad  since,  and  his  Colonel, 
Malmborg,  on  inquiry,  gives  me  his  address  as 
above,  and  says  he  is  a  bright,  intelligent  boy, 
with  a  fair  preliminary  education. 

"  What  arrested  my  attention  then  was,  and 
what  renews  my  memory  of  the  fact  now  is,  that 
one  so  young,  carrying  a  musket-ball  wound 
through  his  leg,  should  have  found  his  way  to 
me  on  that  fatal  spot,  and  delivered  his  message, 
not  forgetting  the  very  important  part  even  of 
the  calibre  of  his  musket,  54,  which  you  know  is 
an  unusual  one. 

"  I'll  warrant  that  the  boy  has  in  him  the  ele 
ments  of  a  man,  and  I  commend  him  to  the  Gov 
ernment  as  one  worthy  the  fosteritg  care  of  sola* 
one  of  its  national  institutions." 


Brave  Randall  leaped  upon  the  gun, 

And  moved  his  cap  in  sport. — Page  107 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


105 


COL.  ELLSWORTH'S  LAST  SPEECH. — "  Boys,  no 
doubt  you  felt  surprised  on  hearing  my  orders  to 
be  in  readiness  at  a  moment's  notice,  but  I  will 
explain  all  as  far  as  I  am  allowed.  Yesterday 
forenoon  I  understood  that  a  mo\ement  was  to 
be  made  against  Alexandria.  Of  course,  I  was 
on  the  qui  vive.  I  went  to  see  Gen.  Mansfield, 
the  commander  at  Washington,  and  told  him  that 
'  1  should  consider  it  as  a  personal  affront  if  he 
would  not  allow  us  to  have  the  right  of  the  line, 
which  is  our  due,  as  the  first  volunteer  regiment 
sworn  in  for  the  war.  All  that  I  can  tell  you  is 
to  prepare  yourselves  for  a  nice  little  sail,  and, 
at  the  end  of  it,  a  skirmish.  Go  to  your  tents, 
lie  down,  and  take  your  rest  till  two  o'clock,  when 
the  boat  will  arrive,  and  we  go  forward  to  victory 
or  death.  When  we  reach  the  place  of  destina 
tion,  act  as  men ;  do  nothing  to  shame  the  regi 
ment;  show  the  enemy  that  you  are  men,  as  well 
as  soldiers,  and  that  you  will  treat  them  with 
kindness  until  they  force  you  to  use  violence.  I 
want  to  kill  them  with  kindness.  Go  to  your 
tents,  and  do  as  I  tell  you." 


ADVENTURES  IN  THE  SOUTH.  —  Lieut.  F. 
Perry  and  private  William  P.  Pugh,  of  the  Third 
West  Tennessee  cavalry  were  out  on  recruiting 
service,  and  were  captured  on  the  7th  of  Octo 
ber,  18C3,  after  a  skirmish  with  Faulkner's  and 
Wilson's  partisans,  near  Como,  some  sixty  miles 
from  Paducah.  Mr.  Pugh  had  previously  been 
captured  by,  and  had  made  his  escape  from,  the 
same  parties  ;  and  being  a  Tennesseean,  was  sub 
jected  to  some  severities.  His  captors  declared 
lie  should  not  again  escape,  and  exercised  unu- 
fcual  vigilance  in  conducting  their  prisoners  south 
ward. 

They  were  forced  to  walk  from  the  place  of 
capture  to  Gadsden,  Alabama,  on  the  Coosa  Riv- 
er,  and  we>*e  conveyed  thence  by  boat  to  Home, 
Georgia,  where  they  took  cars  for  Atlanta,  and, 
liubsoquently,  for  Richmond.  Thirty  miles  east 
of  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  they  jumped  from 
the  cars,  made  their  way  to  Washington,  where 
they  were  received  inside  the  Federal  lines,  and 
thence  sent  north  to  join  their  comrades,  who 
still  supposed  them  in  Libby  Prison. 

They  suffered  great  privations  on  the  march 
from  Como  to  Gadsden,  particularly  after  cross 
ing  the  Tennessee  River.  In  the  Tuscumbia  Val 
ley  they  were  three  days  without  anything  to  eat, 
their  captors  stating  that  the  Yankees  had  been 
there  and  destroyed  all  supplies.  At  Decatur 
they  paid  twenty-five  cents  an  ear  for  corn, 
which  was  their  sole  sustenance  the  greater  part 
of  the  march.  They  were  compelled  to  make 
forced  marches  by  by-roads,  and  through  an  un 
frequented  country,  as  Sherman  was  at  Tuscum- 
bia,  and  the  rebels  anticipated  that  he  would 
turn  south,  and  advance  in  the  direction  of 
Gadsden.  Several  times  the  prisoners  heard  his 
carnmi,  and  fondly  hoped  for  rescue.  There  was 
great  scarcity  of  provisions  wherever  they  went, 
and  Confederate  money  was  &\  an  enormous  dis 
count.  At  Decatur,  a  woman  iflered  a  chicken- 


;  pie  for  sale,  for  which  she  wanted  one  dollar  in 
I  silver  or  greenbacks.  She  refused  to  sell  it  foi 
Confederate  money,  th(  ugh  ten  dollars  were  of- 
'fered.  At  Gadsden,  the  prisoners  found  a  con 
siderable  number  of  rebel  conscripts,  who,  when 
ever  their  officers  and  guards  were  not  by,  told 
them  they  were  Union  mer.,  and  would  escape  on 
the  first  opportunity.  They  generally  manifested 
their  sympathy  for  the  boys  by  slipping  a  roll  of 
I  Confederate  bills  into  their  hands,  and  saying 
they  were  sorry  there  was  net  more  of  it. 

Here  the  prisoners  found  Confederate  Lieu 
tenants  and  other  subordinate  officers  engaged 
in  selling  pies  to  Yankee  prisoners.  These  pies 
were  made  of  sweet  potatoes,  without  sugar  or 
shortening  in  the  crust,  and  were  peddled  in  bas 
kets,  after  the  fashion  we  see  at  railroad  stations. 
A  Colonel  of  an  Alabama  regiment,  at  Gadsden, 
sent  a  sack  of  corn,  which  he  tried  to  sell  them 
for  greenbacks.  Everywhere  there  was  a  de 
mand  for  Uncle  Sam's  money,  which  was  hoarded 
as  carefully  as  silver  and  gold,  and  kept  out  of 
circulation. 

At  Rome  the  prisoners  saw  a  considerable 
body  of  Georgia  State  militia.  They  were  mostly 
boys  under  sixteen,  and  old  men  over  forty-five, 
badly  clothed,  and  poorly  disciplined,  but  well 
armed.  Mr.  Perry,  who  was  placed  on  his  parole 
of  honor,  says  that  at  Augusta,  Georgia,  he  saw 
an  immense  pile  of  cotton,  covering  an  area  of 
perhaps  one  acre,  and  piled  higher  than  any  build 
ing  in  Cincinnati.  There  were  also  considerable 
quantities  at  Atlanta,  but  none  that  he  saw  at 
Rome. 

They  were  detained  at  Atlanta  some  ten  days, 
before  starting  for  Richmond.  At  Columbia, 
SoMtti  Carolina,  they  found  that  Charleston 
money  was  absolutely  valueless  ;  nobody  would 
take  it ;  the  reason  being  assigned  that  the  city 
might  at  any  day  fall  into  Federal  hands,  and 
then  the  currency  would  be  worth  nothing.  Be 
tween  Atlanta  and  Raleigh  they  saw  no  organ 
ized  bodies  of  Confederate  troops,  and  very  little 
material  out  of  which  to  make  them.  The  re 
sources  of  the  country,  in  that  respect,  seemed  to 
have  been  thoroughly  exhausted. 

When  they  left  Raleigh  for  Richmond,  a  plan 
of  escape  was  arranged  between  Messrs.  Perry, 
Pugh,  and  John  Carr,  of  the  First  Missouri  Ar 
tillery,  who  was  formerly  chief  clerk,  at  Corinth, 
for  G'en.  Carr.  About  three  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing,  being  about  thirty  miles  from  Raleigh,  on 
the  Weldon  road,  the  three  leaped  from  the  car, 
and  plunged  into  the  forest.  They  made  as  near 
south-east  as  they  could,  guided  by  the  stars  and 
the  course  of  the  clouds,  concealing  themselves 
by  day. 

They  did  riot  venture  near  any  settlement  ^r 
plantation,  till  forced  to  do  so  by  excessive  hun 
ger,  and  one  night  ventured  to  arouse  the  in 
mates  of  a  negro  cabin,  who  were  very  inquisitive, 
and  would  not  commit  themselves  until  satisfied 
they  were  real  Yankees,  which  was  decided  by  an 
old  negro,  who  felt  Mr.  Perry's  cavalry  jacket^ 
and  declared  it  was  too  fine  for  a  rebel's.  Then 
they  were  treated  with  great  hospitality,  and 


106 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


feasted  on  corn  bread  and  "  possum,"  and  sub 
jected  to  a  great  deal  of  questioning. 

Among  other  things,  the  patriarch  of  the  cabin 
wanted  to  know  whether  they  "hab  seen  Mr. 
T.inkum,"  and  under  the  impression  that  they 
had  If  ft  his  presence  but  a  short  time,  affection 
ately  inquired  after  his  health.  "An'  dere's 
anodder  man,"  said  the  darkey,  "  dey  call  him 
Mr.  Britain  —  hab  you  seen  him  ?  "  The  Yankees 
were  puzzled.  "  Ole  massa,"  said  the  darkey,  ex 
plaining,  "call  him  Mr.  Great  Britain,  an'  says 
he's  on  his  side,  an'  some  says  he's  on  yourn." 
The  Yankees  "  took,"  said  they  knew  him,  and 
that  he  was  well ;  and  having  satisfied  the  curi 
osity  of  their  hospitable  entertainers  and  their 
own  hunger,  took  up  their  march  for  Washington. 

They  met  no  Confederate  soldiers  until  within 
some  five  miles  of  Washington,  and  there  they 
narrowly  escaped  capture,  running  into  their 
pickets  twice,  and  being  fired  on  once,  at  which 
time  they  lost  sight  of  Carr,  whom  they  supposed 
to  have  been  killed  or  captured,  and  they  heard 
no  more  of  him.  They  arrived  at  Washington  al 
most  naked,  foot-sore,  and  exhausted,  having 
been  ten  days  wandering  about  the  country. 

ON   BOARD    THE    CUMBERLAND. 

March  7,  1862. 

BY    GEORGE    H.    BOKEH. 

*»  S  TAND  to  your  guns,  men  ! "  Morris  cried. 

Small  need  to  pass  the  word ; 
Our  men  at  quarters  ranged  themselves 

Before  the  drum  was  heard. 

And  then  began  the  sailors'  jests : 

•'  What  thing  is  that,  I  say  ?  " 
"  A  long-shore  meeting-house  adrift 

Is  standing  down  the  bay ! " 

A  frown  came  over  Morris'  face ; 

The  strange,  dark  craft  he  knew  ; 
"That  is  the  iron  Merrimac, 

Manned  by  a  rebel  crew. 

•«  So  shot  your  guns,  and  point  them  straight ; 

Before  this  day  goes  by, 
We'll  try  of  what  her  metal's  ma^°." 

A  cheer  was  our  reply. 

"  Remember,  boys,  this  flag  of  ours 

Has  seldom  left  its  place ; 
And  where  it  falls,  the  deck  it  strikes 

Is  covered  with  disgrace. 

<l  I  ask  but  this  :  or  sink  or  swim, 

Or  live  or  nobly  die, 
My  last  sight  upon  earth  may  be 

To  see  that  ensign  fly  !  " 

Meanwhile,  the  shapeless  iron  mass 

Carne  moving  o'er  the  wave, 
As  gloomy  as  a  passing  hearse, 

As  silent  as  the  grave. 

H.ei  ports  were  closed ;  from  stem  to  stern 

No  sign  of  life  appeared. 
We  wondered,  questioned,  strained  our  eyes, 

Joked — everything  but  feared. 


She  reached  our  range.     Our  broadside  rang;, 

Our  heavy  pivots  roared ; 
And  shot  and  shell,  a  fire  of  hell, 

Against  her  sides  we  poured. 

God's  mercy  !  from  her  sloping  roof 

The  iron  tempest  glanced, 
As  hail  bounds  from  a  cottage- thatch, 

A°nd  round  her  leaped  and  danced. 

Or  when  against  her  dusky  hull 

We  struck  a  fair,  full  blow,. 
The  mighty,  solid  iron  globes 

Were  crumbled  up  like  snow. 

On,  on,  with  fast  increasing  speed, 

The  silent  monster  came, 
Though  all  our  starboard  battery 

Was  one  long  line  of  flame. 

She  heeded  not ;  no  gun  she  fired ; 

Straight  on  our  bow  she  bore  ; 
Through  riving  plank  and  crashing  frame 

Her  furious  way  she  tore. 

Alas  !  our  beautiful  keen  bow, 

That  in  the  fiercest  blast 
So  gently  folded  back  the  seas, 

They  hardly  felt  we  passed  ! 

Alas  !  alas  !  my  Cumberland, 

That  ne'er  knew  grief  before, 
To  be  so  gored,  to  feel  so  deep 

The  tusk  of  that  sea-boar  ! 

Once  more  she  backward  drew  a  space, 

Once  more  our  side  she  rent ; 
Then,  in  the  wantonness  of  hate, 

Her  broadside  through  us  sent. 

The  dead  and  dying  round  us  lay, 

But  our  foemen  lay  abeam  ; 
Her  open  port-holes  maddened  us  ; 

We  fired  with  shout  and  scream. 

We  felt  our  vessel  settling  fast, 

We  knew  our  time  was  brief ; 
"The  pumps  !    the  pumps  !  "     But  the?    * 
pumped, 

And  fought  not,  wept  with  grief. 

"  O,  keep  us  but  an  hour  afloat ! 

O,  give  us  only  time 
To  be  the  instruments  of  Heaven 

Against  the  traitors'  crime  ! " 

From  captain  down  to  powder-boy 

No  hand  was  idle  then  ! 
Two  soldiers,  but  by  chance  aboard, 

Fought  on  like  sailor-men. 

And  when  a  gun's  crew  lost  a  hand, 

Some  bold  marine  stepr  _d  out, 
And  jerked  his  braided  jacket  off, 

And  hauled  the  gun  about. 

3v.r  forward  magazine  was  drowned  ; 

And  up  from  the  sick  bay 
Crawled  out  the  wounded,  red  with  blood, 

And  round  us  gasping  lay. 

Yes,  cheering,  calling  us  by  name, 

Struggling  with  failing  1  reath, 
To  keep  their  shipmates  at  the  post 

Where  glory  strove  with  death. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


\07 


With  decks  afloat,  and  powder  gone, 

The  last  broadside  we  gave 
From  the  guns'  heated  iron  lips 

Burst  out  beneath  the  wave. 

So  sponges,  rammers,  and  handspikes  — 

As  men-of-war's-men  should  — 
We  placed  within  their  proper  racks, 

And  at  our  quarters  stood. 

"  Up  to  the  spar-deck  !  save  yourselves !  " 
Cried  Selfridge.     "  Up,  my  men  ! 

God  grant  that  some  of  you  may  live 
To  fight  yon  ship  again  !  " 

We  turned  —  we  did  not  like  to  go  ; 

Yet  staying  seemed  but  vain, 
Knee-deep  in  water  ;  so  we  left ; 

Some  swore,  some  groaned  with  pain. 

We  reached  the  deck.     There  Randall  stood  : 

"  Another  turn,  men —  so  ! " 
Calmly  he  aimed  his  pivot-gun : 

"Now,  Tenny,  let  her  go  !" 

It  did  our  sore  hearts  good  to  hear 

The  song  our  pivot  sang, 
As  rushing  on,  from  wave  to  wave, 

The  whirring  bomb-shell  sprang. 

Brave  Randall  leaped  upon  the  gun, 

And  waved  his  cap  in  sport ; 
"  Well  done  !  well  aimed  !     I  saw  that  shell 

Go  through  an  open  port." 

It  was  our  last,  our  deadliest  shot ; 

The  deck  wa^  overflown  ; 
The  poor  ship  staggered,  lurched  to  port, 

And  gave  a  living  groan. 

Down,  down,  as  headlong  through  the  waves 

Our  gallant  vessel  rushed, 
A  thousand  gurgling  watery  sounds 

Around  my  senses  gushed. 

Then  I  remember  little  more. 

One  look  to  heaven  I  gave, 
Where,  like  an  angel's  wing,  I  saw 

Our  spotless  ensign  wave. 

I  tried  to  cheer.     I  cannot  say 

Whether  I  swam  or  sank  ; 
A  blue  mist  closed  around  my  eyes, 

And  everything  was  blank. 

When  I  awoke,  a  soldier  lad, 

All  dripping  from  the  sea, 
With  two  great  tears,  upon  his  cheeks, 

Was  bending  over  me. 

I  tried  to  speak.     He  understood 

The  wish  I  could  not  speak. 
He  turned  me.     There,  thank  God  !  the  flag 

Still  fluttered  at  the  peak  ! 

And  there,  while  thread  shall  hang  to  thread, 

O,  let  that  ensign  fly  ! 
The  noblest  constellation  set 

Against  our  northern  sky. 

A  sign  that  we  who  live  may  claim 

The  peerage  of  the  brave  ; 
A  monument  that  needs  no  scroll 

For  those  beneath  the  wave  ! 


A  YANKEE  IN  DIXIE. 

BY    CORPORAL   PURDUM. 

I  WILL  endeavor  to  give  a  short  account  of  what 
I  saw  and  heard  while  in  the  hands  of  the  rebels, 
beginning  with  my  capture  when  I  was  first  in 
troduced  to  the  inside  of  the  great  Southern 
numbug. 

It  was  on  the  evening- of  the  20th  of  September, 
1863,  that  myself,  in  company  with  a  number  of 
others  from  the  3od  and  other  regiments,  was 
taken  prisoner  by  a  part  of  Lor.gstreet's  corps. 
We  wsre  taken  a  short  distance  to  the  rear  of 
their  first  line,  and  camped  for  the  night.  The 
rebs  used  us  very  well  at  firtt,  and  were  very  civi) 
and  polite.  At  daylight  on  Monday  morning  we 
commenced  our  pilgrimage  south  in  the  direction 
of  Itinggold,  where  we  arrived  about  2  o'clock 
P.  M.,  and  were  brought  up  in  front  of  the  Provost 
Marshal,  surrounded  by  his  numerous  clerks, 
and  our  names  were  taken,  which  business  occu 
pied  about  two  hours.  This  being  done  we  were 
started  forward  again,  bound  for  Tunnel  Hill 
Station,  which  place  we  arrived  at  about  9  o'clock 
at  night,  and  were  turned  into  a  field  to  remain 
the  rest  of  the  night.  We  were  very  tired  and 
hungry,  having  marched  twenty-two  miles  and 
had  no  rations.  We  lay  down  to  rest  ourselves 
and  get  some  sleep,  but  were  called  up  at  2  o'clock 
to  draw  some  rations,  (if  it  could  be  called  such.) 
They  consisted  of  a  little  meal  and  bacon,  which 
was  so  strong  the  boys  said  it  could  almost  walk 
alone.  After  disposing  of  our  meal  as  best  we 
could,  some  making  mush  in  tin  cups,  some  ash 
cakes,  and  some  who  were  fortunate  enough  to 
get  ovens,  made  something  resembling  breud. 
They  then  brought  us  up  in  line,  preparatory  to 
taking  our  rubber  blankets,  knapsacks,  and  can 
teens  from  us  ;  but  as  soon  as  the  boys  found  out 
what  was  to  be  done,  we  commenced  to  tear 
everything  to  pieces  that  we  could  not  sell ;  so 
they  got  but  few  things  from  us;  and  by  the 
time  they  were  done  the  place  had  the  ap 
pearance  of  an  old  deserted  camp,  as  strips  of 
blankets,  knapsacks,  and  broken  canteens  were 
strewn  all  over  the  ground,  for  we  were  de 
termined  that  the  rebs  should  not  be  benefited 
by  them.  Here  we  expected  to  get  on  the  cars, 
but  were  disappointed,  and  started  on  foot  for 
Dayton,  seven  miles  distant  from  Tunnel  Hill ; 
and  the  road  being  very  dusty,  and  we  not  being 
in  the  best  of  humor  after  having  our  things 
taken  from  us,  we  struck  out  almost  on  a  double- 
quick  in  order  to  tire  out  the  guards,  and  several 
times  we  were  stopped  for  them  to  rest  and  get 
to  their  places. 

On  this  trip  I  stopped  at  a  house  to  get  some 
bread,  and  had  to  pay  one  dollar  for  tliree  small 
biscuits ;  but  the  money  being  of  but  little  value, 
I  paid  t  with  a  good  grace,  and  went  on  my  way* 
rejoicing;  that  my  lot  was  not  permanently  cast 
in  the  land  of  cotton  and  starvation.  On  arriving 
at  Dalton  we  again  drew  rations  of  flour  and 
meat,  and  after  getting  our  supper  —  or  rather 
partaking  of  i  mixture  of  dcugh,  flour,  and  tainted 
bacon—  we  were  n  arched  throagh  »he  town,  aa 


108 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS 


we  thought,  to  get  on  the  cars  ;  but  I  guess  it  was 
clone  in  order  that  me  citizens  might  satisfy  their 
euviosity  by  seeing  the  "  Yankees,"  as  we  were 
t>t ken  back  to  the  same  place  and  kept  till  morn 
ing.  Then  they  put  us  on  the  cars  and  started 
for  Atlanta.  On  the  wny  we  were  subject  to  a 
great  many  insults,  not  only  from  the  men,  but 
the  women.  They  came  wia  as  we  passed,  and 
threw  clubs  and  stones  at  us,  and  did  everything 
they  could  to  express  their  hailed  of  the  "  Yan 
kees  ;  "  but  they  soon  got  tired,  for  the  boys  were 
not  in  the  humor  to  be  outdone  by  these  so-called  -t 
Southern  ladies,  and  paid  them  back  in  their ' 
own  coin,  till  they  would  go  back  into  their  houses  ! 
or  silently  look  on  and  wonder  at  the  impudence 
the  "  Yankees  "  had  to  insult  them. 

Arriving  at  Atlanta  we  were  met  bj  crowds  of 
men,  women,  and  children,  both  white  and  black, 
und  of  all  ages,  from  old  grayheaded  men  and  j 
vomen  down  to  the  little  urchins  that  could 
carcely  walk — all  gazing  with  the  greatest 
eagerness  to  get  a  sight  of  us,  to  see  if  we  did 
•ea'lly  look  like  human  beings.  Many  appeared 
surprised  at  seeing  us,  and  I  could  hear  them 
saying,  "  Is  them  Yankees  ?  "  One  old  woman 
came  running  out  and  asked  me  if  we  were  really 
Yankees.  I  told  her  we  were,  "  but  as  we  had 
come  from  the  West,  and  were  younger  ones 
than  those  in  the  East,  our  horns  had  not  yet 
appeared."  This  answer  seemed  to  satisfy  her, 
for  she  went  off  and  said  no  more  about  Yankees. 
In  every  direction  we  saw  the  young  negroes  and 
white  children  running  about  hollowing.  "Yanks, 
Yanks!"  and  the  scene  was  quite  amusing  to 
behold. 

Leaving  the  depot  we  were  taken  to  the  rear 
of  the  town  and  put  in  a  lot  which  had  the 
appearance  of  having  been  used  for  a  hog  lot, 
and  left  to  spend  the  night  as  best  we  could, 
which  was  none  the  pleasantest,  I  can  assure  you. 
The  next  day  we  were  formed  into  companies  of 
one  hundred  «each,  our  names  again  taken,  and 
we  marched  into  the  barracks  to  spend  the  night. 
Here  they  took  our  woollen  blankets  and  pocket 
knives  from  us,  but  they  got  but  few  of  the  latter, 
for  we  concealed  them.  There  we  got  five  days' 
rations  of  hard  bread  and  meat,  which  \vas  to  last 
us  till  we  got  to  Richmond. 

After  leaving  Atlanta  we  made  but  few  stops 
till  we  got  to  Richmond.  We  passed  through 
Augusta,  formerly  the  capital  of  Georgia.  It  had 
the  appearance  of  once  being  a  beautiful  and 
prosperous  city ;  it  is  situated  in  a  fine  country 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Savannah  River,  though 
like  all  other  towns  of  the  South,  it  is  behind 
the  cities  of  the  North  about  a  half  century  IN 
CIVILIZATION.  The  next  place  of  any  importance 
we  came  to  was  Columbia,  the  capital  of  South 
Carolina,  which  is  near  the  centre  of  the  State, 
but  in  a  very  poor  country  and  among  hills,  so 
that  a  person,  to  view  the  place,  must  go  through 
it.  Leaving  this  specimen  of  Southern  cities,  we 
went  south  till  we  came  to  Branchville,  forty-five 
miles  from  Charleston.  Here  we  struck  the 
Raleigh  and  North  Carolina  Railroad,  and  were 
soon  in  North  Carolina.  Arriving  at  Raleigh, 
the  capital,  we  went,  into  camp  for  a  while. 


There  are  a  great  many  Union  people  in  Raleigh, 
but  they  have  to  be  very  cautious,  as  they  are 
closely  wratched  by  the  military  authorities.  North 
Carolina  is  a  better  country  than  either  South 
Carolina  or  Georgia ;  it  looks  more  like  the 
North ;  but  in  South  Carolina  the  soil  is  the 
poorest  that  I  ha>e  seen  in  any  place.  In  some 
parts  of  the  State  they  have  tried  to  raise  grain, 
but  it  has  been  almost  a  complete  failure.  What 
little  corn  I  saw  was  very  poor,  it  being  so  thin 
over  the  'leld  that  I  could  almost  count  the  stalks 
as  we  parsed  in  the  cars.  Their  farming  imple 
ments  are  of  a  very  poor  quality.  They  break 
.ip  their  ground  with  a  small  plough  with  one 
horse  or  mule  attached.  What  grain  they  raise 
is  not  enough  for  home  consumption,  let  alone  to 
supply  an  army  with  bread  and  meat.  The 
principal  timber  through  the  South  is  pine,  which 
grows  in  great  abundance.  On  arriving  in  sight 
of  Richmond,  we  got  off  the  cars  and  were  taken 
to  Bell  Island  on  the  morning  of  the  31st  of 
September,  being  just  ten  days  on  the  way  ;  the 
distance  we  travelled  over  being  850  miles.  The 
island  is  situated  in  James  River,  at  the  foot  of 
the  falls,  and  opposite  the  upper  part  of  the  city. 
That  part  of  the  island  we  were  on  is  a  very  low 
sand  bar,  over  which  the  chilly  air  comes  from 
the  river,  and  almost  every  night  and  morning  we 
were  enveloped  in  a  dense  fog.  Here  we  weie 
exposed  to  all  kinds  of  weather,  without  any 
shelter  from  the  cold  rains  and  chilly  winds. 
Our  rations  here  consisted  of  a  small  piece  of 
bread  and  a  few  mouthfuls  of  meat  or  soup,  over 
which  we  wrould  hold  a  consultation  to  determine 
what  it  was  made  of,  and  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  it  was  intended  for  bean  soup,  although  the 
greater  portion  of  the  ingredients  were  sand  and 
bugs.  But  we  must  eat  it  or  do  without  anything, 
and  as  the  bugs  were  well  cooked  and  the  sand  well 
settled  to  the  bottom  of  the  vessel,  we  man 
aged  to  eat  it  without  any  great  inconvenience. 
In  this  way  we  lived  for  five  days,  when  we 
were  taken  over  into  the  city,  and  took  up  lodgings 
in  a  large  tobacco  warehouse,  opposite  Libby 
Prison,  and  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city.  In  this 
building  they  crowded  eleven  hundred  of  us.  I 
was  fortunate  enough  to  get  up  in  the  third  story, 
and  it  was  much  more  comfortable  than  either  of 
the  others.  We  were  so  crowded  that  we  had 
scarcely  room  to  lie  down  without  getting  on  top 
of  each  other.  Here  I  remained  about  forty  days. 
We  were  not  allowed  to* go  out  of  the  house 
except  to  get  rations.  In  this  way  I  managed  to 
get  out  twice  while  there.  When  first  put  in  we 
got  about  one  half  rations,  which  I  thought  was 
doing  well ;  but  it  soon  got  less,  until  we  were 
scarcely  able  to  keep  from  starving.  On  the  day 
after  we  were  put  in  the  prison  the  Provost  Mar 
shal  came  in  and  took  our  names  for  the  third 
time  since  being  captured,  and  told  us  that  ^  if 
all  those  who  had  any  greenbacks  would  give 
them  up  to  him,  he  would  return  them  when  wt 
•vent  away.  All  who  did  not  give  them  up  would 
He  searched,  and  if  any  money  was  found  it  would 
be  confisc  ated.  By  this  means  a  great  many  of 
the  boys  were  induced  to  give  up  their  money, 
thinking  :hat  we  should  go  away  in  a  few 


ANECDOTES,   FQETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


and  then  they  would  get  it  back  again.  But  some 
were  not  to"  be  fooled  in  that  way,  but  were 
determined  to  keep  their  money  if  possible ;  so 
they  went  to  work  to  conceal  it,  which  was  done 
in  various  ways,  some  by  sewing  it  in  their  clothes, 
others  by  putting  it  in  their  tobacco,  and  some 
would  take  the  buttons  of  their  blouses  apart, 
put  a  bill  in,  and  then  fix  it  together  to  look  as  if 
it  had  never  been  touched.  In  this  last-mentioned 
way  I  kept  ten  dollars,  and  gave  two  to  the 
Marshal.  After  getting  all  they  could  in  this 
way,  they  commenced  to  search  us,  but  finding 
that  they  were  not  getting  enough  to  pay  them 
for  the  trouble,  they  soon  quit  it,  and  issued  us 
some  rations,  as  we  had  not  had  any  for  thirty- 
six  hours,  and  were  getting  pretty  hungry !  The 
guards  were  strictly  forbidden  to  sell  anything 
to  us,  but  they  would  do  almost  anything  to  get 
our  greenbacks,  and  at  night  would  smuggle  in 
bread  to  those  who  had  any  money;  and  in  this 
way  I  managed  to  get  bread  for  four  of  us  for  sev 
eral  days  by  being  economical.  For  a  one  dollar 
greenback  we  could  get  eight  or  ten  loaves  of 
bread,  but  for  one  of  Confederate  money,  some 
times  we  could  get  two  loaves.  Others  would  not 
have  it  at  all,  said  they  had  their  pockets  full  of 
it.  After  we  had  been  there  about  two  weeks 
some  of  the  men  came  so  near  starving  that  they 
would  trade  off  their  clothes  for  bread  —  their 
shoes  and  socks,  and  some  even  traded  their 
shirts,  and  any  little  thing  they  could  find  ;  and 
some  days  the  door  would  present  the  appearance 
of  a  toy  shop.  There  were  handkerchiefs,  pocket 
knives,  finger  rings,  combs,  buttons,  spoons, 
knives  and  forks,  and  everything  a  soldier  could 
find  about  his  person  was  offered  for  bread. 
"Bread!"  "tiread!"  was  the  cry,  and  indeed  it 
was  a  sorrowful  sight  to  see  men  of  all  grades  of 
society,  from  the  college  professor  down  to  the 
ignorant  and  unlettered,  all  brought  to  the  verge  of 
starvation  by  the  inhuman  barbarity  of  their  cap 
tors.  In  passing  around  the  room  I  could  see  men 
once  stout  and  hearty  made  helpless  as  infants, 
their  cheeks  of  a  pale  death  color,  their  eyes  sun 
ken  and  the  light  that  once  sparkled  in  them  gone, 
and  their  skeleton-like  forms  all  saying  plainly 
that  unless  soon  aided  their  time  was  short  for 
this  world.  The  sight  was  enough  to  draw  pity 
from  the  hardest  of  hearts,  unless  they  were  so 
steeped  in  crime  that  nothing  could  affect  them. 
The  anguish  and  suffering  here  endured  can  never 
be  told.  Future  history  will  fail  in  its  endeavors 
to  picture  the,  noble  heroism  here  displayed  by 
men  when  they  were  suffering  all  the  misery 
possible  for  man  to  endure,  yet  true  to  their 
country's  cause,  and  would  rather  die  than  sacrifice 
their  honor  and  patriotism,  by  turning  traitor  to 
their  country.  Almost  every  day  there  were 
from  eight  to  ten  taken  to  the  hospital,  there  to 
linger  on  for  weeks,  and  perhaps  mouths,  before 
receiving  any  benefit  by  the  change,  if  indeed 
they  ever  recovered. 

But  there  was  still  another  evil  to  contend 
against ;  and  that  was  the  vermin,  which  got  so 
numerous  that  we  could  in  no  way  rid  ourselves 
of  them ;  und  when  a  person  once  got  down  and 


was  unable  to  help  himself,  'here  was  dangej  of  hi? 
actually  being  killed  by  the  lice.  It  makes  me 
shudder  now  while  I  think  of  it.  What  a  terrible 
condition  we  were  then  in  !  but  how  much  worse 
must,  it  have  become  by  this  time,  as  it  has  been 
near  six  weeks  since  I  left!  But  I  will  not  dwell 
longer  on  so  horrible  a  scne.  After  having  used 
what  lii;_e  money  I  had,  and  trading  my  knife 
and  haversack  for  bread,  and  seeing  what  there 
was  in  store  for  me  if  I  remained  longer  in  that 
place,  I  resolved  to  effect  my  escape  or  die  in  the 
attempt,  as  it  was  death  any  how  if  I  remained 
there.  I  mentioned  it  to  my  comrades,  but  the;r 
did  not  approve  of  it.  But  not  minding  wha'* 
they  said,  and  finding  a  young  fellow  from  Penn 
sylvania  who  was  as  anxious  to  get  away  as  my 
self,  we  went  to  work  to  contrive  some  means  of 
escape,  which  was  no  easy  job,  for  we  were 
closely  guarded  on  all  sides.  The  house  we 
were  in  is  a  four-story  building ;  and  by  going  or 
the  upper  floor  we  could  get,  a  view  of  a  good 
part  of  the  city,  and  there  we  marked  out  the 
course  we  would  pursue  if  successful  in  getting  out. 
We  were  to  go  directly  east  for  about  four  or  five 
miles,  and  then  incline  more  to  the  south,  so  as  to 
come  to  our  lines  at  Williamsburg,  Va.  We  tried 
several  plans,  but  could  not  succeed.  One  wag 
to  tear  off  some  plank  at  the  rear  of  the  building 
where  they  had  been  nailed  up  to  the  window, 
then  lay  them  over  on  to  the  fence  near  by,  and 
get  into  a  lot.  We  worked  at  it  several  nighty 
until  we  were  detected,  and  had  to  abandon  it. 
But  not  in  the  least  discouraged  we  went  at 
something  else.  After  examining  the  house  ali 
through  we  could  find  no  p'  ice  bu:  what  was  closely 
guarded.  Sr  we  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
only  way  left  was  to  go  out  at  the  door  past  the 
guard  ;  and  as  there  had  been  several  of  the 
rebs  in  cleaning  up  the  house,  or  rather  having 
it  done,  we  thought  it  a  good  time.  Without 
saying  anything  to  the  boys  as  to  what  we  were 
about  to  undertake  for  fear  we  might  not  be 
successful,  as  they  had  been  making  sport  at  our 
not  having  succeeded  before,  ve  went  down  to 
the  lower  floor  to  get  ready  for  the  trial  of  our 
new  plan.  Whichever  got  out  first  was  to  go  to 
a  small  hill,  about  three  squares  from  the  prism, 
and  wait  for  the  other.  Just  about  dusk,  I  got  a 
rebel  suit  from  one  of  our  boys,  without  much 
trouble.  My  partner  had  got  his  a  few  days  be 
fore.  After  rigging  ourselves  in  rebel  costume,  I 
told  my  comrade  that  we  would  wait  till  after  the 
relief  came  on  at  seven  o'clock  before  going  out, 
and  in  the  mean  time  look  around  for  a  little 
sport. 

Well,  we  walked  round  through  the  house,  and 
all  the  boys  took  us  to  be  rebels,  which  was  just 
what  we  wanted.  One  of  them  took  me  to  one  side, 
and  wanted  me  to  try  to  get  him  out  of  the  pris 
on  ;  he  said  that  he  had  been  conscripted,  arid 
did  not  want  to  light  against  the  South,  bad  nev 
er  been  in  a  battle,  nor  fired  a  gun  at  the  South 
ern  people.  I  told  him  that  I  would  see  a"  ,out  it? 
and  left  him.  Some  of  the  boys  wantea  Mk  t; 
bring  them  in  some  bread.  I  told  them  that  ihe 
guard  would  not  .'tt  us  trade  with  them,  but  J 


110 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


would  try  to  get  some  if  he  would  let  me  bring  it 
in.  Seven  o'clock  came,  and  I  started  out,  passed 
the  first  guard  without  saying  a  word,  came  to 
the  one  on  the  street ;  he  halted  me,  and  asked 
where  I  belonged  ;  I  told  him  I  was  Police  Ser 
geant,  and  had  been  in  having  the  prisoners  clean 
up  the  house.  He  did  not  like  to  let  me  pass, 
but  I  finally  got  off,  and  went  directly  x~  the 
place  agreed  upon  for  us  to  meet.  Getting  up 
on  the  bank,  I  concealed  myself  where  I  could  see 
down  the  street. 

When  my  partner  started,  the  guard  would  not 
let  him  pass  ;  so  he  had  to  go  back  into  the  ho'ise. 
But  he  was  determined  on  being  out,  so  he  got 
the  boys  to  attract  the  guard's  attention  at  the 
window,  and  he  went  back  to  where  some  boards 
had  been  taken  off,  and  where  the  guard  had 
been  stationed,  and  crawled  out  and  got  away 
*afe.  He  came  directly  to  where  I  had  been  wait 
ing  an  hour  and  a  half,  and  was  nearly  frozen.  I 
will  not  attempt  to  describe  our  feelings  at  once 
more  finding  ourselves  free,  at  least  for  the  pres 
ent.  But  we  still  had  dangers  to  encounter,  be 
ing  in  a  strange  country,  without  a  guide,  and 
our  enemies  all  around  us.  But  we  were  resolved 
to  push  ahead  as  best  we  could ;  so  shaping  our 
course  in  an  eastern  direction,  we  struck  out, 
g  licled  by  the  stars.  We  crossed  the  fields  and 
woods  till  we  came  to  the  fortifications,  which 
were  not  very  formidable.  These  we  passed  very 
cautiously.  Coming  to  a  house  we  tried  to  rouse 
the  inmates,  which  we  supposed  to  be  negroes, 
but  we  could  not  get  them  to  answer  us,  and  we 
started  on.  We  soon  came  to  a  road  which  ran 
in  the  right  direction,  and  we  followed  it  till  about 
two  o'clock,  when  we  got  so  tired,  and  being  so 
weak,  that  we  had  to  stop  arid  rest.  Going  into 
an  old  stable,  we  lay  down ;  but  it  was  too  cold 
for  us  there.  So  we  got  up  and  went  to  a  house 
close  by,  and  found  an  old  crippled  negro  by  her 
self.  We  went  in  and  warmed,  and  remained  till 
daylight.  Then  we  found  we  had  travelled  ten 
miles  during  the  night,  and  were  on  the  right  road. 
This  we  followed  all  day,  occasionally  meeting  some 
citizens  and  some  few  soldiers.  But  being  dressed 
in  rebel  clothes,  they  did  not  molest  us.  At  noon, 
we  stopped  at  a  small  cabin  to  get  something  to 
eat,  and  found  a  woman  whose  husband  was  in  the 
army.  Here  we  got  some  bread  and  milk,  and 
barned  a  great  deal  about  the  road.  We  came 
to  the  Chickahominy  River,  twenty  miles  from 
Richmond.  This  we  crossed  on  some  logs  where 
the  long  bridges  had  been,  but  were  destroyed  at 
the  time  McClellan  advanced  on  Richmond. 

Soon  after  crossing  the  river  we  met  a  man 
whom  at  first  sight  we  took  to  be  a  rebel  soldier ; 
but  we  were  mistaken.  He  came  up  and  began 
to  question  us  pretty  closely.  He  asked  where 
we  belonged ;  we  told  him,  in  Richmond,  to  the 
19th  Virginia  Battalion,  which  was  guarding  pris 
oners  at  Richmond.  He  then  wanted  to  know 
where  we  were  going.  We  said,  "  Home  on  fur 
lough."  He  looked  at  us  a  while,  and  began  to 
laugh,  saying,  we  need  not  try  to  fool  him  ;  that 
we  were  escaped  prisoners,  trying  to  get  to  the 


Federa.  lines.  This  ve  stoutly  denied.  So,  find 
ing  that  he  couli  ge;  nothing 'from  us,  he  told  u* 
that  we  had  better  turn  back  to  Richmond,  that 
we  never  could  get  past  the  pickets.  We  toM 
him  that  wher  t  ir  furlough  was  out  we  would  gu 
back,  and  not  before.  So  he  rode  off  and  left,  us. 
We  did  not  stop  long  to  consider  what  we  should 
do,  but  started  ofi'  as  fast  as  we  could  walk  for 
about  five  miles,  when  we  found  a  negro.  From 
him  we  found  out  where  the  pickets  were  sta 
tioned,  and  how  to  get  around  them.  He  also 
told  us  where  to  find  a  free  negro's  house,  and 
as  we  were  pretty  tired,  we  concluded  to  go  and 
stay  all  night.  He  put  us  in  the  house  that  the 
owner  had  left  in  his  charge,  made  us  a  good  fire, 
and  got  some  corn  bread  for  us  to  eat.  We  got 
a  pretty  good  rest,  and  daylight  found  us  again 
on  the  road.  We  had  gone  but  a  short  distance, 
when,  just  ahead  of  us,  we  saw  a  squad  of  cav 
alry  coming.  There  was  no  time  to  lose  ;  so, 
bounding  into  the  woods,  we  ran  as  fast  as  we 
could  for  about  half  a  mile  ;  but  finding  they  were 
not  following  us,  we  ceased  running.  After  that 
we  did  not  venture  on  the  road,  but  kept  in  the 
woods  all  the  time,  occasionally  going  to  a  ne 
gro  cabin  to  find  the  way ;  and  we  always  found 
them  willing  to  aid  us  in  any  way  that  they 
could.  Night  coming  on,  and  as  we  could  not 
well  travel  in  the  woods  after  nigl.it,  we  looked 
around  for  a  place  to  stop.  We  found  a  large 
house  near  by,  and  concealing  ourselves  in  the 
bushes,  we  watched  to  see  if  there  were  any 
white  folks  living  in  it,  but  could  not  see  any ; 
so,  after  it  got  dark,  we  went  to  it,  and  found  no 
one  but  a  negro  and  his  family.  They  gave  us 
some  sweet  potatoes  for  supper,  and  some  blan 
kets  to  keep  us  warm,  and  we  did  very  well  that 
night.  We  were  out  bright  and  early  the  next 
morning.  We  had  to  be  more  cautious  now,  as 
we  were  among  the  scouts.  The  negroes  showed 
us  by-paths  through  the  woods,  which  we  ft  -llowed 
all  day.  We  saw  several  scouts,  but  managed  to 
evade  them. 

Our  road  was  very  rough,  and  we  made  slow 
progress.  We  missed  our  way,  and  travelled 
about  three  miles  before  finding  it  out,  then  had 
to  go  back  and  start  anew.  We  had  to  go  through 
woods  and  across  swamps  almost  impassable, 
We  finally  came  to  the  place  we  had  been  told  to 
go  ;  got  permission  to  stay  over  night,  a  first  rate 
supper  and  good  bed.  Upon  inquiry  we  founi 
that  we  were  within  seven  miles  of  the  Union 
pickets,  and  that  there  was  no  more  danger,  so 
we  felt  at  home.  In  the  morning,  after  partaking 
of  a  good  breakfast,  our  host  went  with  us  about 
two  miles,  and  set  us  on  the  main  road.  We 
here  thanked  him  for  his  assistance,  and  bade  him 
good  by. 

We  went  forward  with  light  hearts  that  morn 
ing,  thinking  that  we  were  soon  to  be  in  the 
midst  of  friends.  We  soon  came  in  sight  of  the 
pickets  posted  en  a  hill.  They  saw  r>3  coming, 
and  came  out  to  meet  us,  thinking  we  were  rebel 
deserters.  We  soon  told  our  story,  and 
warmly  received  and  well  provided  for. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Ill 


THE   NEW  BALLAD   OF  LOUD   LOVELL.* 

LOBP  LOVELL  he  sat  in  St.  Charles's  Hotel, 

lii  St.  Charles's  Hotel  sat  he, 
A  f.  for  r  a  case  of  a  Southern  swell 

Ad  ever  you'd  wish  lo  see  —  see  —  see, 
As  ever  you'd  wish  to  see. 

Lord  Lovell  the  town  had  vowed  to  defend  ; 

A- waving  his  sword  on  high, 
He    swore   that   his   last   ounce   of   powder    he'd 
s  pei  ^1, 

And  in  the  last  ditch  he'd  die. 

He  swore  by  black  and  he  swore  by  blue, 

He  swore  by  the  stars  and  bars, 
That  never  he'd  fly  from  a  Yankee  crew 

While  he  was  a  son  of  Mars. 

He  had  fifty  thousand  gallant  men, 

Fifty  thousand  men  had  he, 
Who   had  all   sworn  with  him  that  they'd  never 
surren- 

J)er  to  any  tarnation  Yankee. 

He  had  forts  that  no  Yankee  alive  could  take  ; 

He  had  iron-clad  boats  a  score, 
And  batteries  all  around  the  Lake 

And  along  the  river-shore. 

Sir  Farragut  came  with  a  mighty  fleet, 

Wirh  a  mighty  fleet  came  he, 
And  Lord  Lovell  instanter  began  to  retreat 

Before  the  first  boat  he  could  sec. 

His  fifty  thousand  gallant  men 

Dwindled  do\vn  to  thousands  six . 
They  ^icard  a  distant  cannon,  and  then 

Commenced  a-cutting  their  sticks. 

"  O  !  tarry,  Lord  Lovell  !  "  Sir  Farragut  cried, 

"  O  !  tarry,  Lord  Lovell !  "  said  he  ; 
"  I  rather  think  not,"  Lord  Lovell  replied, 

•«  For  I'm  in  a  great  hurry. 

«« I  like  the  drinks  at  St.  Charles's  Hotel, 
But  I  never  could  bear  strong  Porter, 

Especially  when  its  served  on  the  shell, 
Or  mixed  in  an  iron  mortar." 

"  I  reckon  you're  right,"  Sir  Farragut  said, 

"I  reckon  you're  right,"  said  he, 
"  For  if  my  Porter  should  fly  to  your  head, 

A  terrible  smash  there'd  be." 

O  !  a  wonder  it  was  to  see  them  run, 

A  wonderful  thing  to  see  ; 
And  the  Yankees  sailed  up  without  shooting  a  gun, 

And  captured  their  great  citie. 

Lord  Lovell  kept  running  all  day  and  night, 

Lord  Loveli  a-running  kept  he, 
For  he  swore  he  couldn't  abide  the  sight 

Of  the  gun  of  a  live  Yankee. 

When  Lord  LovelFs  life  was  brought  to  a  close 
By  a  fharp-shooting  Yankee  gunner, 

From  his  head  there  sprouted  a  red,  red  nose, 
From  his  feet  —  a  Scarlet  Runner. 


*  Mansfield  Lovell,  who  commanded  the  rebel  forces 
at  New  Orleans,  and  who,  on  the  approach  of  the  na 
tional  fleet  and  army  to  that  place.  "  led  his  forces  out 
fcf  the  town." 


CAPTURE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS  —  WHAT  Je- 
DITH  SAW.  —  Allow  me  to  describe  how  I  spent 
the  day,  at  the  time  of  the  first  arrival  of  the 
Federal  fleet  at  this  city.  The  first  day  that  the 
fleet  arrived,  I  and  my  sister,  and  a  great  Tvany 
others,  were  wending  our  way  <~o  the  levee.  On 
our  way  we  met  a  gentleman  acquaintance  of  ours, 
who  asked  us  if  we  were  going  to  get  some  sugar. 
I  felt  quite  Indignant ;  but  as  I  was  in  an  amiable 
mood  then,  I  forgave  him  with  all  my  heart,  as  I 
had  no  wish  to  be  angry  only  with  those  hateful 
secessionists,  who  were  destroying  all  the  sugar 
and  cotton,  and  burning  the  ships  and  steamboats 
that  had  been  left  standing.  If  I  had  had  the 
power  over  those  that  proposed  it,  I  would  have 
taken  them  all,  women  and  men,  and  placed 
them  in  the  burning  ships,  and  there  let  them  re 
main  until  secession  and  secessionists  were  con 
sumed  by  the  flames.  I  would  have  shown  them 
no  mercy.  "  Be  merciful  unto  him  that  showeth 
mercy."  The  next  persons  we  met  were  a  lady 
and  gentleman  —  the  lady  appearing  to  be  quite 
delighted  at  the  sight  of  the  cotton  and  ships 
burning.  There  were  a  great  many  others  who 
had  come  to  see  the  fleet  —  some  with  joyful 
hearts,  once  again  to  behold  that  time-honored 
flag,  as  it  was  unfurled  to  the  breeze  ;  others 
came  for  curiosity,  and  others  with  feelings  of 
hate  burning  in  their  hearts,  because  they  knew 
they  were  conquered,  or  would  be  in  a  short  time. 
They  foolishly  depended  upon  some  traitors  to 
drive  out  the  enemy  when  they  came  ;  bat  the 
cowards  made  good  their  escape  when  they  heard 
that  the  fleet  had  arrived,  leaving  their  dupes  to 
take  care  of  themselves  the  best  way  they  could, 
telling  them  how  vain  is  the  help  of  man  in  an 
unjust  cause.  We  were  often  stopped  in  our 
progress  by  the  burning  of  the  wharves  and  piles 
of  cotton.  We  had  gone  a  good  distance,  when 
right  before  us  lay  piles  of  cotton  burning.  We 
had  our  choice,  either  to  return  back  the  way  we 
came,  or  jump  across  the  cotton-piles.  At  last 
we  came  to  the  conclusion  that  we  would  do  the 
jumping ;  so  we  selected  a  pile  that  we  thought 
had  been  well  burned  out,  and  my  sister  made 
the  first  leap ;  and  as  soon  as  she  was  over  she  ex 
claimed,  "0  my!  but  that  was  hot!  "  and  told  rne 
that  I  had  better  find  some  other  place  to  jump  ; 
but  I  wanted  to  have  some  experience  in  jump 
ing  cotton-piles;  so  over  I  Avert.  When  I  was 
over  I  exclaimed  with  my  sister  —  "  O  my  ! 
but  that  was  hot  !  "  and  looking  round  to  see 
what  could  have  caused  such  heat,  we  saw  the 
piles  of  cotton  that  we  had  jumped  across  burn 
ing.  What  appeared  to  have  been  all  ashes  to 
us,  we  found  out  by  experience  was  a  little 
too  hot  to  be  only  ashes.  We  shook  our  dresses 
well,  so  as  to  make  sure  that  there  were  no 
sparks  on  them,  and  went  on  our  wa}  rejoicing; 
but  we  made  up  our  minds  that  the  next  time 
we  jumped  cotton-piles,  we  would  look  before 
we  leaped. 

In  looking  at  the  ship1  burning,  there  was  a 
young  lady  standing  before  us,  who  seemed  quite 
unconscious  about  her  dress  burning,  until  told 
by  us.  Then  there  was  another  old  la'ly,  wh<? 


112 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


was  so  absorbed  in  looking  at  the  fleet,  that  she 
did  not  take  notice  of  where  she  stood  ;  and,  be 
ing  at  the  edge  of  the  wharf,  where  it  had  been 
burned,  the  plank  gave  way,  and  she  was  precipi 
tated  into  the  river.  Fortunately,  she  caught 
hold  of  another  portion  of  the  wharf,  and  two 
men  assisted  her  out.  No  harm  was  done,  but 
she  was  pretty  much  scared.  Nothing  of  impor 
tance  happened  to  us,  until  we  noticed  that  one 
of  the  gunboats  was  coming  towards  our  side  of 
the  river,  (for  the  fleet  was  in  the  middle  of  the 
river.)  I  and  my  sister  ran  to  see  where  it  would 
land,  so  that  we  could  get  a  good  view.  It  land 
ed  near  the  St.  Mary's  Market ;  so  we  took  our 
position  before  the  gunboat.  As  we  were  running 
along,  three  women,  who  were  behind  us,  made 
some  remarks,  one  of  which  I  overheard :  she 
said  that  all  persons  who  seemed  glad  to  see  the 
Yankees  ought  to  be  punished.  I  turned  round 
and  told  them  if  they  did  not  like  it,  why  did  they 
not  remain  at  home.  They  looked  at  me,  as 
much  as  to  say  I  was  not  worth  answering,  and 
we  passed  on.  While  we  were  standing  before 
the  gunboat,  we  waved  our  handkerchiefs  towards 
the  men  on  the  boat,  when  one  of  the  officers 
lifted  his  cap  and  bowed.  This  attracted  the  at 
tention  of  the  three  women,  who  had  come  up  to 
us,  when  the  eldest  of  them  touched  my  sister  on 
the  shoulder,  and  said,  "  Do  you  mean  to  say  that 
you  are  waving  your  handkerchief  at  them  ? »' 
[jointing  to  the  men  on  the  gunboat.  My  sister 
said  it  was  none  of  her  business,  and  I  said  : 
"  Certainly."  Then  she  said  :  "  You  had  better 
go  to  them."  I  said  I  would  if  the  boat  came 
near  enough,  so  that  I  could  get  in.  The  two 
younger  ones  called  us  rebels,  and  giving  us  a 
disdainful  look,  passed  out  of  sight.  You  may 
be  assured  I  was  quite  surprised  on  being  ad 
dressed  so  unexpectedly  ;  but  for  all  that,  we 
were  ready  to  answer  them  or  any  other  person. 
While  the  gunUoat  was  leaving  the  wharf,  we 
still  continued  waving  our  pocket  handkerchiefs 
and  bidding  them  good  by.  A  man  said  to  my 
sister :  "  Give  me  the  handkerchief,  and  I  will  wave 
it  for  you."  My  sister  thanked  him,  and  said  she 
could  wave  it  herself.  She  knew  it  was  his  in 
tention  to  throw  it  into  the  river.  As  we  came 
farther  on,  we  noticed  two  young  girls,  one  of 
them  waving  a  small  Confederate  flag,  and  calling 
out  to  them — "  Go  back,  you  dirty  Yankee  dev 
ils  ;  go  back  where  you  came  from."  I  asked, 
"  \Vh3re  are  the  dirty  (not  Yankee,  but)  seces 
sion  devils  ?  "  and  echo  answered,  there ;  and 
looking  around  I  saw  that  it  was  those  two  young 
girls,  the  one  still  holding  the  flag  and  calling 
them  names,  and  the  other  one  assisting  her. 
At  last  we  left  them,  and  returned  home  about 
six  in  the  evening.  We  passed  through  An 
nunciation  Square,  which  but  a  short  while  ago 
had  been  filled  with  tents  and  traitors,  but 
now  vacant.  Only  here  and  there  could  be  seen 
some  poor  woman  picking  up  some  wood  and 
bottles  that  were  left  by  the  brave  defenders 
of  the  Confederacy,  in  their  hurry  to  escape 
from  the  conquerors.  From  thence  we  passed 
up  home. 


CONTRABAND  NEGROES.  -—Gen.  Ashley,  mem 
ber  of  Congress  from  Ohio,  gave  the  follow 
ing  account  of  the  reception  of  the  "  contraband  " 
slaves  at  Fortress  Monroe  : 

"  You  will  have  heard,  by  the  time  this  reaches 
you,  of  the  mariner  in  which  Gen.  Butler  disposed 
of  Col.  Mallory,  who  came  i:;to  the  fort  under  a 
flag  of  truce,  to  claim  three  of  his  loyal  slaves, 
who  had  fled  from  his  kind  and  hospitable  roof, 
and  taken  shelter  in  Fortress  Monroe  among 
strangers.  Who  will  say  that  Gen.  Butler,  so  far 
as  he  went,  was  not  right?  This  Col.  Mallory 
had  met  Gen.  Butler  in  the  Charleston  and  Bal 
timore  Conventions,  and  with  that  impudence  and 
assumption  characteristic  of  the  oligarchy,  he 
comes  into  Gen.  Butler's  cam]),  and,  though  en 
gaged  in  open  treason  agninst  the  Government, 
demands  that  he  shall  enforce  the  Fugitive  Slave 
law  upon  the  soil  of  Virgini.i  with  United  States 
soldiers,  and  return  him  his  happy  and  contented 
slaves. 

"  Gen.  Butler  says,  *  You  hold  that  negro 
slaves  are  property,  and  that  Virginia  is  no  longer 
a  part  of  the  United  States?' 

"  The  Colonel  answered,  '  I  do,  sir.' 

"  Gen.  Butler  then  said,  '  You  are  a  lawyer, 
sir,  and  I  want  to  know  if  you  claim  that  the 
Fugitive  Slave  act  of  the  United  States  is  binding 
on  a  foreign  nation ;  and  if  a  foreign  nation  uses 
this  kind  of  property  to  destroy  the  lives  and 
property  of  citizens  of  the  United  States,  if  that 
species  of  property  ought  not  to  be  regarded  as 
contraband  P ' 

"  This  was  too  much  for  the  Colonel,  and  ho 
knocked  under  and  withdrew. 

"This  was  but  the  beginning  at  Fort  Monrce, 
and  is  but  the  beginning  of  a  question  which 
this  Administration  must  meet  and  determine, 
viz.,  *  What  shall  be  done  with  the  slaves  who 
refuse  to  fighi  against  the  Government  of  the 
United  States,  and  escape  from  the  traitors,  and 
come  into  our  camps  for  protection  P  '  If  the 
Administration  meets  this  question  as  it  ought, 
well ;  if  not,  it  will  prove  its  overthrow.  It  is  a 
question  of  more  magnitude  and  importance  than 
the  rebellion  itself;  and  woe  to  the  public  man 
or  the  party  who  proves  false  to  the  demands  of 
humanity  and  justice. 

"  On  Sunday,  eight  more  stout,  able-bodied 
men  came  in.  Gen.  Butler  said  to  me,  '  As  you 
went  to  see  John  Brown  hung,  and  have  some 
claim  to  control  Virginia  volunteers,  I  authorize 
you  to  see  who  and  what  those  colored  men 
are,  and  decide  what  is  to  be  done  with  them.5 
He  added,  '  You  had  better  examine  them  sepa 
rately,  and  take  down  in  writing  the  material  part 
of  their  answers.' 

"  Before  doing  so,  I  went  out  to  the  fence 
where  the  slaves  were  standing,  surrounded  by 
about  two  hundred  volunteers.  I  asked  the 
colored  men  a  few  questions,  and  was  about  to 
go  into  the  house  to  call  them  in  separately, 
as  suggested  by  the  General,  when  one  of  the  slaves 
said,  '  Massa,  what's  you  gwine  to  do  wid  us?5 

"  I  told  him  that  I  did  not  know,  but  that  we 
would  not  hurt  them. 


These  three  in  porch,  where  the  sunlight  came.— Page  113. 


ANECDOTES,    FCETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


113 


" '  O,  we  knows  dat,'  quickly  responded  an 
other  j  'we  knows  you's  our  friends.  What  we 
wants  to  know  is,  whether  you's  gwine  to  send 
us  back.1 

"1  answered  that  I  had  no  authority  over 
them,  and  no  power  to  do  anything,  but  that  my 
opinion  was  'it  would  be  some  time  before  their 
maslers  would  see  them  again.'  I  said  this  in  a 
low,  conversational  tone  of  voice,  without  noticing 
that  all  the  volunteers  were  eagerly  listening ; 
but  no  sooner  had  the  words  fallen  from  my  lips, 
than  a  hundred  voices  shouted,  '  Good !  good  ! ' 
and  some  in  laughter  and  some  in  tears  clapped 
their  hands  and  gave  three  rousing  cheers,  which 
brought  out  the  officers  and  General,  who  sup 
posed  I  had  been  making  a  speech  to  the  troops. 

"  This  little  incident  tells  me  more  plainly 
than  ever,  that  what  I  said  last  winter  in  the 
House  is  true,  when  I  declared  that  '  the  logic 
of  events  told  me  unmistakably  that  slavery 
must  die.' 

"  If  I  had  the  time,  and  you  the  space,  I  would 
give  in  their  own  words  the  material  portion  of 
the  answers  of  the  most  intelligent  slaves.  There 
is  one  thing  certain ;  every  slave  in  the  United 
States  understands  this  rebellion,  its  causes  and 
consequences,  far  better  than  ever  I  supposed. 
I  asked  one  old  man,  who  said  he  was  a  Methodist 
class-leader,  to  tell  me  frankly  whether  this 
matter  was  well  understood  by  all  the  slaves,  and 
he  answered  me  that  it  was,  and  that  he  had 
'  prayed  for  it  for  many,  many  long  years.' 

"  He  said  that  their  masters  and  all  talked 
about  it,  and  he  added,  'Lor'  bless  you,  honey  — 
we  don  give  it  up  last  September  dat  de  North's 
too  much  for  us ; '  meaning,  of  course,  that  Mr. 
Lincoln's  election  was  conceded  even  there  by 
the  slave  masters,  and  was  understood  and  hoped 
for  by  all  the  slaves.  I  asked  the  same  man 
how  many  more  would  probably  come  into  the 
fort.  He  said,  '  A  good  many ;  and  if  we's 
not  sent  back,  you'll  see  'em  'fore  to-morrow 
night.' 

"  I  asked  why  so,  and  he  said,  « Dey'll  under- 
Btan,  if  we's  not  sent  back,  dat  we're  'mong  our 
friends  ;  for  if  de  slaveholder  sees  us,  we  gets 
sent  right  back.'  And  sure  enough,  on  Monday 
about  forty  or  fifty  more.,  of  all  ages,  colors,  and 
sexes,  came  into  camp,  and  the  guard  was  bound 
to  arrest  them." 

CARTE   DE  VISITE. 

"  'TwAS  a  terrible  fight,"  the  soldier  said ; 
"  Our  Colonel  was  one  of  the  first  to  fall, 
Shot  dead  on  the  field  by  a  rifle-ball  — 

A  braver  heart  than  his  never  bled." 

A  group  for  the  painter's  art  were  they : 
The  soldier  with  scarred  and  sunburnt  face, 
A  fair-haired  girl,  full  of  youth  and  grace, 

And  her  aged  mother,  wrinkled  and  gray. 

These  three  in  porch,  where  the  sunlight  came 
Through  the  tangled  leaves  of  the  jasmine- vine, 
Spilling  itself  like  a  golden  wine, 

And  flecking  the  doorway  with  rings  of  flame. 


The  soldier  had  stopped  to  rest  by  the  way, 
For  the  air  was  sultry  with  summer-heat; 
The  road  was  like  ashes  under  the  feet, 

And  a  weary  distance  before  him  lay. 

"  Yes,  a  terrible  fight ;  our  ensign  was  shot 
A^  the  order  to  charge  was  given  the  men, 
When  one  from  the  ranks  seized  our  colors,  and 
then 

He,  too,  fell  drad  on  the  self-same  spot. 

"  A  handsome  boy  was  this  last :  his  hair 
Clustered  in  curls  r'  und  his  noble  brow ; 
I  can  almo  it  fancy  .  see  him  now, 

With  the  scarlet  stain  on  his  fa':e  so  fair." 

"  What  was  his  JiR'.ne  ?  —  have  you  never  heard  ?  — 
Where  was  he  from,  this  youth  who  fell  ? 
And  your  regiment,  stranger,  which  was  it  ?  tell  I" 

"  Jur  regiment?     It  was  the  Twenty-third." 

TLie  color  fled  from  the  young  girl's  cheek, 
Leaving  it  white  as  the  face  of  the  dead ; 
The  mother  lifted  her  eyes  and  said  : 

"  Pity  my  daughter —  in  mercy  speak !  " 

"  I  never  knew  aught  of  this  gallant  youth," 
The  soldier  answered;  "not  even  his  name, 
Or  from  what  part  of  our  State  he  came : 

As  God  is  above,  I  speak  the  truth ! 

"  But  when  we  buried  our  dead  that  night, 
I  took  from  his  breast  this  picture  —  see ! 
It  is  as  like  him  as  like  can  be  : 

Hold  it  this  way,  towards  the  light." 

One  glance,  and  a  look,  half-sad,  half- wild, 
Passed  over  her  face,  which  grew  more  pale, 
Then  a  passionate,  hopeless,  heart-broken  wail, 

And  the  mother  bent  low  o'er  the  prostrate  child. 


EXPERIENCES  OF  CAPT.  WILKINS.  —  Capt* 
Wilkins,  of  Gen.  Williams'  staff,  who  was  cap 
tured  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  gave  the 
following  account  of  his  experience  with  the 
Confederates.  At  the  time  the  Eleventh  corps 
was  routed  he  was  despatched  with  important 
orders  from  his  chief: 

"  On  galloping  to  convey  the  orders  referred 
to,  Capt.  Wilkins  found  that  two  regiments  had 
already  gained  their  positions.  He  communicated 
the  orders  to  their  Colonels,  and  passed  on  to 
convey  them  also  to  Gen.  Kuger,  commanding 
the  Third  brigade,  who  was  considerably  nearer 
the  enemy.  Soon  after  leaving  the  embankments 
he  passed  a  double  line  of  skirmishers,  and  saw, 
to  his  astonishment,  that  they  wore  gray  coats. 
Up  to  this  moment  he  had  no  idea  the  enemy  were 
so  near.  It  was  now  about  eight  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  and  owing  to  the  darkness  and  the  fact 
of  his  riding  with  such  speed  directly  towards 
them,  the  skirmishers  evidently  mistook  him  for 
one  of  their  own  officers,  and  allowed  him  to 
pass.  At  this  moment  he  saw  the  distinguishing 
flag  of  the  First  brigade  of  Williams'  division 
(every  brigade  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
carries  a  distinguishing  flag  of  bright  color?)  to 
the  left,  and  still  farther  on.  He  rode  towards  it, 
expecting  to  deliver  the  orders  to  the  commander 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


of  the  brigade.  On  reaching  it  he  discovered 
that  it  had  just  been  captured  by  a  Georgia  regi 
ment,  and  was  then  in  the  possession  of  the 
enemy,  by  whom  he  was  surrounded.  He  threw 
himself  upon  the  neck  of  his  horse,  and  endeav 
ored  to  escape  by  leaping  the  abatis  ;  but  he 
found  that  the  rebels  were  on  every  side  of  him. 
Mis  horse  was  shot  under  him,  a  blow  from  a 
musAet  dislocated  his  knee,  and  he  was  dragged 
to  the  ground  in  a  nearly  insensible  condition. 

He  was  placed  in  charge  of  a  guard,  who  took 
him  a  short  distance  to  the  rear  and  to  the  plank 
road,  where  he  met  Gen.  Jackson  and  staff.  Jack 
son  had  at  this  time  formed  a  column  of  attack 
on  the  plank  road,  with  the  design  of  flanking 
our  army  and  obtaining  possession  of  United 
States  Ford.  The  column  consisted  of  upwards 
?£  1(3,000  men,  massed  in  columns  of  sections, 
having  three  batteries  of  artillery  on  the  flank. 
Jackson  was  sitting  on  his  horse,  at  the  head  of 
the  column,  surrounded  by  his  staff.  He  wore  a 
new  suit  of  gray  uniform,  and  was  a  spare  man, 
with  a  weather-beaten  face,  and  a  bright,  grayish- 
blue  eye.  He  had  a  peculiarly  sad  and  gloomy 
expression  of  countenance,  as  though  he  already 
saw  a  premonition  of  his  fate.  It  was  but  fifteen 
minutes  later  that  he  was  mortally  wounded.  As 
they  came  into  his  presence  the  guard  announced, 
'  A  captured  Yankee  officer.'  Capt.  Wilkins  asked 
if  it  was  Maj.-Gen.  Thomas  J.  Jackson.  On  being 
answered  in  the  affirmative,  he  raised  his  hat. 
Gen.  Jackson  said:  'A  regular  army  officer,  I 
suppose  ;  your  officers  do  not  usually  s'alute  ours.' 
Capt.  "Wilkins  replied  :  '  No,  I  am  not ;  I  salute 
you  out  of  respect  to  you  as  a  gallant  officer.' 
He  then  asked  his  name  and  rank.  On  being 
told,  he  further  inquired  what  corps  arid  com 
manders  were  opposed  in  front.  Capt.  Wilkins 
replied  that  as  an  officer,  he  could  not  return  a 
truthful  answer  to  such  questions.  Jackson  then 
turned  to  the  guard  and  ordered  them  to  search 
him.  He  then  had  in  the  breast-pocket  of  his 
coat  Hooker's  confidential  orders  to  corps  com 
manders,  giving  a  plan  in  part  of  the  campaign, 
the  countersigns  of  the  field  for  a  week  in  ad 
vance,  and  the  field  returns,  giving  the  effective 
strength  of  the  Twelfth  corps  on  the  preceding 
day. 

Fortunately,  before  the  guard  could  carry  the 
orders  into  execution,  a  terrific  raking  fire  was 
opened  on  Jackson's  column  by  twenty  pieces  of 
artillery,  commanded  by  Capt.  Best,  from  an 
eminence  on  the  plank  road.  The  first  eight  or 
ten  shots  flew  over  the  heads  of  the  column. 
The  men  and  gunners  dismounted,  leaving  their 
horses  and  guns.  Our  artillery  soon  got  the 
range  with  more  precision,  and  the  shell  and 
round  shot  ricocheted  and  ploughed  through 
tl  is  dense  mass  of  the  enemy  with  terrific  effect. 
S'hells  were  continually  bursting,  and  the  screams 
and  groans  of  the  wounded  and  dying  could  be 
heard  on  every  side.  As  an  instance  of  the 
terrible  effect  of  this  fire,  one  of  the  guard  \\as 
struck  by  a  solid  shot  just  below  the  hips,  sweep 
ing  off  both  his  legs.  A  battery  came  dashing 
up  j  but  when  they  got  into  the  vortex  of  the  fire, 


the  gunners  fled,  deserting  their  guns,  and  could 
not  be  made  to  man  them.  An  officer,  splendidly 
mounted  and  equipped,  attempted  in  a  most 
gallant  manner  to  rally  them.  A  ball  struck  him 
on  the  neck,  completely  severing  his  head  from 
his  body,  and  leaving  his  spinal  column  standing. 
His  body  rolled  to  the  ground,  and  the  horse 
galloped  to  the  rear.  One  of  the  shells  struck  a 
caisson  fujl  of  artillery  ammunition,  which,  ex 
ploding,  tncended  in  a  crater  of  variously  colored 
flame,  and  showered  down  on  the  heads  of  the 
men  below  a  mass  of  fragments  of  shot  and  shell, 
The  loss  inflicted  by  this  fire  must  have  been 
terrible,  placing  considerably  over  one  thousand 
men  hors  du  combat,  and  effectually  breaking  up 
'.he  contemplated  attack  of  the  column. 

An  officer  of  Jackson's  stafl' subsequently  stated 
that  it  was  about  fifteen  minutes  after  this  that 
Gen.  Jackson  with  staff  advanced  to  the  front  to 
reconnoitre  our  position,  having  accomplished 
which  he  returned  by  a  different  path  towards  his 
own  men,  who,  mistaking  his  approach  for  that 
of  a  party  of  our  cavalry,  fired  upon  him,  killing 
and  wounding  four  of  his  staff,  and  wounding 
Jackson  once  in  the  right  arm  and  twice  in  the 
left  arm  and  hand. 

While  Capt.  Wilkins  was  being  taken  to  the 
rear  he  devoted  his  attention  to  disposing  of  the 
important  papers  which  he  had  on  his  person.  He 
dared  not  take  them  from  his  pocket  to  attempt 
to  tear  them  up,  but  cautiously  placed  his  hand 
in  his  pocket,  and  worked  the  papers  into  a  ball, 
and  as  they  were  passing  along,  got  them  into 
his  bosom,  and  finally  into  his  arm-pit  under  his 
arm,  where  he  carried  them  all  that  night.  The 
next  morning  the  guard  halted  to  get  their 
breakfasts,  and  a  soldier  was  trying  to  kindle  a 
fire  to  cook  some  coffee  which  they  had  taken 
from  our  men.  The  wood  was  damp,  and  the 
fire  refused  to  burn.  The  soldier  swore  at  it 
until  his  patience  gave  out,  when  Capt.  Wilkins 
asked  him  if  he  would  not  like  some  kindlings, 
and  handed  him  the  important  papers.  The 
soldier  took  them,  and,  not  dreaming  of  their 
importance,  used  tLem  to  kindle  the  tire." 


TRUMPET  SONG. 

OLIVER    WENDELL    HOLMES. 

TUB  battle-drum's  loud  rattle  is  rending  the  airj 
The  troopers  all  are  mounted,  their  sabres  aie  bare ; 
The  guns  are  uniimbeved,  the  bayonets  shine; 
tlark  !    hark  !   'tis  the  trumpet-call  !   wheel  .nto 
line  ! 

Ta,  ra  !  ta,  ta,  ta  ! 
Trum,  trum  !  tra,  ra,  ra,  ra  ! 
Beat  drums  and  blow  trumptts ! 
Hurrah,  boys,  hurrah ! 

March  onward,  soldiers,  onward ;  the  strife  is  begun : 
Loud  bellowing  rolls  the  buom  of  the  black-throateu 

gun; 

The  rifles  are  cracking,  the  torn  banners  toss, 
The  sabres  are  clashing,  t  le  bayonet.*  cioss, 
Ta,  ra,  fcc. 


ANECDOTES,    POET11Y.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


115 


Down  with  the  leaguing  liars,  the  traitors  to  their 

trust, 

"Who  trampled  the  fair  charter  of  Freedom  in  dust ; 
They  falter  —  they    waver  —  they    scatter  —  they 

run  — 

The  field  is  our  own,  and  the  battle  is  won ! 
Ta,  ra,  &c. 

God  save  our  mighty  people  and  prosper  our  cause  ! 
We're  fighting  for  our  nation,  our  land,  and  our 

laws ! 

Though  tyrants  may  hate  us,  their  threats  we  defy, 
And  drum-beat  and  trumpet  shall  peal  our  reply  ! 

Ta,  ra  !  ta,  ta,  ta ! 
Beat  drums  and  blow  trumpets  ! 
Trum,  trurn,  tra,  ra,  ra,  ral 
Hurrah,  boys,  hurrah ! 


LIEUT.  MCNEILL'S  EXPLOIT.  —  After  the  sur 
prise  and  capture  of  New  Creek,  Va.,  by  Gen. 
Kosser,  Maj.-Gen.  Crook,  of  the  Yankee  army, 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  department 
in  which  that  station  is  embraced.  Maj.-Gen. 
Kelley,  who  previously  commanded  the  depart 
ment,  still  remained  in  Cumberland,  having  his 
headquarters  at  one  of  the  hotels  in  the  town. 
Gen.  Crook  established  his  headquarters  in  the 
same  town,  at  the  other  principal  hotel.  As 
soon  as  this  state  of  affairs  became  known  to 
Lieut.  Jesse  C.  McNeill,  upon  whom  has  devolved 
tL.5  command  of  McNeiH's  Hangers  since  the 
death  of  his  father,  the  lamented  old  Captain,  he 
resolved  to  risk  an  attempt  to  surprise  and  bring 
off  those  two  Generals. 

Having  posted  himself  thoroughly  in  regard  to 
the  situation  of  affairs  in  and  around  Cumber 
land,  the  night  of  Monday,  20th  inst.,  he,  with 
sixty  trusty  men,  crossed  Knobby  Mountain  to 
the  North  Branch  of  the  Potomac.  Reaching 
this  stream,  at  a  point  below  the  first  picket  post 
that  overlooked  the  selected  route  of  ingress  into 
Cumberland,  he  crossed,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the 
Yankees  on  duty  were  relieved.  "  Your  counter 
sign,"  demanded  Lieut.  McNeill,  to  a  burly  Dutch 
man,  with  such  accompaniments  as  seemed  to  im 
press  the  fellow  with  the  notion  that  to  divulge 
it  was  a  matter  of  self-preservation.  "  Bool's 
Kaah,"  (meaning  *'  Bull's  Gap,")  was  the  quick 
response. 

Then  on  briskly  down  the  county  road  towards 
town,  near  five  miles  distant,  he  moved.  As  the 
little  band  struck  what  is  known  as  the  old  pike, 
soon,"  Halt!  who  comes  there?" rings  out  on  the 
air.  "Friends,  with  countersign,"  is  the  response. 
"  Dismount,  one,  advance,  and  give  the  counter 
sign,"  is  the  picket's  next  order  to  the  Lieuten 
ant. 

Having  lately  had  his  ankle  crushed,  the  Lieu 
tenant  was  not  in  a  condition  to  obey;  and  so 
urging  his  horse  forward,  he  quickly  heard  from 
the  astonished  picket,  "  Don't  shoot ;  I  surren 
der." 

On  they  rushed,  and  the  reserves  were  gath 
ered  in.  The  first  picket  captured  was  cavalry, 
the  next  infantry.  The  former  were  brought 
along;  the  latter  were  disarmed,  their  guns 


smashed,  and  they  were  paroled  to  remain  whsre 
they  were  until  morning ;  were  told  that  the  town 
was  surrounded,  and  it  would  be  impossible  for 
them  to  escape. 

Entering  town  on  the  west  side,  they  passed 
another  picket  on  the  right  bank  of  the  North 
Branch.  By  this  picket  they  were  not  halted. 
Crossing  Wil  's  Creek,  (which  flows  through  the 
town,)  at  the  Iron  Bridge,  coolly  and  deliberately 
up  Baltimore  Street  they  ride,  some  whistling, 
some  laughing  and  talking,  as  if  they  were  Yan- 
kc.<28,  at  home  among  friends. 

To  and  fro,  on  the  street,  by  the  gas-light,  are 
seen  walking  Yankee  guards.  "  HeJoa,  boys ! 
whose  command  is  that?  "  "  Scouts  from  Nfcw 
Creek,"  is  the  response. 

Presently  here  they  are,  between  two  and  three 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  in  front  of  the  St.  Nicho 
las  Hotel,  Kelley's  headquarters.  Down  spring, 
quietly  and  calmly,  the  men  who,  by  previous  ar 
rangement,  are  to  visit  Kelley's  room.  They  en 
ter  the  hall,  and  having  procured  a  light,  they 
enter  the  General's  room.  The  General,  aroused 
by  the  knock,  resting  on  one  elbow,  "  You  know 
me,  General,  I  suppose,"  says  Joseph  W.  Kuy- 
kendall,  who  had  charge  of  this  party.  "  I  do," 

said  the  General.  "  You  are ,"  giving  his 

name.  "General,  you  had  me  once;  it  is  my 
honor  to  have  you  now.  You  are  a  prisoner." 
"  But,"  says  the  General,  "  whom  am  I  surren 
dering  to  ?  "  "  To  me,  sir,"  was  the  emphatic 
response.  "  No  place  or  time  for  ceremony  ;  so 
you  will  dress  quickly."  The  order  was  obeyed. 

While  this  was  going  on  at  the  St.  Nicholas, 
another  scene  was  transpiring  at  the  llevere 
House.  Thither  went  promptly  a  portion  of  the 
men,  as  per  arrangement,  under  Lieut.  Welton. 
Reaching  it  they  halt — five  men,  in  charge  of 
Joseph  L.  Vandiver,  dismount,  and  "Halt!"  is 
the  greeting  of  the  sentinel,  standing  in  front  of 
the  entrance.  "  Friends,  with  countersign,  bear 
ing  important  despatches  for  Gen.  Crook,"  is 
Vandiver's  answer.  "  Advance,  one,"  &c.  In  a 
moment,  Vandiver  had  the  sentinel's  gun,  and 
ordered  him  to  stand  aside  under  guard.  The 
door  is  rapped  at  —  a  voice  from  within  asks, 
"  Who  is  you  ?  I  don't  know  you,"  "  Open  the 
door ;  I  must  see  Gen.  Crook."  The  door  is 
opened,  and  there  stands  a  small  darkey.  "  Is 
Gen.  Crook  in  ?  "  "  Yes,  sir."  "  Show  me  his 
room."  "  I'm  afeerd  to  ;  but  I  will,  if  you  don't 
tell  on  me.';  Crook's  room  is  reached  ;  a  rap 
given.  "  Come  in."  In  obedience  to  the  invit  a- 
tion,  a  tall  and  stalwart  form,  with  light  in  one 
hand,  and  pistol  unclisplayed  in  the  other,  standi 
erect,  cool  and  deliberate,  before  the  General. 
"  Gen.  Crook,  I  presume,"  says  Vandiver.  "  I 
am,  sir."  "  I  am  Gen.  Rosser,  sir ;  you  are  in 
my  power ;  you  have  two  minutes  to  dress  in." 
Then  the  General  rubbed  his  eyes,  as  if  he  thought 
he  dreamed.  "  Come,  General,  there  are  your 
clothes ;  you  ca«  either  put  them  on,  or  go  as 
you  are."  The  Genera,  quickly  arose  and  dressed 

The  prisoner  and  his  captors  make  their  exit 
to  thei  vigilant  comrades  without.  The  Gan- 
eral  is  made  to  mot!,  t  lehind  Vandiver.  Oif 


116 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


they  start,  soon  rejoin  the  St.  Nicholas  party  with 
their  prize,  and  then  they  all  commence  to  "  evac 
uate  "  the  city  quietly,  coolly,  and  in  good  order. 
Reaching  Will's  Creek  Bridge,  they  turned  to  the 
loft,  and  proceeded  down  the  tow-path. 

On  the  opposite  side  of  the  canal,  encamped 
on  the  hills  around  the  town,  are  many  of  Crook's 
and  Eelley's  soldiers,  who  dream  not  of  the  sur 
prise  the  morning  shall  bring  them  ;  the  senti 
nels  too,  as  unconscious  as  their  slumbering  com 
rades  of  the  proximity  of  a  foe.  A  few  are 
awake,  and  with  curiosity  aroused  by  the  sound 
of  horsemen  moving,  as  it  were,  in  midnight  re 
view  before  them,  inquire,  "  Whose  command  ?  " 
"  Scouts  going  out,"  is  the  careless  response. 
At  length,  they  are  about  five  miles  below  the 
town,  where  they  intend  to  recross  to  "  Old  Vir 
ginia."  A  "Halt"  greets  the  advance.  "Friends, 
with  countersign."  The  picket  gives  the  usual 
command.  "  Bull's  Gap,"  says  McNeill ;  "  no 
time  to  dismount ;  are  in  a  hurry  ;  the  enemy 
are  reported  close  ;  we  are  sent  out  by  Gen. 
Crook  to  watch  his  movements."  "  Go  on,  then  ; 
cold  night,  boys,  to  be  out."  "Yes,  pretty 
cold."  "  Give  the  Johnnies  h— 1.  boys."  "  O, 
yes,  we  are  the  boys  to  do  that ; "  are  some  of 
the  words  interchanged,  as  McNeill  and  his  boys 
file  past  the  unsuspecting  Yankees.  A  moment 
or  two  more,  and  McNeill  is  in  Virginia ! 

0p 

"  McGregor  is  on  his  native  heath, 
With  McGregor's  clan  around  him." 

On  he  pushes  briskly,  without  any  report  of 
Yankees  pursuing  in  the  rear,  to  which  a  strict 
watch  is  kept.  Romney,  twenty-seven  miles 
from  Cumberland,  is  reached ;  the  rear-guard  re 
port  about  sixty  Yankees  in  sight,  with  some  of 
whom,  they  exchanged  a  few  shots,  but  the  Yan 
kees  exhibited  no  disposition  to  push  on  very 
fast.  At  about  two  o'clock  in  the  day,  McNeill 
is  seen  near  Moorefield,  moving  up  the  South 
Branch  of  the  Potomac,  while  up  the  pike,  on  the 
opposite  side,  move  the  Yankees,  about  two  hun 
dred  strong,  their  horses  the  worse  for  having  gal 
loped  from  New  Creek  Station,  some  thirty-five 
miles  off,  from  which  point  they  started  about 
eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,  as  we  afterwards 
learned.  Tuesday  night,  McNeill  camped  on  the 
South  Fork  of  the  South  Branch,  with  his  pris 
oner's  all  safe,  but,  like  their  captors,  all  tired. 
The  next  morning,  five  hundred  Yankee  cavalry 
entered  Moorefield ;  a  large  force  was  also  relia 
bly  reported  to  Lieut.  McNeill,  going  up  Lost 
River,  to  intercept  him ;  but  they  didn't,  as  the 
Generals  reached  this  city  Sunday  morning,  about 
two  o'clock,  in  charge  of  Lieut.  J.  S.  Welton,  who 
rendered  prompt,  active,  and  efficient  service  in 
effecting  the  capture. 

It  is  proper  to  say,  that  the  entrance  into  Gen. 
Kelley's  room  was  through  his  Adjutant-Gener 
al's  apartment.  An  eye  was  kept  to  this  gentle 
man,  and  he  was  brought  off  with  four  head 
quarter  colors.  His  name  is  Major  Melvin. 

To  have  entered  Cumberland,  a  city  of  eight 
or  nine  thousand  inhabitants,  (a  majority  of 
whom  are  bitterly  hostile,)  with,  according  to  our 


best  information,  seven  or  eight  thousand  troopB 
encamped  in  and  around,  is  very  strong;  evidence 
that  Lieut.  Jesse  C.  McNeill  is  a  chip  of  the  old 
block,  a  worthy  son  of  his  gallant  old  sire,  Capt, 
John  Hanson  McNeill,  who,  and  his  eldest  son, 
have  already  laid  their  lives  upon  their  country's 
altar. 

Gen.  Early,  immediately  on  the  receipt  of  the 
news  of  his  exploit,  advanced  the  gallant  young 
officer  to  t'  e  rank  of  Captain  ;n  McNeill's  Ran 
gers.  ^ 

ROIL   CALL. 

IT     N.    G.    SHEPHERD. 

"  CORPORAL  GREEN  !  "  the  Orderly  cried; 
"  Here  !  "  was  the  answer,  loud  and  clear, 
From  the  lips  of  a  soldier,  who  stood  near; 

And  "Her':    "  was  ';he  word  the  next  replied. 

"  Cyrus  Drew  !  "  —  then  a  silence  fell  — 
This  time  no  answer  followed  the  call ; 
Only  his  rear  man  had  seen  him  fall, 

Killed  or  wounded,  he  could  not  tell. 

There  they  stood,  in  the  falling  light, 

These  men  of  battle,  with  grave,  dark  looks, 
As  plain  to  be  read  as  open  books, 

While  slowly  gathered  the  shades  of  night. 

The  fern  on  the  hill-sides  was  splashed  with  blood, 
And  down  in  the  corn,  where  the  poppies  grei» 
Were  redder  stains  than  the  poppies  knew, 

And  crimson- dyed  as  the  river's  flood. 

For  the  foe  had  crossed  from  the  other  side, 
That  day,  in  the  face  of  a  murderous  fire, 
That  swept  them  down  in  its  terrible  ire ; 

And  their  life-blood  went  to  color  the  tide. 

"  Herbert  Cline  !  "     At  the  call  there  came 
Two  stalwart  soldiers  into  the  line, 
Bearing  between  tl  em  this  Herbert  Cline, 

Wounded  arid  bleedir  g,  to  answer  his  name. 

"  Ezra  Kcrr  !  "  —  and  a  voice  answered,  "  Here !  ** 
"  Hiram  Korr !  "  but  no  man  replied  : 
They    were  brothers,  these    two :   the  sad  wind 
sighed, 

And  a  "shudder  crept  through  the  cornfield  near. 

"  Ephraim  Dearie ! "  —  then  a  soldier  spoke ; 
«'  Dcane  carried  our  regiment's  colors,"  he  said, 
"  When  o\  x  ensign  was  shot ;  I  left  him  dead, 

Just  after  the  enemy  wavered  and  broke. 

"Close  to  the  road-side  his  body  lies  ; 

I  paused  a  moment,  and  gave  him  to  drink; 

He  murmured  his  mother's  name,  I  think, 
And  Death  came  with  it  and  closed  his  eyes." 

'Twas  a  victory  —  yes ;  b'lt  it  cost  us  dear  ; 
For  that  company's  roll,  when  called  at  nightj 
Of  a  hundred  men  who  went  into  the  fight, 

Numbered  but  twenty  that  answered,  "  Rare!" 


THE  SCHOOLS  OF  FERNANDINA.  —  A 
spondent  writing  from  Fernandina,  Fla.,  says  :  — 
The  colored  schools,  which  have  been  in  sucfess- 
ful  operation  here,  close-i  for  a  vacation  of  two 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


117 


months.  The  progress  made  by  the  pupils  more 
than  equals  the  expectations  of  the  most  sanguine 
0 lends  of  the  race.  The  children  have  evinced  an 
aptitude  to  learn,  and  a  capacity  fully  equal  to 
white  children  at  the  North,  and' in  all  the  better 
cliaiacteristics  they  are  in  no  way  behind  them. : 
....  None  who  have  witnessed  the  grateful 
expressions  of  fathers  and  mothers,  and  the  daily  i 
tributes  of  flowers,  and  other  evidences  of  aflec-  j 
tion  of  the  children  for  their  teachers,  will  ever 
questio  the  natural  susceptibility  of  this  people 
to  cultivation,  and  a  prompt  response  to  the  or 
dinary  appliances  which  make  mankind  respec 
table.  Corporeal  punishment  has  been  so  rare 
that  I  question  whether,  during  the  -entire  term, 
among  three  hundred  children,  there  have  been 
more  than  half  a  dozen  cases  ;  and  I  have  never 
seen  uneducated  children  anywhere  exhibit  more 
sensibility  to  the  dishonor  of  a  banishment  from 
school,  or  other  similar  infliction,  than  these  chil 
dren  of  slavery. 

Some  of  the  girls  and  boys  had  committed 
pieces,  which  were  properly  spoken  ;  and  one 
Ultle  ebony,  only  eight  years  old,  showed  extraor 
dinary  aptness  at  declamation  in  a  little  piece 
he  had  learned.  True,  he  was  in  rags,  and  his 
skin  was  coal-black,  but  a  more  intelligent  and 
happy  face  I  never  saw.  If  permitted,  that  boy 
will  yet  shame  many  a  "  pale-face"  by  his  supe 
rior  intellectual  power. 

At  the  close  of  the  exercises,  a  little  book  or 
primer  was  presented  to  each  scholar  as  a  present 
for  their  attendance  and  good  conduct ;  and  it 
was  pleasing  to  see  with  what  eagerness  and 
satisfaction  each  received  this  first  testimonial 
of  scholarship.  Nearly  three  hundred  presents 
were  distributed,  which  were  furnished  principally 
through  the  liberality  of  Hon.  Joseph  Hoxie,  of 
New  York,  who  had  visited  the  schools  a  few 
months  since,  and  whose  judicious  selections  were 
universally  commended,  and  his  generosity  fully 
appreciated.  These  children  will  never  forget 
this  occasion. 

Among  the  songs  by  the  school,  interspersed 
throughout  the  exercises,  —  and  every  child  sings 
in  these  schools,  —  was  the  following,  which,  aside 
from  its  intrinsic  merit  and  affecting  pathos,  was 
particularly  interesting  from  the  fact  that  just 
before  the  rebellion,  a  congregation  of  slaves 
attending  a  public  baptism  on  Sunday,  at  Savan 
nah,  were  arrested,  imprisoned,  and  punished 
with  thirty-nine  lashes  each,  for  singing  the  song 
of  spiritual  freedom  —  now  a  crime,  since  slavery 
has  become  a  "  divine  institution." 

SLAVE    SONO. 

My  mother  !     how  long  !       Mothers  !     how  long  ! 

mothers !  how  long  ! 
"Will  sinners  suffer  here  ? 
CHORUS.  —  It  won't  be  long  !  It  won't  be  long  !  It ! 

won't  be  long ! 
That  sinners  '11  suffer  here ! 

We'll  walk  do  golden  streets !  we'll  walk  de  golden 

streets  !  we'll  walk  de  golden  streets  ! 
Where  pleasures  never  die  ! 
CHORUS.  —  It  won't  be  long !  &c. 


My  brother !    do  sing  !    my  brother  !    do  sing !  my 

brother  !  do  sing  ! 
De  praises  ob  de  Lord  ! 
CHORUS.  —  It  won't  be  long  !  &c. 

Ve'l1   soon  be  free  !     we'll  soon  be  free  !     we'll  «OOH 

be  free  ! 

Dt  Lord  will  call  "is  hcrne  ! 
CHOR  rs.  —  My  brot.  er!  do  sing!  my  brother  !  do 

sing  !  my  bro;her  !  do  sing! 
De  praises  ob  de  Lord  ! 

And  these  verses,  so  expressive  and  pathetic, 
are  added  to  almost  indefinitely,  in  the  same  style, 
by  the  interested  smgt  i-s.  Now,  where  this  and 
the  hundred  kindred  songs  sung  by  the  slaves 
came  from,  or  who  amidst  the  darkness  of  slavery 
inditeth  them,  I  cannot  of  course  say ;  but  it  is 
easy  to  determine  the  source  of  the  inspiration. 
In  patient  faith  and  enduring  hope  these  "  songs 
of  Zion  "  have  been  sung  by  generations  of  these 
bondmen,  as  the  only  relef  for  bleeding  hearts 
and  lacerated  bodies ;  and  now  God  comes  in 
judgment  to  requite  the  nation  for  the  wrongs  in 
flicted  upon  his  oppressed  and  suffering  poor. 

Another  interesting  and  significant  event  con 
nected  with  the  people  here,  occurred  on  Monday. 
The  women  called  a  meeting  at  the  church,  to 
consider  the  propriety  of  presenting  Col.  Little- 
field's  regiment,  now  enlisting  here,  a  stand  of 
colors.  Like  the  great  dinner  and  celebration  on 
the  Fourth,  all  was  arranged  by  the  colored  wo 
men,  and  fifty  dollars  were  contributed  on  the 
spot,  by  these  poor  fugitives,  from  the  hard  earn 
ings  of  their  brief  freedom  —  contributed  to  pur 
chase  an  American  flag  to  be  borne  by  their  col 
ored  brethren  —  the  flag  which  had  been  to  them 
till  now  the  emblem  of  oppression !  They  cher 
ish  no  feelings  of  malignity  for  the  wrongs  which 
have  been  inflicted,  but  hail  the  new  era  of  free 
dom  with  joy,  and  rally  to  the  country's  standard 
with  pride  and  satisfaction,  now  that  the  country 
is  prepared  to  respect  their  humanity  and  protect 
their  rights.  Among  the  contributors  was  one 
slave  woman,  who  has  five  sons  and  a  husband 
in  the  army,  while  she  remains  at  home  to  care 
for  younger  children. 

Ned  Simons,  an  old  negro  belonging  to  the 
Dungenness  estate  of  Gen.  Nathan  Greene,  on 
Cumberland  Island,  and  who  was  left  by  the 
rebel  inheritor,  Nightingale,  on  his  evacuation  of 
the  place,  died  here  last  week,  at  the  house  of  the 
lady  teachers  of  the  schools,  who  have  kindly 
cared  for  him  since  their  arrival  here.  Ned  was 
over  one  hundred  years  old,  and  remembered 
Gen.  Washington  well,  and  was  one  of  the  num 
ber  who  assisted  in  carrying  him  through  th» 
streets  of  Savannah  on  his  last  visit  to  that  place. 
Old  Ned  took  a  lively  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the 
nation,  and  rejoiced  in  the  prospect  of  the  free 
dom  of  his  race.  He  was  deeply  intc  rested  in 
the  cause  of  education,  ar.d,  though  partially 
blind  with  age,  he  (.esired  himself  to  learn  to 
read.  On  being  asked  why  he  wished  to  learn, 
when  he  could  not  expect  to  live  much  longer,  he 
replied,  "As  the  tree  falls,  so  it  will  lay;"  his 
attainmeir.s  on  -*arth  would  contribute  to  highei 
attainmen  s  on  high ;  &n  1  the  .adies  yielded  to 


118 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


his  request,  and  during  the  last  months  of  his 
life,  he,  with  much  labor  and  effort,  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  his  letters  and  syllables.  Poor  old 
Ned  !  After  a  long  life  of  unrequited  toil  and 
sluvery,  he  has  "gone  where  the  good  negioes 
go  ;  "  where  no  slave-driver  will  ever  follow ; 
svhere  he  can  sing  "  de  praises  ob  de  Lord  "  in 
freedom  and  safety. 


INCIDENT  OF  FREDERICKSBURG.  —  While  the 
Union  cavalry  were  on  the  retreat,  one  of  the 
men  heard  the  clattering  of  a  horse's  hoofs  close 
in  his  rear,  and  supposing  he  was  pursued  by  a 
rebel,  put  spurs  to  his  horse  and  increased  his 
nace,  without,  looking  behind  him.  After  travel 
ling  at  a  rapid  rate  for  some  distance,  our  man 
turned  his  head,  and  discovered  that  the  pursuing 
horse  was  riderless.  The  sudden  shock  of  satis 
faction  was  so  great  that  he  fell  from  his  horse, 
and  both  horses  went  cantering  over  the  fields 
without  riders,  and  the  Union  cavalryman  took 
possession  of  his  unexpected  prize. 


A  SPARTAN  GISL.  —  A  young  daughter  of 
Baltimore  wrote  thus  to  a  schoolmate  arid  friend 
in  Charleston : 

BALTIMORE,  May  16,  1861. 

You  must  pardon  me  for  intruding  upon  you 
an  expression  of  my  Southern  sentiments.  I  so 
often  think  and  speak  of  you  with  the  rest  of  your 
friends,  and  I  envy  your  living  in  the  bosom  of  a 
home  which  we  are  denied.  You  cannot  see  as 
veil  as  we  how  miserably  our  happiness,  our  lib 
erty,  our  homes,  have  been  sold  by  traitors,  who 
vould  risk  all  this  to  be  pampered  minions  of  an 
Abe  Lincoln  and  his  party. 

I  can  scarcely  control  myself  while  I  am  writ 
ing  you.  I  am  boiling  over  with  indignation.  I 
once  prayed  for  peace ;  but  now,  next  to  begging 
the  blessing  of  God,  I  pray — "Hurrah  for  Jeff 
Davis  and  the  Southern  Confederacy !  "  and,  wo 
man  as  I  am,  if  I  knew  the  way,  I  would  walk 
out  of  Maryland,  until  my  foot  rested  upon  more 
Southern  soil.  You  are  happy  indeed,  and  have 
nothing  to  contend  with  in  comparison  with  us 
poor  Baltimorians,  or,  I  should  have  said,  Mary- 
landers  ;  for  here  there  are  hearts  that  beat  as 
warm  to  the  South,  as  ever  throbbed  at  the  guns 
of  Charleston.  We  are  not  conquered,  and  never 
will  be ;  and  God  grant  that  before  long  the  flag 
of  secession  may  wave  over  our  city  and  State. 
Then  we  can  run  to  the  embraces  of  friends  wrhom 
we  love,  though  we  know  them  not.  It  is  suf 
ficient  we  are  all  for  the  same  cause  —  Southern 
rights. 

It  Avould  amuse  you  exceedingly  if  you  could 
hear  the  women  talk.  Some  offer  themselves  as 
escorts  to  the  gentlemen,  who  find  it  difficult  to 
get  out  of  the  city ;  others  are  almost  ready  to 
hang  old  Hicks,  and,  but  for  the  men,  I  believe 
they  would ;  others,  and  I  among  the  number, 
are  ready  to  shoulder  our  muskets  to  defend  the 
just  and  holy  cause  of  the  South,  in  case  the 
men  fail. 


In  the  event  of  Maryland  doing  anything  that 
would  seem  hostile  to  the  South,  do  you,  and 
beg  ycur  friends  to,  keep  one  sympathizing 
thought  for  those  who  are  with  you  in  spirit  ;  for 

"  'Tis  home  where'er  the  heart  is." 

How  I  would  love  to  be  able  to  talk  to  you 
about  eld  and  new  times ! 


lNCiDE:s7TS  OF  BULL  HUN.  —  In  the  thickest 
of  the  contest,  a  secession  Colonel  of  cavalry  was 
knocked  out  of  his  saddle  by  a  ball  from  one  of 
our  riflemen.  '*  There  goes  old  Baker,  of  the 
Georgia  First!"  should  one  of  our  boys,  in 
hearing  of  his  chaplain.  "Who?"  queried  the 
parson.  "  Col.  Baker,  of  the  rebel  ranks,  has 
just  gone  to  his  long  home."  "Ah,  well,"  re 
plied  the  chaplain,  quietly,  "  the  longer  I  live,  the 
less  cause  I  have  to  find  fault  with  the  inscruta 
ble  acts  of  Divine  Providence."  An  unlucky  pri 
vate  in  one  of  the  New  York  regiments  was 
wounded  in  this  fight,  and  his  father  arrived  at 
the  hospital  just  as  the  surgeon  was  removing 
the  bull  from  the  back  of  his  shoulder.  The  boy 
lay  with  his  face  downwards  on  the  pallet.  "  Ah, 
my  poor  son,"  said  the  father,  mournfully,  "  I'm 
very  sorry  for  you.  But  it's  a  bad  place  to  be 
hit  in  — -  thus,  in  the  back."  The  sufferer  turned 
over,  bared  his  breast,  and  pointing  to  the  open 
ing  above  the  armpit,  exclaimed,  "  Father,  here's 
where  the  ball  went  in  !  " 

One  of  the  Zouaves  was  struck  by  a.  cannon 
shot,  which  tore  through  his  thigh,  close  to  his 
body,  nearly  severing  the  limb  from  the  trunk. 
As  he  fell,  he  drew  his  photograph  from  his 
breast,  and  said  to  his  nearest  comrade,  "  Take 
this  to  my  wife.  Tell  her  I  died  like  a  soldier, 
faithful  to  my  country's  cause,  and  the  good  old 
flag.  Good  by  !  "  and  he  died  where  he  fell. 

An  artillery-man  lay  on  the  ground,  nearly  ex 
hausted  from  loss  of  blood,  and  too  weak  to  get 
out  of  the  way  of  the  tramping  troops  and  horses 
that  flitted  about  him.  A  mounted  horseman  came 
towards  him,  when  he  raised  the  bleeding  stumps 
of  both  his  arms,  and  cried  out,  "Don't  tread  on 
me,  Cap'n  !  See !  both  hands  are  gone."  The 
trooper  leaped  over  him,  a  shell  broke  near  by, 
and  the  crashing  fragments  put  the  sufferer  quick 
ly  out  of  his  misery. 

A  rebel  —  one  of  the  Georgia  regiments  —  lay 
with  a  fearful  shot-wound  in  his  side,  which  tore 
out  several  of  his  ribs.  The  life-blood  of  the 
poor  fellow  was  fast  oozing  out,  when  one  of  our 
troops  came  dashing  forward,  from  out  of  the 
melee,  and  fell,  sharply  wounded,  close  beside 
him.  The  Georgian  recognized  his  uniform, 
though  he  was  fatally  hurt,  and  feebly  held  out 
his  hand.  "  We  came  into  this  battle,"  he  said, 
"  enemies.  Let  us  die  friends.  Farewell."  He 
spoke  no  more,  but  his  companion  in  disas 
ter  took  the  extended  hand,  and  escaped  to  re 
late  this  touching  fact. 

One  of  our  riflemen  had  his  piece  carried  away 
by  a  ball,  which  struck  it  cut  of  h  is  hands  just 
as  his  company  was  in  tho  Act  of  advancing  to 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


119 


storm  one  of  the  smaller  rebel  batteries.  Un 
harmed,  he  sprang  forward,  and  threw  himself 
down  on  his  face,  under  the  enemy's  guns.  A 
Zouave  lay  there,  wounded  and  bleeding,  out  of 
the  way  of  the  murderous  fire.  "  Lay  close  — 
lay  close,  old  boy,"  said  the  latter  to  the  new 
cuiner  ;  "  the  boys  '11  take  this  old  furnace  'n 
a  minute,  and  then  we'll  git  up  an'  give  the 
rebels  fits  ag'in."  Three  minutes  afterwards 
the  battery  was  carried,  and  the  two  soldiers  were 
in  the  thickest  of  the  fight  again. 

A  member  x)f  the  Second  Connecticut  regiment 
'  wrote  as  follows  : 

While  at  a  halt  t  was  my  lot  to  witness  a  very 
painful  scene.  I  vaptured  a  priscner,  (a  Ger 
man,)  belonging  tc  the  Eighth  South  Carolina 
regiment,  and  took  him  to  Major  Colburn  for  in 
structions  as  to  how  to  dispose  of  him.  The  pris 
oner  requested  one  privilege  as  his  last,  which 
the  Major  very  humanely  granted.  He  said  his 
brother  hy  a  short  distance  off,  in  a  dying  condi 
tion,  and  he  wished  to  see  him.  I  bade  him  lead 
the  way,  and  I  followed. 

He  took  me  to  an  old  log  hut  but  a  few  rods 
from  where  our  regiment  wras  halted.  On  the 
north  side,  in  the  shade,  we  found  the  wounded 
man.  The  prisoner  spoke  to  him  —  he  opened 
his  eyes  —  the  film  of  death  had  already  over 
spread  them,  and  the  tide  of  life  was  fast  ebbing. 
He  was  covered  with  blood,  and  the  swarms  of 
fiies  and  mosquitoes,  which  were  fattening  upon 
his  life's  blood,  indicated  that  he  had  lain  there 
for  come  time.  They  clasped  hands  together, 
muttered  a  few  words  in  the  German  language, 
Supplicating  the  Throne  of  Grace  for  their  fami 
lies  at  home,  kissed,  and  bade  each  other  a  final 
adieu ;  the  prisoner  remarking,  as  I  took  him  by 
the  arm  to  lead  him  away,  for  the  column  was 
moving,  "  Brother,  you  are  dying,  and  I  am  a 
prisoner."  The  man  was  shot  with  a  musket  ball 
in  the  back,  just  over  the  hip  ;  from  which  fact  I 
inferred  that  he  was  on  the  retreat  when  the 
deadly  ball  overtook  him. 


JACKSON. 

BY    HARRY   FLASH. 

NOT  'midst  the  lightning  of  the  stormy  fight, 
Not  in  the  rush  upon  the  Vandal  foe, 
Did  kingly  Death,  with  his  resistless  might, 
Lay  the  Great  Leader  low. 

fit*  warrior  soul  its  earthly  shackles  broke 
in  the  full  siinshitte  of  a  peaceful  town  ; 
When  all  the  storm  was  hushed,  the  trusty  oak 
That  propped  our  cause  went  down. 

Though  his  alone  the  blood  that  flecks  the  ground, 
Recording  all  his  grand,  heroic  deeds, 
Freedom  herself  is  writhing  with  the  wound, 
And  all  the  country  bleeds. 

He  entered  not  the  nation's  Promised  Land 
At  the  red  belching  of  the  cannon's  mouth, 
But  broke  the  House  of  Bondage  with  his  hand, 
The  Moses  of  the  South ! 


O,  gracious  God  !  not.  gainless  is  the  loss ; 
A  glorious  sunbeam  gilds  thy  sternest  frown; 
And  while  his  country  staggers  with  the  craw, 
He  rises  with  the  crown  ! 


INCIDENTS  OF  THE  BATTLE    OF   PEA-RIDGE. 

—  One  of  the  Ninth  Missouri  was  so  enraged,  on 
the  second  day  sf  the  battle,  at  seeing  his  brother, 
a  member  c  {'  t:.<?  same  regiment,  horribly  butch 
ered  and  scalped,  that  he  swore  vengeance  against 
the  Indians,  and  for  the  remainder  of  the  day  de 
voted  his  attention  entirely  to  them,  concealing 
himself  beliii-d  trees,  and  fighting  in  their  fash 
ion.  An  excellent  marksman,  he  would  often 
creep  along  the  ground  to  obtain  a  better  range; 
and  then  woe  to  the  savage  who  exposed  any 
part  of  his  body.  When  he  had  shot  an  Indian, 
he  would  shout  with  delicious  joy:  "  There  goes 

another  red-skin  to .  Hurrah  for  the  Stars 

and  Stripes,  and  all  Indians !  "  Though 

ever  following  the  wily  foe,  and  though  fired  upon 
again  and  again,  he  received  not  a  scratch;  and 
on  his  return  to  camp,  after  nightfall,  bore  with 
him  nine  scalps  of  aboriginal  warriors,  slain  by 
his  own  hand  to  avenge  his  brother's  death. 

A  German  soldier,  in  the  Thirty-fifth  Illinois, 
met  with  two  very  narrow  escapes* in  fifteen  min 
utes,  while  Gen.  Carr's  division  was  contending 
so  vigorously  against  the  enemy  in  Cross-Timber 
Hollew.  He  wore  earrings  for  the  benefit  of  his 
eyes,  and  a  musket-ball  cut  one  of  them  in  two, 
(the  broken  segments  still  remaining,)  and  passed 
into  the  shoulder  of  the  Second  Lit  utenant  of  the 
company.  Ten  minutes  after,  during  a  tempo 
rary  lull  in  the  strife,  while  the  German  was  re 
lating  the  story  of  his  escape,  a  bullet  whistled 
by,  carrying  the  other  ring  with  it,  and  abrading 
the  skin  of  his  ear,  without  doing  further  harm. 
Such  are  the  vagaries  of  fate,  and  the  mysteri 
ous  shifiings  on  the  battle-field  between  life  and 
death. 

One  of  the  Texas  soldiers  was  advancing  with 
his  bayonet  upon  a  Lieutenant  of  the  Ninth  Iowa, 
whose  sword  nad  been  broken.  The  officer  saw 
his  intention,  avoided  the  thrust,  fell  down  at  his 
foeman's  feet,  caught  hold  of  his  legs,  threw  him 
heavily  to  the  ground,  and  before  he  could  rise, 
drew  a  long  knii'e  from  his  adversary's  belt,  and 
buried  it  in  his  bosom.  The  Texan,  with  dying 
grasp,  seized  the  Lieutenant  by  the  hair,  and 
sank  down  lifeless,  bathing  the  brown  leaves  with 
his  blood.  So  firm  was  the  hold  of  the  nerveless 
hand,  that  it  was  necessary  to  cut  the  hair  from 
the  head  of  the  officer  before  he  could  be  freed 
from  the  corpse  of  the  foe. 

Presentiments  on  the  battle-field  often  prove 
prophetic.  Here  is  an  instance  :  While  Col.  Os- 
terhaus  was  gallantly  attacking  the  centre  of  the 
enemy,  on  the  second  day,  a  Sergeant  of  the 
Twelfth  Missouri  requested  the  Captain  of  his 
company  to  send  his  wife's  portrait,  which  he 
had  taken  from  his  bosom,  to  her  address  in  St. 
Louis,  with  his  dying  declaration  that  he  thought 
of  her  in  his  last  n  oments.  "  What  is  that  for  ?  " 
asked  the  Caj.  ta  in.  "  You  are  iiot  wounded — are 


120 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


you  ?  "  "  No,"  answered  the  Sergeant ;  "  but  I 
know  I  shall  be  killed  to-day.  I  have  been  in 
battle  before,  but  I  never  felt  as  I  do  now.  A  mo 
ment  ago  I  became  convinced  my  time  had  come  ; 
but  how,  I  cannot  tell.  Will  you  gratify  my  re 
quest?  Remember,  I  speak  to  you  as  a  dying 
man."  "  Certainly,  my  brave  fellow  ;  but  you  will 
live  to  a  good  old  age  with  your  wife.  Do  not 
grow  melancholy  over  a  fancy  or  a  dream."  "  You 
will  see,"  was  the  response.  The  picture  changed 
hands.  The  Sergeant  stepped  forward  to  '.he 
front  of  the  column,  and  the  Captain  perce:  -red 
him  no  more.  At  the  camp-fire  that  evening  the 
officer  inquired  for  the  Sergeant.  He  was  not 
present.  He  had  been  killed  three  hours  before 
by  a  grape-shot  from  one  of  the  enemy's  batte 
ries. 

While  the  fight  was  raging  about  Miser's  farm 
house,  on  the  ridge,  on  Friday  morning,  a  sol 
dier,  belonging  to  the  Twenty-fifth  Missouri,  and 
a  member  of  a  Mississippi  company,  became 
separated  from  their  commands,  and  found  each 
other  climbing  the  same  fence.  The  rebel  had 
one  of  those  long  knives  made  of  a  file,  which 
the  South  has  so  extensively  paraded,  but  so 
rarely  used,  and  the  Missourian  had  one  also, 
having  picked  it  up  on  the  field.  The  rebel 
challenged  his  enemy  to  a  fair,  open  combat  with 
the  knife,  intending  to  bully  him,  no  doubt ;  and 
the  challenge  was  promptly  accepted.  The  two 
removed  their  coats,  rolled  up  their  sleeves,  and 
began.  The  Mississippian  had  more  skill,  but 
his  opponent  more  strength,  and  consequently 
the  latter  could  not  strike  his  enemy,  while  he  re 
ceived  several  cuts  on  the  head  and  breast. 

The  blood  began  trickling  down  the  Unionist's 
face,  and,  running  into  his  eyes,  almost  blinded 
him.  The  Union  man  became  desperate,  for  he 
saw  the  secessionist  was  unhurt.  He  made  a 
feint ;  the  rebel  leaned  forward  to  arrest  the 
blow,  but  employing  too  much  energy,  he  could 
not  recover  himself  at  once.  The  Missourian 
perceived  his  advantage,  and  knew  he  could  not 
lose  it.  In  five  seconds  more  it  would  be  too 
late.  His  enemy,  glaring  at  him  like  a  wild  beast, 
was  on  the  eve  of  striking  again.  Another  feint ; 
another  dodge  on  the  rebel's  part ;  and  then  the 
blade  of  the  Missourian,  hurled  through  the  air, 
fell  with  tremendous  force  upon  the  Mississippi- 
an's  neck.  The  blood  spirted  from  the  throat, 
and  the  head  fell  over,  almost  entirely  severed 
from  the  body.  Ghastly  sight !  too  ghastly  even 
for  the  doer  of  the  deed  !  He  fainted  at  the 
spectacle,  weakened  by  the  loss  of  his  own  blood, 
and  was  soon  after  butchered  by  a  Seminole,  who 
saw  him  sink  to  the  earth. 

On  Saturday  morning,  a  body  of  three  or  four 
hundred  Indians  was  discovered  onvthe  north  side 
of  Sugar  Creek,  below  the  curve  of  a  hill,  firing 
from  thick  clusters  of  post-oaks  into  three  or  four 
companies  of  Arkansas  soldiers,  marching  in 
McCulloch's  division  towards  the  upper  part  of 
the  ridge.  The  Major  of  the  battalion,  seeing 
this,  hallooed  out  to  them  that  they  were  firing 
upon  their  own  friends,  and  placed  his  white  hand 
kerchief  on  his  sword,  and  waved  it  in  the  air. 


The  Indians  either  did  not  see,  or  did  not.  care 
for,  the  flag  of  truce,  but  poured  two  volleys  m'.o 
the  Arkansans,  killing,  among  others,  the  Major 
himself.  The  presumption  then  was,  that  the 
Cherokees  had  turned  traitors;  and  the  secession 
soldiers  were  immediately  ordered  to  charge  upon 
them.  They  did  so,  and  for  an  hour  a  terrible 
fight  ensued  among  the  oaks  between  them  and 
their  late  savige  allies,  in  which  it  is  stated  some 
two  hundred  and  fifty  were  killed  and  wounded 
on  both  sides.  The  Indians  suffered  severely,  as 
they  were  driven  from  their  hiding-places,  and 
shot  and  butchered  without  mercy.  A  person 
who  witnessed  this  part  of  the  fight  says  it  was 
the  most  bloody  and  desperate  that  occurred  on 
the  field,  being  conducted  with  the  most  reckless 
and  brutal  energy  by  the  two  parties,  of  whom  it 
would  be  difficult  to  say  which  was  the  most  bar 
barous.  On  the  dead  savages  were  found,  in 
some  instances,  two  or  three  scalps  fastened  to 
their  belts  by  thongs  of  leather. 


AN  ENERGETIC  WOMAN.  —  A  correspondent 
writing  from  Jasper  county,  Mississippi,  gave  the 
following : 

Mrs.  Simmons  a  widow  lady  of  Jasper  county, 
Mississippi,  made,  during  one  year  of  the  war, 
(1863),  300  bushels  of"  corn,  100  bushels  of 
potatoes,  with  peas  and  pinders  enough  to  fatton 
her  hogs.  She  did  the  ploughing  herself,  and 
did  it  with  an  old  wind-broken  pony.  Her  two 
little  daughters,  aged  twelve  and  fourteen  yeaia. 
did  the  hoeing.  She  also  made  100  pounds  of 
tobacco.  After  her  crop  was  finished,  she  did 
weaving  enough  to  buy  her  salt,  and  a  pair  of 
cards,  and  had  some  money  left. 


INCIDENTS  OF  BULL  RUN.  —  A  Southern  writer, 
in  recounting  the  incidents  of  the  battle  of  Bull 
liun,  says  : 

Our  regiment  by  this  time  had  come  in  reach 
of  the  enemy's  cannon.  The  balls  fell  before  and 
behind  us,  but  no  damage  was  done.  We  now 
threw  our  knapsacks  away  to  engage  in  a  hand- 
to-hand  fight.  We  ran  to  the  point  at  which  the 
tire  seemed  to  be  most  severe.  Advancing  in 
front  of  the  cannon,  we  got  within  musket-shot 
of  our  enemy,  and  fell  to  the  ground,  having  a 
slight  mound  to  protect  us.  Had  we  been  stand 
ing,  scarcely  one  would  have  been  left.  Twice 
did  the  cannon-balls  throw  dirt  upon  me,  and 
m  ;sket-balls  whistled  by  the  hundred  within  a 
few  inches  of  my  head.  Several  of  oi.r  regiment 
(18th  Virginia)  were  killed,  but  the  exact  number 
I  know  not.  Young  Hatchett  was  wounded,  but 
not  seriously,  the  ball  entering  his  leg.  Men 
would  raise  their  heads  a  few  inch.es  from  the 
ground  to  peep,  and  several  times  were  shot  in 
that  position.  Men  fell  on  my  right  ar,d  left. 
Wre  remained  about  ten  minutes  receiving  the 
enemy's  fire,  arid  were  not  allowed  to  return  fire, 
The  command  to  fire  came  at  last.  We  rose  and 
fired  with  deadly  effect  apon  our  foes.  We  rushed 
forward  to  the  top  of  die  hill,  and  fired  again  5 


In  Status  Quo.— Page  134. 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


also  a  third  time.  Now,  for  the  first  time,  the  foe 
began  to  retire  in  a  run,  and  in  great  disorder.  I 
think  that  a  great  majority  of  the  regiment  upon 
which  we  fired  were  killed.  No  boasting,  —  God 
forbid  !  to  him  all  praise  is  due.  At  our  approach 
the  enemy  left  an  excellent  rifled  battery,  manned 
by  regulars,  in  our  hands.  They  fought  until  all 
their  horses  were  killed,  and  nearly  every  man. 
We  were  now  left  victors  of  the  field,  and  started 
in  pursuit  of  the  foe.  We  followed  them  a  mile 
or  so,  and  were  then  brought  back  within  a  mile 
of  Manassas,  marching  at  ir'ght  a  distance  of  six 
or  seven  miles.  The  fight  lasted  eight  hours  — 
from  nine  to  five.  I  cannot  describe  the  horrors 
of  the  fight.  Noise  and  confusion  of  many  kinds 
prevailed  —  the  firing  of  cannon,  the  discharge 
of  musketry,  the  whizzing  of  balls,  the  bursting 
of  bombs,  the  roar  of  artillery,  the  tramp  of 
horses,  the  advance  of  infantry,  the  shouts  of  the 
conquering,  the  groans  of  the  dying,  the  shrieks 
of  the' wounded,  large  numbers  of  the  dead  lying 
upon  the  ground,  the  carrying  of  the  wounded  by 
scores,  and  all  enveloped  in  a  dark  cloud  of 
smoke,  —  all  go  to  make  one  vast  spectacle  of  hor 
rors  such  as  I  never  wish  to  see  again,  or  hear. 
Many  were  the  dead  and  wounded  over  which  I 
was  forced  to  pass,  both  of  our  men  and  of  our 
foes.  0,  how  I  wanted  to  aid  them,  but  could 
not !  The  fight  was  desperate.  The  enemy 
succeeded  in  carrying  off  hundreds  of  their  dead, 
but  left  many  behind.  Our  cavalry,  who  pursued 
them  in  the  direction  of  Centreville,  report  the 
road  stiewn  with  dead  and  wounded. 

Our  enemies  are  not  cowards.  Many  men 
were  found  with  bayonets  in  them,  some  side  by 
side,  each  with  his  bayonet  in  the  other.  Our 
enemy  is  said  to  have  run  generally  when  we 
advanced  with  the  bayonet.  Certainly  this  was 
the  worst  of  the  fight.  Gen.  Beauregard,  who 
commanded  in  person,  told  us  that  he  would 
depend  principally  upon  the  bayonet.  Gen.  B. 
cheered  us  as  we  advanced,  and  our  loud  cheers  in 
return  were  said  to  have  frightened  the  euerny. 


THE  BOY  SOLDIER.  —  When  the  Tenth  Indiana 
was  recruited  in  the  fall  of  1861,  they  took  for 
their  drummer  a  little  fellow,  named  Johnny 
McLaughlin,  whose  parents  reside  at  Lafayette, 
Indiana.  He  was  then  a  little  over  ten  years  of 
age,  and  beat  his  tattoo  at  the  head  of  the  regi 
ment  for  several  months  of  active  service. 

At  Donelson  and  at  Shiloh,  when  the  drum 
beats  were  drowned  in  the  deeper  roar  of  battle, 
Jonnny  laid  down  his  sticks,  and  taking  the  mus 
ket  and  cartridge  box  from  a  dead  soldier,  went 
out  to  the  front,  a?id  fought  as  bravely  as  the 
stoutest  soldier  in  the  regiment.  Escaping  unhurt 
in  each  of  these  engagements,  he  was  enamoured 
of  suldiei  life,  and  sought  a  transfer  from  the 
infantry  to  Col.  Jacob's  Kentucky  cavalry.  Being 
favorably  impressed  with  the  spirit  and  zeal  of 
the  young  warrior,  Col.  Jacob  put  him  into  his 
best  company,  and  mounted  him  on  a  goca  horse. 
At  the  engagement  at  Richmond,  which  soon 
followed,  in  the  summer  of  18(32,  he  fought  with 


as  much  coolness  and  skill  as  any  of  his  company, 
handling  his  sabre,  revolver,  and  revolving  rifle 
with  the  address  of  a  veteran. 

In  October  following,  he  was  in  another  battle, 
at  Perry ville,  where  he  received  his  first  wound, 
a  ball  passing  through  the  leg  above  the  knee. 

In  this  engagement  Col.  Jacob,  with  a  part 
of  his  command,  was  temporarily  separated  from 
the  greater  part  of  the  regiment,  and  while  thus 
cut  off  was  attacked  by  a  largely  superior  force 
of  the  enemy,  led  by  a  Major.  "  Col.  Jacob  was 
deliberating  for  a  moment  on  the  demand  to  sur 
render,  when  the  little  hero  drew  his  pistol  and 
shot  the  Major  in  the  mouth,  killing  him  instantly. 
A  few  moments  of  confusion  and  delay  followed 
in  the  rebel  regiment,  during  which  Col.  Jacob 
and  his  men  escaped. 

A  few  weeks  after,  he  was  engaged  in  a  skirmish 
with  some  of  John  Morgan's  men,  who  were 
raiding  through  Kentucky,  and  the  fighting  was 
severe. 

Johnny  was  set  upon  by  a  strapping  fellow, 
who  gave  him  a  pretty  severe  cut  on  the  leg  with 
his  sabre,  and  knocked  him  off  his  horse.  A 
moment  after,  another  rebel  seized  him  by  the 
collar,  and  exclaimed :  "  We've  got  one  d — d  little 
Yankee,  anyhow."  The  little  Yankee  did  not  see 
it  in  that  light,  however,  and  quickly  drawing  his 
pistol,  shot  his  captor  dead,  arid  a  moment  after 
the  rebels  were  routed,  and  he  escaped  capture. 

As  he  was  going  back  to  Indiana  on  furlough 
to  give  his  wound  time  to  heal,  he  was  stopped 
at  one  point  by  a  provost  guard,  and  his  pass 
demanded. 

"O,"  said  he, "  the  Colonel  iidrJlghreme  one,  but 
just  told  me  to  go  along  with  the  rest.  But," 
added  the  little  soldier,  showing  his  wound, "  here's 
a  pass  the  rebs  gave  me  ;  ain't  that  good  enough  for 
a  little  fellow  _ike  me?",  The  guard 


thought  it 


His  wound  proved  quite  serious,  and,  much  to 
his  surprise,  and  against  his  wishes,  he  received 
his  discharge  in  consequence  of  this  and  his 
extreme  youthfulness.  Not  relishing  civil  life  as 
long  as  the  hostilities  lasted,  he  applied  at  a 
recruiting  office,  but  the  condition  of  hi.s  leg  ex 
cluded  him. 

Nothing  daunted,  however,  he  sought  and 
obtained  an  interview  with  the  President,  who  ca 
hearing  the  story  of  the  boyish  veteran,  gave  a 
special  order  for  his  enlistment. 

He  had  now  made  up  his  mind  to  follow  the 
life  of  a  soldier,  and  joined  the  regular  army  of 
the  United  States  as  a  bugler  in  the  cavalry  ser 
vice,  and  makes  as  fine-looking,  neat,  and  obedi 
ent  a  little  dragoon  as  there  is  in  the  army. 


JOAN  OF  ARC  IN  THE  WEST.  —  At  a  flag- 
raising  at  North  Plato,  Kane  County,  Illinois, 
after  the  Stars  and  Stripes  had  been  duly  hoisted, 
the  assembly  adjourned  to  the  village  ckuveh, 
where  some  speeches  were  made  by  patriotic 
gentlemen,  and  an  opportunity  was  offered  for 
young  men  to  come  forwai  1  and  enlist,  the 
company  at  Plato  not  being  juite  full.  Not  a 


122 


X.NECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


man  went  up  !  This  aroused  the  patriotism  as 
well  as  the  "  dander  "  of  the  village  schoolmis 
tress,  who,  with  many  other  ladies,  was  present, 
and  she  walked  boldly  forward  to  the  secretary's 
desk,  and  headed  the  muster-roll  with  a  name 
rendered  illustrious  as  having  been  affixed  to  the 
Di-olaration  of  Independence,  with  the  prenomen 
Mary.  She  was  followed  by  another  lady,  and 
lo,  and  behold !  the  Plato  company  was  not  long 
in  filling  its  ranks !  The  muster-roll,  bearing  the 
names  of  the  spirited  young  vivandieres,  has  been 
sent  to  headquarters,  and  the  company  accepted 
by  thn  "  powers  that  be."  After  that  day  four 
flag-raisings  came  off  in  that  portion  of  Kane 
county,  and  "  Mary  "  and  "  May  "  —  the  soldier 
girls  —  in  uniforms  of  white,  red,  and  blue,  at 
tended  all  of  them,  at  the  request  of  the  officers, 
marching,  as  pioneers,  at  the  head  of  their  com 
pany.  The  Captain  said  he  could  not  get  along 
without  them  ;  and  after  the  flag  had  been  sent 
up,  he  allowed  them  to  fire  each  three  guns  in 
honor  of  the  Union,  the  Stars  and  Stripes. 
Much  of  the  success  of  the  recruiting  service,  and 
the  patriotic  fire  in  old  Kane,  was  attributed  to 
the  gallant  conduct  and  bright  eyes  of  these 
young  ladies. 


THE   CONFEDERATE   PRIMER. 

At  Nashville's  fall 
,   We  sinned  all. 

At  Number  Ten 
We  sinned  again. 

Thy  purse  to  mend, 
Old  Floyd  attend. 

Abe  Lincoln  bold 
Our  ports  doth  hold. 

Jeff  Davis  tells  a  lie, 
And  so  must  you  and  I. 

Isham  did  mourn 
His  case  forlorn. 

Brave  Pillow's  flight 
Is  out  of  sight. 

Buell  doth  play 
And  after  slay. 

Yon  oak  will  be  the  gallows-tree 
Of  Richmond's  fallen  majesty. 


A  LITERARY  SOLDIER.  —  Adam  Badeau,  a  lit 
erary  man  and  journalist  of  New  York,  volun 
teered,  at  Port  Royal,  to  act  in  any  capacity  which 
might  prove  useful,  when  Gen.  Sherman  contem 
plated  an  advance  upon  Savannah,  in  January, 
1S02.  He  was  immediately  appointed  volunteer 
A.i'1  <tn  Gen.  Sherman's  staff,  and  served  in  this 
capacity,  without  either  rank  or  pay,  till  Gen. 
Shyrruin  was  relieved.  The  preparations  for  the 
*.i?ge  of  Fort  Pulaski  having  then  been  com 
pleted,  lie  volunteered  and  served  as  Aid  to  Gen. 


Gillmore,  who  commanded  the  United  Stales 
forces  during  the  bombardment  of  that  woik. 
He,  with  Gen.  Gillmore,  was  the  first  10  enter 
Fort  Pulaski,  being  sent  forward  to  meet  th« 
rebel  oificer  who  approached  on  Gen.  Gillmore's 
landing  after  the  llag  of  the  fort  was  struck. 

{  The  rebel  v,  as  Capt.  Simms,  late  editor  of  the 
Savannah  Republican.  Capt.  Simms'  first  words 
were  civ:'.:  'I  trust,  sir,  you  will  pardon  the  de 
lay  that  has  occurred  in  receiving  you  ;  we  thought 
you  would  .and  at  the  other  wharf."  After  this, 
Capt.  Simms  wished  to  conduct  Mr.  Badeau  to 
the  commandant  of  the  fort,  but  Badea  .  requested 
Siinms  rather  to  go  to  Gen.  Gillmore.  This  was 
acceded  to,  and  after  a  few  words  of  parley,  the 
three,  accompanied  also  by  Col.  Rust  of  a  Maine 
regiment,  entered  the  fort;  they  were  received  at 
the  portcullis  by  Col.  Olmstead,  the  commandant, 
who  conducted  them  first  to  his  quarters,  and  af 
terwards  to  inspect  the  works,  pointing  out  the 
havoc  which  had  been  made  by  the  National  bat 
teries.  In  an  interview  of  an  hour's  duration 
between  the  two  commanders,  the  terms  of  the 
capitulation  were  arranged.  Gen.  Gillmore  and 
Col.  Rust  returned  to  Tybee  Island,  and  Mr.  Ba 
deau  was  left  to  introduce  a  second  party  of  Na 
tional  officers  sent  to  receive  the  swords  of  the 
rebels.  The  ceremony  of  surrender  took  place 
in  one  of  the  casemates  (used  by  Cci.  Olmsteal 
for  his  own  quarters)  at  about  dark.  Five  Na 
tional  officers,  besides  Badeau,  were  present: 
Maj.  Halpine,  Adj. -Gen.  for  Gen.  Hunter,  Capt. 
S.  H.  Pelouze,  Capt.  Ely,  Lieut.  O'Rorke, 
and  Lieut.  Irwin  of  the  Wabash.  Each  rebel,  as 
he  laid  his  sword  on  the  table,  announced  his 
name  and  rank.  The  Colonel  said,  "I  yield  my 
sword,  but  I  trust  I  have  not  disgraced  it ;"  oth 
ers  made  remarks  less  felicitous1.  After  the  cer 
emony,  the  National  officers  wrere  invited  to 
supper  by  these  prisoners,  and  then  returned  to 
Tybee  Island.  Badeau,  however,  remained  all 
night  in  Fort  Pulaski,  sleeping  in  the  room  with 
three  rebel  officers,  and  even  sharing  the  bed  of 
one  of  the  hospitable  prisoners.  No  Union  troops 
arrived  in  the  fort  until  about  midnight,  so  that 
his  sojourn  among  those  who  had  so  lately  been 
his  enemies,  had  a  dash  of  romance  about  it.  He 
was  treated,  however,  with  the  greatest  courtesy, 
the  rebels  apologizing  for  the  fare  he  was  offered 
by  saying :  "  You  see  to  what  you  have  reduced 
us."  Hominy,  molasses,  hard  bread,  and  pork 
were  served  for  supper  and  breakfast ;  and  lor 
variety,  sweet  oil  was  used  instead  of  molasses 
The  conversation  was  animated,  and  often  touched 
on  politics. 

Immediately  afterwards,  Mr.  Badeau  was  rf  c- 
ommended  to* the  President,  by  Gen.  Hunter,  ibr 
a  captaincy,  and  made  bearer  of  despatches  to 
the  Government,  announcing  the  fall  of  Pulaski. 
He  had  also  the  honor  of  being  mentioned  in  Gen. 
Gillmore's  formal  report  of  the  operations.  The 
President  accordingly  at  once  appointed  him  an, 

I  additional  Aid  to  Maj.-Gen.  Halleck,  with  the  ranis 
of  Captain  in  the  regular  army. 

Capt.    Badeau  was  assigned  to  duty  with  hia 

|  old  chief.  Brig.-Gen.  Sherman,  served  -inder  hiso 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


123 


during  the  siege  of  Corinth,  and  in  the  subsequent 
pursuit  of  Beauregard  in  Mississippi.  He  was  after 
wards  ordered  to  the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  but 
now  (1865)  occupies  a  position  on  the  staff  of 
Lieut. -Gen.  Grant.  

MlNNESOTIANS  AT  FREDERICKSBURG. —  The 
following  incident  in  the  terrible  battle  at  Fred- 
ericksburg  was  related  by  Col.  Morgan :  Maj.- 
Gen.  Howard,  who  commanded  the  extreme  right, 
ordered  a  strong  line  of  pickets  to  be  formed,  as 
a  line  of  battle,  by  Col.  Morgan,  in  command  of 
heavy  detachments  from  five  regiments,  with  the 
Minnesota  First,  as  usual,  on  the  extreme  :ig!  c 
and  most  exposed  place.  The  morning  da  vned 
—  the  rebels  opened  with  shot  and  shell,  plop»h- 
ing  up  the  ground  and  covering  the  line  with 
heaps  of  earth.  It  was  a  very  hot  place,  and 
three  of  the  regiments  broke,  and  run  like  sheep. 
Gens.  Howard  and  Sully  (Sully,  their  old  Colonel, 
whom  they  loved  dearly)  were  watching  them. 
"  There,"  said  Maj.-Gen.  Howard,  —  "  there,  they 
don't  stand  fire  —  see  them  run."  "  Not  a  bit 
of  it,"  says  Gen.  Sully  ;  "  my  old  Minnesota  don't 
run."  Gen.  Howard  fixed  his  glass  on  them. 

"  No  —  no  —  no,  sir ;  they  —  your  old  regiment 
don't  flinch  a  hair  —  they  don't  run."  Sully,  rais 
ing  himself  up  to  his  full  height,  exclaimed,  in  his 

soft  language,  "  Who  in ever  supposed  they 

would  run  ?  They  are  not  of  the  running  breed." 
Gen,  Howard  complimented  them  as  the  most  reli 
able,  the  bravest  regiment  in  the  division,  if  not 
in  the  army.  

ANECDOTE  OF  STONEWALL  JACKSON.  —  At  a 
souncil  of  generals  early  in  the  war,  one  remarked 

that  Major was  wounded,  and  would  not  be 

able  to  perform  a  duty  that  it  was  proposed  to 
assign  him.  "Wounded!"  said  Jackson.  "If 
it  really  is  so,  I  think  it  must  have  been  by  an 
accidental  discharge  of  his  duty." 


A  SOLDIER  WITH  THE  RIGHT  SPIRIT,  —  Henry 
W.  Camp,  Adjutant  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut  vol 
unteers,  was  made  prisoner  by  the  rebels  at  Morris 
Island,  off  Charleston,  in  July,  1863.  After  ten 
months'  confinement  in  the  jails  of  Charleston, 
Columbia,  and  Richmond,  he  reached  his  home  in 
Hartford  on  the  7th  of  May,  being  released  on 
parole.  In  five  days  the  news  reached  him  of 
his  exchange  ;  and  though  lie  had  a  leave  of  twenty 
days,  he  started  at  once  for  hi"  regiment  in  But 
ler's  department,  above  Norfolk,  on  the  James. 
On  reaching  Bermuda  Hundreds  he  learned  that 
the  Tenth  Connecticut  had  gone  to  the  front,  and 
was  then  probably  engaged  with  the  enemy. 
Pressing  forward  as  speedily  as  possible,  he  met 
the  retreating  column  of  the  Eighteenth  corps  fall 
ing  buck  from  the  attack  of  Beauregard.  They  told 
him  that  the  road  by  which  he  could  rea  jh  his 
regiment  was  already  in  possession  of  the  en 
emy,  and  that  an  attempt  to  proceed  under  the 
circumstances  would  only  throw  him  again  into  a 
rebel  prison.  Nothing  dauntf  -i,  however,  he  kept 
on,  and  about  ten  o'clock  in  in*  morning  reached 


his  regiment  just  as  it  was  coming  out  of  one 
brisk  skirmish,  and  was  about  advancing  to  an 
other  attack. 

Within  fifteen  minutes  he  was  at  his  place,  un  • 
der  fire,  and  bearing  himself  gallantly,  as  always. 

His  conduct  excited  the  warmest  admiration 
on  the  part  of  the  regime.it.  Notwithstanding 
tie  engrossing  excitement  of  the  battle,  officers 
and  men  haLed  his  return  with  cheer  upon  cheer 
in  the  very  face  of  the  enemy,  and  with  the  Minie 
balls  flying  thickly  around  them. 

Col.  1'laisled  commanding  the  brigade,  jcii.ed 
in  the  greeting  g'.ven  1  »  the  beloved  officer  whose 
conduct  was  so  praisew  jrtby.  and  even  Gen.  Terry, 
the  division  commander,  swung  his  hat  in  the 
general  che^rir.g,  and  rode  forward  to  welcome  in 
person  the  returning  adjutant  to  his  old  command. 

How  much  richer  in  true  honor  and  pleasure 
that  manly  greeting  by  the  regiment  in  battle 
line  and  under  fire,  than  all  the  flattery  and  delight 
that  °  prolonged  furlough  in  his  native  city  could 
have  afforded  him  !  

SPIRIT  OF  THE  WOMEN  OF  VIRGINIA.  —  A 

lady  of  Clarke  County,  Virginia,  whose  husband 
had  been  during  two  years  in  Yankee  prisons,  and 
in  exile  from  his  home,  and  whose  son  (an  only 
child,  in  his  18th  year)  was  then  in  some  North 
ern  Bastile,  as  a  prisoner  of  war,  wrote  to  her 
husband  as  follows  :  "  If  it  were  possible,  I  should 
like  you  to  be  at  home  ;  but  I  do  not  want  you 
or  O.  ever  to  give  up  the  struggle  for  liberty  and 
our  rights.  If  your  salary  fails  to  pay  your 
board,  go  at  something  else  for  the  Confederacy  ; 
I  will  try  and  contrive  a  way  to  clothe  you.  I 
would  love  to  be  with  you  ;  but  do  not  expect  it 
now,  in  these  times.  1  wish  O.  was  at  home  — 
1  mean  in  his  company ;  but  I  would  rather  he 
would  be  held  a  prisoner  for  the  war,  than  have 
him  at  hmie  dodging  his  duty,  as  some  do.  I 
am  proud  to  think  every  man  in  my  littte  family 
is  in  the  army.  If  I  have  but  two,  they  are  at 
their  post  of  duty." 

How  GEN.  BANKS'  ARMY  WAS  SAVED.— 
Charley  H.  Greenleaf,  of  the  Fifth  New  York 
cavalry,  made  the  following  statement  in  a  let 
ter  to  his  parents :  "  You  have  probably  heard 
of  the  three  days'  fighting  from  Strasburg  and 
Front  Royal  to  Martinsburg.  Our  company 
and  company  B  were  ordered  to  Front  Royal,  in 
the  mountains,  twelve  miles  from  Strasburg, 
last  Friday,  and  when  we  got  within  two  miles 
of  our  destination  we  heard  cannonading.  The 
Major  ordered  the  baggage  to  stop,  and  our  two 
companies  dashed  on,  and  found  several  com 
panies  of  our  infantry  and  two  pieces  of  artillery 
engaged  with  several  thousand  of  the  enemy. 
Just  as  we  arrived  on  the  field,  Col.  P.'irem,  who 
had  command  of  our  forces,  rode  up  to  me,  arid 
ordered  me  to  take  one  man  and  the  two  fastest 
horses  in  our  company,  and  ride  for  dear  life  to 
Gen.  Banks'  headquarters  in  Strasburg  for  re- 
enforcements.  The  direct  road  to  Strasburg 
was  occupied  by  the  enemy;  so  I  was  obliged  to 
ride  round  by  aiiot  rer,  oevent*  en  miles.  I 


124 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,   AND   INCIDENTS. 


rode  the  seventeen  miles  in  fifty-five  minutes. 
Gen.  Banks  didn't  seem  to  think  it  very  serious, 
hut  ordered  one  regiment  of  infantry  and  two 
pieces  of  artillery  oft'.  I  asked  Gen.  Banks  for 
a  fresh  horse  to  rejoin  my  company,  and  he  gave 
me  the  best  horse  that  I  ever  rode,  and  I  started 
bock.  I  came  out  on  the  Front  Royal  turnpike, 
about  two  miles  this  side  of  where  I  left  our 
men.  Saw  two  men  standing  in  the  road,  and 
their  horses  standing  by  the  fence.  I  supposed 
they  were  our  pickets.  They  didn't  halt  me  ;  so 
I  asked  them  if  they  were  pickets.  They  said, 
"No."  Says  I,  "  Who  are  you  ?  "  "  We  are  part 
of  Gen.  Jackson's  staff."  I  supposed  that  they 
were  only  joking.  I  laughed,  and  asked  them 
where  Jackson  was.  They  said  he  was  in  the 
advance.  I  left  them  and  rode  to  Front  Royal, 
till  I  overtook  a  soldier,  and  asked  him  what  regi 
ment  he  belonged  to.  He  said  he  belonged  to 
the  Eighth  Louisiana.  I  asked  how  large  a  force 
they  had,  and  the  reply  was,  "  Twenty  thousand." 
I  turned  back  and  drew  my  revolver,  expecting 
either  a  desperate  fight  or  a  Southern  jail  ;  but 
the  officers  in  the  road  didn't  stop  me,  and  I  was 
lucky  enough  not  to  meet  any  of  their  pickets. 
But  if  it  was  not  a  narrow  escape,  then  I  don't 
know  what  is.  When  I  got  out  of  the  enemy's 
lilies  I  rode  as  fast  as  the  horse  could  carry  me 
to  Gen.  Banks,  and  reported  what  I  had  seen 
and  heard.  He  said  I  had  saved  the  army.  In 
less  than  an  hour  the  whole  army  was  in  motion 
towards  Winchester.  After  I  left  Front  Royal 
to  take  tl'.e  first  despatch  to  Strasburg,  our  two 
lompanies  of  cavalry,  who  \vere  covering  the 
rs^roat  of  infantry  and  baggage,  were  attacked 
or.  three  sides  by  about  3000  of  the  enemy's  cav 
alry.  Our  boys  fought  like  devils,  till  nearly 
half  of  them  were  killed  or  wounded,  and  then 
retreated  to  Wind  ester.  Capt.  White,  William 
Watson,  Henry  Appleby,  and  nine  or  ten  men 
of  our  company,  are  killed  or  taken.  William 
Marshall  is  all  right,  except  a  slight  sabre  wound 
in  the  shoulder.  We  had  a  battle  at  Winchester, 
got  licked,  and  retreated.  Our  company  and 
company  E  were  ordered  to  cover  a  Parrott  gun 
battery  and  bring  up  the  rear.  We  rode  all  the 
way  from  Winchester  to  Martinsburg  with  can 
non  shot  and  shell  flying  around  us  faster  than  it 
did  at  Bull  Run.  We  crossed  the  Potomac  last 
night.  It  was  so  dark  that  we  couldn't  find  the 
ford,  and  had  to  swim  our  horses  across.  We 
have  got  our  batteries  in  position  on  this  side, 
and  the  rear  of  the  army  is  crossing." 


IN  STATU  Quo.  — "  Joe,"  said  a  soldier  to  a 
comrade,  who  was  reading  the  morning  paper, 
"  where  the  devil 's  Statu  Quo  ?  I  see  this  paper 
gays  our  army  's  in  Statu  Quo." 

"  Duimo  !  "  replied  Joe  —  "reckon  she  must 
be  the  east  fork  of  the  Chickamorgy  ! " 


BRAVERY  OF  CAPT.  W.  N.  GREEN.  —  Among 
the  interesting  incidents  of  the  battle  of  Chan- 
celiorsville,  that  <;f  the  capture  of  the  colors  of 


the  Twelfth  :egiment  Georgia  Volunteers,  dur 
ing  the  batt-t;  of  Sunday,  May  3.  1863,  by  Capt. 
William  N.  Gre'"i,  commanding  the  color  com- 
7/any  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Se  ond  regiment 
N.  Y.  S.  V.,  is  worthy  of  commemoi  ition. 

After  several  days'  severe  fighting  Between  the 
United  States  fovces,  under  Gen.  Hooker,  and  the 
Confederate  fences,  under  Gen.  Lee,  the  morning 
:f  Sunday,  May  3,  1803,  found  the  One  Hun 
dred  and  Second  regiment  N.  Y.  S.  V.,  forming 
a  portion  of  the  Twelfth  Army  Corps,  lying  in 
the  trenches  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  Federal 
forces. 

The  battle  commenced  at  five  A.  M.,  and  the 
One  Hundred  and  Second  were  for  several  hours 
subjected  to  a  heavy  fire  from  a  battery  of  the 
rebels,  situated  on  their  right  flank;  at  ten  A.  M., 
the  enemy's  infantry  attacked  the  brigade  of 
which  the 'One  Hundred  and  Second  N.  Y.  S.  V. 
was  a  part,  and  succeeded  in  driving  the  regi 
ment,  which  was  on  the  right  of  the  One  Hun 
dred  and  Second,  away  in  confusion  ;  advancing 
up  the  trenches,  the  enemy  charged  the  One 
Hundred  and  Second,  and  were  repulsed.  Soon 
after,  the  One  Hundred  and  Second  was  charged 
upon  by  the  Twelfth  regiment  Georgia  Volunteers, 
and  immediately  the  men  of  each  regiment  were 
engaged  in  hand-to-hand  conflicts. 

The  company  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Second 
N.  Y.  S.  V.,  which  Capt.  Green  commanded,  wa?. 
especially  singled  out  by  the  enemy  for  a  fierce 
struggle,  as  they  had  charge  of  the  National  col 
ors  ;  the  Captain  commanding  the  Twelfth  regj- 
ment  Georgia  Volunteers  rushed  forward  at  the 
head  of  his  men,  and  made  a  jump  light  at  Capt. 
Green,  calling  out  to  him,  "  Surrender  !  "  to  which 
Capt.  Green  replied,  "Not  yet ;  "  then  seizing  the 
rebel  Captain  by  the  throat  with  his  left  hand,  he 
flung  him  violently  to  the  ground,  by  tripping 
him  up,  and  wrenched  his  sword  from  his  grasp. 
Capt.  Green  was  then  seized  from  behind  by  an 
ambulance-sergeant  of  the  rebels,  who,  putting 
his  knee  in  the  middle  of  his  back,  flung  him  on 
the  ground.  Capt.  Green  sprung  to  his  feet,  and 
putting  both  swords  (his  own  and  the  rebel  Cap 
tain's)  into  his  left  hand,  he  knocked  the  ambu 
lance-sergeant  down  with  his  right  hand. 

Capt.  Green  then  sprang  forward  some  six 
feet,  and  grasped  with  his  right  hand  the  flag 
staff  of  the  rebel  battle-flag,  which  the  color-ser 
geant  was  holding,  and  said  to  the  color-  bearer, 
"  Give  me  that  flag,"  at  the  same  time  pulling 
the  flag-staff  away  from  the  Sergeant ;  lie  then 
tore  the  flag  from  the  flag-staff,  °.nd  flung  the 
staff  over  ihe  parapet,  putting  the  flag  inside  the 
breast  of  his  fatigue-jacket,  Capt.  Green  Ihen 
went  to  two  rebel  privates,  who  were  a  few  feet  off, 
and  commanded  them  to  give  up  their  muskets, 
which  they  did.  Taking  the  muskets,  he  gave 
them  to  some  of  his  own  company  to  carry  off, 
and  taking  the  equipments  of  the  two  privates, 
he  flung  them  into  a  puddle  of  water  near  by ; 
then  going  to  the  rebel  Captain,  he  pulled  him 
up  oft'  of  the  ground,  and  putting  him,  together 
with  the  ambulance-sergeant,  the  color-sergeant, 
and  the  two  pn.'ates,  under  charge  of  two  of  his 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


125 


company,  sent  them  to  the  rear,  to  be  placed  in 
custody  under  the  provost  guard. 

Thus,  in  the  short  space  of  five  minutes,  Capt. 
Green  disarmed  one  Captain,  one  ambulance-ser- 
geanU  and  two  privates  of  the  Twelfth  Georgia 


volun.eers,  besides    taking 
with  his  colors,  and   sendin 


their  color-sergeant, 
the  whole  of  them, 


there  was  heavj  skirmishing  by  the  cavalry  of  the 
two  armies,  that  of  the  enemy  being  commapded 
by  Wade  Hampton.  Maj.  Darlington,  with  his 
regiment,  was  ordered  to  held  a  certain  position 
in  Gen.  Wilson's  line,  for  forty-five  minutes,  while 


the  remainder  of  the  force  was  retirng  to  more 
advantageou  5  ground.  Pie  obeyed  the  order, 

five  in  number,  as  prisoners,  under  guard,  to  the  j  with  a  grave  of  five  minutes,  and  then,  attempt- 

fear.  ing  to  retire,  found  his  Hue  of  retreat  commanded 

The  rebel  flag  was  one  of  the  Confederate  bat-  1  by  an  entire  brigade  of  ret  el  cavalry  commanded 

tie-flags,  made  of  coarse  red  serge  cloth,  about  i  by  llosser.     The  Major  drew  up  his  men  in  the 

four  arid    a    half    feet  square,    having    a    blue  j  proper  formation  and  charged. 

Saint  Andrew's  cross  running  from  each   corner  ;  j      This  was  met  by  a  counter-charge  on  the  part 

three  white  stars  were  in  each  limb  of  the  cross, 

and  one  star  in  the  centre,  making  thirteen  stars 

in  all.     The  flag  was  sent  to  Gen.  Hooker  by  his 

order  :  the  sword  was  presented  to  Capt.  Green 

by  his   brigade  commander,  for  his  good  conduct 

during  the  battle. 


BATTLE  ANTHEM. 

BY   JOHN   NEAL. 

UP,  Christian  warrior,  up  !     I  hear 
The  trumpet  of  the  North 

Sounding  the  charge  ! 
Fathers  and  sons !  —  to  horse  ! 
Fling  the  old  standard  forth, 
Blazing  and  large  ! 

And  now  I  hear  the  heavy  tramp 
Of  nations  on  the  inarch, 

Silent  as  death  ! 
A  slowly-gathering  host, 

Like  clouds  o'er  yonder  arch, 
Holding  their  breath ! 

Our  great  blue  sky  is  overcast ; 
And  stars  are  dropping  out, 
Through  smoke  and  flame, 
Hail-stones,  and  coals  of  fire  ! 
Now  comes  the  battle-shout  I 
Jehovah's  name ! 

And  now  the  rebel  pomp  !    To  prayer  ! 
Look  to  your  stirrups,  men  1 

Yonder  rides  death  ! 
Now  with  a  whirlwind  sweep  ! 
Empty  their  saddles,  when 
Hot  comes  their  breath  ! 

As  through  the  midnight  forest  tears, 
With  trumpeting  and  fire, 

A  thunder- blast, 
So,  reapers  !  tear  your  way 
Through  yonder  camp,  until  you  hear, 
"  it  is  enough  !  Put  up  thy  sword  1 
O  angel  of  the  Lord  ! 
My  wrath  is  past !  " 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  THE  WILDERNESS.  —  The 
following  account  of  the  exploits  and  sufferings 
of  Maj.  William  13.  Darlington,  of  the  Eighteenth 
Pennsylvania  cavalry,  gives  some  idea  of  the 
hazards,  as  well  as  the  glories,  of  war : 

On  the  oth  of  May,  1864,  the  day  preced 
ing  the  great  engagements  of  the  6th  and  7th, 


of  the  enemy,  and  hard  fighting  followed,  the 
greater  part  of  the  Union  force,  however,  accom 
plishing  their  purpose. 

But,  when  leading  the  first  charge,  Maj.  Dar 
lington  received  a  ball  in  the  right  leg,  which 
shattered  the  thigh  bone,  and  brought  him  to  the 
ground.  Here  he  lay,  the  enemy  arid  his  own 
men  charging  backward  and  forward  over  him ; 
but,  strange  to  say,  he  received  no  other  injury. 

On  that  battle-field  he  lay  for  three  days  and 
nights,  without  food  or  attendance  of  any  kind. 
As  this  part  of  the  field  was  left  in  the  temporary 
possession  of  the  enemy,  after  the  battle  which 
raged  on  the  two  following  days,  he  was  found  and 
carried  to  Hampton's  headquarters,  where  the 
amputation  of  his  leg  was  performed  by  the  chief 
surgeon  of  the  division. 

The  operation  was  performed  with  skill,  and 
he  received  as  good  treatment  as  the  limited  re 
sources  of  the  rebels  would  permit.  He  was  then 
conveyed  to  a  farm-house,  some  three  miles  from 
the  scene  of  the  action,  and  there  he  lay  five 
weeks,  slowly  recovering. 

When  Sheridan  made  his  famous  raid,  in  the 
latter  part  of  June,  Maj.  Darlington  was  found 
at  the  farm-house,  and  being  laid  in  an  ambu 
lance,  kept  with  the  column  for  eight  days,  until 
he  reached  West  Point.  Gen.  Sheridan  and  his 
men  showed  him  the  utmost  kindness,  especially 
in  providing  for  him  palatable  and  nutritious 
food,  of  which  he  was  greatly  in  need. 

He  had  been  officially  reported  as  killed  ;  and 
few  constitutions  could  have  survived  the  loss  of 
blood,  the  hardship  and  exposure,  followed  by 
amputation,  from  which  he  was  now  rapidly  re 
covering.  

A  NARROW  ESCAPE.  —  An  army  correspond 
ent  gives  the  following  narrative  of  the  manner 
in  which  a  Confederate  soldier  in  Mississippi 
escaped  the  clutches  of  the  Yankees :  "  While 
dwelling  upon  the  subject  of  ladies,  and  the  pu 
rifying  influence  of  ladies'  society,  I  will  take  oc 
casion  to  mention,  for  the  benefit  of  the  fastidi 
ous,  an  adventure  of  two  nice  and  accomplished 
young  ladies,  together  with  a  young  gentleman 
well  versed  in  gallantry.  Not  long  since,  won 
cher  M.,  of  this  brigade,  while  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  Federal  encampments,  took  occasion  to  put  up 
for  the  night  at  the  house  of  an  old  acquaint 
ance,  where  he  had  often  call  3d  to  enjoy  a  pleas 
ant  repast  with  the  young  ladies.  During  the 
night,  the  7ederals,  .earning  his  whereabouts,  ap- 


126 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


preached  the  house,  creating  a  bluster  every 
where,  save  in  our  youn^  hero's  apartment,  lie 
soundly  slept,  and  continued  to  sleep,  as  if  on 
'  beds  of  roses,'  unconscious  of  approaching 
danger,  until  the  young  ladies,  panic-stricken  on 
his  account,  rushed,  en  dishabille,  into  his  room, 
and  awoke  him  from  his  slumbers. 

"  But  the  Federals  had  advanced  too  far  for  him 
to  make  his  escape  in  the  front,  and  there  was  no 
window  or  door  in  the  rear.  How  then  was  his 
escape  to  he  effected  P  Header,  the  young  ladies 
instituted  u  plan  unprecedented  in  the  history  of 
military  operations.  When  the  old  lady  discov 
ered  he  could  not  escape  by  running,  she  rushed 
in,  crying,  '  Girls  !  we  must  do  something —  the 
Federals  are  already  in  the  passage.'  No  sooner 
said  than  done.  The  young  ladies  leaped  in  bed 
with  our  young  hero,  one  on  each  side,  completely 
concealing  his  head,  and  thereby  causing  the 
search  of  the  Federals  to  be  fruitless.  They 
looked  into  every  nook,  and  under  every  bed  in 
the  house,  not  excepting  the  one  occupied  by  the 
hero ;  but  the  young  Confederate  scout  was  no 
where  to  he  found.  How  much  better  than  to 
have  suffered  him  to  be  murdered  or  imprisoned 
for  years  in  a  felon's  cell !  So  we  say ;  but  the 
mystery  to  us  is,  why  they  did  not  think  of  look 
ing  in  the  bed,  as  well  as  under  it." 


HEROISM  OF    MISS   SCHWARTZ. 

HEADQUARTERS  DISTRICT  OP  CENTRAL  Mo.,  \ 
JEFFERSON  CITY,  August  9,  iso.3.        ) 

GENERAL  ORDERS  No.  42.  —  On  the  night  of 
the  6th  instant,  a  party  of  bushwhackers,  some 
three  in  number,  visited  the  house  of  a  Mr. 
Schwartz,  about  twelve  miles  from  Jefferson  City, 
in  Cole  County,  and  on  demanding  admittance 
they  were  refused  by  Miss  Schwartz,  a  young 
lady  of  fifteen.  They  replied  they  would  come 
in,  "at  the  same  time  trying  to  break  down  the 
door.  While  this  was  going  on,  the  other  in 
mates  of  the  house,  namely,  Mr.  Schwartz,  John 
Wise,  Capt.  Golden,  Government  horse-dealer, 
and  a  young  man  in,  his  employ,  all  left,  taking 
with  them  (as  they  supposed)  all  the  arms  and 
ammunition.  In  their  hasty  retreat  they  left  be 
hind  n  revclver,  which  Miss  Schwartz  appropri 
ated  to  ner  own  use.  She  went  to  the  door,  and 
on  opening  it  presented  the  pistol  to  the  leader 
of  the  gang,  telling  them  to  "  come  on  if  they 
wanted  to,  and  that  some  of  them  should  foil,  or 
she  would."  They  threatened  to  kill  her  if  she 
did  not  leavs  the  door.  She  replied :  "  The 
first  one  who  takes  one  step  towards  this  door 
dies,  for  this  is  the  home  of  my  parents,  and  my 
brothers  and  sisters,  and  I  am  able  to  and  shall 
defend  it."  Seeing  that  she  was  determined  in 
her  purpose,  after  holding  a  consultation  to 
gether,  they  left. 

Here  is  an  instance  of  true  courage;  a  young 
girl  of  fifteen  years  of  age,  after  all  the  inmates 
of  the  house,  even  her  father,  had  fled,  leaving 
her  alone  to  her  fate,  with  a  courage  worthy  of  a 
Joan  of  Arc,  boldly  defended  her  native  home 


against  three  bloodthirsty  and  cowardly  ruffians, 
and  by  her  coolness  and  heroic  daring,  succeeded 
in  turning  them  from  their  hellish  designs. 

It  is  with  feelings  f  no  ordinary  pride  and 
pleasure  the  Commanding  General  announces 
this  act  to  the' citizens  and  soldiers  in  his  district. 
On  the  other  hand,  those  miserable  cowards  who 
deserted  this  brave  girl  in  the  hour  of  (Linger, 
flying  from  the  house,  leaving  her  to  her  fate,  aie 
unworthy  the  name  of  men,  deserve  Uie  scorn  and 
contempt  of  the  community  at  large,  and  whose 
society  should  be  shunned  by  every  one  who  has 
the  least  spark  of  honor  or  bravery  within  them. 
By  order  of  Brig.-Gen.  BROWN. 


RUFUS  BROCKWAY.  —  A  correspondent  of  a 
Wisconsin  paper  had  his  attention  arrested  by  the 
appearance  of  a  rather  oldish  man  among  a  com 
pany  of  recruits  for  the  Seventeenth  (Irish)  Wis 
consin  regiment,  who  were  on  board  the  cars,  on 
the  way  to  camp,  who  gave  his  name,  as  follows : 

"  My  name  is  Rufus  Brockway,  and  I  am  in 
the  seventieth  year  of  my  age.  I  am  a  Yankee, 
from  the  State  of  New  Hampshire ;  was  a  volun 
teer  in  the  last  war  with  England  for  nearly  three 
years.  I  have  served  under  Gens.  Izard,  McNeil, 
and  Macomb,  being  transferred  from  one  com 
mand  to  another,  as  the  circumstances  then  re 
quired.  I  was  at  the  battle  of  Plattnburg,  at 
the  battle  of  French  Creek  in  Canada,  and  at  the 
battle  of  Chateaugi.y,  on  the  14th  day  of  Octo 
ber,  1813,  and  was  present  at  the  surrender  of 
McDonough. 

"I  was  now  a  farmer,  in  the  town  of  Beaver 
Dam,  Dodge  County,  and,  with  my  son,  the  owner 
of  three  hundred  acres  of  land ;  my  son  was  a 
volunteer  in  the  Federal  army  at  the  tattle  of 
Bull  Run,  had  his  nose  badly  barked,  and  his 
hips  broken  in,  and  disabled  for  life,  by  a  charge 
of  the  rebel  cavalry,  and  now  I  am  going  to  see  if 
the  rebels  can  bark  the  old  man's  nose. 

"  I  tell  you,"  said  the  old  man,  "  if  England 
pitches  in,  you'll  see  a  great  many  old  men  like 
me  turning  out ;  but  the  greatest  of  my  fears  is, 
that  I  shall  not  be  permitted  to  take  an  active  part 
in  the  present  war."  

A  SOLDIER  in  one  of  the  Union  hospitals,  who 
had  lost  one  of  his  arras,  was  rejoicing  over  the 
fact.  Said  he :  "  My  grandfather  lost  a  leg  in 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  our  family  have  been 
bragging  over  it  ever  since  That  s'oiy  is  an  old 
out-,  and  now  I  am  going  to  be  the  hero  of  the 
family."  

INCIDENT  OF  LIBERTYTOWN,  MD.  —  I'arlj  in 

!  the  spring  of  18G2,  four  young  men  of  the  city  of 
!  Frederick  went  to  the  good  old  town  of  Liberty, 
1  and  while  passing  the  Stars  and  Stripes  iloati  ig 
from  a  pole  at  the  west  end  of  the  town,  took  oc 
casion  to  curse  that  time-honored  emblem,  and 
say  something  about  taking  it.  down.     Hearing, 
however,  that  they  wouJd  be  called  to  account  for 
their  rebellious  acts,  they  loaded  thei/  pistols  be 
fore  leaving  the  hotel,  and  said  wftat  tl  /ey  would 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND   INCIDENTS. 


127 


do  if  attacked.  Now  comes  the  "  fun."  About 
five  o'clock  the  carriage  is  seen  coining  up  the 
hil]  and  when  nearly  opposite  the  flag,  two  of  the 
citizens  walked  out  into  the  middle  of  the  street 
and  gave  the  v  ommand,  "  Halt"  which  was 
promptly  obeyed.  The  next  command  was: 
*  Salute  that  Hag."  After  an  excuse  or  two  about 
a  "  bad  cold,"  and  "  how  salute  it,  "  they  gave  a 
weak  "  cheer."  The  answer  was  :  "  That  won't 
do :  a  little  louder ! "  and  the  second  time  their 
voices  were  raised  considerably ;  but,  "  Louder 
}<vt,"  was  commanded  ;  and  the  third  time  they 
gave  a  mighty  good  proof  of  strong  lungs.  They 
were  then  ordered  to  curse  secessionist^  and  they 
did  so  ;  after  which  they  were  allowed  to  pass  on, 
wiser,  if  not  better  men. 


CAMP  ANECDOTES.  —  A  soldier  writing  home 
from  Fort  Slocum,  near  Washington,  gave  the 
following  anecdotes  of  life  in  camp :  While  in 
Florida  we  had  an  Irishman  named  Murphy,  who 
was  very  much  afflicted  with  the  prevalent  camp 
malady  known  as  "  Spring  Fever."  In  order  to 
escape  duty,  he  reported  himself  to  his  Orderly 
Sergeant  as  sick,  and  in  due  time  was  taken  to 
the  doctor.  Being  asked  the  nature  of  his  dis 
ease,  ho  complained  of  a  very  Jieavy  lightness  in 
the  head.  "  Why,"  replied  the  doctor,  "  that  is 
ft  paradox  ; "  and  giving  him  a  light  dose  of  "  ip- 
ecat,"  he  returned  him  to  duty.  Mick  left  the 
tent  in  high  dudgeon,  exclaiming,  "  The  devil  take 
a  doctor  who  will  put  a  man  on  duty  with  a  par 
adox  in  his  head." 

Another  fellow,  by  the  name  of  G ,  tried 

to  play  the  "  old  soldier  "  on  the  same  doctor, 
and  also  got  a  dose  of  "  ipecac."  He  did  not 
get  far  from  the  tent  before  he  began  to  "  heave 
Jonah."  Cursing  the  doctor,  he  went  back  and 
said  he  wanted  some  other  medicine,  as  the  first 
did  not  stay  on  his  stomach.  The  doctor  gave 
him  another  dose  of  the  same,  slightly  colored, 

and  G went  off  perfectly  satisfied.  He  did 

not  get  far  before  he  realized  that  he  had  another 
Jonah.  About  this  time  he  "  appreciated,"  and 
was  content  to  do  duty. 

The  other  evening,  one  of  our  bold  Lieutenants 
went  up  to  a  "  pizen  shop  "  on  the  hill,  and  was 
returning  to  camp  with  a  little  heavier  load  than 
the  regulations  require,  when  he  lost  his  way,  and 
came  through  a  field  but  lately  cleared.  Just  as 
the  sentry  gave  the  usual  challenge  —  "  Who 
comes  there  P  "  —  Charley  struck  his  shin  against 
a  fallen  tree,  and  feeling  more  expressive  than 
poetical,  he  cried  out  lustily,  «•  The  devil."  "  Cor 
poral  of  the  guard,  post  number  six,  double- 
quick,"  called  out  the  sentry,  adding,  "Mine  Got 
in  Ilimmel,  here  comes  ter  tivel!  " 

While  on  Staten  Island,  previous  to  embarking 
for  the  South,  one  of  the  captains  was  severely 
injured  by  a  block  of  wood  tailing  from  one  of 
the  third  tier  of  casemates  and  striking  him  on 
the  head.  The  next  morning,  a  New  Jersey 
Dutchman,  one  of  his  company,  called  to  inquire 
after  his  health.  "  Good  morning,  Captain,"  says 
the  Dutchman ;  "  how  are  you  getting  along  P  " 


Being  assured  that  the  Captain  was  out  of  dan 
ger,  the  Dutchman  said:  "I  heard  something 
drop,  and  I  thought  it  was  a  Lieutenant  had  fallen 
from  the  top  of  the  fort,  and  was  knocked  a?l  to 
pieces ;  and  I  didn't  think  it  wort!  while  to  pick 
the  pieces  up  till  the  coroner  came." 

One  of  our  Lieutenants,  wlo  boasts  of  eighteen 
years'  service  in  the  "r^g'lar  army,"  has  been 
very  much  troubled  by  the  privates  coming  into 
his  quarters.  To  put  a  stop  to  this,  he  has  dis 
played  a  large  notice  in  front  of  his  tent.  It  is, 
as  near  as  1  can  copy  it,  verbatim  et  literatim^  as 
follows : 

Notis 

No  1  aloud  in  here  excep  on  bisnes, 
By  order  of 

Lt.  li F 

Ferst  leutenant 

A  few  days  ago  one  of  our  boys  played  a  rather 
small  game  to  get  on  guard  as  "  supernumerary  " 
—  who  only  have  to  stand  on  post  while  any  of 
the  men  may  have  to  leave  for  some  necessary 
reason  ;  at  other  times  he  can  stay  in  the  guard 
tents  out  of  the  storm.  The  rest  of  the  boys  did 
not  like  it  much,  and  agreed  among  themselves 
to  repay  him.  As  soon,  therefore,  as  their  "  re 
lief  came  on,  one  of  them  called  out,  "  Corpora,} 
of  the  guard  ;  post  number  three  wants  to  be  re 
lieved,"  and  the  supernumerary  had  to  take  his 
place.  As  soon  as  number  three  returned  and 
took  his  place,  number  five  called  to  be  relieved ; 
and  so  they  kept  the  poor  fellow  travelling  from 
one  post  to  another  all  night.  Since  then  lie  has 
gone  by  the  name  of  "  Supernumerary." 


A   SOXG. 

BY    FITZGREEXE    HALLECK. 

HARK  !  a  bugle's  echo  comes  ; 

Hark  !  a  rife  is  singing  ; 
Hark  !  the  roll  of  far  off  drxims 

Through  the  air  is  ringing  ! 

Nearer  the  bugle's  echo  comes, 

Nearer  the  fife  is  singing, 
Near  and  more  near  the  roll  of  drums 

Through  the  air  is  ringing. 

War !  it  is  thy  music  proud, 
Wakening  the  brave-hearted  ; 

Memories —  hopes  —  a  glorious  crowd, 
At  its  call  have  started. 

Memories  of  our  sires  of  old, 

Who,  oppression-driven, 
High  their  rainbow  flag  unrolled 

To  the  sun  and  sky  of  heaven. 

Memories  rf  the  true  and  brave, 

Who,  at  Honor's  bidding, 
Stepped,  their  country's  life  to  SE, ve, 

To  war  as  to  their  wedding. 

Memories  of  many  a  battle  plain, 
Where  their  life-  blood  flowing, 

Made  green  the  grass,  and  gold  the  grain, 
Abov1  their  grave-mounds  growing. 


12ft 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Hopes  —  that  the  children  of  their  prayers, 

With  them  in  valor  vying, 
Mav  do  as  noble  deeds  as  theirs, 

In  living  and  in  dying,  — 

And  make,  for  children  yet  to  come, 

The  land  of  their  bequeathing 
The  imperial  and  the  peerless  home 

Of  happiest  beings  breathing. 

For  this  the  warrior-path  we  tread, 

The  battle-path  of  duty, 
And  change,  for  field  and  forest  bed, 

Our  bowers  of  love  and  beauty. 

Music  !  bid  thy  minstrels  play 

No  tunes  of  grief  or  sorrow, 
Let  them  cheer  the  living  brave  to-day  ; 

They  may  wail  the  dead  to-morrow. 


A  PATRIOTIC  BOY.  —  The  following  is  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  letters  we  ever  read  from  a 
boy.  The  writer  was  only  fifteen  years  old,  and 
his  appeals  to  his  mother*  for  liberty  to  join  the 
army  are  most  striking.  No  one,  whose  whole 
soul'  was  not  fully  in  the  matter,  could  make 
such  ardent  appeals.  One  sentence  will  be  no 
ticed  by  parents  —  the  one  in  which  he  says  that 
nothing,  save  the  dissent  of  his  mother,  could 
keep  him  away  from,  the  field  of  strife.  His 
mother's  assent  was  finally  obtained,  though  she 
hesitated  for  some  time,  as  her  boy  was  in  a  fa 
vorable  situation,  with  excellent  prospects  for  the 
future.  He  left  for  the  South  in  the  Eighth  regi 
ment  Connecticut  volunteers,  in  the  capacity  of 
a  drummer  boy.  Here  is  his  letter : 

WATERBURY,  May,  1861. 

Dear  Mother:  I  have  not  written  you  for  some 
time,  as  I  have  had  nothing  to  write.  I  want  to 
ask  a  very  important  question.  May  I  go  to  the 
war  ?  I  do  not  expect  to  go  as  a  volunteer,  but 
as  an  officer's  servant.  When  I  say  "  officer's 
servant,"  I  don't  mean  that  I  shall  be  at  the  beck 
and  call  of  the  whole  company,  but  I  shall  ar 
range  the  tent,  and  go  on  errands  for  the  officer, 
and  foi  him  alone.  My  heart  is  in  the  work.  If 
I  assist  an  officer,  there  can  be  another  man  in 
the  ranks.  I  shall  be  in  little  or  no  danger,  be 
cause  1  shall  not  probably  stand  in  the  ranks. 
But  what  if  I  am  in  danger?  I  shall  not  die  un 
til  my  time  comes  ;  and  if  I  am  appointed  to  die 
in  the  "  service  of  my  country,"  I  shall  be  there, 
and  no  earthly  power  can  keep  me  away.  What 
if  I  do  die  in  my  country's  service  ?  Who  is  not 
wil;mg  to  die  in  battle,  if,  by  so  doing,  he  can 
perpetuate  the  freedom  and  liberty  of  this  Na 
tion  through  all  time  ?  Gen.  Scott  says  that  more 
die  at  home,  out  of  the  same  number  that  go  to 
war,  than  are  killed  in  battle.  Be  patriotic, 
motl.er,  and  let  me  go;  don't  think  that  enough 
will  go  without  me  ;  no  such  thing  should  enter 
your  mind;  but  have  true  patriotism,  and  be 
willing  to  sacrifice  all  you  have,  if  need  be,  to  let 
the  "  Star-spangled  Banner  in  triumph  wave 
o'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the 
brave." 


Mother,  I  cannot  be  happy  to  stay  where  I  am, 
at  this  time  of  my  country's  peril.  Please  write, 
and  tell  me  I  may  go,  when  I  can  get  an  op;  or- 
tunity.  If  you  say  no,  I  fear  I  shall  go  mad. 
Mother,  I  should  do  that.  My  heart  goes  as  fast 
as  my  pen,  and  if  you  should  say  no !  I  should  not 
be  worth  a  cent  to  anybody. 

I  never  was  so  uneasy  in  my  life  as  at  present, 
and  it  should  be  the  last  thing  I  should  think  of 
—  that  is,  to  give  up  going  to  war  at  this  "  glori 
ous  period."  Mother,  don't  fear  for  me  in  any 
way.  I  shall  keep  right  side  up  with  care,  and 
abstain  from  the  use  of  all  intoxicating  liquors, 
profane  language,  and  tobacco  in  every  form.  I 
will  keep  a  journal  of  daily  occurrences,  and 
send  to  you  in  the  form  of  letters,  which  please 
keep  with  great  care.  Nothing  would,  or  will, 
keep  me  awray  from  war,  neither  argument,  per 
suasion,  or  force,  nor  anything  but  a  dislike  to 
disobey  you.  Please  don't  procrastinate,  but  say 
"you  will,"  "it's  right,"  and  "go  ahead."  I 
ought  to  be  in  the  garden  at  work,  but  it  hns 
"  no  charms  for  me."  My  mind  is  so  worked  up 
that  I'd  rather  take  a  flogging  that  would  make  me 
raw  all  over,  than  give  up  the  hopes  and  desires 
1  have  so  long  cherished.  It  is  not  for  any  pe 
cuniary  benefit  which  I  may  derive,  for  I  only 
spoke  of  that  to  let  you  see  I  could  provide  for 
myself  when  once  installed  into  the  army ;  but 
there  is  a  deeper  feeling  which  stirs  up  my  whole 
frame,  that  tells  me  "  go  and  prosper."  I  have 
only  six  cents  in  my  pocket-book ;  it  will  take 
three  to  pay  for  this  letter,  and  three  to  pay  for 
a  letter  to  cousin ;  so  if  you  want  me  to  write 
again,  please  send  a  stamp.  I  do  not  think  it 
necessary  to  write  any  more  until  I  am  in  the 
army.  Please  don't  put  me  off.  Write  all  the 
news,  and  don't  miss  a  mail. 


A  GOOD  ANECDOTE  is  told  of  a  lad  on  one  of 
the  Union  gunboats.  The  vessel  was  just  going 
into  action,  and  our  soldier  was  upon  his  knees, 
when  an  officer  sneeringly  asked  him  if  he  was 
afraid  P 

"  No,  I  was  praying,"  was  the  response. 

"  Well,  what  were  you  praying  for  P  " 

"  Praying,"  said  the  soldier,  "that  the  enemy's 
bullets  may  be  distributed  the  same  way  as  the 
prize  money  is,  principally  among  the  officers" 


GEN.  LANDER  AND  THE  BIBLE. --One  day  a 
staff  officer  caught  him  with  a  Biblp  ;n  his  hand, 
and  said : 

"  General,  do  you  ever  search  tl  e  Scriptures  ?  " 
Gen.  Lander  replied:  "My  mother  gave  me  a 
Bible,  which  I  have  always  carried  with  me.  Once 
in  the  Rocky  Mountains  I  had  only  fifteen  pounds 
of  flour.  We  used  to  collect  grasshoppers  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  day,  to  catch  some  fish  for  our  sup 
per  at  night.  It  was  during  the  Mormon  war, 
and  my  men  desired  to  turn  back.  I  was  then 
searching  for  a  route  for  the  wagon  road.  '  I  will 
turn  back  if  the  Bible  says  so,'  said  I,  '  and  we 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


129 


will  take  it  as  an  inspiration.'  I  opened  the  book 
at  the  following  passage: 

"  '  Go  on,  and  search  the  mountain,  and  the 
gates  of  the  city  shall  not  be  shut  against  you.'  " 

All  concurred  in  the  definite  statement  of  the 
passage,  and  the  heroic  explorer  once  more  led 
lus  men  into  the  wild  country  of  the  Indians. 


INCIDENT  OF  ANTIETAM. — At  the  battle  of 
Antietam,  as  one  of  the  regiments  was  for  the 
second  time  going  into  the  conflict,  a  soldier 
staggered.  It  was  from  no  wound,  but  in  the 
group  of  dying  and  dead,  through  which  they 
were  passing,  he  saw  his  father,  of  another  regi 
ment,  lying  dead.  There,  too,  was  a  wounded 
man  who  knew  them  both,  who  pointed  to  the 
father's  corpse,  and  then  upwards,  saying  only, 
"It  is  all  right  with  him."  Onward  went  the 
son,  by  his  father's  corpse,  to  do  his  duty  in  the 
line,  which,  with  bayonets  fixed,  advanced  upon 
the  enemy.  When  the  battle  was  over,  he  came 
back,  and  with  other  help,  buried  his  father. 
From  his  person  he  took  the  only  thing  he  had,  a 
Bible,  given  to  the  father  years  before,  when  he 
was  an  apprentice.  

HOMESICK  IN  THE  HOSPITAL.  —  A  correspond 
ent,  writing  from  the  general  hospital  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  says  :  "  Perhaps  the  greatest  fault  military 
Burgeons  are  apt  to  fall  into,  is  to  be  too  military 
in  their  treatment  of  their  patients.  A  soldier, 
when  he  enters  a  hospital  as  a  patient,  is  no 
longer  a  soldier,  but  a  patient,  and  should  be 
treated  as  such,  and  not  as  a  soldier.  In  civil 
life,  we  all  know  how  tenderly  the  sick  are  treated, 
and  in  the  great  majority  of  cases,  how  benefi 
cent  to  them  is  our  medication.  And,  ordinarily, 
too,  when  a  man  is  stricken  down,  even,  with  a 
formidable  disease,  there  are  good  constitutional 
efforts  in  his  system  to  carry  him  through  his 
illness.  This  is  seldom  the  case  with  our  hospi 
tal  patients.  In  their  sickness  we  have  gener 
ally  to  contend  with  a  broken-down  or  exhausted 
constitution,  and  often  the  babe  in  the  cradle  is 
not  entitled  to  more  tender  and  skilful  treatment 
to  save  its  flickering  life,  than  the  now  sick  and 
broken-down  soldier.  Through  want  of  a  uni 
form  understanding  on  the  part  of  our  military, 
and  even  some  of  our  medical  officers  on  this 
very  point,  many  lives  are  sacrificed.  There  is  in 
this  city  the  '  convalescent  camp.'  I  don't  be 
lieve  our  convalescent  soldiers  have  any  fear  of 
any  more  dreadful  doom  than  to  be  consigned  to 
this  place.  When  they  get  well  of  their  diseases, 
they  beg  hard  for  some  other  destination  than 
this  camp.  They  will  cheerfully  go  front,  or  to 
their  regiments,  or  any  other  place,  than  the 
dreaded  'convalescent  camp.'  I  think  the  rea 
son  for  the  odium  this  place  has  for  the  convales 
cent  soldier,  is  the  one  above  stated.  They  are 
treated  as  soldiers,  and  not  as  convalescents. 

"  Soon  after  I  got  into  this  hospital,  a  very  sick 
boy  was  brought  into  my  ward  from  the  '  conva 
lescent  camp.'  He  had  been  prematurely  sent  to 
that  place  when  recovering  from  pneumonia.  It 


was  apprehended  that  the  rebels  were  going  to 
make  a  raid  on  Nashville.  This  boy,  with  other 
convalescent  soldiers,  was  put  on  duty  by  lying 
in  the  trenches  for  one  night.  Here  was  a  MT) 
feeble  patient,  with  but  one  healthy  lung,  to  act  iif 
soldier.  The  exposure  brought  on  pneumonia  ;>f 
the  well  lung.  In  this  critical  condition  he  was 
brought  into  my  ward.  Soon  after,  a  most  touch 
ing  nostalgic  delirium  set  in.  He  wanted  to  go 
home.  He  taxed  his  delirious  mind  in  all  con 
ceivable  ways,  to  consummate  the  object  in  view 
He  begged,  coaxed,  reasoned,  and  at  times  would 
wildly  cry  out, '  I  wi  '.  go  home.'  A  short  time  be 
fore  he  died,  he  sprang  out  of  his  bunk,  and  with  a 
sheet  around  him,  ran  through  the  ward,  crying, 
'  I'll  go  now,  and  no  power  on  earth  shall  stay 
me.'  The  attendants  put  him  back  in  bed,  and 
not  many  hours  after  his  heavenly  Father  took 
his  spirit  from  earth,  we  will  humbly  hope,  to 
that  pure  and  blissful  state,  ' where  the  wicked 
cease  from  troubling  and  the  weary  are  at  rest.' 

"  On  one  inspection  occasion,  a  Sergeant,  who 
had  been  wounded  in  the  head,  was  pointed  out 
to  the  surgeon  in  charge,  as  being  considered 
well  enough  for  the  'convalescent  camp.'  'Don't 
send  him,'  says  the  doctor,  with  noble  considera 
tion  for  the  patient,  and,  with  a  smile,  added, 
'  They  are  in  the  habit  there  of  cutting  off'  almost 
everything  that  is  wounded  ;  if  you  send  the  man 
there,  they  may  conclude  to  cut  his  head  off'.'  To 
save  the  gallant  soldier's  head,  it  was  decided  not 
to  send  him  to  the  'convalescent  camp.'  Another 
case  of  homesickness  I  am  reminded  of.  A  poor 
boy,  from  the  front,  was  brought  into  this  ward, 
with  the  camp  dysentery.  A  more  attenuated 
living  being  I  had  never  seen.  Home,  with  him, 
too,  was  the  absorbing  subject  of  his  thoughts. 
'  I  want  to  see  my  mother,'  was  his  constant  ut 
terance.  Often  he  wept  like  a  child  to  go  home. 
I  put  him  off'  from  time  to  time,  endeavoring  to 
feed  and  stimulate  him,  to  bring  him  into  a  condi 
tion  fit  to  be  sent  home.  One  morning,  coming 
into  the  ward,  I  found  his  bed  empty.  '  What ! 
poor  Jimmy  dead  ? '  I  asked  of  the  ward  master. 
'No,'  he  answered,  'Jimmy  started  for  home,  under 
the  care  of  our  female  nurse.'  Here  was  a  case 
where  a  resolute  and  conscientious  woman  vol 
untarily  took  charge  of  a  helpless  boy,  to  take 
him  to  his  home,  a  thousand  miles  away,  solely  be 
cause  she  felt  that  she  could  thereby  save  his  life. 
She  succeeded  in  getting  him  home  alive,  and  we 
have  heard  he  is  now  getting  along  well. 

"  Homesickness  is  one  of  the  most  frequent, 
difficult,  and  annoying  complications  we  have  in 
the  treatment  of  hospital  patients.  When  a  sol 
dier  gets  sick,  he  wishes  himself  at  home.  It  is 
well  for  the  surgeon  to  gratify  this  feeling,  when 
the  patient  is  in  a  fit  condition  to  go.  And  when 
the  case  is  such  that  it  is  not  for  the  patient's 
benefit  to  leave  the  hospital,  and  he  cannot  con 
trol  himself  to  submit  to  circumstances,  he  is,  in 
a  medical  point  of  view,  exceedingly  difficult  to 
manage.  It  is  thus  that  nostalgia  has  helped  to 
send  many  a  lamented  soldier  to  his  grave. 

"  Great  is  the  variety  of  wounds  in  a  miliiury 
hospital.  One  remarkable  fact  connected  with 


130 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


wcunds  is,  that  a  man's  life  is  not  alway  jeopar 
dized  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  wounds  he 
may  have  received.  One  from  a  slight  wound 
may  die.  Another  may  be  fearfully  mutilated, 
and  yet  get  well.  After  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga,  we  received  two  patients  in  this  hospital, 
who  afforded  a  striking  illustration  of  this.  I 
asked  one  of  them  where  he  was  wounded.  'All 
over,'  he  answered.  1  directed  the  nurse  to  di 
vest  him  of  his  clothes,  and  found  his  word  pretty 
much  verified.  This  warrior  was  perforated  by 
more  than  half  a  dozen  balls,  and  yet  he  got 
well.  Another  one  had  a  slight  wound  on  the 
left  knee,  caused  by  a  buckshot.  The  little  mis 
sile  was  extracted,  and  after  he  had  suffered  most 
severely  for  two  months  he  died." 


A  FAITHFUL  DOG. — The  widow  of  Lieut. 
Pheff,  of  Illinois,  was  enabled  to  find  her  hus 
band's  grave,  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  by  seeing  a 
dog  which  had  accompanied  the  Lieutenant  to 
the  war.  The  dog  approached  her  with  the  most 
intense  manifestations  of  joy,  and  immediately 
indicated  to  her,  as  well  as  he  was  able,  his  de 
sire  that  she  should  follow  him.  She  did  so,  and 
he  led  the  way  to  a  distant  part  of  the  field,  and 
stopped  before  a  single  grave.  She  caused  it  to 
be  opened,  and  there  found  the  body  of  her  dead 
husband.  It  appears  from  the  statemenfs  of 
some  of  the  soldiers,  that  when  Lieut.  Pheff  fell, 
his  dog  was  by  his  side,  and  thus  remained,  lick 
ing  his  wounds,  until  he  was  taken  from  the  field 
and  buried.  He  then  took  his  station  by  the 
grave,  and  nothing  could  induce  him  to  abandon 
it,  but  for  a  sufficient  length  of  time  each  day 
to  satisfy  his  hunger,  until,  by  some  means,  he 
was  made  aware  of  the  presence  of  his  mistress. 
Thus  he  watched  for  twelve  days  by  the  grave  of 
his  slain  master.  

DECEMBER  IN  VIRGINIA. 
CONTRABAND  loquitur. 

DE  leaves  hab  blown  away, 

De  trees  am  black  an  bare, 
De  day  am  cold  an  damp, 

De  rain  am  in  de  air. 
De  wailin  win's  hab  struck 

De  strings  ob  Nature's  lyre ; 
De  brooks  am  swollen  deep, 

De  roads  am  mud  an  mire. 
De  horses  yank  de  team, 

De  wheels  am  stickin  thar ; 
De  Yankee  massa  yell  — 

De  Lord !  how  he  do  swar  ! 
De  oafs  dat  he  do  take, 

De  nigger  disrememker  ; 
De  Dutch,  De  Deuce,  De  Debbil, 
De  — all  tings  dat  am  ebil  — 
DE-CEMBER  I 


FHEEDMEN'S  BUREAUS.  —  An  ancient  colored 
woman  appeared  at  the  office  of  the  Freedmen's 
iiureau,  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  and  asked  if  that 
was  the  place  where  they  kept  the  freedmen's 


bureaus.  The  clerk  was  momentarily  nonplused, 
but  instantly  recovering  his  gravity,  blandly  re 
plied  in  the  affirmative.  Dinah,  with  an  air  of 
mystery,  and  speaking  in  a  confidential  whisper, 
said  :  "  I  have  come  for  my  bureau  ;  now  give  me 
a  pretty  large  one,  with  *a  glass  top ;  I  have  a 
wash-stand  at  home,  but  it  is  too  small  to  put  my 
fixins'  in." 

A  WONDERFUL  OLD  SOLDIER.  —  The  Thirty- 
seventh  regiment  of  Iowa,  doing  duty  in  St.  Louis, 
in  1862,  was  a  regiment  of  exempts  —  few,  if 
any,  of  its  members  being  under  forty-five  years 
of  age,  and  many  of  them  over  eighty.  "  Take 
them  all  together,"  says  a  correspondent,  "  they 
arp  a  bund  of  hardy  veterans,  whom  the  exigencies 
cr  ihe  situation  have  fired  with  a  zealous  patri 
otism  well  worthy  of  imitation  by  younger  men. 
But  the  most  remarkable  member  of  this  regi 
ment  is  a  private  of  company  II,  named  Curtis 
King,  whose  history  and  description  are  truly 
curious.  lie  is  over  eighty-one  years  of  age,  six 
feet  two  inches  in  height,  of  brav/ny  and  stalwart 
frame,  baring  his  bosom  to  the  cold  winds  of  win 
ter  without  endangering  his  health,  and  moving 
in  his  round  of  duties  with  the  celerity  of  a  youth 
of  eighteen.  Owing  to  his  great  age,  and  the 
fact  of  his  being  blind  of  an  eye,  he  found  great 
difficulty,  when  the  regiment  was  forming,  in 
getting  permission  to  enlist,  two  or  three  com 
panies  refusing  to  take  him  ;  but  he  was  at  length 
successful,  and  since  the  regiment  has  been  on 
duty  he  has  proved  one  of  the  most  efficient  men 
in  it.  He  is,  and  has  been  from  his  youth,  a 
Democrat  of  the  old  Jackson  school,  and  even  now 
indulges  industrious  invective  against  the  Abo 
litionists.  He  was  born  in  Culpepper  County, 
Va.,  and  claims  to  be  a  lineal  descendant  of  Po- 
cahontas  ;  and  this  statement  is  verified  by  his 
physiognomy,  which  betrays  the  characteristics  of 
an  Indian.  He  has  been  twice  married,  (first  when 
only  nineteen  years  of  age,)  and  is  the  father  of 
twenty-one  children,  one  of  wtich  was,  two  weeks 
since, "only  fifteen  months  old  when  it  died.  He 
claims  to* be  able  to  repeat  every  word  of  the 
Bible  from  the  beginning  of  Genesis  to  the  end 
of  Revelation,  and  can  neither  rec,d  n&r  write  — 
a  daughter  having  read  the  book  to  him,  his 
wonderful  memory  allowing  him  to  retain  it  after 
committing  it  to  'memory.  The  daughter  com 
menced  her  reading  to  him  at  five  years  of  age, 
he  being  then  twenty-six.  In  1815  he  emigrated 
to  Ohio,  resided  there  some  twenty-five  years, 
and  then  removed  to  Wapello  County,  Iowa, 
where  his  home  now  is,  and  where  he  enlisted. 
Mr.  King's  family  is  somewhat  celebrated  for 
longevity,  his  mother  having  lived  to  the  age  of 
103,  and  one  grandfather  to  10.3  years. 

The  history  of  this  country  is  familiar  to  him, 
and  his  citations  of  historical  points  and  the  con 
nection  with  them  of  great  men  who  flourished 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century,  are 
wonderfully  accurate  —  rememberii  g,  as  he  does, 
Washington,  Jefferson,  Randolph,  and  the  Ad 
amses,  <&c.  He  has  often  seen  Washington,  and 
remarked  as  a  characteristic  of  the  "  Father  of  his 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


131 


Country,"  that  he  never  saw  him  smile  ;  that  he 
seemed  to  have  little  sympathy  in  the  enjoyments 
of  other  men.  The  father  of  Mr.  King  was  a 
&o3dier  of  the  Revolution. 

About  twenty  of  Mr.  K.'s  grandsons  and  some 
four  or  live  great-grandsons  are  now  in  the  United 
States  service,  and  the  old  man  indulges  a  laudable 
pride  in  the  fact  that  not  one  of  his  family  is  dis 
loyal.  Eleven  of  his  grandsons  responded  to  the 
first  call  of  the  I 'resident  for  volunteers.  One  of 
his  daughters,  who  resides  in  Ohio,  weighs  32<3 
pounds.  He  himself  never  took  a  dose  of  medi 
cine  from  a  doctor,  nor  did  any  one  of  his  family 
while  they  remained  under  his  control,  he  being 
what  is  called  a  "  root  doctor,"  arid  having  done  the 
physicking  for  his  own  people  by  the  use  of  herb 
and  root  teas  ;  his  "  practice,"  too,  was  successful. 

The  opinion  of  this  aged  veteran  upon  the  war, 
though  he  gives  it  in  a  somewhat  homely  and 
antique  figure  of  speech,  is  not  to  be  ignored  as 
devoid  of  good  foundation.  When  asked  his 
ideas  as  to  the  result  of  the  struggle,  he  replied  : 
"  Well,  I  think  the  longest  pole  will  knock  the 
persimmon.  It  may  take  a  long  time ;  but  the 
North  has  got  the  most  men  and  the  most  money, 
and  it  is  bound  to  come  out  first  best  in  the  end. 
And,"  he  continued,  "  if  the  young  men  will  do 
as  I  intend  to  do,  the  rebellion  will  be  put  down, 
for  I  am  in  for  the  war,  or  as  long  as  I  last"  The 
cheerful  and  contented  disposition  of  this  old 
man  might  well  be  taken  for  an  example  by 
younger  soldiers,  to  say  nothing  of  his  strict  ob 
servance  of  discipline,  or  the  eiriciency  and  value 
of  such  men  to  the  service. 


NEGRO  SCHOOLS  AT  NEWBERN.  —  "I  have 
just  visited  a  negro  school,"  said  a  letter  writer. 
"  I  never  had  such  hard  work  to  control  my  risibles 
in  my  life.  There  sat  along  the  sides  of  the 
room,  all  in  one  class,  little  girls  of  five  years, 
and  men  of  forty  —  each  equally  advanced  in 
their  studies.  Of  course  their  curiosity  was 
excited  to  see  the  stranger.  So,  occasionally  they 
looked  up,  which  called  forth  from  the  old  man 
in  charge,  the  admonition,  "  Confine  yersels  to 
yer  buks.  Sam,  keep  yer  eyes  on  yer  knowl 
edge  buks.  Miss  Susan,  stop  dat,  or  I'll  give  yer 
de  cowskin  'cross  yer  legs,"  and  other  equally 
gentle  corrections.  I  heard  them  read ;  and  as 
they  were  standing  up  in  rows,  without  regard  to 
heigiit  or  age,  reading  in  concert,  interspersed 
with  the  old  man's  scowls  over  his  big  brass 
spectacles,  and  his  threatenings  with  the  cowskin, 
I  could  not  resist  any  involuntary  smile." 


TWINKLEY  TWINKLE.  —  A  war  correspondent 
of  a  New  Orleans  paper  wrote  thus  from  Jack 
son,  Tenn. : 

^ "  An  officer  of  my  acquaintance,  who  is  inor 
dinately  fond  of  '  Iritters,'  just  dropped  into  a 
dwelling  at  Jackson  a  day  or  two  since,  where 
this  delicacy  was  smoking  hot  upon  the  table, 
and  very  politely  asked  to  share  the  meal  with 
the  landlady.  She  graciously  Complied,  and 


asked  him  to  be  seated.  '  Will  you  take  the 
"  twinkley  twinkle,"  or  on  the  "  dab  "  ? '  My  friend 
was  entirely  ignorant  of  the  meaning  of  these 
.terms,  but  at  a  venture  chose  the  former.  He 
was  soon  enlightened.  The  ancient  female  dipped 
her  not  over  clean  fingers  into  a  tumbler  of  nio- 
lasses  standing  beside  her,  and  allowing  the 
drippings  to  fall  on  the  delicacy,  presented  it  to 
him  as  '  twinkley  twinkle.'  '  On  the  dab,'  was  a 
spoonf-.l  of  treacle  upon  the  centre  of  the  fritter." 


Gis.  r.osECRANS  indulges  occasionally  in  a 
wittv'-rji.  A  lady  called  upon  him  for  the  pur 
pose  cf  procuring  a  pass,  which  was  declined  very 
politely.  Tears  came  to  the  lady's  eyes  as  she 
remarked  that  her  uncle  was  very  ill,  and  might 
not  recover.  "  Very  sorry,  indeed,  madam,"  re 
plied  the  General.  "  My  uncle  has  been  indis 
posed  for  some  time.  As  soon  as  Uncle  Sam 
recovers  a  little,  you  shall  have  a  pass  to  go 
where  you  please."  

ANECDOTE  OF  GEN.  BUTLER.  —  It  will  be  re 
membered  that  the  little  Count  Mejan  once 
frantically  appealed  to  the  Emperor  Napoleon  to 
send  an  armed  force  to  protect  the  grog-shop 
keepers  of  New  Orleans  from  an  "  unconstitu 
tional  "  tax  Gen.  Butler  had  levied  upon  them. 
The  Emperor  was  so  puzzled  to  know  what  his 
consul  had  to  do  with  the  American  Constitution, 
and  on  what  principles  he  made  himself  the 
champion  of  whiskey-venders  in  an  American 
city,  that  he  called  the  Count  home  to  explain. 

It  will  be  seen,  from  what  follows,  that  Gen. 
Butler's  tyranny  did  not  stop  at  taxing  grog 
shops.  It  seems  that  after  the  expulsion  of  the 
rebels  and  their  allies,  the  Thugs,  from  New 
Orleans,  the  dead  walls  of  that  city  were  sud 
denly  covered  with  conspicuous  bills  containing 
the  following  sentence : 

"  Get  your  shirts  at  Moody's,  207  Canal  Street." 

A  planter,  a  secessionist,  came  to  town  some 
months  after  Butler  had  taken  the  reins  in  his 
hands,  and  marvelled  much  at  the  cleanliness  and 
good  order  he  found  prevailing  ;  also  he  was  sur 
prised  at  this  notice,  which  everywhere  stared  him 
in  the  face. 

"  Get  your  shirts  at  Moody's  ?  "  said  he  to  an 
acquaintance  he  met  in  the  street ;  "  what  does 
this  mean?  I  see  it  everywhere  posted  up. 
What  does  it  mean  ?  " 

"0,"  was  the  reply,  "that  is  another  of  the 
outrageous  acts  of  this  fellow  Butler.  This  is 
one  of  the  orders  of  which  you  hear  so  much. 
Don't  you  see  ?  he  has  ordered  us  to  get  our 
shirts  at  Moody's,  and  we  have  to  do  so.  It  is, 
of  course,  suspected  that  he  is  a  silent  partner  in 
the  concern,  and  pockets  the  profits." 

The  poor  planter  listened  with  eyes  and  mouth 
open  and  replied  : 

"  I  don't  need  any  shirts  just  now,  and  it's  a 
great  piece  of  tyranny ;  but  this  Butler  enforces 


reat  pu 
is  crde 


rs  so  savagely  that  it  is  better  to  give  in  at 
once,'"  and  accordingly  he  wer  t  to  "  Moody's  "  and 
purchased  ha  fa  dozen  shirts,  —  on  compulsion. 


132 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


BEYOND   THE  POTOMAC. 

BY   PAUL   H.    HAYNE. 

THEY  slept  on  the  fields  which  their  valor  had  w«n, 
But  arose  with  the  first  early  blush  of  the  sun, 
For  they  knew  that  a  great  deed  remained  to  be  done, 
When  they  passed  o'er  the  River ! 

They  rose  with  the  sun,  and  caught  life  from  his 

light  — 

Those  giants  of  courage,  those  Anaks  in  fight  — 
And  they  laughed  out  aloud  in  the  joy  of  their  might, 
Marching  swift  for  the  River ! 

On !  on !  like  the  rushing  of  sto^*ns  through  the 

hills  — 

On !  on !  with  a  tramp  that  is  firm  as  their  wills  — 
And  the  one  heart  of  thousands  grows  buoyant  and 

thrills 
At  the  thought  of  the  River  ! 

O,  the  sheen  of  their  swords !  the  fierce  gleam  of 

their  eyes  ! 

It  seemed  as  on  earth  a  new  sunlight  would  rise, 
And  king-like  flash  up  to  the  sun  in  the  skies, 
O'er  the  path  to  the  River. 

But  their  banners,  shot- scarred,  and  all  darkened 

with  gore, 

On  a  strong  wind  of  morning  streamed  wildly  before, 
Like  the  wings  of  death- angels  swept  fast  to  the 

shoro, 

The  green  shore  of  the  River. 

As  they  march  —  from  the  hill-side,  the  hamlet,  the 

stream  — 
Gaunt  throngs,  whom  the  foeman  had  manacled, 

teem, 

Like  men  just  aroused  from  some  terrible  dream, 
To  pass  o'er  the  River. 

They  behold  the  broad  banners,  blood-darkened, 

yet  fair, 

And  a  moment  dissolves  the  last  spell  of  despair, 
While  a  peal  as  of  victory  swells  on  the  air, 
Rolling  out  to  the  River. 

And  that  cry,  with  a  thousand  strange  echoings 

spread, 

Till  the  ashes  of  heroes  seemed  stirred  in  their  bed, 
And  the  deep  voice  of  passion  surged  up  from  the 

dead  — 

Ay  !  press  on  to  the  River  I 

On !  on !  like  the  rushing  of  storms  through  the  hills, 
On  !  on  !  with  a  tramp  that  is  firm  as  their  wills, 
And  the  one  heart  of  thousands  grows  buoyant  and 
thrills 

As  they  pause  by  the  River. 

Then  the  wan  face  of  Maryland,  haggard  and  worn, 
At  that  sight  lost  the  touch  of  its  aspect  forlorn, 
And  she  turned  on  the  foeman,  full  statured  in  scorn, 
Pointing  stern  to  the  River. 

And  Potomac  flowed  calm,   scarcely  heaving  her 

breast, 

With  her  low-lying  billows  all  bright  in  the  West, 
For  the  hand  of  the  Lord  lulled  the  waters  '*o  rest 
Of  the  fair  rolling  River. 


Passed  !    passed !    the  glad  thousands  march  safe 

through  the  tide. 
(Hark,  Despot !  and  hear  the  wild  knell  of  your 

pride, 
Ringing  weird-like  and  wild,  pealing  up  from  the 

side 

Of  the  calm  flowing  River  !) 

'Neath  a  blow  swift  and  might/  the  Tyrant  shall 

fell; 

Vain  !  vain  !  to  his  God  swells  a  desolate  call, 
For  his  grave  nas  been  hollowed,  arid  woven  his 

pall. 

Sine*  they  passed  o'er  the  River  ! 


VALUE  c  ?  FREE  SCHOOLS.  —  Gen.  Negley 
sent  out  a  foraging  expedition  from  Nashville, 
with  orders  to  the  commander  to  visit  every  habi 
tation,  mill,  barn,  and  out-house,  and  seize  upon 
everything  fit  for  consumption  by  man  and  beast. 
During  the  expedition  a  squad  made  a  break  for 
a  free  school-house. 

"  Don't  disturb  anything  there ! "  cried  one  of 
the  officers.  "  If  there  had  been  a  few  more  such 
institutions  in  the  South,  there  would  have  be€  a 
no  rebellion."  

BROTHER  AGAINST  BROTHER.  —  A  writer  in 
Philadelphia  relates  the  following  :  "  In  one  of 
our  beautiful  suburban  cemeteries  was  employed 
a  venerable  man.  For  a  number  of  years  past 
he  has  prepared  the  last  resting-place  for  those 
called  from  among  us.  Though  poor,  he  raised 
four  gallant  boys,  giving  to  each  of  them  a  mod 
erate  education  and  a  good  trade,  The  two  elder 
went  five  years  ago  to  New  Orleans,  where  pros 
perity  attended  their  industry. 

The  two  younger  brothers  remained  with  their 
father.  George  and  Frederick  were  their  names. 
The  latter  is  but  seventeen  years  of  age.  When 
the  war  broke  out,  both  left  their  employments 
and  enlisted.  The  elder  brothers  had  constantly 
written  home,  and  frequent  presents  accompanied 
their  letters.  At  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  in 
the  very  front  of  the  line,  at  the  church  upon  the 
rifle  pits  at  the  back  of  the  town,  were  the  two 
boys  Frederick  and  George.  A  sortie  was  made 
by  the  rebel  riflemen  upon  the  retreating  Federals, 
and  among  those  who  dropped  were  the  two  boys, 
the  youngest  sons  of  the  old  gravedigger.  A 
minie  ball  had  pierced  the  bodies  of  each. 

The  rebel  soldiers,  whose  weapons  had  done  the 
deed,  were  clad  in  rags  of  linsey.  They  ran  wit  h 
alacrity  to  secure  the  clothing,  the  canteens,  and 
perhaps  the  money,  of  the  men  whom  they  had 
laid  low.  The  foremost  one  reached  the  body  of 
his  dead  enemy,  turned  it  over  —  for  the  face  was 
downward  —  and  to  his  horror  beheld  the  corpse 
of  his  youngest  brother,  his  woollen  shirt  stained 
with  a  stream  of  blood  that  oozed  from  a  bullet 
hole  above  the  heart.  Our  informant,  a  chaplain 
.of  the  army,  could  tell  us  nothing  of  the  other 
rebel  brother.  But  this  one  made  his  way  into 
the  Union  Jnes,  and  is  now  in  the  hospital  at 
Alexandria  a  hopeless  mairac.  We  learn  that  in 
their  childb  >od  this  youngjng  of  the  flock  had 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


133 


been  the  especial  charge  of  the  eldest  brother. 
When  he  left  for  New  Orleans  it  was  in  the  ex- 
pectat.on  of  entering  business  to  which  he  could 
raring  up  the  boy.  That  boy  he  lived  to  shoot 
down  with  his  own  hands.  Unless  the  remaining 
rebel  brother  survive,  the  family  are  now  extinct. 
The  father  died  of  a  broken  heart,  and  was  buried 
last  Sunday.  This  is  a  simple  statement  of  fact. 
It  is  doubtless  one  of  ten  thousand  never  to  be 
written."  

ADVENTURES  IN  VIRGINIA.  —  A  correspon 
dent  writing  from  the  camp  of  the  Fourth  Vir 
ginia  brigade,  on  the  llth  of  November,  1863, 
relates  the  following :  "  Instances  of  courage 
and  daring  on  the  part  of  private  soldiers  in  our 
army  are  of  no  rare  occurrence,  and  consequently 
are  often  passed  by  unnoticed  and  unrewarded. 
But  the  bold  acts  of  some  will  impress  themselves 
upon  the  notice  of  the  officers  in  command,  and 
elicit  their  admiration.  Such  was  the  case  with  four 
privates  who  received  the  credit  which  they  merited 
for  the  part  they  acted  in  the  late  affair  on  the  Rap- 
pahannock.  When  the  enemy  had  taken  our  re 
doubts  beyond  the  river,  orders  were  given  to  burn 
the  pontoon  bridge  ;  it  was  fired,  but  failed  to  burn, 
and  before  combustible  material  could  be  gath 
ered  to  fire  it  again,  the  enemy  had  reached  the 
north  side,  and  placed  a  heavy  guard  there  to 
fire  upon  any  party  attempting  to  destroy  it.  The 
bridge  remained  unburned  until  about  12  o'clock 
at  night,  when  volunteers  were  called  for  to  re 
new  the  effort  to  fire  it;  at  the  same  time,  all 
vere  told  that  the  work  was  a  dangerous  one, 
and  none  were  desired  to  undertake  it,  except 
those  who  were  perfectly  willing.  Four  privates 
of  Gen.  Pegram's  brigade  (formerly  Gen.  Smith's) 
volunteered,  and  successfully  fired  and  destroyed 
the  bridge.  They  were  not  fired  upon,  but  the 
danger  was  encountered,  arid  their  quiet  and  cool 
demeanor  was  all  that  prevented  them  from  being 
discovered.  Had  the  enemy  heard  the  least 
noise,  the  bridge  would  have  been  swept  by  a 
volley  of  musketry.  The  names  of  the  privates 
are  Peter  Berton,  company  E,  18th  Virginia; 
Thomas  Berton,  company  E,  18th  Virginia;  James 
F.  Fristoe,  company  G,  49th  Virginia ;  and  San 
dy  Cooper,  company  Ay  49th  Virginia  —  Lieut. 
Buck,  18th  Virginia,  commanding.  In  connec 
tion  with  the  above,  I  would  mention  an  inci 
dent  that  occurred  at  Culpepper  Court  House, 
in  which  a  lady  acted  the  part  of  a  heroine.  In 
September  last,  when  the  Yankee  army  advanced 
on  that  town,  it  was  the  scene  of  quite  a  brisk 
fight  —  especially  was  the  artillery  firing  heavy. 
During  the  fight,  one  of  our  wounded  heroes,  who 
was  between  the  fire  of  friend  and  foe,  was  seen 
by  a  lady,  whose  tender  sympathies  were  deeply 
aroused  in  his  behalf;  and  having  resolved  to  save 
him,  she  rushed  from  her  house,  regardless  of  her 
own  safety,  between  the  combatants,  amidst  shot 
and  shell,  raised  him,  bleeding,  from  the  dust, 
and  had  almost  succeeded  in  gaining  a  place  of 
safety,  when  (our  forces  having  fallen  back)  a  Yan 
kee  <  officer  rode  up,  and  being  struck  by  her  pat 
riotism,  dismounted,  and  assisted  her  in  carrying 
her  wounded  countryman  into  the  house.  Well 


was  it  for  the  suffering  hero,  that  his  dangerous 
position  was  witnessed  by  Miss  Belle  Norris, 
whose  courage  was  equal  to  her  patriotism ;  for, 
in  a  few  moments,  being  unable  to  move,  he 
would  have  been  crushed  by  the  enemy's  cavalry, 
charging  over  the  road.  Long  may  she  —  one  of 
the  many  patriotic  ladies  of  the  town  of  Culpep 
per  —  live  to  receive  the  heartfelt  thanks  of  grate 
ful  soldiers  for  the .  ir.a7iy  acts  of  kindness  they 
ha\ '!  received  at  her  Lauds.  MILES. 


AN  EXCITING  ADVENTURE.  — Corporals  Ham- 
i  ton  and  Vaneman,  of  the  1st  Virginia  infantry, 
stationed  at  North  Mountain,  on  the  Baltimore 
arid  Ohio  Railroad,  got  permission  to  visit  some 
friends,  in  the  Virginia  regiments  encamped  about 
Winchester.  They  started  from  Martinsburg  in  a 
stage  coach.  The  coach  contained  five  gentlemen 
and  three  ladies,  among  them  Gen.  Cluseret's 
Adjutant-General,  a  Lieutenant  on  Gen.  Milroy's 
staff,  and  a  Mr.  Greer,  from  Wheeling.  Shortly 
after  leaving  Martinsburg,  the  coach  was  upset, 
and  the  whole  party  were  piled  up  in  a  miscel 
laneous  heap  on  the  road-side.  The  coach  was 
soon  righted,  and  after  proceeding  a  few  miles 
farther,  two  of  the  ladies  got  out.  When  near 
Bunker  Hill,  the  coach  was  stopped  by  a  gang 
of  rebel  cavalry,  dressed  in  the  uniform  of  Fed 
eral  soldiers.  The  rebels  cursed  the  occupants 
of  the  coach,  and  told  them  to  get  down  and 
surrender,  or  they  would  blow  out  their  brains, 
and  of  course  the  passengers  surrendered.  The 
rebels  ransacked  the  trunks  and  valises.  They 
permitted  Mr.  Greer  and  the  young  lady  to  go 
unharmed,  but  ordered  the  rest  to  unhitch  the 
coach  horses  ;  and  while  this  was  being  done,  the 
Lieutenant  of  Gen.  Milroy's  staff  crawled  in,  and 
concealed  himself  between  the  body  of  the  coach 
and  the  coupling  pole.  The  rest  of  the  prisoners 
were  hurried  oft'  in  the  direction  of  Front  Royal. 
The  stage  horses,  not  being  "  used  to  much  feed," 
were  very  thin  and  angular,  and  the  boys  thought 
it  a  very  severe  "  rail  rido  "  into  Dixie.  Upon 
reaching  a  small  town  called  Middlebourne,  the 
prisoners  and  their  captors  were  charged  upon  by 
a  body  of  Union  cavalry,  under  command  of  the 
Lieutenant  who  had  concealed  himself  under  the 
coach.  The  rebels  were  completely  routed.  About 
fifty  shots  were  exchanged.  The  Major  com 
manding  the  rebels  was  wounded,  as  was  the 
Lieutenant  commanding  the  rescuing  party.  Two 
or  three  of  the  rebels  were  killed,  and  more  than 
half  of  them  were  captured  and  taken  to  Win 
chester  with  the  released  prisoners. 

The  Lieutenant,  who  had  concealed  himself  un 
der  the  coach,  as  soon  as  the  rebels  were  out  of 
sight,  borrowed  a  horse  from  a  farmer,  and  start 
ed  post  haste  for  Winchester.  Gen.  Milroy  im 
mediately  despatched  thirty  of  the  1st  New  York 
cavalry  towards  Middlebourne  in  command  of  his 
Lieutenant,  and  fifteen  to  the  point  of  departure 
from  the  main  pike.  The  detachment  sent  to  Mid 
dlebourne  got  there  before  the  rebels,  and  lay  in 
wait  for  :hem  with  the  above  result.  The  two  Cor 
porals  :  eturned  to  their  regiment  at  North  Moun 
tain. 


184 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


DISCOVERING  A  FRIEND.  —  During  the  autumn 
of  1862,  a  general  rally  was  made  by  the  women 
of  Princeton,  Iowa,  and  vicinity,  to  prepare  a 
large  amount  of  bandages,  lint,  &c.,  for  the  use 
of  wounded  soldiers.  Among  the  donations 
made,  were  several  rolls  of  bandages  prepared  by 
Mrs.  Field,  into  which  she  placed  a  card  bearing 
her  name  and  address.  A  few  days  ago,  she  re 
ceived  a  letter  from  a  Lieutenant  at  Fayetteville, 
Ark. ,  stating  that  after  the  dreadful  battle  of 
Prairie  Grove,  as  he  was  assisting  to  dress  the 
wound  of  Willie  F.  B.  Culbertson,  of  this  place, 
and  who  has  since  died,  and  was  unrolling  the 
bandage,  a  card  dropped  out,  which  WiLIe  at  once 
recognized,  with  delight,  to  be  from  an  acquaint 
ance  of  his  own  town.  It  was  a  strange  circum 
stance,  that  a  gift,  after  passing  so  far,  and  through 
so  many  hands,  should  at  last  be  used  on  one 
of  the  donor's  own  neighbors  ;  but  it  may  be  only 
one  of  the  thousands  ^t  instances  in  which  the 
noble  women  of  the  North  shall  see,  after  this 
struggle  is  closed,  the  fruit  of  their  labors,  like 
"  bread  cast  upon  the  waters,"  after  many  days. 
The  kindness  that  the  brave  defenders  of  our 
nation  has  and  will  receive  from  their  mothers, 
wives,  sisters,  and  friends  at  home,  is,  no  doubt, 
received  with  grateful  hearts  while  living,  and 
will  not  be  forgotten,  though  they  be,  like  Willie, 
"far  beyond  the  rolling  river,"  where  the  strife 
of  battle  is  never  known. 


SERGEANT  PLTJNKETT.  —  In  the  battle  of  Fred- 
ericksburg,  the  color-bearer  of  the  Twenty-first 
Massachusetts  regiment  fell  mortally  wounded, 
when  Serg.  Plunkett  seized  the  standard,  bore  it 
to  the  front,  and  there  held  his  ground  until  both 
arms  were  shot  away  by  a  shell.  He  was  car 
ried  to  the  hospital,  and  subsequently  was  taken 
to  Washington,  the  whole  regiment  turning  out 
to  escort  him  to  the  station.  So  brave  a  man  de 
served  so  marked  an  honor. 


A  MOHAMMEDAN  COLONEL.  —  A  well-known 
Colonel  in  the  Union  service,  who  had  been  in 
jured  several  times  in  various  actions  during  the 
war,  received,  at  the  battle  of  Fort  Fisher,  a 
wound  which  was  considered  fatal.  As  usual  in 
such  cases,  the  chaplain  approached  him,  and  was 
about  offering  words  of  consolation,  when  the 
wounded  Colonel  interrupted  him  with,  •*  Pass 
on.  I'm  a  Mohammedan." 


AN  OBSERVING  NEGRO.  —  A  fine-looking  ne 
gro  went  into  the  Union  lines  on  the  Potomac, 
and  reported  himself  for  work. 

"  Where  are  you  from  ?  "  asked  the  officer  on 
duty. 

"  Culpepper  Court  House,  sar." 

"  What's  the  news  down  there  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  massa,  'cept  dar's  a  man  down  dar 
lost  a  mighty  good  and  valuable  nigger  dis 
morning,  and  I  reckon  he  dun  lose  more  afore 
night." 


SERGEANT  JOHN  MTJRKLAND.  —  When  the 
gallant  Capt.  Simonds,  of  the  Fifteenth  Massa 
chusetts  regiment,  fell  at  the'  battle  of  Antie- 
tam,  Lieut.-Col.  Kimball  took  the  dying  man's 
sword  off,  and,  handing  to  Serg.  Murkland,  said : 
"  I  want  you  to  take  this  sword,  and  lead  this 
company  ;  will  you  do  it  ?  "  He  answered  gal 
lantly,  "  I  will  do  so  —  anywhere  you  may  order." 
This  noble  answer,  made  in  the  face  of  death  and 
danger,  won  for  him  a  Captain's  commission. 


HAYES'  LATEST  THOUGHTS.  —  It 
may  be  interesting  to  know  the  state  of  Gen. 
Hayes'  thoughts  and  feelings  just  before  entering 
upon  that  desperate  conflict  in  the  Wilderness, 
where  he  lost  his  life.  In  a  letter  written  upon 
the  morning  on  which  the  march  commenced,  he 
says : 

"  This  morning  was  beautiful,  for 

4  Lightly  and  brightly  shone  the  sun, 
As  if  the  morn  was  a  jocund  one.' 

"  Although  we  were  anticipating  to  march  at 
eight  o'clock,  it  might  have  been  an  appropriate 
harbinger  of  the  day  of  the  regeneration  of 
mankind ;  but  it  only  brought  to  remembrance, 
through  the  throats  of  many  bugles,  that  duty 
enjoined  upon  each  one,  perhaps,  before  the  set 
ting  sun,  to  lay  down  a  life  for  his  country." 


A  SOLDIER  in  the  field  sent  the  following  ap« 
ial  to  the  boys  to  volunteer : 

I've  left  my  home  and  all  my  friends, 
And  crossed  the  mountains  craggy, 

To  fight  the  foe  and  traitor  bands, 
And  left  my  own  dear  Maggie. 

But  now  old  Jeff  is  doomed  to  fall ; 

The  traitor  dogs  do  yelp ; 
But  why  leave  us  to  do  it  all  ? 

Why  don't  you  come  and  help? 


A  STARTLING  EPISODE.  —  The  following  ac 
count  of  a  very  strange  adventure  was  given  by 
a  letter  writer  under  whose  observation  it  oc 
curred  : 

During  the  month  of  August,  in  1861,  while 
our  Iowa  regiment  was  stationed  at  Holla,  in 
Missouri,  our  company  was  detached  from  the 
regiment,  and  sent  to  guard  the  railroad  bridge 
at  the  Mozeille  Mills,  which,  it  was  rumored,  the 
guerrillas  of  that  neighborhood  were  preparing 
to  destroy. 

We  had  been  upon  the  ground  but  a  few  days, 
when  there  appeared  in  camp,  early  one:  morn 
ing,  a  very  old,  decrepit  mule,  which  made  direct 
for  the  door  of  a  stable  that  adjoined  the  Cap 
tain's  quarters,  from  which  it  appeared  he  had 
recently  been  stolen  by  a  guerrilla  and  carried 
away,  as  a  pack  animal.  Upon  approaching  the 
mule,  a  letter  was  discovered,  secured  to  the 
throat-  -atch  of  the  bridle,  which,  being  addressed 
to  the  Captain,  was  immediately  handed  into  his 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


135 


quarters.  Upon  opening  the  letter,  its  contents 
(written  in  the  delicate  handwriting  of  a  female) 
consisted  of  the  following  singular  announce 
ment  :  "  The  Temple  of  Jerusalem  was  destroyed 
on  the  first  Friday  before  the  full  moon."  The 
Captain  professed  to  understand  it,  and  said: 
"  jhe  guerrillas  will  attack  the  bridge  to-night," 
and  immediately  ordered  the  company  to  be  mus 
tered,  and  informed  them  of  the  imminence  cf 
an  attack,  which  might  be  looked  for  at  any  mo 
ment.  Ammunition  was  ordered  to  be  distrib 
uted,  the  guards  were  doubled,  pickets  thrown 
out,  and  every  precaution  taken  to  guard  against ' 
surprise.  At  the  close  of  the  day  a  drizzling 
rain  set  in,  which  continued  until  the  next  morn 
ing,  causing  the  night  to  be  intensely  dark. 

Three  picket  stations  had  been  thrown  out  into 
the  country  about  half  a  mile  from  the  opposite 
end  of  the  bridge,  where  the  main  guard » was 
posted  behind  a  pile  of  railroad  ties.  It  was  our 
lot  to  be  one  of  the  six  that  composed  the  mid 
night  guard  at  this  station.  We  had  been  upon 
our  post  about  an  hour,  when  one  of  the  men  ob 
served,  "  I  hear  footsteps."  We  listened,  and 
presently  heard  the  footsteps  of  several  persons 
approaching  us,  apparently  with  great  caution, 
through  a  dense  undergrowth  that  skirted  the 
opposite  side  of  the  road.  The  darkness  of  the 
night  was  so  great  that  we  could  not  see  them 
even  when  they  were  within  forty  feet  of  us  ;  but 
we  could  distinctly  hear  one  of  them  observe,  in 
a  petulant,  but  suppressed  tone,  "  Jim,  hold  up 
that  gun  of  yours  ;  that's  twice  you've  stuck  that 
bayonet  in  me."  At  this  moment  we  opened 
upon  them  with  all  our  guns.  There  was  no  gun 
fired  in  return,  but  we  could  distinctly  hear  them 
for  some  time  rushing  with  receding  steps  through 
the  thicket,  in  the  direction  of  a  cornfield,  in 
which  stood  a  log  cabin,  occupied  by  a  woman 
and  two  children,  the  husband  and  father  of 
whom  was  a  Union  soldier  in  one  of  the  Mis 
souri  regiments.  The  firing  of  our  guns,  which 
overshot  the  enemy,  had  aroused  the  entire  com 
mand,  and  brought  in  the  picket  guard,  when  the 
log  cabin  alluded  to  was  discovered  to  be  on  fire. 
Believing  it  to  be  the  incendiary  work  of  these 
guerrillas,  the  Captain  immediately  ordered  a  com 
mand  of  twenty  men  to  double-quick  through  to 
the  house,  and  endeavor  to  rescue  the  family  if 
in  danger.  Upon  reaching  the  vicinity  of  the/ 
opening  that  surrounded  the  cabin,  we  discovered 
that  a  quantity  of  hay  had  been  placed  against 
the  door  and  fired ;  and  near  the  building  a  party 
of  eight  or  nine  guerrillas,  armed  with  guns,  were 
grouped  together,  apparently  listening  to  some 
speaker.  Our  party,  which  had  divided  at  the 
edge  of  the  cornfield,  with  the  view  of  surround 
ing  the  Ciibin,  now  rushed  in  upon  them,  and  suc 
ceeded  in  capturing  three  of  their  number. 

We  had  arrived  too  late  to  render  any  assist 
ance  to  the  inmates  of  the  cabin,  which  had  al 
ready  sunk  down  into  a  smouldering  heap,  be 
neath  which  the  mother  and  her  children  had 
perisl.cl.  After  securing  our  prisoners  with  a 
portion  of  a  clothes  line,  hanging  from  a  branch  | 
of  a  tree,  they  were  conducted  to  camp,  where  | 


the  Captain  immediately  summoned  a  drum-head 
court-martial  to  try  them  upon  the  charge  of 
murder,  assuring  them  that  if  they  were  found 
guilty  they  would  be  shot  at  sunrise,  as  a  warn 
ing  to  their  guerrilla  comrades.  One  of  the 
party,  a  short,  thick  fellow,  with  a  bushy  head  of 
red  hair,  and  bloated  expression  of  countenance, 
when  asked  by  the  court-martial  "  if  he  had  any 
thing  to  say,"  sneeringly  turned  away,  refusing  to 
make  any  answer.  The  second  prisoner,  a  tall, 
slender  person,  of  dark  complexion,  with  one  eye 
concealed  beneath  a  handherchief  that  was  tied 
diagonally  around  his  head,  while  his  face  was 
scratched  and  scarred  with  fresh  wounds,  appar 
ently  the  result  of  some  bacchanalian  brawl 
with  his  comrades,  observed,  "  This  shooting  a 
feller,  arter  hc't  a  prisoner,  for  fighting1  for  the 
freedom  of  Missouri,  and  ag'in  the  abolitioners, 
ain't  accorden  to  law."  Here  a  member  of  the 
court-martial  asked  him  "  if  the  murdering  of  a 
helpless  woman  and  her  children,  at  the  midnight 
hour,  by  burning  them  to  death  while  sleeping, 
was  fighting  for  the  freedom  of  Missouri."  The 
fellow  turned  away  from  this  question  Mith  a  de 
jected  look,  muttering  that  "  her  husband  was  a 
damned  abolitioner."  The  third  person  was  a 
young  man,  or  boy,  apparently  about  sixteen 
years  old.  From  his  dialect,  and  the  nationality 
of  expression  on  his  countenance,  it  was  easy  to 
discern  that  he  was  of  Irish  descent.  He  was 
well  dressed,  and  appeared  to  be  greatly  dis 
tressed  at  his  situation  as  a  prisoner.  He  ob 
served,  with  much  alarm  expressed  on  his  coun 
tenance,  that  he  was  an  Irish  boy,  and  that  he 
had  been  in  the  United  States  but  ten  weeks, 
and  had  taken  no  part  in  the?  war ;  that  the  man 
who  had  burned  the  house  had  called  upon  him 
that  evening,  and  asked  him  to  join  them  in  a 
coon  hunt,  and  it  was  not  until  they  were  fired 
upon  at  the  bridge,  that  he  was  aware  of  the  char 
acter  and  object  of  the  party.  He  would  have 
left  them  then,  bit  the  night  was  dark,  and  he 
did  not  know  the  way  home. 

Here  one  of  the  court  arose,  and  informed  him 
that  his  story  partook  of  the  character  of  all 
guerrilla  pleas  of  innocence,  and  that  it  availed 
him  nothing.  He  had  been  caught  with  others 
in  the  very  act  of  committing  this  cruel  and  un 
feeling  murder,  and  it  only  remained  for  him 
to  say  that  the  court  found  all  of  them  guilty  of 
murder,  and  sentenced  them  to  be  shot  at  nine 
o'clock  the  next  morning. 

The  prisoners  were  then  ordered  to  the  guurd- 
house  —  a  log  dwelling  —  and  placed  in  the  cel 
lar  beneath  the  building.  The  remainder  of  the 
night  was  devoted  to  the  making  of  the  collins 
and  the  digging  of  a  grave  of  sufficient  dimen 
sions  to  hold  them  side  by  side.  When  the 
morning  returned,  the  rain  had  ceased  —  the 
clouds  had  passed  away,  and  soon  the  sun  arose 
with  a  warm  and  genial  glow.  All  nature  seemed 
refreshed  with  the  murky  shower  of  the  night  — 
while  all  around,  the  blades  of  grass,  the  lilac 
bushes,  and  forest  leaves,  drooped  under  the 
sparkling  rain-drops  that  glittered  on  their  folds ; 
and  the  birds  caiolied  v:M  and  lou  1  theii  morn- 


136 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


ing  matins.  All  felt  that  it  was  a  day  to  live, 
aiid  not  to  die  in.  The  drum  was  beat  at  early 
dawn,  mustering  the  company  under  arms,  to 
witness  the  punishment ;  and  a  detail  of  twelve 
men  was  made,  as  executioners,  under  the  com 
mand  of  a  corporal.  As  the  time  drew  near  for 
Ihe  execution,  it  was  discovered  that  two  of  the 
prisoners  had  made  their  escape  by  forcing  a  pas 
sage  through  the  partition  wall  of  the  cellar,  into 
the  cellar  of  an  adjoining  house. 

The  boy,  however,  was  still  a  prisoner,  and  all 
were  determined  that  he  should  be  made  an  ex 
ample  of.  Accordingly,  about  eight  o'clock,  he 
was  brought  out,  to  be  conducted  to  the  place  of 
execution.  Upon  seeing  the  soldiers  drawn  up 
to  receive  him,  he  commenced  wringing  his  hands, 
crying  and  calling  to  the  Captain,  saying,  "  O, 
Captain,  I  am  not  guilty.  Do  not  let  them  kill 
me.  Don't,  Captain;  you  can  save  me.  I  will 
give  you  my  watch  —  my  sister  will  give  you 
money.  O  God !  O  Holy  Mother !  O  Captain, 
speak  to  them  quick ;  they  are  taking  me  away ! " 
With  a  soldier  upon  each  side  of  him,  he  was 
now  led  by  the  arms  towards  the  place  of  execu 
tion,  still  calling  upon  the  Captain  to  save  him. 
When  he  discovered  the  coffin  and  grave  that 
had  been  prepared  for  him,  he  gave  a  wild,  fran 
tic  scream,  and  then  for  the  first  time  seemed  to 
realize  that  in  a  few  minutes  he  would  be  no 
more  among  the  living  ;  for  in  a  moment  after  he 
became  calm,  when,  turning  to  the  officer  of  the 
guard,  he  requested  him  to  ask  the  Captain  if  he 
would  give  him  time  to  write  to  his  mother  in 
Ireland.  The  Captain,  who  was  standing  upon 
one  side  of  the  hollow  square  of  soldiers  that  sur 
rounded  the  prisoner,  hearing  his  request,  imme 
diately  answered,  "  Yes ;  let  him  have  writing 
materials,"  —  which  were  immediately  brought, 
when  he  kneeled  down,  placing  the  paper  upon 
the  coffin  lid,  and  as  his  pen  dashed  off  the  words, 
"  Dear  Mother,"  tears  fell  upon  the  paper,  which, 
in  brushing  away  with  his  coat  sleeve,  erased  the 
words  he  had  written  ;  when,  springing  to  his 
feet,  h°  commenced  wringing  his  hands,  saying : 
"  I  cannot  write,  I  cannot  write  ;  O  soldier,  will 
you  write  for  me  ?  "  addressing  the  Corporal  of 
the  guard. 

At  that  moment,  there  arose  upon  the  stillness 
of  the  scene  the  wild,  piercing  scream  of  a  fe 
male,  as  she  burst  through  the  ranks  of  the  sol 
diers,  and  swept  out  upon  the  hollow  square,  in 
the  direction  of  the  prisoner.  It  was  an  Irish 
girl,  apparently  about  eighteen  years  old,  without 
bonnet  or  shoes,  her  dress  bespotted  with  mud, 
and  her  long,  dark  hair  streaming  in  the  wind,  as 
she  rushed  forward  with  a  wild,  heart-rending 
scream,  saying,  "  lie  is  my  brother ;  he  is  my 
brother."  In  a  moment  she  had  crossed  the 
square,  and  clasping  her  brother  in  her  arms,  she 
continued,  with  an  agonizing  scream,  "  O  soldiers ! 
O  Holy  Mother !  gentlemen !  for  the  love  of 
Jesus,  do  not  kill  him.  He  is  innocent — he  is 
my  brother  ! "  I  never  wish  to  look  upon  a  scene 
like  that  again  ;  and  many  a  hardy  hunter,  from 
Iowa's  border,  while  gazing  on  it,  felt  the  invol 
untary  tear  course  do-vn  his  manly  cheek.  But 


we  were  surrounded  by  murderers  and  assasnina, 
The  hand  that  had  received  pay  from  the  soldier 
for  a  draught  of  water  had  been  known  to  strike 
him  in  the  back  with  a  dagger  as  he  turned  away  ; 
and  our  officers  had  determined  to  make  an  ex 
ample  of  the  fir  t  murderer  that  fell  into  our 
hands.  The  girl  it  length  was  ordered  to  be  re 
moved.  When  two  soldiers  advanced  and  un 
loosed  her  grasp  upc.n  her  Drother,  her  screams, 
her  appeal <  to  all  for  meicy,  weie  terrible.  They 
had  dragged  her  but  a  short  distance  from  him, 
when,  booking  back,  rind  seeing  a  black  handker 
chief  r.lready  tVd  over  his  eyes,  with  one  vviM, 
frantic  scream,  she  flung  the  soldiers  from  her, 
and,  bounding  ba  ,k  to  her  brother,  tore  the 
handkerchief  from  his  eyes,  and  again  enfolded 
him  in  her  arms.  As  the  soldiers  were  again 
removing  her,  the  coat  sleeve  of  one  of  them  was 
torn  ^during  the  struggles,  and  her  eye  fell  upon 
a  breast-pin  that  he  had  fastened  upon  his  shirt 
sleeve,  perhaps  for  concealment  and  safety.  In 
an  instant  all  her  physical  powers  were  relaxed, 
and  in  a  calm,  subdued,  and  confident  tone  of 
voice,  she  observed,  as  she  pointed  to  the  pin, 
"  Soldiers,  let  me  make  one  more  effort  for  my 
brother."  The  soldiers,  startled  at  the  strange* 
ness  of  her  manner,  unloosed  their  grasp  upon 
her,  and  in  a  moment  she'  bounded  away  to  her 
brother,  shielding  his  body  again  with  her  pei- 
son  at  the  very  moment  that  the  guns  wert  de 
scending  to  receive  the  word  "fire."  Turning 
her  back  to  her  brother,  and  facing  the  file  of 
soldiers,  she  stood  forth  a  stately  woman.  Theie 
was  no  scream,  no  tear,  no  agonizing  expression, 
but,  calm  and  erect,  she  swept  the  field  with  her 
eye,  and  then  advancing  three  steps,  she  gave  the 
grand  hailing  signal  of  the  Master  Mason.  None 
but  Masons  among  those  soldiers  observed  it,  and 
there  were  many  of  them  in  that  command,  M'ho 
now  stood  mute  with  astonishment  at  the  strange 
and  mysterious  spectacle  before  them.  There  was 
a  grouping  of  the  officers  for  a  few  minutes,  when 
the  Captain  came  forward,  and  in  a  loud  voice 
said,  that  "  owing  to  the  distress  and  interfer 
ence  of  the  young  woman,  the  execution  would 
be  postponed  until  nine  o'clock,  next  day."  The 
guard  was  then  ordered  to  be  doubled,  and  a 
strict  watch  kept  over  the  prisoner  during  the 
night. 

Notwithstanding  this  precaution,  it  was  dis 
covered  in  the  morning,  that  both  the  boy  and 
his  sister  had  made  their  escape  ;  in  what  way 
they  accomplished  it  has  been  a  mystery  with  the 
company  from  that  time  to  this.*  During  the 
early  part  of  the  evening,  there  was  a  meeting  of 
the  Masonic  members  of  the  company  at  the  Cap 
tain's  quarters,  where  the  girl  was  examined,  and 
found  to  have  passed  all  the  degrees  in  Masonry, 
to  that  of  a  Master  Mason.  Where  or  how  sho 
had  acquired  these  degrees  she  declined  to  say. 


INCIDENT  OF  FORT  WAGNER. — A  corre 
spondent  of  f.  €  Southern  Presbyterian,  in  a  nar 
rative  of  tie  "last  days  cf  liL'.tery  Wagner," 
thas  writes  . 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


137 


In  one  case,  a  squad  of  six  men  was  ordered 
to  repair  a  parapet,  which  the  enemy  had  cut 
down,  and  were  still  at  work  upon.  They  started 
out,  and  almost  instantly  a  shell  burst  among 
them,  killing  one  and  wounding  four;  the  re 
maining  man  picked  up  his  sand-bag,  and  walked 
up  to  the  bie^ch  without  a  moment's  hesitation. 
The  next  squad  was  called,  and  went  up  to  the 
work  in  just  the  same  manner.  A  ten-inch  co- 
lumbiacl,  loaded,  was  dismounted  by  the  enemy's 
shot,  fell  over,  and  pointed  directly  at  a  maga 
zine,  its  carriage  took  fire,  and  the  officers  \vho 
ran  up  to  it,  tried  in  vain  to  extinguish  the  fire, 
by  shovelling  sand  upon  it.  They  called  for  vol 
unteers,  but  the  cannonade  was  too  furious. 
Many  shrank ;  it  was  not  a  command,  but  an  in 
vitation.  At  last,  one  gallant  fellow  rushed  up, 
joined  the  officers  in  their  work,  got  the  fire  un 
der,  and  came  down,  thank  God,  in  perfect  safety. 


THE  BELGIAN  MUSKETS.  —  An  Illinois  Colo 
nel  felt  it  his  duty  to  praise  these  double-acting 
arms.  Said  he,  "  In  platoon  firing  with  the  Bel 
gian  musket,  I  can  tell  what  I  cannot  with  any 
other  arm,  and  that  is,  how  many  pieces  have 
been  fired." 

"  How  can  you  tell  that  ?  " 

"  (),  /  count  the  men  on  the  ground.  It  never 
deceives  me.  It  is  '  fire  and  fall  back,'  flat. 

"  One  of  these  Belgian  muskets  will  kick  like 
a  mule,  and  burst  with  the  greatest  facility.  Sev 
eral  soldiers  in  our  Illinois  regiments  have  been 
killed  in  this  way.  The  bayonet,  too,  is  a  nov 
elty —  a  soft-iron  affair,  apparently  designed  to  coil 
round  the  enemy,  as  it  is  introduced,  thus  taking 
him  prisonei."  *  

GRATITUDE  ON  THE  BATTLE-FIELD.  —  In  the 
terrible  engagement  atFort  Donelson,  an  Orderly 
St-rgeant,  seeing  a  rebel  point  a  rifle  at  the  Cap 
tain  of  his  company,  threw  himself  before  his 
beloved  officer,  received  the  bullet  in  his  breast, 
and  fell  dead  in  the  arms  of  the  man  he  had  saved. 
The  brave  fellow  had  been  reared  and  very  gen 
erously  treated  by  the  Captain's  father,  and  had 
declared,  when  enlisting,  that  he  would  be  happy 
to  die  to  save  the  life  of  his  benefactor's  son. 
The  affection  shown  each  other  by  Damon  arid 
Pythias  did  not  exceed  that  of  this  nameless  sol 
dier.  

THE  REV.  DR.  MOORE,  of  Richmond,  Va.,  de 
livered  a  lecture  in  that  city  on  the  origin  and 
meaning  of  words,  in  which  many  curious  facts 
were  developed,  among  which  were  that  the  word 
r)avis  means,  "  God  with  us,"  and  that  Lincoln, 
when  subjected  to  etymological  analysis,  means, 
"  On  the  verge  of  a  precipice." 


INCIDENTS  OF  BALL'S  BLUFF.  —  A  soldier,  who 
was  in  this  battle,  relates  the  following  incidents : 

A  young  man,  named  Greenhall,  of  the  Cali 
fornia  regiment,  missing,  secreted  himself,  with 
three  comrades,  in  some  underbrush.  Greenhall 


was  an  excellent  marksman,  and  picked  off 
seven  of  the  enemy  who  had  got  between  him 
and  the  river.  One  of  J  hem,  lie  thinks,  was  an 
officer.  The  rest  then  briefly  vacated  the  spot, 
and,  \vith  his  comrades  Greenhall  managed  to 
make  his  way  back  to  our  lines. 

I" IB  number  of  those  killed  .vrnle  recrossing 
in  the  boats  ir»ust  have  been  quite  large.  In  one 
of  the  boats,  a  Philadelph  .an,  name  unknown, 
and  two  men  of  the  Tammany  regiment,  were 
pulling  at  the  oars.  They  were  compelled  to 
stand  upright,  and  their  shoulders  were  used  as 
rests  by  their  comrades,  who  kept  up  a  continu 
ous  fire.  Singular  to  say,  the  boat  had  reached 
the  middle  of  the  stream  before  one  of  the  oars 
men  was  struck.  They  finally  fell  simultaneous 
ly.  Their  places  were  instantly  supplied ;  the 
boat,  however,  turned  with  the  current,  drifted, 
as  they  thought,  out  of  danger.  In  less  than  fif 
teen  minutes,  however,  a  terrific  fire  was  poured 
into  it  from  the  skulking  enemy,  and,  filling 
slowly,  it  began  to  sink.  The  scene  then  pre 
sented  was  fearful  beyond  conception.  A  shriek 
of  horror  went  up  from  the  crew.  Men  clutched 
each  other  in  despair,  and  went  down  together. 
Voices  that  strove  'to  shout  for  help  were  drowned 
in  the  rushing  waters,  and  died  away  in  gurgles. 

Among  the  rebels  was  one  prominent  individ 
ual,  who  wore  a  red  handkerchief  tied  round  his 
head,  but  was  utterly  hatless,  coatless,  and  reck 
less,  standing  out  in  advance  of  his  line.  He 
loaded,  and  deliberately  fired  at  our  men  for 
nearly  an  hour  before  he  was  struck  down.  He 
wras  shot  by  a  member  of  the  Tammany  regi 
ment,  who,  almost  at  the  same  moment,  was 
pierced  by  a  rebel  musket  ball. 

Another  rebel  was  observed  to  be  ensconced 
on  the  top  of  a  tree,  and  seldom  fired  without 
inflicting  a  death-wound.  Capt.  Keffer,  of  com 
pany  K,  directed  one  of  his  men  to  shoot  him. 
An  instant  after,  the  rebel  fell  from  his  perch, 
and  went  crashing  like  a  log  through  branch  and 
foliage.  Several  other  adjacent  trees  were  ob 
served  to  be  vacated  before  much  time  had 
elapsed. 

After  the  battle,  one  of  our  men  was  found 
stark  dead  in  the  hollow  of  a  log  !  The  manner 
of  his  death  is  supposed  to  have  been  as  follows  : 
At  the  commencement  of  the  battle,  while  a  gen 
eral  confusion  prevailed,  he  probably  crept  into 
the  log  (which  lay  near  the  bank)  for  the  pur 
pose  of  "  picking  off  the  enemy."  This  shelter 
was  very  much  decayed  and  worm-eaten,  ami  was 
speedily7  pierced  by  a  rifle-ball.  When  dragged 
out,  his  musket  was  found  to  have  been  recently 
i  discharged.  The  rifle- ball  had  entered  his  breast, 
'  and  [Kissed  through  the  left  lung. 

In  the  panic  that  ensued  upon  the  discovery 
that  the  rebels  had  been  reenforced,  and  could 
not  be  driven  from  their  cover,  many  scenes,  that 
might  have  seemed  ludicrous  in  many  other  junc 
tures,  occurred  upon  the  hill-side.  It  was  not  un- 
j  common  for  frantic  men  to  leap  the  whole  dis 
tance  of  the  bluff,  and  plant  their  feet  on  their 
comrades'  backs.  A  lusty  loyalist,  who  had 
pounced  upon  a  prisoner,  slipped  at  the  top  of 


138 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


the  bluff,  but  still  keeping  a  desperate  hold  upon 
his  prey,  the  two  rolled  to  the  bottom  in  a  firm 
embrace ! 

There  was  in  the  California  regiment  a  gray- 
hahed  private  from  our  city.  He  had  fought 
hard  all  day,  and  had  been  twice  wounded,  the 
last  shot  carrying  away  his  trigger-finger.  He 
stood  upon  the  banks  of  the  stream,  divesting 
himself  of  his  surplus  clothing,  when  a  burly  fel 
low,  belonging  to  a  New  York  regiment,  leaped 
upon  him,  knocking  the  breath  out  of  the  old 
man's  body.  In  the  hurry  and  excitement  conse- 
ouent  upon  the  fight,  Unionists  and  rebels  fre 
quently  fell  into  each  other's  lines,  and  began  to 
fire  at  their  own  columns.  In  this  way  several 
of  our  soldiers  were  captured. 

A  man  named  Stokes,  who  was  among  the 
list  of  prisoners,  seeing  no  chance  of  escape,  lay 
down  in  an  open  field  among  a  number  of  the 
dead,  as  though  he  were  really  liors  de  combat. 
At  length  a  rebel  sharpshooter,  stumbling  upon 
his  body,  selected  it  as  an  excellent  one  for  a 
foot-rest.  Poor  Stokes  was  in  tribulation,  but 
held  his  peace.  At  length,  the  rebel,  having 
made  a  very  successful  shot,  sprang  up  and 
danced  around  for  joy,  well  nigh  kneading  his 
footstool  into  a  jelly  !  "  Stop  !  for  God's  sake  ! " 
shouted  Stokes.  The  sharpshooter  drew  back, 
perfectly  thunderstruck  ;  then,  divining  the  true 
state  of  affairs,  he  shouted  out,  "  You  sneaking 
Yankee  cuss,  git  up  here!"  The  ejaculation 
brought  a  score  of  rebels  to  the  spot,  and  Stokes, 
\vhon  last  seen,  was  going  off  under  a  guard,  with 
a  very  crest-fallen  face. 

The  most  deadly  contest  of  the  day  occurred 
between  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Fif 
teenth  and  Eighth  Virginia  regiments.  The  lat 
ter,  as  is  well  known,  were  at  the  time  retreat 
ing,  with  the  Fifteenth  hotly  pursuing.  The 
rebel  rear  was  brought  up  by  a  most  determined 
fellow,  who  turned  repeatedly,  and  discharged  his 
musket  in  our  ranks.  Animated  by  the  same 
personal  daring,  a  Union  soldier  rushed  beyond 
the  head  of  his  column,  firing  continually.  After 
the  pursuit  had  continued  for  some  distance,  it 
being  feared  that  our  men  were  to  be  drawn  into 
a  trap,  they  were  ordered  to  retire.  The  order 
was  obeyed  by  all  save  the  volunteer,  who  had 
led  the  advance,  ai.d  before  many  minutes,  he 
was  seen  struggling  with  the  laggard  Virginian, 
whose  own  column  had  gone  ahead.  Three  bar 
rels  of  a  revolver  were  discharged  at  the  rebel 
without  seeming  effect,  and  the  Virginian,  rush 
ing  upon  his  assailant  with  a  huge  knife,  was 
abo  t  to  stab  him.  His  knee  was  on  the  other's 
breitst,  and  the  loyalist  had  shut  his  eyes.  The 
knife,  however,  fell  from  the  other's  grasp,  and 
he  reeled  over,  lifeless.  All  three  of  the  pistol 
shots  had  actually  taken  effect  upon  him,  yet 
such  was  his  overmastering  brute  ferocity,  that 
for  some  instants  his  wounds  were  without  effect. 

It  is  related  of  Sewall  Randall,  of  company  D, 
California  regiment,  that  the  night  before  the  en 
gagement  he  had  a  singular  dream.  Next  morn 
ing,  so  vivid  was  the  impression  left  on  his  mem 
ory,  that  he  related  it  to  a  companion,  and  add 


ed  a  belief  that  it  was  an  unfavorable  omen. 
Neither  ridicule  nor  reason  could  move  him 
from  this  strange  conviction ;  and  when  the  ad 
vance  had  been  made,  he  went  into  action 
as  though  he  had  received  his  death-warrant. 
He  had  crossed  the  river,  but  had  barely  reached 
the  top  of  the  opposite  bluff,  when  he  fell,  shot 
through  the  side.  He  lingered  for  some  time  in 
great  agony,  but  before  death  his  pain  was  some 
what  abated.  

TIIE  DYING  SOLDIER.  —  It  was  the  evening 
after  a  great  battle.  All  day  lor  g  the  din  of 
strife  had  echoed  far,  and  thickly  strewn  lay  the 
shattered  forms  of  those  so  lately  erect  and  ex 
ultant  in  the  flush  and  strength  of  manhood. 
Among  the  many  who  bowed  to  the  conqueror 
Death  that  night  was  a  youth  in  the  freshness  of 
mature  life.  The  strong  limbs  lay  listless,  and 
the  dark  hair  was  matted  with  gore  on  the  pale, 
broad  forehead.  His  eyes  were  closed.  As  one 
who  ministered  to  the  sufferer  bent  over  him,  he 
at  first  thought  him  dead ;  but  the  white  lips 
moved,  and  slowly,  in  weak  tones,  he  repeated : 

"  Now  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep  ; 
I  pray  the  Lord  my  soul  to  keep  ; 
If  I  should  die  before  I  wake, 
I  pray  the  Lord  my  soul  to  take ; 
And  this  I  ask  for  Jesus'  sake." 

As  he  finished,  he  opened  his  eyes,  and  meet 
ing  the  pitying  gaze  of  a  brother  soldier,  he  ex 
claimed,  "  My  mother  taught  me  that  when  I  was 
a  little  boy,  and  I  have  said  it  every  night  since 
I  can  remember.  Before  the  morning  dawns,  I 
believe  God  will  take  my  soul  for  '  Jesus'  sake  ; ' 
but  before  I  die  I  want  to  send  a  message  to  my 
mother." 

He  was  carried  to  a  temporary  hospital,  and  a 
letter  was  written  to  his  mother,  which  he  dic 
tated,  full  of  Christian  faith  and  filial  love.  He 
was  calm  and  peaceful.  Just  as  the  sun  arose 
his  spirit  went  home,  his  last  articulate  words 
being : 

"  I  pray  the  Lord  my  soul  to  take ; 
And  this  I  ask  for  Jesus'  sake." 

So  died  William  B ,  of  the  Massachu 
setts  volunteers.  The  prayer  of  childhood  was 
the  prayer  of  manhood.  He  learned  it  at  his 
mother's  knee,  in  his  far  distant  Northern  home, 
and  he  whispered  it  in  dying,  when  his  young 
life  ebbed  away  on  a  Southern  battle-field.  It 
was  his  nightly  petition  in  life,  and  the  angel  who 
bore  his  spirit  home  to  heaven,  bore  the  sweet 
prayer  his  soul  loved  so  well. 

God  bless  the  saintly  words,  al:'ie  loved  and 
repeated  by  high  and  low,  rich  and  poor,  wise 
and  ignorant,  old  and  young,  only  second  to  oui 
Lord's  prayer  in  beauty  and  si m pi  city.  Happy 
the  soul  that  can  repeat  it  with  the  holy  fervor  of 
our  dying  soldier. 

BELMONT  AFTER  THE  FIGHT.  —  John  Seaton, 
Captain  of  company  B  in  the  Twenty-second  Il 
linois  regiment,  relates  the  following  incidents  : 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIIENTS. 


139 


"  The  day  after  the  battle,  Col.  Hart  was  in 
command  of  the  party  that  went  down  with  a 
flag  of  truce  to  bury  the  dead,  and  take  up  the 
wounded  that  still  lay  on  the  battle-field.  OJ 
my  company,  there  went  Lieut.  Morgan,  Corpo 
ral  B.  J3.  Gould,  privates  T.  C.  Young,  J.  W. 
Young,  and  Phil.  Sackett.  They  relate  some 
very  affecting  scenes  they  witnessed  upon  the 
battle-field,  one  of  which  was  the  finding  of  the 
body  of  Lieut.-Col.  Wentz  by  his  wife.  There 
lay  the  corpse  on  that  blood-stained  field,  ghastly 
in  the  embrace  of  death.  She  stands  gazing  at 
it  fixedly,  and  motionless  as  though  rooted  to 
the  spot ;  presently  her  eyes  fill  with  tears,  -ind 
she  breaks  out  in  a  low,  agonizing  cry :  '  Poc/ — 
poor  —  soul  —  is  it  gone  ?  '  and  falls  prostrate 
upon  his  body.  Then  it  was  that  stout  and  hard- 
featured  men  wept.  Every  rebel  officer  took  out 
his  pocket  handkerchief  to  wipe  away  the  tears 
that  came  trickling  down  their  cheeks.  One  of 
them  remarked,  « I'd  give  ten  thousand  dollars  to 
recall  that  man  to  life.'  And  the  « boys '  say  they 
believe  he  meant  it.  They  found  many  poor  fellows 
badly  wounded  that  hud  lain  there  since  the  battle. 
The  rebels  had  been  around  during  the  night,  and 
given  them  water,  and  other  necessaries,  and  had 
taken  a  great  many  into  the  hospitals. 

"  I  believe  we  did  meet  the  flower  of  the 
Southern  army,  for  they  fought  bravely,  and  their 
arms  were  all  superior  to  ours.  Every  piece  I 
saw  was  rilled,  and  had  all  the  latest  improve 
ments  ;  and  there  were  a  great  many  Sharp's  six- 
shooting  rides.  Their  officers'  uniforms  were 
splendid  and  gorgeous,  but  the  men's  clothes 
were  nearly  all  of  a  brownish  gray,  coarse,  home 
spun  jeans.  In  the  early  part  of  the  fight,  two 
men  of  company  C  brought  a  Icng,  lean  pris 
oner  to  me.  He  was  about  six  feet  two  inches, 
and  belonged  to  the  Second  Tennessee  regiment. 
He  was  very  much  scared.  I  asked  him  how 
many  men  we  were  fighting ;  he  raised  his  hands 
above 'his  head,  and  spoke  in  that  peculiar  style 
so  much  in  vogue  in  the  rural  districts  of  Slave 
States,  where  they  see  so  much  of  the  '  nigger.* 
'  To  God,  stranger,  I  can't  tell ;  this  ground  was 
jist  kivered  with  men  this  mornin' ;  swar  me  in, 
stranger ;  I'll  take  the  oath  right  now ;  I'll  fight 
for  you ;  only  please  don't  kill  me."  I  told  him 
he  should  not  be  hurt,  if  he  behaved  himself,  and 
tied  him,  commanding  him  to  lie  down  and  re 
main  there  till  I  came  back,  and  then  left  him. 
I  saw  him  no  more  that  day,  but  some  one  else 
brought  him  along  before  night. 


THE  NEGRO  SERGEANT  OF  PADUCAH.  —  A 

negro  Sergeant  in  charge  of  the  fort  at  Paducah, 
where  the  Confederates,  under  Col.  Thompson, 
tried  to  storm  it,  was  conspicuous  for  his  gallantry. 
He  did  not  always  use  military  terms,  but  his 
words  answered  as  well.  "  Hurry,  boys  !  load 
afore  the  smoke  clears,"  —  and  before  the  advanc 
ing  column  of  the  enemy  had  gained  many  steps, 
a  terrific  discharge  of  spherical  case  or  other  shot 
staggered  them  back,  and  thus  the  horrid  butchery 
visited  on  Fort  Pillow  was  averted  from  Paducah. 


SPRING    AT    THE    CAPITAL, 

BY   MRS.    PAUL    AKEKS. 

THE  poplar  drops  beside  the  way 
Its  tasselled  plumes  of  silver  gray  ; 
The   chestnut  pouts  its  great  brown  buds,  Impa 
tient  for  the  laggard  May. 

Che  honeysuckles  lace  the  wall ; 
The  hyacinths  grow  fair  and  tall ; 
And  mellow  sun,  and  pleasant  wind,  and  odorous 
bees  are  over  all. 

Down-look  ng  in  this  snow- white  bud, 
How  distant  seems  the  war's  red  flood  I 
How  far  remote  the  streaming  wounds,  the  sicken 
ing  scent  of  human  blood ! 

Nor  Nature  does  not  recognize 
This  strife  that  rends  the  earth  and  skies ; 
No  war-dreams  vex  the  winter  sleep  of  clover-heads 
and  daisy  eyes. 

She  holds  her  even  way  the  same, 
Though  n0vies  sink  or  cities  flame  ; 
A  snow-drop  is  a  snow-drop  still,  despite  the  na 
tion's  joy  or  shame. 

When  blood  her  grassy  altar  wets, 
She  sends  the  pitying  violets 

To  heal  the  outrage  with  their  bloom,  and  cover  it 
with  soft  regrets. 

O  crocuses,  with  rain-wet  eyes, 
O  tender-lipped  anemones, 

What  do  you  know  of  agony,  and  death,  and  blood- 
wron  victories  ! 

No  shudder  breaks  your  sunshine  trance, 
Though  near  you  rolls,  with  slow  advance, 
Clouding  your  sliming  leaves  with  dust,  the  an- 
gukh-laden  ambulance. 

Yonder  a  white  encampment  hums; 
The  clash  of  ma  rtial  music  comes  ; 
And  now  your  startled  stems  are  all  a- tremble  with 
the  jar  of  drums. 

Whether  it  lessen  or  increase, 
Or  whether  trumpets  shout  or  cease, 
Still  deep  within  your  tranquil  hearts  the  happy 
bees  are  humming,  "Peace  !  " 

O  flowers,  the  soul  that  faints  or  grieves, 
New  comfort  from  your  lips  receives  ; 
Sweet  confidence  and  patient  faith  are  hidden  in 
your  healing  leaves. 

Help  us  to  trust,  still  on  and  on, 
That  this  dark  night  will  soon  be  gone, 
And  that  these  battle-stains  are  but  the  blood-red 
trouble  of  the  dawn  — 

Dawn  of  a  broader,  whiter  day 
Than  ever  blessed  us  with  its  ray  — 
A  dawn  beneath  whose  purer  light  all  guilt  and 
wrong  shall  fade  away. 

Then  shall  our  nation  break  its  bands, 
And  silencing  the  envious  lands, 
Stand  in  the  searching  light  misnamed,  with  spot 
less  robe,  and  clean,  white  hands. 


140 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


CAPT.  REID,  of  the  Fifteenth  Iowa  regiment, 
relates  the  following  incident  of  the  march  from 
Vicksburg  to  Meridian:  "An  amusing  circum 
stance  occurred  at  Jackson,  which  I  heard  related, 
but  did  not  witness,  but  wished,  when  I  heard  of 
it,  I  had  had  a  dead-head  ticket  to  the  show.  A 
house  was  on  fire,  and  an  elderly  lady  wished  to 
save  from  the  wreck  a  large  old-fashioned  mirror, 
which  was  up  stairs.  Being  unable  to  manage  it 
herself,  she  called  upon  a  soldier,  who  kindly  con 
sented  to  assist  her ;  and  going  up,  shouldered 
the  mirror,  and  with  it  on  his  back,  had  nearly 
reached  the  bottom  of  the  long  flight  of  stairs, 
when,  seeing  a  chicken,  of  which  a  party  were  in 
pursuit,  he  became  so  excited,  and  so  far  forgot 
bimself  and  the  precious  burden  with  which  he 
was  loaded,  that  he  gave  one  long  bound  for  the 
chicken,  dashing  the  mirror  on  the  floor,  and 
breaking  it  into  a  thousand  pieces.  The  lady 
stood  still,  and  raising  up  both  hands,  gazed  at 
the  young  scapegrace  as  he  ran  in  mute  wonder 
and  astonishment.  Poor  woman !  Like  the  milk 
maid  in  Webster's  old  spelling  book,  her  castles 
built  in  the  air  vanished  like  a  noonday  dream." 


A  SHELL  burst  near  an  Irishman  in  the  trench 
es,  when,  surveying  the  fragments,  he  exclaimed : 
"  Be  jabers !  them's  the  fellows  to  teckle  yer 

ear ! "  

AN  INCIDENT  AT  GETTYSBURG.  —  A  surgeon 
of  the  Virginia  army  relates  the  following  inci 
dent  :  "  As  1  was  pushing  my  way  through  a  crowd 
of  idle  spectators,  at  the  Second  Corps  hospital, 
Gettysburg,  one  of  our  wounded,  from  a  North 
Carolina  regiment,  called  to  me  in  a  feeble  voice. 
[  went  to  him,  and  he  said  :  '  You  are  a  Confed 
erate  surgeon  —  are  you  not  ?  '  I  answered  him, 
*  Yes  ;  what  can  I  do  for  you  ? '  He  caught  me 
nervou*?*"  by  the  arm  ;  and  in  a  manner  very  strik 
ing  and  very  eloquent,  he  uttered:  'What  do 
you  think,  doctor  ?  I  am  wounded  and  dying  in 
defence  of  my  country,  and  these  people  are  try 
ing  to  persuade  me  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance 
to  theirs ! ' 

"  The  crowd  around  him  scattered  as  if  a  bomb 
had  fallen  into  their  midst,  whilst  I,  overcome  by 
the  fervent  eloquence  of  his  words,  could  only 
bow  in  silence  over  the  gallant  fellow,  upon  whose 
brow  the  damp  shadow  of  death  was  already  gath 
ering."  

CRUELTIES  OF  THE  WAR.  —  Before  the  rebel 
lion,  there  resided  in  Carter  County,  Tennessee, 
two  families  named  Hetherley  and  Tipton,  who 
were  on  the  most  intimate  and  friendly  terms. 
When  the  troubles  came  upon  the  country,  the 
male  members  of  the  Hetherley  family  organ 
ized  a  Federal  company  for  home  protection, 
while  the  Tipton  boys  espoused  the  rebel  cause, 
and  joined  the  Confederate  army  in  Virginia. 
After  an  absence  of  a  year,  the  elder  Tipton  re 
turned  to  his  native  county  with  a  Lieutenant's 
commission,  and  a  squad  of  soldiers,  and  imme 
diately  set  to  work  to  clear  the  neighborhood  of 


all  the  Unionists.  Tipton  was  brutal  and  unscru 
pulous  in  the  course  he  pursued  towards  liis  former 
friends.  Learning  that  one  of  the  Iletherleys  was 
lurking  in  the  vicinity,  and  failing,  after  a  thorough 
search,  to  discover  his  whereabouts,  he  took  lleth- 
erley's  widowed  mother  fi  ;m  her  house  in  the 
night,  carried  her  to  an  adjoining  wood,  and  put 
ting  a  rope  around  her  neck,  threatened  that  if 
she  did  not  instantly  reveal  her  son's  hiding-place, 
he  would  hang  her.  This  she  refused  to  do,  and 
Tipton,  as  good  as  his  word,  had  her  suspended 
to  a  tree  until  life  was  nearly  extinct.  When  she 
came  to,  he  assured  her  that  unless  she  told 
where  her  son  was  concealed,  he  would  surely 
kill  her.  But  the  old  lady  was  not  to  be  intimi 
dated,  and  again  and  again  was  she  strung  up, 
when  Tipton,  convinced  that  he  could  not  wring 
her  secret  from  her,  left  her  lying  on  the  ground 
more  dead  than  alive.  Hetherley  heard  of  the 
outrage  perpetrated  upon  his  mother,  and  sent 
word  to  Tipton  to  look  out,  for  the  avenger  was 
on  his  track.  That  very  night,  as  Tipton  was 
making  preparations  to  leave  the  country,  he  was 
surprised  at  his  father's  house  by  Hetherley's 
company,  and  taken  to  the  mountains.  Here  he 
was  compelled  to  pay  the  penalty  of  death  for  his 
cruelties.  Hetherley,  maddened  at  the  cruelties 
inflicted  upon  his  helpless  old  mother,  had  him 
stripped  and  bound,  made  him  kneel  upon  a  cof 
fin  and  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Federal 
Government,  and  then  compelled  the  negro  ser 
vant  to  blow  his  brains  out  with  a  revolver. 


A  GIRL  WORTH  HAVING.  —  "  One  of  our  fair 

countrywomen,"  says  a  correspondent,  "  the  daugh 
ter  of  a  rich  and  independent  farmer  of  Rocking- 
ham,  was  married,  the  other  day,  to  a  gentleman 
who  may  congratulate  himself  upon  having  secured 
a  prize  worth  having.  She  was  what  we  should 
call '  an  independent  girl,'  sure  enough.  Her  bridal 
outfit  was  all  made  with  her  own  hands,  from  her 
beautiful  straw  hat  down  to  the  handsome  gaiters 
upon  her  feet  !  Her  own  delicate  hands  spun  and 
wove  the  material  of  which  her  wedding  dress 
and  travelling  cloak  were  made ;  so  that  she  had 
nothing  upon  her  person,  when  she  was  married, 
which  was  not  made  by  herself!  Nor  was  she 
compelled  by  necessity  or  poverty  to  make  this 
exhibition  of  her  independence.  S.je  did  it  for 
the  purpose  of  showing  to  the  world  how  inde 
pendent  Southern  girls  are.  If  this  noble  girl 
were  not  wedded,  we  should  be  tempted  to  pub 
lish  her  name  in  this  connection,  so  that  our 
bachelor  readers  might  see  who  of  our  girls  are 
most  to  be  desired.  If  she  .were  yet  single,  and 
we  were  to  publish  her  name,  her  pa's  house 
would  be  at  once  thronged  with  gallant  gentlemen 
seeking  the  hand  of  a  woman  of  such  priceless 
value."  —  Pdclimond  Sentinel. 


THE  CAPTAIN  AND  THE  CHAPL/IN. —  A  uor- 
respondent  with  the  army  of  the  Cumberland 
tells  the  following  :  — 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


141 


On  the  morning  of  our  arrival  at  Strawberry 
Plains,  a  Captain  on  Gen.  Sheridan's  staff  de 
scried  a  man  dressed  in  a  semi-military  garb,  com 
mon  to  sutlers  and  other  army  followers,  riding 
leisurely  along  in  a  dilapidated  carriage,  drawn 
by  a  span  of  mules.  The  most  remarkable  fea 
ture  about  the  individual  in  the  carriage,  was  a 
Bardolphian  proboscis  of  magnificent  proportions 
and  gorgeous  colors,  at  once  suggestive  of  luscious 
tods  and  invigorating  cordials.  The  Captain, 
fatigued  and  thirsty,  taking  his  cue  from  the  oth 
er's  illuminated  frontispiece,  rode  close  beside 
him,  and  asked,  in  a  confidential  tone,  if  he 
couldn't  give  him  a  "  suck."  "  No,  sir,"  was  the 
reply  ;  "  I  am  not  a  wet  nurse."  "  O,  but  I  mean 
the  fact  is,  I'm  devilish  dry." 
"  No,  sir,  I  cannot ;  I  never  use  intoxicating  bev 
erages  of  any  description  ;  therefore,  have  none." 
"  But,"  persisted  the  Captain,  "  have  you  no 
friends  or  acquaintances  that  you  could  recom 
mend  me  to.  I'm  hankering  mightily 'after  a 
nip."  "  No,  sir ;  I  do  not  frequent  the  society  of 
intemperate  men."  "  Well,"  said  the  Captain, 
looking  hard  at  him  of  the  fiery  visage  and  rum- 
blossomed  nose,  "  perhaps  we  have  both  mistaken 


and,  as  I  am  told,  beautiful  eyes  upon  him.  Not 
unfrequently  he  would  ride  out  of  town  into  the 
country,  be  absent  three  or  four  hours,  and  ret'  xn. 
For  all  the  Lours  of  the  twenty-four,  but  just 
these,  she  could  account.  Within  them,  then,  lay 
the  mischief,  if  mischief  there  was  ;  and  she  be  • 
gan  to  watch  if  he  made 
these  excursions.  None. 


any  preparations  for 
lie  loaded  his  old- 


fashioned  pistol,  drew  on  his  gloves,  lighted  a 
cigar,  bade  her  a  loving  good  by  —  "only  that, 
and  nothing  more/'1 
Time  would  show. 


Was  he  deep  and  she  dull  ? 
At  last,  she  observed  that  he 


put  an  unusual  charge  into  the  pistol,  one  day, 
and  all  at  once  she  grew  curious  in  pistols.  Would 
he  show  her  some  day  how  to  charge  a  pistol, 
how  to  fire  a  pistol,  how  to  be  a  dead  shot  ?  And 
just  at  that  minute  she  was  athirst,  and  would  he 
bring  her  a  lemonade  ?  She  was  left  toying  with  the 
weapon,  and  he  went  for  the  drink  as  requested. 
The  instant  the  door  closed  behind  him,  she  drew 
the  charge,  for  she  knew  as  much  of  pistols  as  he, 
and  substituted  another.  She  was  not  a  minute 
too  soon,  for  back  he  came,  took  the  pistol,  and 
rode  away.  No  sooner  had  he  gone  than  she  set 
about  an  "examination  of  the  charge,  and  it  proved 


your  calling;  are  you  not  a  sutler?"     "Sutler?   to  be  plans  and  details  of   Federal  forces  and 
no,  sir,"  returned  the  now  exasperated  occupant   movements,  snugly  rolled  together.      The  mis- 


of  the  carriage.  "  I  am  a  follower  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ ;  the  chaplain  of  the  • Ohio  cav 
alry,  and  a ."  The  Captain  stopped  not  to 

hear  more,  but  putting  spurs  to  his  horse,  left  in 
a  twinkling.  

SCOUTS  AND  SPIES.  —  There  is  a  description 
of  invaluable  service,  says  Benj.  F.  Taylor  in  his 
entertaining  letters,  requiring  the  coolest  courage, 
and  the  clearest  head  and  the  quickest  wit  of  any 
soldierly  duty,  but  which,  from  its  nature,  seldom 


chief  was  in  the  pistol,  then,  though  none  but  a 
woman  would  have  thought  of  it ;  and  so  it  was 
that  he  carried  information  to  his  rebel  friends 
with  rural  proclivities.  The  woman's  purpose 
was  gained,  and  when  the  officer  returned,  Itis 
"  next  best  friend  "  had  vanished  like  an  Arab  or  a 
vision,  and  he  had  hardly  time  to  turn  about  before 
he  was  under  arrest.  Admiring  the  adroitness  of 
the  achievement,  we  cannot  help  regretting  that 
a  woman  performed  it.  The  memory  of  a  man's 
mother  is  sacred,  and  he  feels  that  whoever  wears 


appears' in  print.   I  refer,  of  course,  to  the  achieve-    her  form  unworthily,  anc>  debases  woman's  grace- 


ments  of  the  scout.  He  passes  the  enemy's  lines, 
sits  at  his  camp  fire,  penetrates  even  into  the 
presence  of  the  commanding  General ;  he  seems 
a  Tennesseean,  a  Georgian,  an  Irishman,  a  German 
—  anything  indeed  but  what  he  really  is ;  if  he 
falls,  no  friendly  heart  can  ever  know  where; 
his  grave  is  nameless.  I  might  name  a  soldier 
from  Illinois  who  has  thus  gained  information  of 
the  greatest  moment,  and  whose  dangers  and 
daring  would  make  a  chapter  of  romance. 

Women  not  invariably  any  "  better  than  they 
should  be"  have  always  been  employed  to  per- 


i'ul  gifts,  profanes  it. 

A  FRIGHTENED  CONTRABAND.  —  An  army  cor 
respondent  on  the  Ilappahannock  related  the  fol 
lowing  : 

An  amusing  incident  occurred  in  camp  a  night 
or  two  since.  A  portly  young  contraband,  from 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  who  escaped  from  his  rebel 
master  at  An'tietam,  and  was  for  a  while  quartered 
subsequently  in  Washington,  was  engaged  by  one 
of  our  junior  staff  officers  as  his  body  servant, 
and  brought  down  here  to  his  quarters  to  attend 


suade  information  out  of  unsuspecting,  but  not  j  him.  It  chanced  that  the  officer  had  served  his 
unsuspected  persons,  and  they  bring  a  degree  of  country  gallantly  at  Sharpsburg,  where  he  lost  a 
tact  and  shrewdness  into  play  that  hirsute  hu-  |  leg,  below  the  knee,  the  absence  of  which  had 
man'ty  can  never  hope  to  equal.  Many  a  wasp  has  [  been  made  up  by  an  artificial  limb,  which  the 
been  caught  with  their  honey  of  hypocrisy.  Take  j  Captain  wore  with  so  easy  a  grace  that  few  per- 
an  illustration :  A  subordinate  Federal  officer  in  a  sons  who  met  him  suspected  his  misfortune  — 
certain  city  within  this  department  had  been  long  his  sable  attendant  being  among  the  blissfully 
suspected  of  disloyalty,  but  no  proof  to  warrant !  ignorant  as  to  the  existence  of  the  fact, 
bis  arrest  could  be  obtained,  and  so,  as  a  dernier  I  The  Captain  had  been  "  out  to  dine,"  and  re- 
resort,  a  woman  was  set  at  him.  She  smiled  her  j  turned  in  excellent  spirits  to  his  tent.  Upon 
way  into  his  confidence,  and  became  his  "  next !  retiring,  he  called  his  darky  servant  to  assist  him 
best  friend ;  "  but  finding  that  ears  were  of  no  use,  !  in  pulling  off  his  riding  boots. 
—  for  he  could  not  be  induced  to  say  one  word  of  |  "Now,  Jimmy,  look  sharp,"  said  the  Captain, 
matters  pertaining  to  his  office,  —  she  changed  her  j  "  I'm  a  little  —  ic  —  flimsy,  Jimmy,  t'i.ight.  Looi 
plan  of  attack,  and  turned  a  couple  of  curious, '  srurp,  an'  —  ic  —  pull  steady." 


142 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


"  Ise  allers  keerful,  Cap'n,"  says  Jimmy,  draw-  i 
Lng  off  one  long,  wet  boot,  with  considerable ; 
difficulty,  and  standing  it  aside. 

"Now,  mind  your  eye,  Jim!  The  other  — 
ic  — _  a  little  tight ;  "  and  black  Jimmy  chuckled 
and  showed  his  shining  ivories,  as  he  reflected, 
perhaps,  that  his  master  was  quite  as  "  tight "  as 
he  deemed  his  boot  to  be. 

"Easy,  now  —  that's  it.  Pull  away."  con- 
tir.ued  the  Captain,  good-naturedly,  and  enjoying 
tin;  prospective  joke,  while  he  loosened  the  straps 
about  his  waist  which  held  his  cork  leg  up  — 
"  noio  you've  got  it !  Yip  —  there  you  are !  0 
Lord!  O  Lord!  Q  Lord!"  screamed  the  Cap 
tain,  as  contraband,  cork  leg,  riding  boot,  and 
ligatures  tumbled  across  the  tent  in  a  heap,  and 
the  one-legged  officer  fell  back  on  his  pallet,  con 
vulsed  with  spasmodic  laughter.  At  this  moment 
the  door  opened  and  a  Lieutenant  entered. 

"  G'way  fum  me,  g'way  fum  me  —  lemmy  be ! 
lemmy  be !  I  ain't  done  nuffin,"  yelled  the  con 
traband,  lustily,  and  rushing  to  the  door,  really 
Supposing  he  had  pulled  his  master's  leg  clean 
off'.  "  Lemmy  go  !  I  didn't  do  nuffin —  g'way ! 
g'way ! "  And  Jimmy  put  for  the  woods  in 
his  desperation,  since  which  he  hasn't  been  seen 
or  heard  from,  though  his  Captain  has  diligently 
sought  for  him  far  and  near. 


AN  INCIDENT.  —  The  following  occurred  while 
arrangements  for  an  exchange  of  prisoners  were 
being  completed  near  the  Union  lines  at  Decatur, 
Ala. :  Sergeant  Miller  of  the  Ninth  Illinois  in 
fantry,  who  had  been  taken  prisoner  during  the 
fight  at  Moulton,  and  who  had  been  exchanged 
one  week  before,  was  along  with  the  squad  of 
national  troops  who  had  gone  out  to  effect  the 
exchange.  When  taken  prisoner,  a  rebel  soldier 
demanded  of  him  his  pocket-book  and  "  green 
backs."  Pie  had,  of  course,  to  surrender  it. 
Before  he  was  exchanged,  he  had  made  the  remark 
in  the  presence  of  several  rebels,  that  he  would 
shoot  the  man  who  took  his  pocket-book  the  first 
time  he  could  get  his  eyes  upon  him.  "When  we  met 
that  soldier  was  there.  He  immediately  recog 
nized  Sergeant  Miller,  took  him  aside,  and  gave 
him  his  pocket-book  and  money,  with  the  excep 
tion  of  five  dollars,  which  he  had  loaned  to  some 
one.  This  he  promised  to  get  and  send  in  to  him 
the  irst  chance.  

AN  ESCAPE  FROM  RICHMOND.  —  John  Bray, 
of  the  First  New  Jersey  cavalry,  thus  describes 
his  escape  from  Richmond  captivity : 

"  On  Sunday  morning  I  made  my  final  attempt 
to  escape.  Arranging  necessary  preliminaries  with 
a  comrade,  I  passed  down  stairs  with  the  detail 
sent  for  provisions,  wearing  my  blanket,  and 
keeping  as  much  as  possible  under  cover  of  those 
whom  I  was  about  to  leave.  Reaching  the  yard, 
-*hich  was  filled  with  rebel  soldiers,  I  suddenly, 
upon  a  favorable  opportunity,  slipped  the  blanket 
from  my  shoulders  to  those  of  my  chum,  and 
stepping  quickly  into  the  throng,  stood,  tc  all 
appearance,  a  rebel,  having  precisely  their  uni 


form,  and  looking  as  dirty  and  ragged  as  the 
I  worst  among  them.  But  I  was  not  yet  free. 
The  point  now  was  tc  get  out  of  the  yard.  To 
do  this  it  was  T.ecessary  to  pass  the  sentinels  at 
the  gates,  all  tf  which  were  thus  guarded.  My 
wits,  however,  difficult  as  I  knew  my  enterprise  to 
be,  did  not  desert  me.  With  an  air  of  uncon 
cern,  whistling  the  "  Bonnie  Blue  Flag,"  I  saun 
tered  towards  the  nearest  gate,  paused  a  moment 
as  I  neared  it  to  ±augh  with  the  rest  at  some  joke 
of  one  of  the  guard ;  then,  abstractedly,  and 
with  deliberate  pace,  as  if  passing  in  and  out  had 
been  such  a  customary  affair  with  me  as  to  make 
any  formal  recognition  of  the  sentinels  unneces 
sary,  I  passed  out.  That  my  heart  throbbed 
painfully  under  my  waistcoat,  and  that  1  expected 
every  moment  to  hear  the  dread  summons 
"  Halt ! "  you  need  not  be  told.  An  age  of  feel 
ing  was  crowded  into  that  moment.  But  I  passed 
out  unchallenged.  Whether  it  was  that  my  non 
chalant  air  put  the  sentinels  off  their  guard,  or 
that  they  were  for  the  moment  absorbed  in  the 
joke  at  which  all  the  soldiers  were  laughing,  I 
cannot  tell ;  nor  does  it  matter.  I  was  free  ;  the 
whole  world  was  before  me  ;  and  my  whole  being 
was  aglow  with  that  thought.  I  had  still  dangers, 
it  was  true,  to  encounter,  but  the  worst  was  past, 
and  I  felt  equal  to  any  that  might  lie  before." 


LOYAL  TENNESSEE  WOMEN.  —  It  is  a  singular 
and  remarkable  circumstance  that  loyal  sentiment 
in  the  South  is  found  inseparably  connected  with 
a  broken  and  mountainous  surface. 

The  low  and  fertile  bottoms  were  everywhere 
committed  to  slavery,  and  hence  to  disunion. 
Nowhere  was  this  more  aptly  illustrated  than  in 
Tennessee. 

East  Tennessee  was  loyal  by  an  overwhelming 
majority.  There  was  a  strong  Union  sentiment 
in  Northern  Georgia  and  Northern  Alabama.  So 
also  in  Western  Tennessee,  as  there  is  a  line  of 
high  and  sharp  hills  just  west  of  the  Tennessee 
River,  there  may  be  found  a  decided  attachment 
to  the  old  flag. 

Wherever  in  such  communities  there  is  genu 
ine  loyalty,  its  displays  have  been  magnanimous 
and  decided ;  and  the  traditions  of  those  com 
munities  abound  in  incidents  of  fidelity  and  de 
votion,  under  circumstances  where  such  displays 
were  by  no  means  sentimental  or  free  from  danger. 

The  following  incident  will  show  the  devotion 
and  loyalty  of  two  plain  women  living  in  an  ob 
scure  county  of  Tennessee  :  — 

The  Twenty-seventh  Iowa  regiment  had  taken 
cars  at  Corinth,  and  were  travelling  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Jackson.  It  was  the  summer  of  1862, 
when  Jackson  contained  the  headquarters  of  Gen. 
Grant.  The  train  started,  and  was  proceedii  g  at 
a  high  rate  of  speed,  every  square  foot  where  a 
man  could  sit  or  stand  being  covered  with  a 
soldier. 

Just  before  reaching  a  railroad  Iridge  the  en 
gineer  saw  a  couple  of  lanterns  being  waved  in 
the  distance  directly  on  the  track.  He  stopped 
the  locomotive,  and  sent  men  ahead  to  ascertain 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


143 


the  cause  of  the  alarm.  They  found  the  lanterns 
held  by  two  women,  who  explained  how  a  crew 
of  guerrillas  in  that  vicinity  had  been  informed 
that  a  train  thus  loaded  with  Union  soldiers  was 
expected,  and  had  fired  the  bridge  at  eight  o'clock 
that  evening,  and  allowed  the  main  timbers  to 
Durn  so  that  the  bridge  would  break  under  the 
weight  of  the  train,  and  then  put  out  the  fire. 
These  noble  women  had  heard  of  the  act,  and 
walked  ten  miles  through  the  mud  at  midnight, 
carrying  their  lanterns,  and  taking  their  station 
on  the  track,  where  they  had  patiently  waited  for 
hours,  with  the  determination  of  thwarting  the 
dastardly  plan  of  the  villains.  The  officers  of  the 
regiment,  thus  saved  from  a  terrible  accident 
through  the  heroism  of  these  women,  begged  of 
them  to  accept  some  present  as  a  proof  of  their 
gratitude  ;  but  they  would  have  nothing,  saying 
they  did  it  for  their  country,  and  wanted  no  pay. 
A  party  of  soldiers  was  detailed  to  escort  them 
to  their  homes.  How  far  is  such  conduct  above 
all  human  praise  or  the  rewards  that  man  can 
bestow  !  _ 

INCIDENTS  OF  WEBB'S  CROSS-ROADS.  —  While 
the  body  of  Zollicoffer  lay  upon  the  ground  in 
front  of  a  Minnesota  tent,  surrounded  by  soldiers, 
an  excited  officer  rode  up,  exclaiming  to  the  men  : 
"  What  in  h  —  1  are  you  doing  here  ?  Why  are 


you    not    at    the     stretchers,   bringing 


the 


wounded  ?  "  "  This  is  Zollicoffer,"  said  a  sol 
dier.  "  I  know  that,"  replied  the  officer  ;  "  he  is 
dead,  and  could  not  have  been  sent  to  h  —  1  by  a 
better  man,  for  Col.  Fry  shot  him;  leave  him, 
and  go  to  your  work." 

When  the  two  Parrott  guns  were  planted  on 
the  hill  at  Brown's  house,  overlooking  the  ene 
my's  camp,  the  peculiar  whir-r-r  of  the  shells  was 
new  to  our  astonished  darky,  who,  with  hat  off 
and  eyes  protruding,  exclaimed  to  his  sable  com 
panion  :  "  Gosh,  mighty,  Sam,  don't  dat  go  howl- 
in'  trou  de  wilderness  ?  " 

In  nearly  a  direct  line  with  the  course  we  had 
marched  from  the  battle-field  to  the  rebel  works, 
is  a  bold  elevation  about  three  fourths  of  a  mile 
this  side  of  said  works,  on  which  one  of  our  bat 
teries  was  immediately  planted,  and  commenced 
throwing  shot  and  shell  into  their  camp.  Several 
regiments  had  lain  down  upon  the  ground  to  rest 
from  the  fatigue  of  their  march  ;  and  as  the  rebels 
answered  but  feebly  with  two  guns,  their  shot 
passed  over  the  heads  of  our  men.  As  the  inter 
val;  grew  longer  and  longer,  watching  the  shot 
became  a  matter  of  amusement  with  them.  — 
"  Secesh  ball  !  Secesh  ball  !  "  they  would  cry  out, 
while  half  a  dozen  would  start  and  run  after  it, 
others  calling  out:  "  Eun  harder,  or  you  won't 
overtake  it."  While  this  amusement  was  going 
on,  a  rabbit  sprang  out  of  a  bush  between  the 
lines,  when  the  cry,  "  Secesh  ball!  Secesh  ball!  " 
arose,  and  the  boys  took  after  it  with  better  suc- 
cei-s,  for  they  caught  it. 

Upon  the  high  ground  last  referred  to,  the  reb 
els  made  a  brief  stand  half  an  hour  before  we 
reached  it,  but  were  driven  off  by  a  few  shots 
from  Stannard's  battery.  One  of  these  six-pound 
shots  struck  a  poplar  tree,  about  two  feet  in  diam 


eter,  directly  In  the  centre,  and  some  twenty  fret 
from  the  General,  passing  entirely  through  the 
tree,  tearing  off  splinters  eight  or  ten  feet  long, 
and  passing  on  "  trou  de  wilderness."  Another 
shot  struck  a  tree  seven  or  eight  inches  in  diame 
ter,  directly  beside  the  other,  but  lower  down,  cut 
ting  it  off  nearly  as  sq  lare  as  though  it  had  been 
done  with  a  saw. 

Being  among  the  first  who  entered  the  rebel 
fortifications,  I  discovered  a,  barrel,  which  proved 
to  contain  apple-brandy.  Pulling  out  the  corn 
cob  from  the  bung-hole,  I  turned  it  up  and  filled 
a  canteen.  While  doing  this,  one  of  Bob  Mc- 
Cook's  skirmishers  came  'n,  and  says :  "  Vat  you 
gets  there?"  I  replied  that  it  appeared  to  be 
pretty  fair  apple-brandy  upon  which  the  Dutch 
man  ran  to  the  door,  calling  out,  furiously : 
"  Hans !  Heinrich !  schnapps !  See !  come  arous ! " 
Upon  which  a  dozen  Dutchmen  came  in,  and  the 
brandy  which  was  not  spilled  upon  the  ground 
was  soon  transferred  to  their  canteens.  I  said  : 
"  Boys,  you  had  better  look  out ;  this  is  a  doctor's 
shop,  and  there  may  be  strychnine  in  that  bran 
dy."  They  paused  a  moment  to  look  at  each 
other,  when  one  of  them  exclaimed,  "  Py  Got, 
Hans,  I  tells  you  vat  I  do  ;  I  trinks  some,  and  if 
it  don't  kill  me,  den  you  trinks ;  "  upon  which  be 
took  a  long  and  hearty  pull  at  his  canteen,  and 
smacking  his  lips  a  moment,  said,  "  All  righfc, 
Hans !  go  ahead  I  "  

DIRGE  FOE,   A   SOLDIER. 

IN    MEMORY   OF   GEN.   PHILIP  KEARNT. 
BY    GEORGE    II.    BOKER. 

CLOSE  his  eyes  ;  his  work  is  done  ! 
What  to  him  is  friend  or  foeman, 
Rise  of  moon,  or  set  of  sun, 

Hand  of  man,  or  kiss  of  woman  ? 
Lay  him  low,  lay  him  low, 
In  the  clover  or  the  snow  ! 
What  cares  he  ?  he  cannot  know  \ 
Lay  him  low ! 

As  man  may,  he  fought  his  fight, 

Proved  his  truth  by  his  endeavor  ; 
Let  him  sleep  in  solemn  night, 
Sleep  forever  and  forever. 

Lay  him  low,  lay  him  low, 
In  the  clover  or  the  snow  ! 
What  cares  he  ?  he  cannot  know  2 
Lay  him  low ! 

Fold  him  in  his  country's  stars, 

Roll  the  drum  and  fire  the  volley  I 
What  to  him  are  all  our  wars, 
What  but  death  bemocking  folly  ? 
Lay  him  low,  lay  him  low, 
In  the  clover  or  the  snow  ! 
What  cares  he  ?  lie  cannot  know  : 
Lay  him  low ! 

Leave  him  to  God's  watching  eye, 

Trust  him  to  the  hand  that  made  him. 
Mortal  love  weeps  idly  by : 

God  alone  has  power  to  aid  him. 
Lay  him  low,  lay  him  low, 
In  the  clover  or  the  snow  I 
What  cares  he  ?  he  carmct  know  J 
Lay  him  low  ! '" 


144 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


THE  BEDFORD  BOY  "ALEX."  —  At  the  bat 
tle  of  Winchester  a  young  soldier  was  detailed 
for  duty  in  guarding  army  property.  He  stood 
to  his  post  until  about  the  time  'his  regiment 
made  its  famous  charge,  when  he  "  made  a 
break "  for  that  regiment,  joined  it,  and  helped 
in  the  two  desperate  charges  that  decided  the 
day.  The  young  soldier  was  brought  before  a 
court-martial,  and  he  came  up  with  tears  stream 
ing  down  his  face,  and  between  sobs  said :  "  You 
may  shoot  me  if  you  must,  but  'dad'  told  me, 
on  leaving  home,  that  when  there  was  any  fight 
ing  going  on  I  must  be  in  the  thickest,  and  I 
was.  Now,  if  you  want  your  '  stuff'  guarded 
when  there  is  a  fight,  somebody  besides  me  must 
do  it."  The  boy  "  Alex,"  of  Bedford,  was  let  off 
on  that  plea,  and  after  ever  proved  one  of  the 
best  soldiers  in  his  regiment. 


THE  LIFE  AND  DEATH  OF  A  PATRIOT  SOL 
DIER.  —  A  surgeon  in  one  of  the  military  hos 
pitals  at  Alexandria,  writes  in  a  private  note : 

"  Our  wounded  men  bear  their  sufferings  no 
bly  j  I  have  hardly  heard  a  word  of  complaint 
from  one  of  them.  A  soldier  from  the  *  stern 
and  rock-bound  coast'  of  Maine  —  a  victim  of 
the  slaughter  at  Fredericksburg  —  lay  in  this  hos 
pital,  his  life  ebbing  a\vay  from  a  fatal  wound. 
He  had  a  father,  brothers,  sisters,  a  wife,  a  little 
boy  of  two  or  three  years  of  age,  on  whom  his 
heart  seemed  set.  Half  an  hour  before  he  ceased 
to  breathe,  I  stood  by  his  side,  holding  his  hand. 
He  was  in  the  full  exercise  of  his  intellectual 
faculties,  and  was  aware  that  he  had  but  a  very 
brief  time  to  live.  He  was  asked  if  he  had  any 
message  to  leave  for  his  dear  ones  at  home,  whom 
he  loved  so  well.  '  Tell  them,'  said  he,  '  how  I 
died  —  they  know  how  1  lived ! ' " 


CALLING  ON  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.  —  An  officer 
under  the  Government  called  at  the  Executive 
Mansion,  accompanied  by  a  clerical  friend.  "  Mr. 
President,"  said  he,  "  allow  me  to  present  to  you 

my  friend,  the  Rev.  M.  R,  of .     Mr.  F.  has 

expressed  a  desire  to  see  you,  and  have  some 
conversation  with  you,  and  I  am  happy  to  be  the 
means  of  introducing  him."  The  President  shook 
hands  with  Mr.  F.,  and  desiring  him  to  be  seated, 
took  a  seat  himself.  Then,  —  his  countenance 
having  assumed  an  expression  of  patient  waiting, 
—  he  said,  "  I  am  now  ready  to  hear  what  you 
have  to  say."  "  O,  bless  you,  sir,"  said  Mr.  F., 
"  1  have  nothing  special  to  say.  I  merely  called 
to  pay  my  respects  to  you,  and,  as  one  of  the 
million,  to  assure  you  of  my  hearty  sympathy  and 
support."  "  My  dear  sir,"  said  the  President, 
rising  promptly,  his  face  showing  instant  relief, 
and  with  both  hands  grasping  that  of  his  visitor, 
"  I  am  very  glad  to  see  you ;  I  am  very  glad  to 
see  you,  indeed.  I  thought  you  had  come  to 
preach  to  me ! "  

A  TENNESSEE  HERO.  —  There  are  many  names 
in  Tennessee,  and  particularly  in  the  eastern  por 


tion  of  that  State,  which  the  loyal  people  will  not 
let  die.  They  will  be  read  and  thought  of  in  the 
far  future  as  the  present  generation  look  back  at 
the  demigods  of  the  Revolution.  A  letter  from 
Cincinnati,  of  recent  date,  gives  some  account  of 
one  of  those  noble-hearted  Tennesseeans  ;  and  as 
the  story  came  from  the  lips  of  a  dying  man,  it  is 
probably  truthful.  The  writer  states  that  among 
the  rebel  prisoners  at  Camp  Dennison,  Ohio,  was 
one  named  Neil,  who,  when  asked  how  he  came 
to  be  a  rebel,  stated  that  the  secessionists  scared 
him  into  it. 

He  had  been  a  postmaster  in  Van  Buren  Coun 
ty,  Tennessee,  and  a  Union  man.  The  rebels  held 
three  elections  in  that  county,  but  got  hardly  a 
solitary  vote  in  Neil's  precinct.  Enraged  at  this, 
they  imported  a  force  of  soldiers,  and  began  to 
lynch  unarmed  Unionists.  This  style  of  proce 
dure  made  some  converts,  but  it  was  withstood. 
Among  the  victims  Neil  spoke  of  —  and  as  he 
knew  that  he  was  dying,  he  reminded  his  hearers 
of  his  obligation  to  speak  the  simple  truth  — 
was  the  martyr  patriot  whose  history  he  thus  re 
cited  : 

There  was  in  Van  Buren  County  an  old  Meth 
odist  preacher  of  a  great  deal  of  ability,  named 
Cavender.  He  was  from  the  first  a  most  deter 
mined  Union  man;  and  as  his  influence  in  the 
county  was  great,  they  determined  to  make  an 
example  of  him,  and  get  him  out  of  the  way.  So 
they  took  him  out  of  his  house,  put  a  rope  around 
his  neck,  set  him  upon  a  horse,  and  led  him  into 
a  forest.  They  then  told  him  that  unless  he 
would  publicly  renounce  his  Unionism,  they  wouM 
hang  him.  Cavender  replied,  "  God  gave  me  my 
breath  to  bear  witness  to  his  truth ;  and  when  I 
must  turn  it  to  the  work  of  lies  and  crime,  it  is 
well  enough  to  yield  it  up  to  Him  who  gave  it." 

They  then  asked  him  if  he  had  any  parting  re 
quest.  He  said  "  he  had  no  hope  that  they  would 
attend  to  anything  he  might  ask."  They  said 
they  would.  He  then  desired  that  they  would 
take  his  body  to  his  daughter,  with  the  request 
that  she  would  lay  it  beside  the  remains  of  his 
wife.  They  then  said,  "  It's  time  to  go  to  your 
prayers."  He  replied,  "  I  am  not  one  of  the  sort 
who  has  to  wait  until  a  rope  is  round  his  neck  to 
pray."  Then  they  said,  "  Come,  old  man,  no 
nonsense;  if  you  don't  swear  to  stand  by  the 
Confederacy,  you'll  have  to  hang,"  at  the  same 
time  tying  the  rope  to  a  branch. 

The  old  man  said,  "  Hang  away."  One  then 
gave  a  blow  with  a  will  to  the  horse  upon  which 
Cavender  sat ;  the  horse  sprang  forward,  and  the 
faithful  servant  of  God  and  his  country  passed 
into  eternity.  You  will  remember  that  they  said 
they  would  fulfil  his  last  request.  Well,  they  tore 
the  flesh  off  his  bones  and  threw  it  to  the  hogs ; 
his  heart  was  cut  out,  and  lay  in  a  public  place 
till  it  rotted.  Can  it  be  wondered  if  few  are 
strong  enough  to  resist  their  only  legitimate  argu 
ments  for  rebellion  ? 


A  LIEUTENANT  was  promenading  in  full  uni 
form  one  day,  and  approaching  a  volunteer  on 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


145 


sentry,  who  challenged  him  with,  "Halt!     Who 
comes  there  ?"     The  Lieutenant,  with  contempt 


"A  GRISYVOID  FOR  AN  ALABAMA."  —  There  is 
a  beautiful  thought  in  the  address  of  the  ladies 
of  England  in  reply  to  Mrs.  Stowe:  "  You  have 
sent  us  the  Griswold  for  the  Alabama."  Not  "  a 
Koluiid  for  an  Oliver,"  not  tit  for  tat,  but  good 
for  evil.  Let  it  pass  into  a  saying  iu  our  moth 
er  tongue,  "  A  Griswold  for  au  Alabama,"  when 
good  is  returned  for  evil.* 


EMMA  SANSOM  OF  CHEROKEE.  —  The  follow 
ing  is  the  story  of  her  exploit,  as  related  by  Gen. 
Forrest  to  a  party  of  his  friends  at  Chattanooga  : 

Our  readers  have  doubtless  seen  one  or  two 
short  versions  of  the  romantic  part  played  by  the 
above. named  indomitable  girl,  in  the  great  raid 
of  Gen.  Forrest  from  Murfreesboro',  Tenn.,  to 
Home,  Ga.,  in  pursuit  of  Streight's  cavalry ;  but 
never  the  story  as  related  by  the  General  himself. 
The  romantic* and  heroic  conduct  of  Miss  San- 
som  will  long  live  in  the  memory  of  the  survivors 
of  this  war;  and  we  are  pleased  in  this  connec 
tion  to  add,  by  late  action  of  the  Legislature  of 
e^r  State,  she  has  been  granted  a  valuable  dona 
tion  of  land,  as  a  token  of  appreciation  for  the 
undaunted  bravery  and  fearless  patriotism  she 
evinced  on  the  occasion  referred  to.  The  editor 
of  the  Southern  Confederacy  remembers  the  sto 
ry,  as  related  by  Gen.  Forrest,  shortly  after  the 
capture  of  Streight  and  his  command,  and  says  : 

fie  had  been  pursuing  the  enemy  all  day,  and 
was  close  upon  their  heels,  when  the  pursuit  was 
effectually  checked  by  the  destruction,  by  the  en 
emy,  of  a  bridge  over  a  deep  creek,  which,  for  the 
time,  separated  pursuer  and  pursued.  The  coun 
try  was  exceedingly  wild  and  rugged,  and  the 
banks  of  the  creek  too  steep  for  passage  on  horse 
back.  Gen.  Forrest  rode  up  to  a  modest  little 
farm-house  on  the  road-side,  and  seeing  a  young 
maiden  standing  upon  the  little  stoop  in  front  of 
the  dwelling,  he  accosted  her,  and  inquired  if 
there  was  any  ford  or  passage  for  his  men  across 
the  creek,  above  or  below  the  destroyed  bridge. 
The  young  girl  proceeded  to  direct  him  with  ani 
mated  gesture,  and  cheeks  flushed  with  excitement, 
and  almost  breathless  in  her  eagerness  to  aid  the 
noble  cause  of  the  gallant  Confederate  General. 

It  was  a  scene  for  a  painter  —  the  Southern 
girl,  her  cheeks  glowing,  and  her  bright  eyes 
Hashing  ;  while  her  mother,  attracted  by  the  col 
loquy,  stood  holding  the  door,  and  gazing  upon 
the  cavalcade  over  her  venerable  spectacles,  the 
cavalry  chieftain  resting  his  legs  carelessly  over 
the  saddle  pommel,  his  staft'  drawn  up  around 
him,  and  his  weather-worn  veterans  scattered  in 
groups  about  the  road,  and  some  of  them  actually 

*  During  the  war   the   ship  George  Griswold   was 
sent  to  England  with  a  cargo  for  her  starving  poor. 
10 


nodding  in  their  saddles  from  excessive  fatip.ue. 
After  some  further  inquiry,  Gen.  Forrest  asktti 
the  young  lady  if  she  would  not  mount  behind 
him,  and  show  him  the  way  to  the  ford.  She 
hesitated,  and  turned  her  mother  an  inquiring 
look.  The  mother,  with  a  delicacy  becoming  a 
prudent  parent,  rather  seemed  to  'object  to  her 
going  with  the  soldiers.  "  Mother,"  she  said, 
"  I  am  not  afvaid  to  trust  myself  with  as  brave  a 
man  as  Gen.  Forrest/' 

"  But,  my  dear,  folks-  Trill  talk  about  you." 
"  Let  them  ta.k,"  responded  the  heroic  girl;  "I 
must  go."  And  with  that  she  lightly  sprang  upon 
the  rcots  of  a  fallen  tree.  Forrest  drew  his  met 
tled  charger  near  her  ;  she  grasped  the  hero  fear 
lessly  about  the  waist,  and  sprang  up  behind  him  ; 
and  away  they  went  —  over  brake  and  bramble, 
through  the  glade,  and  on  towards  the  ford.  The 
route  was  a  difficult  one,  even  for  as  experienced 
a  rider  as  Forrest ;  but  his  fair  young  companion 
and  guide  held  her  seat, like  an  experienced  horse 
woman,  and  without  the  slightest  evidence  of  fear. 
At  length  they  drew  near  to  the  ford.  Upon  the 
high  ridge  above,  the  quick  eye  of  Forrest  de 
scried  the  Yankee  sharpshooters,  dodging  from 
tree  to  tree  ;  and  pretty  soon  an  angry  minie 
whistled  by  his  ear. 

"  What  was  that,  Gen.  Forrest  ?  "  asked  th« 
maiden. 

"  Bullets,"  he  replied  ;  "  are  you  afraid  ?  >:  She 
replied  in  the  negative,  and  they  proceeded  on. 
At  length  it  became  necessary,  from  the  density 
of  the  undergrowth  and  snags,  to  dismount ;  and 
Forrest  hitched  his  horse,  and  the  girl  preceded 
him,  leading  the  way  herself  —  remarking  that 
the  Yankees  would  not  fire  upon  her;  and  they 
might  fire,  if  he  went  first.  To  this  Forrest  ob 
jected,  not  wishing  to  screen  himself  behind  the 
brave  girl;  and  taking  the  load  himself,  the  two 
proceeded  on  to  the  ford,  under  the  fire  of  the 
Yankee  rear-guard.  Having  discovered  the  route, 
he  returned,  brought  up  his  axe-men,  and  cleared 
out  a  road,  and  safely  crossed  his  whole  column. 

Upon  taking  leave  of  his  fair  young  guide,  the 
General  asked  if  there  was  anything  he  might  do 
for  her,  in  return  for  her  invaluable  services. 
She  told  him  that  the  Yankees  on  ahead  had  her 
brother  prisoner,  and  if  Gen.  Forrest  would  only 
release  him,  she  should  be  more  than  repaid. 
The  General  took  out  his  watch,  and  examined 
it.  It  was  just  five  minutes  to  eleven.  ik  To 
morrow-,"  he  said,  "  at  five  minutes  to  eleven 
o'clock,  your  brother  shall  be  returned  to  you." 
And  so  the  sequel  proved.  Straight,  with  his 
whole  command,  was  captured  at  ten  the  next 
morning.  Young  Sansom  was  released,  and  de 
spatched  on  the  fleetest  horse  in  the  command,  to 
return  to  his  heroic  sister,  whose  courage  and 
presence  of  mind  had  contributed  so  much  to  the 
success  of  one  of  the  most  remarkable  cavalry 
pursuits  and  captures  known  in  the  world's  his 
tory.  

SERGEANT  CARNEY.  —  The  story  of  this  heroic 
preserver  of  the  American  flag,  in  the  assault  o-n 
i  Fort  Wagner,  in  July,  180),  is  as  follows  : 


146 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


When  the  Sergeant  arrived  to  within  about  one 
hundred  yards  of  the  fort,  —  he  was  with  the  first 
battalion,  which  was  in  the  advance  of  the  storm 
ing  column,  —  he  received  the  regimental  colors, 
and  pressed  forward  to  the  front  rank,  near  the 
(>oionel,  who  was  leading  the  men  over  the  ditch. 
He  says,  as  they  ascended  the  wall  of  the  fort,  the 
ranks  were  full ;  but  as  soon  as  they  reached  the 
toj),  "  they  melted  away  "  before  the  enemy's  fire, 
;<  almost  instantly."  He  received  a  severe  wound 
in  the  thigh,  but  fell  only  upon  his  knee.  He 
planted  the  flag  upon  the  parapet,  lay  down  on 
the  outer  slope,  that  he  might  get  as  much  shel 
ter  as  possible,  and  there  remained  for  over  half 
an  hour,  till  the  Second  brigade  came  up.  He 
kept  the  colors  flying  until  the  second  conflict 
vvas  ended.  When  our  forces  retired,  he  fol 
lowed,  creeping  on  one  knee,  still  molding  up  the 
Hag.  It  was  thus  that  Sergeant  Carney  came  from 
the  field  —  having  held  the  emblem  of  liberty 
over  the  walls  of  Fort  Wagner  during  the  san 
guinary  conflict  of  the  two  brigades  —  and  hav 
ing  received  two  very  severe  wounds,  one  in  the 
thigh,  and  one  in  the  head.  Still  he  refused  to 
give  up  his  sacred  trust  until  he  found  an  officer 
of  his  regiment. 

When  he  entered  the  field  hospital,  where  his 
wounded  comrades  were  being  brought  in,  they 
cheered  him  and  the  colors.  Though  nearly  ex 
hausted  with  the  loss  of  blood,  he  said,  "  Boys, 
the  old  flag  never  touched  the  ground." 


A  DARING  EXPLOIT.  —  During  a  scout  of  the 
Tenth  Michigan  cavalry,  in  Platt  Valley,  Tenn., 
a  detachment  of  the  First  Tennessee  Confeder 
ate  cavalry  was  discovered.  Having  ascertained 
their  number,  company  D  dismounted,  and  ad 
vanced  as  skirmishers,  firing  several  volleys. 
The  enemy  were  followed  about  four  miles,  when 
the  pursuit  was  given  up.  Before  the  main  body 
of  the  enemy  had  been  discovered,  John  M.  Gib 
son,  company  A,  was  acting  as  one  of  the  ad 
vance  videttes  on  foot.  A  horseman  rode  into 
the  road,  a  few  rods  in  advance  of  him,  in  our 
uniform,  and,  riding  up,  drew  a  revolver,  and 
informed  John  he  was  a  prisoner.  "  Give  up 
your  gun."  "  Well,"  says  John,  "  I  suppose.  I  will 
have  to  do  it,"  and,  in  bringing  his  repeater  from 
his  shoulder,  he  threw  a  ball  into  the  barrel, 
cocked  his  piece,  and  shot  his  captor  through  the 
heart,  took  his  horse,  and  saddle,  and  revolver, 
and  took  them  to  the  company. 


A  "  PRESSED  "  TEXAN.  —  A  soldier  belonging 
to  the  army  of  Gen.  Dick  Taylor,  who  was   cap 
tured  after  the  battle  at  Pleasant  Hill,  La.,  on 
being  carried  into  the  national  camp,  stated  that 
he  was  born  in  Indiana. 

"  How  did  you  come  to  be  in  a  Texas  regi 
ment  P  " 

"  Pressed  in." 

"Why  didn't  you  run  away  before  you  were 
conscripted?  ' 

"  Tried  to,  but  they  caught  me.     They  hunted 


me  with  dogs,  sir.  When  I  was  put  into  the 
ranks,  I  told  them  I  would  do  my  common  duty, 
and  that  I  would  never  kill  a  Union  soldier.  Be 
fore  I  was  taken  to-day,  I  was  sent  out  to  skir 
mish  on  the  left,  and  I  know  where  every  ball  I 
fired  struck  —  in  the  trees,  sir  —  and  all  tie 
while  the  Sixteenth  Indiana  boys,  born  in  rny  own. 

State,  were  firing  at  me  like .   Three  of  thtir 

bullets  came  so  near  me,  that  I  thought  each 
time  I  was  to  be  a  dead  man.  But  now,  I  thank 
the  1  ord,  J'  n  all  right.  You  couldn't  give  me  a 
little  coffee,  could  you  P  " 

Mrs.  Browning  has  immortalized  a  similar  in- 
ident  in  verse  ;    but  her  young  Italian,  forced 
nt^  the  Austrian  service,  was  no  more  of  a  hero 
tha'-  the  homely  Hoosier  who  played  his  part  so 
weL  at  "  Crump's  Corner." 


WORSHIP  OF  THE  NEGROES.  —  A  correspond 
ent  at  Port  Iloyal,  S.  C.,  gives  an  interesting  ac 
count  of  the  religious  meetings  of  negroes,  in 
which  singing  is  the  favorite  exercise.  They 
have  a  great  variety  of  sacred  songs,  which  they 
ing  and  she  it  at  the  top  of  their  voices,  and 
never  grow  weary.  A  favorite  melody  is,  "  Roll, 
Jordan,  roil : '' 

"Little  chiHren  sitting  on  the  tree  of  life, 

To  hear  when  Jordan  roll ; 
O,  roll,  Jordan,  roll ;  roil,  Jordan.  roH  • 
We  inarch  the  angel  march;   O,  inarch  Ihe  angel 

inarch  ; 
On !  my  soul  is  rising  heavenward,  to  hear  when 

Jordan  roll. 
O  my  brother  !   sitting  on  the  tree  of  life, 

To  hear  when  Jordan  roll,  &c. 
Sister  Mary  sitting  on  the  tree  of  life, 
To  hear  when  Jordan  roll,  &c." 

The  verses  vary  only  in  the  recitative.  If  Mr. 
Jones  is  a  visitor,  he  will  hear,  "  Mr.  Jones  is 
sitting  on  the  tree  of  life."  All  of  the  persons 
present  are  introduced  to  the  tree  of  life  —  Nan 
cy,  James,  and  Sancho.  There  is  no  pause  ;  be 
fore  the  last  roll  is  ended,  the  one  giving  the 
recitative  places  another  brother  or  sister  on  the 
tree,  and  then  Jordan  rolls  again.  It  is7  a  con 
tinuous  refrain,  till  all  have  had  their  turn  upon 
the  tree. 

A  weird  plantation  refrain,  in  a  minor  key,  is, 
"  Down  in  the  Lonesome  Valley."  This  has  also 
a  recitative  arid  chorus  : 

"  My  sister,  don't  you  want  to  get  religion  ? 
Go  down  in  the  lonesome  valley, 
Go  down  in  the  lonesome  valley, 
Go  down  in  the  lonesome  valley,  my  Lord, 
To  meet  my  Jesus  there." 

As  the  song  goes  on  the  enthusiasm  rises. 
They  sing  louder  and  stronger.  The  one  giving 
the  recitative  leads  oft'  with  more  vigor,  and  the 
chorus  rolls  with  an  increasing  volume.  They 
beat  time  at  first  with  their  leet,  then  with  their 
hands.  William  cannot  sit  still.  He  rises,  be 
gins  a  shuffle  with  his  feet,  jerking  his  arms. 
Ann,  a  short,  thick-set,  pure-blooded  black  wo 
man,  wearing  a  checked  gingham  dress,  and  an 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


147 


apron  which  was  once  a  window  curtain,  can  no 
longer  keep  her  seat.  She  claps  her  hands,  makes 
a  short,  quick  jerk  of  her  body  on  the  unaccented 
part  of  the  measure,  keeping  exact  time.  Cath 
arine  and  Sancho  catch  the  inspiration.  We 
push  the  centre  table  aside  to  give  them  room. 
They  go  round  in  a  circle,  singing,  shuffling, 
jerking,  shouting  louder  and  louder.  Those  upon 
the  seats  respond  more  vigorously,  keeping  time 
with  feet  and  hands.  William  seems  in  a  trance; 
his  eyes  are  fixed,  yet  he  goes  on  into  a  double 
shuffle.  Every  joint  in  his  body  seems  to  be 
hung  on  wires.  Feet,  legs,  arms,  head,  body, 
jerk  like  a  dancing  dandy  Jack.  Sancho  enters 
into  the  praise  with  his  whole  heart,  clasping  his 
hands,  looking  upward  and  outward  upon  the 
crowd  as  if  they  were  his  children,  and  he  a  pa 
triarch.  His  countenance  beams  with  joy.  He 
is  all  but  carried  away  with  the  excitement  of  the 
moment.  So  it  goes  on  till  nature  is  exhausted. 
When  the  meeting  breaks  up,  the  singers  go 
through  the  ceremony  of  shaking  hands  all  round, 
keeping  time  to  the  tune,  "  There's  a  meeting 
here  to-night."  ______ 

THE  BATTLE  AT  PADUCAH.  —  When  the  re 
fusal  of  Col.  Hicks  was  communicated  to  Gen. 
Forrest,  a  general  charge  was  ordered,  and  away 
the  \\hole  line  dashed  upon  the  works.  The  fort 
is  a  small,  low  earth-work,  surrounded  by  a  shal 
low  ditch.  The  fierce  onslaught  was  met  by  a 
sheet  of  flame  from  the  fort,  which  made  many 
of  the  assailants  bite  the  dust,  but  it  stayed  them 
not  —  on  they  came,  yelling  like  demons,  many 
of  them  crossing  the  ditch,  and  were  killed  upon 
the  walls  of  the  fort,  before,  broken  and  repulsed, 
the-  thinned  ranks  of  the  enemy  sullenly  retired. 

The  sharpshooters  in  the  houses  which  com 
manded  the  fort  kept  up  an  incessant  fire  upon 
the  garrison,  while  the  volleys  from  the  main 
body  were  almost  continual.  Four  or  five  times 
during  the  afternoon  and  evening  was  the  attack 
renewed,  and  each  time  successfully  repulsed, 
until  the  whole  ground  between  the  fort  and  the 
town  was  covered  with  the  slain  and  wounded. 
The  artillery  of  the  fort  was  by  no  means  idle 
during  this  time,  but  was  dividing  its  attention 
between  the  attacking  party  and  the  houses 
which  contained  the  sharpshooters,  whom  they 
finally  dislodged,  and  destroyed  the  buildings  to 
prevent  their  again  being  made  hiding-places  for 
rebel  soldiers.  The  final  charge  was  made  at 
seven  o'clock,  after  which  Forrest  retired  beyond 
gun-shot,  and  took  refuge  in  the  city  among  the 
buildings. 

A  number  of  citizens  went  into  the  fort,  and 
fought  bravely  during  the  whole  engagement. 
One  took  his  family  to  a  place  of  safety,  when  he 
took  his  place  with  the  soldiers  behind  the  ram- 
parl  s.  In  the  early  part  of  the  action,  a  ball  se 
vere  ly  wounded  him  in  the  arm,  but  he  refused 
to  give  up  so  long  as  a  rebel  was  in  sight,  and 
continued  to  fight  until  the  enemy  retired.  After 
the  second  repulse,  one  of  the  Kentucky  cavalry 
men  rushed  out  of  the  fort,  and  found  the  body  of 
his  brother,  who  had  been  killed  in  the  first  charge. 


Many  of  the  citizens  could  not  cross  the  river 
before  the  battle  commenced.  Of  these.  se\er?J 
ladies  sought  refuge  under  the  bluff,  out  of  range 
of  shot.  -A  rebel  sharpshooter,  knowing  that  the 
Federals  would  not  harm  the  ladies,  sought  ref 
uge  in  the  crowd,  and  from  behind  his  neAv-fash- 
ioned  breastwork  opened  fire  upon  one  of  the 
gun-boats.  This  was  borne  as  long  as  possible, 
until  a  shot  was  se'it  into  the  bank  a  few  feet 
above  their  heads,  when  the  women  ran  shriek 
ing  for  other  shelter,  and  Mr.  Keb.  did  the  tallest 
running  on  record. 

In  Broadway,  a  crowd  of  women  collected;  be 
hind  them  stood  a  rank  of  rebels,  who  kept  up 
an  incessant  fire  upon  the  boats.  Several  shells 
were  sent  over  their  heads,  but  the  women  stood 
their  ground,  protecting  the  scoundrels  behind 
them.  Finally  a  shot  fell  in  their  midst,  kill 
ing  one  young  woman,  and  wounding  several 
rebels. 

Little  respect  was  paid  to  a  man's  sentiments 
—  sympathizers'  stores  suffered  about  equally 
with  Union  men's.  Immense  booty  was  obtained 
and  carried  off — the  amount  of  loss  can  hardly 
be  estimated.  There  is  one  instance,  however, 
which  occurred,  in  which  they  showed  some  little 
regard  for  a  friend  —  nearly  every  horse  and  mule 
in  the  city  was  taken,  except  a  few  belonging  to 
the  Government  —  it  was  believed  that  those  be 
longed  to  a  strong  rebel  sympathizer,  and  on  that 
account  the  horses  were  not  taken. 

Firing  from  the  gun-boats  and  the  fort  a:id 
the  rebel  artillery  continued  at  intervals  until 
near  midnight  on  Friday,  after  which  all  became 
quiet,  and  scarce  a  shot  was  heard  till  after  the 
retreat  of  Forrest,  which  occurred  on  Saturday, 
between  two  and  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 
The  enemy  retired  towards  Mayfield,  tearing  up 
the  railroad  track  in  his  rear.  A  large  number 
of  houses  were  set  on  foe,  both  by  shells  and  by 
the  rebels.  The  first  destroyed  were  some  build 
ings  occupied  by  the  Government,  —  set  in  flames 
by  the  rebels,  —  others  followed  in  quick  succes 
sion,  until  probably  fifteen  or  twenty  houses  of 
various  descriptions  were  burned  to  the  ground. 

When  the  battle  was  over,  it  was  found  that 
the  ammunition,  both  in  the  fort  and  on  the  gun 
boats,  was  nearly  expended.  Little  or  no  pro 
vision  was  in  the  fort,  and  the  men  sadly  wanted 
food  after  their  arduous  labors.  As  soon  as  the 
news  of  the  battle  reached  this  city,  reenforce- 
ments  were  despatched  to  Paducah,  as  well  as 
ammunition  and  provisions.  When  the  pro 
visions  arrived,  Col.  Hicks  sent  a  full  supply  to 
the  suffering  citizens,  and  had  it  distributed 
among  the  hungry  crowd  of  women  and  children 
on  the  Illinois  shore. 

The  rebel  Brig.-Gen.  Thompson  was  shot 
through  the  head,  while  on  his  horse  near  the 
fort,  during  the  fight.  After  falling  to  the  ground, 
a  shell  struck  him  in  the  abdomen,  and  blew  him 
to  pieces.  His  spinal  column  was  found  several 
feet  from  his  mangled  body. 

Towards  evening  the  ammuiition  in  the  fort 
became  well  nigh  exhausted.  When  this  was 
discovered,  Col.  Hicki  ordered  ,hat,  should  am- 


148 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND   INCIDENTS. 


munition  run  out,  the  works  should  be  defended 
with  the  bayonet  as  long  as  a  man  remained 
alive.  

FORAGING.  —  A  member  of  a  Wisconsin  regi 
ment  related  the  following  :  Our  boys  sometimes 
come  great  tricks  over  the  secesh  planters  for 
the  purpose  of  securing  a  prize  from  their  hen 
roosts,  garden,  &c.  The  biggest  thing  of  the 
season,  in  this  line  of  business,  happened  a  few 
weeks  since.  Some  of  the  boys  had  been  roving 
around  the  country  on  a  kind  of"reconnoissance," 
and  among  other  matters  of  interest,  they  discov 
ered,  in  the  garden  of  a  certain  farm-house,  three 
or  four  bee-hives,  containing  a  large  amount  of 
most  delicious  honey.  On  consultation,  it  was 
determined  that  that  honey  should  be  "  confis 
cated,"  and  contribute  to  sweeten  the  sugary 
teeth  of  the  brave  sons  of  Mars  who  captured  it. 
Their  plans  were  laid,  and  the  expedition  was  to 
come  off  on  a  certain  night.  The  night  proved 
favorable  to  their  design  —  so  dark  that  nothing 
but  a  "  stack  of  black  cats  "  could  excel  it  in  the 
intenseness  of  its  darkness.  The  party  of  ten  or 
twelve  started  from  camp,  and  after  a  number 
of  amusing  adventures,  reached  their  destina 
tion.  But  all  the  danger  was  yet  to  come.  The 
house  was  protected  by  two  guards.  To  over 
come  this  difficulty,  they  had  to  resort  to  strategy. 
They  placed  guards  of  their  own  at  each  door, 
and  notified  the  occupants  of  the  house  that  they 
were  under  arrest  on  some  terrible  charge,  and 
at  the  same  time  admonished  them  to  keep  quiet, 
and  to  stay  within  doors,  and  that  an  officer  would 
soon  be  around  to  make  the  search.  In  the  mean 
time  the  balance  of  the  party  were  scampering 
off  with  their  prizes,  —  all  made  secure,  —  the 
self-constituted  guard  withdrew,  and  it  was  not 
till  the  next  morning  that  the  frightened  rebels 
found  out  the  sad  havoc  that  had  been  made 
amongst  their  potatoes,  honey,  and  barn-yard 
fowls  by  the  "rascally  Yankees." 


-EIN    FESTE    BURG    1ST   UNSEB.  GOTT. 
[Luther's  Hymn.*) 

BY   JOHN    G.    WHITTIER. 

WE  wait  beneath  the  furnace  blast 

The  pangs  of  transformation  ; 
Not  painlessly  doth  God  recast 
And  mould  anew  the  nation. 
Hot  burns  the  fire 
Where  wrongs  expire ; 
Nor  spares  the  hand 
That  from  the  land 
Uproots  the  ancient  evil. 

The  hand-breadth  cloud  the  sages  feared 

Its  bloody  rain  is  dropping  ; 
The  poison  plant  the  fathers  spared 
All  else  is  overtopping. 

East,  West,  South,  North, 
It  curses  the  earth  : 
All  justice  dies, 
And  fraud  and  lies 
Live  onl?  in  its  shadow. 


What  gives  the  wheat  field  blades  of  steel  ? 

What  points  the  rebel  cannon  ? 
What  sets  the  roaring  rabble's  heel 
On  the  old  star-spangled  pennon  ? 
What  breaks  the  oath 
Of  the  men  of  the  South  ? 
What  whets  the  knife 
For  the  Union's  life  ?  — 
II  jrk  to  the  answer :  —  SLAVERY  ! 

Chen  waste  no  blows  on  lesser  foes, 

In  strife  ur  worthy  freemen. 
God  lifts  to-i.ay  the  veil,  and  shows 
The  features  of  the  demon  ! 
O  North  and  South, 
Its  victims  both, 
Can  ye  not  cry, 
"  Let  Slavery  die  !  " 
And  Union  find  in  freedom  ? 

What  though  the  cast-out  spirit  tear 

The  nation  in  his  going  ? 
We  who  have  shared  the  guilt,  must  share 
The  pang  of  his  o'er  thro  wing  ! 
Whate'er  the  loss, 
Whate'er  the  cross, 
Shall  they  complain 
Of  present  pain, 
Who  trust  in  God's  hereafter  ? 

For  who  that  leans  on  His  right  arm 

Was  ever  yet  forsaken  ? 
What  righteous  cause  can  suffer  harm, 
If  He  its  part  has  taken  ? 
Though  wild  and  loud, 
And  dark  the  cloud, 
Behind  its  folds 
His  hand  upholds 
The  calm  sky  of  to-morrow  ! 

Above  the  maddening  cry  for  blood, 

Above  the  wild  war-drumming, 
Let  Freedom's  voice  be  heard,  with  good 
The  evil  overcoming. 

Give  prayer  and  purse 
To  stay  The  Curse, 
Wlvsse  wrong  we  share, 
Whose  shame  we  bear, 
Whose  end  shall  gladden  heaven  I 

In  vain  the  bells  of  war  shall  ring 

Of  triumphs  and  revenges, 
While  still  is  spared  the  evil  thing 
That  severs  and  estranges. 
But  blest  the  ear 
That  yet  shall  hear 
The  jubilant  bell 
That  rings  the  knell 
Of  Slavery  forever  I 

Then  let  the  selfish  lip  be  dumb, 

And  hushed  the  breath  of  sighing ; 
Before  the  joy  of  peace  must  come 
The  pains  of  purifying. 
God  give  us  grace, 
Each  in  his  place 
To  bear  his  lot, 
And,  murmuring  not, 
Endure,  ard  wait,  and  labor  I 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


149 


THE  ESCAPE  FROM  THE  LIBBY.  —  The  follow 
ing  is  the  account  given  by  the  Union  officers, 
who  succeeded  in  reaching  the  Federal  lines,  after 
their  escape  from  Richmond,  in  February,  1864  : 

Over  two  months  previous  to  the  consumma 
tion  of  their  plan,  the  officers  confined  in  Libby 
Prison  conceived  the  idea  of  effecting  their  own 
exchange  ;  and  after  the  matter  had  been  seri 
ously  discussed  by  some  seven  or  eight  of  them, 
they  undertook  to  dig  for  a  distance  towards  a 
sewer  running  into  the  basin.  This  they  proposed 
doing  by  commencing  at  a  point  in  the  cellar,  near 
a  chimney.  This  cellar  was  immediately  under 
the  hospital,  and  was  the  receptacle  for  refuse 
straw,  thrown  from  the  beds  when  they  were 
changed,  and  for  other  refuse  matter.  Above  the 
hospital  was  a  room  for  officers,  and  above  that 
yet  another  room.  The  chimney  ran  through  all 
these  rooms  ;  and  the  prisoners  who  were  in  the 
secret,  improvised  a  rope,  and  night  after  night 
let  working  parties  down,  who  successfully  pros 
ecuted  their  excavating  operations. 

The  dirt  was  hid  under  the  straw  and  other 
refuse  matter  in  the  cellar,  and  it  was  trampled 
down  so  as  not  to  present  too  great  a  bulk. 
When  the  working  party  had  got  to  a  considera 
ble  distance  under  ground,  it  was  found  difficult  to 
haul  the  dirt  back  by  hand,  and  a  spittoon,  which 
had  been  furnished  by  the  officers  in  one  of  the 
rooms,  was  made  to  serve  the  purpose  of  a  cart. 
rt.  string  was  attached  to  it,  and  it  was  run  in  the 
tunnel,  and  as  soon  as  filled  was  drawn  out,  and 
the  dirt  deposited  under  the  straw.  But,  after 
bard  work,  and  digging,  with  finger-nails,  knives, 
ind  chisels,  a  number  of  feet,  the  working  party 
found  themselves  stopped  by  piles  driven  into  the 
ground.  These  were  at  least  a  foot  in  diameter. 
But  they  were  not  discouraged.  Penknives,  or 
any  other  articles  that  would  cut,  were  called  for  ; 
and,  after  chipping,  chipping,  chipping  for  a  long 
time,  the  piles  were  severed,  and  the  tunnellers 
commenced  again,  and  in  a  few  moments  reached 
the  sewer. 

Bui  here  an  unexpected  obstacle  met  their  far 
ther  progress.  The  stench  from  the  sewers  and 
tne  flow  of  filthy  water  was  so  great  that  one  of 
tae  party  Tainted,  and  was  dragged  out  more  dead 
t'uan  alive,  and  the  project  in  that  direction  had  to 
b^  abandoned.  The  failure  was  communicated  to 
a  few  others  besides  those  who  had  first  thought 
of  escape,  and  then  a  party  of  seventeen,  after 
viewing  the  premises  and  surroundings,  concluded 
to  tunnel  under  Carey  Street.  On  the  opposite 
side  of  this  street  from  the  prison  was  a  sort  of 
carriage-house,  or  out-house,  and  the  project  was 
to  dig  under  the  street  and  emerge  from  under  or 
near  the  house.  There  was  a  high  fence  around 
it,  and  the  guard  was  outside  of  this  fence.  The 
prisoners  then  commenced  to  dig  at  the  other  side 
of  the  enimney ;  and  after  a  few  handfuls  of  dirt 
had  been  removed,  they  found  themselves  stopped 
by  a  stohe  wall,  which  proved  afterwards  to  be 
tluee  fee\,  truck.  The  party  were  by  no  means 
daunted,  aaa  van  penknives  and  pocket-knives 
they  con  mw.xx  ^  perations  upon  the  stone  and 
mortar. 


After  nineteen  days'  and  nights'  hardr/ork,  they 
again  struck  the  earth  beyond  the  wall  and  p-.ished 
their  work  forward.  Here,  too,  (after  they  had 
got  some  distance  under  ground,)  the  friendly 
spittoon  was  brought  into  requisition,  and  the 
dirt  was  hauled  out  in  small  quantities.  After 
digging  for  some  days,  the  question  aro^e  wheth 
er  they  had  not  reached  the  point  aimed  at ;  nnd 
in  order,  if  possible,  to  test  the  matter,  Capt.  Gctl- 
lagher,  of  the  Second  Ohio  regiment,  pretended 
that  he  had  a  box  in  .the  carriage-house  over  the 
wiy,  and  desired  to  search  it  out.  This  carriage- 
house,  it  is  pi';;  per  to  state,  was  used  as  a  recep 
tacle  for  bcxes  and  goods  sent  to  prisoners  from 
the  North,  and  the  recipients  were  often  allowed 
to  go,  under  gjard,  across  the  street  to  secure 
their  property.  Capt.  Gallagher  was  granted 
permission  to  go  there,  and  as  he  walked  across, 
under  guard,  he,  as  well  as  he  could,  paced  off 
the  distance,  and  concluded  that  the  street  was 
about  fifty  feet  wide. 

On  the  6th  or  7th  of  February  the  working 
party  supposed  they  had  gone  a  sufficient  dis 
tance,  and  commenced  to  dig  upward.  When 
near  the  surface  they  heard  the  rebel  guards 
talking  above  them,  and  discovered  they  were 
some  two  or  three  feet  yet  outside  the  fence. 

The  displacing  of  a  stone  made  considerable 
noise,  and  one  of  the  sentinels  called  to  his  com 
rade  and  asked  him  what  the  noise  meant.  The 
guards,  after  listening  a  few  minutes,  concluded 
that  nothing  was  wrong,  and  returned  to  their 
beats.  This  hole  was  stopped  up  by  inserting 
into  the  crevice  a  pair  of  old  pantaloons  filled  with 
straw,  and  by  bolstering  the  whole  up  with  boards, 
which  they  secured  from  the  floors,  &c.,  of  the 
prison. 

The  tunnel  was  then  continued  some  six  or 
seven  feet  more  ;  and  when  the  working  party 
supposed  they  were  about  ready  to  emerge  to 
daylight,  others  in  the  prison  were  informed  that 
there  was  a  way  now  open  for  escape.  One  hun 
dred  and  nine  of  the  prisoners  decided  to  make 
the  attempt  to  get  away.  Others  refused,  fearing 
the  consequences  if  they  were  recaptured;  and 
others  yet  (among  whom  were  Gen.  Neal  Dow) 
declined  to  make  the  attempt,  because  (as  they 
said)  they  did  not  desire  to  have  their  Govern 
ment  back  down  from  its  enunciated  policy  of 
exchange.  Col.  Rose,  of  New  York,  Col.  Ken- 
drick,  of  Tenn.,  Capt.  Jones,  Lieut.  Bradford, 
and  others,  informed  Gen.  Dow  that  they  could 
not  see  how  making  their  escape  would  affect  the 
policy  of  exchange.  Their  principle  was,  that  it 
was  their  personal  right  to  escape  if  they  could, 
and  their  duty  to  their  Government  to  make  the 
attempt. 

About  half  past  eight  o'clock  on  the  evening  of 
the  9th,  the  prisoners  started  out,  Col.  Rose,  of  New 
York,  leading  the  van.  Before  starting,  the  pris 
oners  had  divided  themselves  into  squads  of  two, 
three,  and  four,  and  each  squad  was  to  take  a 
different  route,  and,  after  they  were  out,  were  to 
push  for  the  Union  li  ics  as  fast  as  possible.  It 
was  the  understanding  that  the  working  party  was 
to  have  an  houi's  start  cf  the  other  prisoners,  and, 


150 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS 


consequently,  the  rope  ladder  in  the  cellar  was 
drawn  out.  Before  the  expiration  of  the  hour, 
however,  the  other  prisoners  became  impatient, 
and  were  let  down  through  the  chimney  success 
fully  into  the  cellar. 

Col.  W.  P.  Kendrick,  of  West  Tennessee,  Capt. 
I).  J.  Jones,  of  the  First  Kentucky  cavalry,  and 
Lieut.  R.  Y.  Bradford,  of  the  Second  West  Ten 
nessee,  were  detailed  as  a  rear-guard,  or,  rather, 


and  kept  the  Bottom  Bridge  road  to  their  left, 
although  at  times  they  could  see  and  hear  the 
cars  travelling  over  the  York  River  Road. 

W'nle  passing  through  the  swamp  near  the 
Chiekahominy,  Col.  Kendr.^k  sprained  his  ankle 
and  fell.  Fortunate,  too,  was  that  fall  for  him 
and  his  party ;  for  while  he  was  lying  there,  one 
of  them  chanced  to  look  up,  and  saw,  in  a  direct 
line  with  cnem,  a  swamp  bridge  ;  and  in  the  dim 


to  go  out  las'; ;  and  from  a  window  Col.  K.  and  j  outline  they  could  perceive  that  parties  with  mus- 
his  companions  could  see  the  fugitives  walk  out  j  kets  were  passing  over  the  bridge.     They  there 


of  a  gate  at  the  other  end  of  the  enclosure  of  the 
carriage-house,  and  fearlessly  move  off.  The  ap 
erture  was  so  narrow  that  but  one  man  cculd  get 
through  at  a  time,  and  each  squad  carried  with 
them  provisions  in  a  haversack.  At  midnight  a 
false  alarm  was  created,  and  the  prisoners  made 
considerable  noise  in  getting  to  their  respective 
quarters.  Providentially,  however,  the  guard 
suspected  nothing  wrong,  and  in  a  few  moments 
the  exodus  was  again  commenced.  Col.  Kendrick 
and  his  companions  looked  with  some  trepidation 
upon  the  movements  of  the  fugitives,  as  some  of 
them,  exercising  but  little  discretion,  moved  bold 
ly  out  on  the  enclosure  into  the  glare  of  the  gas 
light.  Many  of  them  were,  however,  in  citizens' 
dress  ;  and  a*s  all  the  rebel  guards  wear  the  United 
States  uniform,  but  little  suspicion  could  be  ex 
cited,  even  if  the  fugitives  had  been  accosted  by  a 
guard. 

Between  one  and  two  o'clock  the  lamps  were 
extinguished  in  the  streets,  and  then  the  exit  was 
more  safely  accomplished.  There  were  many 
officers  who  desired  to  leave,  who  were  so  weak 
and  feeble  that  they  were  dragged  through  the 
tunnel  by  main  force,  and  carried  to  places  of 
safety,  until  such  time  as  they  would  be  able  to 
move  on  their  journey.  At  half  past  two  o'clock, 
Capt.  Jones,  Col.  Kendrick,  and  Lieut.  Bradford 
passed  out  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  named ; 
and  as  Col.  K.  emerged  from  the  hole,  he  heard 
the  guard  within  a  few  feet  of  him  sing  out,  "  Post 
No.  7,  half  past  two  in  the  morning,  and  all's 
well."  Col.  K.  says  he  could  hardly  resist  the 
temptation  of  saying,  "  Not  so  well  as  you  think, 
except  for  the  Yanks."  Lieut.  Bradford  was  in 
trusted  with  the  provisions  for  this  squad ;  and  in 
getting  through  he  was  obliged  to  leave  his  hav 
ersack  behind  him,  as  he  could  not  get  through 
M  ith  it  upon  him. 

Once  out,  they  proceeded  up  the  street,  keeping 
in  the  shade  of  the  buildings,  and  passed  east- 
wardly  through  the  city. 

A  description  of  the  route  pursued  by  this  par 
ty,  and  of  the  tribulations  through  which  they 
passe'd,  will  give  some  idea  of  the  rough  time  they 
all  had  of  it.  Col.  Kendrick  had,  before  leaving 
the  prison,  mapped  out  his  course,  and  concluded 
that  the  best  route  to  take  was  the  one  towards 
Norfolk,  or  Fortress  Monroe,  as  there  were  fewer 
rebel  pickets  in  that  direction.  They  therefore 
kept  the  York  River  Railroad  to  the  left,  and 
moved  towards  the  Chickahorniny  Ri^ver.  They 
passed  through  Boar  Swamp,  and  crossed  the  road 
leading  to  Bottom  Bridge.  Sometimes  they  waded 
through  mud  and  water  almost  up  to  their  necks, 


were  worn  out  and  fatigued, 
owever,  to  look  up,  Lieut.  Bradford 


fore  moved  some  distance  to  the  south ;  and  after 
passing  through  more  of  the  swamp,  reached  the 
Chickahominy  about  four  miles  below  Bottom 
Bridge.  Here,  now,  was  a  difficulty.  The  river 
ras  only  twenty  feet  wide,  but  it  was  very  deep, 
md  the  refugees 
Chancing, 

saw  that  two  trees  had  fallen  on  either  side  of 
the  river,  and  that  their  branches  were  inter 
locked.  By  crawling  up  one  tree  and  down  the 
other,  the  fugitives  reached  the  east  bank  of  the 
Chickahominy  ;  and  Col.  Kendrick  could  not  help 
remarking  that  he  believed  Providence  was  on 
their  side,  else  they  would  not  have  met  that  nat 
ural  bridge. 

They  subsequently  learned  from  a  friendly  ne 
gro  that  had  they  crossed  the  bridge  they  had 
seen,  they  would  assuredly  have  been  recaptured, 
for  Capt.  Turner,  the  keeper  of  Libby  Prison,  had 
been  out  and  posted  guards  there,  and  in  fact  had 
alarmed  the  whole  country,  and  got  the  people  up 
as  a  vigilance  committee  to  capture  the  escaped 
prisoners. 

After  crossing  over  this  natural  bridge,  they 
lay  down  on  the  ground  and  slept  until  sunrise 
on  the  morning  of  the  llth,  when  they  continued 
on  their  way,  keeping  eastwardly  as  near  as  they 
could.  Up  to  this  time  they  had  had  nothing  to 
eat,  and  were  almost  famished.  About  noon  of 
the  1 1th  they  met  several  negroes,  who  gave  them 
information  as  to  the  whereabouts  of  the  rebel 
pickets,  and  furnished  them  with  food. 

Acting  under  the  advice  of  these  friendly  ne 
groes,  they  remained  quietly  in  the  woods  until 
darkness  had  set  in,  when  they  were  furnished 
with  a  comfortable  supper  by  the  negroes,  and 
after  dark  proceeded  on  their  way,  the  negroes 
(who  everywhere  showed  their  friendship  to  the 
fugitives)  having  first  directed  them  how  to  avoid 
the  rebel  pickets.  That  night  they  passed  a  camp 
of  rebels,  and  could  plainly  see  the  smoke  and 
camp  fires.  But  their  wearied  feet  gave  out,  and 
they  were  compelled  to  stop  and  rest,  having  only 
marched  five  miles  that  day. 

They  started  again  at  daylight  on  the  13th,  and 
after  moving  awhile  through  the  woods,  they  saw 
a  negro  woman  working  in  a  field,  and  called  her 
to  them,  and  from  her  received  directions,  and 
were  told  that  the  rebel  pickets  had  been  about 
there  looking  for  the  fugitives  from  Libby.  Here 
they  lay  low  again,  and  resumed  their  journey 
when  darkness  set  in,  and  marched  five  miles,  but 
halted  until  the  morning  of  the  14th,  when  tha 
jc  »rney  was  resumed. 

At  one  point  they  met  a  negro  in  the  field>  and 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


151 


she  told  them  that  her  mistress  was  a  secesh  wo 
man,  and  that  she  had  a  son  in  the  rebel  army. 
The  party,  however,  were  exceedingly  hungry,  and 
they  determined  to  secure  some  food.  This  they 
did  by  boldly  approaching  the  house  and  inform 
ing  the  mistress  that  they  were  fugitives  from 
Norfolk,  who  had  been  driven  out  by  Butler ; 
and  the  secesh  sympathies  of  the  woman  were  at 
oi^e  aroused,  and  she  gave  them  of  her  substance, 
and  started  them  on  their  way,  with  directions 
how  to  avoid  the  Yankee  soldiers,  who  occasionally 
scouted  in  that  vicinity.  This  information  was 
exceedingly  valuable  to  the  refugees,  for  by  it  they 
discovered  the  whereabouts  of  the  Union  forces. 

When  about  fifteen  miles  from  Williamsburg, 
the  party  came  upon  the  main  road,  and  found 
the  tracks  of  a  large  body  of  cavalry.  A  piece  of 
paper  found  by  Capt.  Jones,  satisfied  him  that 
they  were  Union  cavalry ;  but  his  companions 
were  suspicious,  and  avoided  the  road,  and  moved 
forward  ;  and  at  the  "  Burnt  Ordinary,"  (about 
ten  miles  from  Williamsburg,)  awaited  the  return 
of  the  cavalry  that  had  moved  up  the  road  ;  and 
from  behind  a  fence  corner,  where  they  were  se 
creted,  the  fugitives  saw  the  flag  of  the  Union, 
supported  by  a  squadron  of  cavalry,  which  proved 
to  be  a  detachment  of  Col.  Spear's  Eleventh  Penn 
sylvania  regiment,  sent  out  for  the  purpose  of 
picking  up  escaped  prisoners.  Col.  Kendrick 
says  his  feelings  at  seeing  the  old  flag  were  inde 
scribable. 

The  party  rode  into  Williamsburg  with  the  cav 
alry,  where  they  were  quartered  for  the  night,  and 
where  they  found  eleven  others  who  had  escaped 
safely.  

A  WEDDING  ON  HORSEBACK.  —  The  following 
occurred  at  Battle  Creek,  on  the  Chattanooga 
Railroad,  in  March,  1864  :  A  pair  of  lovers  be 
thought  themselves  of  getting  married,  and  hav 
ing  procured  a  license,  they  set  out  on  horseback. 
They  soon  came  up  to  a  parson  "  setting  "  on  a 
fence,  —  it  seems  he  did  something  occasionally 
at  farming,  —  and  requested  him  to  "  solemnize 
the  sacred  rites  of  matrimony  at  once."  The 
parson  finally  assented,  and  he  "  setting  "  on  the 
fe.ice,  and  they  on  their  horses,  the  "  sacred 
rite  "  was  "  solemnized,"  after  which  they  went 
on  their  way  rejoicing. 


A  HERO  INDEED.  —  A  good  deal  of  interest 
was  felt  at  the  time  when  the  Confederate  offi 
cers,  prisoners  on  board  the  "  Maple  Leaf,"  cap 
tured  that  steamer,  and  made  their  escape  to 
Currituck,  in  North  Carolina.  A  correspondent 
furnishes  the  following  instances  of  heroism  con 
nected  with  the  affair,  the  hero  of  which  is  "  a 
poor  old  man  bowed  down  with  age  and  poverty." 
The  writer  says  : 

"A  few  days  after  their  escape,  a  squad  of  Fed 
eral  cavalry,  in  scouring  the  country  to  arrest 
them,  came  upon  the  subject  of  this  notice  — 
Dempsey  Kight  by  name  —  in  the  highway.  A 
small  tin  bucket,  which  the  old  fisherman  was 
carrying  in  his  hand,  attracted  their  attention. 


They  halted,  and  asked  him  if  he  Lad  not  been 
feeding  the  escaped  rebel  oificers.  Too  proud  to 
utter  a  falsehood,  he  unhesitatingly  answered  in 
the  affirmative.  Whereupon  they  demanded  cf 
him  to  reveal  the  place  of  their  concealment,  and 
with  threats  and  blows  sought  to  wrest  u  from 
him.  But  the  principle  of  honor  was  too  strong 
in  the  old  man's  bosom,  and  to  all  their  impor 
tunities  he  yielded  not  —  tl.eir  brutality  he  could 
not  resist.  They  swore  they  would  have  the  se 
cret,  or  that  he  should  die.  With  this  intention, 
they  hurried  him  aboard  a  gun-boat,  and  again 
tendered  him  the  alternatives  of  death  or  of 
compliance  with  their  wishes.  He  answered 
that  he  was  convinced  that  they  intended  to 
hang  him,  but  tht.t  he  was  resolved  to  die  before 
he  "  would  te.l  where  those  officers  were."  Im 
mediately  they  suspended  him  by  the  neck  until 
life  was  nearly  extinct.  They  then  cut  him  down, 
and  after  reviving  him,  they  repeated  the  same 
question,  and  received  the  same  answer.  Again 
his  body  hung  in  the  air,  and  when  his  life  was 
far  more  spent  than  before,  they  again  unloosed 
the  halter,  receiving,  as  before,  the  same  firm 
denial.  Exasperated  to  fury,  they  told  him  that 
this  was  his  only  chance,  and  that  they  would 
not  cut  him  down  again.  Sustained  in  this  hour 
of  sore  trial  by  his  sense  of  honor,  which  was 
stronger  than  his  fear  of  death,  the  old  map  re 
plied  that  he  was  convinced  of  his  approaching 
end,  yet  he  deemed  death  preferable  to  dishonor, 
and  that  he  was  ready  to  meet  his  fate.  Again, 
and  for  the  third  time,  his  aged  frame  quivered 
in  the  agonies  of  death,  and  when  he  had  ceased 
to  struggle,  they  once  more  released  him.  Ap 
plying  powerful  stimulants,  they  succeeded  in 
restoring  him,  when,  with  a  determination  worthy 
of  the  elder  Brutus,  he  drew  forth  a  knife,  and 
attempted,  by  cutting  his  own  throat,  to  free 
himself  from  his  persecutors.  By  violence  they 
forced  his  knife  from  him,  when,  by  a  mighty 
effort,  he  dashed  the  fiends  aside,  and  plunged 
into  the  boiling  surf  to  drown  himself.  With 
boat-hooks  they  fished  him  up,  and  baffled  by 
his  unyielding  will,  they  permitted  him  to  go 
ashore.  This  is  a  true  statement  of  this  infamous 
transaction.  Dempsey  Kight  still  lives,  and  plies 
his  humble  calling  as  a  fisherman,  and  that  he  is 
one  of  God's  noblemen  none  will  gainsay." 


INCIDENTS  OF  THE  FIGHT  AT  BEAUFORT.  — 
On  almost  every  vessel,  after  the  fight,  the  men 
were  called  (tilt,  and  publicly  thanked  by  their 
respective  Captains.  On  the  ship  "  Bienville," 
particular  mention  was  made,  and  special  thanks 
returned,  in  presence  of  the  ship's  company,  to 
William  Henry  Steele,  a  boy  not  fourteen  years 
old,  who  conducted  himself  with  distinguished 
bravery.  He  is  a  powder  boy,  and  not  only 
never  flinched  or  dodged  a  shot,  but  when  two 
men  were  killed  at  his  gun,  he  did  not  turn  pale, 
or  cease  for  an  instant  hh  duties,  but  handed  the 
I  cartridge  he  had  in  1-and  to  the  gunner,  stepped 
carefully  over  the  bodies,  and  hastened  below  for 
more  an) munition. 


152 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


The  case  of  Thomas  Jackson,  coxswain  of  the 
"  W abash, V  deserves  notice.  He  was  struck  by 
a  shot,  or  a  splinter,  which  so  nearly  cut  his  leg 
off  as  to  leave  it  hanging  but  by  a  small  portion 
of  the  muscle  and  skin.  Partially  rising,  and 
leaning  painfully  against  a  gun,  Jackson  glanced 
at  his  mangled  limb,  and  in  an  instant  perceived 
its  hopeless  condition.  Feeling  behind  his  back 
in  his  belt,  where  seamen  always  carry  their 
knives,  he  drew  his  sheath-knife  from  its  leather 
seabburd,  and  deliberately  began  to  saw  away  at 
his  leg ;  but  the  knife  was  dull,  and  he  could  not 
cut  the  limb  off.  As  he  was  borne  below  by  his 
mates,  and  afterwards,  he  asked  continually  how 
the  fight  was  going,  and  kept  saying,  "  I  hope 
we'll" win  it;  I  hope  .we'll  win."  In  two  hours  he 
diet],  his  last  words  being  a  wish  for  our  victory 
in  this  battle,  and  a  word  of  thanks  that  he  had 
been  able  to  do  something  for  the  honor  of  the 
"  dear  old  flag." 

The  enthusiasm  of  the  soldiers  for  the  blue 
jackets,  after  the  action,  literally  knew  no  bounds. 
Whenever  a  boat's  crew  of  men-of-war's-men 
came  alongside  a  transport,  there  was  a  rush  to 
the  side  to  catch  a  nearer  view  of  the  gallant 
sailors,  and,  if  possible,  to  clasp  a  tarry  hand ; 
and  whenever  they  appeared,  the  cheers  were 
frantically  loud,  and  long  drawn  out,  and  the 
brave  Jacks  were  as  happy  and  proud  as  men 
can  be. 


THE  TYPO  WARRIORS.  —  The  typos  of  the 
Thirteenth  Illinois  regiment  of  volunteers  amused 
themselves  at  Camp  Rolla,  Mo.,  by  printing  a 
paper  entitled  "  Our  Regiment."  A  correspond 
ent  thus  made  his  shot: 

HEADQUARTERS  HEAVY  MUD  INFANTRY,  ) 
CAMP  jRoLLA,  July  17,  1801.     \ 

To  the  Editor  of  Our  Regiment : 

Heavy?  Yes,  sir!  Bound  to  shoot  rebels. 
This  is  the  report.  Chicago  boy,  the  undersigned. 
I'm  always  boasting  of  Chicago.  I'm  full  of  tight. 
Although  fighting  is  not  my  forte,  I  do  not  think 
I  would  stand  being  knocked  down.  I  joined 
this  August  body  in  April,  and  we  May  March 
daily,  for  we  are  getting  stronger  weekly.  I  may 
suy  in  good  season,  if  we  Spring  upon  the  enemy 
he  is  sure  to  Fall,  for  our  Summer-saults  will  be 
a  doso  that  will  prove  "  the  Winter  of  his  dis 
content."  He  will  have  to  evacuate.  We  won't 
strike  light,  for  the  South  is  no  match  for  us. 
When  the  country  called  all  hands  to  arms,  I 
thought  it  a  proud  legacy  to  leave  posterity  that 
I  joined  a  division  for  the  Union.  I  set  my  name 
down,  and  there  it  stands.  Nice  uniform.  Had 
my  hair  cut  with  a  knife  and  fork.  Red  hair, 
yellow  jacket,  blue  shirt,  white  hat,  plantation 
shoos,  pink  trousers,  bell  buttons  on  behind, 
where  1  never  saw  them  before.  Left  the  city 
under  encouraging  circumstances.  Toothache, 
nail  in  my  shoe,  forgot  my  rations,  something  in 
my  eye.  Chap  in  rear  file  rasping  my  skins.  Got 
out  of  step  and  hurt  my  instep.  While  marching, 
washwoman  h'inded  me  a  bill.  Had  no  money, 


and  she  had  no  sense — wanted  to  know  where 
our  quarters  \vere.  Asked  her  who  gave  the 
order  to  charge.  Bad  boy  on  si^wa'k  crying  out, 
'  Pay  the  poor  woman."  Loaded  the  little  sun- 
of-a  gun  with  abuse,  and  he  went  off.  Anived 
at  Camp  Rolla  a)1,  right,  nobody  being  left.  In 
tentions  to  sleep  in  tents,  but  were  intense-h 
disappointed  as  we  slept  on  the  grass,  which, 
alter  iL,  served  as  well  to  all  intents  and  pur 
poses  Placed  minute-men  on  watch,  who  moved 
all  hands  every  second,  until  we  really  thought  it 
time  to  st'/ike.  Took  my  turn  in  going  round. 
Shot  a  co ';  and  calf.  ""'Tis  meet  to  be  here." 
Fighting,  you  see,  for  the  public  weal,  places  our 
lives  at  stake.  Took  the  hindquarters  into  head 
quarters.  Pork  in  various  shapes  for  rations 
heretofore.  Not  Jew-dishes.  Serg.  Hinmann 
would  like  to  ht.ve  some  mutton.  Told  me  to 
stir  up,  get  a  h  rrse  and  find  a  saddle.  Serg. 
Hinmann's  drilling  is  a  complete  bore,  and  he 
thinks  he  augurs  well  on  the  whole.  Marches 
us  around  in  a  body,  until  he  almost  wears  out 
our  soles.  Makes  our  squad  run  so  we  will  be 
fully  able  to  sail  in  when  we  have  the  enemy  at 
bay.  Of  course  we  have  our  fine  times.  Had 
some  light  reading  sent  me  by  a  Sexton :  "  An 
nual  Report  of  Rose-Hill,"  "  Ghost  Stories,"  and 
his  business  circular,  with  price  li.st  of  coffins,  £c. 
I  should  like  to  overtake  that  undertaker.  Serg. 
Hinmann  speaks  disparagingly  of  our  literary 
tastes.  Says  the  only  thing  red  in  the  camp  is 
my  nose  —  my  nasal  "  organ."  I  mention  if,  be 
cause  it's  a  military  move  to  right  about  face. 
Music  by  the  band.  I  must  come  to  a  full  step 
now  for  a  period.  Flip  flap. 

Yours,  jolly  and  con-tent-ed, 

G.  N.  L.  Sccrrr. 


A.  SERGEANT  HAITS  A  WHOLE  REBEL  REGI 
MENT.  —  Among  the  beauties  of  the  war  in 
Western  Virginia  was  the  "  mixed-up  "  way  in 
which  the  combatants  manoeuvre  among  the 
mountains.  Here  is  an  instance  where  a  single 
loyal  soldier  halted  an  entire  rebel  regiment : 

Serg.  Carter,  of  Tippecanoe,  Ohio,  was  upon 
the  post  first  attacked  by  the  enemy.  The  ad 
vance-guard  of  the  Second  Virginia,  (rebel,)  con 
sisting  of  twelve  men,  came  suddenly  upon  him 
and  his  three  companions.  The  bright  moonlight 
revealed  the  flashing  bayonets  of  the  advancing 
regiment.  He  was  surrounded  and  separated 
from  his  reserve.  With  great  presence  of  mind 
he  stepped  out  and  challenged:  "Halt!  Who 
goes  there  ?  "  The  advance-guard,  supposing 
they  had  come  upon  a  scoutii  g  party  of  their 
own  men,  answered,  "  Friends,  with  the  counter 
sign."  At  his  order,  "  Advance,  one,  and  give  the 
countersign,"  they  hesitated.  He  repeated  the 
order  peremptorily,  "  Advance  and  give  the  coun 
tersign  or  I'll  blow  you  through."  They  answered, 
without  advancing,  "  Mississir  pi."  "  Where  do 
you  belong  ?  "  hi  demanded.  "  To  the  Second 
Virginia  regiment,"  "Where  are  you  going?" 
"  Along  the  ri  :lge.  '  Thev  then  hi  turn  questioned 
him,  —  "  Who  are  you  ? lj  <;  That's  my  o«n  busi- 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


153 


ness,"  lie  answered,  and  taking  deliberate  aim, 
he  shot  down  his  questioner. 

fie  called  for  his  boys  to  follow  him,  and 
sprung  down  a  ledge  of  rock,  while  a  full  volley 
wont  over  Ids  head.  He  heard  his  companions 
summoned  to  surrender,  and  the  order  given  to 
the  Major  to  advance  with  the  regiment.  Several 
started  in  pursuit  of  him.  lie  had  to  descend 
the  hill  on  the  side  towards  the  enemy's  cam]). 
"While  lie  eluded  his  pursuers,  he  found  himself 
in  a  new  danger.  He  had  got  within  the  enemy's 
camp  pickets!  He  had,  while  running,  torn  the 
U.  S.  from  his  cartridge  box,  and  covered  his  belt 
plato  with  his  cap  box,  and  torn  the  strips  from 
his  pantaloons.  He  was  challenged  by  their  sen 
tinels  while  making  his  way  out,  and  answered, 
giving  the  countersign,  " '  Mississippi/  Second 
Virginia  regiment."  They  asked  him  what  he 
was  doing  there.  lie  said  that  the  boys  had  gone 
of}'  on  a  scout  after  the  Yankees,  that  he  had  been 
detained  in  camp,  and  in  trying  to  find  them  he 
had  got  bewildered. 

As  he  passed  through,  to  prevent  further  ques 
tioning,  he  said,  "  Our  boys  are  up  on  the  ridge ; 
which  is  the  best  way  up  ?  "  They  answered, 
"  Bear  to  the  left,  and  you'll  find  it  easier  to 
climb."  Soon  again  his  pursuers  were  after  him, 
as  he  expressed  it.  "  breaking  brush  "  behind  him  ; 
this  time  with  a  hound  on  his  trail.  He  made 
his  way  to  a  brook,  and  running  down  the  shallow 
stream,  threw  the  dog  oft'  the  scent,  and,  as  the 
day  was  dawning,  he  suddenly  came  upon  four 
pickets,  who  brought  their  arms  to  a  ready,  and 
challenged  him.  He  gave  the  countersign,  "  Mis 
sissippi,"  and  claimed  to  belong  to  the  Second 
Virginia  regiment.  His  cap  box  had  slipped  from 
his  belt  plate.  They  asked  him  where  he  got 
that  belt,  lie  told  them  he  had  captured  it  that 
night  from  a  Yankee.  They  told  him  to  advance, 
and,  as  he  approached,  he  recognized  their  ac 
coutrements,  and  knew  that  he  was  among  his 
own  men.  a  picket  guard  from  the  First  Kentucky. 

He  was  taken  before  Col.  Enyart,  and  dismissed 
to  his  regiment.  His  motive  in  hailing  a  whole 
column  of  the  enemy  was  to  give  intimation  to 
the  reserve  of  their  advance,  that  they  might 
open  upon  them  on  their  left  flank,  and  so,  per 
haps,  arrest  their  progress. 


SURGEON  RAT.  —  We  have  heard  and  read  a 
great  many  stories  about  the  rat;  but  in  all  our 
experience,  we  never  before  had  one  brought  be 
fore  us  in  ths  character  of  a  surgeon.  At  one 
of  our  large  hospitals,  an  operation  was  success 
fully  performed  upon  an  invalid  soldier,  by  a  com 
mon  rat ;  which  the  surgeon  -in  charge  had  him 
self  delayed  for  a  time,  with  the  hope  of  causing 
less  suffering  to  the  patient.  This  patient  was 
suffering  from  the  effects  of  a  fracture  of  the 
frontal  bone  of  the  skull,  a  piece  of  which  pro 
jected  outwards  to  some  length ;  and  the  healing 
of  the  fleshy  parts  depended  upon  its  removal. 
The  bone  was  so  firmly  fixed,  however,  as,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  surgeon,  would  cause  unnecessary 
pain  in  its  forcible  removal ;  and  such  remedies 
were  applied  as  would  assist  nature  in  eventually 


ejecting  it.  A  soothing  poultice  was  placed  upon 
the  part  a  night  or  two  ago,  a  bo1*1  being  m;ide 
through  the  application  for  the  insertion  of  the 
projecting  bone.  The  patient  was  soon  asleep  in 
his  bed,  but  d  ning  the  night  was  aroused  by  the 
sting  of  pain,  and  awoke,  to  discover  a  rut  making 
off  with  the  piece  of  bone  in  his  mouth  He. 
struck  at  av.ii  hit  the  rat,  but  did  not  hurt  him. 
The  rat  had  probably  been  drawn  to  the  b-  d  of 
the  soldier  by  the  scent  of  the  poultice,  which 
was  Peasant  to  his  olfactories ;  but  on  reaching 
it,  hi*  keen  appetite,  no  doubt,  caused  him  to  rel 
ish,  in  a  large  degree,  the  juicy  bone  so  convenient 
to  his  teeth.  He,  therefore,  seized,  and  drew  it 
from  its  position,  and  was  made  to  scamper  off 
by  the  patient,  whom  he  had  aroused  with  pain. 
It  was  a  skilful  operation,  quickly  performed, 
and  will  result  beneficially  to  the  invalid.  —  Pe 
tersburg  Express.  

EXPERIENCES  WITH  KEBEL  PRISONERS. — 
"  Strange  as  it  may  seem,"  says  a  soldier,  "  we 
made  some  very  pleasant  acquaintances  among 
the  prisoners  we  were  sent  to  guard,  some  of 
whom  we  hud  helped  to  capture,  and  cared  for 
when  wounded  on  the  field.  One  rebel  —  Maj. 
McKnight,  of  the  rebel  Gen.  Loring's  stuff'  —  was 
an  especial  favorite.  He  was  a  poet,  musician, 
and  joker,  and  used  to  run  '  from  grave  to  gay, 
from  lively  to  severe.'  on  almost  all  matters.  'l 
append  a  little  morceau  of  his,  under  his  nom  tU 
plume  of  Asa  Hartz,  entitled 

MY   LOVE  AND   I. 

BY   ASA    HARTZ. 

MY  love  reposes  on  a  rosewood  frame  ; 

A  bunk  have  I ; 
A  couch  of  feathery  down  fills  up  the  same; 

Mine's  straw,  but  dry  ; 

She  sinks  to  re^t  at  night  with  scarce  a  sigh ; 
With  waking  eyes  I  watch  the  hours  creep  by. 

My  love  her  daily  dinner  takes  in  state, 

And  so  do  I ; 
The  richest  viands  flank  her  silver  plate  ; 

Coarse  grub  have  I ; 

Pure  wines  she  sips  at  ease,  her  thirst  to  slake; 
I  pump  my  drink  from  Erie's  limpid  lake. 

My  love  has  all  the  world  at  will  to  roam  ; 

Three  acres  I ; 
She  goes  abroad,  or  quiet  sits  at  home ; 

So  cannot  I. 

Bright  angels  watch  around  her  couch  at  night ; 
A  Yank,  with  loaded  gun,  keeps  me  in  sight. 

A  thousand  weary  miles  now  stretch  between 

My  love  and  I. 
To  her  this  wintry  night,  cold,  calm,  serene, 

I  waft  a  sigh, 

And  hope  with  all  my  earnestness  of  soul, 
To-morrow's  mail  may  bring  me  ray  parole. 

There's  hope  ahead  !  we'll  one  day  meet  again, 

My  love  and  I. 
We'll  wipe  away  all  tears  of  sorrow  then ; 

Her  love-lit  eye 

Will  all  my  many  troubles  then  leguile, 
And  keep  this  wayward  reb  from  Johnson's  Isle. 


154 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDEJN1&. 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  UNION  OFFICER.  —  The 
experiences  of  Col.  De  Villiers,  of  the  Eleventh 
Uliio  regiment,  who  was  captured  with  others, 
in  Western  Virginia,  in  1861,  and  conveyed  to 
Richmond,  and  who  afterwards  made  his  escape, 
is  thus  detailed: 

"  Arrived  at  Richmond,  they  were  taken  to  a 
tobacco  warehouse,  where  they  found  forty  other 
prisoners.  In  the  room  there  was  neither  table 
nor  bed.  They  were  kept  without  food  ;  ^o  break 
fast  givc-u  them  the  next  morning  after  their 
arrival  —  and  when,  finally,  a  little  bread  was 
brought  them,  it  was  thrown  upon  the  floor  as  to 
a  dog  ;  and  the  quantity  so  small,  that  every 
man  must  make  double-quick  in  grabbing  it,  or 
he  got  none,  and  was  compelled  to  beg  from  the 
others.  But  there  were  rich  officers,  who  could 
buy  something  to  eat ;  for  if  the  rebels  did  not 
love  the  Northerners,  they  loved  their  gold.  But 
to  shorten,  he  got  the  brain  fever  in  prison,  and 
was  removed  to  the  hospital ;  and  here  the  Col 
onel  took  occasion  to  affirm,  that  the  kindness 
which  had  been  spoken  of,  as  practised  by  the 
physicians,  was  not  from  rebels,  but  from  our 
own  surgeons. 

"  Being  by  profession  a  physician,  Col.  De  V., 
when  he  had  sufficiently  recovered,  was  asked  by 
the  hospital  doctor  to  assist,  which  he  consented 
to  do  ;  and  he  was  thus  permitted  to  enjoy  more 
liberty.  By  good  fortune,  one  day  the  command 
ing  General  gave  the  physicians  liberty  to  go  into 
tli 3  city  several  times.  They  wore,  as  a  distin 
guished  body,  a  red  ribbon,  or  badge,  fixed  in 
thsir  button-hole.  When  he  encountered  the 
aeotinnl,  he  was  challenged,  and  forbidden  to  pass 
on  the  ground  of  being  a  prisoner ;  the  order  of 
the  General  did  not  include  him.  Now,  as  they 
°alled  him  a  French  Yankee,  he  thought  he  would 
play  them  a  Yankee  trick ;  so  he  wrote  a  note 
stating  that  he  was  included.  When  he  returned 
to  the  hospital,  the  rebel  physician  said  he  had 
been  practising  deceit,  and  must  consequently  go 
back  among  the  prisoners.  He  was  again  incar 
cerated  and  put  in  irons.  He  soon  made  up  his 
mind,  however,  to  escape  from  there,  or  die.  He 
was  asked  to  take  an  oath  by  the  rebels ;  but, 
said  he,  '  I  have  taken  an  oath  as  a  naturalized 
citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  I  will  never  take 
another  to  conflict  with  it.'  He  had  been  tempted 
by  the  offer  of  position,  but  he  abhorred  the  en 
emies  of  this  Union,  and  could  never  forget  that 
he  came  here  for  Liberty's  sake.  He  told  Col. 
Woodruff  of  his  determination  to  escape,  for  his 
time  had  come.  Col.  W.  wished  him.  well,  and 
hoped  that  he  would  escape.  He  set  about  it, 
and  devised  a  lie,  and  stole  ;  for  which  he  felt 
assured  he  would  be  forgiven.  He  stole  the 
coat  and  hat  of  a  secession  officer,  and  in  that 
garb  passed  the  guard. 

"  Col.  De  Villiers,  while  Brigade  Inspector  at 
Camp  Dennison,  Ohio,  learned  a  lesson  from  the 
soldiers  who  wanted  to  go  to  Cincinnati.  They 
were  in  the  habit  of  lying  in  the  bushes  to  hear 
the  countersign,  and  having  obtained  it,  passed 
the  guard.  Without  the  countersign  he  could 
not  get  out  of  the  gate,  even  with  his  full  uniform. 


So  he  lay  for  about  two  hours  behind  the  guard 
house,  (in  the  night,  as  should  have  been  stated,) 
until  he  was  happy  by  hearing  it.  The  guard  called 
at  his  approach,  '  Who  comes  there  ?  '  'A  friend, 
with  the  countersign.'  He  passed  the  guard,  the 
gate  was  opened,  arid  IK-  was  once  more  free.  He 
made  his  way  to  Mmassas  Junction,  which  is 
nothing  but  a  swamp.  About  six  miles  from 
Richmond,  he  was  encountered  by  a  guard,  and 
to  his  challenge  replied,  « A  friend,  without  the 
Countersign.'  [He  had  the  precaution  to  lay  the 
iouble-barrel  shot  gun,  which  he  contrived  to  get 
before  he  escaped  from  Richmond,  down,  before 
he  approached  this  guard.  He  had,  besides,  a 
revolver  and  a  bowic  knife.] 

"  Approaching,  they  asked  him  where  he  was 
from  and  whither  he  was  going.  He  replied  from 
Richmond  to  Petersburg.  They  then  asked  why 
he  did  not  take  the  railroad,  and  he  said  he  missed 
the  cars.  They  then  took  him  in  custody,  and 
marched  one  on  each  side  of  him  upon  a  narrow 
bridge  crossing  a  stream  near  at  hand.  The  sit 
uation  was  desperate,  but  he  was  determined 
never  to  go  back  to  Richmond  alive  ;  so  wheu  he 
got  to  about  the  middle  of  the  bridge,  he  struck 
to  the  right  and  left,  knocking  one  of  the  guards 
on  one  side  and  the  other  on  the  other  side,  and 
giving  them  both  a  good  swim.  Hence  he  made 
his  way  towards  Petersburg,  subsisting  for  throe 
days  upon  nothing  but  a  few  raw  beans,  '  which 
was  not  very  good  for  his  digestion.' 

"Upon  this  tramp,  for  a  distance  of  sixty -£ re 
miles,  he  carried  his  skiff  for  crossing  rivers  (a 
pine  board)  upon  his  shoulder.  During  his  trav 
els  he  was  several  times  shot  at.  When  he  got 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Magruder's  forces,  his 
hardest  time  began.  He  tried  to  pass  sentinels 
several  times,  and  at  one  time  was  twice  shot  at 
in  quick  succession.  He  shot  too.  He  did  not 
know  whether  he  hit  the  two  sentinels  or  not,  but 
they  never  apswered.  But  the  whole  brigade  was 
aroused,  and  he  took  to  the  James  River  in  what 
he  called  his  skifi',  viz.,  his  pine-board  companion. 
He  landed  on  the  other  side  in  a  swamp,  recross- 
ing  again  near  Jamestown,  where  he  lost  his  gun. 
He  had  cast  away  his  officer's  coat,  and  what  re 
mained  of  his  suit  was  rusty  enough.  So  he 
took  an  open  course,  and  resolved  to  ask  for 
work ;  but  like  the  poor  men  in  the  South,  when 
they  ask  for  work,  they  are  told  to  go  into  the 
service.  Even  the  ladies  do  not  look  upon  a 
young  man  unless  he  is  in  the  service ;  viewed 
from  this  test,  there  were  more  patriots  in  the 
South  than  in  the  North ;  they  were  all  soldiers, 
old  and  young. 

"  He  hired  with  a  German  blacksmith,  at  $1.50 
per  week,  having -concluded  to  remain  a  while, 
and  learn  something  of  the  condition  of  the  rebel 
forces.  He  staid  a  fortnight,  observing  all  the 
rebel  movements.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time, 
he  got  tired  of  blacksmithing,  and  wanted  to  go 
home.  He  found  a  good  German  Union  man,  to 
whom  he  told  his  story,  without  reservation,  just 
as  if  he  was  telling  it  here  to-night.  This  was 
!  of  great  service  to  him  ;  he  led  him  for  nine  days, 
j  the  Colonel  having  adopted  another  Yankee  trick, 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


155 


and  made  a  blind  man  of  himself ;  he  couldn't 
see,  and  the  German  was  his  guide.  Dropping 
the  Yankee  French,  he  became  a  French  subject, 
and  wanted  to  go  back  to  France,  because  he 
could  not  get  any  work  to  do  here;  arid  so  he 
told  Gen.  Huger,  when  he  got  into  his  command. 
This  General  promised  to  send  him  to  Fortress 
Monroe  with  a  flog  of  truce.  The  next  flag  of 
truce  that  was  seat  he  accompanied,  blind  still, 
and  led  by  his  faithful  German  Union  man. 

"  He  contrived,  unobserved,  to  tell  the  CaptalM 
of  the  flag  party  that  he  was  a  prisoner,  a  Union 
officer,  and  had  assumed  blindness  as  a  disguise, 
and  that  he  should  take  him  ;  but  the  young  of 
ficer  said  he  could  not  understand  it,  and  said  he 
would  inform  Gen.  Wool.  He  did  so,  and  Wool, 
being  an  old  soldier,  'comprehended  the  matter  at 
once,  immediately  sending  another  boat  out  to 
bring  him  ;  but  it  was  too  late,  for  the  rebel  offi 
cer  said  it  was  not  worth  while  waiting  on  the 
Yankees,  and  hastened  off'.  Having  lost  his  Ger 
man  guide,  Gen.  Huger  himself  led  him  (the 
poor  old  blind  man)  with  unaffected  sympathy, 
to  the  hotel,  and  he  assured  him  that  he  should 
go  with  the  next  flag  of  truce  which  was  sent ; 
and  he  further  took  the  trouble  of  writing  a  spe 
cial  letter  to  Gen.  Wool  about  the  '  old  French 
blind  man  who  wanted  to  go  home.'  Col.  De  Vil- 
liers  remarked  that  Gen.  Huger  evinced  true  kind 
ness  towards  him. 

"  With  the  flag,  there  were,  besides,  a  number 
of  ladies,  who  « left  the  South  for  the  purpose  of 
going  North  to  do  business.'  Though  he  was 
blind,  he  could  see  the  glances  they  exchanged  ; 
and  though  old  and  somewhat  deaf,  he  could  hear 
the  officers  tell  the  ladies  to  learn  all  they  could, 
and  come  back  with  the  information  —  wishing 
them  much  success.  « It  is  surprising  what  fine 
spies  they  make  ! ' 

"  When  he  got  into  safe  quarters,  he  threw1  off 
his  disguise,  his  decrepitude  —  saw  and  was 
strong  —  observing,  without  surprise  himself,  the 
astonishment  of  the  ladies  at  the  change." 


FIRST  EXPERIENCE  IN  BATTLE. — A  Union 
soldier,  who  was  in  the  battle  of  Piketon,  Ken 
tucky,  gives  the  following  graphic  description  of 
his  sensations  during  the  fight : 

"  And  now  for  my  share  in  the  battle.  I  was 
riding  along,  somewhat  carelessly,  when  crack ! 
crack !  crack  !  went  their  riiles,  and  down  fell  our 
men.  Crack  !  crack  !  crack  !  they  came.  Off  I 
jumped  from  my  horse,  when  along  came  the  Ma- 
lor,  and  gave  me  his  horse  to  hold  ;  but  I  soon 
nitched  them  both  to  a  tree  down  by  the  river, 
and  sprung  again  up  the  bank,  when  whiz !  went 
a  bullet  past  my  face,  about  three  inches  from  it, 
and  made  me  draw  back  in  a  hurry,  I  can  assure 
you.  I  looked  up  the  hill,  but  could  see  no  one 
for  the  smoke,  which  was  plenty ;  so  I  levelled  in 
the  direction  of  the  enemy  and  fired  —  loaded 
again  and  fired.  I  got  my  rifle  in  readiness 
again!  Ah!  that,  ball  was  pretty  close.  Here 
comes  another  —  buzz,  buzz  — ' you  can  hear  their 
whiz  for  fully  a  hundred  yards  as  they  come)  — 


get  out  of  the  way.  But  wht»re  is  it  ta  go  to?. 
Whew!  that  was  close.  But,  great GotI !  it  has 

gone  through  a  man's  shoulder  within  a  ftiw  yards 
of  me  !  He  falls !  some  of  his  comrades  pick 
him  up. 

"  Now  a  horseman  comes  pa-,  t  in  a  hurry.  He 
is  right  opposite  me  —  when  whiz,  crack!  a  ball 
stiikes  his  horse  in  the  fore-shoulder.  Off  tum 
bles  the  man  ;  down  falls  the  horse,  stiffened  out 
and  dead.  U  the  bullet  had  gone  through  the 
animal,  it  wou  d  doubtless  have  struck  me. 

"  Here  com-j  a  dozen  more.  How  they  whiz 
as  they  go  past !  '  Load  and  fire  ! '  '  Load  and 
fire  ! '  is  the  order —  and  load  and  fire  it  is.  My 
notice  was  especially  drawn  to  a  very  fine-look 
ing  man,  who  stood  close  to  me,  and  he  truly 
acted  like  a  hero — loading  and  firing  just  as  if 
he  was  on  parade-  when  whiz  !  whiz  !  conies  a  bul 
let.  My  God,  hew  close  !  It  almost  stunned  me. 
When  I  looked  towards  my  soldier,  I  saw  his 
comrades  lifting  him  up.  lie  was  shot  through 
the  breast,  and  died  in  less  than  half  an  hour. 
0  the  horrors  of  war  !  Vengeance  on  the  heads 
of  those  who  initiate  it. 

"I  directed  my  attention  up  the  hill;  a  little 
puff  of  smoke  was  dying  away.  '  Boys,'  says  I 
to  the  squad  of  his  fellows,  '  you  see  that  smoke  ; 
aim  for  it;  a  rebel 's  in  its  rear.'  I  raised  my  En- 
field,  and  glanced  through  its  sights,  when  I  for 
a  moment  caught  sight  of  a  man  through  the 
bushes  and  smoke  there.  Crack  went  our  giu.s, 
and  all  was  over. 

"  We  crossed  to  the  place  afterwards,  aiul 
found  musket-balls,  and  one  Enfield  rifle-ball  — 
mine,  as  mine  was  the  only  rifle-ball  fired.  Ihe) 
all  went  through  him,  either  of  wtrch  would  have 
killed  him — mine  through  his  breast.  Thank 
God,  I  have  done  ny  duty  for  the  poor  fellow 
who  fell  beside  me. 


A  GALLANT  LIEUTENANT.  —  During  the  bat 
tle  near  Spottsylvania  Court-IIou.se,  Va.,  on  the 
14th  of  May,  1804,  Maj.-Gen.  Wright's  brigade 
was  ordereol  to  charge  the  Union  works.  In  do 
ing  so,  the  Third  Georgia  regiment  passed 
through  a  heavy  fire  of  minie  balls,  losing  sev 
enty-eight  rnen  in  killed  and  wounded.  The 
color-bearer  of  the  regiment,  being  wounded, 
planted  the  colors  in  the  ground,  and  retired  to 
the  rear.  At  this  moment  the  skirmish  line  was 
ordered  to  halt,  which  was  understood  by  many 
as  an  order  for  the  regiment  to  halt,  which  they 
did.  Perceiving  that  a  crisis  was  at  hand,  Lieut. 
U.  G.  Hyman  sprang  forward,  seized  the  colors 
from  amid  a  pile  of  slain,  and  waving  them  in  the 
face  of  the  foe,  called  upon  the  old  Third  to  rally 
to  it,  which  they  did,  with  a  yell,  and  the  Yankee 
breastworks  were  taken.  Lieut.  Uyman  was  at 
least  fifty  yards  in  advance  cf  the  regiment  all 
the  time.  —  Folsom's  Georgia  Record. 


CAPT.  GILLINGIIAM'S  ADVENTURE.  —  On  tiie 
23d  of  August,  1803,  Captain  Ned  Gillinghani, 
Df  t.ie  Thirteenth  Nt\v  York  cavalry,  with  an 


156 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


cscoii  of  eight  Sergeants,  whilst  going  from  camp, 
near  f/'entreville,  as  bearer  of  despatches  to 
Washing!  n,  was  met  on  the  road  near  Allan- 
dale,  abouc  two  o'clock  P.  M.,  by  a  detachment 
of  Cue  Second  Massachusetts  cavalry,  the  Ser 
geant  of  the  latter  asking  Capt.  Gillingham  if 
they  need  apprehen  1  any  danger ;  to  which  Capt. 
Giiuugham  replied  :  "  So  far,  we  have  not  met 
with  any  obstruction."  Capt.  Gillingham  had  I 
scarcely  gone  over  four  hundred  yards,  when  he 
was  met  by  a  party  of  Mosby's  cavalry,  consist 
ing  of  about  one  hundred  men,  by  whom  he 
was  ordered,  under  fire,  to  halt.  Capt.  Gilling 
ham,  taking  them  for  our  own  troops,  (as  they 
were  dressed  similarly  to  his  own  men,)  replied : 
*'  Hold  up  firing  —  you  are  fools — you  are  firing 
on  Government  troops  ;  "  to  which  the  Captain  of 
said  troops  replied :  "  Surrender  there,  you  Yan 
kee  ."  Capt.  Gillingham  replied  he  could 

not  see  the  joke.  Then,  turning  to  Sergeant 
Long,  Orderly  of  company  B,  and  to  Sergeant 
Burnham,  ordered  them  to  draw  their  sabres  and 
follow  him.  A  general  conflict  ensued,  in  which 
sabres  and  pistols  were  freely  used,  resulting  in 
the  wounding  of  Orderly  Sergeant  Long  and  Ser 
geant  Zeagle,  both  of  company  B,  who,  with  four 
other  Sergeants,  were  all  taken  prisoners.  Capt. 
Ned  Gillingham  and  Serg.  Burnham  effected  their 
escape,  the  former  having  been  wounded  in  the 
arm,  and  the  latter  in  the  hip,  as  well  as  having 
their  horses  shot.  Obtaining  horses  on  the  road, 
they  reached  Washington  about  six  o'clock  P.  M. 


THE    WOUNDED    SOLDIER. 

THE  following  beautiful  and  touching  lines  were 
written  by  Lieut.  John  McKee,  of  company  K,  74th 
Ohio  regiment,  who  was  accidentally  drowned  at 
Cincinnati,  on  his  way  home  : 

AMONG  the  pines  that  overlook 

Stone  River's  rocky  bed, 
Ohio  knows  full  many  a  son 

There  numbered  with  the  dead. 

'Tis  hard  to  die  'mid  scenes  of  strife, 

No  friend  or  kindred  near, 
To  wipe  the  death  damp  from  the  brow, 

Or  shed  affection's  tear. 

To  soothe  the  sufferer,  in  his  pain, 

With  words  of  holy  cheer, 
Or  bend  the  knee,  in  earnest  prayer, 

For  the  dying  volunteer. 

That  day,  when  all  along  our  lines 
Rained  showers  of  shot  and  shell, 

Thus  many  a  brave  young  soldier  died  — 
Thus  many  a  hero  fell. 

When  night  closed  o'er  this  bloody  scene, 

Returning  o'er  the  ground, 
I  heard  the  piteous  moans  of  one 

Laid  low  by  mortal  wound. 

Twas  by  the  ford  we  crossed  that  day  — 
The  ground  so  dearly  bought  — 

Where  Miller  led  his  stalwart  men, 
And  gallant  Moudy  fought. 


The  wounded  soldier's  cheek  was  wan, 
And  beamless  was  his  eye  ; 

I  knew  before  another  morn 
The  wounded  man  must  die. 

I  built  a  fire  of  cedar  rails,  — 
The  air  was  c  jld  and  damp,  — 

And  filled  his  canteen  from  the  spring, 
Below  the  river's  bank. 

And  then  I  pat  me  clown  to  ask 

If  he  would  wish  to  send 
A  last  request  or  parting  word 

To  mother,  sister,  friend. 

"I  have  some  wcrd,"  the  boy  replied, 
"  My  friends  would  love  to  hear  ; 

'Twould  fill  my  sister's  soul  with  joy, 
My  mother's  heart  would  cheer. 

"Tell  them  I  died  a  soldier's  death, 

Upon  the  battle-field, 
But  lived  to  know  the  day  was  ours, 

And  see  the  rebels  yield  ;  — 

"That  ere  I  died  their  colors  fell, 
Their  columns  broke,  and  then 

I  heard  the  wild,  victorious  shouts 
Of  Negley's  valiant  men. 

«« But  most  of  all  I'd  have  them  know 

That  with  my  latest  breath 
I  spoke  of  Him  I  loved  in  life ; 

'Twas  joy  and  peace  in  death. 

44  Tell  sister  I  have  read  with  care  — 

For  holy  ties  endeared  — 
The  Bible  mother  gave  to  me 

Before  I  volunteered. 

4 I'm  very  tired  with  talking  now; 

Please  raise  my  head  some  higher, 
A.nd  fold  my  blanket  closely  dowz, 

And  build  a  larger  fire. 

44  The  air  is  very  cold  to-night." 
I  raised  his  head  with  care  ; 

He  closed  his  eyes  as  if  to  sleep, 
But  clasped  his  hands  in  prayer. 

In  silent  converse  with  his  God 

The  wounded  hero  lay  ; 
It  seemed  to  him  communion  sweet, 

No  agony  to  pray. 

He  smiled  as  does  the  gentle  child 
When  angels  whisper  near ; 

No  anguish  worked  upon  his  brow, 
Nor  blanched  his  cheek  with  fear. 

I  saw  that  death  was  coming  fast ; 

His  mind  was  all  in  prayer  ; 
I  asked  him  for  his  regiment, 

And  where  his  comrades  were. 

44  My  Captain's  dead,"  the  boy  replied, 

In  accents  low  and  mild  ; 
"  I've  heard  my  mother  speak  of  him 

When  I  was  but  a  child." 

I  knew  his  mind  was  wandering, 

That  he  was  thinking  then 
Of  him  who  gave  his  life  to  save 

His  faithful,  valiant  men. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


157 


And  thus  he  died  that  stormy  night, 

No  friend  or  kindred  near 
To  wipe  the  death  damp  from  his  brow, 

Or  shed  affection's  tear. 

Thus  I  have  known  the  love  of  God 
-Joy,  peace,  and  comfort  yield 

To  one  who  fell  with  mortal  wound 
On  the  bloody  battle-field. 

And  should  you  wander  o'er  the  ground 

Where  fell  so  many  brave, 
Among  the  cedars  on  the  hill 

There  lies  his  lonely  grave. 

The  flowers  will  soon  light  up  with  smiles 

Stone  River's  rocky  shore  ; 
His  spirit  knows  a  brighter  clime, 

Where  flowers  bloom  evermore. 

And  mild-eyed  Peace  may  visit  soon 

Stone  River's  rocky  shore, 
But  Murfrees'  chiming  Sabbath  bella 

Will  never  wake  him  more. 


ANECDOTE  OF  GEN.  WYMAN.  —  A  correspond 
ent  accompanying  the  Union  forces  in  their  march 
from  Jefferson  City  to  Rolla,  Mo.,  in  1861,  relates 
the  following :  "  After  leaving  camp  at  Union 
Hollow,  a  rugged  part  of  the  mountains  beyond 
Springfield,  an  incident  occurred  worthy  of  pres 
ervation.  Gen.  Wyman  had  issued  orders  that 
no  man  should  go  in  advance  of  his  company. 
About  five  miles  from  camp  the  General  met  two 
of  the  boys  of  the  Illinois  Thirteenth,  waiting 
the  approach  of  their  cum  puny.  Those  who  know 
the  General,  know,  when  he  does  not  like  any 
thing,  how  roughly  he  can  reprimand  a  soldier. 
The  General  addressed  the  boys  in  one  of  his 
very  roughest  styles: 

"  '  Boys,  why are  you  in  advance  of  your 

company  this  morning  P  ' 

"  One  of  the  men,  taking  off  his  hat,  addressed 
the  General  in  the  following  style  : 

" '  General,  about  two  and  a  half  miles  from 
here  are  the  graves  of  my  mother  and  sisters, 
and  I  thought  it  was  likely  this  was  the  last  time 

I  should  be  permitted  to  visit  them,  and  I  got 
permission  of  the  Captain  to  go  this  morning  to 
visit  them,  and  I  am  here  waiting  for  them  to 
come  up.' 

"  This  was  too  much  for  the  General.  Said 
he,  '  My  boy,  that  was  right.  1  have  always 
lovEd  you,  but  that  makes  me  love  you  twice  as 
well  as  I  ever  did.'  At  this  point,  tears  choked 
the  words  of  the  noble  soldier,  and  one  might 
have  seen  one  whole-souled  man  weeping  under 
the  effects  of  paternal  affection.  Some  time  after 
this,  they  joined  our  staff',  and  rode  with  us,  and 
while  riding  with  me,  he  narrated  to  me  the  in 
cident,  and  again  gave  vent  to  tears.  Said  he, 

I 1  am  not  ashamed  of  tears  under  such  circum 
stances.'  "  

A.  THRILLING  EVENT.  —  On  Thursday,  Sept.  10, 
1803,  while  General  Forrest  was  at  Lafayette,  Ga., 
he  was  ordered  to  Ringgold  for  the  purpose  of 
checking  the  enemy,  reported  to  be  marching  in 


large  force  in  that  direction.  Picking  up  about 
four  hundred  of  his  command,  he  marched  off 
with  all  the  promptitude  of  his  ardent  and  enthu 
siastic  nature.  Here  he  found  Vancleve's  corpo, 
consisting  of  seventeen  thousand  infantiy.  and 
cavalry.  Skhmishing  irame  liately  commence  1, 
General  For  :est  fighting  them  at  every  step,  as 
he  slowly  fell  back.  For  two  days  did  the'  un 
equal  conflict  continue,  and  notwithstanding  the 
disparity  of  numbers,  the  loss  on  eithei  Bide  was 
about  the  same.  General  Forrest  rr  tired  to 
Tunnel  Hill  abort  four  o'clock,  and  in  an  hour 
the  enemy  was  in  s:ghts  when  one  of  the  mo*t 
gallant  and  thrilling  incidents  of  the  war  occurred. 
The  enemy's  advancing  column  marched  on, — 
right  on,  —  and  the  cloud  of  dust  arid  the  huge 
paraphernalia  which  they  displayed  made  them 
look  indeed  "  terrible  as  an  army  with  banners." 
On  reaching  the  apex  of  the  hill,  a  short  pause 
was  perceptible;  but,  skirmishers  being  thrown 
out  on  the  right  and  left,  on  they  came.  In 
every  ambush,  behind  every  knoll,  and  house, 
and  tree,  could  be  seen  a  blue-coat,  slyly,  cau 
tiously  sneaking  up  like  a  hungry  wolf  in  search 
of  its  prey.  General  Forrest  levelled  his  trusty 
gun  at  the  nearest  one.  The  smoke  from  his 
gun  seemed  only  to  exasperate  the  infuriated 
foe,  and  to  inspire  them  with  anxiety  either  to 
capture  or  destroy  the  small  but  defiant  squad 
of  Confederates,  and  for  this  purpose  a  hundred 
guns  opened  upon  them,  while  a  dozen  Yankees 
rushed  across  the  railroad  for  the  purpose  of 
getting  still  closer.  As  they  crossed  the  track, 
General  Forrest  looked  still  farther  up,  and  he 
saw  a  couple  of  Confederate  soldiers  coming 
down  the  road,  unaware  of  the  approach  of  the 
enemy,  and  the  immediate  danger  that  surrounded 
them.  The  impudenie  of  ths  Yankees  that  had 
crossed  the  ra.lroad,  and  were  seen  crawling  in 
the  woods,  togt  ther  with  the  peril  that  surrounded 
the  two  Confederate  soldiers  approaching,  was 
more  than  General  Forrest  could  stand.  Hastily 
calling  to  his  side  five  of  his  escort,  he  told  them 
that  his  imperilled  soldiers  must  be  rescued,  and 
that  the  insolent  squad  that  had  crossed  the  road 
must  be  captured.  With  coolness  and  self-pos 
session,  but  with  a  loud  and  cheering  shout,  he 
ordered  his  little  squad  to  the  charge.  In  the 
midst  of  the  iron  hail  that  rained  upon  them,  they 
rushed  on.  Every  man  forgot  his  own  danger. 
The  soldier  stooped  over  his  musket,  or  leaned 
upon  his  horse,  absorbed  in  the  scene.  Dressed 
in  a  huge  duster,  General  Forrest,  as  he  dashed 
on  in  his  fierce  purpose,  looked  infernal.  There 
was  a  sudden  pause ;  then  their  heads  were  cur 
tained  in  by  the  wreathing  smoke  of  their  own 
guns.  The  Yankees  were  seen  retreating  back 
across  the  road,  and  the  Confederate  soldiers 
rescued  from  death.  From  the  hill-side  a  volley 
of  musketry  was  now  poured  upon  the  small 
squad.  Having  accomplished  their  purpose,  they 
turned  to  retreat,  but  three  of  the  seven  were 
wounded.  A  boll  struck  General  Forrest  near 
the  spine,  within  an  inch  of  the  wound  lift  re 
ceived  at  Shiloh,  inflicting  a  painful  out  net  dan 
gerous  wound ;  while  two  of  his  escort  were 


158 


ANECDOTES,    POETEY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


wounded  —  one   in   the  back  of  the  head,  the 
other  in  the  arm.  —  Marietta  Rebel. 


DEATH  OF  A  YOUNG  WOMAN  ON  THE  BATTLE 
FIELD  OF  CIIICKAMAUGA.  —  The  case  of  a  young 
woman  in  Willoughby  Street,  Brooklyn,  brings 
to  mind  the  story  of  the  unfortunate  Maid  of 
Orleans,  \vlio  was  "burnt  by  wicked  Bedford  for 
a  witch."  It  well  illustrates  the  Solomonic  proverb 
that  "  there  is  nothing  new  under  the  sun."  The 
superstitions  of  the  days  of  Joan  of  Arc  still 
flourish. 

Early  in  1863,  when  disaster  everywhere  over 
took  the  Union  arms,  and  our  gallant  sons  were 
falling  fast  under  that  marvellous  sword  of  rebel 
lion,  a  young  lady,  scarce  nineteen,  just  from 
school,  conceived  the  idea  that  she  was  destined 
by  Providence  to  lead  our  arms  to  victory,  and 
our  nation  through  successful  war.  It  was  at 
first  thought  by  her  parents  that  her  mind  was 
weakened  simply  by  reading  accounts  of  con 
tinued  reverses  to  our  arms,  and  they  treated  her 
as  they  would  a  sick  child.  This  only  had  the 
effect  of  making  her  more  demonstrative,  and  her 
enthusiastic  declarations  arid  apparent  sincerity 

gave  the  family  great  anxiety.  Dr.  B was 

consulted,  the  minister  was  spoken  to,  friends 
advised,  family  meetings  held,  interviews  with 
the  young  lady  by  her  former  companions  in  \he 
academy  were  frequent,  but  nothing  could  shake 
the  feeling  which  had  possessed  her. 

It  was  finally  resolved  to  take  her  to  Michigan. 
A  maiden  aunt  accompanied  the  fair  enthusiast, 
and  for  a  few  weeks  Ann  Arbor  became  their 
home.  The  stern  command  of  her  aunt  alone 
prevented  her  from  making  her  way  to  Wash 
ington  to  solicit  an  interview  with  the  President 
for  the  purpose  of  getting  command  of  the  United 
States  army.  Finally  "it  was  found  necessary  to 
restrain  her  from  seeing  any  but  her  own  family, 
and  her  private  parlor  became  her  prison.  To  a 
high-spirited  girl,  this  would  be  unendurable  at 
any  time,  but  to  a  young  lady  filled  with  such  a 
hallucination,  it  wa*s  worse  than  death.  She  re 
solved  to  elude  her  friends,  and  succeeded,  leav 
ing  them  clandestinely ;  and  although  the  most 
distinguished  detectives  of  the  East  and  the  West 
were  employed  to  find  her  whereabouts,  it  was  un 
availing.  None  could  even  conjecture  the  hiding- 
place.  This  was  in  April,  1863.  She  was  mourned 
as  lost.  The  habiliments  of  mourning  were  donned 
by  her  grief-stricken  parents,  and  a  suicide's  grave 
was  assumed  to  be  hers.  But  it  was  not  so. 
The  infatuated  girl,  finding  no  sympathy  with 
her  friends,  resolved  to  enter  the  army  disguised 
as  a  drummer  boy,  dreaming,  poor  girl,  that  her 
destiny  would  be  worked  out  by  such  a  mode. 
She  joined  the  drum  corps  of  a  Michigan  regi 
ment  at  Detroit,  her  sex  known  only  to  herself, 
and  succeeded  in  getting  with  her  regiment  to 
the  army  of  the  Cumberland.  How  the  poor 
girl  survived  the  hardships  of  the  Kentucky 
campaign,  where  strong  men  fell  in  numbers, 
must  forever  remain  a  mystery.  The  regiment 
to  which  she  was  attached  had  a  place  in  the 


division  of  the  gallan*  Van  Cleve,  and  during  the 
bloody  battle  of  Sunday,  the  fair  girl  fell,  pierced 
in  the  left  side  by  a  minie  ball ;  and  when  borne 
to  the  surgeo.i's  tent,  her  sex  was  discovered. 
She  was  told  by  the  s.irgeo:i  that  her  wound  was 
mortal,  and  advised  to  give  her  name,  that  her 
family  might  b^  informed  of  her  fate.  This  she 
finally,  though  reluctantly,  consented  to  do,  and 
the  Colonel  of  the  regiment,  although  suffering 
himself  from  a  painful  wound,  became  interested 
in  her  behalf,  and  prevailed  upon  her  to  let  him 
send  a  despatch  to  her  father.  This  she  directed 
in  the  following  manner  : 

"  Mr. ,  No  —  Willoughby  Street,  Brook 
lyn  :  Forgive  your  dying  daughter.  I  have  but 
a  few  moments  to  live.  My  native  soil  drinks 
my  blood.  I  expected  to  deliver  my  country,  but, 
the  Fates  would  not  have  it  so.  I  am  content  to 
die.  Pray,  pa,  forgive  me.  Tell  ma  to  kiss  my 
daguerreo'type.  EMILY. 

"  P.  S.  Give  my  old  watch  to  little  Eph." 
(The  youngest  brother  of  the  dying  girl.) 

The  poor  girl  was  buried  on  the  field  on  which 
she  fell  in  the  service  of  her  country,  which  she 
fondly  hoped  to  save. 


THE   HERO    OF   SUGAK   PINE. 

"  O,  TELL  me,  Sergeant  of  Battery  B, 

0  hero  of  Sugar  Pine, 

Some  glorious  deed  of  the  battle- field, 
Some  wonderful  feat  of  thine  ;  — 

"  Some  skilful  move  when  the  fearful  game 

Of  battle  and  life  was  played 
On  von  grii  .y  field,  whose  broken  squares 
In  scarlet  and  black  are  laid." 

"  Ah  !  stranger,  here  at  my  gun  all  day 

1  fought  till  my  final  round 

Was  spent,  and  I  had  but  powder  left, 
And  never  a  shot  to  be  found. 

"  So  I  trained  my  gun  on  a  rebel  piece ; 

So  true  was  ray  range  and  aim, 
A  shot  from  his  cannon  entered  mine, 
And  finished  the  load  of  the  same !  " 

"  Enough  !  O  Sergeant  of  Battery  B, 

O  hero  of  Sugar  Pine  ! 
Alas  !  I  fear  that  thy  cannon's  throat 
Can  swallow  much  more  than  mine  !  " 


A  THRILLING  INCIDENT.  —  A.  Z.  Reeve,  of 
the  Iowa  army,  gives  the  following  in  a  letter 
from  Germantown,  Term.,  March  12,  1863 : 

"  We  have  been  here  about  six  weeks,  protect 
ing  the  railroad.  Col.  Ilichardson,  a  rebel  guer 
rilla,  has  been  hovering  in  the  vicinity  for  some 
time,  capturing  forage  parties  and  tearing  up  the 
road  whenever  opportunity  offered.  When  pur 
sued,  he  retreats  to  the  swamps,  and  his  command, 
dispersing  in  smaH  squads,  generally  evade  all 
attempts  to  discover  them.  To  make  the  matter 
worse,  they  frequently  dress  in  Federal  uniform. 

On  the  morning  of  the  9th  of  thia  month,  our 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


159 


regiment  and  the  Fourth  Illinois  cavalry  started 
out  with  a  guide  for  the  retreat  of  the  guerrillas. 
Before  we  reached  the  rebel  camp,  the  Sixth 
Illinois  cavalry,  with  flying  artillery  attached, 
D.ttacked  the  rebels  from  the  opposite  side,  killed 
twenty-five  of  them,  took  some  prisoners,  and 
burned  the  camp  and  garrison  equipage.  In  their 
headlong  stampede,  the  rebels  came  well  nigh 
running  into  our  hands.  While  in  hot  pursuit,  we 
came  to  the  residence  of  one  Robert  C.  Forbes, 
who,  intrenching  himself  in  the  house,  commenced 
firing  on  our  Hankers  as  they  approached.  The 
flankers  then  charged  on  the  house,  efiected  an 
entrance,  and  discovered  that  Forbes  had  taken 
shelter  in  an  upper  chamber.  The  desperate  man 
was  called  upon  to  surrender,  but  refused.  He 
had  already  killed  one  member  of  the  Fourth 
Illinois  cavalry,  and  had  wounded  another.  He 
also  had  received  a  wound  in  the  right  arm, 
which  disabled  him  to  such  an  extent  that  he 
could  not  load  his  gun.  His  wound  was  received 
by  a  shot  fired  up  through  the  floor.  Still  the 
desperate  man  refused  to  yield.  As  a  last  resort 
the  house  was  set  on  fire.  This  compelled  the 
man  to  come  down,  but  he  still  obstinately  refused 
to  surrender.  He  was  immediately  surrounded 
by  the  exasperated  soldiers,  who  refrained  from 
shooting  him  on  account  of  the  certainty  of 
shooting  their  comrades.  Meanwhile  the  old 
man  clubbed  his  gun,  and  although  his  arm  was 
badly  lacerated  and  bleeding,  he  ferociously  kept 
the  soldiers  at  bay.  At  length  one  of  the  officers 
ordered  the  soldiers  opposite  to  him  to  get  away, 
and  give  him  a  chance  "  to  shoot  the  old  secession 
scoundrel." 

At  these  words  the  gun  dropped  from  the  old 
man's  hands,  and  he  earnestly  inquired  : 

"  Is  it  possible  ?  Have  I  been  fighting  Union 
soldiers  all  this  time  ?  " 

"  Of  course  we  are  Union  men,"  replied  the 
officer. 

"  My  God !  why  didn't  I  know  this  before  ?  " 
said  the  old  man  in  a  voice  of  agony  y  "  I  am  a 
Union  man,  too.  I  thought  I  was  fighting  llich- 
ard son's  guerrillas  !  " 

The  soldiers  did  not  believe  him  at  first,  but  in 
brief  time  he  proved  to  them  beyond  all  dispute 
that  there  was  no  counterfeit  Unionism  about 
him.  He  had  been  an  incorruptible  patriot  dur 
ing  the  war.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion 
he  had  been  arrested  by  Confederate  authority, 
and  placed  in  chains.  *His  crime  consisted  in 
telling  the  rebels  that  they  were  traitors,  and  de 
served  hanging.  When"  Gen.  Hurlbut  passed 
through  this  part  of  the  country,  the  old  man 
joined  him,  but  came  back  occasionally  to  see  his 
family.  He  was  on  a  brief  furlough  from  the  Fed 
eral  army  when  the  raid  was  made  on  his  house. 
Richardson  had  sworn  vengeance  against  him, 
and  he  had  resolved  never  to  be  taken  alive. 
Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  guerrillas  were  in  the 
habit  of  prowling  about  in  Federal  uniform,  the 
old  man  was  led  to  mistake  our  soldiers  for  rebels. 

The  explanation  came  too  late  to  save  the 
house.  It  was  consumed  with  all  its  contents. 
There  was  not  a  quilt  left  to  defend  the  mother 


and  children  from  the  cold.  They  had  fled  from 
the  burning  building  just  in  time  to  save  their 
lives.  It  was.  a  sad  spestac  le.  The  old  man 
begged  to  be  taken  abng  with  us.  He  told  his 
wife  to  get  to  the  Federal  lines  as  soon  as  possible. 
A  braver  and  a  truer  man  to  his  country  does 
not  exist  than  Robert  C.  Forbes.  I  gave  the 
mother  and  children  ten  dollars  in  greenbacks 
and  my  blankets.  The  other  soldiers  contributed 
to  relieve  the  distresses  of  the  family.  Many 
sympathizing  tears  were  shed  by  as  all.  I  have 
not  witnessed  a  scene  so  afiectkg  since  my  en 
listment. 


YANJCEETSM  ON  THE  FIELD.  —  A  correspondent 
gives  the  following,  which,  whether  exactly  true 
or  not,  is  a  good  story  : 

At  the  battle  of  the  Rappahannock  Station, 
after  the  Fifth  Maine  had  gained  possession  of 
the  works  in  their  front,  and  were  busy  taking  a 
whole  brigade  of  Johnnies  to  the  rear,  Col.  Ed 
wards,  who  was  one  of  the  first  to  reach  the  rifle- 
pits,  took  a  few  men  from  company  G,  and  pressed 
on  in  quest  of  more  prisoners,  supposing  some 
might  be  trying  to  get  away  in  the  darkness  of 
the  night.  Following  the*  line  of  fortifications 
down  towards  the  river,  he  saw  before  him  a  long 
line  of  troops  in  the  rifle-pits.  Finding  that  he 
was  in  a  tight  fix,  he  determined  to  put  on  a  bold 
face. 

"  Where  is  the  officer  in  command  of  these 
troops  ?  "  demanded  ihe  gallant  Colonel. 

"  Here,"  answered  the  Colonel  who  was  com 
manding  the  rebel  brigade ;  "  and  who  are  you, 
sir  H  " 

"My  name  is  Col.  Edwards,  of  the  Fifth 
Maine,  and  I  demanu  of  you  to  surrender  your 
command." 

'*  I  will  confer  with  my  officers  first,"  replied 
the  rebel  officer. 

"  Not  a  moment  will  I  allow,  sir,"  said  Col. 
Edwards.  "  Don't  you  see  my  columns  advanc 
ing  ?  "  (pointing  to  a  large  body  of  men  march 
ing  over  the  hill,  but  who  were  rebel  prisoners 
being  marched  to  the  rear.)  "  Your  forces  on 
the  right  have  all  been  captured,  and  your  retreat 
is  cutoff';''  and  as  the  rebel  commander  hesi 
tated,  he  continued  :  "  Forward  !  Fifth  Maine  and 
Twenty-first  New  York  !  " 

"I  surrender,  sir,"  said  the  rebel  commander, 
quickly.  "  Will  you  allow  me  the  courtesy  of 
retaining  a  sword  that  has  never  been  dishon 
ored  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Col.  E.,  "  but  I  will  take  the 
swords  of  those  officers,"  pointing  to  the  Colonels 
by  his  side. 

They  were  hartded  to  him. 

"  Now  order  your  men  to  lay  down  their  arms, 
and  pass  to  the  rear  with  this  guard." 

They  obeyed,  and  a  whcle  brigade  of  Loubi- 
anians,  the  famous  Fifth  and  Sixth  Tigers  being 
among  them,  permitted  themselves  to  be  disarmed 
and  marched  to  the  rear  as  prisoners  of  war,  by 
Col.  Edwards  and  less  than  a  dozen  of  his  .regi 
ment. 


160 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


A  CHALLENGE.  —  The  following  is  a  copy  of  a 
chitflenge,  which  appears  to  have  been  prepared 
by  a  member  of  the  Pillow  Guards :  — 

MEMPHIS,  TENX.,  June  3. 

1  }Ulow  Guards  of  Memphis  to  Prentiss  Guards 
of  Cairo : 

We  have  enlisted  under  the  stars  and  bars  of 
ihe  Confederate  States  for  the  purpose  of  defend 
ing  Southern  rights  and  vindicating  Southern 
honor.  But  more  especially  we  have  been  se 
lected  and  sworn  in  for  the  purpose  of  guarding 
the  person  of  our  gallant  Gen.  Pillow.  Under 
standing  that  you  occupy  a  like  position  with 
reference  to  Prentiss,  the  commandant  at  Cairo, 
we  challenge  you  to  meet  us  at  any  time,  at  any 
place,  in  any  number,  and  with  any  arms  or  equip 
ments  which  you  may  select.  We  wish  to  meet 
no  others  till  we  have  met  and  conquered  you  and 
your  General.  Make  your  own  terms,  only  let  us 
know  when  and  where,  and  be  certain  you  will  meet 
the  bravest  guard  the  world  has  ever  known. 

The  signatures  of  the  challenging  party  are  omit 
ted  in  the  copy  in  possession  of  your  correspondent, 
but  on  the  back  is  indorsed  the  following,  viz. : 

JUNE  17,  1861. 
Prentiss  Guards  to  Pillow  Guards  : 

We  accept  no  challenge  from  traitors,  but  hang 
them.  If  we  ever  meet,  you  shall  suffer  the  fate 
cf  traitors.  JOSEPH  1).  WALKER, 

Captain  Company. 


A  BRAVE  EXPLOIT.  —  During  the  last  year  of 
the  war,  Kentucky  was  infested  with  roving 
squads  of  armed  men,  sometimes  calling  them 
selves  Confederate  cavalry.  But  in  general  they 
were  little  better  than  robbers,  who  took  advan 
tage  of  the  disorders  of  the  time  to  ply  their  ne 
farious  business ;  and  when  called  to  account, 
would  demand  the  treatment  usually  given  to 
prisoners  of  war.  Many  old  neighborhood  feuds 
were  thus  revenged,  and  numerous  deeds  of  blood 
arid  shame,  which  were  attempted  to  be  explained 
as  only  the  disorders  incident  to  civil  war. 

In  December,  1864,  a  small  number  of  Union 
soldiers  were  stationed  at  Caseyville,  on  the  Ohio 
Iliver,  with  instructions  to  ferret  out  and  punish 
all  guerrilla  bands  infesting  the  neighborhood. 
Major  Shook  commanded  the  force,  and  about  the 
loth  of  December  he  sent  cut  Capt.  Peck  with  a 
squad  of  men  to  hunt  for  Lyon,  a  troublesome 
guerrilla  in  that  region.  Three  of  his  men  — 
Lieut.  Bogard,  Serg.  llichards,  and  Corp.  Dough- 
tey  —  rode  some  two  miles  in  advance  of  the 
scouting  party,  and  they  saw  a  group  of  men  in 
blue  overcoats  before  them  in  the  road.  Riding 
straight  up  to  them,  one  of  the  men  inquired 
what  command  they  belonged  to.  Lieut.  B.  re 
plied,  "  To  Major  Shock's  command,  at  Casey 
ville.'''  Capt.  Stedman,  in  command  of  the  rebels, 
then  ordered  the  three  men  to  surrender. 

"  That's  played  out,"  coolly  replied  Serg.  Rich 
ards  ;  and  drawing  his  pistol  shot  Stedman,  so 
that  he  died  next  morning.  Lieut.  Bogard  and 
Coru.  Dough tey  then  fired  on  two  other  men, 


and  brought  them  both  to  the  ground.  As  Lieut. 
B.  was  wounded,  the  Union  party  now  fell  back  a 
few  yards,  when  the  Lieutenant  fell  from  his 
horse.  His  companions,  instead  of  continuing 
the  retreat,  noAv  turned  their  horses  and  charged 
upon  the  hostile  party,  routing  them,  and  bring 
ing  off  the  bodies  of  the  three  who  had  fallen. 
The  other  two  besides  Stedman  proved  to  be 
George  Henry  and  Capt.  Woodfolk. 

Wooclfolk  and  Stedman  were  both  notorious 
guerrillas  and  daring  men — the  latter  having 
once  been  employed  in  the  office  of  the  Richmond 
Examiner,  and  having  on  his  person  a  large  quan 
tity  of  Confederate  money. 

Woodfolk  had  once  before  been  captured, 
brought  to  Louisville,  and  condemned  to  be  shot, 
but  by  some  means  had  made  his  escape.  Besides 
killing  these  three,  the  party  captured  four  horses, 
seven  pistols,  two  guns,  and  seven  cavalry  equip 
ments  complete.  

LITTLE  JOHNNY  CLEM.  —  Of  course  you  re 
member  the  story  of  Little  Johnny  Clem,  the 
motherless  atom  of  a  drummer  boy,  "  aged  ten," 
who  strayed  away  from  Newark,  Ohio ;  and  the 
first  we  knew  of  him,  though  small  enough  to  live 
in  a  drum,  was  beating  the  long  roll  for  the 
Twenty-second  Michigan.  At  Chickamauga  he 
filled  the  office  of  "  marker,"  carrying  the  guidon 
whereby  they  form  the  lines  —  a  duty  having  its 
counterpart  'in  the  surveyor's  more  peaceful  call 
ing  ;  in  the  flag-man,  who  flutters  the  red  signal 
along  the  metes  and  bounds.  On  the  Sunday  of 
the  battle,  the  little  fellow's  occupation  gone,  he 
picked  up  a  gun  that  had  falren  from  some  dying 
hand,  provided  himself  with  ammunition,  and  be 
gan  putting  in  the  periods  quite  on  his  own  ac 
count,  blazing  away  close  to  the  ground,  like  a 
fire-fly  in  the  grass.  Late  in  the  waning  day,  the 
waif  left  almost  alone  in  the  whirl  of  the  battle, 
a  rebel  Colonel  dashed  up,  and  looking  down  at 
him,  ordered  him  to  surrender.  "  Surrender !  " 
he  shouted,  "  you  little  d — d  son  of  a  — !  "  The 
words  were  hardly  out  of  his  mouth,  when  John 
ny  brought  his  piece  to  "  order  arms,"  and  as  his 
hand  slipped  down  to  the  hammer,  he  pressed  it 
back,  swung  up  the  gun  to  the  position  of 
"  charge  bayonet ;  "  and  as  the  officer  raised  his 
sabre  to  strike  the  piece  aside,  the  glancing  bar 
rel  lifted  into  range,  and  the  proud  Colonel  tum 
bled  from  his  horse,  his  lips  fresh-stained  with 
the  syllable  of  vile  reproach  he  had  flung  on  a 
mother's  grave  in  the  hearing  of  her  child  ! 

A  few  swift  moments  ticked  on  by  musket- 
shots,  and  the  tiny  gunner  was  swept  up  at  » 
rebel  swoop,  and  borne  away  a  prisoner.  Sol 
diers,  bigger  but  not  better,  were  taken  with  him, 
only  to  be  washed  back  again  by  a  surge  of  Fed 
eral  troopers,  and  the  prisoner  of  thirty  minutes 
was  again  John  Clem  "  of  ours  ;  "  and  Gen.  Rose- 
crans  made  him  a  Sergeant,  and  the  stripes  of 
rank  covered  him  all  over,  like  a  mouse  in  a  har 
ness  ;  and  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Secretary  Chase 
presented  him  a  silver  medal,  appropriately  in 
scribed,  which,  he  worthily  wears  — a  royal  order 
of  honor  —  upon  his  left  breast. 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


161 


A  SINGULAR  INCIDENT.  —  A  soldier,  -writing 
from  his  camp  near  Fredericksburg,  narrated  the 
following,  which  occurred  while  he  was  on  picket 
duty  with  his  company :  — 

It  was  Christmas  day  and  after  partaking  of  a 
Christmas  dinner  of  salt  junk  and  hard  tack,  our 
attention  was  attracted  by  a  rebel  picket  who 
hailed  us  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  river. 

"  I  say,  Yank,  if  a  fellow  goes  over  there,  will 
you  let  him  come  back  .again  V  " 

Receiving  an  affirmative  answer,  he  proceeded 
to  test  the  truth  of  it  by  paddling  himself  across 
the  river.  He  was  decidedly  the  cleanest  speci 
men  of  a  rebel  I  had  seen.  In  answer  to  a  ques 
tion,  he  said  he  belonged  to  the  Georgia  Legion. 
One  of  our  boys  remarked,  "  J  met  quite  a  num 
ber  of  your  boys  at  South  Mountain." 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  so  —  if  you  were  there,"  said 
the  rebel,  while  his  face  grew  very  sad.  "  We 
left  many  of  our  boys  there.  My  brother,  poor 
Will,  was  killed  there.  It  was  a  hot  place  for  a 
while,  and  we  had  to  leave  it  in  a  hurry." 

"  That's  so,  Georgia  ;  your  fellows  fought  well 
there,  and  had  all  the  advantage,  but  the  old  Key 
stone  boys  were  pressing  you  hard.  By  the  way, 
I  have  a  likeness  here  (taking  it  out  of  his  pocket), 
that  I  picked  up  on  the  battle-field  the  next  morn 
ing,  and  I  have  carried  it  ever  since."  He  hand 
ed  it  to  the  rebel,  who,  on  looking  at  it  pressed  it 
to  his  lips  exclaiming,  "  My  mother !  my  mother  ! " 

He  exhibited  considerable  emotion  at  the  re 
covery  of  the  picture,  but  on  the  recovery  of  his 
composure  he  said  that  his  brother  had  it  in  his 
possession,  and  mast  have  lost  it  in  the  fight.  He 
then  asked  the  name  of  the  one  to  whom  he  was 
indebted  for  the  lost  likeness  of  his  mother,  re 
marking,  "  There  may  be  better  times  soon,  and 
we  may  know  each  other  better." 

He  had  taken  from  his  pocket  a  small  pocket- 
bible  in  which  to  write  the  address,  when  Alex 

,  who  had  taken  no  part  in  the  conversation, 

fairly  yelled,  "  I  know  that  book ;  I  lost  it  at  Bull 
Kun  !  " 

"  Thar's  whar  I  got  it,  Mr.  Yank,"  said  the  reb 
el,  and  he  handed  it  to  Alex. 

"  I  am  much  obliged  to  you,  Georgia  Legion  ; 
I  would  not  part  with  it  for  all  the  Southern  Con 
federacy." 

I  was  a  little  curious  to  know  something  fur 
ther  of  the  book,  so  I  asked  Alex  to  let  me  see  it. 
He  passed  it  to  me.  I  opened  it,  and  on  the  fly 
leaf  was  written  in  a  neat  hand,  "  My  Christmas 

Gift,   to    Alex ,  Dec.    25th,    18GO.      Ella." 

"  Well,  Alex,"  said  I,  "  it'is  not  often  one  has  the 
same  gift  presented  to  him  a  second  time." 

"  True,  Captain ;  and  if  I  could  but  see  the 
giver  of  that  to-day,  there's  but  one  other  gift  I 
would  want." 

"  What's  that,  Alex  ?" 

"  This  rebellion  played  out,  and  my  discharge 
in  my  pocket." 

The  boys  had  all  been  busy  talking  to  our  reb 
el  friend,  who,  seeing  a  horseman  approaching  in 
the  direction  of  his  post,  bid  us  a  hasty  good-by, 
arid  made  a  quick  trip  across  the  Rappaharmock. 
Night  came  on,  and  those  not  on  duty  lay  down  | 
11 


on  the  frozen  ground  to  dream  of  other  Christmas 
nights,  when  we  knew  not  of  war. 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  ANTIETAM.  —  During  the 
battle,  Corporal  William  Roach,  of  Co.  K,  Eigh 
ty-first  Pennsylvania,  shot  a  color-sergeant,  ran 
forward  of  the  company,  took  his  cap,  and,  plac 
ing  it  upon  the  end  cf  his  bayonet,  twirled  it 
about,  and  cried  out  to  his  companions,  "  That  is 
the  way  to  do  it,"  but  a  member  of  another  compa 
ny  in  the  meantime  had  seized  the  colors  and  car 
ried  them  off  in  triumph.  This  act  was  done  un 
der  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry,  in  as  cool  a  manner 
and  with  as  much  deliberation,  as  if  the  regiment 
had  been  on  parade. 

FIGHTING  AT  CLOSE  QUARTERS.  —  At  the 
battle  of  Hanover  Court-House,  Va.,  two  ser 
geants  met  in  the  woods :  each  drew  his  knife,  and 
the  two  bodies  were  found  together,  each  with  a 
knife  buried  in  it  to  the  hilt.  Some  men  had  a 
cool  way  of  disposing  of  prisoners.  One,  an  offi 
cer  of  the  Massachusetts  Ninth,  well  known  in 
Boston  as  a  professor  of  muscular  Christianity, 
better  known  as  "  the  child  of  the  regiment," 
while  rushing  through  the  woods  at  the  head  of 
his  company,  came  upon  a  rebel.  Seizing  the 
"gray  buck"  by  the  collar,  he  threw  him  over 
his  shoulder  with  "  Pick  him  up,  somebody."  A 
little  Yankee,  marching  down  by  the  side  of  a 
fence  which  skirted  the  woods,  came  upon  a  strap 
ping  secesh,  who  attempted  to  seize  and  pull  him 
over  the  rails,  but  the  little  one  had  too  much 
science.  A  blow  with  the  butt  of  a  musket  lev 
elled  secesh  to  the  ground  and  made  him  a  pris 
oner. 


INCIDENTS  OF  MORGAN'S  RAID. — The  Morgan 
raid  is  ended  —  the  great  marauder  captured  and 
safely  quartered  in  the  Ohio  Penitentiary;  the 
brave  militia,  who  responded  so  nobly  to  the  gov 
ernor's  call  to  rally  and  drive  the  invaders  from 
our  soil,  have  returned  to  their  homes,  and  the 
narration  of  adventures  is  now  the  order.  As 
every  incident  connected  with  the  raid  is  of  in 
terest,  I  propose  to  relate  my  experience  with  the 
raiders,  how  they  looked,  arid  what  they  said.* 

About  an  hour  before  the  expedition  binder 
Colonel  Runkle  left,  I  received  from  Surgeon 
Scott  a  peremptory  order  to  report  forthwith  for 
duty  on  his  staff.  Reported  accordingly  at  the 
railroad  depot,  where  l)r.  Scott  was  already  wak 
ing  with  sundry  ominous  looking  mahogany  boxes, 
baskets  of  bandages,  lint  and  other  articles  neces 
sary  in  the  care  of  sick  and  wounded.  For  an 
hour  we  waited  at  the  depot,  while  in  the  dim 
starlight,  companies  and  regiments  of  armed  men 
marched  arid  countermarched,  forwarded  and 
halted,  and  at  last  about  midnight,  all  were  safe 
ly  stowed  away  in  the  cars,  and  the  long  train 
moved  off  amid  enthusiastic  cheers. ' 

Arrived  at  Hamden  about  two  o'clock.  ¥  rom 
*  From  the  "Sciota  Gazette." 


162 


ANECDOTES,  POETKY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


there  we  could  distinctly  see  the  light  of  the 
burning  depot  at  Jackson  —  evidence  unmistaka 
ble  that  we  were  in  the  vicinity  of  "  the  enemy." 
Our  forces,  numbering  about  2,000,  were  unload 
ed  and  got  in  marching  order,  and  about  daylight 
the  column  began  to  move  toward  Berlin,  distant 
six  miles,  where  it  was  thought  the  rebels 
would  pass  on  their  way  east  from  Jackson. 
Reached  a  position  about  half  a  mile  from  Berlin 
about  six  o'clock  A.  M.,  when  a  report  was  brought 
in  that  the  rebs  were  still  in  Jackson,  and  would 
probably  soon  be  in  our  vicinity.  For  a  short 
time  there  was  a  little  excitement  along  our  col 
umn,  but  this  soon  died  away,  and  it  grew  dull 
and  tiresome,  lying  there  by  the  roadside  waiting 
lor  something  to  turn  up.  An  hour  passed  away, 
and  yet  no  rebels  in  sight  or  hearing ;  so,  borrow 
ing  a  couple  of  horses  that  our  men  had  "  pressed  " 
into  the  service,  Dr.  J.  D.  Miller  and  myself  or 
ganized  ourselves  into  an  independent  scouting 
party  and  set  out  to  gather  what  information  we 
could  about  the  enemy. 

The  morning  was  pleasant,  the  air  pure  and 
bracing,  and  the  excitement  just  sufficient  to  ren 
der  the  ride  delightful.  Learning  that  a  number 
of  scouts  had  gone  out  on  the  Jackson  road,  we 
decided  to  strike  south  from  Berlin  to  the  road 
leading  from  Jackson  to  Gallipolis,  which  AVC 
thought  it  probable  the  rebels  would  take.  All 
along  the  road  the  houses  were  apparently  de 
serted  ;  the  doors  were  closed,  the  window-blinds 
down,  and  neither  man,  woman,  child  nor  horse 
was  to  be  seen.  At  one  house  we  could  see, 
through  a  broken  window-pane,  the  breakfast-ta 
ble  standing  with  the  morning  meal  apparently 
untouched.  The  family  had  probably  heard  the 
news  of  Morgan's  approach,  and  without 
waiting  for  his  appearance  had  made  a  precip 
itate  retreat.  At  another,  where  all  was  quiet 
and  apparently  deserted,  on  looking  back  after 
we  had  passed,  we  saw  a  terrified  looking  face 
peeping  timidly  out  from  behind  a  window-blind. 
.The  people  along  that  road  were  evidently  en 
joying  a  tremendous  scare. 

At  length  we  arrived  at  the  little  village  oi 
Winchester,  on  the  road  leading  from  Jackson  to 
Gallipolis,  and  eight  miles  from  the  former.  It  is 
a  pretty  hard  place,  and  I'll  wager  an  old  hat  that 
its  voters  are  pretty  nearly  unanimous  for  Vallan- 
digham.  We  had  the  luck  to  be  mistaken  here 
for  a  couple  of  Morgan's  men,  which  I  can  only 
account  lor  from  the  fact  that  my  companion,  Dr. 
J.  D.  M.,  is  an  ardent  Vallandigharnmer.  I 
haven't  much  doubt,  however,  but  that  we  fared 
better  than  if  we  had  been  known  as  Union 
scouts.  We  inquired  of  a  mild-looking  old  man, 
if  he  could  tell  us  where  we  could  get  something 
to  eat.  He  directed  us  up  the  street  to  a  little 
eight-by-ten  grocery;  we  rode  up  and  found  the 
door  locked  and  the  windows  barred.  After  sun 
dry  vigorous  knocks,  we  got  an  answer  from  the 
proprietor  inside,  who  cautiously  unlocked  the 
door,  when  the  following  colloquy  took  place: 
"  Have  you  any  bread  V  " 
"  No,  sir." 
"Any  pies?" 


"  No,  sir." 
"  Any  crackers  ?  " 
"  Yes,  a  few." 
"  Any  cheese  ?  " 
"  Not  a  bit." 

"  Well,  give  us  pome  crackers,  then  ;w  and 
with  trembling  hand  he  weighed  out  a  pound  or 
so,  tha:  might  have  leen  a  part  of  the  stores  in 
Noah's  ark.  In  the  meanwhile  a  crowd  of  a  doz 
en  or  so  of  rather  variegated  specimens  of  hu 
manity  gathered  around,  all  eager  to  learn  the 
news.  We  ate  our  crackers  and  departed  toward 
Jackson,  distant  eight  miles,  keeping  a  sharp  look 
out  from  every  hill-top  for  the  rebels.  We  met 
one  young  man  who  advised  us  not  to  go  any  fur 
ther  on  that  road ;  he  had  been  chased  by  about 
twenty-five  of  Morgan's  men. 

"  How  near  did  they  get  to  you  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Within  about  two  miles." 
Tiie  young  man  was  evidently  a  little  fright 
ened. 

We  rode  on  rapidly  about  a  mile  further,  when 
leaving  the  main  road  we  made  a  circuit  of 
a  mile  or  so  through  the  fields  toward  the  top  of 
a  high  hill,  from  which  we  had  been  told  we  could 
see  into  Jackson.  On  the  hill-side  we  tied  our 
horses  to  a  fence  where  tlr^v  were,  as  we  thought 
well  concealed  by  the  brier  and  other  bushes. 
Walking  up  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  we  found  a  num 
ber  of  citizens  there,  eagerly  watching  the  move 
ments  of  the  rebels,  who  could  be  seen  from  our 
position  riding  through  the  streets  of  the  town, 
about  a  mile  distant.  In  a  short  time  they  be 
gan  to  move  out  on  the  road  we  had  travelled, 
and  which  passed  within  half  a  mile  of  our  posi 
tion  on  the  hill.  Securing  the  services  of  a  young 
man  to  carry  a  dispatch  back  to  Colonel  Runkle, 
I  left  Dr.  J.  D.  and  the  citizens  on  the  hill,  and 
went  down  to  a  house  by  the  roadside  where  1 
could  have  a  better  view  of  the  rebels  and  see 
how  they  were  mounted,  armed,  &c. 

I  had  been  there  but  a  few  minutes  when  two 
of  the  raiders,  who  were  about  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  in  advance  of  the  main  body,  came  along. 
Riding  up  to  where  I  was  standing,  they  inquired 
the  distance  to  Gallipolis ;  what  was  the  nearest 
point  to  the  river;  whether  there  was  any  Union 
troops  about  there,  &c.  I  answered  their  ques 
tions  so  as  to  leave  them  rather  more  in  the  dark 
than  before,  and  turning  questioner  asked  them 
how  many  men  they  had. 

"  How*  many  do  you  think  we  have  ?  " 

"  There  are  various  reports  about  your  num 
ber,"  I  replied. 

"  Well,  what  is  your  opinion  ?  " 

"  I  don't  think  you  have  more  than  four  or  five 
thousand." 

u  Yes,  we  have  over  twelve  thousand,"  one  of 
them  replied. 

"  You  haven't  half  that  number,"  I  answered. 

"  Well  we  have  enough  any  how  to  ride  through 
your  state  without  any  trouble,"  said  they. 

"  You're  not  through  yet,"  I  replied  as  they 
moved  along. 

Shortly  the  main  body  came  up,  and  I  began 
to  count  them.  Th>\y  rode  along  rather  slowly, 


• 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


168 


several  of  them  stopping  a  few  minutes  to  inquire 
about  the  road,  the  nearest  route  to  the  river,  &c,' 
but  I  managed  to  keep  an  accurate  count  until 
about  five  hundred  had  passed,  while  one  of  them 
rode  up  with  the  request : 

"  Will  you  be  so  good  as  to  bring  me  a  drink 
of  water  ?  " 

He  was  very  polite  for  a  rebel  and  a  horse- 
thief  to  boot  and  if  it  had  not  been  for  the 
company  he  was  in  would  have  passed  for  a 
gentleman.  I  can't  say  I  liked  his  polite  request, 
but  as  it  was  backed  by  a  pair  of  revolvers  and  a 
carbine,  I  concluded  that  it  might  be  promotive  of 
my  longevity  to  comply,  so  without  stopping  to 
argue  the  matter,  I  merely  remarked, 

"  Well  sir,  I  don't  like  to  wait  on  a  rebel,  but 
as  you  are  a  pretty  good-looking  man,  I  guess  I 
can  get  you  a  drink." 

Next  came  a  man  apparently  fifty  years  of  age 
riding  in  a  buggy  with  a  boy  not  more  than  four 
teen  or  fifteen.  "  Will  you  please  give  me  a  cup 
of  water  for  my  sick  boy  V  "  he  asked.  The  boy 
was  evidently  quite  sick.  He  was  leaning  heav 
ily  against  his  father,  who  supported  him  as  well 
as  he  could  with  his  left  arm.  I  handed  him  the 
cup  which  he  took  with  a  trembling  hand,  thank 
ing  me  very  kindly  for  it,  his  eyes  speaking  more 
thanks  than  his  lips.  He  Avas  a  fine  looking  boy,  but 


"  I'll  see  if  I  can't  find  one,"  he  said,  as  he  rode 
over  to  the  barn  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road. 

He  didn't  find  a  saddle,  but  there  was  a  good 
buggy  in  the  barn,  to  which  he  harnessed  his 
horse,  and  driving  out  into  the  road,  took  his 
place  in  the  ranks  and  went  on,  apparently  very 


the 


change 


in   his   mode   of 


well   pleased  with 
travelling. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  rebels  now  ?  "  inquired 
a  rather  jelly-looking  young  man,  as  they  rode  by. 

"  Rafjer  a  hard-looking  ?st"  I  answered. 

u  Well,  I  haven't  seen  a  good-looking  Yankee, 
since  I've  been  north  of  the  river,"  he  replied; 
at  which  the  squad  he  was  with  felt  called  upon 
to  indulge  in  a  laugh. 

Another  stopped  and  dismounted  near  where 
I  was  standing  to  arrange  something  about  his 
saddle.  His  horse  was  small,  poor  and  nearly 
worn  out. 

"  If  I  got  my  horses  as  you  do,"  I  remarked  to 
him,  "  I'd  ride  a  better  one  than  that." 

"  We  can't  always  get  such  as  we  want,"  said 
he ;  "  and  they  don't  raise  any  good  horses 
through  here." 

Another  came  riding  up  on  what  had  been 
one  of  the  finest  horses  they  had  —  a  large  and 
elegantly  built  iron  gray  —  but  very  much  worn 
down.  The  rebel  said  he  had  ridden  him  ever 


moulds  tiiau  tiis  iifjo.  lit;  wci^  aiinu  iu<jii.iii^  uuj  ,  LIUI  |  uuwu.  _i.ue  reuui  sfuu  u«  nau  rmuim  mm  ever 
what  a  training  was  it  that  he  was  receiving  !  His  since  they  crossed  the  river  —  said  he  wanted  a 
father  I  could  see  felt  very  anxious  about  his  con-  fresh  horse,  and  asked  if  I  had  one  I'd  like  to 


dition,  and  to  m)  remark  that  "that  was  a  hard 
business  for  a  boy,  especially  a  sick  one,"  he  re 
plied,  "  Yes,  and  I  wish  we  were  out  of  it."  My 
conversation  with  them  was  cut  short  by  a  fellow 
with  a  face  that  ought  to  have  hung  him  long 
ago,  who  rode  up  to"  the  fence  and  sung  out, 

"  Here,  stranger  give  me  a  drink." 

I  took  another  look  at  his  face,  and  then  at 
the  pair  of  revolvers  in  his  belt,  and  concluded 
that  I  had  better  get  rid  of  him  as  soon  as  pos 
sible;  so  I  gave  him  a  drink  and  he  went  on  with 
out  so  much  as  saying  "  Thank  you." 

By  this  time  quite  a  number  had  gathered 
around  the  place  where  I  was  standing,  some 
wanting  water,  others  bread,  others  pies,  or  any 
thing  else  they  could  get  to  eat ;  while  others  ap 
peared  more  anxious  to  learn  the  nearest  road 
to  the  river.  I  told  them  to  go  to  the  well  and  help 
themselves  to  water,  and  a  number  of  them 
rode  in,  while  others  dismounted,  tied  their  horses 
to  the  fence  and  walked  in.  Their  applications 
for  food  were  not  very  successful ;  all  they  got 
was  a  cold  bi?'^uit  and  two  cold  potatoes,  —  the 
ladies  at  the  house  assuring  them  that  they  had 
nothing  else  prepared.  One  of  the  ladies  was 
the  mother  ?nd  the  other  the  wife  of  Lieut.  Col. 
Dove  of  the  Second  (Union)  Virginia  Cavalry. 
Col.  I),  had  returned  home  wounded,  a  few  days 
before ;  but,  on  hearing  of  the  approach  of  the 
raiders,  had  been  taken  to  some  place  of  con 
cealment.  The  ladies,  of  course,  were  uncon 
ditional  Urionists,  and  not  at  all  disposed  to  furnish 
supplies  for  such  a  band  of  rebel  marauders. 

One  fellow  rode  up  and  inquired  of  Mrs.  D.  if  ing  a  fine  blue  veil,  which  he"  raised  very  grace- 
wa»  a  saddle  about  the  place  that  he  could  j  fully,  as  he  rode  up  to  a  rebel,  whom  he  accosted 
£he  told  him  there  was  not.  I  as  "  niaysa."  Scarcely  any  twc  were;  d  reused 


trade.     Told  him  I  didn't  know  but  I  had. 

"  Where  ?  " 

"  Across  there." 

"  How  far  ?  " 

"  About  forty  or  fifty  miles." 

"  I  guess  I'll  not  go  to-day,"  he  said,  as  he 
started  off. 

I  asked  another  why  they  didn't  go  to  Chilli- 
cothe  the  day  before  ? 

"  Were  they  looking  for  us  there  ?  " 

"  I  believe  some  people  were." 

"  Well,  we're  going  on  through  two  or  three 
more  States,  and  we'll  call  as  we  return,"  he 
replied. 

"  Provided  Hobson  isn't  in  your  wayr"_I  said. 

"  Hobson  wont  trouble  us,"  he  answered.  "  All 
we  know  about  him  is  what  we  see  in  the  dail" 
papers." 

I  thought,  but  didn't  say,  that  it  was  probable 
they  would  have  the  honor  of  a  more  intimate 
acquaintance  ere  many  days. 

But  enough  of  what  they  said.  A  few  words 
about  how  they  looked. 

Personally  a  majority  of  them  would  have 
been  fine-looking  men,  if  they  had  been  washed 
and  respectably  dressed ;  but  they  were  cov 
ered  with  dust  and  all  looked  tired  and  worn 
down.  Many  went  nodding  along  half  asleep. 
A  hundred  or  more  wore  veils,  most  of  which 
looked  new,  and  I  presume  had  been  taken  from 
the  stores  in  Jackson  ;  others  had  handkerchiefs 
over  their  faces  to  shield  them  from  the  dust.  I 
noticed  an  intelligent  looking  contraband  wear 


164 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


alike.  Their  clothing  was  made  of  butternut 
jeans,  tweed,  cassimere,  linen,  cloth,  and  almost 
everything  ever  used  for  men's  wear.  A  few  — 
perhaps  a  dozen  —  wore  blue  blouses  and  pants, 
such  as  are  worn  by  United  States  soldiers. 

A  large  number  of  them  had  various  articles 
of  dry  goods,  —  bolts  of  calico  and  muslin,  pieces 
of  silks  and  satins,  cassimeres,  and  broadcloths,  — 
tied  on  behind  their  saddles.     Some  had  two  or , 
three  pairs  of  new  boots  and  shoes  hanging  about  \ 
them.     I  don't  think  the  stock  of  dry  "goods  left ! 
in   Jackson   could   have    been   very   large    or 
varied. 

They  were  not  well  armed,  as  has  been  re 
ported.  A  few  had  carbines,  many  had  double- 
barrel  shot  guns,  some  muskets,  a  small  number 
had  revolving  rifles,  and  nearly  all  had  revolving 
pistols.  There  were  not,  I  think,  a  dozen  sabres 
in  the  whole  division.  They  had  three  pieces  of 
artillery,  —  brass  six-pounders,  —  but  not  a  single 
caisson,  so  that  all  the  ammunition  for  these  must 
have  been  carried  in  the  boxes  of  the  gun-carriages, 
\vnich  would  have  held  but  a  small  supply. 

Their  only  wagon-train  consisted  of  five  light 
two-horse  wagons.  In  four  of  these  they  had 
sick  men  ;  in  the  other,  carpet-sacks,  valises,  a 
few  trunks,  &c,  which  I  took  to  be  the  officers' 
baggage. 

They  did  not  ride  in  any  regular  order,  but 
two,  three,  four  and  sometimes  eight  abreast,  just 
as  it  happened.  The  officers  wore  no  badges,  or 
anything  that  would  distinguish  them  from  pri 
vates.  The  last  two  men  in  the  division  rode  up 
to  where  I  was  standing,  and  entered  into  con 
versation.  One  was  perhaps  twenty  years  of  age, 
tie  other  about  twenty-five,  and  both  appeared 
to  be  intelligent  and  well-informed.  I  learned 
from  them  that  their  division  was  under  command 
of  Col.  Bushrod  Johnson  ;  that  John  Morgan  and 
Basil  Duke  were  both  with  the  division  that  took 
the  Berlin  road  from  Jackson  (and  with  which 
our  boys  fought  the  famous  "  battle  of  Berlin 
Heights.")  They  admitted  that  they  were  very 
tired,  but  felt  confident  they  could  get  safely  out 
of  the  State.  I  told  them,  in  the  course  of  the  con 
versation,  that  I  was  from  Chillicothe,  when  they 
said  they  knew  some  of  our  citizens,  and,  naming 
them,  inquired  if  I  was  acquainted  with  them. 
Answering  in  the  affirmative,  they  gave  me  some 
friendly  messages  for  their  Chillicothe  friends  and 
rode  on.  The  name  of  the  elder  was  George 
Logan,  that  of  the  younger,  Lloyd  Malone.  I  did 
not  tell  them  that  one  of  their  friends  was  a  Major 
in  one  of  our  militia  regiments,  and  about  that 
time  was  up  at  Berlin  engaging  their  leader,  John 
Morgan.  I  have  since  learned  that  Malone  was 
until  recently,  a  strong  Unionist,  and  it  was  only 
after  long  continued  importunity  by  his  father 
that  he  was  induced  to  espouse  the  rebel  cause. 

1  think  the  number  of  men  in  that  division  was 
about  2,500,  and  comprised  something  more  than 
half  of  Morgan's  entire  force. 

As  soon  as  they  had  all  passed,  I  started  up 
the  hill,  intending  to  get  my  horse  and  ride  back 


head 


port 


jad-quarters  as  speedily  as  possible  and  re- 
to  Col.  Eunkle.     I  had  not  sone  far  when  I 


met  a  badly  frightened  individual  making  fast 
time  down  the  hill.  I  managed  to  bring  him  to 
a  halt,  and  learned  from  him  that  a  squad  of  the 
rebels  had  just  passed  that  way  and  taken  our 
horses,  saddles  and  bridles,  leaving  in  their  stead, 
two  of  their  worn-down  horses,  and  one  mule, 
but  no  saddle  cr  bridle.  They  were-better  horse- 
thieves  than  I  gave  them  credit  for  being,  or  they 
never  would  have  found  our  horses,  away  up 
"ihere  among  the  brier-bushes.  Arriving  at  the 
,op  of  the  hill,  I  stopped  a  short  time  to  consider 
l<  the  situation."  My  companion,  J.  D.  M.,  after 
a  liberal  application  of  Jackson  county  free  soil 
to  his  hands  and  face,  borrowed  an  old  coat  and 
an  old  hat,  and  thus  disguised,  ventured,  with  the 
citizens  who  had  collected  on  the  hill,  to  go  out 
to  the  roadside  at  a  point  half  a  mile  or  so  be 
yond  the  house  to  which  I  had  gone.  I  have 
heard,  but  don't  vouch  for  the  truth  of  the  report, 
that  the  doctor,  in  order  to  insure  his  personal 
safely  and  conciliate  the  rebs,  assured  a  number 
of  them  that  he  was  an  ardent  Vallandighammer. 

I  waited  a  short  time  for  his  return  to  the  place 
we  had  left  our  horses,  but  he  did  not  come,  and 
I  starred  alone  on  my  way  back  to  camp.  He 
soon  afterward  returned,  however,  and  secured 
the  horses  the  rebels  had  left  in  place  of  ours, 
went  to  Jackson,  and  there  got  a  conveyance  to 
head-quarters,  where  he  arrived  about  ten  o'clock 
that  night. 

The  rebels  did  not  make  anything  by  that 
trade  —  the  horses  they  left,  as  soon  as  they 
recover  from  their  fatigue,  will  be  worth  more 
than  those  they  took. 

My  march  back  to  camp  was  not  a  very  pleas 
ant  one.  To  save  distance,  I  took  across  hills 
and  fields  and  through  the  woods.  The  mercury 
must  have  been  about  ninety,  and  those  Jackson 
hills  are  high  and  steep  and  rough.  I  tried  at 
several  farm-houses  to  u  press "  a  horse  into  ser 
vice,  but  always  found  that  Morgan's  men  had 
been  there  just  before  me.  I  heard,  as  I  neared 
Berlin,  some  exciting  stories  about  the  terrific 
**  battle  of  Berlin  Heights  " —  how  there  had  been 
heavy  cannonading  all  day,  and  how  our  gallant 
militia  had  "  fought  like  demons."  Arrived  at 
head-quarters  about  four  p.  M.,  and  made  my  re 
port  to  Col.  llunkle,  well  satisfied  with  my  da}  '• 
scouting. 


APOCALYPSE. 
"All  hail  to  the  Stars  and  Stripes  I  " 

LUTHER    C.   LADD.  * 

STRAIGHT  to  his  heart  the  bullet  crashed, 
Down  from  his  breast  the  red  blood  gushed, 
And  o'er  his  face  a  glory  rushed. 

A  sudden  spasm  rent  his  frame, 
And  in  his  ear  there  went  and  came 
A  sound  as  of  devouring  flame. 

Which  in  a  moment  ceased,  and  then 
The  great  light  clasped  his  brows  again, 
So  that  they  shone  like  Stephen's,  when 

*  Killed  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  Aj>r.l  19, 1861. 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


165 


Saul  stood  apart  a  little  space, 

And  shook  with  shuddering  awe  to  trace 

God's  splendors  settling  o'er  his  face. 

Thus,  like  a.king,  erect  in  pride, 

Raising  his  hands  to  heaven,  he  cried, 

"  All  hail  the  Stars  and  Stripes ! "  and  died. 

Died  grandly ;  but  before  he  fell, 
(O,  blessedness  ineffable!) 
Vision  apocalyptical 

Was  granted  to  him,  and  his  eyes, 
All  radiant  with  glad  surprise, 
Looked  forward  through  the  centuries, 

And  saw  the  seeds  that  sages  cast 
In  the  world's  soil  in  cycles  past, 
Spring  up  and  blossom  at  the  last ; 

Saw  how  the  souls  of  men  had  grown, 
And  where  the  scythes  of  Truth  had  mown 
Clear  space  for  Liberty's  white  throne  ; 

Saw  how,  by  Sorrow  tried  and  proved, 
The  last  dark  stains  had  been  removed 
Forever  from  the  land  he  loved ; 

Saw  Treason  crushed,  and  freedom  crowned, 
And  clamorous  faction  gagged  and  bound, 
Gasping  its  life  out  on  the  ground ; 

While  over  all  his  country's  slopes 
Walked  swarming  troops  of  cheerful  hopes, 
Which  evermore  to  broader  scopes 

Increased  with  power  that  comprehends 
The  world's  weal  in  its  own,  and  bends 
Self-needs  to  large,  unselfish  ends. 

Saw  how,  throughout  the  vast  extents 
Of  earth's  most  populous  continents, 
She  dropped  such  rare  heart-affluence, 

That,  from  beyond  the  farthest  seas, 
The  wondering  people  thronged  to  seize 
Her  proffered  pure  benignities  ; 

And  how  of  all  her  trebled  host 

Of  widening  empires,  none  could  boast 

Whose  strength  or  love  was  uppermost, 

Because  they  grew  so  equal  there 
Beneath  the  flag,  which  debonnaire, 
Waved  joyous  in  the  golden  air :  — 

Wherefore  the  martyr  gazing  clear 

Beyond  the  gloomy' atmosphere 

Which  shuts  us  iii  with  doubt  and  fear,  — 

He,  marking  how  her  high  increase 
Kan  greatening  in  perpetual  lease 
Through  balmy  years  of  odorous  Peace 

Greeted  in  one  transcendent  cry 

Of  intense  passionate  ecstacy, 

The  sight  that  thrilled  him  utterly,  — 

Saluting  with  most  proud  disdain 
Of  murder  arid  of  mortal  pain, 
The  vision  which  shall  be  again ; 

So,  lifted  with  prophetic  pride, 

Raised  conquering  hands  to  heaven  and  criel, 

"  All  hail  the  Stars  and  Stripes,"  and  died. 

CLAKENOE  BUTLEB 


MR.  LINCOLN'S  KINI>-HEARTEDNESS.  —  A 
correspondent  referring  to  the  second  capture  by 
the  rebels  of  Benjamin  Shultz,  a  member  of  the 
eighth  New  Jersey  Regiment,  mentions  the  fol 
lowing  :  — 

An  incident  connected  with  Mr.  Shultz  illus 
trates  the  kind-heartedness  of  Mr.  Lincoln.  On 
his  return  from  his  former  imprisonment,  on 
parole,  young  Shultz  was  sent  to  Camp  Parole, 
at  Alexandria.  Having  had  no  furlough  since 
the  war,  efforts  were  made,  without  success,  to  get 
him  liberty  to  pay  a  brief  visit  to  his  friends ;  but 
having  faith  in  the  warm-heartedness  of  the 
President,  the  young  soldier's  widowed  mother 
wrote  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  stating  that  he  had  been 
in  nearly  every  battle  fought  by  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  had  never  asked  a  furlough ;  was  now 
a  paroled  prisoner,  and  in  consequence  unable  to 
perform  active  duties;  that  two  of  his  brothers 
had  also  served  in  the  army,  and  asking  that  he 
be  allowed  to  visit  home,  that  she  might  see  him 
once  more.  Iler  trust  in  the  President  was  not 
unfounded.  He  immediately  caused  a  furlough 
to  be  granted  to  her  son,  who,  shortly  before  he 
was  exchanged,  visited  his  family  to  their  great 
surprise  and  joy. 


"  THE  SPIRIT  OF  '76."— The  lad  —  for  he  was 
but  a  stripling,  though  he  had  seen  hard  service  — 
lay  stretched  out  on  the  seat  of  the  car.  Another 
lad,  of  less  than  twenty  summers,  with  his  arm 
in  a  sling,  came  and  took  a  seat  behind  him,  gaz 
ing  upon  him  with  mournful  interest.  Looking 
up  to  me,  for  I  was  accompanying  the  sick  boy 
to  his  home,  he  asked : 

"  Is  he  a  soldier  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Of  what  regiment  ?  " 

"  The  thirteenth  Illinois  Cavalry.  Are  you  a 
soldier  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Where  do  you  belong  ?  "  In  the  one-hun 
dred  and  fifth  Regiment  of  Illinois  Volunteers." 

"  The  one-hundred  and  fifth  Regiment  1  That 
sounds  well.  Illinois  is  doing  nobly." 

"  I  did  belong  to  the  eleventh  Illinois  Infant 
ry." 

"Then  how  came  you  in  the  one-hundred  and 
fifth?" 

"I  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Fort  Don- 
elson  so  that  I  was  pronounced  unfit  for  ser 
vice  and  discharged.  But  I  recovered  from  my 
wound,  and  when  they  commenced  raising  this 
regiment  in  my  neighborhood,  I  again  enlisted. 

Hitherto  the  sick  boy  had  been  perfectly 
still ;  now  he  slowly  turned  over,  looked  up  with 
glistening  eyes,  stretched  forth  his  hand  with  the 
slow  movement  of  a  sick  man  to  the  top  of  the 
seat  and  without  saying  a  word  eagerly  grasped 
the  hand  of  the  new  recruit.  The  patriotism 
that  glowed  in  those  wan  features  and  prompted 
those  slow,  tremulous  movements,  like  electricity 
ran  through  every  heart.  The  twice-enlisted 
youth,  as  soon  as  he  saw  his  intention,  delighted 
at  the  aj  preciation  and  reflection  of  his  own  spirit, 


160 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND   INCIDENTS. 


grasped  the  outstretched  hand,  exclaiming  "  Bully 
for  you  I " 

Words  cannot  describe  the  effect  upon  the  pas 
sengers  as  they  saw  those  hands  clasped  in  token 
of  mutual  esteem  for  love  of  country;  a  mutual 
pledge  that  each  was  ready  to  give  his  life,  his 

i «       J»  .1        ,  mi  n    i .    Ti        ,,i  ••*         f> 


all,  for  that  country, 
'76  still  survived. 


They  felt  that  the  spirit  of 


ANECDOTES  OF  STONEWALL  JACKSON.  —  A 
Yankee  captain,  captured  in  the  battles  beyond 
Richmond,  was  brought  to  some  brigadier's  head 
quarters.  Being  fatigued,  he  laid  down  under  a 
tree  to  rest.  Pretty  soon  Gen.  Lee  and  staff 
rode  up.  The  Yankee  asked  who  he  was,  and 
when  told,  praised  his  soldierly  appearance  in  ex- 
Not  long  after  Jackson  and 
When  told  that  that  was  Jack- 


travagant  terms. 

his  staff  rode  up. 

son,  the  Yankee  bounced 

excitement,    showing   that 


to  his  feet  in 
he   was  much 


great 


anxious  to  see  Old  Stonewall  than  Lee.  He 
gazed  at  him  a  long  time.  "  And  that's  Stone 
wall  Jackson  ?  "  "  Yes."  tk  Waal,  I  swan  he  ain't 
much  for  looks  ; "  and  with  that  he  laid  down  and 
went  to  sleep. 

During  the  same  battles,  a  straggler  who  had 
built  a  nice  fire  in  the  old  field  and  was  enjoying 
it  all  to  himself,  observed  what  he  took  to  be  a 
a  squad  of  cavalry.     The  man  in  front  seemed  to  ( 
be  reeling  in  his  saddle.     The  straggler  ran  out  to  j  girl,  barring  the  light  flaxen  hair,  would  remind 


two  files  of  sixes,  and  followed  by  the  glittering 
rows  of  groomsmen,  the  little  cortege  has  moved 
out  of  the  great  tent  on  the  edge  of  the  circle, 
and  comes  slowly,  amid  the  bold  strains  of  the 


jrand 

the  regimental  chaplain. 


Mid-summer-Nigh  t's 


Dream,"    towards 


You  have  seen  the  colored  prints  of  Jenny 
Lind  on  the  back  of  the  music  of  "  Vive  la 
France"  You  have  noted  the  light-flowing  hair, 
the  soft  Swiss  <>ye,  the  military  bodice,  the 
coquettish  red  skirt,  and  the  pretty  buskined 
feet  and  ankles  underneath.  The  print  is  not 
unlike  the  bride.  She  was  fair-haired,  blue 
eyed,  rosy-cheeked,  darkened  in  their  hue  by 
exposure  to  the  sun,  in  just  the  dress  worn  by 
les  Jilles  du  regiment.  She  was  formed  in  that 
athletic  mould  which  distinguishes  the  Amazon 
from  her  opposite  extreme  of  frailty.  You -could 
not  doubt  her  capacity  to  undergo  the  fatigues 
and  hardships  of  a  campaign,  but  your  mind  did 
not  suggest  to  your  eye  those  grosser  and  more 
masculine  qualities  which,  whilst  girting  the 
woman  with  strength,  disrobe  her  of  the  purer, 
more  effeminate  traits  of  body.  You  saw  before 
you  a  young  girl,  apparently  about  eighteen 
years  of  age,  with  clear,  courageous  eye,  quiver- 
less  lip,  and  soldierly  tread,  a  veritable  daughter 
of  the  rejriment.  You  have  seen  Caroline  liich- 


ings  and  good  old  Peter  (St.  Peter  !)  march  over 
the  stage  as  the  corporal  and  la  Jille.     Well,  this 


him  and  said,  "  Look  here,  old  fellow,  you  are 
mighty  happy.  Where  do  you  get  your  liquor 
ftom  ?  Give  me  some,  I'm  as  dry  as  a  powder- 
horn."  Imagine  his  feelings  when  he  found  it  was 
Jackson — the  most  ungraceful  rider  in  the  army, 
arid  who  naturally  sways  from  side  to  side. 


THE  MARRIAGE  IN  CAMP. — Six  bold  rifle 
men  clad  in  blue,  with  scarlet  doublets  over  the 
left  shoulder,  bearing  blazing  torches ;  six  glitter 
ing  Zouaves,  with  brilliant  trappings,  sparkling 
in  the  light ;  and  then  the  hollow  square,  where 
march  the  bridegroom  and  bride;  then  seven 
rows  of  six  groomsmen  in  a  row,  all  armed  cap-a- 
pie,  with  burnished  weapons,  flashing  back  the 
lustre  of  the  Zouave  uniform;  and  all  around 
the  grand  regiment  darkening  the  white  tent- 
folds,  as  their  ruddy  faces  are  but  half  disclosed 
between  the  red  and  yellow  glare  of  the  fires, 
and  the  soft,  silver  light  of  the  May-moon.  (This 
is  all  you  will  bear  in  mind,  out  on  the  broad, 
open  air.  The  encampment  occupies  a  conically- 
shaped  hill-top,  flanked  around  the  rear  crescent 
by  a  wood  of  fan-leaved  maples  sprinkled  with 
blossoming  dogberries,  and  looking  out  at  the 
cone  upon  the  river-swards  below.  The  plain  is 
full  of  mounds  and  ridges,  save  where  it  bulges 
in  the  centre  to  a  circular  elevation  perfectly  flat, 
around  which,  like  fa9ades  about  a  court-yard, 
are  arrayed  the  spiral  tents,  illuminated  in  honor 
of  the  coming  nuptials.)  The  bride  is  the 
daughter  of  the  regiment ;  the  to-be-husband  a 
favorite  sergeant.  Marching  thus,  preceded  ty 


you  of  the  latter  drilling  a  squad  of  grenadiers. 

The  bridegroom  was  of  the  same  sanguine, 
Germanic  temperament  as  the  bride.  As  he 
marched,  full  six-feet  in  height,  with  long,  light- 
colored  beard,  high  cheek-bones,  aquiline  nose, 
piercing,  deeply-studded  blue  eye,  broad  shoul 
ders,  long  arms,  sturdy  legs,  feet  and  hands  of  a 
laborious  development,  cocked  hat  with  blue 
plume,  dark  blue  frock,  with  bright  scarlet 
blanket,  tartan  fashion  over  the  shoulder,  small 
sword,  you  would  have  taken  him  for  a  hero  of 
Sir  Walter.  Faith,  had  Sir  Walter  seen  him,  he 
himself  would  have  taken  him.  In  default,  how 
ever,  of  Sir  Walter,  I  make  bold  to  appropriate 
him  as  a  hero  on  the  present  occasion.  Indeed, 
he  was  a  hero,  and  looked  it,  every  inch  of  him, 
leading  that  self-sacrificing  girl  up  to  the  regi 
mental  chaplain,  with  his  robe,  and  surplice,  and 
great  book,  amid  the  stare  of  a  thousand  anxious 
eyes,  to  the  music  of  glorious  old  Mendelssohn, 
and  the  beating  of  a  thousand  earnest  hearts ! 

The  music  ceased ;  a  silence  as  calm  as  the 
silent  moon  held  the  strange,  wild  place ;  the 
fires  seemed  to  sparkle  less  noisily  in  reverence  ; 
and  a  little  white  cloud  paused  in  its  course 
across  the  sky  to  look  down  on  the  group  below ; 
the  clear  voice  of  the  preacher  sounded  above 
the  suppressed  breathing  of  the  spectators,  and 
the  vague  burning  of  the  fagot  heaps ;  a  few 
short  words,  a  few  heartfelt  prayers,  the  formal 
legal  ceremonial  and  the  happy  "  Amen. "  It 
was  done.  The  pair  were  man  and  wife.  In 
rain  or  sunshine,  joy  or  sorrow,  for  weal  or  woe, 
bone  of  one  bone,  and  flesh  of  one  flesh,  forever 
and  ever,  amen  1 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,   AND   INCIDENTS. 


167 


SPLITTING  THE  DIFFERENCE. — As  soon  as 
the  West  Virginia  State  bill  passed  Congress,  Mr. 
Carlisle,  true  to  his  purpose,  went  at  once  to  the 
President. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Lincoln,"  said  he,  "  you  must  veto 
that  bill." 

u  Well,  said  the  honest  president,  with  just  the 
least  bit  in  the  world  of  humor,  "  I'll  tell  you 
what  I'll  do,  I'll  split  the  difference  and  say  noth 
ing  about  it" 

HEROIC  CONDUCT  OF  Two  LADIES.  —  The 
conduct  of  two  young  ladies  at  Danville,  on  the 
occasion  of  the  arrival  of  the  rebels  at  that  place 
was  equal  to  Spartan  courage.  For  many 
months  a  beautiful  specimen  of  the  national  flag 
had  floated  from  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Taylor, 
an  estimable  widow  lady,  and  when  the  rebels 
took  possession  of  Danville,  it  was  but  natural 
that  they  should  seek  to  remove  the  hated  em 
blem.  A  squad  of  half-a-dozen  men  was  sent  to 
Mrs.  Taylor's  residence,  to  take  possession  of  the 
flag,  but  they  were  confronted  at  the  door  of  the 
residence  by  Miss  Maria  and  Miss  Mattie  Taylor, 
the  two  accomplished  and  charming  daughters  of 
the  patriotic  widow,  the  young  ladies  announcing 
their  determination  to  defend  the  cherished  ban 
ner.  The  chivalrous  half-dozen  returned  to 
their  commander  and  reported  that  it  would 
require  a  force  equal  to  a  full  company  to  cap 
ture  the  flag,  and  a  company  was  accordingly 
dispatched  to  make  the  capture.  Arriving  in 
front  of  Mrs.  Taylor's  residence,  the  commander 
of  the  company  demanded  the  surrender  of  the 
flag ;  but  the  two  young  ladies  again  made  their 
appearance,  bearing  the  flag  between  them,  each 
armed  with  a  revolver.  In  response  to  the  de 
mand  for  the  flag,  the  ladies  informed  their  per 
secutors  that  they  would  never  surrender  it  to 
rebels,  and,  drawing  their  pistols,  trowed  that 
they  would  shoot  the  first  rebel  that  polluted  the 
sacred  emblem  with  his  foul  touch.  The  compa 
ny  of  rebels  retired,  leaving  the  ladies  in  quiet 
possession  of  their  flag. 


YANKEE  VANDALS. 

AIR  —  "  Gay  and  Happy." 

THE  Northern  Abolition  vandals, 
Who  have  come  to  free  the  slave, 
Will  meet  their  doom  in  "  Old  Virginny," 
Where  they  all  will  get  a  grave. 

CHORDS. 

So  let  the  Yankees  say  what  they  will, 
We'll  love  and  tight  for  Dixie  still, 
Love  and  fight  for,  love  and  fight  for, 
We'll  love  and  fight  for  Dixie  still. 

They  started  for  Manassas  Junction, 
With  an  army  full  of  fight, 
But  they  caught  a  Southern  tartar, 
And  they  took  a  bully  flight. 
So  let  the  Yankees,  etc. 

"  Old  Fuss  and  Feathers  "  could  not  save  them, 

All  their  boasting  was  in  vain, 


Before  the  Southern  steel  they  oo<vor*>d, 
And  their  bodies  strewed  the  plain. 
So  let  the  Yankees,  etc. 

The  "  Maryland  Line  "  was  there  as  erer, 
Wi'.h  their  battle-shout  and  blade, 
They  shed  new  lustre  on  their  mother,, 
rVhen  that  final  charge  they  made. 
So  let  the  Yankees,  etc. 

Old  Abe  may  make  another  effoit, 
For  to  take  his  onward  way. 
But  his  legions  then  as  ever, 
Will  be  forced  to  run  away. 
So  let  the  Yankees,  etc. 

Brave  Jeff  and  glorious  Beauregard, 
With  dashing  Johnston,  noble,  true, 
Will  meet  their  hireling  hosts  again, 
And  scatter  them  like  morning  dew. 
So  let  the  Yankees,  etc. 

When  the  Hessian  horde  is  driven, 
O'er  Potomac's  classic  flood, 
The  pulses  of  a  new-born  freedom 
Then  will  stir  old  Maryland's  blood. 
So  let  the  Yankees,  etc. 

From  the  lofty  Alleghanies, 
To  old  Worcester's  sea- washed  shore, 
Her  sons  will  come  to  greet  the  victors, 
There  in  good  old  Baltimore. 
So  let  the  Yankees,  etc. 

Then  with  voices  light  and  gladsome, 
We  will  swell  the  choral  strain, 
Telling  that  our  dear  old  mother, 
Glorious  Maryland's  free  again. 
So  let  the  Yankees,  etc. 

Then  we'll  crown  our  warrior  chieftains, 
Who  have  led  us  in  the  fight, 
And  have  brought  the  South  in  triumph 
Through  dread  danger's  troubled  night. 
So  let  the  Yankees,  etc. 

And  the  brave  who  nobly  perished, 
Straggling  in  the  bloody  fray, 
We'll  weave  a  wreath  of  fadeless  laurel, 
For  their  glorious  memory. 
So  let  the  Yankees,  etc. 

O'er  their  graves  the  southern  maidens, 
From  sea-shore  to  mountain  grot, 
Will  plant  the  smiling  rose  of  beauty, 
And  the  sweet  forget-me-not. 
So  let  the  Yankees,  etc. 


STORY  OF  THE  ONE- ARMED.  —  A  soldier  in 
the  general  hospital  at  Fredericksburg,  a  day  or 
two  after  the  battle  in  December,  1862,  wrote  as 
follows: — Having  lost  my  right  arm  on  last 
Saturday,  on  that  fatal  "  inclined  plane  "  in  front 
of  Fredericksburg,  I  am  obliged  to  employ  an 
amanuensis  to  relieve  my  brain,  which  under  the 
stimulus  of  some  reactionary  fever,  must  find 
legitimate  work,  or  it  will  go  off  into  all  sorts  of 
phantasies,  or,  perhaps,  fall  into  a  melancholy 
mood  not  at  all  productive  of  '  healing  by  first 
intention,"  as  the  doctors  call  a  speedy  cure.  I 
don't  know  what  I  can  do  b:.tter  than  to  set  down 


168 


ANECDOTES.  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


some  of  my  experiences,  which,  I  doubt  not,  are 
unfortunately  or  fortunately,  as  the  case  may  be, 
similar  to  those  of  hundreds  of  my  fellow-victims. 
It  matters  not  to  what  particular  regiment  I  be 
long,  seeing  that  it  is  a  Philadelphia  regiment, 
arid  not  altogether  unknown  to  fame.  Strange 
as  it  may  seem,  my  recollections  of  Saturday, 
until  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  are  confused 
and  indistinct.  I  remember  well  enough  of  be 
ing  roused  before  daylight,  from  a  very  profound 
sleep  upon  the  sidewalk  in  Fredericksburg  by  the 
sudden  boom  of  cannon,  and  that,  at  short  in 
tervals,  the  firing  continued  till  after  sunrise, 
when  the  crash  of  small-arms  began  to  betoken 
close  quarters,  and  the  air  seemed  to  groan  in 
unison  as  in  the  agony  of  an  elemental  dissolu 
tion. 

Column  after  column  of  marching  men  went 
past  in  all  the  buoyancy  of  high  hope,  courage  in 
their  hearts,  and  determination  in  every  linea 
ment  of  their  faces.  Following  every  regiment 
H  ^re  the  litter-bearers,  with  their  ready  stretch 
ers  jauntily  slung  upon  their  shoulders ;  and 
I  remember  well  of  calculating  in  my  own  mind 
the  chances  of  each  man  for  an  exit  from  the 
front  upon  one  of  those  humane  inventions. 

By  and  by  the  litter-bearers  returned,  burden 
ed  with  mangled,  bleeding  men,  and  from  the 
great  numbers  carried  off  I  calculated  the  stub 
bornness  of  the  resistance  to  our  advance  to 
Richmond.  I  was  not  excited ;  I  was  not  fear 
ful  ;  I  was  simply  apathetic,  while  awaiting  the 
order  to  advance.  At  last  it  came  —  clear 
and  distinct,  but  not  loud,  the  words  came :  — 
"  Attention,  Battalion  !  "  Instantly  the  line  closed 
with  a  steady  straight  front,  and  every  man 
stood  erect  with  suspended  breath  for  the  next 
command  Nor  did  we  wait  long.  "  Battalion 
right  face,  forward,  quick,  march  !  "  and  we  were 
oif. 

Forward  we  went  until  we  cleared  the  streets 
of  the  town  and  arrived  opposire  the  batteries 
on  the  hill  on  our  left,  when  at  the  command, 
"  By  the  left  flank,  march ! "  we  changed  our 
direction  to  the  front,  and  faced  the  fire  before 
us,  advanced  to  the  lines  of  the  brigade  that  pre 
ceded  us  from  town  ;  but  soon  the  smoke  obscured 
the  view  of  everything,  save  the  flashes  of  the 
batteries  before  us,  and  the  sparkle  of  the  mus 
ketry  in  the  dim  sulphurous  twilight  of  the  bat 
tle,  until  the  receding  lines,  in  falling  back,  pro 
duced  a  mingled  mass  of  retreating  and  advanc 
ing  men.  "  Steady  men,  —  forward  !  "  rang  out 
the  voice  of  our  commander ;  and  disentangled 
from  the  retreating  fugitives,  we  steadily  bore  on 
until  we  neared  the  batteries,  and  with  a  cheer 
we  sprang  forward,  but  that  instant  a  line  of  fire 
leaped  out  from  behind  a  stone  wall  close  in  our 
front,  and  —  I  don't  remember  anything  more 
about  it.  My  next  recollections  were  of  a  con 
fused  and  mixed  character ;  one  moment  I  would 
seem  perfectly  conscious  of  something,  the  next 
of  nothing.  Then  I  would  imagine  I  was  at 
home,  and  half  asleep,  while  all  the  house  was 
astir  with  some  past  or  anticipated  catastrophe 
with  which  I  was  in  some  wav  connected.  All 


was  dark,  and  a  great  load  seemed  to  press  me 
down  and  glue  me  to  the  ground  in  spite  of  aP 
my  efforts  to  rise. 

I  could  hear  voices,  but  none  familiar  and  but 
one  that  seemed  spoken  by  human  kind,  or  had 
a  human  chord  of  sympathy  in  it.  Then  I  felt 
something  force  open  my  jaws,  and  some  fluid 
trickle  into  my  throat,  which  I  managed  to  swal 
low  to  prevent  strangling,  and  it  still  trickled 
down,  and  I  s'Jill  painfully  swallowed,  hoping, 
praying  that  it  would  stop  ;  but  it  did  not  until 
I  recognized  that  it  Avas  some  strong  spirit  that  I 
was  taking  a  id  that  I  was  becoming  more  able  to 
swallow  it.  All  this  time  I  could  hear  the  kind 
voice  encouraging  me,  also  some  cold  unsympa- 
thizing  voices ;  but  I  could  not  distinguish  what 
they  said.  Only  by  the  tone  could  I  tell  the 
sympathetic  from  the  unsympathetic.  At  last  I 
distinguished  the  words,  in  part,  of  one  who  said, 
"  Jt's  no  use  working  with  him.  lie's  dying 
now."  Quietly,  but  oh,  so  earnestly  and  sym- 
pathizingly  the  kind  voice  replied,  "  No,  doc 
tor,  he  is  not  dying ;  he  is  coming  to  life ;  he 
will  live  if  we  don't  give  him  up ;  this  hurt 
of  his  head  wont  amount  to  anything  if  we  can 
get  him  warmed  up ;  don't  you  see  he  has  been 
nearly  frozen  to  death,  while  faint  from  loss  of 
blood ;  but  he  is  coming  on  finely,  and  by  and 
by  you  can  take  off  his  arm,  arid  the  man  may 
get  well.  Who  knows  but  he  has  a  mother  or  a 
sister  to  love  him,  and  thank  you  or  me  some  day 
for  a  son  or  brother  saved." 

Yes,  I  was  saved ;  I  understood  it  all  now ;  I 
remembered  the  battle  and  my  state,  its  doubt 
less  consequence,  and,  for  the  sake  of  that  dear 
mother  and  sister  so  strangely  invoked,  with  an 
effort  I  succeeded  in  opening  my  eyes  once  more 
to  the  light  of  the  sun  on  earth.  At  first  the 
light  confused  me,  but  soon  I  could  distinguish 
three  surgeons  beside  me,  looking  at  me  with 
some  curiosity,  if  not  interest.  On  the  opposite 
side,  as  I  lay  on  the  ground,  in  a  large  tent,  kneel 
ed  a  woman,  who,  with  her  left  hand,  supported 
my  head,  while  with  her  right  she  held  a  spoon, 
with  which,  at  short  intervals,  she  dipped  the 
warm  fluid  from  a  cup  held  by  a  mere  boy-sol 
dier,  who  seemed  her  special  attendant. 

I  tried  to  speak,  but  could  not,  and  she  merely 
shook  her  head  to  discourage  my  efforts,  and, 
turning  to  her  attendant,  said :  —  "  Now,  Johnny, 
the  beef  soup,"  and  in  a  minute  the  soup  was 
substituted  for  the  toddy,  and  I  gradually  felt 
life  and  the  love  of  it  returning.  After  further 
effort  to  look  about  me,  I  saw  that  there  was  a 
basin  of  water  beside  me,  with  a  sponge  in  it, 
and  from  the  blood  on  the  lady's  hands,  I  inferred 
what  I  afterwards  learned  to  be  the  truth,  that 
she  had  been  engaged  in  washing  the  blood 
from  my  head  and  face,  when  she  discovered 
that  what  had  seemed  on  a  superficial  view  to  be 
a  most  desperate  wound  of  the  head,  including 
the  skull,  was  but  a  mere  scalp  wound,  which 
bled  profusely,  and  doubtless  made  a  most  un 
promising  case  for  surgery  at  first  view  —  a  view 
very  natural  indeed,  taking  into  consideration 
the  state  of  my  stupor.  Gradually  I  recovered 


Man's  life  to  himself.— Page  170. 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


169 


strength,  until  after  sufficient  reaction,  my  shat 
tered  arm  was  amputated,  and  I  am  doing  as 
well  as  could  be  expected.  I  was,  it  seems,  struck 
both  in  the  head  and  arm  by  pieces  of  the  same 
projectile,  whatever  it  may  have  been,  and  lay 
senseless  on  the  field  till  late  in  the  night,  when 
I  was  found  by  some  humane  litter-bearers,  and 
carried  to  the  city;  and  then,  before  being 
dressed,  was  put  into  an  ambulance  and  carried 
over  here,  where,  among  the  hundreds  similarly 
brought,  I  was  necessarily  obliged  to  await  my  turn 
and  thank  God  when  my  turn  did  come  I  fell  into 
good  hands  —  a  woman's  hands  at  that.  In  that 
place  even  in  the  roar  and  din  and  carnage  of 
battle,  was  found  a  woman  with  a  heart  to  dare 
danger  arid  sympathize  with  the  battle-struck- 
en,  and  sense  and  skill  and  experience  enough 
to  make  her  a  treasure  beyond  all  price.  May  the 
choicest  blessings  of  Heaven  be  hers  in  all  time 
to  come !  I  have  since  observed  her  in  her  ministra 
tion  s  here,  and  she  does  indeed,  seem  gifted  in  a 
most  wonderful  degree  for  scenes  like  this,  or  eke  a 
hard  school  of  suffering  has  made  her  the  strange 
womaii  she  is.  To  the  wounded  she  is  all  sym 
pathy  and  kindness,  but  let  any  one  not  a  patient 
attempt  familiarity,  even  in  jest,  and  her  black 
eyes  flash  such  an  indignant  rebuke  as  is  hardly 
equalled  by  her  cool  cutting  rejoinder.  More 
than  one  shoulder-strapped  puppy  has  had  oc 
casion  to  rue  the  time  he  intruded  his  remarks 
upon  her.  I  have  learned  that  she  has  been  in 
the  army  ever  since  the  war  broke  out,  nursing 
the  sick  and  wounded,  and  "  ever  in  front."  Hos 
pitals  in  the  rear  are  no  place  for  her. 

Dr.  McDonald,  of  the  Seventy-ninth  New 
York  Volunteers,  the  Surgeon  in  charge  here,  has 
placed  her  in  charge  of  the  supplies  and  stores, 
and  most  efficiently  does  she  deal  them  out. 
Many  a  "  poor  wounded  soldier  "  would  lack  his 
timely  stimulant,  soup  or  delicacies,  if  she  did 
not  pass  through  the  tents  at  all  hours  of  the 
day  and  night,  for  they  say  she  seldom  sleeps.  Dr. 
McDonald  has  known  her  long  as  the  matron 
of  the  One  Hundredth  Pennsylvania,  or  as  it  is 
better  known  the  Roundhead  Regiment  which 
has  been  in  South  Carolina  with  the  Seventy- 
ninth  New  York  Regiment,  and  is  still  with  it 
in  the  same  division  and  he  informs  me  that,  on 
on  that  fatal  day  of  Gen.  Benham's  defeat,  on 
James  Island,  she  performed  incredible  labors 
just  as  she  does  here.  And  yet  she  has  never 
been  a  paid  nurse.  She  is  a  member  of  her 
regiment,"  she  says,  and  it  is  only  because  it 
does  not  require  her  services  that  she  works  for 
others. 

For  all  the  labors,  and  privations,  and  suffer 
ings  of  her  campaigning  life  she  receives  no  pay  ; 
she  draws  her  rations  as.  a  private  soldier,  and 
the  private  soldiers  who  know  her  almost  wor 
ship  her. 

I  overheard  one  say  to-day,  that  he  would 
kill,  as  he  would  kill  a  dog,  the  man  who  would 
dare  insult  her,  even  in  thought ;  and  1  believe  it. 
War  produces  great  developments  of  character, 
and  Miss  Nellie  M.  Chase  is  a  most  notable  in 
stance  of  it.  She  is  not  yet  twenty-four  years  old, 


but  in  experience  as  a  nurse  or  hospital  matron,  on 
the  battle-field,  I  think  she  has  no  lining  equal. 
She  may  not  thank  me  for  this  notice  of  her  great 
services:  I  don't  think  she  will,  for  she  dislikes 
notoriety,  and  never  mingles  in  the  "  society  of  the 
arm}',"  nor  permits  intimacies  nor  attentions  from 
any  but  those  who  have  adopted  her  and  protected 
her.  But  the  world  has  a  right  to  know  its  he 
roines,  as  well  as  its  heroes,  and  hers  is  a  name 
that  must  at  least  be  known  as  widely  as  that  of 
the  veteran  regiment  of  which  she  is  a  member. 

But  gratitude  for  life  preserved,  has  led  me 
from  my  way,  and  I  return  to  it  to  state  my  fur 
ther  experience  of"  wounded  and  in  general  hos 
pital,"  as  the  next  tri-monthly  report  of  my  regi 
ment  will  have  me  accounted  for.  We  are 
placed  in  large  "  hospital  tents,"  in  a  secluded 
valley  near  Falmouth  Station,  and  receive  all 
the  care  and  attention  that  such  accommodations 
admit;  but,  without  doubt  a  "  cold  snap"  would 
soon  "  reduce  the  number  of  inmates  "  to  less  than 
a  moiety  of  their  present  "  muster." 

The  brain  that  would  work,  or  do  mischief, 
an  hour  ago,  grows  weary  now,  and  I  must  wait 
another  time  to  tell  the  further  story  of  tbe  — 

ONE-ARMED. 


THE  WOODS  OF  TENNESSEE. 

The  whip-poor-will  is  calling 

From  its  perch  on  splintered  limb, 
And  the  plaintive  notes  are  echoing 

Through  the  aisles  of  the  forest  dim; 
The  slanting  threads  of  starlight 

Are  silvering  shrub  and  tree, 
And  the  spot  where  the  loved  are  sleeping, 

In  the  woods  of  Tennessee. 

The  leaves  are  gently  rustling, 

But  they're  stained  with  a  tinge  of  red- 
For  they  proved  to  many  a  soldier 

Their  last  and  lonely  bed. 
As  they  prayed  in  mortal  agony 

To  God  to  set  them  free, 
Death  touched  them  with  his  finger 

In  the  woods  of  Tennessee. 

In  the  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded, 

Ah,  me !  alas  !  we  saw 
The  name  of  our  noble  brother, 

Who  went  to  the  Southern  war. 
He  fell  in  the  tide  of  battle 

On  the  banks  of  the  old  "  Hatchie," 
And  rests  'neath  the  wild  grape  arbors 

In  the  woods  of  Tennessee. 

There's  many  still  forms  lying 

In  their  forgotten  graves, 
On  the  green  slope  of  the  hill-sides, 

Along  Potomac's  waves ; 
But  the  memory  will  be  ever  sweet 

Of  him  so  dear  to  me, 
On  his  country's  altar  offered, 

In  the  woods  of  Tennessee. 


A  BATTLE  IN  THE  AIR.  —  During  the  heart 
of  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  an  owl,  alarmed  at 
the  unusual  tempests  of  sounls,  was  frightened 


170 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


from  his  usual  haunts.  Two  or  three  crows  spied  I 
him  at  once,  and  made  pursuit,  and  a  battle  en 
sued. 

The  contest  was  observed  by  an  Irishman  of 
the  Tenth  Tennessee,  which  was  at  the  time  hot 
ly  engaged.  Pat  ceased  firing,  dropped  the 
breach  of  his  gun  to  the  ground  and  exclaimed 


in  astonishment,  "Moses,  what  a  country! 
very  birds  in  the  air  are  fighting/ 


The 


READING  THE  LISTS. —  At  the  door  of  the 
Chronicle  Office  in  Washington  was  a  bulletin 
board,  on  which  proof-slips  of  important  tele 
grams  were  posted. 

Passing  the  other  day,  said  a  correspondent, 

I  found  an   old  man   there   alone.     Tall,  erect, 
firm  of  mouth,  tender  of  eye,  nervous  of  nostril, 
of  speech  quick  —  he  looked  fifty  or  sixty  years 
of  age,  and  like  a  master  mechanic.    He  stood'close 
to  the  board  slowly  rolling  a  lead  pencil  down  the 
list  of  killed  and  intently  following  it  with  his  eye. 
He  turned  as  he  heard  my  step.     "  Young  man, 
let  me  use  your  eyes   a   minute."     "  Certainly, 
sir,"  I.  answered.     "  I've  lost  my  glasses  —  I've  got 
a  boy  in  the  army  —  we  first  heard  he  was  wound 
ed  and  then  we  heard  he  was  killed  —  help  me." 
He  told  me  the  name  of  the  regiment  —  the  twelfth 
New  Jersey.     I  ran  down  the   half  column   of 

II  dead."  u  Not  there,"  I  said.  "  Ah  ! "  —  sharp  and 
reserved,  but  there  was  a  long  relieving  breath 
thereafter.  Then  I  began  the  columns  of  u  wound 
ed."     Down  the  first  one  —  down  the  second  one 
—  slowly,  a  little  nervously,  for  I  heard  the  la 
bored   breathing  of  the  firm-mouthed  old  man 
close  at  my  side,  and  through  his  dress  and  bear 
ing  was  looking  into  his  Newark  home.     Three 
or  four  inches  down  the  third  column  I  found  the 
name.     He  knew   I  had  found  it  before  I  took 
my  finger  from  the  paper.     "  Well  ?  "  —  The  boy 
is  a  hero  if  he  is  like  his  father.     "  In  the  arm 
and   in   Judiciary    Square    Hospital,"    was    my 
answer.     I  left  him  at   the  gate   of  the  square. 
Next  day  I  called  at  the  hospital.     The  old  man 
met  me  at  the  door.     "  All  right ;  left  arm  just 
above  the  elbow :  I've  got  him  a  furlough,  and 
we  go  home  to-morrow  morning."     I   shall   not 
soon  forget  the  proud  tone  in  his  voice  as  he  said 
that  "  all  right." 


MAN'S  LIFE  TO  HIMSELF.  —I  noticed  upon  the 
hurricane-deck,  said  a  letter-writer,  an  elderly 
darkey  with  a  very  philosophical  and  retrospec 
tive  cast  of  countenance,  squatted  upon  his  bundle 
toasting  hi?  shins  against  the  chimney,  and  appar- 
rently  plunged  in  a  state  of  deep  meditation. 
Finding  upon  inquiry  that  he  belonged  to  the 
Ninth  Illinois,  one  of  the  most  gallantly  behaved 
and  heavily  losing  regiments  at  the  Fort  Donelson 
battle,  and  part  of  which  was  aboard,  I  began  to 
interrogate  him  upon  the  subject.  His  philoso 
phy  was  so  much  in  the  Falstaffian  vein  that  I 
will  give  his  views  in  his  OAvn  words,  as  near  as 
my  memory  serves  me. 

"Were  you  in  the  fight?" 


"  Had  a  little  taste  of  it,  sa." 

"  Stood  your  ground,  did  you  ?  " 

'"  No,  sa,  I  runs." 

"  Run  at  the  first  fire,  did  you  ?" 

"  Yes,  —  sa,  and  I  would  have  ruii  soona,  had  i 
knoad  it  war  coming." 

"  AVhy,  that  wasn't  very  creditable  to  your 
courage." 

"  Dat  isn't  in  my  line,  sa  —  oookin's  my  pro- 

/*         1  «•  *  *          L 

leshun. 

"  Well  but  have  you  no  regard  for  your  repu 
tation  ?  " 

"  Reputation's  nofin  by  the  side  of  life." 

"  Do  you  consider  your  life  worth  more  than 
other  people's." 

"  It's  worth  more  to  me  sa." 

"  Then  you  must  value  it  very  highly  ! " 

"  Yes,  sa,  I  does  —  more  dan  all  dis  world  — 
more  dan  a  million  ob  dollas  sa,  for  what  would 
that  be  wuth  to  a  man  with  the  bref  out  of  him  V 
Self  prcserbashum  am  the  first  law  wid  me." 

"  But  why  should  you  act  upon  a  different  rule 
from  other  men  ?  " 

"Because  different  men  set  different  values 
upon  dar  lives  —  mine  is  not  in  the  market." 

"  But  if  you  lost  it,  you  would  have  the  satis 
faction  of  knowing  that  you  died  for  your 
country." 

"  What  satisfaction  would  dat  be  to  me  when 
de  power  of  feelin'  was  gone  ?  " 

"  Then  patriotism  and  honor  are  nothing  to 
you  ?  " 

"  Nuffin  whatever,  sa,  —  I  regard  them  as 
among  de  vanities." 

"  If  our  soldiers  were  like  you,  traitors  might 
have  broken  up  the  government  without  resist 
ance." 

"  Yes,  sa,  dar  would  have  been  no  help  for  it. 
I  would'nt  put  my  head  in  de  scale,  'gainst  no 
gobernmcnt  dat  eber  existed,  for  no  gobernment 
could  replace  de  loss  to  me." 

"  Do  you  think  any  of  your  company  would 
have  missed  you  if  you  had  been  killed  ?  " 

"  May  be  not,  sa  —  a  dead  white  man  ain't 
much  to  dese  sogers,  let  lone  a  dead  nigga  —  but 
I'd  a  miss  myself,  and  dat  was  de  pint  wid  me." 

It  is  safe  to  say  that  the  dusky  corpse  of  that 
African  will  never  darken  the  fie'ld  of  carnage. 


INCIDENT  OF  ANTIETAM.  —  In  a  small  clump 
of  woods  near  the  battle  field,  the  body  of  a  dead 
Union  soldier  in  a  partially  upright  position,  was 
found  resting  against  a  tree. 

The  expression  of  the  man's  countenance  was 
perfectly  natural  —  in  fact  he  appeared  as  if  he 
was  only  asleep.  Alongside  of  him  was  an  old 
and  worn  Bible,  which  the  poor  fellow,  knowing 
bis  time  had  come,  was  reading,  and  in  this  way, 

soldier  and  Christian  he  died ;  and  now,  with 
thousands  of  others,  his  grave  is  unknown. 


SOLDIER  MORALS.—  General  Sherman  seemed 
to  understand  that  a  "  hungry  soldier  has  no 
morale  or  morals;"  for  when  he  caught  a  lad  in 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


171 


blue  in  his  wagon  one  night  abstracting  there 
from  a  large  sugar-cured  ham,  he  asked  him 
kindly  and  without  show  of  anger,  "  Have  you 
no  meat  ?  "  "  None,"  said  the  soldier ;  "  the  regi 
ment  is  one  day  behind  on  rations,  and  the  com 
missary  doesn't  want  to  make  extra  issues." 
44  Take  the  ham  then,"  said  Sherman  as  he  re 
sumed  his  cigar,  "  and  whenever  you  need  any 
more  come  to  me  and  ask  for  them." 


THE  MEETING  ON  THE  BORDER. 

THE  civil  war  had  just  begun, 

And  caused  much  consternation, 
While  O.  P.  Morton  governed  one 

Great  State  of  tin's  great  nation, 
So  it  did. 

Ma£offin  governed  old  Kentuck, 

And  Dennison  Ohio  ; 
And  no  three  humans  had  more  pluck 

Than  this  puissant  trio, 

So  they  hadn't. 

Manoffin  was  the  leading  man  : 

Ho  telegraphed  to  Perry, 
And  writ,  by  post,  to  Dennison, 

To  meet  him  in  a  hurry, 

So  he  did. 

And  Dennison  and  Morton  too, 

Believed  they  had  good  reason 
To  fear  Magofnn  sought  to  do 

Some  hellish  act  of  treason, 

So  they  did. 

But  they  concluded  it  was  best 

To  do  as  he  demanded, 
So  they  would  have  a  chance  to  test 

The  question,  "  Is  he  candid  1 " 

So  they  did. 

And  Morton,  with  some  trusty  chaps, 

Went  up  ro  see  "  Mcguffin ; " 
At  6  A.  M.  they  took  their  traps, 

And  off  they  went  a-puffin', 

So  they  did. 

Magoffin  4  A.  M.  did  fix, 

By  post  and  by  the  wire  ; 
But  when  the  hour  had  come— wliy  nix 

Comehraus  was  he  —  Beriah, 

So  he  waa. 

And  then  could  you  have  heard  them  swear  ! 

Them  chaps  along  with  Perry; 
They  cussed,  and  stamped,  and  pulled  their  iair, 

For  they  were  angry  —  very, 

So  they  were. 


No  matter  what  they  find  to  do, 
'Tis  done  with  all  their  power; 

What  other  men  will  do  in  two, 
They'll  do  in  jast  one  hour, 

So  they  will. 

And  now  if  they  could  mix  his  "  toid," 
They'd  p:t  some  pizen  stuff  in, 

And  serve  their  country  nnc'i  thoir  God, 
By  killing  off  "  Megiiffin," 

So  they  ivould. 

A  id  serve  the  devil,  too,  as  we.l, 

By  sending  him,  a  traitor, 
To  roast  eternally  in  hell, 

As  Pat  would  roast  a  tater, 

So  they  would. 

Just  give  them  chaps  a  half  a  chance  — 

Let  them  but  lay  a  hand  on 
A  traitor,  and  he'll  have  to  dance, 

With  atmosphere  to  stand  on, 
So  he  will. 

But  those  who  love  old  Uncle  Sam, 
THEY  love  and  in  their  greeting 

They  show  it,  and  in  every  palm, 
You  feel  the  heart  a  beating, 

So  you  do. 

For  patriots  are  brothers  all  — 

Alike  our  flag  they  cherish  ; 
With  it,  aloft,  they  bear  the  scroll; 

"  Let  every  traitor  perish," 

feo  they  do. 

STONEWALL  JACKSON.  —  Thomas  Jefferson 
Jackson  was  a  psychological  event.  With  him  it 
was  but  one  splendid  leap  from  bed  to  battery, 
from  the  stagnations  of  a  sickly  fancy  to  the  in 
spirations  of  a  robust  and  exclusive  fame.  The 
energies  that  slept  in  the  sluggish,  dull  cadet  — 

;in  the  uninteresting,  morose"  professor,  —  the 
querulous,  tedious  hypochondriac  —  the  formal 
and  severe  elder  —  the  odd  and  awkward  man  — 
not  walking,  "  only  getting  along,"  and  talking  to 
himself —  awoke  with  a  bound  of  joy  at  the  call 

|  of  the  trumpets,  at  the  waving  of  the  banners, 
once  more  to  exult  with  the  bayonets,  as  at  Con- 
treras;  among  the  batteries,  as  at  Cherubusco 
and  Chepultepec.  Nor  any 'the  less  ready,  if  the 
trumpet  were  the  trumpet  of  the  Spirit,  and  the 
banner  the  banner  of  the  Lord.  The  modern 
covenanter,  who,  debating  all  day,  and  praying 
all  night,  dashed  into  the  smoke  of  the  argument 
with  his  loyal  father-in-law,  to  convert  him  to  se 
cession,  and  the  inspired  rebel,  who,  praying  all 
ight,  and  fighting  all  day,  repelled,  rocklike, 


And  when  they  found  that  they  were  sold, 
And  saw  no  chance  for  fighting, 

They  took  a  train  that  they  controlled, 
And  home  they  went  a-kiting, 

So  they  did. 

At  2  A.  M.  the  scamp  did  come, 

But  didn't  let  them  know  it ; 
And  so,  at  three,  they  started  home, 

And  when  they  start,  they  "  go  it," 
So  they  do. 


the  shock  of  the  Union  charge  at  Bull  Run,  were 

the  same  —  and  both  were  most  like  that  Richard 

Cameron,  who  cried,  three  times  above  the  din  and 

dust  of  his  last  fight,  "  Lord,  spare  the  green  and 

|  take  the  ripe  ! " —  that  Richard  Cameron,  under 

!  whose  head,  as  placid  as  John  the  Baptist's,  and  ao 

j  bloody  — under  whose  reeking  hands,  no  more  to 

|  fight  with  Bible  or  with  sword,  some  admiring  en- 

i  erny  had  inscribed,  "  Here  hang  the  remains  of 

;  one  who  lived  praying  and  preaching,  and  died 

^  praying  and  fighting  !  "     And  so  of  the  man,  who, 


172 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,   AND   INCIDENTS. 


praying,  smote  Shields  at  Cross  Keys  and  Port 
Republic,  taking  revenge  for  Winchester;  who, 
praying,  drove  Hanks  pell-mell  out  of  the  Valley 
and  across  the  Potomac ;  who,  praying,  stormed 
Harper's  Ferry  with  a  fr.u  d'enfer ;  and,  still 
watching  and  praying,  thundered  in  our  rear  at 
Richmond  and  Bull  11  un  the  second,  at  Freder-  J 
icksburg  and  Chancellorsville.  Of  this  muscular  j 
Christian  his  admiring  foes  competed  in  phraseol- ; 
ogies  of  generous  praise,  u  forgetting  his  fatal  er-1 
ror  to  applaud  the  greatness  of  his  soul."  They 
recounted  with  genial  iteration  the  separate  vir 
tues  of  the  man — his  courage,  his  patience,  his 
sincerity,  his  devotion,  his  singleness  of  purpose, 
his  self-abnegation,  his  just  obedience,  and  his 
faith  in  God ;  of  the  Christian,  the  simplicity  of 
his  every  word  and  act,  his  perfect  truthfulness, 
his  mildness  and  his  mercy,  his  religious  enthusi 
asm,  his  continual  prayerfulness,  his  almost  super 
stitious  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  his  iron  rule 
of  duty,  and  "first,  last,  and  all  the  time,"  his 
faith  in  God ;  of  the  soldier,  his  intrepidity,  his 
modesty,  his  magnanimity,  his  fury  in  the  fight, 
and  his  generosity  in  victory,  his  stable  bearing 
in  reverse,  his  tenderness  toward  his  own  wounded 
and  the  wounded  of  the  enemy  —  how  he  shared 
the  privations  of  his  men,  setting  them  examples  of 
endurance  and  devotion ;  his  calmness  "  among 
the  shrieking  shells  and  the  death-lights  of  the 
battle ; "  the  absolute  fearlessness  of  his  demeanor, 
as  of  one  who  knew  what  his  men  hoped,  that  the 
Almighty  would  not  sound  his  recall  until  his 
work  was  done  ;  of  the  General  —  his  celerity, 
his  ubiquity,  his  momentum,  his  forced  marches, 
his  "  thundering  in  the  rear,"  his  indomitable 
will," the  magic  of  his  personal  influence,  and  "  how 
his  cause  did  hang  upon  his  heart."  We  have 
been  told  (still  by  his  enemies),  of  his  splendid 
originality,  his  military  genius,  as  bold  as  it  was 
modest.  "  Every  time  we  have  been  seriously 
threatened,"  writes  a  loyal  chaplain,  "he  did  it 
—  no  one  else  has  done  it.  The  first  time  I  saw 
his  face  my  heart  sank  within  me.  His  moral 
brain  is  grand." 

We  have  heard  on  every  hand  that  the  men 
idolized  him,  not  so  much  for  what  he  did,  as  for 
how  he  did  it.  He  thought  as  little  of  the  glory 
as  of  the  danger,  and  his  impulse  sprang  less  from 
patriotism  than  from  piety.  An  eminent  North 
ern  divine,  a  representative  man  in  the  ranks  of 
the  rebel  enemies,  has  defined  Jackson's  motive 
as  a  "  solemn  feeling  of  obligation  to  his  Maker  who 
he  thought  had  called  him  to  this  mission."  Pie 
was  sublimely  impersonal  —  incapable  of  pride, 
insensible  to  praise,  unconscious  of  criticism  — 
"  serving  God,"  as  he  supposed,  and  going  straight 
on.  The  applause  that  took  the  form  of  cheers 
embarrassed  him  absurdly;  and  when  the  cap 
tured  garrison  at  Harper's  Ferry  greeted  him  with 
that  spontaneous  burst  with  which  the  heart  of 
the  true  soldier  salutes  the  soldier  of  true  heart, 
his  confusion  was  only  exceeded  by  his  surprise, 
He  afterward  expressed  to  his  prisoners  hi: 
sense  of  the  extraordinary  compliment  in  the  elo 
quent  language  of  double  rations. 

His  religious  character,  and  in  equal  degree  with 


his  military  qualities,  impressed  itself  upon  his 
command  ;  not  an  officer  or  private  of  the  old 
Stonewall  Brigade  but  shut  down  "  the  soldier's 
saftty-valve"  (as  some  rough  definer  has  styled 
hard  swearing)  within  the  hearing  of  his  Gen 
eral.  His  supplication  before  battle  to  the  God 
of  battles,  for  inspiration  and  strength  —  his 
thanks,  when  the  day  was  won  or  lost,  for  victory 
Dr  preservation  ;  his  "  camp-meetings  "  among 
his  men ;  the  almost  invariable  formula  with 
which  he  introduced  his  brief  and  plain  dis 
patches,  •"  By  the  blessing  of  Almighty  God  we 
have  had  a  success,"  —  these  were  traits  not  less 
characteristic  of  this  rebel  General  Jackson  than 
the  famous  "By  the  Eternal!"  of  his  loyal 
arid  self-sufficient  namesake.  So  likewise,  were 
the  "  Very  good,  very  good  —  it's  all  right !  " 
with  which  he  received  his  death-warrant  from 
the  lips  of  his  agonized  wife:  and,  before  that, 
his,  "  Don't  tell  the  troops  I'm  wounded."  That 
must  have  been  a  touching  smile  with  which  in 
his  dying  hour  he  indulged  himself  for  once,  in 
a  comrade-like  expression  of  a  soldier's  satisfac 
tion,  "  The  men  who  may  live  through  this  war 
will  be  proud  to  say,  '  I  was  one  of  the  Stone 
wall  Brigade !'" 

And  apropos  of  "  Stonewall.'*  A  correspon 
dent,  over  the  signature  of  "  Altamont,"  contrib 
uted  to  THE  TRIBUNE  a  sketch  of  the  vigorous 
rebel,  in  some  respects  fresher  and  fuller  than 
any  that  had  appeared  before,  and  therein  hia 
soubriquet  was  traced  back,  not  to  the  stone 
bridge  at  Bull  Run,  nor  to  the  "  There  stands 
Jackson  like  a  stone  wall,"  of  Gen.  Bee,  or  to  the 
stone  fences  of  Winchester  Heights ;  but  to  Jack 
son's  original  "  Stonewall  Brigade,"  so  called  be 
cause  principally  recruited  in  a  stone-wall  coun 
try —  the  valley  counties  of  Jefferson,  Clarke, 
Frederick,  Page,  and  Warren ;  and  the  writer 
showed  that  the  brigade  had  borne  this  name  be 
fore  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  of  course 
before  the  affair  of  Winchester  Heights,  and  that 
the  brigade  had  lent  its  name  to  its  stout  leader, 
not  derived  it  from  him.  Since  his  death  this 
sketch  "has  been  reproduced  in  many  papers,  but 
the  light  it  threw  on  the  "  Stonewall "  question 
has  fJcen  everywhere  ignored;  nevertheless. 
Stonewall  Jackson,  in  his  last  hours,  was  careful 
to  explain  to  some  members  of  his  staff  who  hung 
upon  his  parting  words,  that  the  honorable  title 
belonged  to  his  men,  not  to  him ;  it  was  not  per 
sonal  and  figurative  like  "  Old  Hickory,"  as  the 
newspapers  persist  in  making  it — but  the  local  de 
signation  of  a  corps. 

The  Rebels  say  he  was  a  "  fearful  loss  ;  "  that 
they  would  have  given  Richmond  for  him,  even 
their  victories  of  Chancellorsville  and  the  Wilder 
ness  ;  but  that  his  work  was  done.  "  He  helped 
to  build  a  nation,  and  all  that  now  remains  to  do 
is  to  dedicate  it  to  God  and  to  honor."  So  ,in 
Richmond  he  lay  in  state,  wrapped  in  the  new 
"  National  flag,"  that  on  the  morrow  was  given,  for 
the  first  time,  to  the  breeze  over  the  "  National 
Capitol."  That  same  flag  was  afterward  present- 
'  ed  to  his  wife  by  the  "  President  of  the  Confed 
erate  States  of  America."  ' 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


173 


The  personal  peculiarities  of  Jackson  were  all 
on  the  side  of  modesty.  We  have  all  heard  or 
read,  again  and  again,  how  he  shunned  observa 
tion,  and  how  difficult  it  was  for  a  stranger  to  sin 
gle  him  out  from  among  his  men  by  his  appear 
ance  or  his  manner,  for  his  appearance  was  far ^  __  

from  imposing,  and  his  manner  that  of  a  plain  j  kaleidcscspic  and  subtle  combinations    must  be 

left  to  the  Lees  and  Johnstons  of  the  Rebel  army. 


question  or  hesitation,  and  that  General  is  Robert 
E.  Lee."  The  anecdote  is  authentic.  But 
Jackson  had  the  sagacity  to  perceive  very  early 
that  his  military  genius  was  essentially  local  and 


that  it  was  as  an  executive  officer  ex 
clusively   that   he   was   remarkable  —  and    that 


partisan 


man  minding  his  own  business.  On  horseback, 
he  by  no  means  looked  the  hero  of  a  tableau. 
On  his  earlier  fields  and  marches  he  had  been 
blessed  with  a  "  charger"  that  happily  resembled 
horse,  that  went  straight 
its  own  business;  but  one 
day  it  got  shot  under  him,  and  then  his  friends 
presented  him  with  a  more  ornamental  beast,  a 


its   rider — "  a  plain 
ahead,  and   minded 


When  the  question  of  Secession,  Union,  or 
"  Armed  Neutrality,  "  went  before  the  people  of 
Virginia,  Stonewall  Jackson  voted  the  Union 
ticket;  but  when  the  State  went  out  he  went 
out  with  her.  From  first  to  last  he  had  no  pa 
tience  (if  such  a  phrase  can  be  true  of  such  a 
man)  with  the  intemperate  expressions  of  bitter 


mare  that  took  on  airs,  and  threw  him ;  so  he  |  sectional  hate  that  continually  affronted  his  ear ; 
exchanged  her,  in  disgust,  for  a  less  visionary  j  and  he  was  blunt  in  his  admonition  to  the  women 
and  artistic  quadruped —  still  a  horse,  but  never  of  Winchester — when  he  again  left  the  checkered 
such  a  congenial  spirit  as  that  original  u  Ole  !  fortunes  of  that  town  to  our  advancing  troops  — 
Virginny  "  of  his,  that  never  tired,  and  whose  ev-  J  "  not  to  forget  themselves."  "  My  child,  "  he 
erlasting  long-legged,  swinging  walk  was  the  very  |  would  say  to  some  immoderate  rebel  in  crinoline, 
thing  to  make  marches  with.  "  He's  in  the  saddle  "  you  and  I  have  no  right  to  our  hates  ;  personal 
now,"  sang  those  limber  rebels,  from  the  song  of  rancor  is  the  lowest  expression  of  patriotism  and 
their  corps : 


"  He's  in  the  saddle  now  !  fall  in  ! 

Steady  the  whole  brigade  ! 
Hill's  at  the  ford,  cut  off;  we'll  win 

His  way  out,  ball  and  blade. 
What  matter  it'  our  shoes  are  worn  ? 

What  matter  if  our  feet  are  torn  ? 
Quick  step  !    We're  with  him  before  morn  ! 

That's  Stonewall  Jackson's  way." 

Jackson  had  never  seen  his  home  since  the 
ivar  broke  out ;  nor  would  he,  he  declared,  until 
it  was  over  —  "  unless  the  war  itself  should  take 
him  thither."  He  firmly  declined  the  luxury  of 
u  hospitable  mansions  "  along  the  line  of  his  march ; 
nor  after  his  occupation  of  Winchester  could  he, 
without  much  difficulty,  be  induced  to  pass  a 
night  in  the  house  of  any  old  friend  in  Frederick, 
Clarke,  or  Jefferson.  He  preferred  to  sleep 
among  his  men.  It  was  one  of  these  valley 
friends  of  his  who  miscarried  so  absurdly  in  an 
attempt  to  cajole  him  out  of  his  imperturbable  reti 
cence.  The  gentleman,  at  whose  house  Jackson 


had  been  induced  to  make  a  brief 


pass 


ing,  was  eagerly  curious  to  learn  wha,t  the  next 
movement  of  the  ubiquitous  rebel  would  be ; 
«o  he  boldly  claimed  his  confidence  on  the  score 
of  ancient  friendship.  After  a  few  minutes  of 
well-affected  concern  and  reflection  the  grim 
joker  button-holed  his  bore.  "  My  stanch  old 
friend,"  said,  he  with  mysterious  deliberation, 
"  can  —  you  —  keep  —  a  secret  V  " 

"  Ah,  General!" 

"So  can  I." 

The  love  and  admiration  he  at  all  times 
evinced  for  Lee  resembled  the  devotion  with  which 
Turner  Ashby  had  followed  him.  Replying  to 
the  remarks  of  a  friend  about  his  own  peculiar 
military  ideas  and  habits,  and  his  proneness  "  to 
do  his  marching  and  fighting  his  own  way,"  he 
said  "  We  are  "blessed  with  at  least  one  General 
whom  I  would  cheerfully  follow  blindfold,  whose 
most  dubious  strategy  I  would  execute  without 


a  sin  beside.    We  must  leave  these  things  to  God.' 

Immediately  on  the  heels  of  the  battle  of  An- 
tietam,  and  almost  within  gun-shot  of  McClellan's 
100,000  men,  Stonewall  Jackson  with  a  force 
not  exceeding  7,000,  destroyed  thirty  miles  of 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  track,  from  seven 
miles  west  of  Harper's  Ferry  to  the  North  Moun 
tain.  He  actually  obliterated  the  road,  so  that 
when  the  road-masters  with  their  gangs  went  to 
work  to  restore  it,  it  was  only  by  the  charred  and 
twisted  debris  that  the  track  could  be  traced. 
Every  tie  was  burned,  every  rail  bent — nothing 
remained  to  be  done  but  to  cart  off  the  bare  bal 
last.  The  General  took  off  his  coat,  and,  with  a 
cross-tie  for  a  fulcrum  and  a  rail  for  a  lever, 
helped  to  demolish  the  "  permanent  way ;"  and 
with  his  own  hands  he  assisted  in  bending  the 
heated  rails  around  the  trunks  of  trees. 

All  this  while  McClellan,  with  his  splendid 
army,  lay  all  around  him,  and  might,  with  but  a 
small  show  of  energy,  and  less  of  strategy,  have 
brought  the  guns  that  were  yet  warm  from  An- 
tietam  to  bear  on  the  slouched  hat  of  the  re 
nowned  rebel  as  he  was  in  the  act  of  prying  out 
his  first  rail ;  nor  was  Jackson  at  any  time  more 
than  fifteen  miles  off  from  our  little  Napoleon. 

When  we  reflect  that  Gen.  McClellan  had 
been  a  practical  railroad  man,  that  the  dust  of 
the  track  was  yet  on  his  boots,  and  that  of  all  our 
generals  he  should  have  had  the  most  lively 
appreciation  of  the  vital  importance  of  such  a 
great  military  chorough-fare  as  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Road  to  the  plans  of  the  Government,  and 
to  the  operations  of  his  own  army ;  when  we 
recollect  with  what  force  and  importunity  lie  had 
urged  these  considerations  upon  the  War  Depart 
ment,  we  can  only  wonder  why  he  left  Jackson 
to  the  undisturbed  enjoyment  of  his  railroad  ex 
ercises.  Was  it  lack  of  energy  merely  ? 

Though  in  no  respect  a  railroad  man,  neither 
practically  nor  theoretically,  Jackson's  attentions 
to  tie  Baltimore  and  Ohio  line  were  unremitting 
and  full  of  solicitude — so  much  so,  that  when,  on 


174 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


the  occasion  I  have  just  recalled,  the  task  of  rail- 
stripping  and  twisting,  and  the  burning  was  done, 
he  walked  over  the  whole  thirty  miles  of  his  work 
to  see  that  it  was  good.  He  looked  upon  that 
road  with  the  eye  of  military  genius,  and  the 
great  part  it  must  play  in  the  warlike  machinery 
of  the  Government  was  plain  to  him ;  therefore 
he  took  more  pains  to  destroy  it  once,  than  Gen. 
McClellan  had  taken  to  save  it  from  many  as 
saults  ;  and  but  for  the  Jacksonian  sagacity,  and 
energy  that  from  the  beginning  of  the  war  has 
presided  over  the  very  life  of  the  road,  to  guard 
and  guide  it,  the  valor  of  the  rebel  must  have 
triumphed. 

An  intelligent  Union  chaplain  has  said,  "  if 
any  man  whom  this  war  has  developed  resembles 
Napoleon,  it  is  Stonewall  Jackson."  Bating  the 
qualified  exaggeration  of  the  remark  it  is  not 
without  reason.  Like  Napoleon,  Jackson  had 
daring  originality,  and  like  him  he  taught  his 
enemy  that  if  they  would  beat  him  they  must 
imitate  him.  He  adopted  and  adapted  in  the 
East  the  whole  system  of  raid  which  Morgan  had 
made  so  redoubtable  in  the  West ;  and  not  only 
the  Stuarts,  Mosebys,  Imbodens,  Jenkinses,  Jones 
es  and  Wilders,  are  of  his  making,  but  in  a  cer 
tain  sense  the  Stonenians,  Griersons,  Kilpatricks, 
and  Davises  also. 


HOMESPUN  DRESS.  —  The  accompanying 
song  was  taken  from  a  letter  of  a  Southern  girl 
to  her  lover  in  Lee's  army,  which  letter  was  obtain 
ed  from  a  mail  captured  on  Sherman's  march 
through  Northern  Alabama.  The  materials  of 
which  the  dress  alluded  to  is  made  are  of  cotton  and 
wool,  and  woven  on  the  hand-loom,  so  commonly 
seen  in  the  houses  at  the  South.  The  scrap  of  a 
dress,  enclosed  in  the  letter  as  a  sample,  was  of 
a  gray  color  with  a  stripe  of  crimson  and  green 
—  quite  pretty  and  creditable  to  the  lady  who 
made  it. 

The  lines  are  not  a  false  indication  of  the  uni 
versal  sentiment  of  the  women  of  the  South,  who 
by  the  encouragement  they  have  extended  to  the 
soldiers  and  the  sacrifices  they  have  made,  have 
exercised  an  influence  which  has  proved  of  the 
greatest  importance  to  the  rebels,  and  have  shown 
what  can  be  accomplished  by  united  effort  on 
the  part  of  the  gentle  sex. 

HOMESPUN   DRESS. 

AIR  —  "  Bonny  Blue  Flag*' 

Oh  yes !    I  am  a   Southern  girl,  and  glory  in  the 

name, 
And  boast  it  with  far  greater  pride  than  glittering 

wealth  or  fame  ; 
I  envy  not  the  Northern  girl  her  robes  of  beauty 

rare, 
Though  diamonds   deck  her  snowy  neck  and  pearls 

bedeck  her  hair. 
CHORUS  —  Hurrah  !    hurrah !   for  the  Sunny  South 

so  dear, 

Three  cheers  for  the  homespun  dress  the 
Southern  ladies  wear. 


I  This  ho-nespun  dress  is  plain.  I  know,  my  hat's  pal 

metto  too, 
Btit  then  it  shows  whsi,  Southern  girls  for  Southern 

rights  will  do  — 
We  scorn  to  wear  a  dress  of  silk,  a  bit  of  Northern 

lace, 
We  make  our  homespun  dresses  up  and  wear  them 

with  much  grace. 
Of  o*ius  —  Hurrah  !  etc. 

Now  Northern  goods  are  out  of  date,  and  since  Old 
Abe's  blockade, 

We  Southern  girls  are  quite  content  with  goods  our 
selves  have  made  — 

We  sent  the  brave  from  out  our  land  to  battle  with 
the  foe, 

And  we  will  lend  a  helping  hand  —  we  love  the 
South  you  know. 

CHORUS  —  Hurrah  !  etc. 

Our  land  it  is  a  glorious  land,  and  ours  a  glorious 

cause, 
Then,  three  cheers  for  the  homespun  dress  and  for 

the  Southern  boys; 
We  sent  our  sweethearts  to  the  war,  but,  dear  girls, 

never  mind, 

The  soldier  never  will  forget  the  girl  he  left  behind. 
CHORUS  —  Hurrah  !  etc. 

A  soldier  is  the  lad  for  me —  a  brave  heart  I  adore, 

And  when  the  Sunny  South  is  free,  and  fighting  is 
no  more, 

I  then  will  choose  a  lover  brave  from  out  that  glori 
ous  band, 

The  soldier-boy  that  I  love  best  shall  have  my  heart 
and  hand. 

CHORUS  —  Hurrah  !  etc. 

And  now,  young  men,  a  word  to  you,  if  you  would 

win  the  fair, 
Go  to  the  field  where  honor  calls,  and  win  your  ladies 

there  ; 
Remember  that  our  brightest  smiles  are  for  the  true 

and  brave, 
And  that  our  tears  are  for  the  one  that  fills  a  soldier's 

grave. 
CHORUS  —  Hurrah,  etc. 


GEORGE  MORSE,  THE  NORTH  WOODS  GUIDE. 
—  George  Morse,  the  well  known  North  Woods 
Guide,  was  killed  in  the  terrible  battle  near  the 
James  river.  Born  in  the  woods,  he  was  never 
contented  out  of  them.  Although  friends,  who 
appreciated  his  good  qualities,  often  tried  to  in 
duce  him  to  change  his  mode  of  life,  and  to  ap 
ply  himself  to  some  of  the  ordinary  pursuits  of 
civilization,  he  could  never  long  keep  away  from 
the  woods  and  waters  of  our  Northern  wilderness. 
He  was  lost  in  towns,  while  he  knew  every  river 
and  mountain  and  lake  of  the  vast  forest  reach 
ing  from  the  Mohawk  to  the  St.  Lawrence.  He 
was  our  beau  ideal  of  a  woodsman  —  of  exhaust- 
less  endurance  —  with  an  eye  like  the  eagle's  — 
equally  fearless  and  gentle  —  prcud  of  his  wife 
and  children  —  temperate  in  all  things  and  the 
best  shot  in  the  state.  As  a  guide,  he  was  inval 
uable  —  quiet,  attentive,  unobtrusive  and  kind- 
hearted — anticipating  every  want — always  watch 
ful  and  never  at  fault.  "  We  ne'er  shall  look 
upon  his  like  again." 

He  was  an  enthusiastic  lover  of  the  Union,  and 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND   INCIDENTS. 


175 


joined  the  ITerkimer  regiment  (the  Thirty-fourth) 
soon  after  it  took  the  field.  His  habits  of  life 
rendered  him  invaluable  as  a  scout,  and  he  was 
employed  as  such  whenever  unusual  skill  was 
necessary  to  accomplish  the  result  desired.  His 
adventures  while  thus  employed,  would  fill  a  vol- 
m-ie.  Scores  of  rebels  were  made  to  bite  the 
ouist  by  his  trusty  rifle.  And  yet  cruelty  consti- 
tu-ed  no  part  of  his  composition.  As  an  illustra 
tion  :  While  scouting  near  Ball's  BlufT,  on  the 
Potomac,  he  approached  to  within  a  few  yards  of 
the  dwelling  of  a  rebel  spy,  who,  with  his  wife, 
was  at  the  moment  drinking  tea  near  the  open 
door  of  the  house,  which  was  surrounded  by  reb 
el  troops.  The  capture  or  death  of  the  spy  was 
an  ambition  with  him.  Nothing  laid  so  near  his 
heart ;  (for  he  had  caused  the  death  of  two 
Union  scouts  a  few  days  before)  and  he  was 
buoyant  with  exultation  when  he  had  him  thus 
within  short  range.  But  the  wife  sat  in  a  di 
rect  line  of  her  husband,  and  it  was  impossible 
to  shoot  the  one  without  hitting  the  other.  The 
temptation  was  very  great,  but  George  Morse 
could  not  peril  the  life  of  a  woman  even  to  kill 
a  spy;  and,  heavy-hearted,  he  retired,  trusting 
to  the  chances  of  another  day. 

With  the  best  intentions  in  the  world,  he 
could  never  tie  himself  down  to  camp  life  or 
to  the  soldier's  drill.  His  colonel  knew  this, 
and  making  him  a  sergeant,  allowed  him  to  do 
as  he  pleased ;  and  the  whole  regiment  acqui 
esced.  As  a  reward  they  were  often  feasted 
upon  rebel  spoils,  gathered  by  our  lamented 
friend  as  an  amusement.  It  was  an  almost  ev- 
ery-day  occurrence  to  see  him  marching  into 
camp  with  eatable  burthens,  heavy  as  himself, 
upon  his  shoulders ;  and  when  any  sick  soldier 
coveted  some  delicacy  unattainable  in  camp  it 
was  only  necessary  to  "  tell  George  Morse  "  to  en 
sure  it. 

Those  who  knew  him  can  fancy  his  effi 
ciency  in  battle.  He  never  fought  in  the  ranks. 
He  was  own  captain  and  general.  He  never 
wasted  powder  or  ball;  and  every  other  man 
in  the  army  may  have  been  fatigued,  but  he 
was  not.  We  can  imagine  him  in  the  retreat, 
leaping  or  crawling,  from  tree  to  tree,  within 
short  range  of  the  enemy's  advance,  loading  arid 
firing  with  the  rapidity  of  lightning,  but  with 
the  red  man's  caution,  and  bringing  down  hi.s 
game  at  every  shot.  When  he  fell,  one  of  the 
most  effective  men  in  that  entire  host  of  heroes 
fell ;  and  tears  will  be  shed  in  forest  huts  and 
in  city  palaces  when  it  is  announced  that  George 
Morse  is  dead. 


INDIAN  STRATEGY.  —  One  of  the  Fourteenth 
New  York  Artillery  —  a  Seneca  Indian,  under 
took  on  a  wager,  to  bring  in  alive  a  rebel  sharp 
shooter  who  was  perched  in  a  tree  in  front  of 
the  Union  lines  at  Petersburg,  considerably  in 
advance  of  his  own.  His  manner  of  accomplish 
ing  this  was  as  ingenious  as  successful.  Procuring 
a  quantity  of  pine  boughs,  he  enveloped  himself 
with  them  from  hea  I  to  foot,  attaching  them  se 


curely  to  a  branch,  which  he  lashed  lengthwise  of 
his  body.  When  completed,  he  was  indistinguish 
able  to  a  casual  observer  from  the  surrounding 
foliage,  and  resembled  a  tree  as  closely  as  it  was 
possible  for  his  really  artist  c  efforts  to  render 
him.  Thus  prepared,  and  with  musket  in  hand, 
concealed  likewise,  he  stole?  by  almost  impercep 
tible  movements  to  beneath  the  tree  where  the 
sharpshooter  was  lodged.  Here  he  patiently 
waited  until  his  prey  had  emptied  his  piece  at 
one  of  our  men,  when  he  suddenly  brought  his 
musket  to  bear  on  the  "  reb,  "  giving  him  no  time 
to  reload.  The  sharpshooter  was  taken  at  a  dis 
advantage.  To  the  demand  to  come  down  he 
readily  assented,  when  the  Indian  triumphantly 
marched  him  a  prisoner  into  camp  and  won  his 
wager. 


INCIDENT  OF  STURGIS'S  EXPEDITION.  —  The 
main  body  of  Sturgis's  command  halted  at  Salem, 
and  a  detachment  of  300  men  were  sent  out  to 
reconnoitre  the  road  to  Hipley,  a  little  town 
about  twenty  miles  south-west  of  Corinth,  Miss. 
When  within  a  few  miles  of  that  place  the  ad 
vance  guard  of  the  detachment  came  upon  and 
captured  a  squad  of  half-a-dozen  rebel  cavalry 
without  firing  a  gun.  As  is  customary,  the  pris 
oners  were  closely  examined  with  a  view  to  elicit 
ing  such  information  of  the  enemy's  whereabouts- 
and  intentions  as  they  might  be  able  to  give. 

A  gaunt,  stringy-haired  man,  who  seemed  tc 
be  the  leader  of  the  rebel  party,  was  conducted 
to  the  oflicer  in  command  of  our  advance. 

"  \Vhat  regiment  do  you  belong  to  V  "  asked 
the  officer. 

"  I  wont  tell,"  was  the  pointed  reply  of  the 
rebel. 

"  How  far  is  it  to  Ripley  ?  "  was  the  next  ques 
tion.  " 

"  Don't  know,"  answered  the  man,  sullenly. 

44  Who  is  your  commander '?  " 

"  Wont  tell. " 

"  How  far  off  is  the  command  to  which  you  be 
long  V "  still  inquired  the  persevering  Federal, 
pretending  not  to  notice  the  crusty  demeanor  of 
bis  prisoner. 

Here  the  rebel  informed  him,  in  terms  that 
would  not  be  altogether  comely  in  print,  that  he 
would  see  him  in  a  much  hotter  region  than 
Mississippi  before  he  would  tell  him  anything 
at  all. 

•'  Very  well,"  said  the  officer,  drawing  and 
cocking  a  revolver  ;  "  1  will  send  you  there  to 
wait  for  me." 

44  You  may  shoot  me  if  you  want  to,  "  said  the 
plucky  Confederate,  "  but  you  will  be  sorry 
for  it." 

44  Why?" 

"  Because  there  is  a  hundred  men  over  yonder 
n  the  woods,  and  if  they  hear  you  shoot  they 
will  come  up  and  murder  every  man  of  you." 

44  Well,"  said  the  officer,  "  since  you  have  told 
me  just  what  I  wanted  to  find  out,  I  guess  I 
won't  shoot  you;"  and  in  thirty  minutes  the 
whole  hundred  men  were  prisoners  also. 


176 


ANECDOTES,   POETEY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


AN  INCIDENT  IN  THE  CARS.  —  In  a  car  on 

a  railroad  which  runs  into  New  York,  a  scene  oc 
curred  which  will  never  be  forgotten  by  the  wit 
nesses  of  it.  A  person  dressed  as  a  gentleman, 
speaking  to  a  friend  across  the  car,  said,  "  Well, 
I  hope  the  war  may  last  six  months  longer.  If  it 
does,  I  shall  have  made  enough  to  retire  from 
business.  In  the  last  six  months  I've  made  a 
hundred  thousand  dollars  —  six  months  more  and 
I  shall  have  enough." 

A  lady  sat  behind  the  speaker,  and  necessa 
rily  heard  his  remark ;  but  when  he  was  done 
she  tapped  him  on  the  shoulder,  and  said  to  him : 
"  Sir,  I  had  two  sons  —  one  was  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Fredericksburg,  the  other  was  killed  at  the  bat 
tle  of  Murfreesboro." 

She  was  silent  a  moment,  and  so  were  all 
around  who  heard  her.  Then,  overcome  by  her 
indignation,  she  suddenly  slapped  the  speculator, 
first  on  one  cheek,  and  then  on  the  other,  and 
before  the  fellow  could  say  a  word,  the  passengers 
sitting  near,  who  had  witnessed  the  whole  affair, 
seized  him,  and  pushed  him  hurriedly  out  of  the 
car,  as  one  not  fit  to  ride  with  decent  people. 


CAPTURE  OF  THE  GREYHOUND.  —  Pollard, 
in  his  observations  in  the  North,  gives  the  follow 
ing  account  of  the  capture  and  the  events  preced 
ing  it. 

On  the  night  of  the  9th  of  May,  1864,  the 
Greyhound  was  lying  off  Fort  Fisher,  the  signal 
men  blinking  at  each  other  with  their  lights  in 
sliding  boxes.  It  was  necessary  to  get  a  dispen 
sation  from  the  fort  for  the  Greyhound  to  pass 
out  to  sea,  as  no  less  than  three  fugitive  conscripts 
—  "  stowaways  " —  had  been  found  aboard  of  her. 
Two  of  them  were  discovered  on  searching 
the  vessel  at  Wilmington.  But  lower  down  the 
stream  the  vessel  is  overhauled  again,  and  goes 
through  the  process  of  the  fumigation  of  her 
hold  to  discover  improper  passengers.  In  the 
case  of  the  Greyhound,  to  the  intense  disgust  of 
the  captain,  and  execrations  of  the  crew,  the 
process  brought  to  light  an  unhappy  stowaway, 
who  was  recognized  as  a  liquor-dealer  of  Wil 
mington,  and  made  no  secret  of  his  design  to  flee 
the  conscription.  After  the  threat,  and  appar 
ently  serious  preparations,  to  throw  him  over 
board,  the  "  stowaway "  was,  no  doubt,  relieved 
to  find  himself  taken  ashore  to  the  comparative 
mercies  of  the  enrolling  officer. 

At  last  we  are  off.  The  moon  is  down ;  the 
steward  has  had  orders  to  kill  the  geese  and  shut 
up  the  dog ;  the  captain  has  put  on  a  suit  of  dark 
clothes ;  every  light  is  extinguished,  every 
word  spoken  in  a  whisper,  and  the  turn  of  the 
propeller  of  the  Greyhound  sounds  like  the 
beat  of  a  human  heart.  There  is  an  excitement 
in  these  circumstances.  The  low,  white-gray 
vc&sel  glides  furtively  through  the  water,  and  you 
catch  the  whispered  commands  of  the  captain : 
"stead-ey,"  and  then  the  more  intense  and  ener 
getic  whisper,  "Black  smoke, by  G — ;  cut  off 
your  smoke."  Every  eye  is  strained  into  the 
shadows  of  the  night.  But  how  utterly  useless 


did  all  this  precaution  and  vigilance  appear  on 
the  Greyhound ;  for  after  two  hours  of  suspense 
we  were  out  of  the  blockade  lines,  and  had  seen 
nothing  but  the  caps  of  the  waves.  A  blockade 
for  blockheads,  surely,  I  thought  as  I  composed 
myself  to  sleep,  dismissing  entirely  from  my  mind 
all  terrors  of  the  Yankee. 

It  was  about  two  o'clock  the  next  day,  and  the 
Greyhound  was  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  out  at  sea,  when  the  lookout  reported  a 
steamer  astern  of  us.  The  day  was  hazy,  and 
when  the  vessel  was  first  descried,  she  could  not 
have  been  more  than  five  or  six  miles  astern  of 
us.  For  a  few  moments  there  was  a  sharp  sus 
pense  ;  perhaps  the  steamer  had  not  seen  us ;  ev 
ery  one  listened  with  breathless  anxiety,  as  the 
tall  fellow  at  the  mast-head  reported  the  discov 
eries  he  was  making,  through  his  glasses,  of  the 
suspicious  vessel.  "He  is  bearing  towards  a 
bark,  sir ; "  and  for  a  few  moments  hope  mounted 
in  our  hearts  that  we  might  not  have  been  ob 
served,  and  might  yet  escape  into  the  misty  ob 
scurity  of  the  sea.  In  vain.  "  He  is  a  side- 
wheel  steamer,  and  is  bearing  directly  for  us,  sir." 

"  Give  her  her  way,"  shouted  the  captain  in 
response  ;  and  there  was  a  tumultuous  rush  of 
the  crew  to  the  engine-room,  and  the  black 
smoke  curling  above  the  sinoke-stack,  and  the 
white  foam  in  our  wake  told  plainly  endugh  that 
the  startled  Greyhound  was  making  desperate 
speed. 

But  she  was  evidently  no  match  for  the  Yan 
kee.  We  were  being  rapidly  overhauled,  and  in 
something  more  than  an  hour  from  the  beginning 
of  the  chase,  a  shell  from  the  Yankee  vessel,  the 
"  Connecticut,"  was  whistling  over  our  bows. 
The  crew  became  unruly;  but  captain  "Henry," 
revolver  in  hand,  ordered  back  the  man  to  the 
wheel,  declaring  "  he  was  master  of  the  vessel 
yet."  The  mate  reported  that  a  very  small 
crew  appeared  to  be  aboard  the  Yankee.  "  Then 
we  will  fight  for  it,"  said  the  spunky  captain. 
But  the  madness  of  such  a  resolution  became 
soon  manifest;  for  as  the  Connecticut  overhauled 
us  more  closely,  her  decks  and  wheel-houses  were 
seen  to  be  black  with  men,  and  a  shell  which 
grazed  our  engine,  warned  us  that  we  were  at 
the  mercy  of  the  enemy.  But  for  that  peculiar 
nuisance  of  blockade-runners  —  women  passen 
gers —  the  Greyhound  might  have  been  burnt, 
and  the  last  duty  performed  in  the  face  of  the 
rapacious  enemy. 

Dizzy,  and  disgusted  with  sea-sickness ;  never 
supposing  that  a  vessel  which  had  passed  out  of 
the  asserted  lines  of  blockade  without  seeing  a 
blockader,  without  being  pursued  from  those  lines, 
and  already  far  out  on  the  sacred  highway  of 
the  ocean,  and  Hying  the  British  ensign,  could  be 
the  subject  of  piratical  seizure ;  never  dreaming 
that  a  simple  confederate  passenger  could  be  the 
victim  of  kidnapping  on  the  high  seas,  outside  of 
all  miltary  and  territorial  lines,  I  had  but  a  dim 
appreciation  of  the  exciting  scenes  on  the  Grey 
hound  in  the  chase.  Papers,  memoranda,  pack 
ages  of  Confederate  bonds,  were  ruthlessly  tossed 
into  the  purser's  bag  to  be  consumed  by  the  flames 


ANECDOTES.   POETRY,   AND  INCIDENTS. 


177 


in  tho  engine-room ;  the  contents  of  trunks  were 
wildly  scattered  over  the  decks;  the  white  waves 
danced  with  ambrotypes,  souvenirs,  and  the  torn 
fragments  of  the  large  package  of  letters,  mis 
sives  of  friendship,  records  of  affection,  which 
had  been  entrusted  to  me,  and  which  i  at  last  un 
willingly  gave  to  the  sea. 

Here,  at  last,  close  alongside  &f  us,  in  the 
bright  day,  was  the  black,  guilty  thing,  while 
from  her  sides  were  pushing  oat  boats,  with  well- 
dressed  crews  in  lustrous  uniforms,  and  officers 
in  the  picturesqueness  of  gold  and  blue  —  a  brave 
sight  for  grimy  confederates  !  The  Greyhound 
was  no  sooner  boarded,  than  an  ensign,  who  had 
his  hair  parted  in  the  middle,  and.  his  hands  en 
cased  in  lavender-colored  kids,  came  up  to  me 
and  asked  me  with  a  very  joyous  air  how  many 
bales  of  cotton  were  on  board  the  vessel.  I  after 
wards  understood  that,  from  my  disconsolate 
looks,  he  had  taken  me  to  be  the  owner  of  the 
cotton,  and  was  probably  desirous,  by  his  amiable 
question,  to  give  a  sly  pinch  to  my  misery. 


HO!  YANKEE  BOYS  THROUGHOUT 
THE  WEST. 

BT     R.    TOMIMCIXS. 

IIo  !  Yankee  boys  throughout  the  West, 

IIc;;r  ye  the  traitor's  shout, 
'We'll  build  the  Union  up  apun, 
And  leave  New  England  out  !  " 
\nd  shall  we  join  the  rabble  cry, 

At.  tyranny's  command  ? 
Traduce  the  homes  our  childhood  loved, 
Betray  our  father  land  ? 

CIIOKUS. 
And  shall  we  join  the  rabble  cry. 

At  tyranny's  command  ? 
Traduce  the  homes  our  childhood  loved, 
Betray  our  father  land  * 

Forget  the  days  we  rambled  o'er 

Our  free  New  England  hills  : 
Forget,  ihe  joyous  hours  we  passed, 

Beside  her  shining  rills  ; 
Forget  the  cheerful  fires,  whose  smoke 

Upon  her  free  air  curls  ? 
Forget  the  hearths  where  cluster  round 

New  England's  peerless  girls  * 

CIIOKUS. — .Forget  the  cheerful,  &c. 

What !  look  with  alien  eyes  ir»on 

The  land  where  Hancock  d.ed, 
And  in  a  vile  and  impious  tone 

The  pilgrims'  frith  deride  ' 
Shall  Lexington  and  Bunker  Hill, 

Be  named  by  us  in  scorn, 
Because  a  revolution  there 

In  Freedom's  name  was  born  ? 

CHORUS.  —  Shall   Lexington,  &c. 

No  !  By  the  blood  of  heroes  shed 

On  Bunker's  gory  height  ; 
No  !  by  the  mem'ry  of  the  dead, 

Who  dared  old  En-land's  might — 
The  flag  that  flo  its  o'er  Plymouth  rock 

Shall. wave  o'er  Sumter's  wall  ; 
These  States  shall  all  together  stand, 

Or  all  together  fill. 

CHORUS,  —  The  flag,  &c. 
12 


We've  met  a  boasting  cavalier  — 

Proud  lord  of  whips  and  chains, 
Within  our  nation's  council  halU 

And  conquered  him  with  brains  ; 
And  now,  if  he  will   have  it  so, 

We'll  make  the  Southron  feel 
The  pilgrims'  sons,  wherever  found, 

Can  handle  lead  and  steel. 

CIIORCS. —  And  now,  if  be.  &e 

The  torch  that  burned  at  Lexington, 

Lit  bv  our  patriot  sires, 
Shall  yet  illume  the  southern  skies 

With  freedom's  holy  tires ; 
And  Yankee  schools  shall  dot  the  phiins, 

And  Yankee  churches  ri  A?, 
Till  truth  and  light  dissolve  each  chain 

And  slavery  groans  and  dies. 

CIIORUS.  —  And  Yankee  schools,  &e. 


THE  DEATH  OF  GKXKKAL  STKVK.VH.  —  The 
army  was  retreating  from  Centreville.  The  b, it- 
tie  was  fought  against  a  rebel  force  that  Irul  pen 
etrated  five  miles  nearer  Washington  than  our 
rear  and  was  moving  to  strike  upon  the  (l.mk 
Gen.  Stevens'  division,  the  advance  of  RenoV 
corps,  was  on  the  left  of  the  road  taken  by  the 
trains,  and  intercepted  the  enemy.  lie  saw  ilui 
the  rebels  must  be  beaten  back  at  once,  or  during 
the  night  they  would  stampede  the  wagons,  and 
probably  so  disconcert  our  retreat  that  the  lasi 
divisions  would  fall  a  prey  to  their  main  force. 
he  decided  to  attack  immediately,  at  the  suiiu- 
time  sending  back  for  support.  Having  made  lu> 
dispositions,  he  led  the  attack  on  foot  at  the  head 
the  Eighty-eighth  (Highlanders).  Soon  meeting 
a  withering  tire  and  the  color-sergeant,  S:ind\ 
Campbell,  a  grizzled  old  Scotchman,  being 
wounded,  they  faltered.  One  of  the  color-guard 
took  up  the  flag,  when  the  General  snatched  it 
from  him.  The  wounded  Highlander  at  his  feet 
ciied,  u  For  God's  sake.  General,  don't  you  take 
the  colors  ;  they'll  shoot  you  if  you  do  ! "  The 
answer  was,  t4  Give  me  the  colors  !  If  they  don't 
follow  now,  they  never  will;"  and  he  sprang  for 
ward,  crying,  "We  are  all  Highlanders;  follow, 
Highlanders;  forward,  my  Highlanders!"  The 
Highlanders  did  follow  their  Scottish  chief,  but 
while  sweeping  forward  a  bail  struck  him  on  his 
right  temple.  lie  died  instantly.  An  hour  af 
terwards,  when  taken  up,  his  hands  were  slill 
clinched  around  the  flag-staff. 

A  moment  after  seizing  the  colors,  his  son, 
Captain  Ilazzard  Stevens,  fell  wounded,  and 
criod  to  his  father  that  he  was  hurt.  With  but  a 
glance  back,  that  Roman  father  said:  "  I  caimot 
attend  to  you  now,  Hazzard.  Corporal  Thomp 
son,  see  to  my  boy." 

ANECDOTE  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.  —  Judgt 
Baldwin,  of  California,  an  old  and  highly  respec 
table  and  sedate  gentleman,  called  on  General 
Halleck,  and,  presuming  upon  a  familiar  acquain 
tance  in  California  a  few  years  since,  solicited  a- 
pass  outside  of  the  lines  to  see  a  brother  in  Vir 
ginia,  not  thinking  that  he  would  meet  with  a  re 
fusal,  as  both  liis  brcther  arid  himscli  were  good 


178 


AXFX'DOTES,   POETRY,  AND   INCIDENTS. 


Union  men.  "  We  have  been  deceived  too  often," 
said  General  Halleek,  "  and  I  regret  1  can't  grant 
it."  Judge  B.  then  went  to  Stauton,  and  was  very 
briefly  disposed  of  with  the  same  result.  Finally 
lie  obtained  tin  interview  with  Mr.  Lincoln,  and 
?t;ited  his  case.  ''  Have  you  applied  to  General 
tlalleek  V  "  inquired  the  President.  u  And  met  with 
t  flat  refusal,"  said  Judge  B.  "  Then  you  must 
r.ee  Stanton,"  continued  the  President.  "  I  have, 
:md  with  the  same  result,"  was  the  reply.  tk  Well, 
:  hen,"  said  the  President  with  a  smile  of  good  hu- 
tnor, "  I  can  do  nothing,  for  you  must  know  that  I 
hace  very  little  influence  with  t/us 


SHERMAN'S  LOVE  OF  Music.  —  A  correspon 
dent  with  Sherman's  army  recorded  this  incident. 

Memorable  the  music  kkthat  mocked  the  moon" 
of  November  of  the  soil  of  Georgia ;  sometimes  a 
triumphant  march,  sometimes  a  glorious  waltz, 
again  an  old  air  stirring  the  heart  alike  to  recol 
lection  and  to  hope.  Floating  out  from  throats  of 
brass  to  the  ears  of  soldiers  in  their  blankets  and 
generals  within  their  tents,  these  tunes  hallowed 
i.he  eves  to  all  who  listened. 

Sitting  before  his  tent  in  the  glow  of  a  camp 
tire  one  evening,  General  Sherman  let  his  cigar 
xp  out  to  listen  to  an  air  that  a  distant  band  was 
playing.  The  musicians  ceased  at  last.  The  gen- 
oral  turned  to  one  of  his  oihcers: 

"  Send  an  orderly  to  ask  that  band  to  play  that 


A  liule  while,  and  the  band  received  the  word. 
The  tune  was  "The Blue  Juniata,"  with  exquisite 
variations.  The  band  played  it  ngaiu,  even  uiqre 
beautifully  than  beibre.  Again  it  ceased,  and  j 
i. hen,  oil'  to  the  right,  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
ctway,  the  voices  of  some  soldiers  took  it  up  with 
words.  The  band,  and  still  another  band,  played 
a  low  accompaniment.  Camp  after  camp  began 
singing;  the  music  of  "The  Blue  Juniata  "  be 
came,  tor  a  tew  minutes,  the  oratorio  of  half  an 
army. 


Ax  INCIDENT  BY  HIE  WAY.  —  On  my  last 
trip  toward  lluntsville  we  found  the  track  torn 
up,  and  the  cross-ties  still  burning.  Nearly  half 
a  mile  was  destroyed  —  for  the  iron  had  been 
heated  till  it  was  bent  and  useless.  Guerrillas 
were  seen  at  a  distance.  Pickets  were  thrown 
out,  and  the  negroes  and  white  laborers  went  to 
work.  As  it  was  getting  dark,  the  fences  were 
soon  made  into  huge  fires  to  enable  the  workmen 
tt»  see.  Suddenly  a  '"  butternut  "  laborer  came 
running  along  the  lino. 

"The  rebels!  The  rebels  !" 

"  How  many  V  "  asked  the  captain. 

"  Oh  !  the  world  is  lull  of  th,em  1 "  he  shouted, 
without  stopping  a  second. 

"  The  situation  "  had  quite  a  serious  aspect,  — 
a  small  party  of  us,  enclosed  by  woods,  with  thick 
•.md''.rgrowth,  great  fires  to  show  our  position,  and 
no  knowledge  of  the  whereabouts  of  Granger's 
command.  But  "  the  rebels  "  proved  to  be  our 
>\vu  men  —  an  Indiana  cavalry  regiment  that  was 
bunting  a  mounted  gang  of  guerrillas.  One  of 


their  men  had  been  tortured  and  then  murdered 
a  few  days  before,  and  these  boys  declared  that 
their  rule  of  action  was  death  to  .ill  traitors,  and 
to  take  no  prisoners. 

In  a  few  hours —  with  really  wo.iderful  speed — 
the.  break  was  repaired,  and  we  went  slowly  on 
our  way.  These  rapid  repairs  have  caused  the 
Georgians  to  invent  a  new  military  maxim :  "  The 
Yankees  carry  their  railroads  with  them." 

On  these  -jar-tops  one  often  hears  tales  of  deeds 
of  heroism  by  privates  that  somehow  seldom  get 
into  print. 

On  my  last  trif  down,  1  was  speaking  to  an 
officer  about  the  hospitals.  A  soldier  who  sat 
next  to  me  said  lie  had  been  a  steward  in  one  of 
them  several  months,  i  asked  him  if  the  soldiers, 
when  they  were  sick,  persisted  in  the  continuous 
swearing  which  characterizes  the  army. 

u  No,  sir,"  he  said,  "  they  are  like  little  chil 
dren  then  ;  they  return  to  their  f other's  house." 

I  saw  that  I  had  come  in  contact  with  a  man 
worth  talking  to,  and  had  a  long  conversation 
with  him.  Only  a  few  scraps  of  it  can  be  given 
now : 

"  Oh,"  he  said,  "  they  are  so  grateful  for  the 
smallest  favors!  I  have  heard  them  say  so  softly, 
'thank  you,  sir,'  for  every  little  thing  J  did  for 
them,  that  I  was  almost  ashamed.  I  thought  I  had 
seen  brave  men  in  battle,  but  1  never  knew  what 
bravery  was  till  I  went  to  the  hospital.  They 
often  told  me  to  fix  them  out." 

u  What  is  that  V" 

u  Well,  they  would  see  that  the  doctor  gave 
them  up,  and  they  would  ask  me  about  it.  I 
would  tell  them  the  truth.  1  told  one  man  that, 
and  he  asked  how  long  ?  I  said,  not  over  twenty 
minutes,  lie  did  not  show  any  fear  —  they  never 
do.  He  put  up  his  hand  NO,  and  closed  his  eyes 
with  his  own  fingers,  and  then  stretched  himself 
out,  and  crossed  his  arms  over  his  breast.  *  Now, 
fix  me,'  he  said.  I  pinned  the  toes  of  his  stock 
ings  together;  that  was  the  way  we  laid  corpses 
out;  and  he  died  in  a  few  minutes.  His  face 
looked  as  pleasant  as  if  he  was  asleep  and  smiling. 
Many's  the  time  the  boys  have  fixed  themselves 
that  way  before  they  died." 

1  asked  him  another  question  : 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  the  soldiers  when  they  are 
dying  almost  always  speak  of  some  woman. 
When  they  are  married  men,  it's  often  eat  about 
their  wives.  If  they  are  not  married,  it  is  mostly 
their  mothers  and  sisters  —  oftcnest  a  mother." 

I  saw  that  the  soldier  had  a  Bible  in  his  pocket. 

"When  1  left  my  company,"  he  said.  a  I  thought 
nothing  of  the  swearing;  but  when  I  came  back 
to  it  from  the  hospital,  it  seemed  awful." 

Yet  such  is  the  power  of  the  influence  of  asso 
ciation  that  my  good  friend  —  really  and  not  sham 
pious  friend  —  when  1  afterward  spoke  of  the  in 
surgents,  got  indignant  at  the  contemplation  of 
their  conduct,  and  called  them  the  d — d  rebels  ! 


REPRIEVED  AT  LAST.  —  A  correspondent 
writing  from  Norfolk,  Va.,  en  the  eighteenth  of 
April,  1864  says:  A  scene  of  very  thrilling  interest 


Interview  of  a  foraging  party  with  a  Tennessee  farmer. — Page  181. 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,  AND    INCIDENTS. 


179 


transpired  here  on  Wednesday  last,  in  reference  AN  INCIDENT  OF  RRISTOE. — A  correspondent 
to  a  soldier  of  the  Tenth  N.  Hampshire  who  had  j  of  a  southern  paper  writing  from  Cook's  brigade 
been  condemned  to  be  shot  en  charge  of  desertion,  of  the  Confederate  Army,  relates  the  following 


The  facts  were  briefly  these.  The  soldier,  a  young 
man  of  24  years  of  age,  was  a  native  of  Virginia. 
With  other  young  men  who  had  loved  the  old 
flag,  he  had  been  conscripted  and  forced  into  the 
rebel  army.  During  the  siege  of  Washington1, 
N.  (J.,  a  year  since,  lie  served  in  the  Eighteenth 
•Virginia  one  of  the  regiments  that  attempted  to 
take  that  town.  When,  however,  the  rebel  army 
withdrew  without  accomplishing  its  object,  he  with 
six  other  Virginians,  and  three  East  Tennesseans, 
deserted  and  came  into  our  lines.  I  remember  them 
distinctly  and  had  a  number  of  conversations  with 
them  while  they  were  kept  under  guard.  They 
all  took  the.  oath  of  allegiance  at  length,  and  en 
listed  in  the  Union  service,  except  the  one  named 
above.  He  desired  to  go  north  and  was  permit 
ted  to  do  so.  When  the  last  calls  for  troops  were 
made  he  found  himself  at  Portsmouth,  N.  II.,  and 
was  finally  induced,  by  the  large  bounty  and  love 
of  military  life,  to  enlist  in  the  Tenth  regiment  of 
that  state.  The  regiment  came  out  here  and  was 
stationed  some  eight  or  ten  miles  from  this  city. 
He  desired,  it  seems,  to  visit  the  city,  and  fre 
quently  applied  to  his  captain  for  a  pass,  but  was 
as  frequently  refused.  In  an  evil  hour,  he  re 
solved  to  get  a  suit  of  citizen's  clothes  and  come 
to  the  city  without  a  pass.  A  man  living  on  the 
borders  of  the  camp  furnished  him  the  suit,  and 
thus  attired  he  started  for  the  city.  He  had  only 
just  come  into  the  road  when  he  met  his  Lt.  Col. 
and  Captain,  and  was  challenged,  disarmed,  ar- 
rosted  and  finally  tried  by  court  martial  for  de 
sertion  and  condemned  to  be  shot.  He  was  ab 
sent  from  camp  only  six  hours  all  told,  and  af 
firmed  to  the  last  that  lie  never  dreamed  of  desert 
ing.  His  sentence  was  read  to  him  on  Tuesday, 
and  on  Wednesday  at  12  o'clock,  he  was  to  be 
shot.  He  was  overwhelmed  with  amazement 
and  fear,  not  having  once  conceived  so  fatal  an 
issue  to  his  case.  From  that  time  till  he  was  led 
out  of  his  prison  to  be  executed,  one  or  more 
chaplains  were  with  him  a  large  part  of  the  time, 
to  otter  him  the  spiritual  counsel  and  comfort  that 
he  needed.  lie,  in  the  end,  became  calm,  and 


incident: — "I  will  now  "ive 


you  an 


incident 


in  the  battle  at  Bristoe,  which  I  can  assure  yon 
is  strictly  true,-as  the  officer  who  saw  it,  and  told 


me  about  it, 


is   a   man 


of  undoubted   veracity. 


There  was  a  man  of  Company  A.  Twenty-seventh 
North  Carolina  troops,  named  George  P.  Finer, 
who  went  into  the  fight,  with  a  small  Testament 
in  his  breast  pocket.  A  ball  struck  the  book,  and 
penetrated  as  for  as  the  fifth  chapter  of  Mat 
thew,  twenty-fir:l  and  twenty-second  verses. 
It  merely  blackened  that  passage,  glanced  off, 
and  left  the  man  uninjured.  The  verses  read: 
"  Ye  have  heard  that  it  was  said  by  them  of  old 
time,  Thou  shalt  not  kill,  and  whosoever  shall 
kill,  shall  be  in  danger  of  the  judgment,  and 
whosoever  is  angry  with  his  brother  without 
cause  shall  be  in  danger  of  judgment."  The 
man  said,  that  Yankee  ball  was  like  the  devil,  — 
it  had  to  turn  its  course  when  met  by  scriptural 


opposition. 
There  was  a 


also  of  the  same  company 


and  regiment,  named  J.  H.  Parker,  who  discovered 
a  Yankee  sharp-shooter  behind  an  old  chimney. 
He  ran  up  to  him,  and  bayoneted  the  Yankee 
through  the  body,  killing  him  instantly.  Parker 
was  killed  himself  shortly  afterwards. 


TEAMSTERS'  CONUNDRUMS.  —  Array  team 
sters  are  proverbial  for  the  scientific  volubility  with 
which  they  swear.  A  teamster  with  the  Cum 
berland  army,  not  long  ago  got  stuck  in  the  mud 
and  he  let  fly  a  stream  of  profane  epithets  that 
would  have  astonished  "  our  army  in  Flanders," 
even.  A  chaplain  passing  at  the  time  was 
greatly  shocked. 

"  My  friend,"  said  he  to  the  teamster,  "  do  you 
know  v/ho  died  for  sinners  ?  " 

"  I) n  your  conundrums.  Don't  you  see 

I'm  stuck  in  the  mud  ?  " 


How  TO  CLEAN   A  WELL.  —  A  gentleman 
in  Atlanta,  Georgia,  whom  we  will  call  Mack,  had 

rubbish  and 

trash  of  different  kinds,  which  he  wanted  cleaned 
out.  lie  spoke  to  a  freedman  about  the  job,  and 
in  a  very  confidential  way  intimated  that  there 
was  a  treasure  hid  in  that  well  he  was  anxious 
to  exhurne.  He  imposed  profound  secrecy 


looked  on  death  with  composure,  forgave  all  who !  a  well  pretty  much  filled   up  with 

had   sought  his   life,  and   left   messages   for   his 

friends. 

In  the  mean  time  efforts  were  made  to  obtain 
his  reprieve,  but  up  to  nine  o'clock  on  Wednes 
day  morning,  nothing  had  been  effected,  and  the 
prisoner  was  taken  from  his  cell,  and  started  for 
the  field,  where  his  coflin  and  grave,  and  troops 
drawn  up  in  hollow  around  them,  awaited  his 
coining.  But  on  the  way  the  hoped-for  reprieve, 
for  seven  days,  overtook  him.  The  train  was 
stopped  and  the  commander  of  the  escort  read 
him  the  unexpected  paper.  In  a  moment  he 
turned  deadly  pale,  and  then  threw  his  arms 
avuund  the  neck  of  the  guard,  who  sat  in  front  of 
him,  and  wept  aloud.  It  was  a  scene  I  never 

shall  forget.  Strong  men  wept  like  children,  in  It  guarded  by  a  strong  provost  guard,  who  forbade 
the  great  joy  that  had  well-nigh  killed  the  pris-  any  one  coming  on  the  premises.  Mack  pro- 
oner,  tested  against  any  Mich  proceeding,  ai.il  persisted 


upon  his  sable  help,  and  sent  him  off  in  search 
of  another  one  of  his  hue  who  could  be  trusted. 
The  upshot  of  the  matter  was  that  about  one 
hundred  negroes  soon  knew  that  an  iron  safe  be 


longing  to  the  express  company, 


and  which  con 
tained  almost  an  invaluable  amount  of  gold,  had 
been  precipitated  into  this  well  when  the  city  was 
evacuated.  The  affair  was  speedily  brought  to 
the  ears  of  the  Provost  Marshal  and  Mack  on 
going  to  see  about  his  well  one  morning,  found 


180 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,  AMD   INCIDENTS. 


that  everything  on  that  lot,  in  the  well  and  out 
of  it,  was  his  individual  property.  The  Assistant 
Provost  Marshal  gave  him  an  official  wink,  and 
intimated  that  *  all  was  right.'  Mack  thought  if 
it  was  not,  it  would  be  in  the  end. 

A  strong  posse  of  freednien  was  sent  down  in 
to  the  well  to  work.  Bucketful  after  bucketful 
of  rubbish  and  mud  was  drawn  out ;  but  no  treas 
ure  as  yet  made  its  appearance.  Occasionally 
the  oilicer  of  the  guard  went  down  on  a  pros 
pecting  tour.  In  punching  about  with  his  bay 
onet  he  hit  upon  something  that  had  the  trui 
metallic  sound.  They  had  tiie  treasure  now  sure. 
Again  the  negroes  went  to  work,  and  after  labor 
ing  some  hours  succeeded  in  bringing  out  the  top 
of  an  old  tin-plate  stove.  At  last  the  lirm  bot 
tom  of  the  well  was  reached,  but  no  iron  sate. 
Mack  said  he  thought  t.he  sale  was  about  ten  feet 
further  down.  Whatever  may  have  been  the 
provost  marshal's  opinion  on  the  subject,  he  con 
cluded  he  had  not  time  to  prosecute  the  search 
further,  and  withdrew  his  forces,  leaving  Mack 
in  possession  of  a  thoroughly  cleansed  well,  and  at 
liberty  to  hunt  up  the  sate  ii  he  wanted  to.  Mack 
didn't  want  to. 

How  THIEVES  WEUK  TREATED  IN  THE 
NINTH  COUPS.  —  Brigadier  General  Potter, 
commanding  the  Ninth  Corps,  riding  along  with 
his  orderly  in  East  Tennessee,  saw  a  man  run 
ning  with  something  in  his  hand,  followed  by  a 
woman  crying  out  after  him.  Stopping  him,  he 
found  he  had  stolen  some  article,  and  asked  him 
his  corps.  "Ninth  Corps,"  "  Very  well/'  said 
the  General ;  and  he  ordered  his  orderly  to  tie  him  j 
up  to  a  tree,  and  give  him  a  good  strapping,  with 
a  stirrup  strap.  Amid  his  howls  it  came  out  that 
he  belonged  to  the  Fourth  Corps.  "  Very  well," 
!?aid  the  General.  "  i  am  commander  of  the 
Ninth  Corps;  if  you  belong  to  it,  all  right;  if  not 
you'll  know  how  we  treat  lellows  that  steal  in  the 
Ninth  Corps." 

WAIFS  AND  ESTRAYS.  —  After  the  retreat 
of  Shelby's  tbrce  from  Boonville,  Mo.  a  small 
bundle  of  papers  was  picked  up  on  the  street, 
left  there  by  some  systematic  and  sentimental 
Confederate  in  his  hasty  flight.  First  among 
this  bundle  was  the  log-book,  containing  a 
succinct  diary  of  events,  belonging  to  a  rebel 
soldier.  The  leaves  of  the  diary  were  composed 
of  heavily  ruled,  coarse  blue  loolscap,  and  the 
cover  made  of  wall-paper.  It  contained  a  chro 
nology  of  daily  events,  of  which  the  following  is 
a  specimen : 

the  12  came  to  clinton 

the  13  came  to  fort  hutson  and  went  boord  the  r-.at 
tn  started  up  the  river. 

14  still  going  up  the  river. 

15  going  up  the  river. 

16  arrive  1  at  trinity  on  Black  river. 

17  awaiting  at  trinity  for  a  Bout. 

18  left  Trinity. 

19  got  to  monro. 

20  crost  the  unanies  line. 

21  come  to  camdeu. 


A  few  pages  further  on  was  a  specimen  of 
keeping  accounts : 

G  Harden  Defter 

for  work  26  days $26 

for  cofoy  too  rounds  ....  $14 

Several  pages  of  correspondence  occurred 
after  the  wntor  arrived  in  Polk  county,  Missouri. 

The  writer  wrote  to  his  friend,  that  "  wee  hav 
plenty  of  corn  bred  and  pore  beefe  to  eat  and 
sasafrass  tee  to  drink,"  and  concluded,  hopefully, 
thus  : 

"come  wee  will,  come  I  hope  wee  will  come  in 
peace  and  can  enjoy  our  lives  as  wee  yewst  to  do  bee 
fore  the  wore  broke  out." 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  following,  that  Pegasus 
accompanied  Shelby  in  his  raid,  and  was  ridden 
by  William  II.  Landreth  : 


HEART-RENDING    BOAT    BALLAD. 

1.  father  father  bild  Me  a  Boat 

and  pot  it  on  the  oason  that  I  may  float 
her  father  was  wclthy  he  hilt  her  a  Boat 

an  pot  it  on  the  oason  that  She  Mite  nont 
She  Stepte  on  the  Bout  She  cride  out  Goy 

Now  11  mid  my  sweet  salar  Boy. 

2.  She  hnndent  Bin  Sailen  far  on  the  Main 

She  Spidc  three  Ships  come  in  from  Spain 
She  hailed  each  captain  as  lie  drew  ni 
An  of  him  She  did  in  quire  of"  hei  s\vee  Salar 
Boy. 

3.  Capttain  Captain  tell  me  trew 

if  my  sweet  wiliiam  is  in  your  crew 
II  tell  you  far  lady  II  tell  you  My  Dear 
your  Sweet  William  ;s  not  hear. 

4    At  the  head  of  roc keyilent  as  we  past  By 
Will  was  taken  ISic'-k  tin  thare  did  die 

She  stove  r.cr  bout  a  ynnts  a  rock 

I  thaut  in  my  Soal  her  heart  was  Break 

She  rong  her  hand  She  toar  her  hair 
Jest  like  a  lady  in  dii  pair. 

5.  go  bring  me  a  Cher  for  to  set  on 

a  pen  and  ink  for  to  set  it  down 
at  the  end  or  ever  line  she  dropt  a  tire 
at  tue  end  of  ever  virs  it  was  o  My  dire. 

6.  go  dig  my  grave  booth  Wide  an  deep 

poot  a  marvel  Stone  at  my  head  an  feet 
an  on  my  breast  you  may  carv  a  clove 
too  let  the  world  no  that  I  dide  for  love. 

WM.  H.  LANDRKTH. 


THE    NEW    RIVER   8HOOR  —  A    BALLAD. 

1.  at  the  foot  of  yon  M on  tain  wher  fountain  do  flow, 
there  is  music  to  entertain  me  whar  Plesent  wind  blow ; 
thare  I  spide  a  fair  Damsel,"  a  girl  I  a  doar, 

as  she  was  a  Walking  on  the  new  river  Shoar. 

2.  I  ask  her  rite  kinley  could  She  fancy  Me, 

all  tho  my  fourtun  is  not  grat  that's  noth  She  Sha, 

your  Bctity  is  a  m  uf  and  it  is  you  I  a  doar, 

an  it  is  you  I  will  VLary  on  th-j  new  river  Shoar. 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


181 


3.  as  soon  as  her  old  father,  this  same  come  too  her, 
he  swear  he  Wood  de  Prive  mee  of  my  Deares  Dear. 
lie  Sent  me  a  way  Wher  loud  canon  do  roar, 

an  left  my  Dear  trulove  on  the  new  river  shoar. 

4.  She  rote  Me  a  letter  an  in  this  letter  these  lines, 
and  in  this  letter  these  Words  you  May  find : 
Come  Back  My  dear  dewell  for  it  you  I  a  doar, 
an  it  is  you  I  Will  Mary  on  the  new  river  Shoar. 

5.  I  Prused  this  letter  I  Prused  it  moast  Sad, 
thare  was  non  in  that  company  culd  Make  My  hart 

glad, 

I  drew  out  My  Brawd  Soard  an  onward  did  go, 
to  meet  My  dear  tru  love  on  the  new  river  shoar. 

6.  as  Son  as  her  old  father,  tis  same  came  to  hear, 
he  S\var  he  wood  de  Prive  Me  of  my  dcrcst  der. 
he  rased  him  a  army  fooul  twenty  or  Moar, 

10  lite  a  yong  Soalger  on  the  new  river  Shoar. 

7.  I  Drew  out  My  Brawd  Soard  an  Waverd  it  round, 
there  is  no  yous,  My  little  army,  that  you  all  kno, 
to  fight  a  yong  Soalg  on  the  new  river  Shoar. 

8.  So  hard  is  the  Coquest  of  all  women  kind, 
they  all  Ways  hav  ru!d,  they  all  Ways  confined  ; 
they  1m-  children  to  Squall  an  husban  to"  scold, 
Makes  Many  yong  lases  look  Wethered  and  old. 

W.  H.  L. 


O?;E  OF  THE  PICTURES  OF  WAR. — A  cor 
respondent  relates  the  following  interview  of  a 
Federal  foraging  party  with  a  Tennessee  farmer: 

At  another  place  we  called  on  the  owner,  a 
man  of  over  sixty  years,  well  saved,  yet  evidently 
much  east  down  and  disheartened.  He  was  po 
lite,  and  answered  all  questions  studiously.  On 
b^itig  asked  what  he  had  to  spare,  he  answered, 
"  Not  much  ;  indeed,  nothing."  His  wife  and 
lour  children,  standing  beside  him,  said  not  a 
word,  but  the  countenance  of  the  whole  group 
showed  that  the  old  man  told  the  truth.  "  Indeed, 
I  have  nothing,"  said  he;  "  what,  with  one  army 
and  another  campaigning  through  this  part  of 
Tennessee,  they  have  stripped  me  of  all  I  could 
spare  and  more  too." 

"  Have  you  no  horses  or  mules  ? "  asked  the 
officer. 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  man,  "  I  have  one  more 
mule,  which  is  entirely  broken  down ;  it  was  left 
by  a  trooper,  who  took  my  last  horse  in  its  stead." 

"  No  beef-cattle  V  "  was  the  next  question. 

"  No,  not  one,"  was  the  answer. 

"  Any  hogs  V  " 

"Yes,  sir;  I  have  four  pigs,  which  I  had  in 
tended  for  my  winter's  supply  of  meat." 

**  Any  negroes  V  "  asked  the  officer. 

"  No,  not  one ;  my  servants  all  left  me  two  or 
three  months  ago.  I  have  not  one  on  the  place. 
I  have  to  chop  all  my  wood,  and  my  wife  and 
daughters  do  the  in-doors,  what  they  can." 

"  Any  corn  or  wheat  ?  " 

"  No  wheat,  and  only  two  or  three  barrels  of 
corn,"  was  the  reply. 

w  Let's  see  your  mule,"  said  the  officer.  It  was 
brought  up,  and  was  as  the  old  man  said. 

41  Show  ine  those  pigs,"  was  the  next  demand. 


When  the  old  man  heard  this,  he  couid  hardly 
speak;  his  hopes  were  almost  at  an  end.  He 
showed  the  pigs,  however ;  they  were  no  more 
than  such  a  family  would  need,  nor  as  much. 

The  officer  then  kindly  said  :  "  You  may  keep 
all  these  things ;  they  wil  help  you  and  can  be 
of  little  good  to  us,"  and  gave  the  old  man  a 
"  safeguard,"  which  might  save  his  property  from 
our  troops.  Three  years  before,  this  man  owned 
a  large,  well-stocked  plantation ;  had  cattle  and 
hogs  in  plenty,  with  servants  to  come  at  his  call, 
and  corn  to  sell  or  keep.  Now,  he  was  sincerely 
thankful,  and  much  moved  that  we  spared  him 
his  four  little  shoats,  his  pittance  of  corn,  and  his 
old  mare-mule  with  which  he  hoped  to  make  a 
small  crop  next  spring.  The  war  has  been  at  his 
very  door ;  he  had  seen  it  in  all  relations,  and 
knew  that  it  was  vigorously  prosecuted. 

THE  LITTLE  GIRL'S  KINDNESS  TO  THE  SOL 
DIERS. —  "After  the  battle  of  Sharpsburg,  we 
passed  over  a  line  of  railroad  in  Central  Georgia. 
The  disabled  soldiers  from  Gen.  Lee's  armies  were 
returning  to  their  homes.  At  every  station  the 
wives  and  daughters  of  the  farmers  caine  on  the 
cars,  and  distributed  food  and  wines  and  band 
ages  among  the  sick  and  wounded. 

"  We  shall  never  forget  how  very  like  an  angel 
was  a  little  girl,  —  how  blushingly  and  modestly 
she  went  to  a  great  rude,  bearded  soldier,  who 
had  carved  a  crutch  from  a  rough  plank  to  re 
place  a  lost  leg ;  how  this  little  girl  asked  him  if 
he  was  hungry,  —  and  how  he  ate  like  a  famished 
wolf!  She  asked  if  his  wound  was  painful,  and 
in  a  voice  of  soft,  mellow  accents,  'Can  I  do 
nothing  more  for  you  V  I  am  sorry  that  you  are  so 
badly  hurt;  have  you  a  little  daughter,  and  wont 
she  cry  when  she  sees  you  ?  ' 

"  The  rude  soldier's  heart  was  touched,  and 
tears  of  love  and  gratitude  filled  his  eyes.  He 
only  answered,  *  I  have  three  little  children  ;  Goo' 
grant  they  may  be  such  angels  as  you.' 

"  With  an  evident  effort  he  repressed  a  desire 
to  kiss  the  fair  brow  of  the  pretty  little  girl.  He 
took  her  little  hand  between  both  his  own,  and 
bade  her  '  good-by,  —  God  bless  you  ! '  The 
child  will  always  be  a  better  woman  because  of 
these  lessons  of  practical  charity  stamped  inef- 
faceably  upon  her  young  heart." —  Southern  paper. 

How  BRAVE  MEN  SUFFER  AND  DIE.  —  "If 
anybody  thinks,"  says  B.  F.  Taylor,  in  his  ac 
count  of  the  battle  of  Chicamauga,  "  that  when 
men  are  stricken  upon  the  field  they  fill  the  air 
with  cries  and  groans,  till  it  shivers  with  such 
evidence  of  agony,  he  greatly  errs.  An  arm  is 
shattered,  a  leg  carried  away,  a  bullet  pierces  the 
breast,  and  the  soldier  sinks  down  silently  upon 
the  ground,  or  creeps  away  if  he  can,  without  a 
murmur  or  complaint ;  falls  as  the  sparrow  falls, 
speechlessly ;  and  like  that  sparrow,  I  earnestly 
believe,  not  without  a  Father.  The  horse  give? 
out  his  fearful  utterance  of  almost  human  suffer 
ing,  but  the  mangled  %ider  is  dumb.  The  crash 
of  musketry,  the  era  Jt  of  rifles,  the  roar  of  guns. 


182 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,  AXD   INCIDENTS. 


the  shriek  of  shells,  the  rebel  whoop,  the  Federal 
cheer,  and  that  indescribable  undertone  of  rum 
bling,  grinding,  splintering  sound,  make  up  the 
voices  of  the  battle-field." 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  SHILOH.  —  During  the  bat 
tle  of  Shiloh  an  officer  hurriedly  rode  up  to  an 
aid  and  inquired  for  Grant.  "  That's  him  with 
the  field-glass,"  said  the  aid. 

Wheeling  his  horse  about,  the  officer  furiously 
rode  up  to  the  General,  and  touching  his  cap, 
thus  addressed  him,  — 

"  Shcncral,  I  vants  to  make  one  report  ; 
Schwartz's  battery  is  took." 

"Ah!"  says  the  General,""  how  was  that?" 

"  Veil,  you  .sec,  Sheneral,  de  sheshenists  come 
up  in  front  of  us,  and  do  sheshenists  flanked  us, 
and  do  sheshenists  come  in  de  rear  of  us,  and 
Schwartz's  battery  was  took." 

"  Well,  sir,"  says  the  General,  "  you  of  course 
spiked  the  guns." 

"  Vat,"  exclaimed  the  Dutchman,  in  astonish 
ment,  "schpikedem  guns,  schpike  dem  new  guns  ! 
—  no,  it  would  schpoil  hem  !  " 

"  Well,"  said  the  General,  sharply,  "  What  did 
you  do  ?  " 

"  Do  V  vy,  we  took  dem  back  again  !  " 


listening  to  the  narration,  at  once  responded, 
"  I'll  take  the  poor  fellow  up  there  for  nothing. 
I  carried  just  such  a  one  up  last  night,  but  I  guess 
I  shant  lose  nothing."  No,  thought  we,  my  "dear 
fellow,  such  true  nobility  of  nature  shall  not  ra- 
sult  in  loss  to  you  if  we  can  help  it,  so  we  d» 
manded  his  card,  and  here  it  is. 

WILLIAM  RYDER, 

Proprietor  of  Ca:  riages  Nos.  28  &  46. 

Stable  90  Lawrence  St. 

New  York. 


Qu  \  ¥ER  GUNS.  —  When  General  Sills's  di- 
M:.dor.  kft  Frankfort,  Ky.,  the  last  thins  they  did 
was  to  remove  the  two  monster  cannon  from 


COOLNESS  ON  THE  FIELD.  —  A  lad  of  fif 
teen  years  of  age,  belonging  to  the  Fifth  Wiscon 
sin,  whose  name  is  Douglas,  and  resides  at  Beav 
er  Dam,  was  in  the  battle  of  Williarnsburg,  and 
got  his  gun  wet  so  that  it  could  not  fire.  During 
the  hottest  of  the  fight,  and  whilst  the  regiment 
was  falling  back,  he  deliberately  sat  down,  took 
out  his  scre\v-driver,  unscrewed  the  tube  from 
his  gun,  dried  it  out,  put  it  back,  capped  it,  got 
up  and  put  into  the  field  as  if  nothing  unusual 
was  going  on. 


A  GENUINE  NOBLEMAN.  —  Returning   home 


their  position  on  the  hills  over  South  Frankfort. 
Some  Union  men  of  Frankfort,  during  the-  night, 
went  over  to  the  spot  and  planted  two  empty 
beer-kegs  in  the  place  of  the  cannon,  and  cover 
ed  them  with  a  tarpaulin.  All  next  day  a  lot  of 
Morgan's  cavalry  were  scouting  around  the  keg.-;, 
but  dared  not  enter  Frankfort  for  f'rar  of  being 
charged  upon.  On  Wednesday  night  "our  forc 
es  "  abandoned  the  kegs,  when,  as  we  learn,  they 
made  a  bold  and  daring  charge  on  the  "  tarpau 
lin  beer-keg  battery,"  and  captured  it  without 
the  loss  of  a  mau.  The  captain  acknowledged 
that  he  had  been  "  sold  by  the  Yanks,"  and  it 
was  not  until  then  that  they  were  aware  of  the 
fact  that  Gen.  Sills's  whole  corps  had  left  Frank- 
fort.  Then,  as  they  have  always  done,  they 
pounced  upon  an  unprotected  city.  But  Geii. 
Dumont's  forces  soon  let  them  know  that  ;t  was 
not  the  "batrfe  of  the  kegs"  when  they  attacked 
them.  It  was  these  men  and  the  two  empty 
beer  kegs  that  kept  the  rebels  IVom  burning  all 
the  bridges  around  Frankfort. 


from  Philadelphia,  we  had  ibr  a  fellow-passenger 
a  poor,  broken,  emaciated  Massachusetts  soldier, 


OXE  OF  THE   VIRGINIA    RESERVES. — Pol 
lard,  in  his  observations  in  the  North,  relates  the 


i  as  to  give  little  hope  for  aught  else  ;  with  a  certain  gentleman  of  Richmond  —  one  of 
)ssible  arrival  at   his  home  in  Boston  \  the  "  Virginia -Reserves  "  —  who  had  strayed  in- 


following: — 

General  Butler  followed  up  his  little  story  by 

too  weak  to  sit  erect,  and  so  far  gone  in  physical  i  an  amusing  account  of  an  interview  he  had  had 
constitution 
than  his  possible 

with  the  breath  of  life  not  extinct.  He  was  ac-  i  to  his  lines,  i  must  confess  his  laughter  was  ;i 
companied  by  a  kind  matron,  who,  though  no  j  little  contagious  as  he  gave  the  details  of  the  in- 
relation  of  the  sufferer,  was  a  Massachusetts  ;  terview.  The  unfortunate  individual  had  come 
woman,  and  had  in  the  pity  of  her  soul  volun-'into  his  lines  by  some  mistake,  bewildered  as  to 
teered  to  attend  his  passage  home  to  die.  It  the  points  of  the  compass.  His  appearance  was 
was  a  piteous  sight,  and  but  a  type  of  many  hun-  rather  unmilitary,  as  General  B.  described  it;  a 
dreds  we  have  seen  the  past  year.  Of  course  an  suit  of  black,  wet  and  glued  to  his  skin,  a  stove- 
object  of  such  interest  awakened  the  tenderest  pipe  hat,  and  what  seems  to  have  attracted  most 
sympathies  of  all  beholders.  We  proilered  such  i  at  headquarters,  as  a  curiosity  of  Richmond  — 


aid  as  we  could,  and  on  arrival  at  the  wharf  in 
New-York  attempted  negotiations  with  various 
carriers  for  a  passage  tor  the  invalid  up  to  the 
New-Haven  cars.  As  the  boy  was  destitute  of 
money,  as  well  as  broken  down  in  health,  we 
tried  to  so  far  touch  the  pity  of  some  of  the 
hack-drivers  as  to  get  him  conveyed  at  an  honest 
price.  While  chaffering  with  the  crowd,  up 


"  a  black  satin  vest." 

"  Who  are  you?"   thundered  General  Butler. 

"  Sir,"  said  the  unfortunate  individual,  with 
the  air  of  importance  in  misery,  "  I  am  one  of  tho 
Virginia  Reserves." 

"Alluding  only  to  the  oddity  of  his  appear 


ance,  "  said  Generil  Butler,  I  remarked  : 


how 


stepped  a  frank  and  honest-looking  driver,  who, '  M 


many 

—  r 


more     are   there    1'ke    you, 


and 
Mr 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


183 


"  I  will  answer  all  proper  questions,"  replied 
fche  unfortunate  individual ;  "  but,  sir,  General 
Butler,  do  not  expect  me  to  inform  you  as  to  our 
military  resource*  !  " 

The  General  seems  to  have  thought  the  old  gen 
tleman  a  little  stilted,  and  explained  to  me  that 
he  only  wanted  to  have  a  little  fun  out  of  him. 
So,  with  what  I  can  imagine  to  have  been  the 
growl  of  an  ogre,  he  remarked :  "  Ah,  ha,  Mr. 
M ;  so,  so,  Air.  M ;  we  have  an 
other  name  than  that  of  soldiers  lor  persons  in 
your  dress  ;  yes,  sir,  another  name  :  we  call  them 
SPIES  ! "  At  the  mention  of  this  dreadful  word  the 
unfortunate  proprietor  of  the  satin  vest  went  off 
into  protest  —  pledging  u  his  honor,  "  "  his  sacred 
honor,  "  "his  honor,  which  no  man,  General  But 
ler,  had  ever  doubted ; "  that  he  was  "  a  soldier." 

THE    CUMBERLAND. 

HENRY   W.   LONGFELLOW. 

AT  anchor  in  Hampton  Roads  we  lay, 

On  hoard  the  Cumberland  sloop-of-war ; 
And  at  times  from  the  fortress  across  the  bay 
The  alarm  of  drums  swept  past, 
Or  a  bugle  blast 
From  the  camp  on  shore. 

Then  far  away  to  the  south  uprose 

A  little  feather  of  snow-white  smoke, 
And  we  knew  that  the  iron  ship  of  our  foes 
Was  steadily  steering  its  course, 
To  try  tlie  force 
Of  our  ribs  of  oak. 

Down  upon  us  heavily  runs 

Silent  and  sullen,  the  floating  fort; 
Then  comes  a  puff  of  smoke  from  her  guns, 
And  leaps  the  terrible  death, 
With  fiery  breath, 
From  each  open  port. 

We  arc  not  idle,  but  send  her  straight 

Defiance  back  in  a  full  broadside  ! 
As  hail  rebounds' from  a  roof  of  slate, 

Rebounds  our  heavier  hail 
From  each  iron  scale 
Of  tiie  monster's  hide. 

*'  Strike  your  flag  !  "  the  rebel  cries, 

In  his  arrogant  old  plantation  strain, 
"  Never  !"  our  gailant  Morris  replies  ; 
"  It  is  better  10  kink  than  to  yield  !** 
And  the  whole  air  pealed 
With  the  cheers  of  our  men. 

Then,  like  a  krnken  huge  and  black, 

Site  crushed  our  ribs  in  her  iron  grasp  J 
Down  went  the  Cumberland  all  a  wrack, 
With  a  sudden  shudder  of  death, 
And  the  camion's  breath 
For  her  dying  gasp. 

Next  morn,  as  the  sun  rose  over  the  bay, 

Still  floated  our  flag  at  the  mainmast- head, 
Lord,  how  beautiful  was  Thy  day  I 
Every  waft  of  the  air 
Was  a  whisper  of  prayer, 
Or  a  dirge  for  the  dead. 


Ho  !  brave  hearts  that  went  down  in  the  seas, 

Ye  are  at  peace  in  the  troubled  stream, 
Ho  !  brave  land  !  with  hearts  like  these, 
Thy  flag  that  is  rent  in  twain, 
Shall  be  one  again, 
And  without  a  seam. 


CAPTAIN  WILLIAMS'  ESCAPE.  —  T.  J.  Wil 
liams,  Captain  in  the  Twenty-Third  regiment  of 
Kentucky  Volunteers  gives  the  following  account 
of  his  remarkable  escape  from  the  prison  at  Ma- 
eon,  Georgia  : —  I  was  captured  May  '27, 1804,  at 
the  battle  of  New  Hope  Church*  or  Dallas, 
Georgia ;  June  1st,  I  arrived  at  Macon, 
Georgia,  arid  was  placed  in  the  stockade,  or 
"  pen  "  where  I  found  twelve  or  fourteen  hun 
dred  officers,  taken  at  different  periods  of  the  war. 
Among  them  Captain  John  A.  Arthur,  Eighth 
Kentucky  Cavalry,  and  when  the  war  began, 
connected  with  the  u  Daily  Times  "  ;  also.  Captain 
Paul  and  Lieutenant  David  Locke,  of  Newport, 
and  Lieutenant  Neimyer,  of  Covington,  who 
were  all  in  good  health.  The  stockade  embraced 
about  two  acres  ;  the  fence  was  about  twelve  teet 
high,  and  twelve  feet  from  the  outer  fence  was 
another  about  six  feet  high,  which  was  called 
"  the  dead  line,"  the  sentinels  having  instructions 
to  shoot  any  one  touching  this  line.  Ju'ne  1 1,  an 
officer,  whose  name  I  do  r.ot  remember,  and 
who  was  bathing  at  least  fifteen  feet  from  this 
line,  was  shot  and  killed  by  one  of  the  guard,  who 
received  a  furlough  as  a  reward  for  his  inhuman 
ity. 

On  the  evening  of  June  4,  I  escaped  from  the 
stockade  by  getting  between  the  coupling-pole 
and  bed  of  the  sutler's  wagon,  and  in  this  man 
ner  rode  by  the  guard,  but  was  detected  after  get 
ting  beyond  all  the  guards.  For  this  oilence  1  was 
sent  to  the  Macon  jail  with  an  order  "place  him 
(me)  in  close  confinement,"  and  feed  me  on  corn- 
bread  and  water  until  further  orders.  The  fur 
ther  orders  never  came  to  hand. 

Shortly  after  being  placed  in  jail  T  managed 
to  procure  the  impression  of  the  cell  keys  oh  a 

fiece  of  dough  made  out  of  sonio  fell  cat  bread 
obtained  for  the  occasion,  and  with  the  assist 
ance  of  a  file,  I  succeeded  in  manufacturing,  out 
of  teaspoons,  keys  to  tit  all  the  locks. 

JUNE  80. —  I  had  everything  in  readiness  to 
release  all  the  prisoners,  but  was  betrayed  by  an 
inmate  of  the  jail. 

Alter  this  attempt  T  was  placed  in  a  cell  with 
Captain  Whitloek,  Aid  to  General  Logan,  Ser 
geant  Gillespie,  First  Kentucky  Cavalry,  and 
George  Manning,  Twenty-Fourth  Massachusetts 
Infantry. 

JULY  4. — We  made  a  Declaration  of  Indepen 
dence,  and  came  near  gaining  our  freedom  in 
the  following  manner: 

During  the  day  one  of  our  number  feigned 
sickness.  At  night  when  the  doors  were  opeiiecl 
for  the  purpose  of  changing  water,  our  sick  man 
stole  into  an  empty  cell  and  his  place  in  our  cell 
was  filled  with  a  stuffed  pair  of  pants  and  shirt.  The 
ruse  not  being  detected,  the  man  on  the  outride 


184 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


with  the  assistance  of  the  teaspoon  keys,  opened 
our  doors,  and  by  two  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing  of  July  5,  \ve  were  nearly  through  the 
wall  ;  we  were  however  detected  shortly  after 
ward,  and  again  locked  up.  The  jailer  thinking 
I  was  the  one  to  blame  for  the  damage  done, 
threatened  me  with  a  chain  round  my  neck,  and 
one  around  each  ankle,  should  I  make  another 
attempt  to  escape. 

JULY  22. —  By  another  ruse,  we  again  succeed 
ed  in  getting  out  of  our  cell.  By  2  o'clock  we 
had  an  opening  nearly  large  enough  to  pass 
through.  Being  in  the  third  story  of  the  jail,  we 
required  a  rope,  with  which  to  reach  the  ground, 
and  made  it  by  tearing  our  blankets  up" for  the 
purpose,  and  a  very  strong  cable  was  the  result 
of  our  labor.  Fifteen  minutes,  and  we  would  be 
outside  of  tin;  gloomy  walls.  But  again  we  were 
doomed  to  disappointment,  and  were  again  locked 
up,  and  after  this  attempt  a  guard  of  soldiers  was 
placed  around  the  jail  to  make  sure  of  us. 

JULY  '2G.  —  Captain  Whitlock  and  myself  con 
cluded  to  attempt  the  passage  of  the  guards  dis 
guised  as  one  of  the  negro  attendants  of  the  jail. 
Accordingly,  we  made  a  fire  on  the  eel!  floor  by 
splitting  some  fine  kindling  of  pine  wood,  burned 
some  cork  which  we  were  fortunate  in  procuring, ! 
and  by  G  o'clock  that  evening  were  ready  for  the 
experiment,  myself  to  attempt  it  first.  When 
the  doors  were  opened  for  the  purpose  of  chang 
ing  the  water,  1  placed  one  bucket  on  my  head 
and  another  in  mv  right  hand,  and  passed  within 
two  feet  of  the  guard  without  detection.  I  was 
in  the  act  of  passing  out  of  the  yard-gate  when 
recognized,  and  the  attention  of  the  guard  called 
to  Lie  by  a  deserter  from  the  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac.  1  was  again  placed  in  my  cell,  and  passed 
the  night  sadly.  It  appeared  to  me  that  J  was 
not  to  succeed  in  making  my  escape,  no  matter 
how  often  I  attempted  it.  But  I  concluded  to 
"  try  again." 

JULY  30.  —  Our  plans  were  interrupted  by 
being  placed  in  the  cars  "for  Charleston,  South 
Carolina,"  but  Stoncman  eame  to  the  rescue. 
The  authorities,  learning  that  the  road  had  been 
cut,  removed  us  from  the  cars  to  the  stockade. 
Stoneman  fought  the  rebels  all  day  within  our 
hearing,  and  toward  evening  drove  the  rebels 
within  three-fourths  of  a  mile  of  the  city.  His 
shells  struck  several  buildings  in  the  centre  of  the 
city,  creating  quite  a  panic.  Hopes  of  being  re 
leased  by  Stoneman  created  the  warmest  leeliug 
among  our  prisoners,  but  we  were  doomed  to  dis 
appointment,  as  our  troops  were  compelled  by 
the  overwhelming  force  brought  against  them,  to 
tail  back,  and  two  days  later  Stoneman  himself 
was  brought  in  a  prisoner. 

JULY  "31.  —  Captain  Whitlock,  myself,  and 
eight  others  were  returned  to  jail  as  kt  dangerous 
characters."  August  3,  another  plan  was  con 
cocted.  Myself  and  another  were  to  smuggle 
ourselves  into  a  cell  on  the  outside  of  the  door 
which  closed  at  the  end  of  the  entry,  and  which 
it  was  necessary  to  open  in  order  to  allow  the  es 
cape  of  all  the  prisoners.  Another  prisoner  was 
to  remain  outside  his  cell,  and  co-operate  with  us 


from  the  inside.  This  he  failed  to  do,  and  for 
fear  of  detection  next  morning,  myself  and  part 
ner  resolved  to  escape  that  night. 

The  prisoners  of  the  cell  in  which  we  had 
managed  to  smuggle  ourselves,  not  having  made 
any  attempt  to  escape,  the  jailer  was  in  the  habit 
Df  only  locking  th«  inside  door  upon  them.  Any 
3  no  having  a  key  could  open  this  door  from  the 
mside ;  I  had  altered  a  key  to  fit  it.  About  nine 
o'clock,  we  opened  the  door,  and  after  passing  out 
closed  and  locked  it  again.  I  was  to  pass  the 
guard  first,  get  over  the  fence,  and  make  a  signal 
to  my  comrade.  I  stole  gently  down  to  the  large 
outer  door  where  I  could  observe  the  guard  pass 
ing  and  repassing.  We  had  hoped  to  catch  the 
guard  asleep,  but  after  watching  until  three 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  they  were  still  on  the  alert. 
I  resolved  to  attempt  the  passage  when  he  was 
pacing  his  beat  with  his  back  toward  me,  and  was 
in  the  act  of  making  the  leap,  when  the  command 
u  Halt !  who  conies  there  V  "  rang  out  upon  the 
air.  I  drew  back  and  discovered  the  relict-guard 
approaching;  the  guard  was  relieved,  and  five 
minutes  later  I  gave  a  leap,  and  thinking  the 
guard  had  noticed  me,  and  was  about  to  fire, 
threw  myself  upon  the  ground  ;  I  lay  here  some 
ten  minutes,  the  guard  passing  within  twelve  feet 
of  me.  Finding  that  lie  had  not  noticed  me  I 
made  my  way  to  the  fence  and  scaled  it  iu  safely. 
1  made  the  signal  agreed  upon,  waited  an  hour 
and  a  half,  and  thinking  my  friend  would  net 
risk  the  running  of  the  guard,  started  on  my  jour 
ney,  reaching  the  city  limits  just  at  daylight. 

Sometime  before  my  escape  I  contrived  to  get 
hold  of  a  confederate  uniform,  upon  which  I 
sewed  two  bars  which  indicated,  in  the  rebel  ar 
my,  a  first  lieutenant.  Five  miles  from  the  city 
I  obtained  a  first-rate  breakfast,  for  which  they 
refused  pay,  thinking  that  I  was  what  I  represent 
ed  myself  to  be,  "  Lieutenant  J.  K.  Brown,  Fourth 
Louisiana  BattallDU  Volunteer  Infantry."  Dur 
ing  the  forenoon  I  lost  myself,  and  at  noon  found 
myself  only  nine  miles  from  Macon.  I  took  din 
ner  at  an  old  planter's ;  living  at.  this  house  was 
a  young  man  who  had  been  in  the  army  —  he 
proved  very  inquisitive;  he  asked  me  the  names 
of  our  officers,  engagements  in  which  we  had 
taken  part,  &c.,  all  of  which  I  was  able  to  an 
swer  correctly,  being  in  possession  of  the 
complete  history  of  the  regiment,  which  I  ob 
tained  from  a  confederate  soldier  in  prison.  The 
old  gentleman  was  not  so  suspicious,  but  on  the 
contrary  was  very  sociable,  asking  me  if  I  was  a 
married  man,  and  drawing  my  attention  to  the 
fact  that  he  had  four  daughters,  all  unmarried, 
£c.  Before  1  left,  the  young  man  was  satisfied 
that  I  was  a  loyal  southerner,  and  the  old  gentle 
man  refused  to  take  any  pay  from  a  "  soldier." 
I  thanked  him,  and  bade  them  all  good-by. 

That  night  I  had  to  pay  five  dollars  in  Confed 
erate  money,  for  supper.  I  engaged  a  bed,  and 
had  a  good  sound  sleep  only  twelve  miles  from 
Macon.  I  also  learned  that  two  hundred  of 
Wheeler's  men  were  in  camp  only  two  miles 
off.  »Next  morning  I  started  early,  and  passed 
about  one  hundred  wounded  nreii  on  furlough 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND   INCIDENTS. 


185 


going  down  to  the  station  to  take  the  cars  for 
home.  I  approved  of  the  policy  of  allowing 
wounded  men  to  go  home,  &c.  They  wanted  to 
know  whether  I  was  on  furlough  or  not.  I  re 
plied  that  I  was  just  out  of  the  hospital,  and  then 
en  route,  to  see  a  friend  three  miles  from  For- 
f.ythe ;  I  passed  on.  Near  Forsythe  I  passed  3, 
squad  of  Wheeler's  men,  in  search  of  the  eamp  :f 
which  I  had  heard  the  night  previous.  I  gave 
them  directions  where  to  find  the  camp,  after 
which  they  asked  me  what  command  I  belonged 
to,  &e.  1  gave  them  the  same  old  tale,  which 
satisfied  them  and  passed  on. 

At  the  edge  of  Forsythe,  I  passed  three  hospit 
al  camps,  and  experienced  no  trouble  in  doing 
so.  Two  miles  beyond  the  town  I  asked  permis 
sion  from  an  old  planter,  who  was  returning 
home,  to  ride  with  him  in  his  buggy,  which  he 
granted.  Seven  and  a-half  miles  from  town, 
we  came  to  this  gentleman's  home.  I  thanked 
him  for  his  kindness  and  passed  on. 

I  learned  from  a  negro  the  names  of  parlies 
living  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Omulgee  Riv 
er,  which  I  had  to  cross  that  evening,  and  meet 
ing  any  one,  I  generally  satisfied  their  curiosity 
by  telling  them  that  1  was  just  going  down  to 
Mr.  Bradford's  or  "  any  other  man's  "  name  that 
I  happened  to  know  in  advance. 

At  the  river  I  found  three  cavalrymen  ( \Vheel- 
er's),  on  duty,  "  looking  after  Yanks."  Stone- 
rnan's  men  at  this  time  were  scattered  all  over 
this  part  of  the  country,  and  made  it  more  diffi 
cult  to  escape  than  under  other  circumstances. 

The  old  ferryman  was  very  inquisitive.  I  think 
1  satisfied  him  by  giving  him  a  larger  bill  than 
he  could  change,  and  telling  him  to  keep  the 
change  until  my  return  on  the  following  day.  Ii 
asked  the  guards  if  they  were  "looking  out  for) 
Yanks, "  to  which  they  replied,  "  Yes."  1  told 
them  what  command  I  belonged  to,  &c.,  and 
passed  on.  Five  miles  from  this  place  I  encoun 
tered  my  hardest  customer.  He  had  been  an 
oflicer  in  the  rebel  Eastern  arm}-,  but  resigned 
early  in  the  war.  He  suspected  me  at  first  sight, 
and  the  following  dialogue  ensued  between  us  : 

Reb.  —  u  What  command  do  you  belong  to?  " 

Yank.  —  "  Fourth  Louisiana  Battalion." 

Reb.  —  "Give  me  the  names  of  oflicers  com 
manding  your  regiment,  brigade  and  division." 

Yank.  —  "  Lieut.  Colonel  .John  Me  Henry,  for 
merly  commanded  the  regiment  He  \v;is  wound 
ed  in  the  arm  and  thigh  at  the  battle  of  Resaca, 
since  which  time  Major  Bowie  has  commanded. 
Colonel  Gibson  commands  the  brigade,  and  Major 
General  Stewart  the  division." 

fteb.  — "  Where  is  Col.  McIIenry  at  now?" 

Yank.  —  "  He  is  in  the  hospital  at  Columbus, 
Georgia." 

lieb. —  "  Have  you  any  papers  to  vouch  for 
the  truth  of  your  statements  V  " 

Yank.  —  "I  have  not." 

Rob. —  "How  is  it  that  you  are  without  pas 
ses  V" 

Yank.  —  "  It  is  not  necessary  for  an  officer  to 


have  papers  in  going  so  short  a  distance.' 
Reb.  — "  You  may  be  all  right,  but  I 


want   to 


be  satisfied.  I  fitted  myself  cut  for  the  purpose 
of  scouting  for  Yanks,  and  we  are  picking  them 
up  every  day.  How  far  have  you  come  to-day  V  " 

Yank.  —  "From  Forsythe.  I  came  over  to 
see  my  friend  Joe  Smith,  the  miller,  who  lives 
three  miles  down  the  river  to  the  left  of  the  road 
as  you  come  from  Mv.on.  I  am  now  going  to 
Mr.  Sanderson  Middle  orook's,  on  private  business 
for  a  friend  in  the  hospital  at  Forsythe." 

Reb. — "Hew  long  have  you  been  in  For 
sythe  V  " 

Yank.  —  "  Over  two  months.  I  was  wounded 
at  Resaca ;  after  recovering  from  my  wound,  I 
was  taken  with  erysipelas." 

Reb. — "You  can  give  the  names  of  citizens 
of  Forsythe  if  you  have  been  there  two  months." 

Yank.  —  "No,  sir,  I  cannot.  I  suffered  se 
verely,  and  was  afterward  so  sick  that  I  did  not 
leave  camp,  and  consequently  did  not  form  any 
acquaintances." 

Reb.  —  "  Describe  the  camp  and  buildings  sur 
rounding  it." 

I  described  quite  a  number  of  buildings  I  had 
noticed  in  coming  through. 

Reb.  —  "  Can  you  describe  no  others  ?  " 

Yank.  —  "  No,  sir." 

Reb.  —  "  You  have  omitted  the  most  conspicu 
ous  building  in  the  camp.  Can  you  not  de 
scribe  it  V  " 

Yank. — "  No,  sir." 

Reb.  —  "  Well,  sir,  I  will  have  to  take  you  to 
camp  at  Graball,  where  there  are  oflicers  better 
able  to  decide  the  matter." 

Yank.  —  "  My  friend,  if  you  do  your  duty  you 
do  well;  but  when  you  go  beyond  that,  it  is  un 
bearable.  I  am  a  confederate  officer,  and  ex 
pect  to  be  treated  as  such.  I  have  given  you 
enough  proof  to  satisfy  any  reasonable  man  ;  and 
if  you  were  an  old  soldier  you  would  have  been 
satisfied  with  half  the  questions  answered  by 
me.  I  have  to  be  in  Forsythe  on  Monday  next, 
in  order  to  go  to  the  front.  If  J  go  with  you,  I 
will  have  to  come  back  to-morrow  to  Middle- 
brook's,  and  then  I  cannot  reach  Forsythe  in 
time." 

Reb.  — "  Well,  come  and  go  back  to  Mr. 
Smith's  and  stay  all  night." 

Yank.  —  "1  cannot  go  there,  for  the  same  rea 
son  that  J  cannot  go  to  camp." 

Reb.  — "  Well,  sir,  if  you  will  describe  Mr. 
Smith's  house,  I  will  be  satisfied  that  you  are  all 
right." 

It  struck  the  rebel  that  if  I  was  one,  I  could 
describe  the  house.  That  if  I  was  a  Yankee,  I 
had  not  been  to  Mr.  Smith's, —  which  was  three 
miles  off  the  road,  —  and  consequently  could  not 
describe  it.  1  knew  ihat  if  I  did  not  describe  it 
1  would  have  to  go  to  camp  with  him,  so  I  deter 
mined  to  make  the  attempt.  In  order  to  gain 
time,  I  pretended  not  to  understand  him. 

I  knew  that  there  were  no  brick  buildings  in 
that  part  of  the  country,  and  that  it  must  be  ti- 
ther  a  frame  or  a  log  he  use.  Mr.  Smith  being  a 
miller,  I  concluded  that  it  must  be  a  frame.  At- 
ter  asking  him  what  he  said,  I  told  him  that  I 
could  describe  it ;  and  joiim  meed  to  do  so.  I 


186 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,   AND   INCIDENTS. 


retreat,  and  I  was  compelled  to  swim  it, 
did  at  twelve  o'clock  at  night.     I  passed 


which  1 
through 


told  him  that  it  was  a  two-story  frame  house,  of 

pretty  good  size.  , -.. -  l ^^   r~ 

He  replied  that  I  was  right,  and  that  he  was  Hoswell  at  daylight,  and  concluded  to  travel  that 
thoroughly  satisfied  ;  asked  my  pardon  for  de-  day  until  I  reached  our  lines  at  Marietta.  I  met 
taining  me  so  long ;  shook  hands,  and  we  parted. !  quite  a  large  number  of  citizens,  1o  whom  I  rep- 
After  this  I  resolved  to  travel  at  night,  only.  |  resented  myself  as  having  been  paroled  by  Stone- 

At  Hillsboro  I  was  compelled  to  lie  over  j  man,  in  front  of  M aeon,  with  the  understanding 
three  days,  until  General  Iverson's  brigade  of  '  that  I  was  to  send  out  a  Federal  Lieutenant  in 
Wheeler's  command,  got  out  of  my  way  —  nar-  my  stead,  and  that  if  I  failed  to  do  so  I  was 
rowly  escaping  capture,  twice,  by  pickets  or ,  to  report  at  Marietta  as  prisoner  of  rvar.  Sever- 
scouts  of  this  command.  One  of  Stoncman's  I  al  of  them  advised  me  not  to  r<  port,  but  "  I 


raiders  was  captured  at  this  place,  driven  into  the 
woods,  and  brutally  murdered  by  his  captors. 
Near  Monticello  I  was  chased  by  blood-hounds, 
but  having  procured  an  article  which  destroys 
the  scent  before  leaving  Macon,  I  escaped  from 
them  and  their  savage  masters.  The  dogs  hav 
ing  lost  the  scent,  myself  and  negro  guide  — 
whom  I  engaged  to  take  me  around  the  town  — 
went  into  a  negro  house  and  took  supper.  While 
there  we  were  informed  that  three  Yankees  had 
been  caught  a  short  distance  from  town,  and  a 
negro,  caught  with  them,  had  been  shot.  My 
guide,  upon  hearing  this,  made  an  excuse  to  go 
out,  and  never  returned.  Shortly  afterward  I 
started  on  again.  There  being  but  one  road  for 
me  to  take,  and  fearing  my  pursuers  might  cross 
over  and  lie  in  wait  for  me,  1  concluded  to  lie 
over  that  night.  1  came  to  an  old  cotton-gin  in 
the  end  of  which  was  a  window,  but  no  visible 
means  of  getting  up.  After  hunting  around 
a  \viule,  I  Ibund  a  pine  pole,  which  I  placed 
against  the  end  of  the  building,  and,  by  dint  of 
pretty  good  climbing  reached  the  window  and 
rt  t  in.  Here  1  lay  all  next  day,  sometimes  gaz- 
u  g  at  the  soldiers  passing  along,  the  road,  not 
more  than  fifty  yards  distant,  and  sometimes 
sleeping.  At  night  I  got  down,  went  back  to  the 
negro  house  of  *vhe  night  before  and  took  supper. 


port, 

couldn't  think  of  breaking  my  parole."  Five 
miles  from  Marietta  T  took  breakfast  at  an  old 
lady's  house ;  she  told  me  of  the  cruel  treatment 
received  at  the  hands  of  the  Yankees,  &c.  She 
mentioned  one  case,  I  remember,  in  Avhich  sho 
had  traded  butter  and  milk  lor  Hour  and  colTce, 
and  afterward  the  flour  and  coffee  were  taken  from 
her  by  the  Yankees. 

T  reached  our  lines  at  "Marietta  that  day,  Au 
gust  26th,  at  ten  o'clock.  A.  M.,  after  a  tedious  and 
dangerous  journey  of  twenty-tv/o  days,  having 
travelled  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
miles,  all  but  thirteen  miles  on  foot.  None  but 
those  who  have  experienced  it,  can  imagine  the 
intense  feeling  of  joy  that  overwhelms  one  upon 
again  beholding  the  old  flag,  after  a  period  of 
sufferinc  in  Southern  dungeons. 


DRAGOON'S  SONG. 

CLASH,  clash  goes  the  sabre  against  my  steed's  side, 
Kling,  kling  go  the  rowels  as  on \vard  I  ride  ; 
And  all  my  bright  harness  is  living  and  speaks, 
And  under  my  horse-shoe  the  frosty  Around  creaks  ; 
I  wave  my  buif  glove  to  the  girl  whom  I  love, 
Then  join  my  dark  squadron,  and  forward  I  move. 

The  foe  all  secure,  has  laid  down  by  his  gun  ; 


At  M'ldison,  three  more  of  Stoneman's  caval-l I>11  °Pcn  his  eyelids  before  the  bright  sun  ; 

ry  were  captured  and  murdered  in  cold  blood.  Vmrst  on, his  Pickcts  ~  ***??  setter,  they  fly  ; 

*  Near    Lawrenceville,    hearing   that  our   army  *00  lll.te  ^y  awaken-  'us  on  v  to  d,e. 

IT,  i      f^i    ^  \        i  •       •  Now  the  torch  to  their  carrin ;  1  il  make  it  a  lamp, 

had  been  driven  across  the  Chattahooclne  river,         -  -     - 

and  was  retiring  on  Chattanooga,  and  deeming  it 
best  to  change  my  direction,  I.  resolved  to  enter 


As  back  to  my  quarters  so  slowly  1  tramp. 
Kiss,  kiss  rrie  my  darling;  your  lover  is  here, 


»^toL  \.\j  <..iiciii^^  u»j  >j    GVMUU,  i.  i i;o\_»i » \,v*  >.<_/  ^m.\_,i  i  |<^|«i<3   KISS  nic  my  tuU'iiTig  j  your  lover  is  ncre, 

the  house  of  a  rich  widow  lady,  engage  supper,  I  Kay,  kiss  off  the  smoke-stains  ;  keep  back  that  bright 

and  endeavor  to  obtain  sight  of  a  map.  tear  ; 

I  got  supper,  and  also  saw  a  map,  from  which '  Keep  back  that  bright  tear  till  the  day  when  I  come, 
I  added  some  new  points  on  my  lead-pencil  map. '  To  the  low  wailing  fife  and  deep  muffled  drum, 
While  in  the  house,  the  old  lady  asked  me  what  |  With  a  bullet  half  through  the  hosom  so  true, 
I  thought  about  the  war.   I  replied  that  if  the  peo-  |  To  die>  ™  l  ou-ht  for  ^  coumiT  ™*  you. 
pie  of  other  States  did  as  well  as  those  of  Geor- 1  GKORGE  II.  BOS.KR. 

gia  they  would  be  successful.  She  replied  that 
she  thought  they  were  a  subjugated  people.  This 
was  before  the  fall  of  Atlanta.  While  I  stayed 
near  Lawrenceville,  large  numbers  of  rebels 
passed  by — some  going  home,  others  making  for 
the  mountains.  They  said  there  was  no  use  stay- 


ing  at  Atlanta  and  being  killed  up  ;  that  they 
were  whipped  anyhow. 

The  morning  of  August  25th  found  me  six 
miles  from  the  Chattahoochie  river,  and  twenty- 
seven  miles  from  Marietta. 

That  night  I  reached  the  river  at  a  place 
know  as  Mackeyfield's  Bridge.  I  found  that  the 
bridge  had  been  destroyed  by  our  cavalry  in  their 


SOUTHERN  OPINIONS.  —  At  every  movement 
of  General  Sherman's  army,  lie  captured  more 
or  less  of  the  confederates,  and  occasionally  a  few 
came  forward  and  voluntarily  gave  themselves 
up.  One  of  them  being  asked  what  he  thought 
of  the  Union  forces  and  General  Sherman,  re 
plied  in  the  following  rather  extravagant  but  at 
the  same  time  truthful  style :  "  Sherman  gits  on  a 
hill,  Hops  his  wings  and  crows;  then  yells  out, 
4  Attention  !  creation  !  by  kingdoms,  right  wheel! 
march  ! '  and  then  we  git." 

Some  of  the  prisoners,  with  an  air  of  curiosity 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,   AND  INCIDENTS. 


is; 


worthy  of  a  '  Yank,'  inquire  where  the  boys  get 
those  guns  which  they  load  on  Sunday  and  fire 
all  the  week. 

THE  OCCUPATION  OP  WILMINGTON.— 
The  reception  accorded  to  the  soldiers  of  the  Re 
public  by  the  inhabitants  of  Wilmington,  N.  C. 
was  a  great  anc^  pleasing  surprise  to  the  officers 
and  men. 

The  inhabitants,  male  and  female,  came  from 
their  houses  into  the  streets,  waving  their  hats 
arid  handkerchiefs  as  greetings  of  welcome. 
"  We  have  been  looking  for  you  for  a  long  time," 
said  one.  u  You  have  got  here  at  last,"  exclaimed 
another.  "  God  bless  you."  And  many  like  ex 
pressions.  American  flags  were  brought  out  and 
suspended  over  doors  and  from  windows.  One 
old  lady  expressed  herself  very  glad  to  see 
Gen.  Terry  and  his  staff,  for,  said  the  ancient 
dame,  "when  I  first  seed  you  I  thought  you  were 
Confederate  officers  come  looking  up  tobacco." 
The  colored  people  seemed  beside  themselves 
with  joy ;  they  sang  and  jumped,  and  shouted 
for  joy. 

The  sisjht  of  the  colored  troops  filled  the  meas 
ure  of  their  ecstatic  joy.  The  men  danced  in 
jubilation,  the  women  screamed  and  went  into 
hysterics,  then  and  there,  on  the  sidewalks.  And 
their  sable  brethren  in  arms  inarched  past,  proud 
and  erect,  singing  their  "  John  Brown  "  hymn, 
where  it  was  never  sung  before.  Some  of  the 
larger  houses  were  closed  and  abandoned ;  the 
people  inhabiting  these  dwellings  were  affiliated 
vith  treason  and  rebellion.  To  their  imagina 
tion,  and  their  guilty  consciences  prompted  the 
imaginings,  our  soldiers  were  not  deliverers,  but 
the  avenging  agents  of  the  government  which 
they  had  wantonly  and  without  cause  outraged 
and  insulted. 

Even  from  some  of  the  finest  mansions  came 
forth  the  inmates  with  smiles  of  welcome  for  the 
defenders  of  the  Union.  What  houses  were 
closed  or  abandoned  were  of  the  first  class.  The 
middle  class  are  nearly  all  loyal  and  four  years' 
experience  of  secession  has  convinced  even  many 
of  the  slave-holding  aristocracy  that  they  com 
mitted  a  grave  mistake,  as  well  as  a  great  crime, 
when  they  attempted  to  sever  the  bands  of  our 
common  Union. 


dress  parade,  he  asked  F.  why  he  did  that.  He 
replied,  "  To  look  as  much  alike  as  possible.**  — 
The  Colonel  burst  out  laughing,  and  went,  after 
parade,  to  the  store  and  bought  him  a  pair  of 
shoes  with  his  own  monev. 


GEN.    HAKDEE    AND    THE    STRAGGLER. — 
,  While  c:i  a  forced  inarch  in  some  of  the  army 
;  me vemenls  in  Mississippi.  Gen.  llard.ce  came  up 
I  with  a  straggler  who  had  fallen  some  distance  in 
the  rear  cf  his  command.     The  General  ordered 
I  him  forward,  when  the  soldier  replied  that  he  was 
weak  and  broken  down,  not  having  had  even  half 
|  rations  for  several  days. 

"  That's  hard,"  replied  the  General,  "  but  you 
'  must  push  forward,  my  good  fellow,  and  join 
your  command,  or  the  provost  guard  will  take 
you  in  hand." 

The  soldier  halted,  and,  looking  up  at  the  Gen 
eral,  asked  : 

"  Aint  you  G en.  Hardee  ?  " 
"Yes,"  replied  the  General. 
"  Didn't  you  write  Uardee's  Tactics  ?  " 
"  Yes." 

"  Well,  General,  I've  studied  them  tactics,  and 
know  'em.  by  heart.  You've  got  an  order  thar 
to  double  column  at  half  distance,  aint  you  ?  '' 

"  Well,"  asked  the  General,  "'  what  has  that 
order  to  do  with  your  case  V  " 

"  I'm  a  good  soldier,  General,  and  obey  all  that 
is  possible  to  be  obeyed :  but  if  you  can  show 
me  an  order  in  your  tactics,  or  anybody  else's 
tactics,  to  double  distance  pn  half  rations,  then 
I'll  give  in." 

The  General,  with  a  hearty  laugh,  admitted 
that  there  were  no  tactics  to  meet  the  case,  and 
putting  spurs  to  his  horse,  rode  forward. 


LOOKING  ALIKE.  —  The  following  incident 
illustrates  how  desirous  the  volunteers  are  to  obey 
orders,  and  the  good  result  of  their  efforts : 

I  suppose  you  will  see  that  I  have  written 
mother's  letter  with  a  pencil,  and  yours  with  pen 
and  ink.  it  is  because  we  have  just  had  a  lot  of 
peri-holders  and  pens  given  us  by  the  govern 
ment.  We  have  also  had  a  box  and  a  half  of 
shoe-blacking  given  to  each  man.  You  will  re 
member  that  in  my  last  letter  I  stated  that  G. 
F. ,  one  of  the  privates,  had  no  shoes.  When 
the  Colonel  gave  us  the  blacking  he  said  he 
wanted  us  to  look  as  much  alike  as  possible.  So 
G.  F.  went  to  work  and  blacked  his  J'eet  and  pol 
ished  them  ;  and  when  the  Colonel  came  along  on 


How  A  LIEUTENANT  ESCAPED. —  The  fol- 
!  .owing  incident  is  connected  with  the  (light  at 
Sommerville,  during  the  raid  of  Forrest  through 
Tennessee:  —  Lieut.  Mclntyre,  Ninth  Illinois 
Cavalry,  who  was  sent  by  Gen.  Grierson  with 
dispatches  from  Newcastle,  eight  miles  east  oi 
Sommerville  and  twelve  miles  north  of  the  La 
Grange,  finding  himself  suddenly  surrounded, 
threw  away  his  arms  and  crawled  under  a  house. 
From  there  he  crept  to  a  cotton  gin  near  by.  In 
the  gin  was  a  large  pile  of  cotton  seeds.  The 
lieutenant  dug  a  hole  in  it,  crawled  in,  pulled  a 
large  basket  over  his  head,  and  was  thus  com 
pletely  ensconced,  save  his  legs,  over  which  lie 
drew  sufficient  to  conceal  them,  some  of  the  seed. 
No  sooner  had  he  hid,  than  a  surgeon  of  the 
Seventh  Illinois  also  came  rushing  into  the  gin, 
pursued  by  ten  rebels.  He  had  just  time  to  con 
ceal  himself  between  some  boards  in  the  loft, 
when  the  rebels  came  rushing  up,  and  began  to 
search  for  him.  They  had  not  seen  the  lieuten 
ant  enter  the  gin,  but  they  were  certain  the  sur 
geon  was  there.  They  put  a  guard  at  every  av- 
!  enue  of  escape,  at  eac'i  door  and  window,  and 
!  then  commenced  the  search.  They  went  all 
1  through  the  building  upstair?,  tried  upon  the 


188 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


plank  beneath  which  lay  the  surgeon,  but  did 
not  find  Lira.  They  peeped  into  every  knot-hole 
but  in  vain. 

Not  long  after  it  was  ascertained  that  Forrest 
bad  returned  South,  and  the  various  columns  of 
infantry,  cavalry  and  artillery  were  accordingly 
ordered  back  and  went  into  camp. 


Ax  INCIDENT  OF  SPOTTSYLVANIA.  —  Dur 
ing  the  lull  in  the  strife,  I  rode  back  to  the  Sec 
ond  corps'  hospitals  to  see  the  wounded. 

"  How  goes  it,  boys  ?  "  was  the  question. 

"  All  right,"  said  one. 

"  Pretty  rough,"  said  another. 

44  They  niver  will  get  through  the  Second 
corps,"  said  a  Hibernian. 

The  lull  had  become  a  storm.  How  fearfully 
rolled  the  musketry !  It  is  utterly  useless  to  at 
tempt  a  description  or  comparison.  It  was  vol 
ley  after  volley,  surge  after  sur^re,  roll  after  roll. 

Maurice  Collins,  of  the  Twelfth  Massachusetts, 
was  brought  in  with  an  ugly  wound  through  his 
shoulder.  '  He  was  a  Catholic,  and  the  priest 
was  showing  him  the  crucifix. 

44  Will  it 'be  mortal  ?  "  he  asked. 

4'  Perhaps  not,  if  you  will  lie  still  and  keep 
quiet ;  but  you  may  have  to  lose  your  arm." 

44  Well,  I  am  willing  to  give  my  arm  to  my 
country,"  was  the  reply  of  one,  who,  though  born 
in  the  ever  green  isle,  while  loving  the  harp  and 
shim  rock,  adores  the  stars  and  stripes  of  his 
Sfeiopted  country. 

THE  FLORIDA'S  CRUISE. 

BY   \  FORETOP-MAN  OF  THE  C.  8.  8.  FLORIDA. 

Air  —  Red,  White,  and  Blue  (Southern  edition). 

ONE  evening,  off  Mobile,  the  Yanks  they  all  knew 
That  the  wind  from  the  north'ard  most  bitterly  blew; 
They  also  all  knew,  and  they  thought  they  were  sure, 
They'd  block'd  in  the  Florida,  safe  and  secure. 

'Huzza!  huzza,  for  the  Florida's  crew! 

We'll  ran  ire  with  bold  Maffitt  the  world  through 
and  through. 

Nine  cruisers  they  had,  and  they  lay  off  the  bar, 
Their  lotiir  line  to  seaward  extending  so  far, 
And  Prebie,  he  said,  as  he  shut  his  eyes  tight : 
I'm  sure  they're  all  hammock'd  this  bitter  cold  night. 

Bold  Maffitt  commanded,  a  man  of  great  fame, 
He  sail'd  in  the  Dolphin  —  you've  heard  of  the  same ; 
lie  call'd  us  all  aft,  and  these  words  he  did  say: 
I'm  bound  to  run  out,  boys,  up  anchor,  away ! 

Our  hull  was  well  whitewash'd,  our  sails  were  all 

stow'd, 
Our  steam  was   chock   up,  and  the   fresh  wind  it 

blow'd  ; 
As  we  crawl 'd  along  by  them,  the  Yanks  gave  a 

shout  — 
We  dropp'd  all  our  canvas  and  open'd  her  out. 

Yor*'d  have  thought  them  all  mad,  if  you'd  heard 

the  enrs'd  racket 
They  made  upon  seeing  our  flash  little  packet ; 


Their  boatswains  did  pipe,  and  the  blue  lights  dii 

play, 
And  the  great  Drummond  light  —  it  turn'd  night  into 

day. 

The  Cuyler,  a  boet  Jr.at's  unrival'd  for  speed, 
Quick  let  slip  >ier  caoles,  and  quicklv  indeed 
She  thought  icr  to  catch  us  and  keep  us  in  play, 
Till  her  larger  companions  could  get  under  way. 

She  chas'd  and  she  chas'd,  till  at  dawning  of  day 
From  her  backers  she  thought  she  was  too  far  away 
So  she  gave  up  the  chase  and  reported,  no  doubt, 
That  she'd  sunk  us  and  burnt  us  somewhere  there 
about. 

So  when  we  were  out,  boys,  all  on  the  salt  sea, 
We  brought  the  Estclle  to,  right  under  our  lee, 
And  burnt  her  and  sunk  her  with  all  her  fine  gear, 
And  straight  sail'd  for  Havana  the  bold  privateer. 

'Twas  there  we  recruited  and  took  in  some  stores, 
Then  kiss'd  the  senoras  and  sail'd  from  their  shores 
And  on  leaving  their  waters,  bv  way  of  a  joke, 
With  two  Yankee  brigs,  boys,  we  made  a  great  smoke 

Our  hull  was  well  wash'd  with  the  limestone  so  white, 
Which  sailors  all  know  is  not  quire  Christianlike, 
So  to  paint  her  all  ship-shape  we  went  to  Green  Keys, 
Where  the  Sonoma  came  foaming,  the  Rebel 


We  put  on  all  sail  and  up  steam  right  away, 
And  for  forty-eight  hours  she  made  us  some  play, 
When  our  coal  being  dusty  and  choking  the  flue, 
Our  steam  it  slack'd  down,  and  nearer  she  drew. 

Oh,  ho !  cried  our  captain,  I  see  what's  your  game ! 
Clear  away  the  stern  pivot,  the  Bulldog  by  name, 
And  two  smaller  dogs  to  keep  him  companie, 
For  very  sharp  teeth  have  these  dogs  of  the  sea. 

The  Sonoma  came  up,  until  nearly  in  range, 
When   her  engines  gave  out!  —  now  wasn't  that 

strange  ? 

—  I  don't  know  the  truth,  but  it's  my  firm  belief 
She  didn't  like  the  looks  of  the  Florida's  teeth. 

She  gave  up  the  chase  and  returned  to  Key  West, 
And  told  her  flag  captain  that  she  done  her  best ; 
But  the  story  went  round,  and  it  grew  rather  strong, 
And  the  public  acknowledg'd   that  something  was 
wrong. 

We  went  on  a  cruising  and  soon  did  espy 
A  fine,  lofty  clipper,  bound  home  from  Shanghai  j 
We  burnt  her  and  sunk  her  i'  th'  midst  of  the  sea, 
And  drank  to  Old  Jeff  in  the  best  of  Bohea ! 

We  next  found  a  ship  with  a  quakerish  name : 
A  wolf  in  sheep's  clothing  oft  plays  a  deep  game,— 
For  the  hold  of  that  beautiful,  mild,  peaceful  Star 
Was  full  of  saltpetre,  to  make  powder  for  war. 

Of  course  the  best  nature  could  never  stand  that, 

Saltpetre  for  Boston's  a  little  too  fat, 

So  we  burnt  her  and  sunk  her,  she  made  a  great 

blaze, 
She's  a  star  now  gone  down,  and  we've  put  out  h« 

rays. 

We  next  took  a  scl  ooner  well  laden  wi*h  bread ; 
What  the  devil  got  into  Old  Undo  Abe  s  head? 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY",  AND  INCIDENTS. 


189 


To  send  us  such  biscuit  is  such  a  fine  thing, 
It  sets  us  all  laughing,  as  we  sit  and  sing. 

We  next  took  the  Lapwing,  right  stuff  in  her  hold, 
And  that  was  black  diamonds  that  people  call  coal ; 
With  that  in  our  bunkers  we'll  tell  Uncle  Sam, 
That  we  think  his  gunboats  are  not  worth  a  damn. 

The  Mary  Jane  Colcord  to  Cape  Town  was  bound, 
We  bade  her  heave  to  though  and  swing  her  yards 

round, 

And  to  Davy  Jones'  locker  without  more  delay 
We  sent  her  afire,  and  so  sailed  on  our  way. 

Huzza  !  huzza,  for  the  Florida's  crew  ! 

We'll  range  with  bold  Maffitt  the  world  through 
and  through. 

FRENCH  DELANEY. —  Near  Falls  Church, 
Virginia,  there  lived  before  the  war  a  wealthy 
and  highly-respected  family  of  the  name  of  De- 
laney.  When  the  war  broke  out  one  of  the 
sons  joined  Mosby's  band,  and  a  daughter  became 


that  he  had  always  used  the  Union  mcr.  well 
when  he  had  taken  them  prisoners,  and  begged 
that  a  surgeon  be  sent ;  with  which  request  Lieu 
tenant  Lyell  promptly  complied.  The  surgeon 
came  too  late,  for  two  nights  afterwards  the  noto 
rious  Frenchy  Delaney  breathed  his  last,  Colo 
nel  Delaney  arriving  just  in  time  to  take  a  last 
farewell. 

Curious  to  relate,  Colonel  Delaney  was  tak 
en  prisoner  to  Richmond,  and  his  own  son  was 
present  at  the  capture.  The  news  of  his  fate  Hew 
fast;  on  arriving  at  Dranesville,  the  officer  in 
charge  was  accosted  by  the  fair  damsels  of  reb- 
eldom,  in  terms  like  this:  "  Now,  have  you  really 
shot  Frenchy  Delaney  ?  Well,  now,  that  is  too 
bad ;  I  hope  he  wont  die."  "  Yes,"  replied  Ly 
ell,  "  and  very  soon  you  will  have  no  rebel 
beaux  to  marry  ?  you  will  have  to  take  up  with 
Union  men."  "  We  will,"  was  the  answer,  '-  but 
we  will  convert  them."  "  Perhaps,"  said  the 
Lieutenant,  "  we  shall  convert  you."  The  inaid- 


a  volunteer  nurse  in  a  rebel  hospital.     Both  be- 'ens  smiled  incredulously,  and  Lyell  left  for  his 
came   celebrated   in    their   way.     The   son    was  command, 
young,  daring  and  adventurous,  the  pr'de  of  the  I 
female  sex  for  thirty  miles  around  the  place  of  his! 


nativity.     He  was  soon   the  dread  of  Union  sol 
diers  and  Union  men  of  Virginia. 


REMINISCENCES  OF    GENERAL   SUMNER. — 

When  the  history  of  this  war  is  faithfully  written, 


Not  a  stray  soldier  from  picket  escaped  him,  Simmer's  name  will  be  one  of  the  brightest  in 
riot  a  Union  fanner,  but  trembled  at  his  name.  I  that  noble  army  which  has  illustrated  the  disw- 
The  vicinity  of  Dranesville,  Chantilly,  Falls !  pline  and  valor  of  Northern  troops  on  so  many 
Church  and  Vienna  can  attest  to  his  notoriety  and  bloody  fields,  but  which,  through  a  leader  infirm 
achievement.  The  father  of  a  rebellious  son  and  of  purpose,  never  yet  gathered  the  ripe  fruits  of 
daughter  sternly  maintained  his  loyalty  and  fidel 
ity  to  the  Union.  At  the  opening  of  the  war  he 
immediately  offered  his  services  to  the  Federal 
Government,  and  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
colonel  in  the  volunteer  service. 

one  day  a  scouting  party,  consisting  of 
detachments  from  the  Thirteenth  New  York  and 
Second  Massachusetts  Cavalry,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Lieutenant  E.  B.  Lyell,  started  from 
Falls  Church  in  pursuit  of  guerillas,  reported  to 
be  in  the  neighborhood  of  Chantilly  and  Herndon 
station.  On  the  morning  following  their  depart 
ure,  the  troops  were  quietly  drinking  their  coffee 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  station,  five  of  the  ad 
vance  guard  posted  on  the  road  ;  suddenly,  as  if 
rising  from  the  earth,  came  galloping  at  full  speed, 
five  men  fully  armed  and  equipped. 

A  volley  from  the  advanced  guard  caused  a  mo 
mentary  pause ;  the  next  minute  the  guerillas 
turned  and  fled,  the  advance  starting  in  pursuit, 
an  exciting  chase  ensuing  for  half  a  mile.  A  sec 
ond  volley  was  fired  by  the  pursuers;  but  still  the 
rebels  kept  onward  in  their  course  till  they  arrived 
near  the  pine  woods,  when  they  dashed  in  and 
the  men  dared  not  follow.  A  stray  horse  was 
seen  to  gallop  from  the  woods  without  a  rider ! 
A  man  was  shot !  Where  was  he  V 

The  neighborhood  was  searched,  and,  in  an  ad 
joining  house,  stretched  on  a  bed,  pale  and  breath 
ing  hard,  was  found  a  wounded  man,  a  young  lady 
fanning  him  tenderly.  The  officer  in  command 


At  Fair  Oaks  and  Malvcrn  Hill  he  de 
cided  the  fate  of  the  day ;  and  through  the  whole 
Peninsular  campaign  he  was  in  the  hottest,  dead 
liest  of  the  fighting. 

He  had  the  true  soldierly  temperament.  Not 
only  was  his  whole  heart  in  the  war,  but  if  it  is 
possible  for  any  man  to  love  fighting,  to  feel  what 
the  ancients  called  "  the  rapture  of  the  strike," 
Suinncr  was  that  man.  lie  snuffed  the  battle 
afar  oif.  He  went  into  it  with  a  boyish  enthusi 
asm.  Our  generals  usually  expose  themselves 
not  too  little" but  too  much.  If  they  participated 
less  in  the  peril,  they  might  often  economize  the 
lives  of  their  men  more  and  yet  achieve  the  same 
results.  But  in  this  soldiery  imprudence  Suinncr 

wonder  of  his 
out   of    battle 


eclipsed  them  all.     The  chronic 
friends  was  that  he  ever    came 


alive  ;  but  at  last  they  began  to  believe  with  him, 
that  he  was  invincible.  He  would  get  bullets  in 
his  hat,  his  coat,  his  boots,  his  saddle,  his  horse, 
sometimes  have  his  person  scratched,  but  always 
escaped  without  serious  injury.  His  soldiers 
used  to  tell,  with  great  relish,  the  story  that  in  the 
Mexican  war  a  bullet  which  struck  him  square  in 
the  forehead  fell  flattened  to  the  ground  without 
breaking  the  skin,  as  the  hunter's  ball  glances 
from  the  forehead  of  the  buffalo.  It  was  this 
anecdote  which  won  for  him  the  soubriquet  of 
"  Old  Bull  Sumner."  He  desired,  when  his  time 
•should  come,  to  fall  in  battle ;  but  it  :lhistrat€« 
the  fortunes  of  war  that  the  officer  who  for  forty 


asked  him,  "  Do  you  belong  to  the  regular  Con-   years  had  thus  courted  death  should  at  last  die 
federate  army,  and  what  regiment  ?"  He  replied  ;   peacefully  in  his  bed,  surrounded  by  his  family. 
14 1  belong    to  Mosby's    command."      He  stated       At  Fair  O  iks,  when  his  troops  were  stagger- 


190 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,  AND   INCIDENTS. 


ing  under  a  pitiless  storm  of  bullets,  Sumner 
came  galloping  along  up  and  down  the  advance 
Hue,  more  exposed  than  any  private  in  the  ranks. 
u  What  regiment  is  this  ?  "he  asked.  u  The  fif 
teenth  Massachusetts,"  replied  a  hundred  voices. 
u  I,  too,  am  from  Massachusetts;  three, cheers  for 
our  old  Bay  State  !  "  Arid, swinging  his  hat,  the 
general  led  off',  and  every  soldier  joined  in  throe 
thundering  cheers.  The  enemy  looked  on  in  won 
der  at  the  strange  episode,  but  was  driven  back 
by  the  fierce  charge  which  followed. 

Tliis  was  no  unusual  scene  ;  it  was  the  way 
Sumner  fought  his  battles.  Staff  officers  will  tell 
you  by  the  hour,  how,  when  the  guns  began  to 
pound,  his  mild  eye  would  light  up  with  flashes 
of  fire  ;  how  he  would  takeout  his  artificial  teeth, 
which  became  troublesome  during  the  excitement 
of  battle,  and  place  them  carefully  in  his  pocket; 
raise  his  spectacles  from  his  eyes  and  rest  them 
upon  the  forehead,  that  he  might  see  clearly  ob 
jects  at  a  distance;  give  his  orders  to  his  subor 
dinates,  and  then  gallop  headlong  into  the  thick 
of  the  light. 

How  many  soldiers,  as  they  read  and  talk  of 
his  death,  recall  the  erect  form,  the  snowy  hair 
streaming  in  the  wind,  the  frank  face  of  that  won 
derful  old  man,  who, 

"  In  worst  extremes, 
And  on  the  perilous  edge  of  battle 
When  it  raged," 

would  ride  along  their  front  lines,  when  they 
were  falling  like  grass  before  the  mower,  encour 
aging  the  fearful,  and  shouting  through  the  smoke, 
"  Steady,  men,  steady !  Don't  be  excited. 
When  you  have  been  soldiers  as  long  as  I,  you 
will  learn  that  this  is  nothing.  Stand  firm  and 
do  your  duty!  " 

For  a  man  of  sixty-four,  his  health  was  marvel 
lous.  Ilis  long,  temperate  life  in  the  pure  air  of 
the  great  plains  and  the  mountains  —  a  region  of 
which  he  was  enthusiastically  fond  —  retained  in 
his  vigorous  frame  the  elasticity  of  boyhood.  Up 
on  a  march  he  usually  quite  wore  out  his  st.alF 
with  hard  riding.  When  lie  left  the  field  a  short 
time  previous  to  his  death  there  were  few  ofli- 
cers  as  nimble  and  agile  as  he;  few  who  could 
wpring  upon  a  horse  more  easily,  or  ride  with 
aiore  grace  and  endurance. 

There  was  no  straining  for  dramatic  effect 
about  Sumner.  lie  never  advertised  his  exploits. 
lie  sometimes  displayed  heroism  which  would  il 
lustrate  the  brightest  pages  of  history  ;  but  he  did 
it  unostentatiously,  unconsciously.  It  was  the 
act  of  a  soldier  quietly  performing  a  soldier's  du 
ty- 

At  Fair  Oaks,  on  Saturday  evening,  after  Ca 
sey  and  Heintzelman  had  suffered  greatly,  and 
been  driven  three  or  four  mile's,  Sumner  crossed 
the  Chickahominy  at  an  unexpected  point,  and 
attacking  the  enemy  vigorously  in  flank  and  rear, 
turned  the  tide  of  battle.  On  Sunday  morning 
the  fight  was  renewed ;  many  a  gallant  officer 
fell.  Gen.  Howard  lost  his  arm  at 'he  head  of 
his  brigade,  and  our  triumph  was  gained  at  a 
heavy  cost;  but  Sumner  held  his  advantage. 


i  During  a  lull  in  the  battle,  McClellan  crossed  the 
river,  remained  long  enough  to  write  his  famous 
despatch  censuring  Casey's  men,  and  then  suc- 
.  cecdeJ  .11  returning  upon  a  log  over  the  swelling 
I  stream.  Our  bridges  were  swept  away ;  our  ar 
my  was  thus  cut  in  twain ;  and  Sumner,  with  his 
three  shattered  corps,  was  left  without  hope  of 
reinforcements.  The  weakened  half  of  our  ar 
my  was  at  the  oercy  of  the  enemy's  entire  force. 

On  that  Sunday  night,  after  making  his  dis 
positions  to  receive  an  attack,  Sumner  sent  for 
Gen.  Sedgwick,  who  commanded  his  Second  Di 
vision,  —  one  of  his  special  friends  and  most  trusty 
soldiers.  "  Sedgwick,"  said  he,  u  you  perceive  the 
situation.  The  enemy  will  probably  precipitate 
himself  upon  us  at  daylight.  Reinforcements  are 
impossible ;  he  can  overwhelm  ami  destroy  us. 
But  at  this  most  critical  period  the  country  cannot 
afford  to  have  us  defeated.  The  enemy  may  win 
a  victory ;  but  we  must  make  it  a  victory  that 
shall  ruin  him.  There  is  just  one  thing  for  us  to 
do  :  we  must  stand  here  and  die  like  men  !  Im 
press  it  upon  your  officers  that  we  must  do  this 
to  the  last  man  —  to  the  last  man !  We  may  not 
meet  again  ;  but  we  will  at  least  die  like  soldiers." 

And  so  Sumner  wrung  the  hand  of  his  lieuten 
ant  and  bade  him  farewell.  Morning  came  ;  the 
rebels  failing  to  discover  our  perilous  condition, 
did  not  renew  the  attack  ;  in  a  day  or  two  new 
bridges  were  built,  and  the  sacrifice  was  averted. 
But  Sunnier  was  the  man  to  carry  out  his  resolu 
tion  to  the  letter. 

After  Fair  Oaks,  he  retained  possession  of  a 
house  on  our  old  line  of  battle;  and  the  head 
quarters'  tents  were  brought  up  and  pitched  there. 
They  were  within  range  of  a  rebel  battery  which 
awoke  the  General  and  his  staff  every  morning, 
by  dropping  shot  and  shell  all  about  them  for  two 
or  three  hours.  Sumner  implored  permission  to 
capture  or  drive  away  that  battery,  but  was  re 
fused,  on  the  ground  that  it  might  bring  on  a 
general  engagement.  He  chafed  and  stormed  : 
It  is  the  most  disgraceful  thing  of  my  life,"  he 
said,"  that  this  should  be  permitted ;"  but  Mc 
Clellan,  whose  prudence  never  forsook  him,  was 
inexorable.  Sumner  was  begged  to  renidvc  his 
head-quarters  to  a  safer  position,  but  he  persisted 
in  staying  there  for  fourteen  days,  and  at  last  only 
withdrew  upon  a  peremptory  order  from  his  su 
perior. 

The  experience  of  that  fortnight  shows  how 
much  iron  and  lead  may  fly  about  men's  ears 
without  harming  them.  During  the  whole  bom 
bardment  only  two  persons  at  the  head-quarters 
were  injured.  The  surgeon  of  a  Rhode  Island 
battery  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  head  by  a 
piece  of  shell  which  flew  into  his  tent ;  and  a  pri 
vate,  who  laid  down  behind  a  log  for  protection, 
was  instantly  killed  by  a  shell  knocking  a  splinter 
from  the  log,  which  fractured  his  skull.  There 
were  many  hairbreadth  escapes  ;  but  not  another 
man  received  a  scratch. 

During  the  artillery  fighting,  the  day  before 
Antietam,  Sumner  lay  upon  the  grass  under  the 
shade  trees,  in  front  of  the  brick  house  which 
served  for  General  Head-quartos.  A  few  yards 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


191 


distant,  in  an  open  field,  a  party  of  staff  officers 
and  civilians  were  suddenly  startled  by  a  stray 
shell  from  the  enemy,  which  dropped  about  a 
hundred  feet  from  them.  It  was  followed  by 
another  which  fell  still  nearer,  and  the  group 
broke  up  and  scattered  with  great  alacrity. 
M  Why,"  remarked  Surnner,  with  a  peculiar  smile, 
w  the  shells  excite  a  good  deal  of  commotion 
aiion  *  those  young  gentlemen  ! "  The  idea  which 
seamed  to  amuse  him  was  that  anybody  should  be 
disconcerted  by  shells. 

At,  Fretlericksburg,  by  the  express  order  of 
Burnside,  Sunnier  remained  on  this  side  of  the 
river  during  the  fighting.  The  precaution  prob 
ably  saved  his  life.  Had  he  ridden  with  his  usual 
rashness  out  on  that  fiery  front,  he  had  never 
returned  to  tell  what  he  saw.  Still,  he  chafed 
sadly  under  the  restriction.  As  the  sun  went 
down  on  that  day  of  glorious  but  fruitless  en 
deavor,  he  paced  to  and  fro  in  front  of  the  Lacey 
House  with  one  arm  thrown  around  the  neck  of 
bis  son,  his  face  haggard  with  sorrow  and  anxiety, 
and  his  eyes  straining  eagerly  for  the  arrival  of 
each  successive  messenger. 

He  was  a  man  of  high  ambition.  Once,  hearing 
Gen.  Howard  remark  that  he  did  not  aspire  to 
the  command  of  a  corps,  he  exclaimed :  "  Gen 
eral,  you  surprise  me.  I  would  command  the 
world,  if  I  could  !"  But  it  was  the  ambition  of  a 
soldier  and  a  patriot.  He  gave  to  his  superiors 
not  merely  lip-service,  but  zealous,  hearty,  untir 
ing  co-operation.  It  was  a  point  of  honor  with 
hi  in,  even  when  he  believed  them  mistaken  or  in 
competent,  never  to  breathe  a  word  to  their  dis 
paragement. 

He  was  sometimes  called  arbitrary;  but  he  had 
groat  love  for-  his  soldiers,  especially  his  old  com 
panions  in  arms.  One  of  his  officers  tell  a  laugh 
able,  story  of  applying  to  him  for  a  ten  days'  fur 
lough,  when  the  rule  against  them  was  impera 
tive.  Sunnier  peremptorily  refused  it.  But  the 
oflicer  sat  down  beside  him,  and  began  to  talk 
about  the  Peninsula  campaign,  the"  battles  in 
whic  h  he  had  done  his  duty,  immediately  under 
Sumncr'  eye  ;  and  it  was  not  many  minutes  be 
fore  the  General  granted  his  petition.  "  If  he 
had  only  waited,"  said  the  narrator,  "  until  1  re 
minded  him  of  some  scenes  at  Antietam,  I  am 
sure  he  would  have  given  me  twenty  days  instead 
often." 

He  possessed  great  kindness  of  heart :  he  was 
intrinsically  a  gentleman  —  an  example  which 
some  of  our  Major-Generals  might  study  to  ad 
vantage.  His  intercourse  with  women  and  chil 
dren  was  characterized  by  peculiar  chivalry  and 
gentleness.  There  was  much  about  him  to  revive 
the  old  ideal  of  the  soldier  —  terrible  in  battle, 
but  with  a  heart  open  and  tender  as  a  child's. 

To  his  youngest  sou  —  a  captain  upon  his 
staff — ho  was  bound  by  ties  of  unusual  affection. 
u  Sammy"  was  his  constant  companion  ;  in  private 
he  leaned  upon  him,  caressed  him,  and  consulted 
him  upon  the  most  trivial  matters.  It  was  a 
touching  bond  which  united  the  gray,  war-worn 
veteran  to  the  child  of  his  old  asre. 


THE   CAPTAIN'S   WIFE. 

BY   THEODORE    TILTON. 

WE  gathered  roses,  Blanche  and  I,  for  littlo  Madge, 

one  morning, — 
"I  am  a  soldier's  ivife,"  said  Blanche,  "and  dread 

a  soldier's  .ate  !  "  — 

Her  voice  a  little  trembled  tLen,  as  under  some  fore 
warning, — 

A  soldier  galloped  up  the  lane,  and  halted  at  th« 
gate. 

"  Which  house  is  Malcolm  Blake's  ?  "  he  cried,—  "a 

letter  for  his  sister  !  " 
And  when  I  thanked  him,  Blf.mhe  inquired,  "But 

none  for  me,  his  wife  1 " 
The  soldier  played  with  Madge's  curls,  and  stooping 

over,  kissed  her  : 

"  Your  father  was  my  captain,  child  ;  —  I  loved 
him  as  my  life  !  " 

Then  suddenly  he  galloped  off,  and  left  the  rest  un 
spoken  ; 
1  burst  the  seal,  and  Blanche  exclaimed  —  "  What 

makes  you  tremble  so  ?  " 
What  answer  did  I  dare  to  speak  ? —  how  ought  the 

news  be  broken  ? 

I  could  not  shield  her  from  the  stroke,  yet  tried  to 
ease  the  blow. 

"  A  battle  in  the  swamps/'  I  said,  —  "  our  men  were 

brave,  but  lost  it ;  " 
And  pausing  there,  —  "the  note,"  I  said,  "is  not 

in  Malcolm's  hand." 
And  first  a  flush  went  through  her  face,  and  then  a 

shadow  crossed  it, — 

"Read  quick,  dear  May, — read  all,  I  pray,  and 
let  me  understand  ! " 

I  did  not  read  it  as  it  stood,  but  tempered  so  the 

phrases 
As  not  at  first  to  hint  the  worst,  —  held  back  the 

fatal  word, 
And  half  re-told  his  gallant  charge,  his  shouts,  his 

comrades'  praises,  — 

When,  like  a  statue  carved  in  stone,  she  neither 
spoke  nor  stirred  ! 

Oh !  never  yet  a  woman's  heart  was  frozen  so  com 
pletely  !  — 
So  nnbaptizetl  with  helping  tears  !  —  so  passionless 

and  dumb  ! 
Spell-bound    she  stood,  and  motionless  —  till   little 

Madu-e  spoke  sweetly  : 

"  Dear  mother,  is  the  battle  done?  —  and  will  my 
father  come  ?  " 

I  laid  my  finger  on  her  lips,  and  set  the  child  to  play- 

"ing';  — 
Poor  Blanche !  the  winter  in  her  cheek  was  snowy, 

like  her  name  ! 
What  could  she  do  but  kneel  and  pray?  —  and  lingei 

at  her  praying  ? 

O  Christ,  when  other  heroes  die,  moan  other  wives 
the  same  ? 

Must  other  women's  hearts  yet  break,  to  keep  tb* 

cause  from  failing  ? 

God  pity  our  brave  lovers  then,  who  face  the  bat 
tle's  blaze ! 

And  pity  wives  in  widowhood  !  —  But  is  it  unavail 
ing  ? 

O  Lord,  give  Freedom  first,  then  Peace,  —  and 
unto  T.iee  be  piaise  ! 


192 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,  AND   INCIDENTS. 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  THE  BATTLE  FIELD.  —  A 

writer  in  the  "  Congregationalist"  tells  this  :  — 

Returning  we  saw  a  newly  opened  grave.  It 
was  for  a  .Michigan  boy  of  eighteen,  who  had 
been  shot  down  l»y  the  side  of  his  father,  who 
was  a  private  in  the  same  company.  The  father 
sat  beside  tin.-,  grave,  carving  his  boy's  name  upon 
ft  rude  head-boird.  lr  was  his  first-born.  I  took 
him  by  the  hand,  and  gave  him  all  my  heart;  of 
fered  a  prayer,  \vhi<-h  brother  Holmes  followed 
with  appropriate  words.  There  was  no  coffin, 
but  a  few  pieces  of  board  were  laid  in  the  bottom 
of  the  grave,  between  the  body  and  the  bare 
ground. 

"  Wrap  him  hi  this  blanket,"  said  the  father; 
"  it  is  one  his  sister  sent  him.  Ah  !  me,  how  will 


they   bear    it    at. 
mother  do  V     She 


home  ?     What   will    his 
must  have  a  lock  of  his  liaii 


I  stooped  to  cut  the  lock  with  rny  penknife, 
when  a  soldier  came  forward  with  a  pair  of  scis 
sors  from  his  little  "  housewife."  My  heart  blessed 
the  Sabbath-school  child  who  had  made  that 
timely  gift.  And  so,  having  rendered  the  last 
offices  of  faith  and  affection,  we  laid  the  brave 
boy  in  his  grave,  while  the  cannon  Avas  still  roar 
ing  the  doom  of  others,  young  and  brave,  whom 
we  had  just  left  on  the  field. 


A  STORY  OF  GENERAL  GRANT.  —  A  visitor 
to  the  army  called  upon  him  one  morning,  and 
found  the  General  sitting  in  his  tent  smoking,  and 
talking  to  one  of  his  stafl-ofiicers.  The  stranger 
approached  the  chieftain,  and  inquired  of  him  as 
follows :  — 

"•  General,  if  you  flank  Lee,  and  get  between 
him  and  Richmond,  will  you  not  '  uncover  Wash 
ington,'  arid  leave  it  a  prey  to  the  enemy  ?  " 

General  Grant,  discharging  a  cloud  of  smoke, 
with  a  "silver  lining,"  from  his  mouth,  indif 
ferently  replied,  "  Yes,  I  reckon  so." 

Stranger,  encouraged  by  the  reply  he  thus  re 
ceived,  propounded  question  number  two, — 

"  General,  do  you  not  think  Lee  can  detach 
sufficient  force  from  his  army  to  reinforce  Bean- 
regard  and  overwhelm  Butler  ?  " 

"  Not  a  doubt  of  it,"  replied  the  General. 

Stranger,  becoming  fortified  by  his  success, 
propounded  question  number  three,  as  follows,  — 

"  General,  is  there  not  danger  that  Johnston 
may  come  up  and  reinforce  Lee,  so  that  the  lat 
ter  Avill  swing  around  and  cut  your  communica 
tions  and  seize  your  supplies  ?  " 

"  Very  likely,"  was  the  cool  reply  of  the  Gen 
eral,  as  he  knocked  the  ashes  from  the  end  of  his 
cigar  Avith  his  little  finger. 

Stranger,  horrified  at  the  aAvful  fate  about  to 
befall  General  Grant  and  the  army,  made  his 
exit  and  hastened  to  Washington  to  communicate 
the  "  news." 


REMINISCENCE  OF  FORT  DONELSON.  —  On 
Saturday  night  before  the  surrender,  a  council 
of  war  Avas  called.  Pillow,  Floyd,  Buckner,  and 
a  number  of  brigadiers  composed  this  body. 


i 

There  was  much  confusion  and  exciting  debate 
for  a  while.  Some  thought  it  necessary  to  sur 
render,  and  some  did  not.  It  was  midnight,  and 
no  definite  understanding  was  come  to.  Genera' 
Floyd,  seeing  this,  dismissed  the  council,  request 
ing  Pillow  and  Buckner  to  remain.  The  threo 
sat  doAvn  gloomily  by  the  fire  to  ponder  over  tho 
sad  aspect  of  affairs.  A  Ion  r  silence  ensued. 

"  Well,  gentlemen,"  snid  Floyd,  u  I  see  you  are 
still  divided,  and  as  I  have  the  casting 'vote,  J 
Avill  settle  the  matter  at  once.  I  favor  a  surrender 
myself,  provided  the  duty  does  not  devolve  upon 
me.  I  cannot  surrender,  bevaiise  the  United 
Stares  Government  have  indicted  me  for  treason, 
and  the  probability  is  that  if  they  Avere  to  get  me 
they  would  hang  me.  So  you  see  the  thing  is 
impossible.  I  transfer  the  command  to  you,  Gen 
eral." 

u  Well,  gentlemen,  it  remains  with  us  to  decide 
j  this  matter,  and  AVC  must  do  it  at  once.    It  is  now 
I  midnight,  and  if  AVC  retreat  Ave  haven't  got  a  min 
ute  to  lose." 

"  I  say  retreat,"  said  Pillow. 

"I  say  surrender'!  We  have  shed  enough 
blood  already  to  no  purpose,"  said  Buckner. 

"  Well,  gentlemen,"  said  Pillow,  "  I'm  in  the 
same  fix  as  yourself.  The  Yankees  have  got  me 
indicted  for  shipping  guns  and  munitions  of  war 
to  tjie  Confederate  Government.  So  you  see  I 
can't  surrender  either;  they  would  hang  me  as 
quick  as  they  would  you,  and  if  you  are  excusa 
ble  I  guess  I  am  too.  So  I  transfer  my  right  of 
command  to  you,  General  Buckner." 

General  Buckner  boAvcd,  but  said  nothing. 
At  that  moment  a  noise  Avas  heard  Avithout.  The 
door  opened,  and  the  courier  announced  an 
officer  Avho  desired  admittance.  He  Avas  ordered 
to  shoAv  him  in,  and  the  next  moment  Colonel 
Forrest,  all  splashed  Avith  mud  and  Avatcr,  with 
high  topped  boots  and  an  old  slouched  hat,  made 
his  appearance.  He  walked  to  the  fireplace  and 
seated  himself  Avithout  saying  a  word.  After  a 
few  moments  Floyd  said  : 

"  Well,  Colonel,  have  you  anything  important 
to  communicate  that  you  come 'here  at  this  late 
hour,  or  has  your  curiosity  led  you  to  pay  us  this 
visit  in  order  to  find  out  Avhat  AVC  have  decided 
upon  ?  " 

"Both,"  replied  Forrest,  dryly;  then  rising 
from  his  chair,  he  said  : 

"  But  is  it  possible,  gentlemen,  as  I  have 
already  heard  Avhispered  this  night,  that  you 
intend  to  surrender  V  " 

"  Yes,"  Avas  the  reply.  "  We  have  just  arrived 
at  that  conclusion." 

"  But,"  said  Forrest,  "  there  is  no  occasion  for 
it,  gentlemen ;  the  Avhole  army  can  easily  escape 
Avithout  the  loss  of  a  man ;  not  an  hour  ago  I 
crossed  the  river  on  my  horse  where  it  was  not 
waist  deep.  I  crossed  it  going  on  horseback, 
and  Avaded  it  coming  back.  It  is  free  from 
Yankee  pickets  also,  and  thei-e  is  no  danger  to  be 
!  feared." 

"  Yes;  but,  Colonel," said  General  Floyd, "my 
scouts  have  reconnoitred  the  entire  mrer,  and  an 
officer  who  arrived  not  half  an  hour  a^o  told  me 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


193 


that  he  had  tested  the  river  everywhere,  and  no 
spot  had  he  found  that  was  fordable." 

44 1  don't  care,  General,  if  he  did,"  said  Forrest ; 
"  he  told  you  a  d— d  lie,  as  I  am  ready  to  swear 
that  I  waded  the  river  not  half  an  hour  ago,  as 
my  wet  clothes  will  testify.  And  now,  gentle 
men,  as  it  is  getting  late,  it  is  high  time  you  should 
be  acting.  Will  you  take  my  advice  and  make 
your  escape  ?  " 

44  No,"  was  the  reply,  "  it  is  too  late." 

44 1  have  one  request  to  make,"  said  Forrest; 
44 1  have  a  fine  regiment  of  cavalry  here,  and  1 
want  permission  to  take  it  out.  Grant  me  this 
much,  and  I'm  oil'." 

General  Buckner  nodded  his  head,  when  For 
rest  bolted  out  of  the  house,  took  his  command, 
crossed  the  river,  at  the  aforesaid  place,  and 
made  his  escape  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 

A  GOOD  MARKSMAN. —  The  effectiveness  of 
the  batteries  is  proverbial.  While  advancing  on 
Resaca,  when  Sweeney's  division  was  on  the 
right  and  in  Vescrve,  Captain  Arndt's  Michigan 
battery  was  wheeled  into  position. 

44  Do  you  see  that  house  ?  "  said  the  captain, 
addressing  one  of  his  gunners,  and  pointing  to  a 
building  a  mile  aAvay. 

44 1  do,  captain,"  was  the  response. 

44  Can  you  hit  it  V  " 

44  Yes,  sir." 

The  piece  was  levelled,  the  lanyard  drawn, 
and  the  chimney  of  the  house  fell  with  a  crash ! 


AMUSING  INCIDENT.  —  Charles  Gates,  a 
minor  son  wished  to  enlist,  but  his  aged  parents 
objected  to  it.  One  morning  he  was  sent  to 
drive  the  cows  to  pasture,  on  his  way  to  work, 
taking  his  dinner  with  him.  But  at  night  he  did 
not  come  back,  because  he  had  run  away  and 
enlisted.  He  remained  through  the  three  years 
without  a  furlough,  and  returned  with  the  regi 
ment  unharmed  by  rebel  bullets,  lie  arrived  in 
the  old  pasture  at  home  one  night  just  at  >4  cow- 
time,"  and  leisurely  drove  up  the  same  old  cows 
as  if  he  hadn't  been  away  for  three  years.  His 
44  reception  "  was  a  joyful  one,  none  the  less  so 
because  his  coming  was  a  complete  surprise. 


A  BURIAL  AT  SEA.  —  A  correspondent  at 
Nassau,  N.  P.  wrote  as  follows:  —  "A  melan 
choly  incident  occurred  upon  the  steamship 
Fannie,  while  being  chased  by  a  Yankee  man-of- 
war.  One  of  the  passengers  on  board,  Captain 
Frank  Du  Barry,  late  chief  of  ordnance  on  Gen. 
Beauregard's  staff,  C.  S.  A.,  died.  Preparations 
had  to  be  completed  for  his  burial,  which  took 
place  amid  all  the  excitement  of  the  chase.  A 
burial  at  sea  is  a  ceremony  at  all  times  full  of  so 
lemnity,  but  it  is  when  coupled  with  such  events 
as  this  that  war  assumes  its  most  repulsive  aspect. 
In  that  frail  little  steamer,  quivering  with  her 
efforts  to  escape  the  relentless  fate  bearing  down 
tins,  and  the  ferocity  of  a 
13 


on  her  with  frowning  g 


tiger,  while  every  living  heart  on  board  waa 
throbbing  with  anxiety  for  safety,  they  were  sud 
denly  called  upon  to  render  the  last  and  most 
solemn  rites  known  to  our  existence.  No  time 
then  to  stop  in  mid-ocean,  while  words  that  con 
signed  44  dust  to  dust,"  "ashes  to  ashes,"  went  up 
in  presence  of  the  grim  destroyer,  but  still  dash 
ing  onward  through  the  waves  —  a  short  and 
hurried  service,  a  heavy  splash,  and  a  body  sank 
to  its  eternal  resting-place  in  the  broad  ocean's 
bosom,  while  all  that  was  dear  to  it  in  life  sped 
from  it  on  its  way  like  the  arrow  fiom  the  bow." 


THE    SOLDIER    BIRD.  —  One    day    in    the 

spring  of  1861,  Chief  Sky,  a  Chipjowa  Indian, 
living  In  the  northern  wilds  of  Wisconsin,  caj> 
tured  an  eagle's  nest.  To  make  sure  of  his  prize 
he  cut  the  tree  down,  and  caught  the  eaglet?  as 
they  were  sliding  from  the  nest  to  run  and  hide 
in  the  grass.  One  died.  lie  took  the  other 
home,  and  built  it  a  nest  in  a  tree  close  by  his 
wigwam.  The  eaglet  was  as  big  as,  a  hen,  cov 
ered  with  soft  brown  down.  The  ued  children 
were  delighted  with  their  new  pet ;  and  as  soon 
as  it  got  acquainted,  it  liked  to  sit  down  in  the 
grass  and  see  them  play  with  the  dogs.  But  Chief 
Sky  was  poor,  and  he  had  to  sell  it  to  a  white 
man  for  a  bushel  of  corn.  The  white  man 
brought  it  to  Eau  Claire,  a  little  village  alive  with 
white  men  going  to  the  war.  "  Here's  a  recruit," 
said  the  man.  "  An  eagle,  an  eagle  ! "  shouted 
the  soldiers,  "  let  him  enlist;"  and  sure  enough, 
he  was  sworn  into  the  service  with  ribbons  round 
his  neck,  red,  white,  and  blue. 

On  a  perch  surmounted  by  stars  and  stripes, 
the  company  took  him  to  Madison,  the  capital  of 
the  state.  As  they  marched  into  camp  Randall, 
with  colors  flying,  drums  beating,  and  the  people 
cheering,  the  eagle  seized  the  flag  in  his  beak  and 
spread  his  wings,  his  bright  eye  kindling  with  the 
spirit  of  the  scene.  Shouts  rent  the  air;  "The 
bird  of  Columbia!  the  eagle  of  freedom  forever!  " 
The  state  made  him  a  new  perch,  the  boys  named 
him  "  Old  Abe,"  and  the  regiment,  the  Eighth 
Wisconsin,  was  henceforth  called  "the  Eagle  reg 
iment."  On  the  march  it  was  carried  at  the  head 
of  the  company,  and  everywhere  was  greeted 
with  delight.  At  St.  Louis,  a  gentleman  offered 
five  hundred  dollars  for  it,  and  another  his  farm. 
No,  no,  the  boys  had  no  notion  of  parting  with 
their  bird.  It  was  above  all  price,  —  an  emblem  of 
battle  and  of  victory.  Besides  it  interested  their 
minds,  and  made  them  think  less  of  hardships  and 
of  home. 

I  cannot  tell  you  all  the  droll  adventures  of  the 
bird  through  its  three  years  of  service,  its  flights 
in  the  air,  its  fights  with  the  guinea  hens,  and  its 
race  with  the  darkies.  When  the  regiment  was 
in  summer  quarters  at  Clear  Creek  in  Dixie,  it 
was  allowed  to  run  at  large,  and  every  morning 
went  to  the  river  half  a  mile  off,  where  it  splashed 
and  played  in  the  water  to  its  heart's  content, 
faithfully  returning  to  camp  when  it  had  enough. 
Old  Abe's  favorite  place  of  resort  was  the  sutler's 
tent,  where  a  live  chicken  found  no  quarter  in 


194 


ANECDOTIC,   rOSTRY,  AND   INCIDENTS, 


hJH  presence.  But  rations  got  low,  and  for  two 
days  Abe  had  nothing  to  eat.  Hard-tack  he  ob 
jected  to,  fasting  was  disagreeable,  and  Tom,  his 
bearer,  could  not  get  beyond  the  pickets  to  a 
farmyard.  At  last,  pushing  his  way  to  the  colo 
nel's  tent,  he  pleaded  for  poor  Abe.  The  colonel 
jrave  him  a  pass,  and  Tom  got  him  an  excellent 
dinner. 

One  day  a  rebel  farmer  asked  Tom  to  come 
and  show*the  eagle  to  his  children.  Satisfying 
the  curiosity  of  the  family,  Tom  sat  him  down  in 
the  barnyard.  Oh  what  a  screeching  and  scat 
tering  among  the  fowls;  for  what  should  Abe  do 
but  pounce  upon  one  and  gobble  up  another,  to 
the  great  disgust  of  the  farmer,  who  declared  that 
was  not  in  the  bargain.  Abe,  however,  thought 
there  v>as  no  harm  in  confiscating,  nor  did  Tom. 

Abe  was  in  twenty  battles,  besides  many  skir 
mishes.  He  was  at  the  seige  of  Vicksburg,  the 
storming  of  Corinth,  and  marched  with  Sherman 
up  the  Red  river.  The  whiz  of  bullets  and  the 
scream  of  shells  were  his  delight.  As  the  battle 
grew  hot  and  hotter,  he  would  ilap  his  wings  and 
miagle  his  wildest  notes  with  the  noise  around 
him.  He  was  very  fond  of  music,  especially  Yan 
kee  Doodle  and  Old  John  Brown.  Upon  parade 
he  always  gave  heed  to  44  Attention."  With  his 
eye  on  the  commander,  he  would  listen  and 
obey  orders,  noting  time  accurately.  After  pa 
rade  be  would  put  off  his  soldierly  air,  flap  his 
wings,  and  make  himself  at  home.  The  rebels 
caiicd  him  4k  Yankee  Buzzard,"  '4  Old  Owl,"  and 
other  hard  names  ;  but  his  eagle  nature  was  quite 
above  noticing  it. 

The  rebel  General  Price  gave  orders  to  his  men 
to  be  sure  and  capture  the  eagle  of  the  Eighth 
Wisconsin  ;  he  would  rather  have  it  than  a  dozen 
battle  flags.  But  for  ail  that  he  scarcely  lost  a 
feather;  only  one  from  his  right  wing.  His  tail- 
feathers  were  once  cropped  by  a  bullet. 

At  last  the  great  rebellion  came  to  an  end,  and 
the  brave  Wisconsin  Eighth.,  with  their  live  eagle 
and  torn  and  riddled  flags,  were  welcomed  back 
to  Madison.  They  went  out  a  thousand  strong, 
and  returned  a  little  band,  scarred  and  toil-worn, 
having  fought  and  won. 

And  what  of  the  soldier  bird  ?  In  the  name  of 
his  gallant  veterans,  Capt.  Wolf  presented  him  to 
the  state.  Governor  Lewis  accepted  the  illustri 
ous  gift,  and  ample  quarters  are  provided  for  him 
in  the  beautiful  State-house  grounds,  where  may 
lie  long  live  to  tell  us 

"  What  heroes  from  the  woodland  sprang, 
When  through  the  fresh  awakened  laud 
Tin:  thrilling  cry  of  freedom  rang." 

Nor  is  the  end  yet.  At  the  great  fair  in  Chicago 
nil  enterprising  gentleman,  invited  44  Abe  "to  at 
tend,  lie  had  "colored  photographs  of  the  old  \ 
hero  struck  off,  and  sold  $10,700  worth  for  the 
benefit  of  poor  and  sick  soldiers.  Has  not  the 
American  eagle  done  its  part  'f  K. 

A  STORY  OF  PRESIDENT  LIXCOLX.  —  "Mr. 
President,"   said  a   friend   to   him,  4t  there  isn't  < 
much  left  of  Hood's  armv,  is  there  ?  " 


"  Well,  no,  Medill  ;  I  think  Hood's  army  is 
about  in  the  fix  of  Bill  Sykes'  dog,  down  in  San- 
gamon  county.  Did  you  ever  hear  it  ?  " 
Of  course,  the  answer  was,  "  Never." 
44  Well,  Bill  Sykes  had  a  long,  i/aller  dog,  that 
was  forever  getting  into  the  neighbors'  meat- 
houses  and  chicken-coops.  They  had  tried  to 
kill  it  a  hundred  times,  but  the  dog  was  always 
too  smart  ibr  them.  Finally,  one  of  them  got  £ 
bladder  of  a  coon,  and  filled  it  up  with  powder, 
tying  the  neck  around  a  piece  of  punk.  When 
he  saw  the  dog  coming  he  fired  this  punk,  split 
open  a  hot  biscuit  and  put  the  bladder  in,  then 
buttered  all  nicely  and  threw  it  out.  The  dog 
swallowed  it  at  a  gulp.  Pretty  soon  there  was 
an  explosion.  The  head  of  the  dog  lit  on  the 
porch,  the  fore-legs  caught  astraddle  the  fence, 
the  himl-!eg.s  fell  in  the  ditch,  and  the  rest  of  the 
dog  lay  around  loose.  Pretty  soon  Bill  Sykes 
came  along,  and  the  neighbor  said  :  *  Bill,  .1  guess 
there  aint  much  of  that  dog  of  your'n  left.' 
4  Well,  no,'  said  Bill ;  4 1  see  plenty  of  pieces,  bat 
I  guess  that  dog,  r/x  a  dog,  aint  of  much  more  ac 
count.'  Just  so,  Medill,  there  may  be  fragments 
of  Hood's  army  around,  but  1  guess  that,  dog,  &j 
a  day,  aint  of  much  more  account." 


SHERMAN'S   IN    SAVANNAH, 

LIKE  the  tribes  of  Israci, 

Fed  on  quails  and  /nanna, 
Sherman  and  his  glorious  band 
Journeyed  through  the  rebel  land, 
Fed  from  Heaven's  all  bounteous  hand, 

Marching  on  Savannah. 

As  the  moving  pillar  shone 
Streamed  the  starry  banner, 

All  the  day  in  rosv  light, 

Beaming  glory  all  the  night, 

Till  it  swooped  in  eagle  flight 
Down  on  doomed  Savannah. 

Glory  be  to  God  on  high  ! 

Shout  the  loud  hcsanna  ! 
Treason's  wilderness  is  past, 
Canaan's  shore  is  won  at  last ; 
Peal  a  nation's  trumpet-blast,  — 

Sherman  's  in  Savannah  ! 


LIFE  rx  SouTHKiix  PRISONS.  —  During  the 
expedition  of  Col.  Streight  through  Georgia  in 
the  spring  of  18G3,  Capt/f.  M.  Anderson  of  Com 
pany  D, "Fifty-first  Regiment,  of  Indiana,  vas 
captured  by  the  confederates  and  imprisoned  &t 
Richmond,  from  whence  he  escaped  in  company 
with  Lieutenant  Skelton,  of  the  Seventeenth 
Jowa  Regiment,  and,  reached  the  Union  lines  in 
safety,  after  much  suffering.  The  following  is 
his  account  of  his  experiences :  — 

I  was  taken  prisoner  on  the  third  day  of  May, 
18G3,  near  Rome,  Ga.,  with  Col.  S  freight's  com 
mand.  We  were  all  paroled  and  sent  to  Rich 
mond  with  the  expectation  of  going  through  to 
our  lines  ;  but  judge  of  our  surprise  when  we 
were  thrust  into  Libby  Prison,  and  our  paroles 
taken  from  us.  We  entered  Libby  on  the  six- 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


195 


teenth  day  of  May,  and  from  that  day  I  was  not 
on  the  ground  until  I  made  my  escape. 

From' the  day  that  I  entered  until  I  succeeded 
in  getting  away,  did  I  watch  my  opportunity.  I 
soon  became  satisfied  that  to  get  out  of  any  of  the 
upper  rooms  was  an  impossibility,  and  the  only 
room  that  there  was  any  prospect  of  getting  out 
of  was  the  hospital  room  in  the  east  end  of  the 
building,  which  is  as  low  as  the  street  on  the  north 
side,  but  the  second  floor  on  the  south  side.  Well, 
]  had  to  get  into  this  hospital  before  I  could  hope 
to  escape  ;  consequently,  1  was  taken  suddenly 
very  sick.  Of  course.  I  was  carried  to  the  hos 
pital,  where  all  sick  men  are  taken.  I  kept  my 
bed  three  or  four  days;  was  visited  by  the  sur 
geon  (a  mullet-headed  fellow,  that  didn't  know 
beans),  regularly,  every  day.  He  left  me  a  large 
dose  of  medicine,  which  I  found  did  me  a  great 
deal  of  good,  in  mv  vest-pocket.  After  several 
days  of  feigned  sickness,  I  set  to  work  to  find  a 
companion  to  go  with  me;  and,  as  fortune  favored 
me,  I  found  (he  man,  Lieut.  Skelton,of  the  Seven 
teenth  Iowa  Regiment,  who  had  long  had  the  same 
opinion  that  I  had,  that  he  would  get  away  from 
there  if  possible. 

We  soon  commenced  our  arrangements,  and 
worked  very  slowly,  and  everything  being  ready 
on  the  eleventh  of  this  month,  we  resolved  to 
make  the  attempt.  During  the  day  we  went  down 
into  the  basement  story,  which  is  used  as  a  cook- 
room  for  the  hospital,  and  cut  a  small  door  open 
into  the  south-east  corner  of  the  room.  This  we 
opened  with  a  large  beef-cleaver,  by  drawing  the 
spikes  and  nails  and  by  cutting  oil'  the  cross-bars. 
As  we  had  to  work  very  cautiously  and  silently, 
it  took  us  some  time  to  do  this,  but  it  was  accom 
plished  ere  dark.  The  hour  of  ten  o'clock  was 
the  hour  we  set  to  make  the  break.  We  pre 
pared  crackers  and  dried  beef  enough  to  last  us 
through,  and  then  dressed  ourselves  in  citizens' 
clothes  (which  we  had  received  from  home),  and 
then  everything  was  ready.  We  watched  the 
sentinels  very  closely,  and  just  as  the  hour  of  ten 
was  called  they  all  turned  and  walked  to  the 
west,  and  at  that  moment  we  opened  the  door, 
and  like  lightning  we  crossed  the  guard-line,  and 
when  the  guards  faced  about  we  were  walking 
coolly  and  briskly  down  the  street. 

\Ve  kept  down  Canal  street  some  two  squares, 
and  then  turned  up  Main  street.  We  then  thought 
(hat  the  boldest  step  was  safest, so  we  went  through 
the  city  on  Main  street,  then  through  Rockets,  a 
little  town  adjoining  Richmond  on  the  east.  After 
passing  through  Rockets  we  came  to  the  Williams- 
imrg  road.  This  we  kept  for  about  a  mile,  when 
we  came  in  sight  of  their  batteries  and  Ibrts,  and 
we  knew  that  pickets  were  on  the  road  ;  so,  to 
avoid  the  batteries  and  pickets,  we  took  a  by-path 
leading  otf  to  the  right  and  down  into  a  deep 
ravine,  and  in  this  we  passed  between  their  forts 
out  into  the  country.  The  night  was  dark,  and 
consequently  it  was  very  difficult  travelling.  We 
made  about  seven  miles  that  night,  and  came  to 
the  Williamsburg  road  again  ju.st  at  daybreak. 
We  filed  into  a  thick  clump  of  cedar  bushes  and 
lay  down  for  the  day.  It  was  raining  very  hard, 


and  it  was  chilling  cold ;  but  we  were  FREE  ;  what 
cared  we  for  cold  rains  when  we  were  breathing 
the  air  of  freedom  !     All  day  Saturday  we  were 
in  the  bushes.    The  rebel  drums  we  could  plainly 
j  hear  on  all  sides  of  us,  guns  firing,  and   soldier 
were  passing  and  re-passing ;  and  at  one  time  five 
rebs  passed  so  near  us  that  I  thought  we  should 
surely  be  discovered,  but  they  did  not  see  us,  and 
we,  of  course,  did  not  hail  them.     We  had  been 
suv.iiising   all  day  about  our   whereabouts,    but 
could  not  find  out  our  exact  locality,  so  we  con 
cluded  to  hail  the  first  darkey  that  passed.     We 
watched  the  road  closely,  and  about  sundown   I 
heard  a  wagon  coming.  *  Lieutenant  Skclton  said 
,  he  would  go  out  arid  stop  it  if  it  was  driven  by  a 
;  negro.     lie  crawled  close  to  the  road-side  and 
!  awaited  the  comyig  of  the  wagon,  when  he  jumped 
out  and  told  the  negro-driver  to  halt. 

The  boy  stopped  his  team,  and  out  came  a 
white  man  to  know  what  he  wanted.  lie  instant 
ly  saw  our  danger,  and  being  ready  for  any  emer 
gency  cried  out :  "  Say,  Mister,  1  have  lost  a 
black  boy,  and  have  tracked  him  out  into  this 
neighborhood,  but  here  I  lost  him.  Have  you 
heard  or  seen  anything  of  a  boy  about  twenty  years 
old,  five  feet  live  and  very  black  V  My  name  is 
Calloway  and  if  you  hear  anything  of  my  boy 
you  will  do  me  a  grand  kindness  by  having  him 
put  in  irons.  Good  day,  sir."  The  man  prom 
ised  to  do  his  best,  and  believing  every  word, 
drove  on.  Just  at  dark  we  again  set  forward 
on  the  Williamsburg  road  leading  to  Bottom's 
bridge,  over  the  Chickahominy  river.  There  is 
a  force  of  about  400  men  at  the  bridge.  We 
travelled  some  three  miles,  and  fearing  we  would 
ruu  into  their  pickets  if  we  went  farther,  we 
turned  into  the  woods  again.  It  had  been  rain 
ing  some  time,  and  consequently  was  as  dark  as 
Egypt  in  the  woods.  We  could  not  go  any  fur 
ther,  so  laid  down  for  the  night  again.  We  could 
not  sleep,  for  we  were  by  this  time  as  wet  as  if 
we  had  been  in  the  river.  Day  at  last  dawned, 
and  ere  it  was  quite  light  we  were  on  our  way. 
We  had  only  left  Richmond  some  ten  miles  be 
hind  us  up  to  Sunday  morning.  We  now  by  the 
aid  of  a  small  pocket  compass,  laid  out  our  course 
directly  north,  and  kept  it  for  several  hours. 
We  then  turned  directly  east,  toward  the  Chick 
ahominy  river,  and  soon  found  ourselves  in  one 
of  the  most  dense  swamps  that  it  was  ever  my 
|  fortune  to  get  into,  but  in  this  swamp  we  knew 
'  we  could  travel  with  safety.  On  we  went  through 
under-brush  and  briers,  through  water  over  our 
boors  several  inches,  and  all  of  that  day  did  we 
travel  through  that  miry  swamp. 

We  crossed  the  Chickahominy  about  a  half  an 
hour  by  sun,  and  again  fortune  favored  us,  for 
at  the  very  point  where  we  first  struck  the  river 
there  was  a  large  tree  blown  across  the  stream. 
On  this  we  crossed  about  three  miles  north  of 
Bottom's  bridge.  Being  very  weary,  we  did  not 
go  more  than  a  mile  from  the  river  where  we 
halted  for  the  night  in  the  woods.  We  were  now 
close  to  the  main  travelled  road  running  from 
Bottom's  bridge,  parallel  with  the  river  up  to 
Savage's,  and  wo  ccjld  hear  cavalry  passing 


196 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


along  this  road  all  night.  We  did  not  sleep  any, 
for  again  it  rained  and  it  was  a  cold  night,  but 
almost  everything  has  an  end"'ng,  and  so  it  was 
with  that  Sunday  night,  but  I  thought  it  was 
forty-eight  hours  long.  After  feasting  on  our 
dried  beef  and  hard  tack  we  set  forward  and 
soon  came  to  this  road,  and  just  as  we  were  in 
the  act  of  crossing  the  fence  we  spied  a  rebel 
scout  coming  up  the  road.  lie  had  seen  us  and 
we  dared  not  run,  for  then  he  would  be  sure  to 
suspicion  us,  so  we  stood  our  ground  prepared  to 
club  him  if  he  said  anything. 

He  came  up  and  we  looked  at  him  boldly  and 
impudently,  and  without  uttering  a  word.  He 
passed  on,  never  looking  back  to  see  where  we 
went.  We  quickly  crossed  the  road  and  entered 
the  woods,  and  if  we  didn't  do  some  tall  walking- 
then  for  about  ten  miles,  I  wouldn't  be  here  to 
say  so.  On  we  went,  keeping  our  course  direct 
ly  east,  allowing  nothing  to  turn  us  from  it  but 
farm-houses,  all  of  which  we  were  very  careful 
to  go  around  ;  but  through  swamps,  over  hills 
arid  hollows  we  went.  About  ten  o'clock  A.  M. 
on  Monday,  as  Ave  were  going  through  the  woods 
we  suddenly  came  in  sight  of  a  farm-house,  and 
a  negro  girl  raking  leaves  close  by.  I  thought 
likely  she  could  tell  us  where  we  were,  so  I  went 
up  and  spoke  to  her.  All  that  she  could  tell  was 
that  we  were,  in  New  Kent  County.  I  then 
asked  her  whether  her  master  was  a  secesh,  and 
whether  he  was  at  home  or  not.  She  said  he 
was  both.  I  then  told  her  that  we  were  Yankees, 
trying  to  got  home,  and  that  she  must  not  tell 
her  master  that  she  had  seen  any  one  all  of  which 
she  readily  promised. 

She  said,  "  I  am  looking  for  Mr.  Bradley 
(which  was  her  master's  name)  every  minute, 
and  you  had  better  run."  Again  we  made  good 
time,  and  soon  came  to  one  of  the  most  intricate 
swamps  I  ever  saw.  It  was  about  two  hundred 
yards  wide,  and  as  far  as  we  could  see  to  the 
right  or  left  it  was  the  same.  There  were  little 
tufts  of  grass  growing  up  all  over  it,  some  three 
or  four  feet  apart,  and  out  of  these  there  were 
little  sprouts  growing.  We  had  to  pull  ourselves 
from  one  of  the  bunches  of  grass  to  another,  and 
I  feel  justified  in  saying  that  the  quicksand  and 
mire  was  six  feet  deep  in  many  places,  but  in 
about  an  hour,  and  after  getting  very  wet,  we 
succeeded  in  getting  over,  and  then  we  turned 
around,  pulled  off  our  hats,  and  yelled,  "  Good 
by,  Mr.  Bradley."  During  all  of  our  day's  travel 
that  was  a  by-word  with  us,  but  on  we  pushed, 
exerting  ourselves  to  the  utmost  to  put  as  many 
miles  between  us  and  Richmond  as  possible. 

That  night  we  came  within  three  miles  of 
Dyuscuna  Creek,  and  about  twenty-two  miles 
from  Williamsburg.  We  were  now  in  a  negro 
settlement,  and  stopped  for  the  night.  We  en 
gaged  a  negro  guide  to  conduct  us  to  Dyuscuna 
Creek  bridge  the  next  morning,  and  an  hour  be 
fore  daylight  we  were  on  our  way,  arriving  at 
the  bridge  just  at  sun-up.  *  We  here  partook 
sparingly  of  our  beef  and  crackers,  and  then  set 
forward.  We  had  not  gone  more  than  a  mile 
before  we  saw  two  horsemen  coming  down  the 


(road  toward  us.  We  thought  that  it  was  per 
fectly  safe  to  travel  the  road  by  daylight  then,  as 
we  had  heard  that  our  troops  had  been  at  the 
bridge  late  the  evening  before :  so  when  these 
horsemen  came  in  sight  we  quickly  Jumped  into 
the  bushes  to  await  their  coming.  I  saw  they 
were  colored  men,  and  felt  no  hesitancy  in  com 
ing  out  to  the  road  and  speaking  to  them.  They 
said,  jn  answer  to  my  inquiries,  that  there  were 
rebel  scouts  011  hat  road  every  day.  I  then 
told  them  that  w  3  were  Yankee  prisoners  from 
Richmond  trying  to  get  within  our  lines.  Their 
faces  instantly  brightened,  and  they  told  us  to  go 
back  in  the  woods,  and  remain  there  until  night' 
or  we  would  be  picked  up.  We  knew  it  to  be 
good  advice,  so  we  backed  into  the  bushes 
again. 

One  of  the  darkies  lived  only  a  few  miles  from 
us,  and  the  other  near  Chicknhoniiny  Church, 
some  eight  miles  directly  on  our  route.  This 
darkey  told  us  that  he  would  pass  there  on  his 
way  back  home  in  the  evening,  and  said  he  would 
show  us  the  way  home  if  we  would  wait.  We 
remained  in  the  bushes  all  that  day,  which  was 
Tuesday,  and  true  to  his  promise  the  darkey 
made  his  appearance  late  in  the  evening.  He 
instructed  us  how  to  get  round  a  large  planta 
tion  that  was  close  by  and  reach  his  friend's  house. 
\\re  accordingly  set  forth,  and  in  about  an  hour 
arrived  safely  at  the  house.  The  old  darkies  gave 
us  our  supper,  anil  kept  a  strict  watch  for  intrud 
ers  while  we  were  eating.  When  it  became  suf 
ficiently  dark  our  guide  harnessed  his  horse  and 
put  him  to  his  cart,  putting  on  the  cover  and  tj- 
iiig  it  down  very  tight  all  round. 

We  then  ensconced  ourselves  very  snugly  in 
the  back  part  of  the  cart,  while  the  darkey  al 
most  filled  the  front  part,  and  away  we  went, 
driving  like  the  wind  sometimes.  When  about 
half  way  we  came  to  a  picket  post.  Mr.  Darkey 
told  us  to  lay  down  and  be  mute,  whereupon  he 
gave  his  horses  the  reins  and  wlrp  and  we  went 
past  that  picket  like  a  whirlwind.  If  there  were 
any  pickets  there,  they  saw  nothing  but  the  out 
lines  of  a  cart,  for  we  were  out  of  sight  ere  they 
could  halt  us.  We  reached  the  church  about 
nine  o'clock,  and  after  giving  us  another  supper 
the  darkey  piloted  us  for  three  miles  on  the  road 
to  Williamsburg  and  then  left  us.  We  were  now 
about  eight  miles  from  our  lines,  on  a  plain  road 
leading  to  them.  We  had  some  fears  of  meeting 
with  some  of  the  rebel  scouts  on  the  road,  for 
our  guide  told  us  they  were  on  the  road  day  and 
night.  So  we  moved  briskly  but  very  cautious 
ly.  The  road  was  not  the  mainly-travelled  one 
leading  to  Williamsburg,  but  we  came  into  it  when 
within  about  two  miles'of  the  town. 

We  thought  if  we  met  any  scouts  at  all  it  would 
be  at  the  junction  of  these  two  roads,  so  we  ap 
proached  the  main  road  very  slowly  but  found 
no  one  there.  Then  we  thought  ourselves  safe. 
So  on  we  went  toward  town",  not  knowing  at 
what  unfortunate  moment  we  might  come  in 
contact  with  a  party  of  rebel  scouts,  and  have 
all  our  hopes  daened  to  the  ground.  AVe  had 
gore  abcut  two  milei  and  vrilkiug  very  fast, 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


197 


when  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  the  stillness  of 
the  night  was  broken  by  a  gruff  voice  calling  out, 
"  Halt."  We  did  not  wait  for  a  second  challenge, 
but  came  to  a  dead  halt  instantly,  not  knowing 
whether  we  were  near  our  own  pickets  or  a 
couple  of  rebs,  for  we  could  see  that  there 
were  two.  "Who  comes  there  V  "  was  the  next 
challenge.  I  answered  "  friends."  lie  then  told 
me  to  advance  and  give  the  countersign.  Not 
liking  to  go  up  blindly,  I  asked  "  To  whom  I 
should  advance ;  "  and  without  answering  my  ques 
tion,  he  asked  "  To  whom  are  you  friends  ?  " 
That  was  the  hardest  question  I  ever  had  to 
answer.  I  knew  not  what  to  say,  but  in  a  mo 
ment  answered.  "  We  are  friends  to  the  North." 
"  Come  up,"  said  he ;  "  we  are  Union  pickets." 

I  thought  those  were  the  sweetest  words  that  1 
ever  heard.  We  threw  up  our  hats  high  in  the 
air,  and  went  with  such  a  yell  that  the  sentries 
thought  us  crazy.  When  inside  our  pickets  we 
turned  and  said,  "  Good-by,  Mr.  Bradley."  We 
soon  explained  our  boisterous  conduct  to  the  pick 
ets,  who  were  looking  on  with  amazement,  and 
then  everything  was  all  right.  My  pen  here 
fails,  dear  Tribune-,  to  express  our  happiness ;  but 
to  know  and  feel  that  we  were  uuder  the  protec 
tion  of  Uncle  Sam,  and  standing  on  the  ground 
over  which  that  dear  (lag  was  triumphantly  float 
ing,  under  whose  folds  both  of  us  had  fought  on 
many  battle-tields,  was  inexpressible.  We  were 
conducted  to  the  quarters  of  the  Lieutenant  of 
the  Guard,  and  there  remained  until  morning. 
It  was  at  two  o'clock,  A.  M.  when  we  crossed  the 
lines.  We  had  walked  nearly  seventy-five  miles 
through  swamps,  woods,  and  briers,  and  conse 
quently  our  feet  were  nearly  used  up. 

I  had  cut  my  boots  off  my  feet  the  night  before, 
for  my  feet  were  wet  from  the  first  night  of  start 
ing,  and  my  boots  had  contracted  to  my  feet  and 
were  punishing  me  severely,  so  on  Wednesday 
morning  we  were  without  boots  or  socks,  our 
feet  swollen  and  bruised,  even  bleeding,  and 
it  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  1  could  walk. 
Yet  we  were  two  of  the  happiest  boys,  I  suppose, 
in  America  at  that  time.  What  cared  we  then 
whether  we  had  any  feet  at  all  or  not,  for  we  had 
our  liberty.  We  took  breakfast  with  Major 
Wheeling  of  the  Fourth  N.  Y  Cavalry,  and  Pro 
vost  Marshal  of  the  District.  He  treated  us  with 
the  greatest  kindness,  and  after  breakfast  sent  us 
in  his  buggy  to  Col.  Forrest's  quarters  with  a  let 
ter  of  introduction  to  that  otticer. 

Col.  West  received  us  kindly,  and  gave  us 
stockings  and  slippers,  and  in  the  evening  sent 
us  to  Yorktown,  where  we  arrived  on  the  night 
of  the  great  tire  and  magazine  explosion.  We 
had  been  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Butler  at 
Fortress  Monroe,  and  at  Yorktown  were  fur 
nished  transportation  by  Gen. to  the  fort,  with 

a  letter  of  introduction  to  Gen.  Butler.  Imme 
diately  on  our  arrival  we  went  to  the  General's 
head-quarters  and  were  shown  to  his  room,  in 
rather  a  sorry  plight  to  be  sure  —  clothes  torn  in 
many  places  by  the  briers,  and  slip-shod,  with 
sore  feet.  The  old  General  eyed  us  very 
when  we  entered.  His  military  eye  | 


ran  all  over  us  in  a  moment.     After  saluting  him, 

he  asked,  "  Do  you  wish  to  see  me  on  business  V  " 
Whereupon  we  gave  him  our  letter  from  Col. 
West.  After  glancing  over  it  he  changed  instantly. 
It  was  not  the  rigid  General  Butler  of  a  moment 
before,  for  now  he  grasped  our  hands,  shaking 
them  warmly.  After  asking  us  many  questions 
concerning  our  prisoners,  he  placed  us  in  the  care 
of  the  gentlemanly  Capt.  Puffer,  one  of  his  A.  D. 
C's.  with  orders  to  furnish  us  with  clothing,  trans 
portation  and  everything  else  that  we  needed, 
which  was  all  faithfully  attended  to  by  that 
officer. 

How  GENERAL  McPnERSON  WAS  KILLED. 
A  soldier  who  was  near  the  General  at  the  time 
ne  was  shot  gives  the  following  particulars  of  the 
occurrence  and  the  actions  of  the  confederates 
which  preceded  it :  —  "I  entered  the  woods  to 
behold  a  wounded  man  whose  name  is  George 
Reynolds,  of  the  Fifteenth  Iowa  Fourth  Division, 
Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  and  a  short  distance 
from  him  lay  General  James  B.  McPherson,  suf 
fering  intense  agony  from  a  fatal  wound,  a  Minie 
ball  having  entered  the  right  breast,  passed  near 
the  heart,  and  came  out  near  the  left  side. 

I  then  took  my  position  close  to  his  side  and 
requested  him  to  drink  a  little  cold  water  I  had 
secured  a  short  time  before,  and  asked  the  priv 
ilege  to  bathe  his  temples ;  to  which  interroga 
tories  I  could  elicit  no  reply,  only  a  faint  nod  of 
the  head.  Occasionally  returning  to  conscious 
ness  he  would  ask  me  for  his  hat,  which  by  search 
I  found  had  been  stolen  from  him,  as  also  his 
belt.  1  had  not  been  in  this  situation  over  five 
minutes  when  a  rebel  straggler  came  up,  to  whom 
I  remarked,  "  You  are  a  prisoner,  are  you  not  ?  " 
To  which  he  replied,  "  No,  sir-ce  1 "  and  then 
asked  me,  "  Can  you  walk  ?  Come  along,"  etc. 
1  gave  a  negative  answer  and  exhibited  a  very 
sore  and  bandaged  leg,  all  besmeared  with  blood, 
which  had  troubled  me  of  late,  and  was  thus 
successful  in  making  him  believe  I  was  severely 
wounded. 

This  was  the  work  of  a  few  moments ;  when 
four  more  rebels  came  up,  and  simultaneously 
two  more  of  our  stragglers  passed  near  by.  They 
were  taken  with  the  previously  mentioned. 
They  then  extracted  the  papers  which  were  in 
plain  view  from  the  General's  pocket,  took  his 
watch  and  marine  glass,  but  did  not  search  the 
remainder  of  his  pockets,  nor  ask  any  questions 
in  reference  to  whom  he  was  nor  did  we  inform 
them.  They  acted  with  civility,  considering  it  a 
battle-field.  They  then  ordered  the  wounded  man 
and  myself  to  follow  them.  We  told  them  we  were 
not  able,  and  if  they  took  us  they  would  have 
to  carry  us,  etc. ;  when  to  my  glad  astonishment 
they  absconded  with  their  three  prisoners,  with 
the  aforementioned  articles,  leaving  their  two 
supposed  cripples  with  the  General.  All  this 
time  the  rebel  shot  and  shell  were  crashing  with 
fearful  rapidity  all  around  ui-,  in  every  direction. 
Several  balls  lighted  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
General,  scattering  the  dirt  all  over  him  in  a 
complete  shower.  While  tht  rebels  were  taking 


198 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


from  the  General  the  articles  previously  men 
tioned,  he  sat  up  and  again  asked  for  his  hat, 
v/hich  I  believe,  were  the  last  words  he  spoke, 
for  IMS  agony  was  most  intense. 

After  the  rebels  had  gone,  it  was  agreed  that 
I  should  go  in  search  of  an  ambulance,  while  my 
solitary  wounded  companion  remained  with  the 
General.  My  companion  believing  that  our  men 
were  still  in  front  fighting  as  well  as  rear,  I  pro 
ceeded  in  the  direction  of  Atlanta,  as  near  as  I 
can  judge,  about  three-eighths  of  a  mile,  when  I 
saw  rebel  skirmishers  not  far  distant  in  my  front, 
as  also  their  works;  the  brush  being  rather  thin, 
it  was  difficult  to  escape  ;  but  by  creeping  back 
where  the  brush  was  more  dense,  I  then  ran  as 
best  I  could  until  I  got  back  again  to  the  Gen 
eral,  when  my  companion  informed  me  he  had 
just  died,  but  said  nothing  after  I  left  him. 
During  this  interval  the  woods  were  thoroughly 
riddled,  and  every  moment  1  expected  to  meet 
the  General's  sad  fate  ;  hut  Providence  spared  me. 

A  straggler  who  said  he  belonged  to  the  Third 
or  Fourth  Division,  Pioneer  Corps,  came  up  and 
was  requested  to  act  as  witness,  lie,  it  seems, 
committed  the  theft. 

The  first  thing  we  examined  was  the  contents 
of  the  wallet,  and  on  opening  it  saw  the  gold 
chains  arid  gold  piece,  or  medal ;  opening  another 
apartment,  we  saw  a  roll  of  bills,  which  our  new 
coiner  instantly  grabbed,  as  he  said,  to  ascertain  , 
the  contents.  Unfolding  them,  as  near  as  I  can  j 
recollect,  1  saw  the  aforementioned  bills.  As 
soon  as  his  eye  caught  sight  of  the  large  bills,  he 
separated  them  from  the  smaller  ones,  and  then 
made  the  following  diabolical  proposition,  to  wit: 
—  Boys,  let  us  equally  divide  the  spoils  and  say 
nothing  about  it.  VV'e  positively  and  in  the 
strongest  terms  refused  to  be  accomplices  in  such 
an  infernal  scheme.  lie  then  kept  possession  of 
all  the  large  bills,  leaving  only  eight  dollars,  and 
ran  as  fast  as  his  legs  could  carry  him  in  a  west 
erly  course  toward  the  wagon  trains. 

I  looked  upon  him  as  a  wretch  like  Juclas  of 
old.  and  could  have  wished  that  in  his  escape  he 
had  met  with  the  t-ame  fate  as  he  of  whom  sacred 
writ  informs  us,  "  He  burst  asunder  and  all  his 
bowels  gushed  out."  Leaving  the  guilty  culprit 
with  the  fruits  of  his  dastardly  act,  1  would  re 
mark  that  fearing  capture  every  moment,  and  the 
importance  of  the  General's  rescue,  was  the  rea 
son  of  our  not  continuing  a  critical  examination 
of  the  remaining  contents,  and  making  all  speed, 
we  proceeded  in  the  direction  I  entered  the  woods 
an  hour  or  more  before.  Emerging  from  the 
woods  we  bore  to  the  south-west,  in  which  direc 
tion  we  saw  wagon-trains  and  ambulances. 

The  first  ambulance  to  which  we  made  known 
our  mission  refused  to  go.  Proceeding  further, 
we  came  to  two  more,  when  we  requested  the 
foremost  one  to  go  with  us,  and  seeing  three  offi 
cers  riding  up  toward  us,  we  explained  to  them 
our  object,  when  they  informed  us  they  were  part 
of  his  staff  and  were  very  anxious  to  get  him. 
So  taking  the  first  ambulance,  we  piloted  them 
to  the  spot,  and  then  a  most  thrilling  scene  took 
place  that  1  shall  never  forget.  Looking  down  ! 


tjie  woods  from  the  ambulance,  I  saw  the  rebel 
skirmishers  steadily  advancing,  and  thinking  the 
staff  officers  were  not  fully  aware  of  the  danger 
we  were  all  in  (as  I  had  intentionally  refrained 
from  describing  the  danger  to  them  previously), 
I  jumped  from  the  ambulance,  and  to  my  surprise, 
confronted  an  armed  rebel. 

Seeing  we  were  :n  desperate  circumstances,  I 
rushed  to  inform  the  stafT  officers,  who  were  now 
carrying  his  body  out  of  the  woods,  and  I  in 
formed  them  that  the  rebels  were  now  closing  in 
around  us,  and  the  necessity  of  all  who  had 
revolvers  being  ready  to  use  them.  I  believe 
they  all  drew  them,  and  1  endeavored  as  best,  1 
:ould  to  assist  in  carrying  his  body  to  the  ambu 
lance.  We  got  him  in  as  best  we  could,  under 
such  exciting  circumstances  (for  I  was  afraid 
every  moment  a  cannon  ball  or  shell  would  crush 
the  ambulance  or  kill  the  mules),  and  whirling 
swiftly  around,  we  drove  off  at  a  perfect  gallop, 
with  rebel  shot  and  shell  and  Minie  balls  hurled 
in  a  perfect  storm  after  us.  But,  fortunately,  no 
one  was  hurt. 

So  great  was  the  danger  that  we  had  to  drive 
with  fearful  rapidity  nearly  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
before  we  could  properly  and  comfortably  adjust 
the  General's  body.  1  only  remember  the  name 
of  one  of  these  staff  officers,  and  that  is  Lieuten 
ant  Colonel  Strong.  There  was  also  a  Captain  and 
First  Lieutenant.  I  would  remark  that  the  offi 
cers  acted  with  determined  bravery ;  in  fact,  all 
did,  and  the  coolness  of  my  wounded  companion, 
was  really  sublime  amidst  severe  suffering  from 
his  arm. 

After  the  rescue  we  drove  to  Gen.  Sherman's 
head-quarters.  The  body  was  taken  out  and  car 
ried  into  the  house  to  be  examined.  Gen.  Sher 
man  seemed  deeply  affected  by  the  sight.  My 
wounded  companion  was  then  taken  to  the  near 
est  hospital  of  the  Twenty -third  Corps,  by  order 
cf  the  Medical  Director.  He  was  wounded  bv  a 
Minie  ball  through  the  left  arm  just  above  the 
elbow.  He  went  through  all  the  exciting  cir 
cumstances  from  the  time  he  was  wounded  to  the 
time  he  was  taken  to  the  hospital  before  he  had 
it  dressed,  which  must  have  been  nearly  five 
hours.  The  General  was  wounded  about  half- 
past  12  P.  M.,  and  rescued  from  the  rebels  about 
3  p.  M.  He  lived  about  one  hour  after  he  was 
wounded. 


THE  MOCKING  BIRD  OF  RESACA.  —  A  cor 
respondent  in  Georgia,  wrote  as  follows :  —  I  find 
in  an  Atlanta  paper  the  following  extravaganza 
upon  a  mocking  bird  at  Kesaca.  It  calls  to  uiy 
mind  a  fact  that  I  had  forgotten.  At  the  first 
advance  upon  liesaca,  on  the  9th  of  May,  I  re 
member  observing  at  dusk  an  unusual  number  of 
birds,  and  as  night  fell,  just  as  the  troops  were 
withdrawing,  a  grand  chorus  of  whip-poor-wills 
rang  through  the  forest.  Perhaps  Kesaca  has 
been  a  favorite  home  for  the  songsters  of  the 
woods. 

"  Waverley,"  the  correspondent,  who  was  an 
eye-witness  and  participator  iu  the  late  battles 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND   INCIDENTS. 


199 


in  North  Georgia,  relates  the  following  pretty  in 
cident  of  the  battle  of  Llesaca : 

*'  In  the  hottest  part  of  the  battle  of  Sunday, 
a  shell  came  screaming  through  the  air  from  the 
works  in  front  of  our  left.  It  paused  above  a 
point  where  General  Johnston  and  General  Polk 
were  standing,  whistled  like  a  top  alove  them, 
and  beibre  exploding  whistled  half-a-dozen  notes 
clear  as  a  fife  to  the  drum-like  rattle  of  musketry. 
The  din  had  scarce  died  away,  and  the  fragments 
fallen  to  the  ground,  when  the  attention  of  the 
party  was  directed  to  one  of  the  upper  boughs  of 
a  tall  pine,  where  a  mocking-bird  had  begun  to 
imitate  the  whistle  of  the  sheik  Neither  the  roar 
of  cannon,  nor  the  rain  of  balls  could  drive  this 
brave  bird  from  its  lofty  perch.  It  sat  above  the 
battle-field  like  a  little  god  of  war,  its  blythe  tones 
warbling  over  the  din  of  arms  — 

"  In  profuse  strains  of  unpremeditated  art," 

and  its  stout  heart  as  free  as  though  it  swelled  to 
the  breezy  winds  of  peace  in  the  summer  woods. 
Thou  Touchstone  of  the  battle-field,  mocking  the 
very  air  of  death  and  pouring  out  a  cheery  can 
ticle  for  the  slain,  who  are  happy  in  dying  for  the 
land  they  love,  thou  art  the  true  type  of  the 
great  Confederate  heart.  Be  it  like  thine,  as 
bold  and  free.  May  it  swell  as  it  is  pressed,  and 
grow  strong  as  it  hurls  back  the  vandal  and  in 
vader.  May  it  stand  upon  its  own  door-sill,  as 
that  gallant  bird  stood  upon  the  bough  of  the 
pine,  and  trill  a  chant  of  defiance  in  the  face  of 
danger,  and  though  do.spair  span  its  bony  fingers 
about  its  throat,  may  is  armies  take  a  lesson  from 
thy  pluck,  thou  valia.it,  mocking-bird,  and  sing  in 
the  breach  and  shout  on  the  hills,  to  the  music  of 
Minie  ball  and  shrapnell,  never  doubting,  never 
daunted,  defying  the  power  of  the  world,  and 
obedient  only  to  the  God  of  the  universe.  For 
he  who  dies  in  the  front  dies  in  the  love  of  the 
Lord,  and  there  is  not  a  sentiment  truer  for  the 
soldier  than  that  the  brave  who  perish  in  the 
cause  of  liberty  are  thrice  blessed  above  the  lazy 
sons  of  peace. 

"  Not  man  nor  monarch  half  so  proud, 
As  he  whose  fla<j;  becomes  his  shroud." 


A  TOUCHING  INCIDENT  OF  THE  WAR.  —  An 
interesting  anecdote  is  related  of  Franklin,  who, 
it  is  alleged,  in  order  to  lest  the  parental  instinct 
existing  between  mother  and  child,  introduced 
himself  as  a  belated  traveller  to  his  mother's  house 
after  an  absence  of  many  years.  Her  house  be 
ing  filled  with  more  illustrious  guests  than  the 
unknown  stranger,  she  refused  him  shelter,  and 
would  have  turned  him  from  her  door.  Hence 
he  concluded  that  this  so-called  parental  instinct 
was  a  pleasant  delusive  belief,  not  susceptible  of 
proof. 

The  opposite  of  this  occurred  in  Washington. 
(n  one  of  the  fierce  engagements  with  the  rebels 
near  Mechanicsville,  a  young  lieutenant  of  a 
Rhode  Island  battery  had  his  right  foot  so  shat 
tered  by  a  fragment  of  shell  that,  on  reaching 
Washington  after  01  e  of  those  horrible  ambulance 


rides,  and  a  journey  of  a  week's  duration,  he  was 
obliged  to  undergo  amputation  of  the  leg.  He 
telegraphed  home  hundreds  of  miles  away  that  all 
was  going  well,  and  with  a  soldier's  fortitude 
composed  himself  to  bear  his  sufferings  alone. 

Unknown  to  him,  however,  his  mother,  one  of 
those  dear  reserves  of  the  army,  hastened  up  to 
join  the  main  force.  She  reached  the  city  at 
naidn'yht,  and  the  nurses  would  have  kept  her 
from  him  until  morning.  One  sat  by  his  side 
fanning  him  as  he  slept,  her  hand  on  the  feeble 
fluctuating  pulsations  which  foreboded  sad  results. 
But  what  woman's  heart  could  resist  the  plead- 
ngs  of  a  mother  then  ?  In  the  darkness  she  was 
finally  allowed  to  glide  in  and  take  the  place  at 
his  side.  She  touched  his  puke  as  the  nurse  had 
done ;  not  a  word  had  been  spoken  ;  but  the 
sleeping  boy  opened  his  eyes  and  said,  "  That  feels 
like  my  mother's  hand  ;  who  is  this  beside  me  V 
It  is  my  mother ;  turn  up  the  gas  and  let  me  see 
mother ! " 

The  two  dear  faces  met  in  one  long,  joyful 
sobbing  embrace,  and  th«  fondness  pent  up  in 
each  heart  sobbed  and  ps.nted,  and  wept  forth  its 
expression. 

The  gallant  fellow,  j  :?t  twenty-one,  his  leg 
amputated  on  the  last  day  of  his  three  years' 
service,  underwent  operation  after  operation,  and 
at  last,  when  death  drew  nigh,  and  he  was  told 
by  tearful  friends  that  it  only  remained  to  make 
'him  comfortable,  said,  "  he  had  looked  death  in 
the  face  too  many  times  to  be  afraid  now,"  and 
died  as  gallantly  as  did  the  men  of  the  Cumber 
land. 


YE  LONDONNE  TIMES  CORRESPONDENT! 
1IIS  BULLE  RUNNE  LETTKRE. 

"  BULLE  IluxNE,  July  ye  twenty-firsts; 

Welle,  here  am  I,  alle  righto, 
And  just  returned  from  wytnessinge 
Ye  famouse  Bulle  llunne  fighte. 

"  There  was  no  fijjhte,  there  was  no  Pulla, 

Unlesse  itte  mighte  bee  mee  ; 

And  I  the  onlie  mnnne  to  runne, 

At  leaste  thatte  I  could  see. 

"  I  sntte  me  on  a  dystante  hylle, 
Fnlle  fyftecne  myles  awaye, 
Thatte  I  raighte  see  ye  soldierees  kille, 
Me  aiiie  came  mye  waye. 

"  I  hadde  a  hranne  newe  telescope, 

And  a  bottelle  of  olde  Porte, 
Wytthe  sandewytchcs,  inne  case  I  foanda 
Ye  provenderre  ranne  shorte. 

"  Ande  soone  1  sawe  a  monst rouse  crowds 

Fulle  fyfteene  myles  awaye, 
And  cannones  there  were  roaringe  loude, 
And  muskettes  inne  fulle  playe. 

"  I  satte  mee  there  fromme  earlie  dawne 

Unrille  ye  settynge  sunne, 
And  thcnno  I  thoughts thatto  ?ertaynellie 
Ye  battcllc  muste  bee  done. 


200 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,   AND  INCIDENTS. 


"  I  snwe  no  fighte,  butte  I  muste  write 

As  iffc  I  sawe  itte  alle, 
Thoutrhe  rcallie  I  do  believe, 
Therrc  was  no  fighte  atte  alle. 

"  And  thysse  itte  is  mye  judgement*, 

Aftcrre  carefulle  sfudie  mayde, 
Thatte  one  syde  is  a  cowarde, 
And  ye  otherre  is  afrayde. 

"  I  wisshe  you  woulde  Ictte  mee  come  home 

I'm  tyred  of  alle  thysse  bustle; 
I  wysshe  no  more  ye  woride  to  roame, 
Youres  truly,  BILLIE  RUSSKLLE." 


INCIDENTS  OF  KENESAW.  —  It  was  an  im 
posing  scene  !  A  rebel  regiment,  their  bayonets 
glistening  in  the  slanting  rays  of  the  setting  sun, 
were  having  a  dress-parade  on  the  summit  of  the 
Kencsaw  Mountain.  Below  were  their  rifle-pits, 
and  their  camarades  (Farmes  occupying  them. 

A  courier  dashed  up  ;  he  hands  the  adjutant  a 
document.  It  is  an  order  irom  Johnston,  an 
nouncing  to  the  troops  that  Sherman  had  brought 
his  army  so  far  south  that  his  line  of  supplies  was 
longer  than  he  could  hold ;  that  he  was  too  far 
from  his  base — just  where  their  commanding 
general  wished  to  get  him;  that  a  part  of  their 
army  would  hold  the  railroad,  thirty  miles  north 
of  the  Etoway,  and  that  the  great  railroad  bridge 
at  Alatoona,  had  been  completely  destroyed ;  that 
in  a  few  days  Sherman  would  be  out  of  supplies 
because  he  could  bring  no  more  trains  through 
by  the  railroad.  They  were  urged  to  maintain  a 
bold  front,  and  in  a  few  days  the  Yankees  would 
be  forced  to  retreat.  Breathless  silence  evinces 
the  attention  which  every  word  of  the  order  re 
ceives,  as  the  adjutant  reads.  Cheers  are  about 
to  be  given,  when  hark  !  loud  whistles  from  Sher 
man's  cars,  at  Big  Shanty,  interrupt,  them.  The 
number  of  whistles  increase.  Alatoona,  Ack- 
worth,  and  Big  Shanty  depots  resound  with  them. 
Supplies  have  arrived.  The  effect  can  easily  be 
imagined.  The  illustration  was  so  apt  —  the 
commentary  so  appropriate  —  that  it  was  appre 
ciated  at  the  instant.  "  Bully  for  the  base  of  sup 
plies!"  "Bully  for  the  long  line!"  u  Three 
cheers  for  the  big  bridge  !  "  "  Here's  your  Yankee 
cars  !  "  "  There's  Sherman's  rations  !  "  Bedlam 
was  loose  along  their  line  for  a  short  time. 

There  is  a  tree  in  front  of  General  Harrow's 
Fourth  Division,  Fifteenth  Army  Corps,  Sher 
man's  army,  which  is  called  the  fatal  tree.  Eight 
men  were  shot,  one  after  another,  as  soon  as  they 
advanced  lo  the  ill-fated  tree  to  take  a  secure  po 
sition  behind  its  huge  trunk.  Seven  men  were 
shot,  when  a  board  was  placed  there  with  the 
word  "  dangerous  "  chalked  upon  it.  The  rebels 
shot  the  guide-post  into  fragments,  and  a  sergeant 
took  his  place  behind  the  unsuspecting  tree.  In 
less  than  tAvo  minutes  two  Minie  balls  pierced  the 
sergeant's  body,  and  he  fell,  the  eighth  martyr 
beneath  the  shadow  of  the  tree  of  death. 


A  FAIR  DIVISION.  —  One  of  those  biting  cold 
mornings,  while  the  armies  of  Meade  and  Lee 
were  staring  at  each  other  across  the  little  rivu 
let  known  as  Mine  Run,  when  moments  appeared 
to  be  hours,  and  hours '  days,  so  near  at  hand 
seemed  the  deadly  strife,  a  solitary  sheep  leisure 
ly  walked  along  the  run  on  the  rebel  side.  A 
rebel  vidette  fired  and  killed  the  sheep,  and  drop- 
ing  his  gun,  advanced  to  remove  the  prize.  In 
an  instant  he  was  covered  by  a  gun  in  the  hands 
of  a  Union  vidette,  who  said,  *?  Divide  is  the 
word  or  you  are  a  dead  Johnny."  This  propo 
sition  was  assented  to,  and  there,  between  the 
two  skirmish  lines,  Mr.  Rebel  'skinned  the  sheep, 
took  one  half,  and  moved  back  to  his  post,  when 
his  challenger,  in  turn  dropping  his  gun,  crossed 
the  run,  got  the  other  half  of  the  sheep,  and 
again  assumed  the  duties  of  his  post  amid  the 
cheers  of  his  comrades,  who  expected  to  help  him 
eat  it.  Of  the  hundreds  of  hostile  men  arrayed 
against  each  other  on  either  bank  of  that  run, 
not  one  dared  to  violate  the  truce  intuitively 
agreed  upon  by  these  two  soldiers. 

A  ROMANCE  OF  THE  WAR.  —  The  following 
simple  and  unvarnished  story  has  hardly  a  paral 
lel  in  the  page  of  fiction.  Its  strict  truth  is  be 
yond  question :  — 

Near  Murfrecxboro,  June  28,  1864.  —  The 
original  of  the  following  letter  is  in  my  possession. 
The  events  so  graphically  narrated  transpired 
in  Overton  County,  Tennessee.  I  knew  Dr. 
Sadler  from  a  small  boy.  The  men  who  mur 
dered  him  were  noted  guerillas,  and  killed  him 
for  no  personal  grudge,  biit  on  account  of  his 
sentiments.  I  have  no  personal  acquaintance 
with  the  young  lady  ;  but  have  the  highest  au 
thority  for  stating  that  she  is  a  pure,  high-minded 
girl,  the  daughter  of  a  plain  farmer  in  moderate 
circumstances.  It  only  remains  to  state  that  Pe- 
teet  was  killed  January  30,  and  Gordenhire 
February  4,  1861,  so  that  the  vengeance  they  in 
voked  has  overtaken  all  three  of  the  murderers 
of  M.  G.  Sadler. 

JOHN    W.  BOWEN. 

MARTIN'S  CREEK,  April  30,  1864. 

Major  C/.if/,  — According  to  promise  I  now  at 
tempt  to  give  you  a  statement  of  the  reasons 
why  I  killed  Turner,  and  a  brief  history  of  the 
affair.  Dr.  Sadler  had,  for  two  years  previous 
to  his  death,  seemed  equally  as  near  and  dear  to 
me  as  a  brother,  and  for  several  months  nearer 
than  any  person,  —  my  parents  not  excepted.  If 
he  had  not,  I  never  would  have  done  what  I  did, 
promise  to  be  his. 

The  men  who  killed  him  had  threatened  his 
life  often  because  he  was  a  Union  man  ;  they  said 
he  should  not  live  ;  and  after  taking  the  oath  they 
arrested  him,  but  Lieutenant  Oakley  released 
him  at  pa's  gate.  He  stayed  at  pa's  till  bed-time, 
and  I  warned  him  of  the  danger  he  was  in ;  told 
him  I  had  heard  his  life  threatened  that  day,  and 
that  I  felt  confident  he  woi  Id  t  e  killed  if  he  did 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


201 


not  leave  the  neighborhood,  aud  stay  off  until 
these  men  became  reconciled. 

He  promised  to  go ;  said  he  had  some  business 
at  Carthage,  and  would  leave  the  neighborhood 
that  night^  or  by  daylight  next  morning,  and  we 
felt  assured  he  had  gone.  But  for  some  unac 
countable  reason  he  did  not  leave.  About  3  o'- 
tlock,  p.  M.,  next  day,  news  came  to  me,  at  Mr. 
Johnson's,  where  I  had  gone  with  my  brother, 
that  Dr.  Sadler  was  killed.  I  had  met  Peteet, 
Gordenhire,  aud  Turner  on  the  road,  and  told  my 
brother  there  that  they  were  searching  for  Dr. 
Sadler  to  kill  him.  Sure  enough  they  went  to 
the  house  where  he  was,  and,  strange  to  me,  after 
his  warning,  he  permitted  them  to  come  in.  They 
met  him  apparently  perfectly  friendly,  and  said 
they  had  come  to  get  some  brandy  from  Mr. 
Yelton,  which  they  obtained,  and  immediately 
after  drinking,  they  all  three  drew  their  pistols 
and  commenced  firing  at  Sadler.  He  drew  his, 
but  it  was  snatched  away  from  him.  He  then 
Irew  his  knife,  which  was  also  taken  from  him. 
He  then  ran  round  the  house  and  up  a  stairway, 
escaping  out  of  their  sight.  They  followed,  how 
ever,  and  searched  till  they  found  him,  and  brought 
him  down  and  laid  him  on  a  bed,  mortally  wound 
ed.  He  requested  some  of  his  people  to  send  for 
Dr.  Dillin  to  dress  his  wounds.  It  is  strange  to 
me,  why,  but  Sadler's  friends  had  all  left  the  room, 
when  Turner  went  up,  and  put  his  pistol  against 
his  temples,  and  shot  him  through  the  head.  They 
all  rejoiced  like  demons,  and  stood  by  till  he  had 
made  his  last  struggle.  They  then  pulled  his  eyes 
open,  and  asked  him  in  a  loud  voice  if  he  was 
dead.  They  then  took  his  horse  and  saddle,  and 
pistols,  and  robbed  him  of  all  his  money,  and 
otherwise  insulted  and  abused  his  remains. 

Now,  for  this,  I  resolved  to  have  revenge.  Pe 
teet  and  Gordenhire  being  dead,  I  determined  to 
kill  Turner,  and  to  seek  an  early  opportunity  of 
doing  it  But  1  kept  that  resolution  to  myself, 
knowing  that  if  I  did  not  I  would  be  prevented. 
I  went  prepared,  but  never  could  get  to  see  him. 

On  the  Thursday  before  I  killed  him,  I  learned 
he  was  preparing  to  leave  for  Louisiana,  and  I 
determined  he  should  not  escape  if  I  could  pre 
vent  it.  I  arose  that  morning,  and  fixed  my  pis 
tols  so  that  they  would  be  sure  fire,  and  de 
termined  to  hunt  him  all  that  day.  Then,  sitting 
down,  I  wrote  a  few  lines ;  so  that,  if  I  fell,  my 
friends  might  know  where  to  look  for  my  remains. 
1  took  my  knitting,  as  if  I  wore  going  to  spend  the 
day  with  a  neighbor  living  on  the  road  toward 
Turner's.  It  rained  very  severely,  making  the 
roads  muddy,  so  that  I  became  fatigued,  and  con 
cluded  to  go  back  and  ride  the  next  day,  on  Satur 
day.  But  ma  rode  my  horse  on  Saturday,  and 
left  me  to  keep  house.  We  had  company  Sunday 
P.  M.,  so  that  I  could  not  leave  ;  but  the  company 
left  about  noon,  and  I  started  again  in  search  of 
Turner.  I  went  to  his  house,  about  two-and-a- 
half  miles  from  pa's.  I  found  no  one  at  home, 
and  therefore  sat  down  to  await  his  return.  After 
waiting  perhaps  one-and-a-half  hours,  a  man 
came  to  see  Turner,  and  not  finding  him,  he  said 
he  supposed  he  and  his  wife  had  gone  to  Mrs. 


Christian's,  his  sister-in-law,  who  lived  about  ona« 
half  mile  distant. 

I  concluded  to  go  there  and  see,  fearing  the  man 
would  tell  him  I  was  waiting  for  him,  and  he  would 
escape  me.  I  found  him  there,  and  a  number  of 
other  persons,  incl-i  ling  his  wife,  and  her  father 
and  mother.  Most  of  them  left  when  I  entered 
the  Louse.  I  asked  Mrs.  Christian  if  Turner  was 
cone.  She  pcinted  to  him  at  the  gate,  just  leav 
ing.  1  looked  at  the  clock,  and  it  was  4-30  o'clock, 
p.  M.  J  then  walked  out  into  the  'yard,  and,  as 
Turner  was  starting,  called  to  him  to  stop.  He 
turned,  ind  saw  1  was  preparing  to  shoot  him  ;  he 
started  to  run.  I  fired  at  the  distance  of  about 
twelve  paces,  and  missed.  I  fired  again  as  quick 
as  possible,  and  hit  him  in  the  back  of  the  head, 
and  he  fell  on  his  face  and  knees.  I  fired  again 
and  hit  him  in  the  back,  and  he  fell  on  his  right 
side.  I  fired  twice  more,  only  one  of  these  shots 
taking  effect.  By  this  time  1  was  within  five 
steps  of  him,  and  stood  and  watched  him  till  he 
was  dead,  and  then  turned  round  and  walked 
toward  the  house,  and  met  Mrs.  Christian  and  her 
sister,  his  wife,  coining  out.  They  asked  me  what 
I  did  that  for.  My  response  was,  "  You  know 
what  that  man  did  the  13th  of  December  last,  — 
murdered  a  dear  friend  of  mine.  I  have  been 
determined  to  do  this  deed  ever  since,  and  I  never 
shall  regret  it."  They  said  no  more  to  me,  but 
commenced  hallooing  and  blowing  a  horn.  I  got 
my  horse  out  and  started  home,  where  I  shall  stay 
or  leave  when  I  choose,  going  where  I  please,  and 
saying  what  I  please.  L.  J.  W. 

GENERAL  SUMNER  AT  ANTIETAM.  —  A  sto 
ry  is  told  of  the  veteran  Simmer  at  the  battle  oi 
Antietam.  Ilis  son,  young  Captain  Sumner,  a 
youth  of  twenty-one,  was  on  his  stall'.  The  old 
"man  calmly  stood,  amidst  a  storm  of  shot  and 
shells,  and  turned  to  send  him  through  a  doubly 
raging  fire,  upon  a  mission  of  duty.  lie  might 
ni'.ver  see  his  boy  again,  but  his  country  claimed  his 
life,  and,  as  he  looked  upon  his  young  brow,  he 
grasped  his  hand,  encircled  him  in  his  arms,  and 
fondly  kissed  him.  *'  Good-by,  Sammy,"  "  Good- 
by,  father,"  and  the  youth,  mounting  his  horse, 
rode  gayiy  on  the  message.  He  returned  un 
harmed,  and  again  his  hand  was  grasped  with  a 
cordial  "  Ilow  d'ye  do,  Sammy  V"  answered  by  a 
grasp  of  equal  affection.  The  scene  was  touch 
in  to  those  around. 


INCIDENT  OF  LOOKOUT  MOUNTAIN.  —  It 
was  near  sundown  when  General  T  J.  Wood, 
whose  conduct  all  through  the  three  lays'  battle 
marked  him  as  one  of  the  ablest  leaders  of  the 
national  armies,  rode  along  the  lines  of  his 
superb  division.  Loud  shouts  of  enthusiasm  ev 
erywhere  greeted  his  appearance,  until  at  last  his 
feelings,  no  longer  controllable,  broke  out  in  a 
speech  : 

"  '  Brave  men  !  '  said  he,  *  you  were  ordered  to 
go  forward  and  take  the  rifle-pits  at  the  foot  of 
these  hills;  you  did  so;  aid  then,  by  the  Eter 
nal!  withc.it  oilers,  you  pushed  forward  and 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AXD   INCIDENTS, 


took  all  the  enemy's  works  on  top  !  Here  is  a  fine 
chance  for  having  you  all  eourt-martialled  I  and 
1  myself  will  appear  as  the  •principal  witness 
against  you,  unless  you  promise  me  one  thing.' 

44  *  What  is  it  V  what  is  it  V '  laughingly  inquired 
his  men. 

44  *  It  is,'  resumed  the  General,  '  that  as  you  are 
BOW  in  possession  of  these  works,  you  will  con 
tinue  against  all  opposition  of  Bragg,  Johnston, 
Jeff.  Davis  and  the  devil,  steadfastly  to  hold 
them  ! ' 

44  At  the  conclusion  of  this  speech,  the  enthu- 
thusiasm  of  the  soldiers  knew  no  bounds.  They 
left  the  ranks  and  crowded  round  their  General. 
4  We  promise!  we  promise!'  they  cried.  And, 
amid  such  exclamations  as,  4  Of  course  we'll  hold 
them  ! '  4  Let  any  one  try  to  take  them  from  us  ! ' 
4  Bully  for  you  ! '  '  Three  cheers  for  old  Wood/ 
the  gallant  officer  rode  off  the  field." 


"I  FIGHTS  MIT  SIGEL!" 

BY    GRANT    P.    UOHIN8ON. 

I  MET  him  agnin,  he  was  trudging  along, 

His  knapsack  with  chickens  was  swelling  ; 
He'd  "  Blcukured  "  these  dainties,  and  thought  it  no 
wrong, 

From  .some  secessionist's  dwelling. 
"  What  regiment's  yours?  and  under  whose  Rag 

Do  you  fi^-ht?  "  said  I,  touching  his  shoulder; 
Turning  slowly  around  lie  smilingly  said, 

For  the  thought  made  him  stronger  and  bolder  ; 
"  ijiglds  mil  Sigd." 

The  next  time  I  saw  him  his  knapsack  was  gone,. 

His  cap  and  canteen  were  missing, 
Shell,  shnipijcll,  and  jrrape,  and  the  swift  rifle-hail 

Around  him  and  o'er  him  were  hissing. 
How  are  you,  my  friend,  and  where  have  you  been, 

And  for  what  and  for  whom  arc  you  fighting  '{ 
He  said,  ns  a  shell  from  the  enemy's  -run 

Sent  his  arm  and  his  musket  a*"  kiting," 
"  /  jiyhts  mil  Si  yd." 

And  once  more  I  saw  him  and  knelt  by  his  side, 

His  lift.'-blood  was  rapidly  flowing; 
I  whispered  of  home,  wife,  children,  and  friends, 

The  blight  land  to  which  he  was  going; 
And  have  you  no  word  for  the  dear  ones  at  home, 

The  "  wee  one,"  the  father  or  mother  ? 
"  Yaw  !  yaw  !  "  said  he,  "  tell  them  !  oh  !  tell  them 
I  fights"  — 

Poor  fellow  !  he  thought  of  no  other  — 
"  Ifujlds  mil 


We  scraped  out  a  grave,  and  he  drearnlessly  sleeps 

On  the  banks  of  the  Shcnnndouh  River; 
His  home  and  his  kindred  alike  are  unknown, 

His  reward  in  the  hands  of  the  Giver. 
We  placed  a  rough  board  at  the  head  of  his  grave, 

"  And  we  left  him  alone  in  his  glory," 
But  on  it  we  marked  ere  we  turned  from  the  spot, 

The  little  we  knew  of  his  story  — 
"  1  fiyhts  mil  Siyd." 


ARMY  SIGNALS.  —  This  most  interesting  and 
useful  arm  of  the  military  service  is  perhaps,  less 
beard  of  by  the  public  than  any  other ;  and  its 


invaluable  labors,  as  well  as  its  frequent  imminent 
perils,  are  alike  unrecorded,  and,  therefore,  un 
appreciated.  The  signal  officer  who  would  bring 
late  and  full  news  to  the  commanding  General 
must  undergo  not  a  little  fatigue  and  hardship. 
lie  must  climb  high  trees  to  watch  the  enemy ; 
he  must  penetrate  through  tangled  thickets  and 
forests,  5 r.  search  of  eligible  stations;  he  must 
climb  the  sides  of  steep  and  rugged  mountains, 
and  his  bright  and  showy  flag  never  fails  to 
attract  the  rebel  sharpshooter's"  fire  when  he 
is  in  reach,  which  he  must  often  be  to  secure  a 
good  post,  or  observe  the  enemy. 

When  once  a  station  is  established,  his  flag 
must  never  droop  by  day  nor  his  torch  grow  dim 
by  night,  till  he  has  orders  from  his  chief  to 
abandon  his  post  for  a  new  one.  And  yet  so 
great  is  the  mystery  with  which  he  must  enshroud 
his  art,  so  profoundly  secret  must  he  keep  the 
weighty  messages  and  orders  confided  to  him, 
and  so  silent  'are  his  operations,  that  the  world 
and  even  the  army  know  little  about  him.  lie 
alone  is  proof  against  the  wiles  of  those  "uni 
versal  walking  interrogation-points,"  the  corre 
spondents,  though  he,  above  all  others,  is  the  man 
whom  they  would  delight  to  be  permitted  to  a  use." 
But  he  has  his  reward  for  all  this.  In  the  clear 
upper  air  where  he  dwells,  he  sees,  as  with  a 
hawk's  eye,  the  whole  great  drama  played  out  be 
neath  him ;  he  sees  the  long  lines  of  men  de 
ployed  through  the  valleys,  and  knows  where  they 
go,  and  why  ;  his  eyes  feast  upon  the  field  of  bat 
tle,  where  the  columns  of  attack  rush  impetuously 
down  a  wooded  slope,  across  an  open  field,  and 
up  into  another  piece  of  wood,  and  all  is  clear  to 
him  and  intelligible,  while,  to  others  who  must 
grovel  on  the  ground,  there  is  nothing  but  an  ex- 
I  asperating  muddle. 

8ignal  stations  are  of  two  kinds ;  reflecting  sta 
tions  and  stations  of  observation  ;  the  former  for 
transmitting  dispatches,  the  latter  for  watching 
the  enemy  and  communicating  the  results  to  the 
commander.  Both  are  constructed  on  the  same 
principles,  and  employ  the  same  instruments. 
The  latter  are  few  and  simple.  The  flag  is 
made  of  diiferent  colors,  to  contrast  with  the 
line  of  the  background,  white,  black,  or  red.  The 
one  usually  employed  is  but  four  feet  square; 
for  the  largest  distances  it  is  made  six  feet  square, 
and  mounted  on  a  third  joint  of  stalf  to  give  it 
wider  ranse.  The  marine  glass  is  used  for  scan 
ning  the  horizon  rapidly,  and  making  general  ob 
servations;  the  telescope  for  reading  signals  at  a 
great  distance,  and  observing  fixed  points  minute 
ly.  Besides  these  there  is  a  certain  mysterious 
pasteboard  dise,  stamped  with  a  circle  of  figures, 
and  a  sliding  interior  one  of  letters  corresponding 
to  each.  This  is  the  key  and  clew  of  the  whole 
matter,  and  to  the  uninitiated  is,  of  course,  im 
penetrable. 

When  a  message  is  about  to  be  sent,  the  flag 
man  takes  his  station  upon  some  elevated  object, 
and  44  calls  "  the  station  with  which  he  desires  to 
communicate  by  waving  the  flag  or  torch  slowly 
to  and  fro.  The  operator,  seated  at  the  glass, 
watches  closely  the  distant  ling,  and  as  soon  as  it 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


203 


responds  by  dipping,  he  is  ready  to  send  his  dis 
patch.  Holding  the,  written  message  before  him, 
he  calls  out  to  1  he  flagman  certain  numbers,  each 
figure  or  combination  of  figures  standing  for  a  let 
ter.  The  flagman  indicates  each  separate  figure  by 
an  ingenious  combination  of  a  few  very  simple  mo 
tions.  For  instance,  one  stroke  of  the  flag  from 
a  perpendicular  to  a  right  horizontal,  indicates 
one  figure  ;  a  stroke  to  the  left  horizontal,  indi 
cates  another ;  a  stroke  executing  a  half  circle, 
another,  &c.  After  each  motion  indicating  a  fig 
ure,  the  flag  returns  always  to  a  perpendicular. 
Tbc're  are  a  few  syllables  which  are  indicated  by 
a  sinid'S  stroke  of  the  flag;  otherwise  the  word 
mu&t  be  spelled  out  letter  by  letter.  Experienced 
signal  officers,  however,  employ  many  abrevia- 
tions  by  omitting  vowels,  &c.,  so  that  scarcely  a 
single  word,  unless  a  very  unused  one,  is  spelled 
out  in  full. 

When  a  message  is  being  received,  the  operator 
sits  at  the  glass,  with  the  flagman  near  to  record 
it.  This  the  operator  then  interprets,  for  riot 
even  the  General  himself  is  in  the  secret,  and  by 
supplying  the  omitted  vowels,  &g.,  makes  out  an 
intelligible  piece  of  the  king's  English. 

The  rapidity  with  which  all  this  is  executed  by 
experienced  operators  is  astonishing.  The  flag 
is  kept  in  such  rapid  motion  that  the  eye  of  the 
inexpert  can  scarcely  follow,  and  his  wonder  is 
increased  by  being  told  that  the  reader,  of  whom 
he  cannot  see  the  slightest  indication  with  his 
caked  eye,  is  ten  or  twelve  miles  away.  An  or 
dinary  message  of  a  few  lines  is  despatched  in 
ten  minutes ;  a  whole  page  of  foolscap  occupies 
about  thirty  minutes  iu  its  transmission.  Officers 
who  have  long  worked  together,  and  are  intimate 
ly  acquainted  with  each  other's  abbreviations  and 
peculiar  expressions,  can  improve  upon  even  this 
speed. 

The  distance  also  through  which  signals  can  be 
transmitted,  without  an  intermediate  station,  is 
surprising.  Captain  Leonard,  chief  signal  officer 
of  the  Fourth  Corps,  sent  despatches  regularly 
from  llinggold  to  Summerville,  on  Lookout  Moun 
tain,  a  distance  of  eighteen  miles.  Lieut.  Wil 
liam  Reynolds,  formerly  of  the  Tenth  Corps,  sig 
nalled  from  the  deck  of  a  gunboat  twenty  miles 
into  Port  Royal  harbor.  N.  Daniels  was  sent  by 
the  Secretary  of  AVar,  to  Alary  land  Heights  to! 
give  information  of  the  enemy's  movements,  and  I 
he  succeeded  in  sending  messages  rapidly  over 
the  extraordinary  distance  of  twenty-four  miles 
—  from  the  Heights  to  Sugar-loaf  Mountain  — 
four  miles  from  Frederick.  But  these  instances 
required  remarkably  favorable  conditions  of  the 
atmosphere,  locality,  &e.  Ordinarily,  messages 
were  not  sent  a  greater  distance  than  six  or 
eight  miles. 


AN  ANECDOTE  OF  THE  WILDERNESS.  —  In 

the   battles   of   the   Wilderness,  the   Twentieth 
Massachusetts  regiment  was  in  the  thick  of  the 
fight,  and  one  color-bearer  after  another  was  shot 
down  almost  as  fast  as  the  men  could  be  replaced,  j 
But  such  was  the  eagerness  to  k^ep  the  flag  aloft ' 


that  at  one  time,  two  men,  —  Irishmen  —  caught 
hold  of  the  standard  at  once,  as  it  was  about  to 
fall,  and  struggled  for  it.  Just  then  a  shot 
struck  the  staff',  cutting  it  in  two,  and  leaving  one 
man  with  the  flag,  and  the  other  with  the  broken 
stick.  "Bedad!"  said  the  man  with  the  short 
end  of  the  staff,  "  the  rebels  have  decided  for  ua 
this  time  ! "  and  went  to  loading  and  firing  again, 
as  coolly  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  ROCKY  FACE.  —  Briga 
dier  General  Morgan  related  the  following  inci 
dent  that  occurred  on  his  line  of  operations. 
While  his  brigade  occupied  the  gap,  between  Oak 
Knob  and  Rocky  Face,  a  corporal  of  Company  I, 
Sinlieth  Illinois,  broke  from  the  line,  and  under 
cover  of  projecting  ledges  got  up  within  twenty 
feet  of  a  squad  of  rebels  on  the  summit.  Taking 
shelter  from  the  sharpshooters,  he  called  out: 

"  I  say,  rebs,  don't  you  want  to  hear  Old  Abe's 
amnesty  proclamation  read  ?" 

"  Yes  !  yes  !  "  was  the  unanimous  cry ;  "  give 
us  the  ape's  proclamation." 

"Attention!"  commanded  the  corporal,  and 
in  a  clear  and  resonant  voice,  he  read  the  amnes 
ty  proclamation  to  the  rebels,  beneath  the  cannon 
planted  by  rebel  hands  to  destroy  the  fabric  of 
government  established  by  our  fathers.  When 
he  arrived  at  those  passages  of  the  proclamation 
where  the  negro  Avas  referred  to,  he  was  interrupt 
ed  by  cries  of  "  None  of  your  d — d  abolitionism 
—  look  out  for  rocks  !  "  And  down  over  his  hid 
ing-place  descended  a  shower  of  stones  and  rocks. 
Having  finished  the  reading,  the  corporal  asked  : 

"  Well,  rebs,  how  do  you  like  the  terms  ?  Will 
you  hear  it  again  ?  " 

u  Not  to-day,  you  bloody  Yank.  Now  crawl 
down  in  a  hurry  and  we  wont  fire,"  was  the  re 
sponse  ;  and  the  daring  corporal  descended  and 
rejoined  his  command,  which  had  distinctly  heard 
all  that  passed. 


THE  DEATH  AND  BURIAL  OF  GEN.  J.  E.  B. 
STUART.  —  No  incident  of  mortality  since  the  fall 
of  the  great  Jackson,  has  occasioned  more  painful 
regret  than  this,  said  the  Richmond  Examiner  of 
May  13,  1864.  Major  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  the  model 
of  Virginia  cavaliers  and  dashing  chieftain,  whose 
name  was  a  terror  to  the  enemy,  and  familiar  as  a 
household  word  in  two  continents,  is  dead,  struck 
down  by  a  bullet  from  the  dastardly  foe,  and  the 
whole  Confederacy  mourns  him.  lie  breathed  out 
his  gallant  spirit  resignedly,  and  in  the  full  posses 
sion  of  all  his  remarkable  faculties  of  mind  and  body 
at  twenty-two  minutes  to  eight  o'clock,  Thursday 
night,  at  the  residence  of  Dr.  Brewer,  a  relative, 
on  Grace  street,  in  the  presence  of  Drs.  Brewer^ 
Garnett,  Gibson,  and  Fontaine  of  the  General's 
stall,  Rev.  Messrs.  Peterkin  and  Keppler,  and  a 
circle  of  sorrow-stricken  comrades  and  friends. 

We  learn  from  the  physicians  in  attendance 
upon  the  General  that  his  condition  during  the 
day  was  very  changeable,  with  occasional  de 
lirium,  aiul  other  anmistakable  s}  mptoms  of 


204 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


speedy  dissolution.  In  the  moments  of  delirium 
the  General's  mind  wandered,  and  like  the  im 
mortal  Jackson,  (whose  spirit,  we  trust,  his  has 
joined),  in  the  lapse  of  reason  his  faculties  were 
busied  with  the  details  of  his  command.  He  re 
viewed,  in  broken  sentences,  all  his  glorious  cam 
paigns  around  McClellan's  rear  on  the  Peninsula, 
beyond  the  Potomac,  and  upon  the  llapidan, 
quoting  from  his  orders  and  issuing  new  ones  to 
his  couriers,  with  a  last  injunction  to  "  make  haste." 

About  noon  Thursday,  President  Davis  visited 
his  bedside,  and  spent  some  fifteen  minutes  in  the 
dying  chamber  of  his  favorite  chieftain.  The 
President,  taking  his  hand,  said,  "  General,  how 
do  you  ieel  ?  "  He  replied,  "  Easy,  but  willing 
to  die,  if  God  and  my  country  think  I  have  ful 
filled  my  destiny  and  done  my  duty."  As  even 
ing  approached  the  General's  delirium  increased 
and  his  mind  again  wandered  to  the  battle-fields 
over  which  he  had  fought,  then  off  to  wife  and 
children,  and  off  again  to  the  front.  A  telegraph 
ic  message  had  been  sent  for  his  Avife,  who  was  in 
the  country,  with  the  injunction  to  make  all  haste 
as  the  General  was  dangerously  wounded.  Some 
thoughtless,  but  unauthorized  person,  thinking 
probably  to  spare  his  wife  pain,  altered  the  dis 
patch  to  "  slightly  wounded,"  and  it  was  thus  she 
received  it,  and  did  not  make  that  haste  which 
she  otherwise  would  have  done  to  reach  his  side. 

As  evening  wore  on  the  paroxysms  of  pain 
increased,  and  mortification  set  in  rapidly. 
Though  suffering  the  greatest  agony  at  times,  the 
General  was  calm,  and  applied  to  the  wound, 
wilh  his  own  hand,  the  ice  intended  to  relieve 
the  pain.  During  the  evening  he  asked  Dr. 
Brewer  how  long  he  thought  he  could  live,  and 
whether  it  was  possible  for  him  to  survive  through 
the  night.  The  doctor,  knowing  he  did  not  de 
sire  to  be  buoyed  by  false  hopes,  told  him  frankly 
that  death  the  last  enemy,  was  rapidly  approach 
ing.  The  General  nodded,  and  said,  "I  am  re 
signed  if  it  be  God's  will ;  but  I  would  like  to 
live  to  sec  my  wife.  But  God's  will  be  done." 
(Several  times  he  roused  up  and  asked  if  she  had 
come. 

To  the  doctor,  who  sat  holding  his  wrist,  and 
counting  the  fleeting,  weakening  pulse,  he  remark 
ed,  "  Doctor,  I  suppose  I  am  going  fast  now.  It  will 
soon  be  over.  But  God's  will  be  done.  I  hope 
I  have  fulfilled  my  destiny  to  niy  country  and 
my  duty  to  my  God." 

At  half-past  seven  o'clock  it  was  evident  to  the 
physicians  that  death  was  setting  its  clammy  seal 
upon  the  brave,  open  brow  of  the  General,  and 
they  told  him  so  —  asked  if  he  had  any  last  messages 
to  give.  The  General,  with  a  mind  perfectly 
clear  and  possessed,  then  made  disposition  of  his 
staff  and  personal  effects.  To  Mrs.  General  II. 
E.  Lee  he  directed  that  the  golden  spurs  be  giv 
en  as  a  dying  memento  of  his  love  and  esteem  of 
her  husband.  To  his  staff  officers  he  gave  his 
horses.  So  particular  was  he  in  small  things, 
even  in  the  dj'ing  hour,  that  he  emphatically  ex 
hibited  and  illustrated  the  ruling  passion  strong 
in  death.  To  one  of  his  staff,  who  was  a  heavy- 
built  man,  he  said,  i%  You  had  better  take  the 


larger  horse  ;  he  will  carry  you  better."  Other 
mementos  he  disposed  of  in  a  similar  manner. 
To  his  young  son,  he  left  his  glorious  sword. 

His  worldly  matters  closed,  the  eternal  interests 
of  his  soul  engaged  his  mind.  Turning  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Peterkin,  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and 
of  which  he  was  an  exemplary  member,  he  asked 
him  to  sing  :he  hymn  commencing : 

"  Kock  of  ages  cleft  for  me,' 
Let  me  hide  myself  in  thee," 

he  joining  with  all  the  voice  his  strength  would 
permit.  He  then  joined  in  prayer  with  the  min 
isters.  To  the  doctor  he  again  said,  "  I  am  going 
fast  now ;  I  am  resigned ;  God's  will  be  done.* 
Thus  died  General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart. 

His  wife  reached  the  house  of  death  and 
!  mourning  about  10  o'clock  on  Thursday  night, 
;  one  hour  and  a  half  after  dissolution,  and  was,  of 
i  course,  plunged  into  the  greatest  grief  by  the  au- 
j  nouneement  that  death  had  intervened  between 
j  the  announcement  of  the  wounding  of  the  Gen- 
,  eral  and  her  arrival. 

The  funeral  services  preliminary  to  the  consign 
ment  to  the  grave  of  the  remains  of  General 
Stuart,  were  conducted  yesterday  afternoon  in 
St.  James'  Episcopal  church,  corner  of  Marshall 
!  and  Fifth  streets,  Rev.  Dr.  Peterkin,  rector. 
*  The  cortege  reached  the  church  about  five  o'clock 
without  music  or  military  escort,  the  Public 
Guard  being  absent  on  duty.  The  church  was 
already  crowded  with  citizens.  The  metallic 
case,  containing  the  corpse,  was  borne  into  the 
church  and  up  the  center  aisle  to  the  altar,  the 
organ  pealing  a  solemn  funeral  dirge  and  an 
them  by  the  choir. 

Among  the  pall-bearers  we  noticed  Brigadier- 
General  John  II.  Winder,  General  George  W. 
Randolph,  General  Joseph  II.  Anderson,  Briga 
dier-General  Lawton,  and  Commodore  Forrest. 

Among  the  congregation  appeared  President 
Davis,  Genera]  Bragg,  General  Hansom,  and 
other  civil  and  military  officials  in  Richmond.  A 
portion  of  the  funeral  services,  according  to  the 
Episcopal  Church,  was  read  by  Rev.  Dr.  Peterkin, 
assisted  by  other  ministers,  concluding  with  sing 
ing  and  prayer. 

The  body  was  then  borne  forth  to  the  hearse 
in  waiting,  decorated  with  black  plumes,  and 
drawn  by  four  white  horses.  The  organ  pealed 
its  slow,  solemn  music  as  the  body  was  borne  to 
the  entrance,  and  while  the  cortege  was  forming, 
the  congregation  standing  by  with  heads  un 
covered.  Several  carriages  in  the  line  were  oc 
cupied  by  the  members  of  the  deceased  General's 
staff,  and  relatives.  From  the  church  the  corteye 
moved  to  Hollywood  Cemetery,  where  the  re 
mains  were  deposited  in  a  vault;  the  concluding 
portion  of  the  service  read  by  Dr.  Minngerode, 
of  St.  Paul's  Church,  —  and  all  that  was  mortal 
of  the  dead  hero  was  shut  in  from  the  gaze  of  men. 
Dr.  Brewer,  the  brother-in-law  of  Gen.  Stuart, 
has  furnished  us  with  some  particulars  obtained 
from  t  ic  General's  own  lips,  of  the  manner  is 
which  he  came  by  his  wound. 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


205 


He  had  formed  a  line  of  skirmishers  near  the 
Yellow  Tavern,  when,  seeing  a  brigade  preparing 
to  charge  on  his  left,  Gen.  Stuart  and  his  staff 
dashed  down  the  line  to  form  troops  to  repel  the 
charge.  About  this  time  the  Yankees  came  thun 
dering  down  upon  the  General  and  his  small 
escort.  Twelve  shots  were  fired  at  the  Genera! 
at  short  range,  the  Yankees  evidently  recognizing 
his  well-known  person.  The  General  wheeled 
upon  them  with  the  natural  bravery  which  had 
always  characterized  him,  and  discharged  SIK 
shots  at  his  assailants.  The,  last  of  the  shots 
tired  at  him  struck  the  General  in  the  left  side  of 
the  stomach.  He  did  not  fall,  knowing  he  would 
be  captured  if  he  did,  and,  nerving  himself  in 
his  seat,  wheeled  his  horse's  head  and  rode  for 
the  protection  of  his  lines.  Before  he  reached 
them  his  wound  overcame  him,  and  he  fell,  or 
was  helped  from  his  saddle  by  one  of  his  ever- 
faithful  troopers,  and  carried  to  a  place  of  security. 
Subsequently,  he  was  brought  to  Richmond  in  an 
ambulance.  The  immediate  cause  of  death  was 
mortification  of  the  stomach,  induced  by  the  How 
of  blood  from  the  kidneys  and  intestines  into  the' 
cavity  of  the  stomach. 

General  Stuart  was  about  thirty-five  years  of 
age.  He  leaves  a  widow  and  two  children.  His 
oldest  offspring,  a  sprightly  boy,  died  a  year  ago 
while  he  was  battling  for  his  country  on  the  Rap- 
pahannock.  When  telegraphed  that  his  child  was 
dying  he  sent  the  reply,  "  I  must  leave  my  child 
in  the  hands  of  God ;  my  country  needs  me  here ; 
1  cannot  come." 

Thus  has  passed  away,  amid  the  exciting  scenes 
of  this  revolution,  one  of  the  bravest  and  most 
dashing  cavaliers  that  the  "  Old  Dominion  "  has 
ever  given  birth  to.  Long  will  her  sons  recount 
the  story  of  his  achievements,  and  mourn  his  un 
timely  departure.  Like  the  hero  of  the  old  song, — 

"  Of  all  our  knights  ho  was  rho  flower, 

Compngnon  ile  hi  Marjolaine; 
Of  all  our  knights  ho  was  the  tiower, 
Always  guy." 


HOME  LIFE  IN  THK  SOUTH.  —  "There  are 
many  little  things  in  which  our  daily  life  is 
changed,"  said  the  wife  of  a  Confederate  officer, 
—  "many  luxuries  cut  off  from  the  table  which 
we  have  forgotten  to  miss.  Our  mode  of  pro 
curing  necessaries  is  very  different  and  far  more 
complicated,  The  condition  of  our  currency  hasj 
brought  about  many  curious  results;  for  instance,  I 
I  have  just  procured  leather,  for  our  negro-shoes, 
by  exchanging  tallow  for  it,  of  which  we  had  a 
quantity  from  some  fine  beeves,  fattened  and 
killed  upon  the  place. 

"  I  am  now  bargaining,  with  a  factory  upf  the 
country,  to  exchange  pork  and  lard,  with  them, 
for  blocks. of  yarn, "to  weave  negro  clothes;  and 
not  only  negro-clothing  I  have  woven,  I  am  now 
dyeing  thread  to  weave  homespun  for  myself  and 
daughters.  I  am  ravelling  up,  or  having  ravelled, 
all  the  old  scraps  of  fine  worsteds  and  dark  silks, 
to  spin  thread  for  gloves,  for  the  General  and  j 


self,  which  gloves  I  am  to  knit.  These  home-knit 
gloves  and  these  homespun  dresses  will  look  much 
neater  and  nicer  than  you  would  suppose.  My 
daughters  and  I  being  in  want  of  under  garments, 
I  sent  a  quantity  of  lar  1  to  the  Macon  factory,  and 
received  in  return  fine  unbleached  calico, — a 
pound  of  lard  paying  for  a  yard  of  cloth.  They 
will  not  sell  their  cloth  for  money.  This  un 
bleached  calico  my  daughters  and  self  are  now 
making  up  for  ourselves.  You  see  some  foresight 
is  necessary  to  provide  for  the  necessaries  of 
life. 

k'  Tf  T  were  to  describe  the  cutting  and  altering 
of  old  things  to  make  new,  which  now  perpetually 
go  on,  1  sliould  far  outstep  the  limits  of  a  letter, 
—  perhaps  I  have  done  so  already,  —  but  I  thought 
this  sketch  would  amuse  you,  and  give  you  some 
idea  of  our  Confederate  ways  and  means  of  living 
and  doing.  At  Christmas  I  sent  presents  to  my 
relations  in  Savannah,  and  instead  of  the  elegant 
trifles  I  used  to  give  at  that  season,  I  bestowed  ag 
follows  :  several  bushels  of  meal,  peas,  bacon, 
lard,  eggs,  sausages,  soap  (home-made),  rope, 
string,  and  a  coarse  basket !  all  which  articles,  I 
am  assured,  were  most  warmly  welcomed,  and 
more  acceptable  than  jewels  arid  silks  would 
have  been.  To  all  of  this  we  are  so  familiarized 
that  we  laugh  at  these  changes  in  our  ways  of 
life,  and  keep  our  regrets  for  graver  things. 

"  The  photographs  of  your  children  1  was  so 
happy  to  see.  Yc  u  would  have  smiled  to  have 
heard  my  daughters  divining  the  present  fashion 
from  the  style  of  dress  in  the  likenesses.  You 
must  know  that,  amid  all  the  woes  of  the  South 
ern  Confederacy,  her  we  men  still  feel  their  utter 
ignorance  cf  the  fashions,  whenever  they  have  a 
new  dress  to  make  up  or  an  old  one  to  renovate. 
I  imagine  that  when  our  intercourse  with  the  rest 
of  mankind  is  revived  we  shall  present  a  singu 
lar  aspect ;  but  what  we  shall  have  lost  in  externa. 
appearance  I  trust  we  shall  have  gained  in  subli- 
mer  virtues  and  more  important  qualities." 


THE  LAST  WORDS  OF  COLONEL  STONE. — 
Much  has  been  said  —  but  not  too  much  —  in 
praise  of  Col.  Newton  Stone,  late  commander  of 
the  Vermont  Second,  who  fell  in  the  second  day's 
fight  in  the  Wilderness.  lie  was  first  wounded 
in  the  leg,  and  conveyed  to  the  rear;  and,  after 
having  his  wound  dressed,  requested  to  be  placed 
upon  his  horse,  which  was  done ;  when  he  imme 
diately  rode  to  the  front  and  took  his  position  at 
the  head  of  his  regiment,  amid  the  cheers  of  his 
men,  whom  he  addressed  briefly  as  follows, — 

"  Well,  boys,  this  is  rough  work  ;  but  I  have 
done  as  I  told  you  1  wished  you  to  do,  not  to 
leave  for  a  slight  wound,  but  remain  just  as  long 
as  you  could  do  any  good ;  I  am  here  to  do  as 
long  as  I  can."  He  then  rode  along  the  line, 
speaking  a  word  of  good  cheer  to  every  company, 
and,  as  he  halted  to  address  Company  B,  a  rifle- 
ball  pierced  his  head,  and  he  fell  from  his  horse 
a  corpse.  At  that  moment,  the  regiment  was 
forced  back  and  the  body  of  their  Colonel  was 
captured,  but  was  immediately  re-taken. 


iiOG 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,  AND   INCIDENTS 


"PICCIOLA," 

IT  was  a  sergeant  old  and  gray, 

Well  singed  and  bronzed  from  siege  and  pillage, 
Went  tramping  in  an  army's  wake, 

Along  the  turnpike  of  the  village. 

For  days  and  nights  the  winding  host 

Had  through  the  little  place  been  marching 

And  ever  loud  the  rustjk'S  cheered, 

Till  ev'ry  throat  was  hoarse  and  parchicg. 

The  squire  and  farmer,  maid  and  dame, 

All  took  the  sight's  electric  stirring, 
And  hats  were  waved,  and  staves  were  sung, 

And  'kerchiefs  white  were  countless  whirling. 

They  only  saw  a  gallant  show 

Of  heroes  stalwart  under  banners, 
A-nd  in  the  fierce  heroic  glow 

'Twtis  theirs  to  yield  but  wild  hosannag. 

The  sergeant  heard  the  shrill  hurrahs, 
Where  he  behind  in  step  was  keeping; 

But  glancing  down  beside  the  road 
lie  saw  a  little  maid  sit  weeping. 

"  And  how  is  this  ?  "  he  gruffly  said, 

A  moment  pausing  to  regard  her; 
"  Why  weepest  i.hou,  my  little  chit  ?  " 

And  then  she  only  cried  the  harder. 

"  And  how  is  this  my  little  chit," 
The  sturdy  trooper  straight  repeated, 

"  When  all  the  village  cheers  us  on, 
That  you,  in  tears,  apart  are  seated  ?  " 

"  We  march  two  hundred  thousand  strong  I 

And  that's  a  sight  my  baby  beauty, 
To  quicken  silence  into  song, 

And  glorify  the  soldier's  duty." 

"It's  very,  very  grand,  I  know," 

The  little  maid  gave  soft  replying; 
"And  father,  mother,  brother,  too, 

All  say  '  hurrah'  while  I  am  crying." 

"  But  think  — 0,  Mr.  Soldier,  think, 

How  many  little  sisters'  brothers 
Arc  going  all  away  to  light, 

Who  may  be  kitltd  as  well  as  others!  " 

"  Why,  bless  thee,  child,  "  the  sergeant  said, 
His  brawny  hand  her  curls  caressing, 

"  'Tis  left  for  little  ones  like  you 

To  find  that  war's  not  all  a  blessing.  " 

ATM],  "  bless  thee  !  "  once  again  lie  cried  ; 

Then  cleared  his  throat  and  looked  indignant, 
And  marched  away  with  wrinkled  brow 


To  stop  the  stra 


tear  benignant. 


And  still  the  ringing  shouts  went  up 

From  doorway,  thatch,  and  fields  of  tilkge; 

The  pall  behind  the  standard  seen 
By  one  alone,  of  till  the  village. 

The  oak  and  cedar  bend  and  writhe 

When  roars  the  wind  through  gap  and  braken 
But  'tis  the  tenderest  reed  of  ail 

That  trembles  iirsi  when  earth  is  shaken. 


THE  CRUELTIES  OF  WAR.  —  In  the  month 
of  January,  1863,  at  Laurel,  N.  C.,  near  the  Ten 
nessee  border,  all  the  salt  was  seized  for  distri 
bution  by  Confederate  Commissioners.  Salt  was 
selling  at  seventy-five  to  one  hundred  dollars  a 
sack.  The  Commissioners  declared  that  the 
"  Tories "  should  Lave  none,  and  positively  re 
fused  to  gi  /e  Union  men  their  portion  of  the 
quantity  to  be  distributed  in  that  vicinity.  This 
palpable  injustice  roused  the  Union  men,  they 
assembled  together  and  determined  to  seize  their 
proportion  of  the  salt  by  force.  They  did  so, 
taking  at  Marshall,  N.  C.,  what  they  deemed  to 
be  their  share,  and  which  had  been  withheld  from 
them,  simply  because  they  adhered  with  uncon 
querable  devotion  to  the  government  of  their 
fathers. 

Immediately  afterward  the  Sixty-fifth  N.  C. 
regiment,  under  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Jas. 
Keith,  was  ordered  to  Laurel,  to  arrest  the  offend 
ers. 

L.  M.  Allen  was  Colonel  of  the  regiment,  but 

1  had  been  suspended  for  six  months  for  crime  and 
drunkenness.  Many  of  the  men  engaged  in  the 
salt  seizure  left  their  homes.  Those  who  did  not 
participate  in  it  became  the  sufferers.  Among 
those  arrested  were  Joseph  Wood,  about  sixty 
years  of  age ;  Day  Shelton,  sixty ;  James  Sliel- 
ton,  fifty;  Roddy  Shelton,  forty-five;  Eliison 
King,  forty  ;  Ilalen  Moore,  forty  ;  Wade  Moore, 

|  thirty-five  ;  Isaiah  Shelton,  fifteen ;  Win.  Shelton, 

,  twelve  ;  James  Medcalf,  ten  ;  Jasper  Channel, 
fourteen;  Sam  Shelton,  nineteen,  and  his  brother 
aged  seventeen,  sons  of  Lifus  Shelton, —  in  all  thir 
teen  men  and  boys.  Nearly  all  "of  them  declared 
they  were  innocent,  and  had  taken  no  part  in 
appropriating  the  salt.  They  begged  for  a  trial, 
asserting  that  they  could  prove  their  innocence. 

Col.  Allen  who  was  wiih  his  troops,  but  not  in 
command,  told  them  they  should  have  a  trial 
but  that  they  would  be  taken  to  Tennessee  ibr 
that  purpose.  They  bid  farewell  to  their  wives, 
daughters  and  sisters,  directing  them  to  procure 
the  witnesses  and  bring  them  to  the  Court  in 
Tennessee,  where  they  supposed  their  trial  would 
take  place.  Alas!  how  little  they  dreamed  what 
a  fate  awaited  them  1  The  poor  fellows  had  pro 
ceeded  but  a  leAv  miles  when  they  were  turned 
from  the  road  into  a  gorge  in  the  mountain,  and 

[  halted.  Without  any  warning  of  what  was  to  be 
done  with  them,  five  of  them  were  ordered  to 
kneel  down.  Ten  paces  in  front  of  these  five  a 
file  of  soldiers  were  placed  with  loaded  muskets. 
The  terrible  reality  Hashed  upon  the  minds  of  the 
doomed  patriots. 

Old  man  Wood  (sixty  years  of  age,)  cried 
out :  u  For  Cod's  sake  men,  you  are  not  going  to 
shoot  us  ?  If  you  are  going  to  murder  us,  give 
us  at  least  time  to  pray.  "  Col.  Allen  was  re 
minded  of  his  promise  to  give  them  a  trial.  They 
were  informed  that  Allen  had  no  authority  ;  that 
Keith  was  in  command  ;  and  that  there  was  no 
time  for  praying. —  The  order  was  given  to  fire; 
the  old  man  and  boys  put  their  hands  to  their 
faces  and  rent  the  air  with  agonizing  cries  of  de- 

jspair  ;  the  soldiers  wavered  and  hesitated  to  obey 


ANECDOTES,   1'OLTIJT,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


207 


the  command.  Keith  said,  if  they  did  not  fi>e  torture  the  women  of  loyal  men,  to  force  them 
instantly,  he  would  make  them  change  places  to  tell  where  their  fathers  and  husbands  could  be 
with  the  prisoners.  —  The  soldiers  raised  their  found,  and  what  part  each  had  taken  in  the  salt 
guns,  the  victims  shuddered  convulsively,  the  mid.  The  women  refused  to  divulge  anything, 
word  fire  was  given  and  the  five  men  fell  pierced  ;  They  were  then  whipped  with  hickory  switches  — 
with  rebel  bullets.  Old  man  Wood  and  Shelton  i  many  of  them  till  the  blood  coursed  in  streams 
were  shot  in  the  head,  and  their  brains  scattered  |  down  their  persons  to  the  ground  ;  and  the  men 
U|  on  the  ground,  and  they  died,  without  a  who  did  this  were  called  soldiers !  Mrs.  Sarah 
struggle.  The  other  three  lived  only  a  few  j  Shelton,  wife  of  Ezra  Shelton,  who  escaped  from 
minutes.  I  the  town,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Shelton,  wife  of  Lifus 

Five  others  were  ordered  to  kneel,  among  them  |  Shelton,  were  whipped  and  hung  by  the  neck  till 
little   Billy   Shulton,  a  mere   child,  only  twelve  I  they  were  almost  dead  ;  but  would  give  no  infbr- 
ears  old."    lie   implored  the  men  not  to   shoot  mation.    Martha  White,  an  idiotic  girl,  was  beaten 
'     •     "     "  "  ^       1  ~    -  Lt"--1  r  -K  -  and  tied  bv  the  neck   all   day  to   a  tree.     Old 


years 

him  in  the  face.  —  "  You  have  killed  my  father 
ami  brothers,"  said  he,  "  yon  have  shot  my  father 
in  the  face  ;  do  not  shoot  me  in  t!ie  face."  lie 
covered  his  face  with  his  hands.  The  soldiers 
received  the  order  to  fire,  and  five  more  fell. 
Poor  lif.tle  Billy  was  wounded  in  both  arms,  lie 
ran  to  an  oifieer,  clasped  him  around  the  legs, 
and  besought  him  to  spare  his  life.  "You  have 
killed  my  old  father  and  my  three  brothers;  you 
have  shot  me  in  both  arms  —  1  forgive  you  all 
this  —  I  can  get  well. 
mother  and  sisters." 


Let  me  go  home   to  my 
What  a  heart  of  adamant 


the  man  must  have  had  who  could  disregard  such 
an  appeal  !  The  little  boy  was  dragged  back  to 
the  place  of  execution  ;  again  the  terrible  word, 
"  fire  !"  was  given,  and  he  fell  dead,  eight  balls 
having  entered  his  body.  The  remaining  three 


Mrs.  Unus  Riddle,  aged  eiyJtty-Jive  ytws,  was 
whipped,  hung,  and  robbed  of  a  considerable 
amount  of  money.  Many  others  were  treated 
with  the  same  barbarity.  And  the  men  who  did 
this  were  called  soldiers !  The  daughters  of 
William  Shelton,  a  man  of  wealth  and  highly  re 
spectable,  were  requested  by  some  of  the  officers 
to  play  and  sing  for  them.  They  played  and 
sang  a  few  National  airs.;  Keith  learned  of  it, 
and  ordered  that  the  ladies  be  placed  under  ar 
rest  and  sent  to  the  guardhouse,  where  they  re 
mained  all  night. 

Old  Mrs.  Sallie  Moore,  seventy  years  of  age, 
was  whipped  with  hickory  rods  till  the  blood  ran 
in  streams  down  her  back  to  the  ground  ;  and  the 
perpetrators  of  this  were  clothed  in  the  habili- 

were  murdered  in  the  same  manner.  Those  in  j  ments  of  rebellion,  and  bore  the  name  of  soldiers  ! 
whom  life  was  not  entirely  extinct,  the  heartless  j  One  woman,  who  had  an  infant  five  or  six 
officers  dispatched  with  their  pistols.  A  hole  weeks  old,  was  tied  in  the  snow  to  a  tree,  her 


was  then  dug,  and  the  thirteen  bodies  were  pitched 
into  it. 


child  placed  in  the  doorway  in  her  sight,  and.  as 
she  knew  about  the  seizure  of  the  salt,  both  ner- 


The  grave  was  scarcely  large  enough ;  some  self  and  her  child  were  allowed  to  perish.  Ser- 
of  the  bodies  lay  about  the  ground.  A  wretch,  geant  N.  B.  D.  Jay,  of  Capt.  Reynolds'  com 
muned  Sergeant  N.  B.  D.  Jay,  a  Virginian,  I  pany,  and  Lieut.  R.  M.  Deever  assisted  their 
but  attached  to  a  Tennessee  company  of  the  |  men  in  the  execution  of  the  hellish  outrages. 
Sixty-fifth  North  Carolina  regiment,  jumped  Houses  were  burned  and  torn  down.  All  kinds 
upon  the  bleeding  bodies,  and  said  to  some  of  of  property  were  destroyed  or  carried  off.  All  the 
the  men:  "•  Pat  Juba  for  me  while  I  dance  the  women  and  children  of  the  Union  men  who  were 
damned  scoundrels  down  to  and  through  hell."  |  shot,  and  of  those  who  escaped,  were  ordered  to 
The  grave  was  covered  lightly  with  earth,  and  General  Alfred  E.  Jackson's  headquarters  at 
the  next  day  when  the  wives  and  families  of  Jonesboro,'  to  be  sent  through  the  lines  by  way 


the  murdered  men  heard  of  their  fate,  searched 
for,  and  found  their  grave,  the  hogs  had  rooted 
up  one  man's  body,  and  eaten  his  head  oft'.  Oh, 

heavens  !    what  must  have  been    the    agonv  of  i 

..*3 


of  KnoxviMe.  When  the  first  of  them  arrived  at 
this  place,  the  officer  in  charge  applied  to  Gen. 
Donelson  (formerly  Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  at  Nashville)  to  know  by  which 


their     wives    and    children     on    beholding    that  j  route  they  should  be  sent  from  there,  whetht-r  by 
sight  !  —  When  the  awful  reality  burst  upon  them.    Cumberland  Gap  or  Nashville.     Gen.    Uonebon 
what  great  drops  of  affliction  must   have  oozed   immediatel     directed  them   to  be   released   and 
from  their   bleeding  hearts!     Yet   all   this   was 
done  in  the   cause  of  freedom!      UO  Liberty! 
what  crimes  are  committed  in  th    name  !" 


sent  home,  saying  that  such  a  thing  was  unknown 
in  civilized  countries.  They  were  then  sent 
home,  and  all  the  refugees  met  on  the  road  were 
Captain  Moorley,  in  charge  of  a  cavalry  force,  also  turned  -back. 
and  Col.  Thomas,  in  command  of  a  number  of!  On  the  loth  of  February,  18G3,  a  squad  of 
Indians,  accompanied  Keith's  men.  These  pro-  j  soldiers  were  sent  to  conscript  James  McCollum, 
ceeded  to  Tennessee;  Keith's  men  returned  to  j  of  Green  county,  Tennessee,  a  very  respectable, 


Laurel,  and  were  instructed  to  say  that  the  cav 
alry  had  taken  the  prisoners  with  them  tobe  tried, 
in  accordance  with  the  pledge  of  Col.  Allen.  In 
their  progress  through  the  country,  many  Union 
Rica  were  known  to  have  been  killed  and  scalped 
b  ;.h<'  Indians.  Upon  the  return  of  Keith  and 


industrious  man  thirty  or  thirty-five  years  of  age. 
They  found  him  feeding  his  cattle.  When  he 
saw  some  of  them  he  ran  to  the  back  of  his  barn, 
and,  without  halting  or  attempting  to  arrest  him, 
one  of  them  shot  him  through  the  neck,  killing 
him  instantl.  His  three  little  children,  who  saw 


his   tueu  u.»  Laurel  they  began  systematically  to  j  it,  ran  to  the  house  and  told  their  mother ;  she 


208 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,  AND   INCIDENTS. 


came  out  wringing  her  hands   in  anguish,  and!  Reno  fell,  Sturges  ran  to  his  assistance,  had  him 
screaming  with  terror  and  dismay.  j  picked   up,   and   said :    "  Jesse,    are   you   badly 

The  soldiers  were  sitting  upon  the  fence,  i  wounded  ?"  To  which  he  replied,  u  Yes,  Sam, 
They  laughed  at  her  agony,  and  said  they  had  j  I  am  a  dead  man."  General  Sturges  had  him 
only  killed  "a  damned  Tory."  The  murdered  i  placed  upon  a  litter  and  carried  to  the  rear, 
man  was  highly  esteemed  by  his  neighbors,  and  i  where  he  died  in  an  hour.  His  last  words,  before 
was  a  firm  Union  man.  leaving  the  battle-field  were,  "  Boys,  I  can  be 

In   April   last,  two  rebel  soldiers  named  Wood  j  with  you  no  longer  in  body,  but  I  am  with  you  in 
arid  Iguole  went  to  the  house  of  Mrs.  Ruth  Ann  i  spirit." 
Rhea,  living  on  the  waters  of  Lick  Creek  county,  


to  conscript  her  son.  The  old  lady  was  par 
tially  deranged  ;  she  commanded  the  soldiers  to  I 
leave  her  house,  and  raised  a  stick  to  strike  one 
of  them.  lie  told  her  if  she  struck  him,  he 
would  run  her  through  with  his  bayonet ;  she  gave 
the  blow,  and  he  shot  her  through  the  breast. 

In  the  same  month,  Jesse  Price,  an  old  man 
sixty  years  of  age,  two  sons  and  two  nephews, 
were  arrested  in  Johnson  county,  Tennessee, 
bordering  on  Virginia,  by  Col.  Fouke's  cavalry, 
composed  of  Tennessee  and  North  Carolina  men. 
They  were  taken  to  Ash  county,  North  Carolina, 
to  be  tried  tor  disloyalty  to  Jetl'erson  Davis  &  Co. 
The  old  man  had  been  previously  arrested,  taken 
to  Knoxville,  tried  and  acquitted. 

When  the  five  prisoners  arrived  in  Ash  coun 
ty,  a  groggery  keeper  proposed  to  treat  Fouke's 
men  to  eight  gallons  of  brandy  if  they  would 
hang  the  old  man,  his  sons  and  nephews,  without 
trial.  The  bargain  was  struck,  and  the  five  un 
fortunate  men  were  hanged  without  further  cere 
mony.  The  brandy  was  furnished,  and  some  of 
it  drank  before  the  tragedy, —  the  rest  afterward. 

And  it  is  upon  the  graves  of  such  martyrs,  up 
on  the  basis  of  such  damning  acts  of  barbarity, 
that  the  independence  of  a  Southern  Confedera 
cy  is  to  be  established  ?  The  blood  of  these 
murdered  men,  women,  and  children,  appeals  to 
heaven  against  such  a  consummation.  Read  this 
bloody  record  of  inhuman  fiendish  slaughter,  ye 
snivelling  sympathizer*,  and  ask  yourselves  if  the 
vengeance  of  a  just  God  must  not,  sooner  or  later, 
blast  the  hopes  and  schemes  of  such  enemies  of 
their  race.  Is  it  possible  that  an  inexorable  idol, 
demanding  such  rivers  of  innocent  blood,  can  be 
long  worshipped  in  the  light  of  the  nineteenth 
century  ?  Forbid  it  God !  Forbid  it,  all  ye 
mighty  hosts  of  heaven  !  Christianity  cries  out 
against  it.  American  honor  demands  that  the  mon 
strosity  he  cast  into  (lames  and  destroyed  forever. 

Alfthe  blessed  memories  of  the  past;  all  the 
glorious  anticipations  of  the  future,  call  upon  the 
noble  patriots  of  the  Union  to  avenge  the  blood 
of  these  martyrs  to  the  cause  of  freedom  and  na 
tionality.  —  Memphis  Bulletin. 


GENERAL   RENO'S   LAST    WORDS.  —  When 
General  Reno  fell,  Gen  Sturges  was  within  a  few 
yards  of  him.     He  was  in   command  of  the  di 
vision  formerly  commanded  by  Reno,  increased  j 
by  several  new  regiments,  and  the  men  had  just  | 
distinguished   themselves    in  driving  the   rebels 
from  the  summit  of  the  Blue  Ridge.     These  gen 
erals  were  bosom  friends;  had  been  classmates 
at  West  Point,  and  graduated  together.     When 


THE    SOUTHERN    CROSS. 

FLING  wide  each  foM,  brave  fla^  unrolled 

In  all  thy  breadth  and  length  ! 
Float  out  unfurled,  and  show  the  world 

A  new-born  nation's  strength. 
Thou  dost  not  wave  all  bright  and  brave 

In  holiday  attire ; 
'Mid  cannon  chimes  a  thousand  times 

Baptized  in  blood  and  lire. 

No  silken  toy  to  flaunt  in  joy, 

When  careless  shouts  are  heard  : 
Where  thou  art  borne  all  scathed  and  torn, 

A  nation's  heart  is  stirred. 
Where  half-clad  groups  of  toil-worn  troops. 

Arc  marching  to  the  wars, 
What  grateful  tears  and  heartfelt  cheers 

Salute  thy  cross  of  stars  ! 

Thou  ne'er  hast  seen  the  pomp  and  sheen, 

The  pageant  of  a  court ; 
Or  masquerade  of  war's  parade, 

When  fields  are  fought  in  sport ; 
But  thou  know'st  well  the  battle  yell 

From  which  thy  foemen  reel, 
When  down  the  steeps  resistless  leaps 

A  sea  of  Southern  steel. 

Thou  know'st  the  storm  of  balls  that  swairn 

In  dense  and  hurtling  h'^ht, 
When  thy  crowed  bars,  a  Maze  of  stars, 

Plunge  headlong  through  ttie  fight; 
Where  thou'rt  unfurled  arc  thickest  hurled 

The  thunderbolts  of  war; 
And  thou  art  met  with  loudest  threat 

Of  cannon  from  afar. 

For  thee  is  told  the  merchant's  gold  ; 

The  planter's  harvests  fall  : 
Thine  is  the  gain  of  hand  and  brain, 

And  the  heart's  wealth  of  all. 
For  thee  each  heart  has  borne  to  part 

With  what  it  holds  most  dear  ; 
Through  all  the  land  no  woman's  hand 

Has  staid  one  volunteer. 

Though  from  thy  birth  outlawed  on  earth, 

By  older  nations  spurned, 
Their  full-^rown  fame  may  dread  the  nam« 

Thy  infancy  has  earned. 
For  thou  dost  flood  the  land  with  blood, 

And  sweep  the  seas  with  fire ; 
And  all  the  earth  applauds  the  worth 

Of  deeds  thou  dost  inspire  ! 

Thy  stainless  field  shall  empire  wield, 

Supreme  from  sea  to  sea, 
And  proudly  shine  the  honored  sign 

Of  peoples  yet  to  be. 
When  thou  shalt  grace  the  hard-won  place 

The  nations  grudge  thee  now, 
No  land  shall  show  to  friend  or  foe 

A  nobler  flag  than  thou. 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


209 


GRANT  AND  THE  POLITICIAN.  —  A  certain 
western  Colonel  in  Major-General  Grant's  army, 
took  advantage  of  a  sick-furlough  to  canvass  for 
a  nomination'to  Congress.  On  application  for  an 
extension  of  his  furlough,  Gen.  Grant  wrote  on 
back  of  it,  as  follows: 

"  If  Col.  is  able  to  travel  over  his  dis 
trict  to  electioneer  for  Congress,  he  is  able  to  be 
with  his  regiment,  and  he  is  hereby  ordered  to 
join  it  immediately,  or  be  dismissed  from  the  ser 
vice/' 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  FIRST  SPEECH.— 
President  Lincoln  made  his  maiden  speech  in 
Sangamon  county,  at  Pappysville  (or  Rich  land) 
in  the  year  1832."  He  was  then  a  Whig,  and  was 
a  candidate  for  the  legislature  of  this  State.  The 
speech  was  sharp  and  sensible.  To  understand 
why  it  was  so  short,  the  following  facts  will  show : 
First,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  a  young  man,  say  twen 
ty-two  years  of  age,  and  timid.  Secondly,  his 
friends  and  opponents,  in  the  joint  discussion  had 
rolled  the  sun  nearly  down.  Mr.  Lincoln  saw 
that  it  was  not  a  proper  time  to  discuss  the  ques 
tions  fully,  and  hence  he  cut  his  remarks  short. 
Probably  the  other  candidate  had  wholly  exhaust 
ed  the  subjects  under  discussion.  The  time,  ac 
cording  to  W.  H.  Herndon's  informant — who 
has  kindly  furnished  this  valuable  reminiscence 
for  us  —  was  1832,  it.  may  have  been  1834.  The 
President  lived  at  that  time  with  James  A.  Hern- 
don,  at  Salem,  Sangamon  county,  who  heard  the 
speech,  talked  about  it,  and  knows  the  report  to 
be  correct.  The  speech  which  was  characteristic 
of  the  man,  was  as  follows : 

"GENTLEMEN,  FELLOW-CITIZENS:  I  pre 
sume  you  all  know  who  I  am.  I  am  humble 
Abraham  Lincoln.  I  have  been  solicited  by 
many  friends  to  become  a  candidate  for  the  legis 
lature.  My  politics  are  short  and  sweet,  like  an 
old  woman's  dance.  I  am  in  favor  of  a  National 
Bank.  I  am  in  favor  of  the  internal  improve 
ment  system,  and  a  high  protective  tariff.  These 
are  my  sentiments  and  political  principles.  If 
elected,  I  shall  be  thaukful ;  if  not,  it  will  be  all 
the  same." 


THE  BATTLE-FIELD  OF  GETTYSBURG. —  I 
have  just  returned  from  a  visit  to  Gettysburg 
and  if  you  choose  to  accompany  me  in  a  long 
ramble  over  the  field  and  hear  what  a  partic 
ipant  in  the  battle  has  to  say,  well  and  good. 
In  the  main,  "•  I  tell  the  story  as  'twas  told  to 
me ;  "  but  it  is  hard  to  say  anything  new  upon  a 
theme  already  hackneyed.  You  newspaper  peo 
ple  have,  I  know,  what  most  people  have,  a  hor 
ror  of —  long  articles  ;  therefore,  "  for  fear  your 
readers  should  grow  skittish,"  you  have  my  full 
permission  to  abbreviate,  expunge,  or  omit,  at  |  Hundred  and  fourteenth,  in  connection  with  the 
your  pleasure.  Assuming  this  article,  then,  to  I  Sixty-eighth  Pennsylvania,  Col.  Trippin,  had  a 
have  escaped  the  fate  of  your  waste-paper  basket,  j  bloody  fight  of  it,  arid  lost  heavily.  My  brother 
start  with  me  on  this  fine  November  morning,  out!  and  his  brigade  commander,  Gen.  Graham,  w«;re 
on  the  Emmettsburgroad.  For  our  companion  and  both  taken  prisoners,  the  latter  severely  woumied. 
guide  we  have  Captain.  A.  F.  Cavada,  a  gallant  I  never  saw  the  rebels  fight  with  such  diabolical 


and  accomplished  young  officer,  who  served  all 
through,  from  Yorktown  to  Petersburg,  and  for 
nearly  two  years  on  the  staff  of  Major  General 
Humphreys. 

About  "a  mile  out  we  halt.  The  Captain  lo 
quitur.  "  Now  I  begin  to  feel  at  home.  Let  me 
take  an  observation,  as  these  fences  were  not 
here  then.  All  right.  I've  got  it  now.  Do  you 
see  that  big  walnut  on  the  ridge  over  there? 
That  was  Gen.  Humphrey's  headquarters  on  the 
morning  of  Thursday,  July  2d.  Almost  worn  out 
with  hard  marching.  I  was  aroused  from  my  weary 
bivouac  at  daylight,  and  ordered  to  post  Col. 
Tilghman's  regiment  —  the  Twenty-sixth  Penn 
sylvania —  on  picket  along  here.  Later  in  the 
the  lay,  right  of  our  division,  Carr's  brigade,  held 
this  brick  house.  Further  down  was  posted 
Tumbull's  battery.  There,  below  that  barn, 
stood  Lieut.  Seeley's  and  still  further  toward  our 
left  the  batteries  of  Birney's  division,  under  Liv 
ingston,  Smith,  Randolph,  Clark,  and  Winslow. 
I  mention  them  all,  for  never  were  guns  handled 
more  beautifully.  All  suffered  tearfully  —  See- 
ley' s  especially.  He  had  hardly  a  man  or  horse 
left  standing,  and  was  himself  severely  wounded. 
He  was  a  gallant  officer,  and  had  risen  from 
the  ranks.  Now  go  with  me  into  that  orchard. 
I  want  to  find  a  certain  apple-tree  which  served 
as  a  rendezvous  during  the  day  for  us  staff 
officers  and  our  orderlies.  At  one  period,  stand 
ing  under  it,  with  Captains  Humphreys  and 
McClellan,  a  shell  exploded  in  the  tree,  killing 
three  of  our  poor  orderlies,  besides  striking  my 
horse."  We  found  the  tree — its  limbs  were 
shattered,  and  the  top  entirely  gone. 

"  About  2  o'clock  the  whole  Third  Corps  moved 
out  in  line-of-battle  over  the  open  ground,  and  a 
more  magnificent  spectacle  of  4  living  valor  roll 
ing  on  fhe  foe,'  I  never  witnessed.  Away  over 
on  that  bare  spot  of  rising  ground  the  rebels  had 
planted  two  batteries,  with  which  they  enfiladed 
our  whole  line,  fairly  sweeping  it  from  left  to 
right.  Lord !  how  they  pitched  it  into  us ! 
Longstreet's  infantry  debouched  from  those  woods, 
and  "in  a  short  time  all  around  where  we  are 
standing  —  to  the  right,  left  and  in  front  —  along 
this  road,  through  that  peach  orchard,  away  down 
toward  Round  "Top,  for  hours  the  battle  raged. 
General  Sickles  was  wounded  near  that  large 
barn.  How  well  I  remember  this  spot  of  ground. 
It  was  here,  behind  that  stone-fence,  that  I  had 
been  ordered  to  post  Colonel  Burling' s  brigade. 
On  my  way  back,  I  passed  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fourteenth  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  then  com 
manded  by  my  brother,  Lieut.  Col.  F.  F.  Cana 
da.  It  had  just  been  ordered  to  an  advanced 


position  beyond  the  road.  I  rode  up  and  shook 
hands  with  him.  k  Good-by,  Fred,  look  out  tor 
yourself;  you  are  going  into  a  hot  place,  and  are 
sure  to  catch  it.'  So  it  turned  out.  The  One 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


fury.  The  most  murderous  fire  —  canister, 
shrapnel,  and  musketry  —  was  poured  into  their 
faces  as  it  were,  but  nothing  stopped  them.  The 
Third  Corps,  those  heroes  of  Chancellorsville, 
and  other  bloody  fields,  led  by  Birney,  Hum 
phreys,  De  Trobriand,  Ward,  Graham  and  Carr 
—  never  fought  more  heroically." 

A  word  of  Criticism  here.  At  one  period  of 
the  battle,  Bi-r.ey,  being  hard  pressed  called  up 
on  Gen.  Syk^s,  in  command  of  the  Fifth  Corps, 
for  assistance.  Sykes  had  been  ordered  to  sup 
port  the  Tlvrd  if  called  upon,  but  he  returned  for 
answer  that  he  "would  be  up  in  time  —  that  his 
men  were  tired  and  were  making  coffee ! " 
They  <*.vl  come  up  in  about  cm  hour,  and,  says 
Gen.  Warren,  in  his  testimony,  "  the  troops  un 
der  General  Sykes  arrived  barely  in  time  to 
save  Kound  Top,  and  they  had  a  very  desperate 
fight  to  hold  it."  And  again  of  the  operations 
next  day.  "  When  the  repulse  took  place,  Gen. 
Meade  intended  to  move  forward  and  assault 
the  enemy  in  turn. ,  lie  ordered  an  advance  of 
the  Fifth  Corps,  but  it  was  carried  on  so  slowly  that 
h  did  not  amount  to  much,  if  anything."  Gen. 
George  Sykes  is  a  brave  man,  but  entirely  "too 
slow,"  so  at  least  Gen.  Grant  seemed  to  think, 
for  in  the  subsequent  reorganization  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  the  services  of  "  Tardy  George," 
No.  2,  were  dispensed  with.  The  Fifth,  as  a  corps, 
has  a  glorious  record,  and  never  failed  to  fight 
bravely  when  properly  handled. 

To  resume  the  captain's  narrative.  "  As  the 
afternoon  wore  on  the  pressure  became  great 
er  and  greater,  until  at  last  our  whole  corps, 
with  the  exception  of  Carr's  brigade  and  a  few 
other  regiments,  was  hurled  down  the  slope, 
broken  and  discomfited,  the  rebels  following  in 
hot  pursuit.  Our  losses  were  frightful.  In  our 
division,  of  5,000  men,  our  loss  was  nearly  2,000." 
"  Well,  Captain,  you  saw  most  of  the  heavy 
fighting  done  by  this  army,  tell  me,  were  you 
ever  in  a  hotter  place  than  this  V  "  "  Never  but 
once  —  and  that  reminds  me  of  a  little  story. 
In  the  attack  upon  the  enemy's  position  at  the 
first  Fredericksburg,  our  division  was  ordered  to 
storm  the  heights.  As  we  were  preparing  to 
move,  Gen.  Humphreys  —  always  a  very  polite 
man  —  turned  round  to  his  staff,  and  in  his 
blandest  manner  remarked,  '  Young  gentle 
men,  I  intend  to  lead  this  assault,  and  shall  be 
happy  to  have  the  pleasure  of  your  company.' 
Of  course,  the  invitation  was  too  polite  to  be  de 
clined.  That  was  the  roughest  place  I  ever  was 
in,  and  I  can't  conceive,  even  to  this  day,  how 
any  of  us  ever  got  back  alive.  Our  division 
lost  nearly  1,100  men  in  about  fifteen  minutes. 
In  this  clump  of  bushes  my  horse  received  a  sec 
ond  wound,  and  fell  dead  under  me.  I  managed 
to  scramble  over  the  ridge,  where  our  men  were 
being  rallied,  and  soon  after  the  sun  went  down 
and  the  rebels  were  beaten  back  beyond  the  road. 

"  Capt.  Chester,  of  our  military  family,  was 
seea  to  go  down  in  the  melee  and  after  night-fall 
a  party  started  out  in  search  of  him.  We  found 
him  near  that  large  flat  rock,  alive,  but  grievous 
ly  wounded.  His  horse  and  faithful  orderly  both 


lay  dead  beside  him,  and  across  his  legs  a 
rebel  soldier,  whom  he  had  killed  with  his  revolv 
er,  while  iii  the  act  of  plundering  him  of  his 
watch.  He  was  taken  up  tenderly,  and  convey- 
ed  to  the  hospital  on  Rock  Creek  where  he  died 
next  day. 

"  With  heavy  hearts  we  now  set  about  the  task 
of  burying  such  of  our  poor  fellows  as  were 
within  reach.  Always  the  saddest  of  a  soldier's 
duties,  it  was  peculiarly  so  upon  this  occasion,  for 
all  felt  that  the  rising  sun  would  bring  with  it  a 
repetition  of  this  day's  horrors,  and  that,  perhaps, 
at  this  hour  to-morrow,  some  comrade  might  be 
performing  this  same  sad  office  for  us. 

"  '  Few  and  short  were  the  prayers  we  said, 

And  we  spoke  not  a  word  of  sorrow, 
As  we  steadfastly  ga/ed  on  the  face  of  the  dead, 
And  bitterly  thought  on  the  morrow. '  ' 

In  the  course  of  the  day  we  paid  a  visit  to  Mr. 
Sherfey's  house,  where  we  were  most  hospitably 
received.  This  house  stands  about  the  centre  of 
the  field  and  is  riddled  from  garret  to  basement. 
Traces  of  the  conflict  are  to  be  seen  on  every 
side,  including  the  last  resting-place  of  many  poor 
Southerners.  Mr.  Sherfey's  barn  was  burnt  dur 
ing  the  fight,  and  some  of  the  wounded  who 
sought  refuge  there  perished  in  the  flames. 
"  These,"  said  Mrs.  Sherfey,  producing  some  tin 
cans,  "  contain  peaches  that  were  growing  in  our 
orchard  over  there  at  the  time  of  the  battle.  These 
are  my  trophies."  In  the  front  garden  grows  the 
beautiful  shrub  known  as  the  *'  burning  bush," 
|  luxuriant  with  its  crop  of  bright  red  berries,  ty- 
i  pical  of  the  blood  shed  at  its  roots.  "  Take  some 
of  the  berries  with  you  and  plant  them,"  said  the 
kind  old  lady ;  "  they  will  grow  anywhere,  and 
will  be  pleasant  mementos  of  Gettysburg." 

We  next  made  our  way  to  Little  Round  Top, 
where  we  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  Colonel 
Batchelder.  This  gentleman  is  engaged  in  col 
lecting  the  details  of  the  battle,  and  will,  no 
doubt,  produce  a  book  of  equal  interest  with  his 
great  map.  I  was  sorry  to  hear  him  say  that  he 
intends  designating  this  as  "  Weed's  Hill,"  in 
honor  of  the  general  who  fell  on  its  top.  Honor 
the  memory  of  the  brave  man  in  some  other  way, 
Colonel,  but  don't  seek  to  change  this  name.  As 
"  Little  Round  Top,"  it  has  already  passed  into 
history,  and  so  it  will  be  known  forever.  There 
are  few  finer  views  of  the  whole  field  than  from 
this  point,  and  here  took  place  the  closest  and 
most  sanguinary  fighting  of  Thursday.  In  front 
and  to  the  right  the  Fifth  Corps  had  a  heavy 
thing  of  it.  On  the  height  fought  two  of  the 
noblest  soldiers  of  the  army,  Vincent  and  Rice. 
The  former  laid  down  his  life  here,  the  latter  at 
Spottsylvania  the  year  after.  All  the  little  stone 
walls  thrown  up  between  the  huge  boulders  are 
still  here.  In  fact,  nothing  is  changed.  Would 
I  that  this  could  be  said  of  other  parts  of  the  field. 
!  Inscriptions  upon  the  rocks  mark  the  spots  where 
!  Vincent  and  Ilazlett  fell.  Here,  too,  at  the 
early  age  of  twenty-five,  fell  that  accomplished 
soldier  Col.  O'Rourke,  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fortieth  New  York.  Graduating  at  the  head  of 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND   INCIDENTS. 


21. 


his  class,  two  years  before,  he  was  at  once  as 
signed  to  duty  in  the  field,  and  soon  became  dis 
tinguished  for  his  reckless  and  impetuous  courage. 
He  was  struck  while  mounted  upon  a  rock  gal 
lantly  animating  his  men.  Fortunately,  the  ex 
treme  left  was  "held  by  that  splendid  regiment 
the  Twentieth  Maine,  then  under  the  command 
of  Col.  Chamberlain,  afterwards  one  of  Sheri 
dan's  heroes  of  the  Five  Forks.  Firing  away 
their  last  cartridge,  Chamberlain  ordered  his 
regiment  to  charge  down  the  hill,  and  succeeded 
in'clearing  its  sides  with  the  bayonet.  The  re 
markable  ledge  of  rocks  known  as  the  "  Devil's 
Den,"  directly  opposite  Round  Top,  was  oc 
cupied  by  the  enemy's  sharpshooters,  one  of 
whom  had  a  safe  position  within  the  cleft  and 
picked  oif  our  men  with  fatal  accuracy.  The 
face  of  the  boulder  behind  which  he  lay  is  cov 
ered  with  marks  of  the  minies  sent  at  him.  One 
even  "  went  for  him  "  clean  through  the  crevice, 
but  missed.  He  was  finally  dislodged  by  a  charge 
and  escaped  through  an  opening  to  the  rear. 
Seven  muskets,  it  is  said,  were  found  in  his 
hiding  place. 
On  the  slope 


adelphia  Brigade,"  composed  of  the  Sixty-ninth 
—  'k  Paddy    Owens'    regulars  ;  " 
second,   Baxter's    Zouaves,   and 


the    Seventy- 
that    splendid 


fighting  regiment,  the  Seventy-first,  or 
commanded  originally  b  r  the  lamented  Baker, 
and  subsequently  by  our  fellow-townsmen,  Col 
onels  John  Markoe  and  R.  Penn  Smith.  This 
brigade  —  veteran  fighters,  every  man  of  them  — 
was  led  upon  this  occasion  by  a  gallant  New  York 
er,  Brigadier-General  Webb,  and  nobly  was  the 
honor  of  both  cities  sustained.  Would  that  I 
had  it  in  my  pjwer  to  particularize  all  the  or 
ganizations  conspicuous  for  courage  and  conduct 
in  this  great  battle,  but  that  would  be  to  mention 
almost  every  regiment,  battery  and  squadron  en 
gaged.  From  here  we  have  an  excellent  view 
of  Seminary  Ridge,  the  line  of  woods  whence 
the  rebels  issued  and  the  beautiful  level  fields 
over  which  they  swept  in  their  grand  charge. 
This  certainly  is  the  most  magnificent  battle-field 
in  the  world.  The  heights  of  La  Belle  Alliance 
and  Mont  Saint  Jean  in  some  respects  resem 
ble  our  Cemetery  and  Seminary  Ridges,  with  the 
same  gentle,  undulating  valley  intervening  ;  but 
at  Waterloo  the  principal  road  runs  at  right  an 
gles,  while  here,  parallel  with  the  position.  "Speak 
ing  of  the  bombardment  which  preceded  the 
charge,  that  experienced  soldier,  General  Han 
cock,  says  :  "It  was  the  most  terrific  cannonade 
I  ever  witnessed,  and  the  most  prolonged."  A 
of  the  Fourth  Michigan  —  were  killed  in  the  |  rebel  eye-witness  describing  it,  says  :  "  I  have 
field  beyond.  Colonel  Jeffards  was  killed  by  a  \  never  yet  heard  such  tremendous  artillery  firing. 
bayonet-thrust,  while  gallantly  holding  up  with  ,  The  very  earth  shook  beneath  our  feet,  and  the 
liis*  own  hands  the  colors  of  his  regiment.  Near  i  hills  and  rocks  seemed  to  reel  like  a  drunken 
that  ploughed  field,  charging  at  the  head  of  his  I  man.  For  one  hour  and  a  half  this  most  terrific 
brave  '"  Bucktails,"  fell  our  Chester  county  j  firing  was  continued,  during  which  time  the 
neighbor,  Col.  Frederick  Taylor.  No  death  in  shrieking  of  shells,  the  crash  of  falling  timber,  the 

fragments  of  rock  flying  through  the  air,  shatter 
ed  from  the  cliiTs  by  solid-shot  ;  the  heavy  mut- 
terings  from  the  valley  between  the  opposing 
armies,  the  splash  of  bursting  shrapnel,  and  the 

•        1     •  ft  -i-i  ."111 


There  is  room  enough  for    fifty. 
in   front   of  his   den    lie    bleach 


ing  tjie  bones  of  rebel  dead,  washed  out  by  the 
rains.  The  scene  of  Crawford's  charge,  with  our 
superb  Pennsylvania  Reserves,  was  to  the  right 

*  '      "      '  '    "  T  '-1      "•       1    rn          Brigadiei 


and  in  front  of  Little  Round    Top. 
General  Zook  and  Colonel  Jeffards- 


the  latter 


the  whole  army  was  more  sincerely  mourned. 


"  Many  the  ways  that  lead  to  death,  but  few 
Grandly ;  and  one  alone  is  glory's  gate, 
Standing  wherever  free  men  dare  their  fate, 
Determined,  as  t/tou  wert,  to  die  —  or  do  !  " 


We  now  proceed  along  the  line  held  by  us  on 
Friday,  Colonel  B.  politely  acting  as  guide.  In 
that  little  grove,  close  to  our  lines,  fell  the  rebel 
General  Barksdale  on  Thursday.  This  violent, 
brawling  rebel  started  in  search  of "  his  rights? 
and  this  little  pile  of  stones  here  marks  the  spot 
where  he  is  presumed  to  ]\avQ  found  them.  It  is 
said  that  he  was  drunk  when  he  started  on  the 
charge,  and  this  may  account  for  his  headlong, 
reckless  bravery.  True  or  not,  "  the  story's  still 
extant."  Here  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  ex 
posing  himself  like  a  common  soldier,  the  gal 
lant  Hancock  received  his  wound.  That  ad 
vanced  line  of  works  was  held  by  the  Vermont 
brigade.  It  was  commanded  by  Gen.  Stannard, 
who  subsequently  gave  an  arm  to  the  cause  on 
the  James.  A  pile  of  knapsacks,  just  as  they 
were  unslung,  still  lie  mouldering  here, —  on  one 
the  inscription  "  Sixteenth  Vermont  "  is  still  vis 
ible.  Even  now  the  debris  of  battle — hats, 
shoes,  cartridge-boxes,  bayonet-scabbards,  can 
teens,  &c.  —  lie  scattered  all  over  the  field. 
Next  we  come  to  the  position  held  by  the  u  Phil- 


neighing  of  wounded  artillery  horses,  made  the 
same  terribly  grand  and  sublime."  After  this  came 
the  charge.  Our  eighty  guns,  planted  on  the 
crest  from  Cemetery  Hill  to  Round  Top,  "  vol- 
ley'd  and  thundered,"  and,  when  the  infantry 
joined  in  the  chorus,  so  terrible  was  the  fire  that 
tore  through  them  that  the  rebel  columns  pre 
sented  the  extraordinary  spectacle  of  ten  thou 
sand  men  playing  at  "  leap-frog  !  "  In  spite  of 
every  effort,  the  flower  of  Lee's  veterans,  direct 
ed  by  tried  leaders  such  as  Garnett,  Armstead, 
Kemper,  Wright,  Posey  and  Mahone,  failed  in 
carrying  our  position,  although  at  one  or  two 
points  they  charged  up  to,  and  even  over  it. 
''  What  other  than  Southern  troops  would  have 
made  that  charge?"  Ay,  sir,  but  what  other 
than  Northern  would  have  met  and  repulsed  it  ? 
Northern  endurance,  upon  this  occasion  was  too 
much  for  Southern  impetuosity  and  dash.  "  There 
swung  the  pine  against  the  pahn"  In  the  bloody 
ruck  hundreds  of  their  best  officers  went  down. 
It  was  the  turning  point  of  the  grand  drama,  and 
with  the  sun,  on  that  third  day  of  July,  went 
down  the  sun  -£  "  the  Confederacy  "forever!  Al 
though  knowr  as  ''  Pickett's  charge,"  Gen.  Gra- 


212 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND   INCIDENTS. 


bam,  whom  I  met  here  yesterday,  informs  me 
that  Pickett  himself  was  not  in  it.  He  describes 
him  as  a  coarse,  brutal  fellow,  and  says  he  treat 
ed  him  with  the  greatest  inhumanity  after  the 
battle,  whilst  wounded,  and  a  prisoner  in  his 
bauds.  The  rebel  corps  commanders  either  did 
did  not  expose  themselves  as  freely  as  our  own, 
or  they  had  better  luck,  for  none  were  hit,  whilst 
we  lost  one,  Reynolds,  killed ;  and  two,  Hancock 
and  Sickels,  wounded.  The  story  told  in  Black- 
wood,  by  Col.  Frecmantle,  of  the  British  army, 
who  was  present  may  help  to  explain  it.  He 
says,  that  carried  away  by  excitement,  he  rushed 
up  to  Lbngstreet,  who  was  sitting  on  a  fence 
""  quietly  whitterling  a  stick,"  whilst  watching  the 
charge,  and  said,  u  Gen.  Lono;street,  isn't  this 
splendid ;  I  wouldn't  have  missed  it  for  the 
world  V  "  "  The  d — 1  you  wouldn't,''  replied  Long- 
street  ;  "  why,  don't  you  see  we  are  getting  lick 
ed  like  h — 1 ! "  We  now  crossed  the  Balti 
more  pike,  calling  on  our  way  at  the  small 
frame  building,  on  the  Taneytown  road,  used  as 
the  head-quarters  of  Gen.  Meade  on  Friday. 
This  will  always  be  a  point  of  great  interest. 
The  house  is  sadly  shattered,  and  the  poor 
widow  who  owns  it  complains  bitterly  of  her 
losses.  "  When  I  comes  home,  my  house  was  all 
over  blood  ;  the  'sogers'  took  away  all  my  cover- 
lits  and  quilts,  two  tons  of  hay,  they  spiled  my 
spring,  my  apple-trees  and  every  ding"  She 
says  a  couple  of  hundred  dollars  would  be  a  great 
he'lp  to  her,  and  thinks  she  should  get  it  from  some- 
veres"  Sure  enough,  why  shouldn't  the  poor 
woman  get  it  ?  In  the  garden  of  a  cottage  in  the 
little  village  of  Waterloo  the  visitor  is  shown  the 
monument  erected  over  the  Marquis  of  Angle- 
sea's  leg,  and  the  poor  peasant  has  made  quite  a 
little  fortune  by  exhibiting  the  boot  cut  from  the 
leg,  and  the  table  upon  which  the  amputation 
was  performed.  This  hint  might  not  be  thrown 
away  upon  a  more  enterprising  person,  but  I 
doubt  if  this  poor,  old,  frowsy  German  woman 
will  ever  profit  by  it.  To  the  right  of  Cemetery 
Hill  was  stationed  the  battery  so  furiously  as 
saulted  by  Hays'  brigade  of  Louisiana  Tigers. 
The  lunettes  and  traverses  remain  undisturbed 
and  grass-grown. 

The  little  eminence  in  front  <was  held,  and 
with  distinguished  honor,  by  that  conscientious 
and  patriotic  soldier,  Brigadier-Gen.  Wadsworth. 
The  works  thrown  up  by  our  men  on  Gulp's  Hill 
are  still  to  be  seen,  except  such  portion  of  the 
timber  as  is  being  removed  by  the  owner  of  the 
ground.  Only  think  of  the  meanness  of  the  man 
who  is  pulling  to  pieces  these  monuments,  and 
converting  the  timber  into  fence-rails  and  cord- 
wood  !  The  effect  of  the  furious  fire  poured  upon 
E well's  swarming  columns  is  visible  enough. 
Hardly  a  rock  or  a  tree  in  front  of  these  works 
has  escaped.  Many  of  the  trees  are  covered  and 
scarred  with  bullets  as  high  as  fifty  feet  from  the 
ground.  There  was  "  wild,"  as  well  as  deadly 
shooting  here  on  that  fearful  Thursday  night 
and  early  Friday  morning.  Along  this  rough, 
rocky  hill  fought  our  own  Geary,  and  that  dis 
tinguished  Rhode  Islander,  Brigadier  Gener 


al  Green.  Five  months  after,  at  the  desperate 
midnight  battle  of  Wahatchie,  in  Lookout  Val 
ley,  this  indomitable  fighting  officer  only  ad 
ded  to  the  laurels  already  gained  at  Antietam, 
and  Gettysburg.  An  inscription  on  a  tree  close 
by  tells  the  story  of  a  large  mound  in  the  ravine 
below :  "  To  the  right  lie  buried  forty-five  rebels! " 
From  here  we  struck  across  to  the  scene  of  the 
first  day's  fight.  In  the  following  communication 
to  Governor  Curtin,  General  Cutler  tells  us  how 
the  battle  opened  :  "  I  owe  a  duty  to  one  of  your 
regiments,  the  Fifty-sixth,  and  its  brave  command 
er,  Colonel  J.  W.  Hofmann.  It  was  my  fortune 
to  be  in  the  advance  on  the  morning  of  July  1st. 
The  atmosphere  being  a  little  thick,  I  took  out 
my  glass  to  examine  the  enemy,  being  a  few  pac 
es  in  front  of  Colonel  II.,  he  turned  to  me  and 
inquired, '  Is  that  the  enemy  ? '  My  reply  was 
4  Yes.'  Turning  to  his  men,  he  commanded, 
'Ready  —  right  oblique  —  aim  —  fire!'  and  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg  was  opened.  The  fire  was 
followed  by  other  regiments  instantly,  still,  that 
battle  on  the  soil  of  Pennsylvania  was  opened  by 
her  own  sons,  and  it  is  just  that  it  should  become 
a  matter  of  history."  Here  is  the  ground  fought 
over  by  our  brave  cavalrymen,  under  Pleasanton, 
Buford,  Kilpatrick,  Farnsworth,  Merrit,  Custer 
and  Gregg.  Never,  in  any  preceding  campaign, 
had  the  cavalry  of  this  army  rendered  such  dis 
tinguished  and  invaluable  service.  To  meet  the 
enemy  was  to  overthrow  them,  until,  at  last,  it 
was  only  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  Stuart 
could  get  his  men  to  stand  at  all.  The  next 
j  point  reached  was  the  scene  of  the  bloody,  though 
'  unavailing  struggle  of  the  First  and  Eleventh 
Corps.  The  marks  of  battle  still  abound,  but  the 
interest  centres  in  the  spot  where  Reynolds  was 
killed.  The  General  was  nearly  up  with  the 
skirmish  line  —  no  place,  say  military  men,  for  a 
corps  commander;  "  but  thai  was  just  like  John 
Reynolds;"  and  he  had  just  despatched  several 
of  his  aids,  Capts.  Baird,  Rosengarten  and  Rid 
dle,  on  some  special  duties,  and  was  himself 
watching  the  deployment  of  a  brigade  of  Wiscon 
sin  troops,  when  the  fatal  bullet,  fired  by  a  sharp 
shooter,  struck  him  in  the  neck  and  he  fell  off  his 
horse  dead.  Poor  Reynolds  ! 

"  There  have  been  tears    and  breaking  hearts  for 
thee." 

We  now  stand  in  the  National  Cemetery,  on 
Cemetery  Hill.  Who  can  stand  unmoved  in  this 
silent  city  of  the  dead.  Here  repose  the  pre 
cious  offerings  laid  upon  the  altar  of  the  country 
by  the  loyal  States.  Ordinarily  the  filling  up  of 
a  cemetery  is  slow  work  —  the  work  of  years. 
Three  days  sufficed  to  Jill  this  !  And  what  is  the 
reward  of  those  brave  men  for  their  weeks  of 
weary  marching,  and  days  and  nights  of  fearful 
fighting?  "Two  paces' of  the  vilest  earth!" 
Here  they  lie,  "  those  unnamed  demi-gods "  of 
the  rank  and  file.  "  Unknown  !  "  "  unknown  !  " 
the  only  epitaph  of  hundreds.  Yes,  here  they 
lie  "  massed  "  with  beautiful  military  precision, 
rank  upon  rank;  as  if  await  ii  g  the  order  to  ap- 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


213 


pear  in  review  before  the  Great  Commander-in- 
chief  of  us  all  ! 

"  Up  many  a  fortress  wall 
They  charged  —  those  boys  in  blue  ; 
'Mid  surging  smoke  and  volleying  ball 
The  bravest  were  the  lirst  to  fall  — 
To  fall  for  me  and  you  I  " 

Who  can  ever  forget  those  terrible  days  af 
July,  that  period  of  agonizing  suspense  ? 

And  when  the  news  did  conie,  oh,  how  that 
sad  catalogue  pulled  upon  the  heart-strings  ! 
Reynolds,  Zook,  Farnsworth,  Card,  Weed,  Jef- 
fards,  Taylor,  Arrowsmith,  O'llourke,  Lowery, 
Cross,  Hazlett,  Vincent,  Devereaux,  Willard, 
Adanis,  Miller. 

"  Period  of  honor  as  of  woes, 

What  bright  careers  'twas  thine  to  close  I 
on  thy  roll  of  blood  what  names, 


To  Freedom"1  &  memory,  and  to  Fame's 
Laid  there  their  last  immortal  claims  1  " 


So  ends  my  story  of  Gettysburg. 


G.  J.  GROSS. 


FRANKLIN  W.  SMITH,  a  Boston  contractor, 
was  tried  by  court-martial,  and  found  guilty  of 
pocketing  a  thousand  or  two  dollars  out  of  a  con 
tract  with  the  Navy  department  for  supplies. 
The  report  of  the  court-martial  was  sent  to  Pres 
ident  Lincoln  for  his  examination,  who  returned 
it  wilh  this  characteristic  indorsement: 

44  IVhereatj  Franklin  W.  Smith,  had  transac 
tions  with  the  United  States  Navy  Department 
to  a  million  and  a  quarter  of  dollars,  and  had  the 
chance  to  steal  a  quarter  of  a  million  ;  and  where 
as,  he  was  charged  with  stealing  only  ten  thou 
sand  dollars,  and  from  the  final  revision  of  the  tes 
timony  it  is  only  claimed  that  he  stole  one  hun 
dred  dollars,  I  don't  believe  he  stole  anything  at 
all. 

44  Therefore,  the  records  of  the  court-martial, 
together  with  the  finding  and  sentence,  are  dis 
approved,  declared  null  and  void,  and  the  defend 
ant  is  fully  discharged. 

A.  LINCOLN.** 


THE  STARS  AND  BARS. 

'Tis  sixty-two  !  —  and  sixty-one, 

With  the  old  Union,  now  is  gone, 
Reeking  with  bloody  wars  — 
Gone  with  that  ensign,  once  so  prized, 
The  Stars  and  Stripes,  now  so  despised  — 
Struck  for  the  stars  and  bars. 

The  burden  once  of  patriot's  song, 
Now  badge  of  tyranny  and  wrong, 

For  us  no  more  it  waves  ; 
We  claim  the  stars  —  the  stripes  we  yield, 
We  give  tfiem  up  on  every  field, 

Where  fight  the  Southern  braves. 

Our  motto  this,  "  God  and  our  right," 
If  or  sacred  liberty  we  fight  — 
Not  for  the  lust  of  power ; 


Compelled  by  wrongs  the  sword  t'  uusheath, 
We'll  fight,  be  free,  or  cease  to  breathe  — 
We'll  die  before  we  cower. 

By  all  the  blood  our  fathers  shed, 
We  will  from  tyranny  be  freed  — 

We  will  not  conquered  be  ; 
Like  them,  no  higher  power  we  own 
But  God's  —  wo  bow  to  him  alone  — 
We  will,  we  .vill  be  free ! 

For  homes  and  altars  we  contend, 
Assured  that  God  will  us  defend  — 

He  makes  our  ca  use  his  own ; 
Not  of  our  gallant  patriot  host, 
Not  of  brave  leaders  do  we  boast  — 

We  trust  in  God  alone. 

Sumter,  and  Bethel,  and  Bull  Run 
Witnessed  fierce  battles  fought  and  won., 

By  aid  of  Power  Divine  ; 
We  met  the  foe,  who  us  deh'ed, 
In  all  his  pomp,  in  all  his  pride, 

Shouting,  "  Manasseh's  mine  !  " 

It  was  not  thine,  thou  boasting  foe  I 
We  laid  thy  vandal  legions  low  — 

We  made  them  bite  the  sod ; 
At  Lexington  the  braggart  yields, 
Leesburgh,  Belmont,  and  other  fields  j— • 

Still  help  us,  mighty  God  ! 

Thou  smiledst  on  the  patriot  seven  — 
Thou  smilest  on  the  brave  eleven 

Free,  independent  States ; 
Their  number  thou  wilt  soon  increase, 
And  bless  them  with  a  lasting  peace, 

Within  their  happy  gates. 

No  more  shall  violence  be  heard, 
Wasting,  destruction  no  more  feared 

In  all  this  Southern  land  ; 
"Praise,"  she  her  gates  devoutly  calls, 
"Salvation,"  her  Heaven-guarded  wall* —• 

What  shall  her  power  withstand  ? 

"  The  little  one,"  by  heavenly  aid, 

"  A  thousand  is  —  the  strong  one  made, 

"  A  nation  —  oh  !  how  strong  1 " 
Jehovah,  who  the  right  befriends, 
Jehovah,  who  our  flag  defends, 

Is  hastening  it  along  1 


INCIDENT  OF  THE  MORGAN  RAID.  — When 
Gen.  John  Morgan's  band  was  within  four  miles 
of  Jasper,  Pike  county,  Ohio,  they  captured  a 
number  of  citizens,  among  them  a  school-teacher, 
by  the  name  of  Joseph  McDougal,  aged  forty- 
seven.  The  captured  men  were  marched  on  the 
double-quick  to  the  village  of  Jasper,  allowed  a 
few  moments'  rest,  and  then  double-quicked  twc 
and  a  half  miles  to  Piketon,  and  there,  with  others 
captured^  formed  into  line  for  parole. 

Before  the  oath  was  administered,  however, 
Captain  Mitchell,  of  one  of  Morgan's  companies, 
ordered  Mr.  McDougal  to  step  out  of  the  ranks. 
After  a  little  parley,  this  Mitchell  ordered  two 


214 


,  POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


soldiers  to  march  McDougal  to  the  Sciota  river,  a 
short  distance  oif.  Here  he  was  placed  in  a 
canoe,  facing  Mitchell  and  his  two  men,  and,  at  a 
signal  from  Mitchell,  two  shots  were  fired  at  the 
prisoner ;  one  ball  taking  effect  just  below  the 
right  eye,  the  other  in  his  left  breast,  near  his 
heart.  Death  followed  instantaneously.  The 
wretches  left  their  victim  in  the  canoe.  Prison 
ers  who  were  with  Mr.  McDougal  represent  him 
as  a  gentle  but  brave-hearted  man,  the  flag  of  his 
country  being  sacred  to  him  above  all  earthly 
symbols. 

WHIPPED  AND  DEMORALIZED,  BUT  NOT 
SCATTERED.  —  A  soldier  of  Bates'  division  'A  the 
confederate  army,  after  the  command  had  run  two 
days  from  Nashville,  had  thrown  away  his  gun 
and  accoutrements,  and  alone  in  the  woods,  sat 
down  and  commenced  thinking  —  the  first  chance 
he  had  for  such  a  thing.  Rolling  up  his  sleeves, 
and  looking  at  his  legs  and  general  physique,  he 
thus  gave  vent  to  his  feelings.  "  I  am  whipped, 
badly  whipped,  and  somewhat  demoralized,  but 
BO  man  can  say  I  am  scattered." 


ANECDOTE  OF  GENERAL  BROOKS.  —  A  sol 
dier  in  the  Fourth  Vermont  Regiment  relates 
the  following  incident  of  the  battle  of  Sharps- 
burg  :  — 

We  marched  through  a  cornfield,  and  the  men 
lay  down  with  Ayres's  battery,  which  is  connect 
ed  with  our  brigade,  and  took  position.  The  ene 
my  saw  us,  and  poured  in  a  perfect  hurricane  of 
canister,  grape,  and  shell,  b-ut  did  but  little  dam 
age.  Then  old  Ayers  opened,  and  for  three  hours 
1  could  not  hear  myself  think.  The  air  was  full 
of  bursting  shells  and  whistling  balls,  mingled 
with  the  roar  of  artillery  and  the  sharp  crack  of 
the  sharpshooters'  rifles.  General  Brooks  would 
not  lie  down  as  his  men  did,  but  stood  up  in  plain 
sight.  I  told  the  boys  he  would  get  hit  before 
night,  arid  so  he  did ;  a  ball  struck  him  in  the 
cheek  arid  knocked  out  two  teeth,  but  did  no 
other  injury.  I  have  told  you  before  how  short 
and  gruif  he  is.  When  he  was  struck,  one  of  the 
men  who  was  close  beside  him,  asked  him  if  he 
was  wounded.  "  A7o,  .sir;  had  a  tooth  pulled" 
said  the  old  man ;  and  he  never  left  the  field 
until  after  dark. 

FRENCH  NOTIONS  OF  AMERICAN  GEOGRA 
PHY.  —  We  translate  from  the  "  Almanach  du 
Ma^azin  Pittoresque,"  the  following  paragraph 
contained  in  an  abstract  of  events  of  the  war 
n  the  United  States  :  — 

May  23.  —  The  Federal  troops  assembled  at 
Harper's  Ferry,  cross  the  Potomac,  and  after  a 
first  engagement  occupy  Alexandria. 

May  27. —  The  Federals  commanded  by  Gen. 
Banks,  experienced  a  first  reverse.  They  re- 
cross  the  Potomac,  and  i'all  back  upon  Williams- 
burg. 

May  30  and  31.  — A  great  battle  is  fought  near 


Richmond ;  on  the  first  day  the  advantagev  re 
mains  with  the  Confederates ;  on  the  second  day 
they  experience  considerable  loss,  and  abandon 
Corinth. 

After  seven  days  of  bloody  fighting  near  Rich 
mond  (June  23 '  to  29),  95,000  Federals,  com 
manded  by  McClellan,  retire  before  the  Confed 
erate  army,  which,  with  re-enforcements  brought 
by  Gens.  Beau  regard  and  Jackson,  have  been  in 
creased  to  185,000  men.  They  take  position  on 
the  James  River,  17  miles  from  Charleston. 

On  the  cover  of  the  book  it  is  stated  that  "  the 
Central  Committee  of  Primary  Instruction  in  the 
City  of  Paris  has  placed  the  '  Magazin  Pittoresque' 
on  the  list  of  books  proper  to  be  given  as  prizes 
in  the  public  schools." 


MARCH   ALONG. 

GEOKGE   II.    BORER. 

SOLDTEKS  are  we  from  the  mountain  and  valley, 
Soldiers  are  we  from  the  hill  and  the  plain  ; 
Under  the  flajrof  our  fathers  we  rally  ; 
Death,  for  its  sake,  is  but  living  again. 
Then  march  along,  gay  and  strong, 
March  to   battle  with  a  song 
March,  march  along ! 

We  have  a  history  told  of  our  nation, 

We  have  a  name  that  must  never  go  down  ; 

Heroes  achieved  it  through  toil  and  privation  ; 
Bear  it  on,  bright* witb  its  ancient  renown  ! 
Then  march  along,  etc. 

Who  that  shall  dare  say  the  flag  waving  o'er  us, 
Which  floated  in  glory  from  Texas  to  Maine, 

Must  fall,  where  our  ancestors  bore  it  before  us. 
Writes  his  own  fate  on  the  roll  of  the  slain 
Then  march  along,  etc. 

Look  at  it,  traitors,  and  blush  to  behold  it ! 

Quail  as  it  Hashes  its  stars,  in  the  sun  ! 
Think  you  a  hand  in  the  nation  will  fold  it, 

While  there's  a  hand  that  can  level  a  gun  ? 
Then  march  along,  etc. 

Carry  it  onward,  till  victory  earn  it 

The  rights  it  once  owned  in  the  land  of  the  free 
Then,  in  God's  name,  in  our  fury  we'll  turn  it 

Full  on  the  treachery  over  the  sea ! 
Then  march  along,  etc. 

England  shall  feel  what  a  vengeance  the  liar 
Stores  in  the  bosom  he  aims  to  deceive ; 

England  shall  feel  how  God's  truth  can  inspire  ; 
England  shall  feel  it,  but  only  to  grieve. 
Then  march  along,  etc. 

Peace  shall  unite  us  again  and  forever, 

Though  thousands  lie  cold  in  the  graves  of  these 

wars  ; 

Those  who  survive  them  shall  never  prove,  never, 
False  to  the  flag  of  the  stripes  and  the  stars  \ 
Then  march  along,  gay  and  strong, 
March  to  ba-tle  with  a  song  ! 
March,  mtrch  along! 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


215 


ILLINOIS  AT  THE  BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG. 

— The  part  borne  in  this  terrible  struggle  by  the 
troops  of  Illinois,  is  thus  described  by  Colonel  i 
William  Gamble,  who  commanded  the  Eighth 
Cavalry  from  that  state :  — 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  30th  of  June  the  first 
cavalry  brigade  of  Buford's  division,  commanded 
by  Col.  W.  Gamble,  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  caval 
ry,  arrived  at  Gettysburg,  —  the  Eighth  Illinois 
cavalry  in  front.  Col.  Gamble  received  orders 
to  pass  through  the  town  on  the  Cashtown  road 
and  select  the  most  eligible  line  of  battle  beyond  j 
the  Seminary  that  could  be  found,  encamp  the  j 
brigade  and  send  forward  one  or  two  squadrons 
to  find  the  enemy,  and  remain  on  picket  to  watch 
the  movements  of  the  enemy.  These  orders  were 
promptly  carried  out.  The  squadrons  for  ad 
vanced  picket  duty  were  taken  from  the  Eighth 
Illinois  cavalry,  who  advanced  three  miles  "fur 
ther,  found  the  enemy,  remained  in  front  until  sev 
en  o'clock  the  next  morning,  when  the  enemy  com 
menced  advancing  in  three  divisions  under  Gen. 
A.  P.  Hill,  and  with  shell  and  musketry  drove  in 
the  squadrons  mentioned,  and  the  Eighth  Illinois 
cavalry  had  the  honor  of  being  first  "fired  on  by 
the  enemy  and  of  returning  their  fire. 

The  advance  of  the  enemy  was  immediately 
reported  to  General  Meade,  the  infantry  advance 
being  eight  miles  in  our  rear  were  ordered  up  to 
support  the  cavalry. 

The  cavalry  of  Buford's  Division  was  ordered 
to  fight  the  enemy.  I  dismounted  part  of  the 
Eighth  Illinois,  Eighth  New  York,  and  Third  In 
diana  cavalry,  in  all  avjout  900  men,  and  ordered 
them  to  the  trout  to  keep  back  the  enemy  as  long 
as  possible  till  >ur  infantry  came  up  to  our  sup 
port.  Devin'?  brigade  of  New  York  cavalry  was 
on  our  right  and  Merrit's  brigade  of  regular  cav 
alry  was  on  our  left.  We  had  to  fight  the  wholei 
Army  Corps  of  Gen.  A.  P.  Hill,  25,000  strong, 
for  three  and  a  half  hours,  from  7  till  10£  A. 
M.f  to  hold  the  original  line  of  battle  selected  by 
me  according  to  previous  orders. 

TidbalPs  horse  battery,  A,  Second  U.  S.  ar 
tillery,  was  attached  to  my  brigade  that  day. 

The  cavalry  above  mentioned  fought  Hill's 
corps  for  three  and  a  half  hours,  on  the  morning 
of  the  1st  oiMuly,  and  held  the  original  line  of 
battle  selected  beyond  the  Seminary,  until  our 
infantry  came  up,  with  a  loss  of  one  hundred  and 
eleven  officer  sand  men,  killed,  wounded,  and  miss 
ing,  arid  fifty-six  cavalry  horses  killed,  thirteen 
artillery  horses  killed,  and  fifteen  artillerymen 
killed  and  wounded.  Nothing  of  this  is  men 
tioned  in  the  newspapers  or  dispatches,  but  the 
above  are  absolute  tacts,  under  my  own  observa 
tion. 

An  hour  before  dark  the  rebels  outflanked  our 
left ;  this  brigade  of  cavalry  was  again  ordered  to 
the  front,  dismounted  and  fought  the  rebels  on 
Seminary  Ridge,  and  saved  a  whole  division  of 
Dur  infantry  from  being  surrounded  and  cap 
tured.  Nothing  of  this  either  is  mentioned  in  the 
newspapers  or  dispatches,  yet  these  facts  oc 
curred,  with  thi  loss  of  some  of  our  best  officers 
and  men. 


WHITTIERAND  THE  ALABAMA  PLANTER.  — 
He  met  writh  an  Alabama  planter  in  Boston,  who 
expressed  a  desire  to  converse  with  him,  and  an 
interview  took  place,  during  which  there  was  a 
free  interchange  of  views.  The  planter  frankly 
acknowledged  that  there  was  in  the  South  a 
strong  feeling  of  hate  toward  the  North  and 
Northern  men,  and  they  were  determined  to 
fight.  He  explained  how  this  feeling  was  fostered 
by  the  politicians  of  the  South,  and  how  the 
feelings  of  the  North  were  represented  there,  and 
stated  that  almost  his  sole  object  in  coming  to 
Boston  was  to  ascertain  for  himself  whether  the 
facts  were  as  they  hail  been  represented.  He 
was  evidently  surprised  to  find  the  anti-slavery 
poet  "  so  mild  mannered  a  man,"  and  confessed 
that,  generally,  he  did  not  perceive  that  the  feel 
ing  of  the  North  toward  the  South  was  so  bitter 
and  unfriendly  as  he  had  been  led  to  expect. 
He  had  experienced  nothing  but  civility  and 
courtesy,  and  admitted  that  Southerners  gener 
ally  received  the  same  treatment. 

Finally,  Whittier,  after  attending  him  to  some 
of  the  desirable  places  of  resort,  told  him  that,  as 
he  was  now  here,  he  might  as  well  see  the  worst 
of  the  anti-slavery  phase  of  Northern  fanaticism., 
as  the  fashionable  phrase  is,  and  proposed  to  visit 
Garrison.  The  planter  consented,  and  so  they 
turned  their  steps  to  the  Liberal  or  office,  where 
they  found  Garrison,  Wendell  Phillips,  and  Fred. 
Douglass,  and  there  they  enjoyed  a  "  precious 
season  of  conversation."  Would  it  not  have  been 
a  sight  worth  seeing  —  that  conclave  in  the  Lib 
erator  office,  with  Garrison,  Whittier,  Phillips, 
Douglass,  and  the  Alabama  planter  in  the  fore 
ground  V  The  planter  went  to  his  home  a  wiser, 
and  perhaps  a  sadder  man,  than  he  came,  and 
protested  that  all  he  could  do,  while  mourning 
fur  the  condition  of  the  country,  was  to  prai/  over 
it.  Would  that  more  of  the  Southern  people 
might  come  and  see  for  themselves  how  basely 
the  North  had  been  belied ! 


THE  UNION  MEN  OF  ALABAMA.  —  The  fol 
lowing  account  of  the  condition  and  persecutions 
of  the  Union  men  of  North  Alabama,  and  of  the 
eiForts  of  our  troops,  particularly  the  Fifty-first 
Indiana  regiment,  commanded'  by  Col.  A.  D. 
Streight,  to  relieve  them,  is  from  the  pen  of  the 
chaplain  of  that  regiment. 

CAMP  NEAR  DECATUR,  July  16. 

The  subject  on  which  I  wish  to  write,  is  the  con 
dition  and  suffering  of  the  mountaineers  in  North 
ern  arid  Central  Alabama.  There  is  a  vast  val 
ley  of  rich  soil  extending  from  beyond  Tuscum- 
bia  west  to  Huntsville  in  the  east.  In  this  valley 
the  great  planters  live.  Here  is  their  great  cot 
ton-growing  region  and  the  wealth  of  the  state. 

These  mountains  are  peopled  with  quite  anoth 
er  class  of  inhabitants,  shorn  of  highfalutin  aris 
tocracy  —  a  plain,  candid,  industrious  people. 
Now  these  poor  classes,  deprived  of  culture,  as 
they  cKmb  the  mountair  s,  pass  through  the  gor 
ges,  an  1  roam  ov-»r  tht  plains,  think  for  them 
selves. 


ANECDOTES,  POETRY,   AND  INCIDENTS. 


It  came  to  pass  in  the  course  of  human  events, 
when  Jeff  Davis  wished  these  honest-hearted  men 
to  assist  him  in  carrying  out  his  great,  grand,  and 
overwhelming  scheme  of  unnatural  rebellion 
against  the  government  they  cherished,  they  said 
no.  Things  went  on  without  opposition  only  as 
they  opposed  its  course  to  destruction  at  the  bal 
lot-box.  Here  they  met  the  enemies  of  their 
country  every  time,  and  ahr.ost  with  a  unanimous 
voice  did  they  declare  against  secession  in  every 
form.  When  the  affairs  of  the  state  had  assumed 
a  malignant  form,  and  were  far  on  the  road  to 
ruin  and  wild  desperation,  they  only  expostu 
lated  ;  but  when  the  abominable,  uncivil,  anti- 
republican  conscript  act  passed,  and  was  being 
enforced  by  an  unfeeling,  heartless  band  of  ruf 
fians";  when  confusion,  dire  confusion,  had  come 
upon  them,  turning  brother  against  brother,  and 
father  against  son  ;  when  squalid  poverty  stared 
them  in  the  face  and  desperation  was  ensuing, 
caused  by  their  being  driven  from  home  to  seek  a 
place  of  safety  in  the  mountains,  in  caverns,  in 
dens,  —  they  opened  their  eyes  to  gaze  upon  the 
painful  sight  of  liberty  gone,  constitution  pros 
trated,  home  gone,  and  with  it  quietude  and  hon 
or.  To  escape  despotism  and  these  heartless  ruf 
fians,  men  left  their  homes  and  fled  to  the  moun 
tains.  Some  made  for  the  Union  army,  coming 
through  the  mountain  pathways  for  twenty,  for 
ty,  sixty,  and  some  even  ninety  miles,  having  a 
complete  line  of  friends  to  help  them  extending 
from  Decatur  to  near  Montgomery  —  the  best 
underground  railroad  ever  heard  of  or  ever  es 
tablished. 

Old  men  and  young  men  came  asking  and 
praying  the  army  to  assist  them,  demanding  pro- 
tec  Lion  from  the  old  flag,  and  asking  to  live  and 
to  light  under  the  old  Constitution,  declaring  they 
only  owed  allegiance  to  the  old  government,  and 
it  was  the  only  one  they  would  tight  for. 

Their  piteous  cries  moved  our  colonel,  A.  D. 
Straight,  who  asked  for  a  leave  of  absence  for 
four  days,  that  his  regiment  might  visit  the  moun 
tains,  pry  into  the  caverns,  and  ascertain  more 
positively  the  true  condition  of  those  loyal  perse 
cuted  men.  Accordingly,  early  Saturday  morn 
ing,  July  12th,  with  the  Fourteenth  Cavalry,  and 
a  sufficient  number  of  our  Alabamians  for  pilots, 
the  Fifty-first  crossed  the  river,  and  set  out  for 
the  mountain  regions.  On  we  moved  across  the 
valley,  while  the  sun  poured  his  rays  upon  us  — 
not  an  Indiana  sun,  but  the  sun  away  down  in 
Alabama.  Now  this  sun  was  shining  much  hot 
ter  than  the  sun  shines  any  day  in  Indiana.  Col. 
Straight  steered  us  for  Col.  Davis's,  who  lived 
twenty-five  miles  out  from  Decatur,  at  a  pass  in 
the  mountains  called  Davis's  Gap. 

We  arrived  at  Col.  Davis's  at  dark,  and  merci 
ful  heavens,  what  did  we  there  behold !  An 
elderly  lady  came  to  the  door,  who  was  between 
sixty  arid  seventy  years  old.  She  was  asked 
does  Col.  Davis  live  here  ?  She  answered  he 
did.  Is  he  at  home  ?  She  answered  he  is  not. 

Said  Col.  Streight,  "we  are  Union  troops; 
have  heard  of  your  suffering,  and  have  come  to 
relieve  you."  She  still  hesitated.  "  Do  you  be 


lieve  me  ?  "  She  said  she  would  dislike  to  dis 
pute  his  word,  but  a  young  lady  came  to  the  door 
and  asked,  "  have  you  any  of  the  Alabama  boys 
with  you  ?  "  They  were  called  up  from  the  rear. 
While  coming,  the  young  lady  remarked,  "  We 
I  have  been  so  often  deceived  by  guerillas,  that 
!  we  " —  The  boys  came.  "  Is  that  you,  John  ?  * 
I  Instantly  she  sprang  intc  his  arms,  threw  her 
j  arms  around  him,  while  she  exclaimed  :  "  Thank 
God,  we  are  safe."  "  Now,"  answered  the  elder 
ly  lady,  "  I  can  have  the  old  man  here  in  a  few 
minutes."  "  Where  is  he  ?  "  "  Just  back  in  the 
mountains."  What!  an  old  man  of  seventy- 
three  years,  resident  of  the  same  farm  for  more 
than  forty-four  years,  known  by  all  men  as  a 
quiet  peaceable,  and  pious  man  —  to  be  driven 
from  his  home,  to  have  to  seek  refuge  in  the 
!  aiountains,  in  the  caverns,  and  dismal,  secluded 
i  retreats,  where  the  eyes  of  only  the  wild  beasts 
had  gazed  !  Yes,  it  is  this  old  gentleman  who 
had  been  driven  from  home,  simply  because  he 
loved  his  country. 

The  night  passed  away  without  any  strange 
occurrences  and  morning  came  on.  We  started 
out,  three  companies  strong,  to  scour  the  country 
round,  to,  if  possible,  find  the  wounded  man,  but 
after  searching,  inquiring  after,  and  tracing  him 
till  he  abandoned  his  horse,  we  came  to  the  con 
clusion  that  further  search  would  be  fruitless, 
fearing  the  rascals  had  pursued  and  murdered 
him.  He  may,  there  is  a  slight  probability  he 
will,  come  up  yet.  They  stole  his  horse  and  ac 
coutrements.  While  this  search  was  going  on, 
companies  were  sent  out  in  almost  every  direc 
tion  to  scour  the  surrounding  country.  When 
we  all  meet,  in  the  evening,  some  have  arrested 
prominent  secessionists,  who  have  saddles,  some 
have  pantaloons  taken  from  artillerymen  they  had 
previously  murdered  several  miles  away,  and 
others  horses.  Sunday  evening  found  us  with 
over  fifty  recruits.  They  came  to  us  all  day 
Monday  like  doves  to  the  windows.  Monday  even 
ing  we  had  speaking  exercises,  in  which  Col. 
Streight,  Adjutant  Ramsay,  and  Chris.  Sheets 
took  part.  The  speeches  of  the  colonel  and  ad 
jutant  were  such  as  they  should  have  delivered, 
but  that  of  Sheets  was  a  strange  tune  coming 
from  an  Alabamian.  Sheets  represented  Winson 
county  in  the  Convention  when  Alabama  is  said 
to  have  seceded.  He  was  prominent  among  the 
very  few  in  that  Convention  who  would  not 
and  did  not  sign  the  ordinance  of  secession. 

Sheets  is  a  young  man  of  fine  promise  and 
makes  a  splendid  speech.  (  He  declared  to  his 
downtrodden  countrymen  that  the  time  had  come 
for  them  to  act,  and  act  they  must,  either  in  an 
army  they  had  no  sympathy  with,  and  in  a  cause 
for  which  they  could  have  no  reasonable  hope  of 
success  —  must  thus  fight  an  enemy  they  loved 
and  for  a  cause  they  hated ;  or,  on  the  other 
hand,  join  the  army  of  the  United  States,  fight 
in  a  cause  they  loved,  among  their  friends,  con 
tend  against  a  foe  to  God  and  man,  one  they  hat 
ed,  and  one  that  must  be  put  down  before  peace, 
quietude  and  prosperity  could  again  prevail. 
He  advised  them  to  join  that  army  anl  be  men, 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


217 


and  fight  the  Southern  Confederacy  to  hell  and 
back  again.  Said  he,  "  To-morrow  morning  I  am 
going  to  the  Union  army.  I  am  going  to  expose 
this  fiendish  villany  before  the  world.  They  shall 
hear  from  me.  I  have  slept  in  the  mountains, 
in  caves  and  caverns,  till  I  am  become  musty  ; 
my  health  and  manhood  are  failing  me.  I  will 
stay  here  no  longer  till  I  am  enabled  to  dwell  in 
quiet  at  home." 

Tuesday  morning  came  —  the  morning  we  had 
set,  and  were  compelled  by  our  time  being  out 
to  return  to  camp,  thirty-one  or  thirty-two  miles 
away.  At  about  seven  o'clock  a  company  of  about 
twenty  men  were  seen  approaching  our  lines,  be 
ing  led  by  a  woman.  They  entered  amid  great 
applause.  She  told  her  story  in  her  peculiar 
way,  with  her  own  peculiar  gestures,  the  tears 
streaming  from  her  eyes.  Said  she,  "  I  knew  I 
could  pass  those  guerrillas,  and  find  my  husband 
and  son,"  who  had  lied  for  their  lives  some  thirty- 
four  miles  back  in  the  mountains.  The  lady,  not 
in  good  health,  and  fifty-five  years  old,  had  rid 
den  a  poor  old  horse  over  the  mountains,  tracing 
the  mountain  pathways  through  the  gorges  and 
around  the  precipices,  sixty-four  miles,  counting 
the  distance  to  and  from  her  friends,  and  had 
made  the  trip  in  thirty  hours,  hunting  her  friends 
and  cooking  their  breakfast  in  the  time.  These 
acts  (for  there  are  many  such)  should  be  known. 
Such  heroines  from  the  mountains  have  mani 
fested  more  devotion  for  their  country  and  friends 
than  any  of  our  Revolutionary  mothers,  whose 
acts  of  patriotism  are  held  in  everlasting  remem 
brance.  When  the  historian  tells  of 'noble  deeds 
of  daring  and  devotion  to  country,  Anna  Camp 
bell,  of  Morgan  County,  Alabama,  should  stand 
first  on  the  scroll  of  fame.  It  is  no  use  to  talk 
—  when  this  old  lady  related  her  simple  tale, 
there  were  but  few  who  .were  not  affected.  Ad 
jutant  Ramsay  wept,  and  it  is  said  that  even  Colo 
nel  Streight  shed  tears.  I  know  I  did.  I  felt 
it  was  noble  to  weep  on  such  occasions. 

I  visited  an  old  patriot  of  eighty-four  years. 
He  was  blind,  so  that  he  had  not  left  his  home  in 
seven  years  —  a  peaceful,  quiet  old  man,  ripen 
ing  for  a  better  land,  for  he  was  devotedly  pious. 
.Now,  simply  because  this  old  gentleman  had 
raised  his  family  well,  so  that  they  were  all  for  the 
Union,  and  none  of  them  in  the  Southern  army, 
these  fiends  incarnate  were  thirsting  for  his  blood, 
and  had  threatened  him  with  hanging ;  for  they 
had  taken  one  of  his  neighbors  not  less  virtuous, 
and  only  ten  years  younger. 

Time  came  for  us  to  leave,  and  our  boys,  hav 
ing  divided  their  rations  with  the  Alabama  re 
cruits,  were  on  less  than  half  rations.  This  was 
the  hottest  day  of  the  season,  and  there  were  no 
ambulances  in  which  to  carry  the  weak.  But 
there  could  be  no  falling  out,  for  we  must  pass 
through  a  hostile  country.  The  men  were  formed 
into  a  long  line,  for  we  had  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  recruits  from  the  mountains.  And  now 
comes  the  most  touching  scene  of  the  expedition. 
We  had  left  our  families  when  it  was  heart-rend 
ing  to  part  with  the  loved  ones ;  but  what  was 
that  to  the  parting  here  ?  We  left  our  wives  in 


the  bosom  of  a  sympathizing  community ;  bin 
these  poor  men  must  now  leave  their  families  in 
the  midst  of  an  unfeeling,  heartless  set — a  com 
munity  who  would  turn  their  wives  out,  or  burn 
their  houses  over  their  heads,  or  destroy  their 
scanty  means  of  subsistence,  and,  may  be,  as 
they  have  done  several  times  before,  outrage 
their  persons.  The  wives  bade  their  husbands 
fare \«  til,  bidding  them  go,  and  they  would  take 
care  of  themselves  as  best  they  could.  Mothers 
wept  when  they  bade  their  sons  good  by,  with 
their  blessings  on  them,  Forward!  was  the 
command  —  a  wild  shriek  —  and  we  move  from 
scenes  of  sufferings  such  as  we  have  never  be 
fore  seen.  

MR.  LINCOLN  "Gooo  ON  THE  CHOP."  —  Dur 
ing  one  of  the  last  visits  that  the  martyred  Pres 
ident  made  to  James  River,  a  short  time  before 
the  capture  of  Richmond,  he  spent  some  time  in 
walking  around  among  the  hospitals,  and  in  visit 
ing  various  fatigue  parties  at  work  in  putting  up 
cabins  and  other  buildings. 

He  came  upon  one  squad  who  were  cutting  logs 
for  a  house ;  and,  chatting  a  moment  with  the 
hardy  woodsmen,  asked  one  of  them  to  let  him 
see  his  axe.  Mr.  Lincoln  grasped  the  helve  with 
the  easy  air  of  one  perfectly  i'amiliar  with  the 
tool,  and  remarked  that  he  "  used  to  be  good  on 
the  chop." 

The  President  then  let  in  on  a  big  log,  making 
the  chips  fly,  and  making  as  smooth  a  cut  as  the 
best  lumberman  in  Maine  could  do. 

Meantime  the  men  crowded  around  to  see  the 
work ;  and,  a|  he  handed  back  the  axe,  and 
walked  away/ftvith  a  pleasant  joke,  the  choppers 
gave  him  three  as  hearty  cheers  as  he  ever  heard 
in  the  whole  of  his  political  career. 


BAPTISM  OF  THE  BIG  GUN.  —  Father  Mooney, 
on  the  occasion  of  the  baptizing  of  one  of  the 
big  guns  mounted  at  Fort  Corcoran  in  June,  1861, 
made  the  following  remarks : 

"Gentlemen:  It  is  with  more  than  ordinary 
pleasure  I  come  forward  to  perform  a  ceremony 
which  is  not  only  pleasing  to  us  all,  but  highly 
honorable — I  may  say,  a  welcome  prerogative  to 
me  on  this  auspicious  occasion  —  and  that  is,  the 
christening  of  the  noble  gun  on  Fort  Corcoran. 
In  the  kind  providence  of  God,  it  has  been  for  me, 
as  a  priest,  during  the  last  nine  years,  to  baptize 
many  a  fine  blue-eyed  babe;  but  never  had  I 
brought  before  me  such  a  large,  quiet,  healthy, 
and  promising  fellow  as  the  one  now  before  me. 
Indeed,  I  may  remark,  it  has  often  occurred,  when 
pouring  the  baptismal  water  on  the  child's  head, 
he  opened  his  little  eyes,  and  got  a  little  more  of 
the  baptismal  water  than  he  wished ;  but,  on  this 
occasion,  this  noble  son  of  a  great  father  has  his 
mouth  open,  evidently  indicating  that  he  is  anx 
ious  to  speak,  which  I  have  no  doubt  he  soon 
will,  in  a  thundering  voice,  to  the  joy  of  his 
friends  and  terror  of  his  enemies.  I  need  not 
tell  you  that  a  most  appropriate  narre  has  been 
selected  by  our  esteemed  Colonel,  and  me  that  will 


218 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


be  welcomed  by  you  all ;  and  that  is  the  honorable 
name  of  the  ga."!lant  commander  of  our  brigade, 
Colonel  Hunter.  Therefore,  the  great  gun  shall 
hereafter  answer  to  its  name  —  the  Hunter  Gun. 
Now,  parents  anxiously  listen  to  the  first  lispings 
of  the  infant's  lips,  and  the  mother's  heart  swells 
with  joy  when  she  catches  the  first  utterance  of 
her  cherished  babe,  in  the  words,  « mamma,  mam 
ma  ! '  but  here  I  shall  guarantee  to  you  that  this 
promising  boy  will  speak  for  the  first  time,  in 
loud,  clear  accents, those  endearing  words,  'papa, 
papa,  papa !  — patria  mia,  patria  mia ! '  and,  in 
name  as  in  effect,  he  will  hunt  traitors  from  this 
fort,  while  the  echo  of  his  voice  will  be  as  sweet 
music,  inviting  the  children  of  Columbia  to  share 
the  comforts  of  his  father's  home ;  and  thus  may 
he  soon  speak,  to  the  glory  of  the  Stars  and 
Stripes,  honor  to  the  name  that  he  bears,  and  last 
ing  credit  to  the  Sixty-ninth  New  York." 


SCENES  AT  VICKSBURG.  —  "  As  I  was  riding  by 
a  small,  religious-looking  church,  cruciform  in 
shape  —  all  churches  do  not  look  sacred  —  but 
this,  in  a  grove  of  magnolia  trees,  with  a  small 
spire  surmounted  with  the  emblem  of  faith,  gothic 
windows,  and  everything  that  tends  to  make  it  a 
place  of  worship,  and  inspire  one  with  love  for 
1 'lira  who  holds  the  wind  in  the  palm  of  His  hand, 
vrho  careth  for  the  bird  and  feedeth  the  young 
tamos  upon  the  hills, — 

''  I  halted  at  the  gateway,  and  noticed  that  the 
u^ors  were  open.  After  dismounting  and  climb 
ing  a  hill,  ]  stood  upon  a  level  with  the  church. 
Could  it  be  ?  I  could  not  realize  until  I  walked  to 
the  door  and  looked  in.  Not  a  vestige  of  floor,  not 
u  remnant  of  a  pew — altar  gone.  Even  the  string- 
pieces  that  supported  the  floor  were  gone.  A  few 
negroes  sat  in  the  corners  cooking  meat,  while 
the  smoke  arose  in  reluctant  wreaths,  as  though 
hesitating  at  the  desecration.  A  beautiful  marble 
font  lay  broken  upon  the  ground,  while  the  bowl 
was  used  for  ordinary  ablutions  and  the  washing 
of  dishes. 

"  I  asked  how  this  had  been  done.  '  Why,'  said 
they,  '  rebel  cavalry  used  to  camp  in  it,  and  they 
burned  all  the  seats  and  the  pulpit ;  we  only 
burned  the  floor.' 

"  I  had  a  superstitious  fear  about  entering  it  to 
look  in.  the  small  side  rooms,  one  of  which  had 
given  forth  sounds  of  praise,  and  in  the  other  the 
sacred  vestments  of  the  priest  were  kept.  The 
organ  had  long  since  vanished ;  the  vestments 
were  gone.  Desecration  and  desolation  sat  here 
in  silence  —  mournful  reminder  of  a  curse  too 
deep  for  words,  that  Fate  had  uttered  against  the 
people  who  conceived  this  thing.  What  u  fit  com 
ment  on  the  rebellion !  Churches  desecrated,  and 
graveyards  defiled. 

"  In  a  cemetery  there  are  graves  opened  by  cu- 
rbus,  impious  hands.     One  grave  has  the  body  | 
of  a  celebrated  duellist  who  was   killed  in  Ar-  | 
kansas,  opposite  Memphis,  embalmed.    He  looks 
like  one  sleeping.     There    are  skulls  that  seem  | 
to  laugh  at  the  chaos  which  perplexes  us,  and! 


fresh  faces  sleeping  under  glass  that  lock  as 
though  they  were  in  eternal  sleep. 

"  Infants,  with  their  white  caps,  looking  like 
cherubs  asleep,  through  the  glass  of  metallic 
cases,  awake  not  nor  arise  at  the  tread  of  tht 
stringer. 

"  The  fences  ware  burned  by  the  rebels,  and  the 
passing  of  hurnhig  :eet  ar.d  the  tread  of  animalfr 
have  worn  off  many  of  the  graves  until  the  occu 
pants  are  exposed."  —  Letter  of  Sept.  1863. 


A  BATTLE  WITHIN  A  BATTLE.  —  An  officer 
of  the  Second  Connecticut  regiment,  in  a  letter 
to  his  family,  says :  "  The  coolest  thing  I  ever 
heard  of  happened  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks. 
Ilight  in  the  hottest  of  the  battle,  two  of  the  Sec 
ond's  boys  got  at  loggerheads  with  each  other, 
threw  down  their  muskets,  and  fell  to  at  fisticuffs 
—  had  it  out,  picked  up  their  arms,  and  pitched 
into  the  rebels  again.  I  have  heard"  of  a  wheel 
within  a  wheel ;  but  a  battle  within  a  battle  is 
certainly  something  new." 


A  YOUNG  HERO.  —  A  correspondent  at  Cin 
cinnati  gives  the  following  touching  incident  of 
the  hospital :  "  The  eyes  of  a  youth  but  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  by  name  W.  N.  Bullard,  of  company 
A,  Eighth  Illinois  regiment,  were  closed  in  death 
yesterday  morning,  at  the  Marine  Hospital  in 
this  city,  by  the  tender  hands  of  that  noble- 
hearted  and  fdithful  woman,  Mrs.  Caldwell,  who 
has  been  unwearied  in  her  personal  attention  to 
the  sick  and  wounded  since  the  establishment  of 
the  Marine  as  a  military  hospital  for  its  present 
purpose.  Young  Bullard  was  shot  in  the  breast 
at  Fort  Donelson.  The  ball,  a  minie,  tore  his 
breast  open,  and  lacerated  an  artery.  He  bled 
internally  as  well  as  externally.  At  every  gasp, 
as  his  end  drew  near,  the  blood  spirted  from  his 
breast.  He  expired  at  nine  o'clock.  Early  in 
the  day,  when  he  became  fully  aware  that  he 
could  not  live  long,  he  showed  that  he  clung  to 
life,  and  wras  loath  to  leave  it ;  but  he  cried :  '  If 
I  could  only  see  my  mother  —  if  I  could  only  see 
my  mother  before  I  die,  I  should  be  better  satis 
fied.'  He  was  conscious  to  the  last  moment,  al 
most,  and  after  reminding  Mrs.  Caldwell  that 
there  were  several  letters  for  his  mother  in  his 
portfolio,  she  breathed  words  of  consolation  to 
him  :  '  You  die  in  a  glorious  cause  —  you  die  for 
your  country.'  '  Yes,'  replied  he,  *  I  am  proud 
to  die  for  my  country.' " 


AN  OLD  WOMAN'S  WELCOME  TO  THE  FLAG.  — 
A  correspondent  at  Monticello,  Kentucky,  speak 
ing  of  the  manner  in  which  the  people  received 
the  national  troops  in  the  advance  on  that  place, 
says,  "  One  old  lady,  a  mile  beyond  this  place, 
said,  as  she  saw  the  columns  rushing  on  after 
the  rebels,  '  When  I  seed  that  old  flag  comin', 
I  jist  throwed  my  eld  bor.net  on  the  ground 
and  stomped  it.' " 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


219 


"RICHMUN   ON   THE   JEEMS." 

A  SOLDIER,  filled  with  Bourbon,  lay  puling  in  the 

street, 
From  battle-field  es-ca-ped,  with  swiftly  running 

feet; 
He'd    fallen    from    too   much    "  strychnine,"    and 

drowned  all  gallant  schemes, 
And  got  as  far  as  possible  from  Bichmun  on  the 

Jeems ! 

And  one  there  lay  beside  him  —  his  com:ade  in  the 

flight ; 
They  had  been  boon  companions,  and  frequently 

got  tight ; 
And  side  by  side  they  lay  there,  indulging  maudlin 

dreams, 
Far  from  the  Libby  Prison  and  Richmun  on  the 

Jeems ! 

One  said :    "  Old  feller,  tell  me,  what  think  you  of 

this  war, 
Made  by  the  boastin'  rebels,  our  prosperous  peace 

to  mar  ? 
Are  Lee  and  Stonewall  Jackson  such  thunderation 

teams, 
As  to  keep  us  out  of  Richmun,  ole  Richmun  on  the 

Jeems  ? 

"  Say,  do  you  think  that  Hooker  —  they  call  him 

'  Fightin'  Joe  '  — 
Who  'for  the  war  committee  run  down  McClellan 

so,  — 
Will  he  cross  the  Rappyhannick,  and  carry  out  his 

schemes, 
And  take  us  down  to  Richmun,  upon  the  River 

Jeems  ? 

"  Why,  when  I  left   old   Kaintuck,  just  eighteen 

months  ago, 

My  mam  and  sister  Ruby  both  said  I  shouldn't  go ; 
But  I  ax'd  'em  both,  and  Susan,  to  think  of  me  in 

dreams,  — 
For  I'se  bound  to  go  to  Richmun,  old  Richmun  on 

the  Jeems ! 

"  You  know,  through  tribulation,  we  marched  on, 
night  and  day, 

Through  woods,  and  mud,  and  dusty  roads,  and 
fightin'  in  the  fray  ; 

By  smoke-houses  and  chicken-coops,  and  where  the 
b'iler  steems, 

Which  cooked  our  hard-earned  rations  tow'rd  Rich 
mun  on  the  Jeems. 

««  And  now  we're  going  homeward  —  me  and  the 
other  scamp  — 

Yet  far  from  old  Kentucky  we  are  obleeged  to 
tramp  ; 

And  him  who's  out  of  postage  stamps,  there's  no 
body  esteems, 

E'en  though  he's  been  in  Richmun,  and  seed  the 
River  Jeems ! 

"  To  hell  with  old  Phiginny,  and  all  her  sacred  sile  ! 
She's  made  a  heap  of  trouble,  and  kept  it  up  awhile  ; 
And  if  she's  helped  herself  right  much,  'tis  like  to 

them  sunbeams 
The  niggers  squeeze  from  cucumbers,  in  Richmun 

on  the  Jeems !  " 


And  then  his  boon  companion  convulsively  turned 

o'er, 
And,  grunting  an  affirME'lve,  straightway  began  to 

snore, 
Oblivious    to    war's    alarms    or   love's    delightful 

themes, 
Or  to  the  fact  that  Richmun  s'jill  stands  upon  the 

Jeei.is ! 

Grow  on,  thou  "  sour  ftpple-tree,"  where  Jeff'y  is  to 

hang ! 
Rejoice,  ye  running  c onfc  abanrls,  for  this  is  your 

chebang  ! 
No  more  you'll  stem  tobacco,  thresh  wheat,  or  drive 

the  teams 
Of  rebels  round  the  city  —  old  Richmun  on  the 

Jeems ! 


INCIDENT  OF  WEST  POINT.  —  James  E.  Mont 
gomery  gives  the  following  narrative  of  his  ex 
perience  at  the  battle  of  West  Point,  Virginia, 
which  was  fought  in  May,  1862  :  "  My  own  escape 
is  wonderful,  and,  indeed,  almost  miraculous,  and 
I  forgot  not  to  thank  God  for  his  watchfulness 
over  me.  It  was  about  one  o'clock  P.  M.  when 
I  received  an  order  from  General  Newton  to  go 
forward  into  the  woods  to  ascertain  whether  the 
rebels  were  falling  back,  and  whether  a  certain 
regiment  of  ours  held  its  position  there.  I  went 
forward  at  once,  as  fast  as  my  well-tried  horse 
could  carry  me,  and  upon  entering  the  woods 
moved  cautiously  until  I  reached  a  barricade, 
when,  hearing  voices  beside  me,  I  plunged  ir.to  the 
woods,  thinking,  of  course,  it  was  one  of  our  regi 
ments,  Thirty-first  New  York,  and  was  surprised 
to  find  that  I  had  gone  right  into  a  perfect  nest 
of  the  Hampton  Legion,  from  South  Carolina, 
who  were  lying  behind  trees,  standing  behind 
bushes,  and  kneeling  behind  stumps,  like  bees.  I 
at  once  perceived  my  mistake,  and  knew  that 
nothing  but  the  most  consummate  coolness  would 
save  me.  I  therefore  saluted  them,  and  they, 
taking  me  for  a  rebel  officer,  asked  me  how  far 
General  Hampton  was  then.  I  answered  with 
out  hesitation,  and  with  rather  more  assurance 
than  I  thought  I  possessed,  '  I  left  him  about  ten 
rods  below  here ; '  and  added,  '  Now,  boys,  the 
General  expects  you  to  do  your  duty  to-day.'  I 
then  turned  my  horse  slowly  to  lull  suspicion,  and 
was  congratulating  myself  on  the  probable  success 
of  my  ruse,  when,  seeing  the  U.  S.  on  my  cap, 
they  yelled  out,  '  That's  a  d — d  Yankee  son  of  a 
b — !  Give  him  h — ! '  On  hearing  this,  I  dashed 
the  spurs  into  my  horse,  threw  my  head  over  his 
neck,  and  made  for  the  road.  A  perfect  volley  of 
minie  balls  passed  over  and  around  me — killed 
my  horse,  who  rolled  over,  carrying  me  with  him, 
and  left  me  down.  Knowing  that  apparently 
nothing  but  time  would  save  me,  1  lay  with  my 
head  back  in  a  ditch  as  I  fell,  and  appeared  dead 
for  some  ten  minutes.  I  did  not  move  a  muscle 
or  a  feature,  although  the  scoundrels  were  swarm 
ing  around  me,  and  threatening  to  '  end  me.'  I 
remained  in  this  way  until  they  came  up  to  me, 
took  away  my  pistol,  and  commenced  general 
plundering ;  and  as  they  fingered  away,  1  could 


220 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


not  suppress  a  smile ;  and  then  rising,  I  said, 
'  Well,  men,  I  yield  as  a  prisoner  of  war.'  They 
said,  '  You  have  been  shamming,  you  d — d  Yan 
kee  scoundrel,  have  you  ?  '  '  Certainly,'  said  I ; 
'  everything  is  fair  in  war.'  They  then  commenced 
to  abuse  me,  as  a  d — d  Yankee  this,  and  a  d — d 
Yankee  that ;  when  I  turned  upon  them,  and  said, 
'  I  have  yielded  as  a  prisoner  of  war ;  I  demand 
to  be  used  as  such.  We  in  the  North  know  how 
to  treat  dogs  better  than  you  do  men ;  now  lead 
me  to  your  commanding  officer.'  The)  gave  me 
another  volley  of  abuse,  at  which  I  merely  smiled, 
and  then  a  shell,  fired  by  our  artillery  to  the  place 
where  I  was  seen  to  enter,  burst  like  the  wind 
amongst  us  —  skinning  my  nose,  and  scattering 
the  rebel" rascals  like  chaff.  They  seized  their 
muskets,  pointed  two  of  them  at  me,  and  told  me 
to  '  come  along,  you  d — d  Yankee  ! '  I  still  talked 
with  them  to  gain  time,  when  another  shell  burst 
ing  amongst  us,  they  moved  on  farther,  calling 
to  me  to  '  come  on,'  while  I  said,  '  Go  ahead,  lead 
the  way,  quick.'  I  then  saw  a  favorable  moment, 
and  preferring  freedom  to  a  Southern  prison,  I 
made  one  bound  into  the  woods,  and  went  back 
as  fast  as  one  leg  would  carry  me.  I  felt  very 
much  exhausted,  and  was  carried  to  the  rear  by 
some  men  and  placed  under  a  tree,  when,  with 
whiskey  and  care,  I  soon  felt  stronger,  although 
my  leg  was  stiff.  They  wished  me  to  go  in  an 
ambulance  to  hospital,  but  I  politely  declined ; 
and  calling  for  an  extra  horse,  I  was  lifted  on  his 
back,  and  returned  to  the  field,  and  reported  to 
General  Newton  for  duty.  He  kindly  told  me 
that  I  had  distinguished  myself  enough  this  day, 
and  requested  me  to  keep  quiet." 


THE  FOURTEENTH  TENNESSEE.  —  This  regi 
ment,  when  the  prospects  of  the  Confederacy 
opened  so  brilliant  in  1861,  left  Clarksville,  Tenn., 
with  nir.e  hundred  and  sixty  men.  They  were  of 
the  best  families,  and  the  pride  of  Montgomery 
County.  Yroung  men,  of  tine  education,  sup- 
rounded  with  superior  comforts,  and  who  were 
marked  for  high  positions  in  civil  community,  left 
their  homes,  pleasant  associations,  and  all  the  en 
dearments  of  the  fireside  —  left  the  legal  bar,  the 
counting-room,  and  the  hall  of  princely  home  on 
the  plantation,  to  go  into  the  Confederate  ranks, 
and  exterminate  the  cowardly  legions  of  a  tyran 
nical  North.  Wily  statesmen  appealed  to  the 
chivalry  of  Southern  hearts  to  break  the  bonds 
of  Union,  throw  off  a  despotism,  and  strike  for 
liberty,  independence,  and  the  firesides  of  home. 
Ambitious  lathers  pointed  to  future  glories  of  a 
Confederacy,  and  by  acts,  if  not  words,  urged 
the  son  to  go  in  defence  of  the  Southern  cause. 
Mothers  kissed  the  parting  boy  oft  without  a 
tear,  and  with  a  burning  appeal  to  die  nobly  on 
the  battle-field,  saw  him  depart  from  the  child 
hood  home.  And  girls,  just  budding  into  woman 
hood,  the  fairy  schoolmates  and  early  friends  of 
the  young  men,  cheered  them  on  to  deeds  of 
valor  and  glory.  All  was  wild  enthusiasm.  Pop- 
alar  frenzy  ruled  the  hour,  and  he  who  refused  to 
volunteer  was  coldly  sneered  at,  and  turned  from 


as  a  coward,  and  unworthy  the  name  of  South 
ron.  Every  household  that  boasted  a  son  was 
robbed  of  its  idol.  The  ranks  swelled  rap 
idly,  faces  were  missed  from  every  corner,  and 
from  every  home.  And  as  the  hurricane  sweeps 
the  stately  forest  before  it,  leaving  sad  destruc 
tion  in  its  track,  so  were  the  youth  swept  from 
their  homes,  and  wildly  cheered  on  to  the  bat 
tie-fields,  a  sacrifice  to  the  shrine  of  Ambition. 

Wildly,  enthusiastically,  they  left  their  homes 
without  or. »,  solid  thought  as  to  the  true  respon 
sibilities  of  the  undertaking.  Their  march  to 
camp  was  more  like  going  to  the  transient  joys 
of  a  ball-room  or  festival,  than  to  the  cold  reali 
ties  of  the  battle-field.  They  then  thought  the 
war  would  be  of  short  duration  —  that  the  North 
ern  States  would  quail  before  the  imposing  array 
of  the  military  and  warlike  South.  They  calcu 
lated  without  the  cost.  They  dreamed  not  that 
they  would  be  sent  from  the  States  to  protect  the 
capital  of  the  Confederacy,  and  participate  in  the 
sanguinary  battles  on  the  bloody  fields  of  Virginia, 
while  the  homes  they  volunteered  to  defend,  were 
left  unprotected,  and  occupied  by  Federal  troops. 

Two  years  and  a  half  have  flown.  A  sad 
change  has  come  over  the  prospect  of  the  Con 
federacy.  The  Fourteenth  Tennessee  has  met  a 
terrible  fate.  Ever  thrown  into  the  front,  it  has 
fought  in  all  the  bloody  contevSts  of  Virginia. 
The  fickle  Goddess  of  Fortune  failed  to  srniki 
upon  the  regiment.  Each  battle  thinned  their 
ranks ;  and  when  night  closed  over  each  day's 
fearful  fight  they  counted  their  numbers,  and 
knew  that  carnage  had  reigned  with  an  unsparing 
hand.  Steadily  they  have  met  the  shock  of  bat 
tle,  and  0,  how  many  hearts  at  home  have  been 
saddened  by  the  results!  The  bright  star  of 
their  destiny  has  gradually  faded ;  and  at  the 
late  fierce  battle  of  Gettysburg,  the  orb,  dimmed 
in  lustre,  sank  behind  the  red  storm-cloud  of 
battle,  on  the  field  of  disaster  and  blood.  The 
regiment  went  into  the  fight  with  sixty  men,  all 
told,  and  in  a  desperate  charge,  where  Federal 
cannon  and  volleys  of  musketry  swept  the  rug 
ged  plain,  the  remaining  sixty  men  of  the  once 
nine  hundred  and  sixty  were  felled  to  the  ground, 
dead,  dying,  wounded,  and  left  in  the  hands  of 
the  enemy.  We  are  told  that  in  this  charge  only 
three  men  out  of  the  sixty  escaped ;  all  the  rest 
were  killed  or  wounded. 

Thus  the  band  that  once  was  the  pride  of  the 
city  of  Clarksville  has  fallen.  The  rugged  plains 
of  Virginia  are  stained  with  their  blood,  and 
every  battle-field  furnishes  a  grave  for  some  of 
the  fallen.  A  gloom  rests  over  the  city;  the 
hopes  and  affections  of  the  people  were  wrapped 
in  the  regiment.  The  idols  have  fallen,  and  a 
void  is  left  within  their  hearts.  Their  forms 
sleep  in  a  common  grave,  far  from  the  scenes  of 
home.  Fathers,  mothers,  brothers  and  sisters 
now  realize  the  terrible  sacrifice  that  has  been 
made ;  and  to  know  the  victims  were  cheered  on 
to  the  destiny,  is  a  fact  no  less  grievous  than 
true.  Their  pulses  are  now  numbered  with  sor 
row  ;  and  turning  to  "he  past,  a  vivid  picture  is 
drawn —  a  noble  bey  passing  from  the  threshold 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


221 


of  his  home,  going"  to  the  field  of  battle  with 
almost  a  smile  on  his  face,  passing  out  into  night 
and  darkness  forever ! 

The  early  scenes  of  childhood  and  manhood 
are  treasured,  and  form  a  bright  past  to  the  pic 
ture  ;  but  eternal  night  obscures  the  future.  The 
pride  of  the  household  is  fallen  —  fallen  in  a 
strange  land,  on  a  field  where  carnage  held  high 
revel.  They  only  know  that  he  is  dead  —  mortal 
knows  not  where  the  form  sleeps — the  soldier's 
''"•  sleep  that  knows  no  waking."  Strange  hands 
have  gathered  the  dead,  and  heaped  the  bodies 
together  in  one  rude  and  common  burial.  Friends 
may  visit  the  battle-ground  in  search  of  the  lost 
loved,  but  return  bewildered  with  the  sickening 
scene,  where  a  wilderness  of  trenches  form  a 
common  grave  for  thousands  of  friend  and  fee. 

Yes,  the  sacrifice  has  been  made ;  the  heart 
is  robbed  of  its  idol ;  death  has  claimed  the  vic 
tim,  and  we  know  not  where  the  loved  one  sleeps. 
He  died  with  a  ghastly  wound,  writhed  in  pain ; 


forty  of  the  detachment,  being  all  that  were  will 
ing  to  go.  Arriving  on  the  southern  side,  they 
surprised  the  rebel  cimp,  fired  a  volley  into  the 
sleeping  rebels,  and  created  an  utter  stampede. 
'I  'hey  cantnred  about  twenty  rebels,  including  one 
office:  Then,  destroying  the  camp,  some  stores, 
and  fc^r  wagons  of  ammuni  ion,  they  took  all 
the  pontoons  over  th?  river,  and  either  burned 
or  cut  them  to  pieces.  The  balance  of  the  bridge 
was  destroyed,  and  the  party  came  off  without  the 


loss  of  a 


Grenewald  desired  to  perform 


the  same  thing  at  WLliamsport,  but  his  party  de 
clined  to  back  him  up.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
daring  and  reliable  of  scouts,  and  performed 
great  service.  _ 


SHERMAN'S  FLANK  MOVEMENTS.  —  General 
Sherman's  strategy  in  flanking  the  rebels  out  of 
their  strong  positions  puzzled  the  natives  a  good 
deal.  A  young  woman  said  it  was  not  fair  to 
fight  the  Southern  soldiers  "  on  end."  She  then 


no  mother  soothed  his  brow ;  no  sister  held  the  went  on  to  say,  that  the  day  before  General 
refreshing  draught  to  his  lips  —  rolled  his  glassy  I  Bragg  had  formed  "  two  streaks  of  fight"  in 
eves  heavenward ;  no  father  knelt  in  prayer ;  but  their  door-yard  with  "walking  soldiers"  and 
alone  —  his  ears  filled  with  the  roar  of  cannon,  |  General  Wheeler  formed  "  one  streak  of  fight 
the  rattle  of  musketry  and  the  groans  of  fellow-  j  with  critter  soldiers"  —  meaning  cavalry — be- 
wounded  —  his  lips  parted,  and  parched  in  death  |  hind  the  house,  but  that  Joe  Hooker  had  come 
agony ;  and  death  and  blood  everywhere  meet-  j  up  and  flanked  Bragg,  and  made  him  fall  back, 
ing  the  cold  stare  of  his  fading  eyesight,  the  icy  |  which  he  did  in  such  a  hurry,  that  he  "  upset 


chill  steals  over  his  body  —  one  struggle  —  one 
gasp,  and  the  soul  is  freed  from  the  "  prison- 
house  of  pain  "  !  The  sacrifice  is  complete :  am 
bition  is  satisfied,  and  turns  to  gloat  with  fiendish 
delight  over  new  victims. 

Ah !  what  a  terrible  responsibility  rests  upon 
those  that  inaugurated  this  unholy  war,  and  who 
have  sacrificed  so  many  lives  for  the  accomplish 
ment  of  their  desires.  May  the  pale  shadows  of 
their  victims  haunt  their  day  dreams,  and  appear 
in  ghostly  form  in  all  their  night  visions.  May 
the  cold  stare  of  their  accusing  eyes  haunt  them 


dad's  ash-hopper  plant,"  which  cost  two  dollars 
and  fifty  cents  in  Atlanta ;  and  "  dad  was  a-goin 
to  sue  Bragg  for  waste." 


THE  DEATH  OF  GENERAL  LYTLE. — A  sol 
dier  of  Chickamauga  relates  the  following  :  "  The 
noble  General  died  as  a  so.dier  loves  to  die,  with 
his  brave  men  around  him,  steadily  fighting  vastly 
superior  numbers.  A  moment  before  he  received 
the  fatal  wound,  he  said :  '  Brave  Wisconsin 
boys,  I  am  proud  of  you  ! '  and  with  renewed 


continually,  stagger  their  brain  with  \vild  fancies,  j  vigor  they  poured  in  their  fire,  though  their  num- 
and  demons  ever  howl  their  guilt  in  their  ears.       bers  were  rapidly  decreasing.     And  he  was  justly 

proud  of  them,  for  I  never  saw  men  stand  up  to 
their  work  so  steadily  and  coolly,  and   I  am  glad 


LEONARD  GRENEWALD.  —  The  destruction  of 
the  pontoon  bridge  and  train  at  Falling  Waters, 


to  have  the  privilege  of  saying  it  to  you,  their 
old   commander.     How   vour  heart  would  have 


in  July,  1863,  was  one  of  the  most  daring  ex-  i  swelled,  and  your  eyes  kindled,  if  you  had  seen 
ploits  of  the  war,  and  the  credit  of  it  belongs  main-  I  them  go  in  and  stay,  until  unsupported  on  both 
ly  to  Leonard  Grenewald,  chief  of  the  Gray  Eagle  flanks  they  were  compelled  to  fall  back,  and  not 
Scouts,  and  formerly  of  the  Jessie  Scouts.  Dur-  j  then  until  poor  Lytle  had  been  carried  away  from 
ing  previous  trips,  he  had  ascertained  the  strength  !  their  immediate  vicinity,  where  he  had  been  sit- 
of  the  ground  and  location  of  the  bridge,  and  '  ting  on  his  horse,  encouraging  them  by  his  cheer- 
fir,  ally  obtained  from  General  French  a  detail  of  j  ing  words."  

two   hundred  men  from  the  First  Virginia  and 

Thirteenth  and  Fourteenth  New  York  cavalry,]  THE  SPIRIT  OF  KENTUCKY. — The  Cleveland 
under  Major  Foley  and  Lieutenant  Dawson,  to  :  Plaindealer  related  the  following  incident,  which 
undertake  its  destruction.  They  arrived  at  the  !  transpired  in  the  Kentucky  Legislature  : 
Potomac  in  the  morning,  just  at  daylight,  and  !  "  A  venerable  farmer,  fro'm  a  neighboring  coun- 
tbund  the  character  of  the  bridge  to  be  part  tres-  '  ty,  one  of  that  kind  for  whom  Kentucky  has  an 
tie  work,  with  pontoons  in  the  centre,  which  were  instinctive  veneration,  appeared  in  the  Legisla- 
carefully  floated  out  every  evening,  and  taken  to  |  tive  Hall,  uncovered  his  snowy  locks,  and  sat 
the  Virginia  shore,  rendering  the  bridge  useless  j  down.  At  the  first  lull  in  the  debate,  he  rose 
for  the  night.  Lieutenant  Dawson  and  Grene-  j  slowly,  and  said  he  had  a  word  to  say,  but  was 
wald  then  swam  the  river,  and  brought  back  sev-  ;  aware  it  was  out  of  order  fo :  him  to  speak  before 
eral  pontoons,  with  which  they  ferried  over  some  the  Legislature  while  in  scsiion.  His  dignified 


222 


ANECDOTES.   POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


and  venerable  appearance  arrested  attention,  and 
'  Go  on,'  '  Go  on,'  from  several  voices,  seemed  to 
keep  him  on  his  feet.  Again  expressing  his  diffi 
dence  at  speaking,  out  of  propriety  —  '  Hear  ! 
hear  ! '  resounded  generally  over  the  room.  The 
members'  curiosity,  as  well  as  respect,  for  the  ap 
pearance  and  manner  of  the  man  was  up,  and  si 
lence  followed  the  '  Hear  !  hear  ! '  when  the  old 
hero  delivered  the  following  eloquent,  but  laconic 
speech : 

"  '  Gentlemen  :  I  am  delegated  by  my  county 
to  inform  you,  that  if  you  hold  a  secret  session 
here,  as  you  threaten  to  do,  not  one  stone  of  this 
Capitol  will  rest  upon  another  twenty-four  hours 
after.  Good  day  ! '  and  he  left." 


STORY  OF  A  NORTH  CAROLINA  NEGRO.  —  A 
slave  related  this  story  to  a  member  of  the  Twen 
ty-seventh  Massachusetts  regiment,  while  at  New- 
bern: 

"  I  was  owned  up  the  country  [the  western 
part  of  the  State]  by  a  man  who  had  a  large 
plantation,  and  four  or  five  hundred  slaves.  I 
was  well  used,  every  way,  by  him,  and  one  day 
he  told  me  to  carry  a  letter  to  a  man  in  Raleigh. 
I  knew  this  man  was  a  speculator  in  slaves,  and  I 
was  suspicious  that  all  was  not  right ;  but  I  could 
not  believe  my  master  would  deceive  me ;  so.  I 
started.  On  my  way,  I  met  a  free  colored  man 
that  I  was  acquainted  with,  and  he  could  read.  I 
told  him  where  I  was  going,  and  for  what.  He 
asked  to  see  the  letter.  It  was  not  sealed,  and 
he  took  it  out  and  read  it  to  me.  It  was  a  bill  of 
sale,  and  I  was  one  of  the  lot ;  and  we  were  sold 
to  go  to  Alabama.  My  master  had  taken  this 
way  to  deliver  me,  rather  than  have  a  *  scene,'  as 
it  is  termed ;  and  this  speculator  was  to  seize  me 
upon  my  appearance,  and  send  me  South.  I  had 
rather  have  died  than  gone  ;  so,  after  thinking  it 
over,  and  consulting  my  colored  friend,  I,  with  his 
help,  got  a  couple  of  knives  and  a  good  rifle,  a 
few  clothes  and  some  provisions,  and  took  to  the 
bush  [woods  and  swamps],  where  I  could  defy 
pursuit.  There  I  lived  and  suffered  seven  years, 
relying  upon  my  trusty  rifle  for  food,  and  got  so 
expert  that  I  could  kill  a  coon  or  bear  at  forty 
rods  every  time.  [Bears  are,  and  were,  some 
what  numerous  here  in  the  swamp  ] 

"I  heard  when  the  war  broke  out,  and  heard 
when  Burnside  took  Newbern;  so  I  made  tracks 
for  the  Union  people,  and  when  I  came  in  here,  I 
vent  straight  to  Burnside's  headquarters,  and 
told  him  my  story.  He  told  me  to  take  off  my 
coat,  which  was  nothing  but  rags,  and  he  gave 
me  one  of  his  own  coats,  and  called  me  a  brave 
fellow."  

MORGAN'S  ESCAPE.  —  The  following  incident  is 
connected  with  the  remarkable  escape  of  Morgan 
from  his  Northern  imprisonment : 

Having  made  application  to  two  respectable 
citizens  of  Clayton,  Rabun  County,  Georgia,  for 
a  night's  lodgings,  and  been  refused  because  they 
thought  he  was  an  impostor,  and  recognized  him, 
Mr.  N invited  him  to  his  house,  where  he 


spent  the  night.  Mea'itiia  s,  it  had  been  currently 
reported  in  the  village  and  vicinity,  that  an  im 
postor,  pretending  to  be  John  Morgan,  was  at 

the  house  of  Mr.  N .     Next  morning  about 

twenty  of  the  "Home  Gua:ds"  assembled,  and, 
under'  the  direction  of  their  efficient  Captain, 
arrested  him.  He  quietly  submitted,  and  assured 
them  that,  if  he  failed  :o  prove  his  identity,  he 
would  accompany  them  to  Atlanta.  About  this 
time,  cne  or  two  gentlemen,  who  had  seen  him, 
recognized  him,  and  some  facts  were  developed 
which  satisfied  the  Home  Guards  that  they  had 
captured  the  veritable  John  H.  Morgan !  Of 
course,  he  was  at  once  released.  Before  leaving, 
he  addressed  the  crowd  briefly,  commending,  in 
the  highest  terms,  the  vigilance  they  displayed ; 
advised  them  to  arrest  all  persons  who  could  not 
give  a  satisfactory  account  of  themselves ;  and 
closed  with  the  playful  remark  that  twenty  men 
had  accomplished,  in  Rabun,  what  it  required  forty 
thousand  in  Ohio  to  do  ! 

The  crowd  gave  nine  cheers  for  Morgan,  and 
he  proceeded  on  his  way  to  Walhalla. 


DEATH  OF  A  BERDAN  SHARPSHOOTER.  — A  cor 
respondent  of  a  Southern  paper  says : 

"  A  gentleman  informs  us  of  the  death  of  one 
of  McClellan's  sharpshooters,  on  the  Peninsula, 
under  circumstances  which  possess  interest  suf 
ficient  to  give  them  to  the  public.  Several  of  our 
men,  it  seems,  were  killed  while  going  to  a  spring 
near  by,  but  by  whom  no  one  could  imagine.  It 
was  at'last  determined  to  stop  this  inhuman  game, 
if  possible,  even  at  the  cost  of  killing  the  hireling 
himself,  who  was  thus  in  cold  blood  butchering 
our  men.  So  a  sharp  lookout  was  kept  for  this 
sharpshooter,  and  the  next  time  he  fired  the  smoke 
of  his  rifle  revealed  the  locality  of  his  pit. 

"  That  night  a  pit  was  dug  by  the  Confederate 
soldiers,  commanding  the  position  of  the  Yankee 
sharpshooter,  and  arrangements  made  to  get  rid 
of  the  annoying  creature.  For  this  purpose  a 
young  Kentuckian  was  placed  in  our  pit,  with  a 
trusty  rifle,  and  provisions  enough  to  last  him 
until  the  next  night.  Next  morning  early  a  man 
was  despatched,  as  usual,  with  two  buckets  to  go 
to  the  spring.  He  had  proceeded  about  two  hun 
dred  yards,  when  the  Yankee  marksman  elevated 
himself,  and  placing  his  rifle  to  his  shoulder,  was 
about  to  pull  trigger;  but  the  Kentuckian  was  too 
quick  for  him,  for  he  pulled  his  trigger  first,  and 
simultaneously  therewith  the  Yankee  fell. 
•  "  Upon  repairing  to  the  spot,  which  the  Ken 
tuckian  did  immediately,  he  discovered  a  riflepit, 
and  a  sturdy  Yankee  in  it,  in  the  last  agonies  of 
expiring  nature.  The  pit  was  provided  with  a 
cushioned  chair,  pipes  and  tobacco,  liquors  and 
provisions.  But  the  rifle  which  had  been  used 
was  really  a  valuable  prize.  It  was  of  most  su 
perb  manufacture,  and  supplied  with  the  latest 
invention  —  an  improved  telescopic  sight  upon  its 
er  d.  The  pit  had  been  dug  at  night,  and  its  oc 
cupant  had  been  provisioned  at  night ;  so.  but  for 
a  sharp  lookout  for  the  smoke  of  his  gun,  there  is 
no  saying  how  long  this  Yankee  Yindal  would 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


223 


have  enjoyed  the  luxury  of  killing  Southern  men, 
without  even  a  chance  of  losing  his  own  worthless 
life."  

AN   1  tf  CIDENT  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  FORTS. 

—  Caplain  Boggs,  of  the  Varuna,  tells  a  story  of 
u  brave  hoy  who  was  on  board  his  vessel,  during 
the  bombardment  of  the  forts  on  the  Mississippi 
River.  The  lad,  who  answers  to  the  name  of 
Oscar,  is  but  thirteen  years  of  age,  but  he  has  an 
old  head  on  his  shoulders,  and  is  alert  and  ener 
getic.  During  the  hottest  of  the  fire  he  was  busily 
engaged  in  passing  ammunition  to  the  gunners, 
and  narrowly  escaped  death  when  one  of  the 
terrific  broadsides  of  the  Varuna's  rebel  antago 
nist  was  poured  in.  Covered  with  dirt,  and  be 
grimed  with  powder,  he  was  met  by  Captain  Boggs, 
who  asked  "  where  he  was  going  in  such  a  hurry  P  " 
"  To  get  a  passing-box,  sir  ;  the  other  one  was 
smashed  by  a  ball!"  And  so,  throughout  the 
fight,  the  brave  lad  held  his  place  and  did  his 
duty. 

When  the  Varuna  went  down,  Captain  Boggs 
missed  his  boy,  and  thought  he  was  among  the 
victims  of  the  battle.  But  a  few  minutes  after 
wards  he  saw  the  lad  swimming  gallantly  towards 
the  wreck.  Clambering  on  board  of  Captain 
Boggs'  boat,  he  threw  his  hand  up  to  his  forehead, 
giving  the  usual  salute,  and  uttering  only  the 
words,  "  All  right,  sir ;  I  report  myself  on  board," 
and  passed  coolly  to  his  station. 


BLACK  TOM. 

HUNTED  by  his  rebel  master 

Over  many  a  hill  and  glade, 
Black  Tom,  with  his  wife  and  children, 

Found  his  way  to  our  brigade. 

Tom  had  sense,  and  truth,  and  courage, 
Often  tried  where  danger  rose  — 

Once  our  flag  his  strong  arm  rescued 
From  the  grasp  of  rebel  foes. 

One  day  Tom  was  marching  with  us 
Through  the  forest  as  our  guide, 

When  a  ball  from  traitor's  rifle 

Broke  his  arm  and  pierced  his  side. 

On  a  litter  white  men  bore  him 

Through  the  forest  drear  and  damp, 

Laid  him,  dying,  where  our  banners 
Brightly  fluttered  o'er  our  camp. 

Pointing  to  his  wife  and  children, 
While  he  suffered  racking  pain, 

Said  he  to  our  soldiers  round  him, 
"  Don't  let  them  be  slaves  again!  " 

"  No,  by  Heaven ! "  outspoke  a  soldier,  - 
And  that,  oath  was  not  profane,  — 

"  Our  hrigade  will  still  protect  them  — 
They  shall  ne'er  be  slaves  again." 

Over  old  Tom's  dusky  features 
Came  and  staid  a  joyous  ray ; 

And  with  saddened  friends  around  him, 
His  free  spirit  passed  away. 


INCIDENTS  OF  CHATTANOOGA.  —  "  Captain  Har 
ris,  of  the  Nineteenth  Indiana  battery,  stood  by 
his  guns,  after  being  twice  wounded  ;  and  when 
he  became  weak  from  loss  of  blood,  he  made  his 
men  sup]  ort  him  while  he  sighted  the  guns. 

"  A  man,  by  the  name  of  Brock,  in  the  Eleventh 
Ohio  regiment,  was  wounded  through  the  neck 
and  lower  ja^v,  at  Perryville.  He  had  not  been 
in  the  engagement  over  ten  minutes,  on  Sunday, 
when  a  ball  struck  him  in  the  same  place,  taking 
the  same  course  with  the  other,  making  a  horrible 
wound. 

"George  Kizer,  of  the  Seventy-fifth  Indiana 
regiment,  company  F,  was  killed  on  the  field. 
Before  he  was  killed  he  had  requested  his  mess 
mate  to  send  his  photograph,  with  some  other 
things,  to  his  mother,  in  case  he  was  killed ;  but 
there  is  not  often  a  chance  to  attend  to  such 
things  on  the  field.  On  Saturday  night  the  rebels 
thought  we  were  evacuating  the'  place,  and  they 
threw  forward  their  right  to  attack  us.  They 
soon  found  out  their  mistake.  They  were  scooped 
in  no  time.  We  took  thirty  prisoners,  and  killed 
and  wounded  as  many  more.  On  one  of  the  dead 
rebs  the  Indiana  boys  found  Kizer's  knapsack, 
with  his  likeness  and  all  his  things,  which  the 
boys  have  now  sent  to  his  mother.  I  saw  the 
likeness  myself,  and  the  boys  were  positive  in 
the  identity. 

"At  one  of  our  pickets  and  posts  a  sharp 
shooter  had  annoyed  the  men  for  some  time,  and 
no  one  could  find  his  whereabouts.  At  last  one 
of  the  men  thought  he  sow  a  small  cedar  tree 
move.  The  boys  laughed  at  him,  but  he  blazed 
away,  and  down  came  the  bush.  On  examina 
tion  they  found  that  a  rebel  had  stuck  cedar 
boughs  in  his  boots  and  belt,  so  that  he  looked 
just  like  a  small  tree  a  little  way  off."  —  From  a 
correspondent. 

DIANA  SMITH,  THE  HEROINE  OF  THE  NORTH 
WEST.  —  She  was  born  and  raised  in  the  County 
of  Jackson,  Virginia.  Her  father  is  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
was  leading  a  quiet,  peaceful,  and  useful  life,  until 
his  country  was  invaded,  when  he  called  his  coun 
trymen  to  arms,  and  raised  the  first  company  of 
guerrillas,  which  he  commanded  until  last  fall, 
when,  by  fraud  and  treachery,  lie  was  captured, 
and  ever  since  has  been  confined  in  a  loathsome 
dungeon  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  without  hope  of 
delivery,  unless  our  government  should  interpose 
and  procure  his  release. 

Diana,  his  only  daughter,  a  beautiful  girl,  has 
been  tenderly  raised  and  well  educated.  She  it 
also  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church., 
and  has  always  been  regarded  as  very  pious  and 
exemplary.  She  is  descended  from  a  race  of  un 
flinching  nerve,  and-  satisfied  with  nothing  less 
than  freedom,  as  unrestrained  as  the  pure  air  of 
their  mountain  home. 

Her  devotion  to  the  cause  of  Southern  rights, 
in  which  her  father  had  nobly  engaged,  has  caused 
her,  too,  to  feel  the  oppressor's  power.  Although 
a  tender  and  delicate  flower,  upon  whose  cheek 
the  blooin  of  sixteen  summers  yet  lingers,  she  has 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


been  five  times  captured  by  the  Yankees,  and  I 
inarched  sometimes  on  foot,  in  manacles,  a  pris- 
crter  —  once  a  considerable  distance  into  Ohio,  at 
which  time  she  made  her  escape.  She  was  never 
released,  but  in  each  instance  managed  to  escape 
from  her  guard.  She,  too,  has  seen  service  ;  she 
was  in  several  battles  in  which  her  father  en 
gaged  the  enemy.  She  has  seen  blood  flow  like 
water.  Her  trusty  rifle  has  made  more  than 
one  of  the  vile  Yankees  bite  the  dust.  She  left 
her  home  in  company  with  the  Moccason  Ran 
gers,  Captain  Kesler,  and  came  through  the  ene 
my's  lines  in  safety,  and  is  now  at  the  Blue  Sul 
phur  Springs. 

She  was  accompanied  by  Miss  Duskie,  who  has 
also  earned  the  proud  distinction  of  a  heroine. 
On  one  occasion  this  fearless  girl,  surrounded 
by  fifty  Yankees  and  Union  men,  rushed  through 
their  ranks  with  a  daring  that  struck  terror  to 
their  craven  hearts.  With  her  rifle  lashed  across 
her  shoulder^,  she  swam  the  west  fork  of  the 
Kanawha  River,  and  made  her  way  to  the  Moun 
tain  Rangers,  preferring  to  trust  her  safety  to 
those  brave  spirits,  well  knowing  that  her  sex 
would  entitle  her  to  protection  from  these  brave 
mountaineers.  These  young  ladies  have  lain  in 
the  mountains  for  months,  with  no  bed  but  the 
earJi,  and  no  covering  but  the  canopy  of  heaven. 
Th(  y  have  shared  the  soldier's  rough  fare,  his  dan 
gers,  his  hopes,  and  his  joys. 

The  great  crime  with  which  these  daring  young 
ladies  are  charged  by  the  enemy,  is  cooking,  wash 
ing,  mending  and  making  clothes,  and  buying 
powder  for  the  soldiers.  We  are  informed  that 
they  are  both  ladies  of  the  first  rank  at  home,  and 
are  every  way  worthy  of  the  highest  place  in  any 
society  where  virtue,  integrity,  and  sterling  prin 
ciple  give  position.  —  Southern  paper. 


GALLANTRY  OF  YOUNG  SHALER.  —  A  corre 
spondent  gives  an  account  of  the  gallant  conduct 
of  Henry  Shaler,  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  at  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg,  written  by  a  son  of  Daniel 
Noble  to  his  mother.  Young  Shaler  more  than 
equalled  the  mythical  performance  of  the  Irish 
man  who  "  surrounded "  a  half  dozen  of  the 
enemy,  and  captured  them.  His  parents  live  on 
South  Alabama  Street,  in  Indianapolis,  Indiana. 
They  are  Germans.  Young  Noble  says  :  "  Harry 
is  a  brick  ;  he  did  more,  that  is,  he  took  more 
prisoners,  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  than  any 
other  man  in  the  army.  He  took  in  all  twenty- 
five  men — one  lieutenant  and  eighteen  men  at 
one  time.  He  took  them  by  strategy  that  was 
strategy  ;  he  '  surrounded  them,'  and  they  had  to 
give  up.  On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  he  wrent 
out  with  his  poncho  over  his  shoulders,  so  that 
the  rebs  couldn't  see  his  coat ;  so  they  thought  he 
was  one  of  their  own  men.  He  went  up,  and  told 
them  to  lay  down  their  arms,  and  come  and  help 
carry  some  wounded  off  the  field.  They  did  so. 
When  he  got  them  away  from  their  arms,  he  rode 
up  to  the  lieutenant,  and  told  him  to  give  up 
his  sword.  The  lieutenant  refused  at  first ;  but 
Harry  drew  his  pepper-box,  and,  like  Crockett's 


coon,  the  lieutenant  came  down  without  a  shot. 
Harry  then  took  them  all  into  camp.  He  took  a 
captain  and  five  men  at  another  time,  making 
twenty-five  in  all,  which  is  doing  pretty  well  for 
a  little  Dutchman ;  and  he  deserves  to  be  remem 
bered  for  it." 


ClIICKAMAUGA,"  OR  THE  RlVER  OF  DEATH. — 
In  the  spring  of  1858,  while  seeking  the  benefit 
of  a  change  of  climate  and  relaxation  from  labo 
rious  duties,  I  met  the  late  Colonel  Whiteside  at 
Chattanooga.  Among  the  many  interesting  tra 
ditions  associated  with  various  localities  in  this 
beautiful  region  of  country,  he  related  one  in  ex 
planation  of  the  meaning  of  the  word  *'  Chicka- 
inauga,"  and  how  it  came  to  be  applied  to  the 
two  small  streams  which  bear  this  name.  A  tribe 
of  Cherokees  occupied  this  region  ;  and  when  the 
small-pox  was  first  communicated  to  the  Indians 
of  this  continent,  it  appeared  in  this  tribe,  and 
made  frightful  havoc  among  them.  It  was  the 
custom  of  the  Indians,  at  the  height  of  the  dis 
ease,  to  go  by  scores,  and  jump  into  the  river  to 
allay  the  tormenting  symptoms.  Thia  of  course 
increased  the  mortality,  and  the  name  "  Chicka- 
muuga,"  or  "  River  of  Death,"  was  applied  to 
the  two  streams,  which  they  have  borne  ever 
since.  The  remnant  of  the  tribe  was  also  aftrr- 
wanls  called  the  "  Chickamauga  tribe."  We  hope 
General  Bragg  will  call  his  great  victory  the 
Battle  of  Chickamauga,  and  not  "  Peavine  Creek," 
or  "  Crawfish  Springs,"  as  is  suggested  in  Rose- 
crans'  despatch.  He  has  certainly  craicfished  out 
of  Georgia,  but  we  prefer  "  Chickamauga,"  or 
"  River  of  Death."  —  Southern  correspondent. 


AN  INTERESTING  INCIDENT.  —  In  the  freshman 
class  at  Harvard  was  a  Washington,  from  Vir 
ginia,  the  nearest  relative  of  the  General,  bearing 
the  name  of  George,  and  born  on  the  22d  of  Feb 
ruary.  He  was  a  youth  of  excellent  principles,  a 
communicant  in  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  re 
spected  and  beloved  by  his  classmates.  On  the 
breaking  out  of  difficulties,  he  left  Cambridge,  — 
not  for  any  sympathy  with  secession,  for  he  was 
strongly  against  it  in  all  his  feelings, — but  be 
cause  he  thought  it  his  duty  to  be  near  his  mother, 
a  widow,  whose  estate  lay  in  the  threatened  por 
tion  of  the  border.  Soon  afterwards  others  of 
his  class  left  college  to  join  the  Massachusetts 
regiments. 

A  few  days  after  the  battle  of  Winchester,  one 
of  these  young  men,  Lieutenant  Crowninshield, 
of  the  Massachusetts  Second  regiment,  was  walk 
ing  through  the  wards  of  the  hospital,  then  filled 
with  rebel  officers  and  soldiers,  and  heard  his 
familiar  college  nickname,  "  Crowny,  Crowny," 
called  by  a  feeble  voice  from  one  of  the  beds.  He 
went  to  it,  and  there  —  pale,  faint,  shot  through 
the  lungs  bv  a  musket  ball  —  lay  his  classmate, 
young  Washington.  It  is  needless  to  say,  that 
everything  possible  was  done  for  him.  The  moth 
er  was  allowed  to  take  her  son  home  for  maternal 
care. 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,   AND   INCIDENTS. 


225 


CHARGE    OF   THE    MULE    BRIGADE. 

ON  the  night  of  October  28,  1863,  when  Gen. 
Geary's  division  of  the  Twelfth  corps  repulsed 
the  attacking  forces  of  Longstreet  at  Wauluitchie, 
Tenn.,  a  number  of  mules,  affrighted  by  the  noise 
of  battle,  dashed  into  the  ranks  of  Hampton's 
Legion,  causing  much  dismay  among  the  rebels, 
and  compelling  many  of  them  to  fall  back,  under 
a  supposed  charge  of  cavalry. 

Capt.  Thomas  H.  Elliott,  of  Gen.  Geary's  staff, 
gives  the  following  rendition  of  the  incident, 
which  he  gleaned  from  an  interior  contemporary. 
Its  authorship  is  not  known : 


Half  a  mile,  half  a  mile, 

Half  a  mile  onward, 
Right  towards  the  Georgia  troops, 

Broke  the  two  hundred. 
"  Forward,  the  Mule  Brigade," 
"  Charge  for  the  Robs  !  "  they  neighed  ; 
Straight  for  the  Georgia  troops 

Broke  the  two  hundred. 


"Forward,  the  Mule  Brigade  !  " 
Was  there  a  mule  dismayed  ? 
Not  when  the  long  ears  felt 

All  their  ropes  sundered ; 
Theirs  not  to  make  reply  ; 
Theirs  not  to  reason  why  ; 
Theirs  but.  to  make  them  fly. 
On  !  to  the  Georgia  troops, 

Broke  the  two  hundred. 


Mules  to  the  right  of  them, 
Mules  to  the  left  of  them, 
Mules  behind  them, 

Pawed,  brayed,  and  thundered. 
Breaking  their  own  confines, 
Breaking  through  Longstreet's  lines, 
Into  the  Georgia  troops 

Stormed  the  two  hundred. 


Wild  all  their  eyes  did  glare, 
Whisked  all  their  tails  in  air, 
Scattering  the  chivalry  there, 

While  all  the  world  wondered. 
Not  a  mide  back  bestraddled, 
Yet  how  they  all  skedaddled  I 

Fled  every  Georgian. 
Unsahred,  unsaddled, 

Scattered  and  sundered, 
How  they  were  routed  there 

By  the  two  hundred  ! 


Mules  to  the  right  of  them, 
Mules  to  the  left  of  them, 
Mules  behind  them 

Pawed,  brayed,  and  thundered  ; 
Followed  by  hoof  and  head, 
Full  many  a  hero  fled, 
Fain  in  the  last  ditch  deed, 
Back  from  an  "  ass's  jaw," 
All  that  was  left  of  them, 

Left  by  the  two  hundred. 
14 


When  can  their  glory  fade  ? 
O  !  the  wild  charge  they  made ! 

All  the  world  wondered. 
Honor  the  charge  they  made, 
Honor  the  Mule  Brigade, 

Long-eared  two  hundred. 


AN  INCIDENT  UNDER  A  FLAG  OF  TBVCE. — 
Lieut. -Commander  H.  A.  Adan  s,  Jr.,  United 
States  Navy,  arrived  at  New  Orleans,  having 
been  relieved  of  the  command  of  the  United 
Stales  forces  in  Mississippi  Sound  by  Lieut.- 
Cummander  Green.  He  recently  sent  his  boat 
on  shore,  aid  desired  the  officer  in  chaige  to  say 
that  if  any  military  officer  received  the  flag,  he 
would  be  glad  to  see  him  on  board  to  arrange  the 
business  of  the  truce.  As  the  boat  returned,  he 
saw  an  officer,  who  recognized  him,  but  he  could 
not  make  out  who  he  was.  When  the  boat  came 
alongside,  he  *vont  to  the  gangway  to  receive  the 
stranger,  and  ?ven  helped  him  over  the  rail  on 
deck,  when  he  immediately  found  himself  clasped 
in  the  arms  of  his  own  brother,  one  in  command 
of  the  Confederate  forces  on  shore,  the  other  in 
command  oi'  the  United  States  forces  afloat.  The 
meeting,  under  such  circumstances,  was,  as  you 
may  imagine,  a  very  painful  one.  After  the  busi 
ness  was  over,  aiid  a  brotherly  chat  had,  they 
parted  —  the  Confederate  saying,  as  he  got  into 
the  boat,  "  Whatever  happens,  Hal,  recollect  one 
thing  —  we  will  always  be  brothers." 


GENERAL  GRANT  OBEYS  ORDERS.  — General 
Grant  was  walking  the  dock  at  City  Point,  ab 
sorbed  in  thought,  and  with  the  inevitable  cigar 
in  his  mouth,  when  a  negro  guard  touched  his 
arm,  saying,  "  No  smoking  on  the  dock,  sir." 
"  Are  these  your  orders  P  "  asked  the  General, 
looking  up.  "  Yes,  sir,"  replied  the  negro,  cour 
teously,  but  decidedly.  "  Very  good  orders," 
said  Grant,  throwing  his  cigar  into  the  water. 


A  JUVENILE  WARRIOR  OF  EXPERIENCE. — The 
town  of  Swanzey,  in  New  Hampshire,  is  the  home 
of  George  B.  Mattoon,  a  young  man  only  eigh 
teen  years  old,  who  served  three  years  in  the 
Union  army,  had  been  in  forty-three  battles  and 
twenty-seven  skirmishes,  had  two  horses  shot 
under  him,  and  during  the  whole  time  did  not  re 
ceive  a  single  injury,  nor  was  he  absent  from  duty 
a  single  day.  

A  CONTRABAND.  —  A  soldier  gives  the  follow 
ing  sketch  of  the  appearance  and  peculiarities  of 
one  of  the  slaves  met  with  by  his  regiment  while 
marching  South : 

"  As  I  went  into  the  yard  I  saw  standing  in  the 
midst  of  the  men  an  aged  contraband,  whose 
woolly  pate  was  profusely  mottled  with  gray,  and 
a  gray,  woolly  fringe  around  the  base  of  his 
ebon  face,  gave  him  a  most  singular  appearance. 
His  enormous  mouth,  thick  lips,  and  flattened 


226 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


nose  of"  purely  African  stamp,  and  retreating  fore 
head,  very  low  in  height,  would  convey  an  idea 
of  almost  idiotic  intellect  within.  As  I  ap 
proached,  his  lower  jaw  slowly  moved  down 
wards,  and  ther  upwards,  like  the  first  movements 
of  the  arm  of  a  ponderous  steam  engine,  and  then 
from  the  expansive  reservoir  of  his  throat  came 
forth  a  sound,  and  he  began  to  sing  a  hymn. 
There  was  not  much  melody  in  his  music,  but  he 
seemed  to  enjoy  it  as  well  as  an  Ole  Bull  or  Pag- 
anin.i  would  their  own  performance.  He  was 
dressed  in  the  cast-off  uniform,  overcoat,  and 
pants  of  some  rebel  soldier;  and  the  coat  half 
dropping  from  one  shoulder,  in  a  careless  style, 
plainly  indicated  an  innate  '  cnj§ee?  He  finished 
his  hymn,  and  some  one  asked  him  if  he  wouldn't 
l>ray.  The  old  man  paused  for  a  moment,  and 
then  said : 

" '  I)e  good  book  say  dat  when  we  worship  God 
we  mus  do  it  wid  de  speret  and  de  troof,  and  I 
doesn't  like  for  see  sich  tings  treated  lightly. 
Now,  if  ye'll  all  be  quiet,  and  not  larf,  arid  pay 
attention,  I'll  do  de  bes  I  ken.' 

"  Having  promised  good  behavior,  the  old  man 
knelt  clown.  As  he  was  kneeling,  some  one  asked 
him  to  pray  for  the  war  to  close.  He  commenced 
his  prayer  with  an  eloquence  of  language  and 
propriety  of  expression  absolutely  astonishing, 
andl  could  hardly  believe  that  in  that  apparently 
demented  cranium  could  be  stored  an  intellect 
ir'iich  displayed  itself  in  a  manner  indicating  that 
KMure  had  given  it  a  power  and  utterance  far 
above  many  of  those  who  were  looking  upon  the 
possessor  as  they  would  on  a  monkey  or  parrot,  or 
some  other  natural  curiosity.  There  was  -an  ex 
pression  in  his  prayer  which,  in  connection  with 
the  request  to  pray  for  the  soldiers,  was  pecu- 
liaily  noticeable.  He  prayed: 

" '  O  Massa  Lord  God  A'niity !  have  mercy  on 
all  sogers,  an  eem's  gwine  to  war.  O  Lord ! 
batter  all  dere  big  guns  inter  prowsheers,  and 
dt-re  swords  inter  prune  hooks,  and  make  peace 
come  quick.' 

"  This  expression  seemed  an  isolated  one  in  his 
prayer,  as  having  less  propriety  of  expression 
than  any  other  one.  At  the  close  of  his  prayer, 
ha  was  asked  where  his  master  was,  and  re 
plied  : 

" '  O,  he's  done  gone  dis  four  months ;  he 
wouldn't  jine  Mr.  Linkum's  company,  so  he  had 
to  leave,  and  go  off  way  down  Sout7 

"  '  "i'would  be  a  snug  chance  for  him  if  he  was 
at  home  here  now  —  wouldn't  it?'  some  one 
asked. 

" '  Golly,  massa,  'deed  'twould,!  reckon,'  laughed 
the  nable  chattel.  'He'd  ben  dead  an  buried  up 
in  'le  grave  long  time  go,  if  he  hadn't  run  off.' 

"He  was  asked  if  many  soldiers  came  there, 
<*.rd  replied  that  they  came  every  day,  in  the 
morning,  and  that  they  had  been  there  that  morn 
ing  on  horseback.  He  was  asked  what  they  were, 
and  replied, — 

"  *  Can't  tell,  massa,  'deed  I  can't ;  some  say't 
dey's  sesessongers,  but  'pon  my  soul  an  body, 
ruassa,  I  can't  tell  one  from  t'other  —  'deed  I  can't. 
But  rue  on  Mr.  L ink-am' >s  side  —  'deed  I  is.' 


"  lie  was  then  asked  to  preach,  and  finally  con 
sented,  and  commenced,  taking  for  his  subject 
the  characters  of  Nicodemus  and  Hezekiah,  and 
commenced  in  a  manner  displaying  on  astonish 
ing  depth  of  knowledge  of  Scripture  history,  and 
drawing  logical  deductions  with  a  st\lo  of  lan 
guage  and  beauty  of  expresskni  that  n'ecd  not  l>« 
ashamed  of  as  worthy  the  efforts  of  many  au 
extern}  oraneous  preacher  in  the  most  enlightened 
portion;  of  civilized  community  .11  the  free  States. 

"As  I  listened,  I  thought  wh  it,  but  for  the  ac 
cursed,  sail  -destroying  influence  of  slavery,  which 
binds  its  victims  in  shackles  of  ignorance,  might 
not  this  man  have  been.  Possessed  of  an  intel 
lect  of  uncommon  wealth  and  vigor,  though 
clothed  in  rags,  and  bound  by  the  rankling  shac 
kles  of  an  unjust  oppression,  which  forbids  it  to 
wish  even  to  rise  to  seek  its  own  level  among 
humanity,  it  breaks  the  bonds  with  the  force 
which  nature  alone  imparts,  and  rises,  unaided 
by  the  acq  lirements  of  art,  above  the  common 
herd  around.  To  what  eminence  might  it  not 
have  attained  if  cultivated  and  trained  by  the 
aids  A  Inch  the  times  now  afford  the  free  man  P  " 


THE  TAKING-   OF  POTOSI,   MO. 

THE  Union  men  of  Washington  County  having 
been  threatened  with  extermination,  and  some 
of  them  having  been  driven  from  Potosi,  the 
county  seat,  complaint  was  made  to  Gen.  Lyon, 
of  the  St.  Louis  Arsenal,  and  that  brave  and 
gallant  officer  determined  to  give  the  Union  men 
in  that  section  of  the  country  protection.  Ac 
cordingly  an  expedition  was  "planned,  and  put 
under  tiie  command  of  Capt.  Coles,  of  company 
A,  Fifth  regiment  of  United  States  volunteers. 
At  ten  o'clock  P.  M.,  Tuesday,  May  14,  1861, 
Capt.  Cole's  command,  consisting  of  some  one 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  left  the  arsenal  on  a 
special  train  for  their  destination.  They  arrived 
at  Potosi  at  three  o'clock,  A.  M.,  on  Wednesday, 
and  immediately  threw  a  chain  of  sentinels 
around  the  rntite  towa.  Guards  were  then  sta 
tioned  around  the  dwellings  of  the  most  promi 
nent  secessionists,  and  shortly  after  daylight, 
some  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  found  themselves 
prisoners,  and  were  marched  off  to  the  Court 
House.  Here  the  prisoners  were  formed  in  line, 
and  by  the  assistance  of  a  gentleman  who  had 
been  driven  out  of  Potosi,  who  knew  all  the 
inhabitants  of  the  place,  the  Union  men  were 
recognized,  and  released,  amounting  to  over  half 
of  those  taken  prisoners.  Some  fifty  of  the  se 
cessionists  were  also  released,  on  parole  of  honor, 
after  subscribing  to  the  usual  oath  not  to  take  up 
arms  ayainst  the  Untied  States,  and  nine  of  the 
leaders  were  marched  off  to  the  cars,  Tlv1  euard 
then  made  a  descent  on  a  secession  lead  manu 
factory,  and  captured  near  four  hundred  pigs  of 
that  very  useful  article  in  time  of  war,  which  be 
longed  to  a  man  who  had  been  furnishing  lead  to 
the  Southern  rebels.  The  man's  name  is  John 
Dean,  and  he  is  now  a  prisoner  at  the  arsenal. 
It  appears  he  was  not  satisfied  to  simply  sell  the 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


227 


lead  to  the  enemy,  in  defiance  of  the  authority 
of  the  Government,  but  was  engaged  with  his 
own  team  in  hauling  it  to  near  the  Arkansas  line, 
Mhere  the  traitors  could  get  possession  of  it 
without  danger.  The  guard  captured  several 
pistols,  rifles,  shot  guns,  and  a  quantity  of  seces 
sion  uniforms,  most  of  them  unfinished",  and  some 
uniform  cloth. 

After  being  furnished  with  breakfast  and  din 
ner,  and  very  handsomely  treated  by  the  Union  | 
men  of  Potosi,  and  invited  to  stay  a  month  in  j 
that  place,  at  their  expense,  the  command  started  i 
for  home.     On  their  way  back,  the  train  made  a  ' 
halt  at  De  Soto,  in  J?flerson  County,  where  there  i 
was   to  be   a  grand  secession  "  love-feast  "  and  ' 
flag-raising.     Here  they  found  a  company  of  se 
cession   cavalry  drilling  for  the  occasion,  which 
took  to  their  heels  as  soon  as  they  got  a  sight ' 
of  the  United  States  troops.     In  their  fligr.'?,  the 
cavalry  left  some  thirty  of  their   horses,  which 
were  captured  by  the  troops,  and  placed  under 
guard.     The  pole  —  one  hundred  feet  high  —  on 
which  the  rebels  were  going  to  fly  the  secession 
flag  was  soon  graced  with  the  Stars  and  Stripes, 
amid  the  wildest  enthusiasm  of  the  Union  men 
and  Government  troops.     The  next  move  was  to 
capture  the  rebel  flag,  which  was  known  to  be  in 
town  ;  and  for  this  agreeable  duty,  Captain  Cole 
detailed  a  guard  of  six  men,  under  command  of 
Serg.    Walker,    accompanied    by    Dr.    Franklin, 
Surgeon   of  the   Fifth   Regiment.      The   guard 
surrounded   the  house   supposed  to  contain  the 
fUg,  and  Dr.  Franklin  and  Serg.  Walker  entered. 
After  searching  in  vain  for  some  time,  the  Doc 
tor  thought  he  observed  the  lady  of  the  house 
sitting  in  rather  an  uneasy  position,  and  he  very 
politely  asked   her  to  rise.      At  first   the    lady 
hesitated,  but   finding   the   Doctor's  persuasive 
sauvity  irresistible,  she  rose  slowly,  and  lo  !  the 
blood-red   stripe  of  the   rebel  ensign  appeared 
below  the  lady's  hoops.     The  Doctor,  bowing  a 
graceful   "  beg   pardon,    madam,"  stooped,   and 
quietly  catching  hold  of  the  gaudy  color,  care 
fully  delivered  the  lady  of  a  secession  tiug,  thirty 
feet  long,  arid  nine  feet  wide.     The  Doctor  bore 
off  his  prize  in  triumph  to  the  camp,  where  the  | 
troops  gieeted  him  with  wild  shouts,  and  charac 
terized  his  feat  as  the  crowning  glory  of  the  oc 
casion.     Here  the  troops  captured  another  rebel 
leader,  and  after  placing  thirty  men,  under  Lieut. 
Murphy,  to  guard  the  Union  flag  and  the  thirty 
horses,  Capt.  Cole's  command  started  on   their  j 
way.     At  Victoria,  the  train  stopped  a  moment, 
when  another  secessionist  came  up  hurrahing  for 
Jeff  Davis  ;  and  quick    as    thought  the   ardent , 
rebel  was  surrounded  by  a  half  dozen  bayonets,  j 
and  marched  into  the  cars  a  prisoner  of  war,  and 
the  '.riiin  moved  on.    They  arrived  at  the  arsenal ; 
about  six  and  a  half  o'clock  P.  M.,  where  a  crowd  i 
of  soldiers  and  visitors  awaited  them.   The  spoils  ! 
9,  ore  unloaded,  and  the  prisoners  marched  to  safe  | 
and  comfortable  quarters.     Gen.  Lyon  received  ' 
them   in   the  spirit  of  a  true  soldier,  and  the  j 
troops  gave  three  cheers  for  Gen.  Lyon,  three  ! 
for  Col.  Blair,  and  three  for  the  Stars  and  Stripes, 
and  then  caught  the  seces&ion  flag,  and  tore  it 
into  shreds  in  a  twinkling.  i 


NOT  YET. 

BY  WILLIAM  CULLEN  BRYANT. 

O  COUNTRY,  marvel  of  the  earth  ! 

O  realm  to  sudden  greatness  grown  ! 
The  age  that  gloried  in  thy  birth, 

Shall  it  behold  thee  overthrown  ? 
Shall  traitor  a  lay  that  greatness  low  ? 
No  !     Land  of  H  ope  and  Blessing,  No  ! 

And  we  who  wear  thy  glorious  name, 
Shall  we,  like  cravens,  stand  apart, 

When  those  whom  thou  hast  trusted  aim 
The  death-blow  at  thy  generous  heart? 

Forth  goes  the  battle-cry,  and  lo  ! 

Hosts  rise  in  harness,  shouting,  No  ! 

And  they  who  founded  in  our  land 
The  power  that  rules  from  sea  to  sea, 

Bled  they  in  vain,  or  vainly  planned 
To  leave  their  country  great  and  free  ? 

Their  sleeping  ashes  from  below 

Send  up  the  thrilling  murmur,  No  ! 


they  the  gentle  ties  which  long 
These  sister  States  were  proud  to  wear, 

And  forged  the  kindly  links  so  strong, 
For  idle  hands  in  sport  to  tear  — 

For  scornful  hands  aside  to  throw  ? 

No  !  by  our  fathers'  memory,  No  ! 

Our  humming  marts,  our  iron  ways, 

Our  wind-tossed  woods  on  mountain  crest, 

The  hoarse  Atlantic,  with  his  bays, 
The  calm,  broad  Ocean  of  the  West, 

And  Mississippi's  torrent-  flow, 

And  loud  Niagara,  answer,  No  ! 

Not  yet  the  hour  is  nigh  when  they 
Who  deep  in  Eld's  dim  twilight  sit, 

Earth's  ancient  kings,  shall  rise  and  say, 
"Proud  country,  welcome  to  the  pit! 

So  soon  art  thou,  like  us,  brought  low  !  " 

No  !  sullen  group  of  shadows,  No! 

For  now,  behold,  the  arm  that  gave 

The  victory  in  our  fathers'  day, 
Strong  as  of  old  to  guard  and  save,  — 

That  mighty  arm  which  none  can  stay,  — 
On  clouds  above,  and  fields  below, 
Writes,  in  men's  sight,  the  answer,  No  ! 


INCIDENTS  OF  CARRICK'S  FORD.  —  In  one  of 
the  Indiana  regiments  that  took  part  in  the  fight 
at  Carrick's  Ford,  was  a  Methodist  preacher,  said 
to  be  one  of  the  very  best  shots  of  his  regiment. 
During  the  battle,  he  was  particularly  conspic 
uous  for  the  zeal  with  which  he  kept  up  a  con 
stant  fire.  The  Fourteenth  Ohio  regiment,  in 
the  thick  of  the  fight,  fired  an  average  of  eleven 
rounds  to  every  man,  but  this  parson  managed 
to  get  in  a  great  deal  more  than  that  a\erage. 
He  fired  carefully,  with  perfect  coolness,  and  al 
ways  after  a  steady  aim,  and  the  boys  declare 
that  every  time,  as  he  took  down  his  gun,  after 
firing,  he  added,  "And  may  the  Lord  have  mercy 
on  your  soul !  "  Evidently  he  thought  the  body 
not  worth  praying  for  after  the  aim  he  had  so 
carefully  taken. 

1'er  contra:    One  of  Steed  men's  men  (in  the 


228 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Fourteenth  Ohio)  was  from  Cheesedom,  and 
didn't  like  the  irreverent  tone  adopted  by  the 
Southern  chivalry  in  speaking  of  the  "d — d 
Yankees."  He  took  deliberate  aim,  but,  unlike 
the  parson,  after  every  fire  he  added  the  invaria 
ble  formula,  "  Blast  your  secession  souls,  how  do 
you  like  the  Yankees  ?  " 

Another,  an  Englishman,  was  wounded.  Steed- 
man  noticed  him  limping1,  and  called  out,  "Jack, 
are  you  wounded  P  "  "  -Yes,  I'm  'it."  "  Where 
are  you  hit,  Jack  P  "  "  O,  I'm  'it  in  the  'ip,  but 
—  (in  great  anxiety  lest  Steedman  should  send 
him  to  the  hospital)  but  it  don't  'urt  me.  I'm 
only  'it  in  the  'ip  ;  it  don't  'urt  me  ;  "  and  away 
he  blazed  with  another  load,  adding,  "  Confound 
you,  I  guess  I  paid  you  off  that  time." 


CLOSE  QUARTERS.  —  At  the  battle  of  Charles 
ton,  Mo.,  in  August,  1861,  Lieut.-Col.  Ransom, 
of  the  Eleventh  Illinois  regiment,  was  urging  his 
men  to  the  charge,  when  a  man  rode  up,  and 
called  out,  "  What  do  you  mean  P  You  are  kill 
ing  our  own  men."  Ransom  replied,  "  I  know 
what  I  am  doing.  Who  are  you  P  "  The  reply 
was,  "  I  am  for  Jeff  Davis."  Ransom  replied, 
"You  are  the  man  I  am  after;  "and  instantly 
two  pi«t,ols  were  drawn.  The  rebel  fired  first, 
taking  effect  in  Col.  Ransom's  arm,  near  the 
shoulder.  The  Colonel  fired,  killing  his  antag 
onist,  instantly.  

As  BRAVE  AS  A  LION.  — At  the  fight  at  Scary- 
town,  Va.,  the  soldier  John  Haven  was  wounded, 
lie  was  a  handsome,  intelligent  young  man,  as 
brave  as  a  lion,  and  the  pet  of  the  company. 
Poor  fellow  !  his  right  hip  was  shot  away  just  as 
he  was  passing  a  ball  to  his  gun.  When  his 
Captain  saw  him  fall,  he  ran  and  picked  him  up, 
and  conveyed  him  in  his  own  arms  to  a  place  of 
safety.  "  Never  mind  me,  Captain,"  he  cried ; 
"  but  don't  let  that  tiag  go  down  ! " 


THE    MARCH    OF    THE    SEVENTH    REGI 
MENT. 
BY  FITZ  JAMES  O*BRIBN. 

THE  CAPITOL,  WASHINGTON,  ) 
Saturday,  April  27,  1801.     j 

WE  are  here.  Those  three  words  sum  up  as 
much  as  Napier's  "  Peccavi,"  when  he  took 
Scinde,  ana  we  all  feel  somewhat  as  Mr.  Ciesar 
Augustus  must  have  felt  when  he  had  crossed  the 
Rubicon. 

It  is  almost  unnecessary  for  me  to  detail  to  you 
the  events  of  the  day  on  which  we  left  New  York. 
The  scene  at  the  armory  on  Friday  was  one  to 
be  commemorated.  For  the  first  time  since  its 
formation,  the  Seventh  regiment  left  its  native 
city  on  active  service.  All  day  long,  from  an 
early  hour  in  the  morning,  young  men  in  uniforms 
or  civilian's  dress,  might  have  been  seen  hurry 
ing  up  and  down  Broadway,  with  anomalous- 
looking  bundles  under  their  arms.  Dandies,  who 
were  the  pride  of  club  windows,  were  not  above 


brown  paper  parcels  ;  military  tailor*  were  stormed 
and  taken  with  considerable  loss  —  to  the  pocket 
Delmonico,  calm  and  serene,  superintended  sand 
wiches  which  were  destined  for  the  canteen. 
People  in  the  streets  looked  with  a  sort  of  re~ 
gretful  admiration  at  the  gray  uniforms  hurrjing 
by.  Hardware  stores  were-ransacked  of  revolvers. 
A  feverish  excitement  throbbed  through  the  city 
—  the  beat;ng  of  that  big  Northern  pulse,  so 
slow,  so  su  e,  and  so  steady. 

At  three  ?.  M.,  we  mnstered  at  the  Armory, 
against  which  there  beat  as^irge  of  human  beings 
likes  waves  against  a  rock.  Within,  all  was  com 
motion.  Fitting  of  belts,  wild  lamentations  over 
uniforms  expected,  but  not  arrived ;  hearty  ex 
changes  of  comradeships  letween  members  of 
different  companies,  who  felt  that  they  were  about 
to  depart  on  a  mission  which  might  end  in  death. 
Here  and  there  flickered  Spring  bonnets,  which 
enclosed  charming  faces,  as  the  calyx  enfolds  the 
flower ;  and,  let  me  tell  you,  that  on  the  faces  of 
many  of  those  dear  blossoms, there  hung  drops 
of  mournful  dew.  At  last  the  regiment  was 
formed  in  companies,  and  we  marched.  Was 
there  ever  such  an  ovation  ?  Wlien  Trajan  re 
turned  conqueror,  dragging  barbaric  kings  at  his 
chariot-wheels,  Rome  vomited  its  people  into  the 
streets,  and  that  glorious  column,  that  will  be 
ever  immortal,  was  raised.  But  what  greeted 
the  Emperor  at  his  outset?  The  marble  walls 
of  Broadway  were  never  before  rent  with  such 
cheers  as  greeted  us  \vhen  we  passed.  The  faces 
of  the  buildings  were  so  thick  with  people,  that 
it  seemed  as  if  an  army  of  black  ants  were  march 
ing,  after  their  resistless  fashion,  through  the  city, 
and  had  scaled  the  houses.  Handkerchiefs  flut 
tered  in  the  air  like  myriads  of  white  butterflies. 
An  avenue  of  brave,  honest  faces  smiled  upon 
us  as  we  passed,  and  sent  a  sunshine  into  our 
hearts  that  lives  there  still.  In  a  prominent  po 
sition  stood  Maj.  Anderson,  who  saluted  us,  and 
was  welcomed  as  such  a  mar.  should  be  welcomed. 
And  so  on  to  the  ferry. 

Swift  through  New  Jersey  —  against  which  no 
sneer  be  uttered  evermore.  All  along  the  track 
shouting  crouds,  hoarse  and  valorous,  sent  to  us, 
as  we  passed,  their  hopes  and  wishes.  When  we 
stopped  at  the  different  stations,  rou«'h  hands 
came  in  through  the  windows,  apparently  uncon 
nected  with  any  one  in  particular  until  you  shook 
them,  and  then  the  subtle,  magnetic  thrill  told  that 
there  were  bold  hearts  beating  at  the  end.  Thii 
continued  until  night  closed,  and,  indeed,  until 
after  midnight. 

Within  the  cars  the  sight  was  strange.  A 
thousand  young  men,  the  flower  of  the  North,  hi 
whose  welfare  a  million  of  friends  and  relatives 
were  interested,  were  rushing  along  to  conjectured 
hostilities  with  the  same  smiling  faces  that  they 
would  wear  going  to  a  "  German  "  party  in  Fifth 
Avenue.  It  was  more  like  a  festivity  than  a 
march.  Those  fine  old  songs,  tl  e  choruses  of 
which  were  familiar  to  all,  were  sung  with  sweet 
voice.  We  were  assured  many  times,  in  melodi 
ous  accents,  that  "  the  whiskey  bottle  was  empty 
on  the  shelf,"  and  several  iniividuals  of  that 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


228 


prominent,  but  not  respectable  class  known  as 
"  bummers,"  were  invited  to  "  meet  us  on  Canaan's 
happy  shore."  The  brave  old  Harvard  song  of 
"  Ujii  dee  "  was  started,  and,  shameful  to  say,  Mr. 
Lcngfcllow's  "Excelsior"  seemed  naturally  o 
adapt  itself  to  the  tune.  I  do  not  think  t.  at 
"  the  pious  monks  of  St.  Bernard "  would  have 
been  edified,  had  they  heard  themselves  alluded 
f,o  in  that  profane  music. 

Our  arrival  at  Philadelphia  took  place  at  four 
o'clock.  We  slept  in  the  cars,  awaiting  orders 
from  our  Colonel ;  but  at  daylight  hunger  —  and 
it  may  be  thirst  —  becoming  imperious,  we  sallied 
out,  and  roamed  about  that  cheerless  neighbor 
hood  that  surrounds  the  depot.  Close  by  there 
was  a  small  wooden  shanty  —  let  us  say  an  Irish 
palace  —  which  was  presently  filled  by  arid  sol 
diers.  The  prog  in  the  larder  of  this  sumptuous 
residence  was,  I  regret  to  say,  limited.  I  did  not 
even  see  the  traditional  pig  about,  although 
heaven  knows  he  would  have  been  appropriate 
enough.  Finding  that  we  were  likely  to  remain 
for  some  time  in  the  city  —  although  under  the 
impression  that  we  were  to  go  straight  through 
to  Baltimore  —  we  wandered  away  from  the 
Desert  of  the  Depot  and  descended  on  civilized 

Quarters.  The  superintendent  of  the  Deaf  and 
)urnb  Asylum  was  a  man  for  the  emergency. 
He  provided  a  handsome  breakfast  for  all  such 
members  of  the  Seventh  as  chose  to  partake  of 
it,  and  we  commanded  beefsteak  on  our  fingers, 
and  ordered  tea  by  sign-manual.  Great  numbers 
of  our  regiment,  being  luxurious  dogs,  went  down 
to  the  Continental  and  Girard  hotels,  where  they 
campaigned  on  marble  floors,  and  bivouacked  on 
velvet  couches.  They  are  such  delicate  fellows, 
the  Seventh  regiment !  Farther  on  you  will  see 
what  those  delicate  hands  have  done. 

We,  of  course,  were  entirely  ignorant  of  our 
route,  or  how  we  were  going.  The  general  feel 
ing  of  the  regiment  was  in  favor  of  pushing  our 
way  coutc  qui  coute  straight  through  Baltimore. 
Rumors  came  along  that  the  city  was  in  arms. 
The  Massachusetts  troops  had  to  fight  their  way 
through,  killing  eighteen  and  losing  two  men. 
This  seemed  only  to  stimulate  our  boys,  and  the 
universal  word  was  Baltimore.  But  as  it  turned 
out  afterwards,  we  were  under  a  wise  direction, 
and  the  policy  of  our  Colonel,  to  whom  we  per 
haps  are  altogether  indebted  for  bringing  us  safely 
here,  was,  1  presume,  to  avoid  all  unnecessary 
collision,  and  bring  his  regiment  intact  into 
Washington.  The  rails  were  reported  to  have 
been  torn  up  for  forty  miles  about  Baltimore,  and 
as  we  were  summoned  for  the  defence  of  the  Cap 
ital,  it  follows,  according  to  reason,  that  if  we 
could  get  there  without  loss  we  would  better  fulfil 
our  duty.  As  it  happened  afterwards,  we  had  to 
run  through  more  peril  than  Baltimore  could 
have  offered. 

There  seemed  but  little  enthusiasm  in  Phila 
delphia.  A  city  that  washes  every  morning  with 
soap  and  water  is  not  easily  roused  into  excite 
ment.  The  Quaker  placidity  still  prevails,  and 
when  you  add  to  this  the  majestic  stolidity  of 
the  German  element .  it  is  not  wonderful  that  the 


Capital  of  the  Keystone  State  should  not  te  up 
roarious.  Still  let  me  do  Philadelphia  justice.  I  un 
derstand  that  the  people  were  out  in  large  numbers 
to  see  us  enter,  but  our  delay  disappointed  them, 
and  they  went  home.  During  our  stay  a  lethar 
gic  decorum  prevailed.  The  prim  beavers  of  the 
citizens  were  glossy  and  self-possessed.  We  came 
and  went  without  a  reception  or  demonstration. 

There  was  one  peculiar  difference  that  I  noticed 
existing  between  Ihe  Massachusetts  regiments 
that  we  met  in  PhLadelphia  and  our  men.  The 
Massachusetts  men  —  to  whom  all  honor  be  given 
for  the  splendid  nfanner  in  which  they  afterwards 
acted  in  a  most  trying  situation  —  presented  a 
singular  moral  contrast  to  the 'members  of  the 
Seventh.  They  were  earnest,  grim,  determined. 
Badly  equipped,  haggard,  unshorn,  they  yet  had 
a  manhood  in  their  look  that  hardships  could  not 
kill.  They  were  evidently  thinking  all  the  time 
of  the  contest  into  which  they  were  about  to  enter. 
Their  gray,  eager  eyes  ssemcd  to  be  looking  for 
the  heights  of  Virginia.  With  us  it  was  some 
what  different.  Our  men  were  gay  and  careless, 
confident  of  being  at  any  moment  capable  of 
performing,  and  more  than  performing,  their 
duty.  They  looked  battle  in  the  face  with  a 
smile,  and  were  ready  to  hob-nob  with  an  enemy, 
and  kill  him  afterwards.  The  one  was  courage 
in  the  rough  ;  the  other  was  courage  burnished. 
The  steel  was  the  same  in  both,  but  the  last  was 
a  little  more  polished. 

On  April  20,  at  4  :  20  P.  M.,  we  left  the  Phila 
delphia  dock,  on  board  the  steamer  Boston.  The 
regiment  was  in  entire  ignorance  of  its  destina 
tion.  Some  said  we  were  going  back  to  New 
York,  at  which  suggestion  there  was  a  howl  of 
indignation.  Others  presumed  that  we  were  going 
to  steam  up  the  Potomac  —  a  course  which  was 
not  much  approved  of,  inasmuch  as  we  were  cooped 
uj)  in  a  kind  of  river  steamer  that  a  shot  from  the 
fort  at  Alexandria  might  sink  at  any  moment. 
We,  however,  —  to  make  use  of  a  familiar  expres 
sion,  —  "  went  it  blind,"  and  faces  did  not  smile 
the  less  because  our  object  was  unknown. 

It  was  on  board   of  this  steamer  that  "  Joe  " 
came   out.      You,    of    course,   don't   know   who 
"  Joe  "  is.     Well,  you  may  rest  contented,  be 
cause  he  N ill  always  remain  "Joe"  to   you.     I 
may,  without  transgression,  however,  give  you  bis 
typograph.     I  will  put  him  in  position,  level  the 
lens,  and — here  he- is.    Imagine  a  well-built  young 
fellow,   about  twenty-one,  with  mercury  instead 
of  blood  in  his  veins,  evei  on  the  move,  with  a 
sort  of  quaint,  joyous  humor  seething  from  him, 
as  if  he  was  always  at  boiling  point.     Joe's  two 
specialties,  like  a  winnowing  machine  that  I  once 
saw,  are  work  and  chaff.     During  the  evening, 
on    board    the  steamer,  he    distributed   himself 
generally  about,  with  a  merry  word  and  a  joke 
for  every  o  le.     What  number  of  bad  puns  he 
made,  or  wl  at  horrible  conundrums  he  made,  my 
i  exhausted  and  horrified  memory  refuses  to  recall ; 
I  suffice  it  to  say,  that  laughter  and  good-humor 
|  followed  in  his  wake,  as  the  white  foam    smiles 
I  astern  of  some  sharp  litf.2  cutter  goi  ig  before  the 
;  wind. 


2SO 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


The  first  evening,  April  20,  on  board  the  Bos 
ton,  passed  delightfully.  We  were  all  in  first-rate 
spirits,  tine1  the  calm,  sweet  evenings  that  stole  on 
us  as  we  approached  the  South,  diffused  a  soft 
and  gentle  influence  over  us.  The  scene  on  board 
the  ship  was  exceedingly  picturesque.  Fellows 
fmr'rling  in  haversacks  for  rations,  or  extracting 
sandwiches  from  reluctant  canteens  ;  guards  pac 
ing  up  and  down  with  drawn  bayonets ;  knapsacks 
piled  in  corners,  bristling  heaps  of  muskets,  with 
sharp,  shining  teeth,  crowded  into  every  available 
nook  ;  picturesque  groups  of  men  lolling  on  deck, 
pipe  or  -"igar  in  mouth,  indulging  iu  the  dolcej'ar 
niente,  £  A  if  they  were  on  the  blue  shores  of  Capri, 
rather  tl  an  on  their  way  to  battle ;  unbuttoned 
jackets,  crossed  legs,  heads  leaning  on  knapsacks, 
blue  uiu  brrns  everywhere,  with  here  and  there  a 
glint  of  >fiicer's  red  lighting  up  the  foreground 
—  all  fo%  med  a  scene  that  such  painters  as  the 
English  Warren  would  have  revelled  in. 

I  regiet  to  say  that  all  was  not  rose-colored. 
The  steamer  that  the  Colonel  chartered  had  to 
get  ready  at  three  or  four  hours'  notice,  he  having 
changed  his  plans,  in  consequence  of  the  tearing 
up  of  the  rails  aiound  Baltimore.  The  result 
was,  that  she  was  imperfectly  provisioned.  As 
the  appetites  of  the  men  began  to  develop,  the 
resources  of  the  vessel  began  to  appear.  In  the 
first  place,  she  was  far  too  small  to  accommodate 
a  thousand  men,  and  we  were  obliged  to  sleep  iu 
all  sorts  of  impossible  attitudes.  There  is  an 
ingenious  device  known  to  carpenters  as  "  dove 
tailing  ;  "  and  we  were  so  thick  that  we  had  pos 
itively  to  dovetail,  only  that  there  was  very  little 
of  the  dove  about  it ;  for  when  perambulating 
soldiers  stepped  on  the  faces  and  stomachs  of 
the  sleepers,  as  they  lay  on  deck,  the  greeting 
that  they  received  had  but  little  flavor  of  the 
olive  branch. 

Notwithstanding  that  we  found  very  soon  that 
the  commissariat  was  in  a  bad  way,  the  men  were 
as  jolly  as  sandboys.  1  never  saw  a  more  good- 
humored  set  of  men  in  my  life.  Fellows  who 
woidd  at.  Delmonico's  have  sent  back  a  turban  de 
volatile  aiLX  truces,  because  the  truffles  were 
tough,  here  cheerfully  took  their  places  in  file 
between  decks,  tin  plates  and  tin  cups  in  hand, 
in  order  to  get  an  insufficient  piece  of  beef  and 
a  vision  of  coffee.  But  it  was  all  merrily  done,  j 
The  scant  fare  was  seasoned  with  hilarity  ;  and 
here  I  say  to  those  people  in  New  York  who  have 
sneered  at  the  Seventh  regiment  as  being  dandies, 
and  guilty  of  the  unpardonable  crimes  of  cleanli 
ness  and  kid  gloves,  that  they  would  cease  to 
scoff',  and  remain  to  bless,  had  they  beheld  the 
iq'iare,  honest,  genial  way  in  which  these  mili 
tary  Brummells  roughed  it.  Farther  on,  you  will 
Bee  what  they  did  in  the  way  of  endurance  and 
activity. 

April  21  was  Sunday  —  a  glorious,  cloudless 
day.  We  had  steamed  all  night,  and  about  ten 
o'clock  were  in  the  vicinity  of  Chesapeake  Bay. 
At  eleven  o'clock  A.  M.  we  had  service  read  by 
our  chaplain,  and  at  one  P.  JVI.  we  were  seven 
miles  from  the  coast.  The  day  was  calm  and  de- 
liciouB.  In  spite  of  our  troubles  with  regard  to  ! 


food  —  troubles,  be  it  understood,  entirely  univ- 
voidable  —  we  drank  in  with  delight  the  serenity 
of  the  scene.  A  hazy  tent  of  blue  h'.mg  ovei 
our  heads.  On  one  side  the  dim  thread  of  shore 
berimed  in  the  sea.  Flights  of  loons  and  ducks 
{•..iimmed  along  the  ocean,  rising  lazily,  :md  spat 
tering  the  vaves  with  the'r  wings,  as  they  flew 
against  the  wind,  until  they  rose  into  air,  and, 
wheeling,  swept  into  calmer  let  ding  grounds. 
Now  and  then  the  calm  of  the  hour  was  broken 
with  the  heavy  tramp  of  men,  and  the  metallic 
vo.  -e  of  the  Corporal  of  the  Guard  relieving  his 
comrades.  At  five  o'clock  P.  M.  we  passed  a 
light-ship,  and  hailed  her,  our  object  being  to 
discover  whether  any  United  States  vessels  were 
in  the  neighborhood,  waiting  to  convoy  us  up  the 
Potomac  River,  We  had  heard  that  the  forts  at 
Alexandria  were  ready  to  open  upon  us  if  we 
attempted  to  pass  up,  and  our  steamer  was  of 
such  a  build,  that,  had  a  shell  or  shot  struck  it, 
we  would  have  been  burned  or  drowned.  It 
therefore  behooved  us  to  be  cautious.  The  an 
swers  we  got  from  the  light-ship  and  other  ves 
sels  that  we  hailed  in  this  spot  were  unsatisfac 
tory,  and  although  the  feelings  of  the  men  were 
unanimous  in  wishing  to  force  the  Potomac, 
wiser  counsels,  as  it  proved,  were  behind  us,  and 
we  kept  on.  About  this  time  a  curious  phenom 
enon  occurred.  Some  men  in  the  J  egiment,  who 
have  fine  voices,  —  and  their  name  is  legion,  — 
had  been  singing,  with  all  that  delicious  effect 
that  music  at  sea  produces,  several  of  the  finest 
psalms  in  our  liturgy.  The  ocean  softens,  and 
delicately  repeats  sound  ;  and  those  airs,  trem 
bling  and  sliding  along  the  almost  unrip  pled  sur 
face  of  the  sea,  were  so  melodious,  that  if  the 
Southern  Cerberi  had  heard  them,  they  would 
have  slumbered  at  the  gates  of  their  own  hell. 
YVrhile  we  were  singing,  the  moon  swung  clear 
into  air,  and  round  her  white  disk  was  seen  three 
circles,  clear  and  distinct  —  red,  white,  and  blue! 
The  omen  was  caught  by  common  instinct,  and 
a  thousand  cheers  went' up  to  that  heaven  that 
seemed  in  its  visible  signs  to  manifest  its  appro 
val  of  the  cause  in  which  we  were  about  to  fight. 
All  this  time  we  were  entirely  ignorant  of  where 
we  were  going.  The  officers  kept  all  secret,  and 
our  conjectures  drifted  like  a  drifting  boat.  On 
the  morning  of  the  22d  we  were  in  sight  of  An 
napolis,  off  which  the  Constitution  was  lying,  and 
there  found  tl  e  Eighth  regiment  of  Massachusetts 
volunteers  on  board  the  Mary  lam..  They  were 
aground,  owing,  it  is  supposed,  to  the  treachery 
of  the  Captain,  whom  they  put  in  irons,  and  want 
ed  to  hang.  1  regret  to  say  that  they  did  not  do  it. 
During  the  greater  portion  of  that  forenoon  we 
were  occupied  in  trying  to  get  the  Maryland  off 
the  sandbar  on  which  she  was  grounded.  From 
our  decks  we  could  st  e  the  men  in  file  trying  to 
rock  her,  so  as  to  facilitate  our  tugging.  These 
men  were  without  water  and  without  food,  were 
well  conducted  and  uncomplaining,  and  behavwl, 
hi  all  respects,  like  heroes.  They  were  under  tha 
command  of  Col.  Butler,  and  1  regret  that  that 
gentleman  did  not  care  snore  for  the  comforts  of 
men  whose  subsequent  pluck  proved  that  nothing 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


2S1 


was  too  good  for  them.  During  the  endeavors 
to  get  the  Maryland  afloat,  \ve  had  some  idle 
time  on  our  hands,  and  your  humble  servant  em 
ployed  some  of  it  in  "  composing "  a  Seventh 
regiment  song,  which  is  now  in  rehearsal  by  the 
vocalists  of  the  corps  : 

THE    SEVENTH. 

AIR  —  "  Gilla  Machree." 


OCH  !  we're  the  boys 
That  hearts  desthroys 

Wid  making  love  and  fighting  ; 
We  take  a  fort, 
The  girls  we  court, 

But  most  the  last  delight  in. 
To  fire  a  gun, 
Or  raise  some  fun, 

To  us  is  no  endeavor ; 
So  let  us  hear 
One  hearty  cheer  — 

The  Seventh's  lads  forever  ! 
-CHORUS.  —  For  we're  the  boys 

That  hearts  desthroys, 

Wid  making  love  and  fighting; 
We  take  a  fort, 
The  girls  we  court, 

But  most  the  last  delight  in. 


There's  handsome  Joe, 

Whose  constant  flow 
Of  merriment  unfailing, 

Upon  the  tramp, 

Or  in  the  camp, 
Will  keep  our  hearts  from  ailing. 

And  B and  Chat, 

Who  might  have  sat 
For  Pythias  and  Damon, 

Och  !  whin  they  get 

Their  heavy  wet, 
They  get  as  high  as  Haman. 
CHORUS.  —  For  we're  the  boys 

That  hearts  desthroys,  &c. 


Like  Jove  above, 

We're  fond  of  love, 
But  fonder  still  of  victuals ; 

Wid  turtle  steaks, 

An'  codfish  cakes, 
We  always  fills  our  kittles. 

To  dhro\vn  aich  dish, 

We  dhrinks  like  fish, 
And  Mumm's  the  word  we  utther  ; 

An'  thin  we  swill 

Our  Leoville, 

That  oils  our  throats  like  butther. 
Caoang.  —  For  we're  the  boys 

That  hearts  desthroys,  &c. 


We  make  from  hay 

A  splindid  tay, 
From  beans  a  gorgeous  coffee  ; 

Our  crame  is  prime* 

With  chalk  and  lime  — 
la  fact,  'tis  quite  a  throphy. 


Our  chickens  roast. 
Wid  butthered  toast, 
I'm  sure  would  tiinpt  St.  Pether. 
Now,  you'll  declare 
3  Our  bill  of  fare 
It  couldn't  be  complether. 
CHORUS.  —  For  we're  the  boys 

That  hearts  desthro;  s,  Sic. 

v. 

Now,  silence  all, 

While  I  recall 
A  memory  sweet  and  tender  ; 

The  maids  and  wives 

That  light  our  lives 
With  deep,  enduring  splendor  — 

We'll  give  no  cheer 

For  those  KO  dear, 
But  in  our  hearts  we'll  bless  them, 

And  pray  to-night 

That  angels  bright 
May  watch  them  and  caress  them. 
CHORUS.  —  For  we're  the  boys 

That  hearts  desthroys, 
Wid  making  love  and  fighting  ; 

We  take  a  fort, 

The  girls  we  court, 
But  most  the  last  delight  in. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  22d  we  landed  at  the 
Annapolis  dock,  after  having-  spent  hours  in  Irv 
ing  to  relieve  the  Maryland.  For  the  first  tim<? 
in  his  life,  your  correspondent  was  put  to  M'oik 
to  roll  flour-barrels,  lie  was  intrusted  w:th  the 
honorable  and  onerous  duty  of  transporting  store* 
from  the  steamer  to  the  dock.  Later  still,  he  de 
scended  to  the  position  of  mess  servar.t,  when,  in 
company  with  gentlemen  well  known  in  Broad 
way  for  immaculate  kids,  he  had  the  honor  of 
attending  on  his  company  with  buckets  of  cooked 
meat  and  crackers ;  the  only  difference  between 
him  and  Co.  an  I  the  ordinary  waiter  being,  that 
the  former  were  civil. 

After  this,  I  had  the  pleasing  duty  of  perform 
ing  three  hours  of  guard  duty  on  the  dock,  with 
a  view  to  protect  the  baggage  and  stores.  It 
was  monotonous  —  being  my  first  guard  —  but 
not  unpleasant.  The  moon  rose  calm  and  white. 
A  long  dock  next  to  the  one  on  which  I  was  sta 
tioned,  stretched  away  into  the  bay,  resting  on 
its  numerous  piles,  until  it  looked  in  the  clear 
moonlight  like  a  centipede.  All  was  still  and 
cairn,  until  at  certain  periods  the  guard  challenged 
persons  attempting  to  pass.  There  was  a  holy  in 
fluence  in  the  hour,  and  somehow  the  hot  fever 
of  anxiety  that  had  been  over  us  for  days  seemed 
to  pass  away  under  the  touch  of  the  magnetic 
fingers  of  the  night. 

We  were  quartered  in  the  buildings  belonging 
to  the  Naval  School  at  Annapolis.  I  had  a  hunk- 
ing-place  in  what  is  there  called  a  fort,  which  is 
a  rickety  structure,  that  a  lucifer  match  wouU 
set  on  fire,  but  furnished  M'ith  imposing  guns.  I 
suppose  it  was  merely  built  to  practise  the  cadets, 
because  as  a  defence  it  is  worthless.  The  same 
evening  boats  were  sent  off  from  the  yard,  and  to 
wards  nightfall  the  Massachusetts  men  landed, 


232 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


fagged,  hungry,  thirsty,  but  indomitable.  At  an 
early  hour  there  was  a  universal  snore  through 
the  Naval  School  of  Annapolis. 

'I  he  two  days  that  we  remained  at  Annapolis 
weie  welcome.  We  had  been  without  a  fair 
night's  sleep  since  we  left  New  York,  and  even 
the  hard  quarters  we  had  there  were  a  luxury 
compared  to  the  dirty  decks  of  the  Boston.  Be 
sides,  there  were  natural  attractions.  The  grounds 
are  very  prettily  laid  out,  and  in. '.he  course  of 
my  experience,  "I  never  saw  a  han  Isomer  or  bet 
ter  bred  set  of  young  men  than  the  cadets.  They 

number  about ,  only  twenty  having  left  the 

school  owing  to  political  conviction.  The  re 
mainder  are  sound  Union  fellows,  eager  to  prove 
their  devotion  to  the  flag.  After  spending  a  de 
lightful  time  in  the  Navy  School,  resting  and 
amusing  ourselves,  our  repose  was  disturbed,  at 
nine  P.  M.,  April  23,  by  rockets  being  thrown  up 
in  the  bay.  The  men  were  scattered  all  over  the 
grounds  ;  some  in  bed,  others  walking  or  smoking, 
all  more  or  less  undressed.  The  rockets  being 
of  a  suspicious  character,  it  was  conjectured  that 
a  Southern  fleet  was  outside,  and  our  drummer 
beat  the  roll-call  to  arms.  From  the  stroke  of 
the  drum,  until  the  time  that  every  man,  fully 
equipped  and  in  fighting  order,  was  in  the  ranks, 
was  exactly,  by  watch,  seven  minutes.  It  is  need 
less  to  say  anything  about  such  celerity  —  it 
speaks  for  itself.  The  alarm,  however,  proved  to 
be  false,  the  vessels  in  the  offing  proving  to  be 
laden  with  the  Seventy-first  and  other  New  York 
regiments  ;  so  that,  after  an  unpremeditated  trial 
of  our  readiness  for  action,  we  were  permitted  to 
retire  to  our  virtuous  couches,  which  means,  per 
mit  me  to  say,  a  blanket  on  the  floor,  with  a 
military  overcoat  over  you,  and  a  nasal  concert 
all  around  you,  that  in  noise  and  number  out 
vies  Musard's  celebrated  concerts  moiistres. 

On  the  morning  of  the  24th  of  April  we  started 
on  what  afterwards  proved  to  be  one  of  the  hard 
est  marches  on  record.  The  secessionists  of  An 
napolis  and  the  surrounding  district  had  threat 
ened  to  cut  us  off  in  our  march,  and  even  went 
so  far  as  to  say  that  they  would  attack  our  quar 
ters.  This,  of  course,  was  the  drunken  Southern 
ebullition.  A  civilian  told  me  that  he  met  in  the 
streets  of  Annapolis  two  cavalry  soldiers  who 
came  to  cut  our  throats  without  delay,  but  as 
each  brave  warrior  was  endeavoring  to  hold  the 
other  up,  my  friend  did  not  apprehend  much 
danger. 

A  curious  revulsion  of  feeling  took  place  at 
Annapolis,  and  indeed  all  through  Maryland,  af 
ter  our  arrival. 

The  admirable,  good  conduct  which  character 
izes  the  regiment,  the  open  liberality  which  it 
displays  in  all  pecuniary  transactions,  and  the 
courteous  demeanor  which  it  exhibits  to  all  classes, 
took  the  narrow-minded  population  of  this  ex 
cessively  wretched  town  by  surprise.  They  were 
prepared  for  pillage.  They  thought  we  were  go 
ing  to  sack  the  place.  They  found,  instead,  that 
we  were  prepared  and  willing  to  pay  liberal 
prices  for  everything,  and  that  even  patriotic  pres 
entations  v  ere  steadily  refused.  While  we  we  re 


in  the  Navy  School,  of  course  all  sorts  of  rumors 
as  to  our  operations  were  floating  about.  It  sur 
prised  me  that  no  one  suggested  that  we  were  to 
go  off  in  a  balloon;  however,  all  surmises  were 
put  to  an  end  by  our  receiving  orders,  the  CT fill 
ing  of  the  23d,  to  assemble  in  marching  ordt'Ji 
next  morning.  The  dawn  saw  us  up.  Knap 
sacks,  with  our  blankets  and  ovci coats  strapped 
on  them,  were  piled  on  the  gre<J  i.  A  brief  and 
insufficient  breakfast  was  taken,  >ur  canteens  filled 
with  vinegar  and  water,  cartridges  distributed  to 
each  man,  and  after  mustering  and  loading,  we 
started  on  our  first  march  through  a  hostile 
ecmtf/. 

Gen.  Sc-:tt  has  stated,  as  I  have  been  informed, 
that  the  march  that  we  performed  from  Annapo 
lis  to  the  Junction  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
on  record.  I  know  that  I  felt  it  the  most  fa 
tiguing,  and  some  of  our  ofliccrs  have  told  me 
that  it  was  the  most  perilous.  We  marched  the 
first  eight  miles  under  a  burning  sun,  in  heavy 
marching  order,  in  less  than  three  hours  ;  and  it 
is  well  known  that,  placing  all  elementary  con 
siderations  out  of  the  way,  marching  on  a  rail 
road  track  is  the  most  harassing.  We  started 
at.  about  eight  o'clock  A.  M.,  and  for  the  first  time 
saw  the  town  of  Annapolis,  which,  without  any 
disrespect  to  that  place,  I  may  say,  looked  very 
much  as  if  some  celestial  schoolboy,  with  a  box 
of  toys  under  his  arm,  had  dropped  a  few  ho'i?'.os 
and  men  as  he  was  going  home  from  school,  an*j 
that  the  accidental  settlement  was  called  Anmp>^ 
lis.  Through  the  town  we  marched,  the  peoplp 
unsympathizing,  but  afraid.  They  saw  the  Sev 
enth  for  the  first  time,  and  for  the"  first  time  they 
realized  the  men  that  they  had  threatened. 

The  tracks  had  been  torn  up  between  Annapo 
lis  and  the  Junction,  and  here  it  was  that  the 
wonderful  qualities  of  the  Massachusetts  Eighth 
regiment  came  out.  The  locomotives  had  been 
taken  to  pieces  by  the  inhabitants,  in  order  to 
prevent  our  travel.  In  steps  a  Massachusetts 
volunteer,  looks  at  the  piecemeal  engine,  takes 
up  a  flange,  and  says  coolly,  "I  made  this  engine, 
and  i  can  put  it  together  again."  Engineers 
were  wanted  when  the  engine  was  ready.  Nine 
teen  stepped  out  of  the  ranks.  The  rails  were 
torn  up.  Practical  railroad  makers  out  of  the 
regiment  laid  them  again  ;  and  all  this,  mind 
you,  without  care  or  food.  These  brave  boys,  I 
say,  were  starving  while  they  were  doing  this 
good  work.  What  their  Colonel  was  doing,  I 
can't  say.  As  we  marched  along  the  track  that 
they  had  laid,  they  greeted  us  with  ranks  of 
smiling  but  hungry  faces.  One  boy  told  me,  with 
a  laugh  on  his  young  lips,  that  he  had  not  eaten 
anything  for  thirty  hours.  There  was  not,  thank 
God,  a  haversack  in  our  regiment  that  was  not 
emptied  into  the  hands  of  these  ill-treated  heroes, 
nor  a  flask  that  was  not  at  their  disposal.  I  am 
glad  to  pay  them  tribute  here,  and  mentally  doff 
my  cap. 

"Our  march  !ay  through  an  arid,  sandy,  tobacco- 
growing  country.  The  sun  pourc  d  on  our  heads 
like  hot  lava.  1  he  sixth  and  second  companies 
were  sent  on  for  skirmishi'vg  duty,  under  the 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


233 


command  of  Capts.  Clarke  and  Nevers,  the  latter 
commanding  as  senior  officer.  A  car,  on  which 
was  placed  a  howitzer,  loaded  with  grape  and 
canister,  headed  the  column,  manned  by  the  en 
gineer  and  artillery  corps,  commanded  by  Lieut, 
hunting.  This  was  the  rallying  point  of  the 
skirmishing  party,  on  which,  in  case  of  difficulty, 
they  could  fall  back.  In  the  centre  of  the  col- 


to  explore  every  inch  of  the  way,  we  did  not  make 
more  than  a  mile  or  a  mile  and  a  hall'  an  hour. 
We  ran  out  of  stimulants,  and  almost  out  of 
water.  Mcst  of  us  had  had  no  sleep  for  four 
nights,  and  as  the  night  advanced  our  march  was 
almost  a  stagger.  Th'j  jvas  not  so  much  fatigue 
as  want  of  excitement.  3ur  fellc  A"s  were  spoiling 
for  a  fight,  and  when  a  dropping  st  it  was  heard 

umn  came  the  cars  laden  with  medical  stores,  and  |  in  the  distance,  it  was  v  onderful  to  see  how  the 

languid  legs  straightened,  and  the  column  braced 
itself  for  action.  If  AVC  had  had  even  the  small- 


bearing  our  sick  and  wounded,  while  the  extreme 
rear  was  brought  up  with  a  second  howitzer, 
loaded  also  with  grape  and  canister.  The  en 
gineer  corps,  of  course,  had  to  do  the  forward  ing 
work.  New  York  dandies,  sir  —  but  they  built 
bridges,  laid  rails,  and  headed  the  regiment 
through  that  terrible  inarch.  After  marching 
about  eight  miles,  during  which  time  several  men 
raved  in  from  exhaustion,  and  one  young  gentle 
man  was  sunstruck  and  sent  back  to  New  York, 
we  halted,  and  instantly,  with  the  Divine  instinct 
which  characterizes  the  hungry  soldier,  proceeded 
to  forage.  The  worst  of  it  was,  there  was  no 
foraging  to  be  done.  The  only  house  within  reach 
was  inhabited  by  a  lethargic  person,  who,  like  empty. 
most  Southern  men,  had  no  idea  of  gaining  money  buryin: 
by  labor.  We  offered  him  extravagant  prices  to 
get  us  fresh  water,  and  it  was  with  the  utmost 
reluctance  we  could  get  him  to  obtain  us  a  feu- 
pailfuls.  Over  the  mantel-piece  of  his  miserable 
shanty  I  saw  —  a  curious  coincidence  —  the  por 
trait  of  Col.  J)uryea,  of  our  regiment. 

After  a  brief  rest  of  about  an  hour,  we  again 
commenced  our  march  ;  a  march  which  lasted 
until  the  next  morning  —  a  march  than  which 
in  history,  nothing  but  those  marches  in  which 
defeated  troops  have  fled  from  the  enemy,  can 
equal.  Our  Colonel,  it  seerns,  determined  to 
march  by  railroad,  in  preference  to  the  common 
road,  inasmuch  as  he  had  obtained  such  secret  in 
formation  as  led  him  to  suppose  that  we  were 
waited  for  on  the  latter  route.  Events  justified 
his  judgment.  There  were  cavalry  troops  posted 
in  defiles  to  cut  us  of!'.  They  could  not  have 
done  it,  of  course,  but  they  could  have  harassed 


est  kind  of  a  skirmish,  the  men  would  have  been 
able  to  walk  to  Washington.  As  it  was,  we  vent 
sleepily  on.  I  myself  fell  asleep  walking  in  the 
ranks.  Numbers,  I  fcnd,  followed  my  example; 
but  never  before  was  there  shown  such  indom 
itable  pluck  and  perseverance  as  the  Seventh 
showed  during  that  march  of  twenty  miles.  The 
country  that  we  passed  through  seemed  to  have 
been  entirely  deserted.  The  inhabitants,  who 
were  going  to  kill  us  when  they  thought  we 
daren't  come  through,  now  vamosed  their  respec 
tive  ranches,  and  we. saw  them  not.  Houses  were 
The  population  retired  into  the  interior, 
their  money,  and  carrying  their  families 


us  severely.  As  we  went  along  the  railroad  Ave 
threw  out  skirmishing  parties  from  the  second 
and  sixth  companies,  to  keep  the  road  clear.  I 
know  not  if  I  can  describe  that  night's  march.  I 
have  dim  recollections  of  deep  cuts  throuh 
which  we  passed,  gloomy  and  treacherous-lookin 


g  with  them.  They,  it  seems,  were  under 
the  impression  that  we  came  to  raA  age  and  pil 
lage,  and  they  fled  as  the  Gauls  must  have  fled 
when  Attila  and  his  lluus  came  down  on  them 
from  the  north.  As  Ave  did  at  Annapolis,  we  did 
in  Maryland  State.  We  left  an  impression  that 
cannot  be  forgotten.  Every  thing  was  paid  for. 
No  discourtesy  Avas  offered  to  any  inhabitant,  and 
the  sobriety  of  the  regiment  should  be  an  example 
to  others.  

ADVENTURE  OF  CAPTAFN  STRONG.  —  The  fol 
lowing  account  of  the  adventure  of  Captain  W. 
E.  Strong,  of  the  Second  regiment  of  Wisconsin 
volunteers,  Avas  given  by  that  officer  in  an  official 
report  to  Maj.  Larrabee,  dated  at  Camp  Advance, 
September  7,  1861  : 

"  In  pursuance  of  your  order  of  yesterday,  I 
proceeded  to  examine  the  woods  to  the  right  of 


our  exterior  line,  for  the  purpose  of  satisfying 
yourself  whether  the  line  should  be  extended. 
The  last  picket  Avas  stationed  about  four  hundred 
yards  from  the  river —  being  our  outpost  on  our 
right  exterior  line — leaving  a  dense  thicket  of 
pine  undergroAvth  between  it  and  the  river.  From 

with  the  moon  shining  full  on  our  muskets,  Avhile  j  my  means  of  observation  \  p  to  that  time,  I  had 
the  banks  were  wrapped  in  shade,  and  we  each  mo-  concluded  that  our  pickets  were  not  sufficiently 
ment  expecting  to  see  the  flash  and  Jiear  the  crack  >  advanced  in  that  direction,  as  this  space  was 
of  the  rifle  of  the  Southern  guerrilla.  The  tree  j  wholly  unoccupied.  At  least  I  thought  the 
frogs  and  lizards  made  mournful  music  as  we  [ground  should  be  examined;  and  in  this  you 


passed.     The  soil  on  which  we  travelled  was  soft 
aiid  heavy.    The  sleepers  lying  at  intervals  across 


were  pleased  to  fully  concur. 

"  You  desired  me  to  make  a  minute  examina- 


the  track  made  the  march  terribly  fatiguing.  On  |  tion  of  the  ground,  and  be  ready  to  report  \vhen 
all  sides  dark,  lonely  pine  woods  stretched  away,  i  you  should  return,  at  three  o'clock  P.  M.  of  that 
and  high  over  the  hooting  of  owls  or  the  plain-  i  day.  Accordingly,  after  dinner  I  passed  along 
live  petition  of  the  whip-poor-Avill  rose  the  bass  i  the  line  until  I  reached  the  extreme  outpost  on 
commands  of  Halt  !  Forward,  march  !  —  and  '  the  right,  which  consisted  of  Lient.  Dodge,  Corp. 
when  Ave  came  to  any  ticklish  spot,  the  word  i  Manderson,  and  three  privates,  and  then  pro- 
wooded 
ed  that  these 

As  the  night  wore  on,  the  monotony  of  the  J  physical  obstacle*  were  so  great  that  no  body  of 
march  became  oppressive.     Owing  to  our  having  |  troops  could,  in  this  direction,  turn  our  right 


wucu  \vc  came  LU  any  UCKUSU  spoi,  uie  woru  '  ivianuersoii,  ami  uuee  private*,  ana  UK 
would  run  from  the  head  of  the  column  along  the  j  ceeded  along  over  very  rough  and  densely 
line,  '•  Holes,"  "  Bridge  —  pass  it  along,'*  &c.  i  ground  to  the  river.  I  soon  ascertained  th; 


234 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    IXCIDFMS. 


flank,  and  tnere  was  no  necessity  of  extending 
cur  pickets.  I  then  concluded  to  return ;  and 
for  the  purpose  of  avoiding  the  dense  under 
growth,  I  turned  back  on  a  line  about  a  hundred 
rods  in  advance  of  the  direction  of  our  line  of 
pickets.  As  I.  was  passing  through  a  thicket,  I 
ur,s  surrounded  by  six  rebel  soldiers  —  four  in 
fantry  and  two  cavalry.  The  footmen  were 
poorly  dressed  and  badly  armed.  Seeing  I  was 
caught,  I  thought  it  be*t  to  surrender  at  once. 
So  I  said,  '  Gentlemen,  you  have  me/  I  was 
asked  various  questions  as  to  who  I  was.  where  I 
was  going,  what  regiment  I  belonged  tc,  £e.,  all 
of  which  I  refused  to  answer.  One  of  tiie  foot 
men  said,  '  Let's  hang  the  d — d  Yankee  scoun 
drel,'  and  pointed  to  a  convenient  limb.  Another 
man  said,  '  No  ;  let's  take  him  to  the  camp,  and 
then  hang  him.'  One  of  the  cavalrymen,  who 
seemed  to  be  leader,  said,  'We'll  take  him  to 
camp.'  They  then  marched  me  through  an  open 
place  —  two  in  front,  two  in  the  rear,  and  a  cav 
alryman  on  each  side  of  me,  I  was  armed  with 
two  revolvers  and  my  sword. 

"After  going  some  twenty  rods,  the  Sergeant 
on  my  right,  noticing  my  pistols,  ordered  me  to 
give  them  up,  together  with  my  sword.  I  said, 
'  Certainly,  gentlemen,'  and  immediately  halted. 
As  I  stopped,  they  all  filed  past  me,  and  of  course 
were  in  Front.  We  were  at  this  time  in  an  open 
part  of  the  woods,  but  about  sixty  yards  to  the* 
rear  was  a  thicket  of  undergrowth.  "  Thus  every 
thing  was  in  my  favor;  I  was  quick  of  foot,  and 
a  passable  shot ;  yet  the  design  of  escape  was  not 
formed  until  I  brought  my  pistol  pouches  round 
to  the  front  part  of  my  body,  and  my  hands 
touched  the  stocks.  The  grasping  of  the  pistols 
suggested  the  thought,  of  cocking  them  as  I  drew 
them  out.  This  I  did  ;  and  t^e  moment  I  got 
command  of  them,  I  shot  down  two  footmen  near 
est  me  —  about  sixty  feet  off — one  with  each 
hand.  I  immediately  turned  and  ran  towards  the 
thicket  in  the  rear.  "The  confusion  of  my  captors 
was  apparently  so  great,  that  I  had  nearly  reached 
cover  before  shots  wrere  fired  at  me.  One  ball 
passed  through  my  left  cheek,  passing  out  of 
my  mouth.  Another  one,  a  musket-ball,  passed 
through  my  canteen.  Immediately  upon  this  vol 
ley  the  two  cavalrymen  separated  —  one  on  my 
left  and  the  other  on  my  right  —  to  cut.  off  my 
retreat.  The  remaining  two  footmen  charged  di 
rectly  towards  me  ;  I  turned,  when  the  horsemen 
got  up.  and  fired  three  or  four  shots,  but  the  balls 
flew  wild.  1  ran  on,  got  over  a  small  knoll,  and 
nearly  regained  one  of  our  pickets,  when  I  was 
headed  off  by  both  the  mounted  men.  The  Ser 
geant  called  out  to  me  to  halt  and  surrender;  I 
gave  no  reply,  but  fired  and  ran  in  the  opposite 
direction.  He  pursued  and  overtook  me  ;  T  turned, 
took  good  aim,  pulled  the  trigger,  but  the  cap 
snapped.  At  this  time  his  carbine  was  un slung, 
and  he  was  holding  it  with  both  hands  on  the  left 
side  of  his  horse.  He  fired  at  my  breast  w^hout 
raising  the  piece  to  his  shoulder,  and  the  shot 
passed  from  the  right  side  of  my  coat,  through  it 
and  my  shirt,  to  the  left,  just  grazing  the  skin  ; 
the  piece  was  so  near  as  to  burn  the  cloth  out  the 
size  of  one's  hand.  I  was,  however,  uninjured  at 


this  time,  save  the  shot  through  my  cheek.  I 
then  fired  at  him  again,  and  brought  him  to  the 
ground,  hanging  by  his  foot  in  the  left  stirrup, 
and  the  horse  galloping  towards  the  camp.  I  saw 
no  more  of  the  other  horseman,  nor  of  the  foot 
men,  but  running  on  soon  came  to  c  jr  own  pick 
ets  uninjured,  save  the  shot  through  my  cheek, 
but  otherwise  mucL  exhausted  frcm  my  exei- 
tiojis."  

THE  POW.-A  c*1  SLAVE  LABOR.  —  The  follow 
ing  curious  passage  appears  in  a  sermon  preached 
by  Ilev.  William  O.  Prentiss,  at  three  different 
times,  twice  by  request  repeated,  in  South  Caro 
lina,  in  1800  : 

"  Three  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  white  men 
directing  the  labor  of  less  than  four  millions  of 
African  slaves,  have  furnished  the  material,  out  of 
which  has  been  reared  this  colossal  fabric,  and  it 
begins  to  topple  to  its  fall  at  the  first  bright  promise 
that  their  sustaining  aid  shall  be  withdrawn.  If 
further  proof  be  required  that  the  labor  to  which 
I  have  alluded,  has  built  up  these  vast,  these  im 
portant  interests,  consult  the  statistics  of  our 
country  ;  study  figures  which  no  human  inge 
nuity  can  torture  into  the  indorsement  of  a  lie. 
History  shows  that  the  country  makes  no  pal 
pable  improvement  until  the  grand  staple  of  the 
earth's  necessities  begins  to  be  reared  here,  and 
that  its  advances  are  exactly  proportioned  to 
the  amount  and  value  of  the  African  slave  labor 
employed  by  us.  The  whole  commerce  of  the 
civilized  world  is  based  upon  this  labor  ;  it  feeds 
the  hungry,  it  clothes  the  naked,  it  employs  the 
idler,  it  supports  tottering  thrones  and  starving 
paupers  ;  kings  in  their  diadems,  and  beggars 
in  their  rags,  all  cry  aloud  to  the  god  who  feeds 
them,  '  Give  us  this  day  our  daily  cotton.' " 


STONEWALL  JACKSON  AT  BULL  HUN.  —  A 
Southern  correspondent,  who  was  present  at  the 
first  battle  of  Bull  Run,  rebates  the  following : 

;t  General  Jackson's  brigade  had  been  lying  for 
hours  sustaining  with  unflinching  courage  a  most 
terrific  fire.  The  general  had  his  horse  shot  un 
der  him,  and  a  finger  of  the  left  hand  shot  off; 
but,  cool  as  a  cucumber,  he  still  urged  his  'boys' 
to  be  steady  ;  and  steady  they  were,  when  they 
charged  and  butchered  tlie  Fire  Zouaves  and  oth 
er  regiments  right  and  left.  The  General  has  a 
way  of  holding  his  head  up  very  straight;  and 
his  almost  invariable  response  to  any  remark  is, 
'Very  well,' whilst  his  chin  seems  trying ^to  get 
up  towards  the  to])  of  his  head.  The  writer  re 
members,  in  the  midst  of  the  fight,  to  have  seen 
the  General  rallying  his  men,  while  his  chin 
seemed  to  stick  out  farther,  and  his  « Very  wells ' 
seemed  to  sound  more  euphoniously  than  ever ; 
and  when  the  writer  wished  to  pour  a  Jit  tie  whis 
key  upon  the  shattered  finger,  he  was  told  that  it 
was  '  of  no  consequence  ;'  and  away  went  the  Gen 
eral,  with  a  battery  following  him,  to  take  posi 
tion  in  some  advantageous  spot.  If  any  one  waa 
ever  entitled  to  a  sobriquet,  the  Gerif ral  certainly 
deserved  that  of  coot" 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


ANECDOTE  OF  GENERAL  WADSWORTH. —  The 
following  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  pathetic 
stories  of  the  war  : 

Paymaster  Rochester,  feeling  his  lips  to  be  un 
sealed  by  the  death  of  General  Wadsworth,  tells 
that  he  always  paid  him  from  his  entry  into  the 
service  ;  and  that  when  the  General  called  on  him 
for  money,  on  the  eve  of  starting  to  the  Missis 
sippi  Valley,  on  a  special  mission  connected  with 
the  arming  and  organization  of  the  slaves  of  that 
region,  he  casually  remarked  to  him,  that  when 
he  got  to  New  Orleans  he  would  find  there  Pay 
master  Vedder,  to  whom  he  would  recommend 
him,  as  a  gentlemanly  officer,  to  apply  for  any 
moneys  he  might  need.  "  No,  sir,"  said  General 
Wadsworth ;  "  I  shall  not  apply  to  Maj.  Vedder. 
While  I  am  in  the  service  I  shall  be  paid  only  by 
you.  And  my  reason  for  that  is,  that  I  wish  my 
account  with  the  Government  to  be  kept  with  one 
paymaster  only  ;  for  it  is  my  purpose,  at  the  close 
of  the  war,  to  call  on  you  for  an  accurate  state 
ment  of  all  the  money  1  have  received  from  the 
United  States.  The  amount,  whatever  it  is,  I 
shall  give  to  some  permanent  institution  founded 
for  the  relief  of  disabled  soldiers.  This  is  the 
least  invidious  way  in  which  I  can  refuse  pay  for 
fighting  for  my  country  in  her  hour  of  danger." 


GENERAL  LYON'S  MEMORY.  —  A  soldier  of 
Gen.  Herron's  division  wrote  from  Springfield, 
Mo.,  as  follows : 

"  Gen.  Lyoirs  memory  is  cherished  by  the  sol 
diers  here  as  something  holy.  The  Union  men 
think  that  no  man  ever  lived  like  him.  The  Third 
division  visited  the  battle-field  of  Wilson's  Creek 
on  Thanksgiving  Day,  and  each  man  placed  a 
stone  on  the  spot  where  Lyon  fell,  so  that  there 
now  stands  a  monument  some  ten  feet  high,  built 
by  eight  thousand  soldiers,  to  point  out  to  the 
visitor  of  this  classic  ground  the  place  where  the 
hero  died." 

AN  AFFECTING  INCIDENT.  —  The  State  Milita 
ry  Agent  of  Michigan,  at  Nashville,  L.  13.  Willard. 
relates  the  following  affecting  incident : 

"  As  1  was  passing  by  the  post  hospital,  my 
attention  was  arrested  by  the  singing,  in  a  rather 
loud  tone,  of  *  Rally  round  the  flag,  boys,'  by 
one  of  tlit  patients  inside.  While  listening  to  the 
beautiful  ;nusic  of  that  popular  song,  I  observed 
to  a  nur.se  standing  in  the  doorway,  that  the  per 
son  singing  must  be  in  a  very  merry  mood,  and 
could  not  be  very  sick.  '  You  are  mistaken,  sir,' 
said  he  ;  '  the  poor  fellow  engaged  in  singing  that 
good  old  song  is  now  grappling  with  death  —  has 
been  dying  all  day.  I  am  his  nurse,'  he  contin 
ued,  '  and  the  scene  so  affected  me  that  I  was 
obliged  to  leave  the  room.  He  is  just  about 
breathing  his  last.'  1  stepped  into  the  ward,  arid, 
true  enough,  the  brave  man  was  near  his  end. 
His  eyes  were  already  fixed  in  death.  He  was 
struggling  with  all  his  remaining  strength  against 
the  grim  monster,  while  at  the  same  time  there 
gushed  forth  from  his  patriotic  soul,  incoherently, 
the  words,  « Rally  round  the  flag,  boys,'  which 


had  so  often  cheered  him  through  his  weary 
march,  and  braced  him  up  when  entering  the 
field  of  blood  i'i  defence  of  his  country.  Finally 
he  sank  away  into  his  death-slumber,  and  joine'l 
his  Maker's  command,  that  is  marching  onward 
to  .nat  far-off,  better  land.  The  last  audible 
sou  id  that  esct.pt  1  his  lips  was,  '  Rally,  boys  ; 
ra1  y  once  again '  As  his  eyes  were  closing, 
some  dozen  of  his  yomrafos  joined  in  a  solemn 
yet  beautiful  hym  i,  appropriate  to  the  occasion. 
Take  it  altogether,  this  was  one  of  the  most  af 
fecting  scenes  L  have  e\er  witnessed  in  a  hospital. 
It  drew  tears  copiously  from  near  one  hundred 
of  us.  It  occurred  in  the  large  ward,  which  oc 
cupies  the  entire  body  of  the  church  on  Cherry 
Street.  The  deceased  was  an  Illinoisan,  and  had 
been  wounded  in  one  of  the  recent  skirmishes." 


A  REMARKABLE  ESCAPE.  —  Maj.  K.  V.  Whaley, 
member  of  Congress  from  Wayne  County,  Va., 
was  captured  at  Guyandotte  by  H.  Clay  Pate,  at 
the  time  of  the  massacre  in  that  town,  and  carried 
to  the  vicinity  of  Chapmansville,  two  days'  jour 
ney  distant.  The  prisoner  and  his  captors  stopped 
at  a  house  near  Chapmansville.  Night  coming 
on,  Maj.  Whaley,  after  hanging  up  his  coat  and 
hat  by  the  fire  to  dry,  went  to  bed  with  Capt. 
Wicher.  In  this  room  there  were  eight  inovi.  .-.-i,e 
of  whom  acted  as  a  guard.  About  three  o'clock 
in  the  morning  Maj.  Whaley  awoke,  and  finding 
the  guard  nodding  in  front  of  the  fire,  nnd  all  U:>e 
rest  in  deep  slumber,  determined  to  effect  an  e3 
cape.  Leaving  his  bed  as  quietly  as  possible,  he 
approached  the  g  lard,  and,  ascertaining  that  lie 
was  asleep,  took  Capt.  Wiener's  hat,  picked  up 
his  own  shoes,  raised  the  latch  of  the  d.)or,  an<1, 
seeing  all  clear  outside,  ran  with  all  his  might 
about  two  hundred  yards  down  the  Guyandotte 
River.  Here  he  put  on  his  shoes,  and  looked 
about  for  some  drift  wood  upon  which  to  cross 
the  stream  ;  but,  finding  none,  concluded  to  swim 
the  river,  which  he  did  with  considerable  ease. 
He  then  proceeded  down  the  river  about  a  mile 
and  a  half,  and  commenced  to  ascend  a  mountain, 
the  summit  of  which  he  reached  just  at  daybreak, 
and  just  as  Wicher  was  firing  his  guns  as  a  signal 
of  the  escape.  The  firing  was  answered  from  all 
directions.  Maj.  Whaley,  knowing  it  would  be 
fatal  to  attempt  to  travel  in  daylight,  sovght  a 
thicket  of  red  oak  brush,  in  which  he  found  a  sort 
of  path.  To  and  fro  over  this  path  he  walked  all 
day.  A  bleak  wind  was  blowing ;  and  being  wet 
through,  and  having  no  coat,  he  was  compelled 
to  walk  rapidly  in  order  to  save  his  life.  When 
night  came  on  he  started  down  the  Guyandotte 
Valley,  tracing  the  foot  of  the  hills,  a  distance  of 
two  miles,  when  he  came  upon  a  camp  of  about 
one  hundred  cavalry ;  and,  knowing  it  would  be 
folly  to  attempt  to  pass,  retreated  again  to  the 
mountains.  The  next  day  he  took  a  circuit  upo& 
the  top  of  the  hill,",  to  try  and  trace  the  valle.j 
and  keep  off  the  ri  -er,  which  he  supposed  woul.i 
be  gur.rded. 

At    ast  he  came  upon  Hart's  Creek,  and  sup 
posed  himself  to  be  in  tld  /icinity  of  a  Union  set- 


236 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS 


tlement,  at  the  head  of  Twelve  Pole.  He  went 
up  Hart's  Creek,  and  inquired  of  an  old  lady 
named  Adkins,  who,  with  her  son  and  son-in-law, 
vi;re  in  the  house,  asking  her  to  direct  him  to 
Kyer's  Creek,  which  he  knew  to  be  one  of  the 
branches  of  Twelve  Pole.  Young  Adkins  finally 
agreed  to  show  him  the  creek  for  two  dollars  ;  and 
\vben  they  started,  the  Major  observed  that  the 
son-in  -law,  Thompson,  started  in  another  direc 
tion.  The  Major  suspected  that  Thompson  knew 
him,  and  feared  pursuit ;  so  he  hurried  young  Ad 
kins  along  a  good  deal  faster  than  that  young 
gentleman  desired  to  move.  Arriving  at  the 
creek,  the  Major,  having  been  robbed  of  all  his 
money  at  Guyandotte  on  the  night  of  the  fight, 
could  not  comply  with  his  contract  with  Adkins, 
but  gave  him  twenty-five  cents,  all  the  money  he 
had,  and  a  new  pair  of  soldier's  shoes,  taking  in 
exchange  the  guide's  old  moccasons.  The  Major 
struck  down  the  creek,  along  a  very  narrow  road, 
passing  two  houses,  at  one  of  which  he  saw  a  lit 
tle  girl,  but  had  not  gone  a  great  distance  before 
he  heard  the  tramp  of  the  cavalry  coming  in  pur 
suit.  The  Major  was  about  turning  a  bend  in  the 
road,  and  had  barely  time  to  jump  over  a  fence, 
and  lie  flat  upon  his  belly,  when  along  dashed  a 
company,  led  by  the  fellow  Thompson,  befi.re 
mentioned.  The  Major  was  lying  not  six  feet 
from  where  his  pursuers  passed,  and  could  see 
their  eyes  peering  anxiously  forward  in  search  of 
him. 

After  the  pursuers  passed,  he  crawled  up  a  ra 
vine,  and  spent  another  twelve  hours,  exposed  to 
iho  haidest  kind  of  a  rain,  accompanied  by  the 
ikicest  lightning  and  the  loudest  thunder. 

[The  Major  afterwards  learned  that  the  little 
girl  whom  he  had  seen  had  informed  his  pursuers 
that  he  had  just  gone  around  the  bend  in  the 
road ;  and  in  their  anxiety  to  gain  the  bend  and 
capture  him,  they  never  thought  of  looking  to 
the  right  nor  to  the  left.] 

Ranig  exceedingly  weak  and  feeble,  in  conse 
quence  of  having  gone  three  days  without  food, 
the  Major  determined  to  approach  a  house  a  short 
distance  ahead,  and  ask  for  something  to  eat.  He 
was  answered  by  the  man  of  the  house,  a  Union 
man,  who  recognized  the  Major  almost  at  once, 
and  warned  him  not  to  remain  a  minute  if  he 
wanted  to  escape,  as  the  cavalry  had  been  there 
hunting  for  him.  The  Major  offered  the  man  five 
hundred  dollars  to  conduct  him  to  the  Queen  Set 
tlement,  and  to  the  house  of  Absalom  Queen. 
The  man,  although  avowing  himself  a  good  Union 
man,  refused  the  offer,  stating  that  he  would  be 
killed  by  his  cannibal  neighbors  if  discovered. 
He,  however,  gave  the  Major  a  blanket  to  throw 
over  his  shivering  shoulders,  and  directed  him  to 
the  house  of  Queen. 

The  Major  plodded  on,  and  at  last  reached  the 
house  of  Queen,  where  he  found  a  Home  Guard 
of  twenty-five  men,  who  had  assembled  to  keep 
the  rebels  from  driving  off  the  cattle  from  the 
Union  settlement.  Here  was  the  first  place  he 
gut  anything  to  eat  after  making  his  escape. 
Queen  and  eleven  of  his  men  accompanied  the 
Major,  travelling  only  at  night. 


The  party  reached  the  mouth  of  Big  Sandy  on 
Sunday  at  twelve  /'clock,  and  there  was  great  re 
joicing  all  ilong  he  Ohio  Itiver,  firing  of  i  an 
no  n,  &c. 

Absalom  Queen  was  a  brave  soldier  in  the  WJLT 
of  1812,  aid  as  true  and  loyal  a  man  as  lives. 
There  were  about  two  hundred  Union  men  in  the 
settlement  in  wbi:h  he  resided,  one  hundred  of 
whom,  through  his  individual  influence,  joined 
Col.  Zeigler's  Fifth  Virginia  regiment. 


KENTUCKY!     O  KENTUCKY! 

JOHN  MORGAN'S  foot  is  on  thy  shore, 

Kentucky  !  O  Kentucky  ! 
His  hand  is  on  thy  stable  door, 

Kentucky  !  C)  Kentucky  ! 
You'll  see  your  good  gray  mare  no  more  ;, 
He'll  ride  her  till  her  back  is  sore, 
And  leave  her  at  some  stranger's  door, 

Kentucky  !  O  Kentucky  ! 

For  feeding  John  you're  paying  dear, 

Kentucky  !  O  Kentucky  ! 
His  very  name  row  makes  you  fear, 

Kentucky  !  O  Kentucky  ! 
In  every  valley,  far  and  near, 
He's  gobbled  every  horse  and  steer  ; 
You'll  rue  his  raids  for  many  a  year, 

Kentucky  !  O  Kentucky  ! 

Yet  you  have  many  a  traitorous  fool, 

Kentucky !  O  Kentucky  ! 
Who  still  will  be  the  rebel's  tool, 

Kentucky  !  O  Kentucky  ! 
They'll  learn  to  yield  to  Abra'm's  rule 
In  none  but  Johnny's  costly  school, 
At  cost  of  every  animule, 

Kentucky  !  O  Kentucky  1 


SCENES  IN  THE  WAR.  —  Dick  Boughton,  of 
the  Second  Kansas  regiment,  in  a  letter  to  his 
sister,  gives  the  following  incidents : 

"  It  would  be  singular  if,  in  a  four  or  five 
months'  arduous  campaign,  I  should  not  be  occa 
sionally  in  a  tight  place,  as  well  as  the  witness  of 
some  painful  scenes.  While  the  Kansas  Second 
were  stopping  at  St.  Joseph,  on  their  way  home, 
in  September,  two  persons  were  arrested,  and 
placed  under  guard  in  one  of  the  hotels  in  that 
city.  On  the  evening  of  their  arrest,  and  the 
following  day,  it  chanced  to  be  my  turn  at  guard 
duty;  and  I  was  one  of  the  two  placed  at  the 
door  to  guard  the  prisoners.  Our  instructions 
were  to  keep  a  sharp  lookout,  as  one  of  them 
was  a  desperate  character,  arrested  under  the 
grave  charge  of  shooting  a  Union  man,  and 
would  probably  attempt  to  get  away.  On  'he 
''following  morning  the  mother  of  one  of  .he 
prisoners,  hearing  of  the  arrest  of  her  oon,  came 
up  to  the  room  in  great  distress.  She  told  her 
story  amid  tears  and  sobs,  pernisting  in  saying 
that  her  son  was  a  good  Union  man ;  that  he 
never  carried  any  weapons,  and  had  none  when 
arrested,  &c.,  &c.  Poor  woman !  she  was  under 
the  impression  that  her  sen  was  about  to  be 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


237 


strung  up  to  the  nearest  tree,  without  ceremony, 
by  the  Second  Kansas  boys,  whose  ferocity  she 
had  heard  tell  so  much  about.  After  her  first 
burst  of  grief  had  subsided  into  comparative 
sileuce,  I  told  her  that,  if  what  she  said  were  true, 
she  need  have  no  fears  for  the  safety  of  her  son  ; 
and  added  that,  when  relieved  from  my  post,  I 
would  see  our  Major,  who  would  inquire  into  the 
matter ;  and  I  could  assure  her  that  he  would 
ask  only  to  know  the  circumstances  of  her  son's 
arrest,  without  stopping  to  query  upon  opinions 
and  sentiments.  Ihat  evening  he  was  honorably 
released,  and  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  taking 
mother  and  son  by  the  hand,  and  receiving  their 
gratulation. 

"  The  case  of  the  other  prisoner  was  more 
serious  and  painful  to  me  ;  and  I  give  it,  not  as 
one  worthy  of  being  singled  out  as  especially 
sad,  but  only  as  one  of  many  circumstances  of  an 
equally  painful  nature,  with  which  the  soldier  in 
active  "service  in  this  terrible  war  has  become 
reluctantly  familiar.  While  still  dwelling  pleas 
antly  upon  the  consolation  my  words  had  given 
the  old  lady  in  the  morning,  a  light  footstep  was 
heard  on  the  stairs,  and  presently  a  young  lady 
made  her  appearance  in  the  hall  leading  to  our 
room.  Her  countenance  was  so  pale  and  sad, 
with  traces  of  tears,  that  it  would  have  drawn 
pity  from  a  heart  of  stone.  Her  step  was  so 
feeble  and  uncertain  that  I  involuntarily  took  her 
by  the  arm  as  she  approached,  and  supported 
her  into  the  presence  of  her  husband.  They 
embraced  each  other  for  some  moments,  the  si 
lence  only  broken  by  convulsive  sobs.  Presently 
the  wile,  making  a  strong  effort  to  be  calm, 
spoke : 

"  '  Our  child  —  our  little  Willie  !  * 

"  The  husband  knew  too  well  the  terrible  pur 
port  of  her  words.  At  the  time  of  the  arrest, 
their  only  child  lay  ill  in  its  mother's  arms,  its 
little  spirit  hovering  upon  the  verge  of  another 
world.  AVhen  she  could  sufficiently  command 
her  emotions,  she  added  : 

"  '  Before  he  died,  he  rose  in  my  arms,  and 
called  for  you,  Charles  —  yes,  he  called  for  pa  ! 
O  Charles,  Charles !  you  could  not  come  to  us-, 
then.'  She  again  sank  upon  her  husband's  bosom 
in  uncontrollable  anguish.  Their  tears  mingled 
freely ;  and  I  found  the  moisture  collecting  in  my 
own  eyes  in  inconvenient  quantities  as  the  '  sec 
ond  relief  stationed  themselves  at  our  post,  thus 
relieving  us  for  a  time.  When  we  left  the  city, 
the  prisoner  pleaded  very  hard  to  be  allowed  to 
go  with  us;  and  I  shall  not  soon  forget  his  look 
of  despair  when  it  became  necessary  for  our 
Major,  despite  his  pleadings,  to  deliver  him  over 
to  the  command  then  stationed  at  that  place. 

"At  the  hazard  of  being  tedious,  dear  sister,  I 
will  relate  a  little  circumstance  which  happened 
while  guarding  these  same  prisoners.  We  had 
just  got  fairly  settled  at  our  posts  after  the  ar 
rest,  when  the  officer  of  the  guard  came  around, 
full  of  importance,  and  talking  loudly,  as  if  he 
^wished  to  be  considered  Lord  Mogul,  Gen.  Jack 
son,  or  some  other  distinguished  individual. 

"  '  See  here,  guards  ;  keep  an  eye  on  that  tall 


fellow  there  ;  he's  a  d — d  secesh.  If  he  under 
takes  to  get  away,  run  yo.ir  bayonet  through 
hirn.  We'll  attend  to  his  case  directly  ; '  and  he 
took  especia)  r^re  that  the  prisoner  should  hear 
his  remarks.  I  did  not  wish  to  conceal  my  re 
sentment  at  such  lang—jage  upon  such  an  occa 
sion  ;  for  1  felt  that  he  who  used  it  disgraced  the 
'  udge  of  distinction  which  rested  upon  his  shoul 
ders.  It  so  chanced  that  a  young  lady,  whose 
husband,  a  young  lawyer,  was  off  to  the  seces 
sion  army,  often  passed  by  our  door  in  going  to 
and  from  her  room,  which,  was  near.  She  often 
paused  in  her  vibrations  to  express  her  senti 
ments  on  the  secession  question,  which  she  did 
with  great  freedom,  and  with  more  unction  at 
times  than  was  compatible  with  her  ladyship.  I 
suppose  somebody  of  sensitive  nerves  must  have 
informed  our  officer  of  the  guard  that  the  lady 
was  growing  troublesome  with  her  much  talking. 
So  when  he  came  round  again,  he  addressed 
himself  to  me  in  a  voice  full  of  authority,  with  : 

"  '  If  that  woman  comes  around  here  with  any 
more  of  her  gab,  just  put  her  in  that  room  there, 
and  lock  her  in.'  Sister,  you  know  I  am  the 
coolest  boy  out,  and  can  retain  my  linen  with  a 
grace  under  almost  any  circumstances  ;  but  just 
at  that  moment  I  felt  more  savage  than  my 
words  would  indicate,  as  I  very  coolly  returned 
in  substance  that  I  hoped  I  never  should  so  far 
disgrace  my  manhood  as  to  offer  violence  to  a 
woman  for  any  sentiments  she  might  utter. 

"  '  Obey  my  orders,  sir,'  was  sung  out  with  a 
pomp  and  emphasis  intended  to  carry  terror 
along  with  them,  but  whbh  aroused  in  me  feel 
ings  wickedly  opposed  to  anything  like  fear. 
'  You'll  j  lease  excuse  me,  sir,'  I  immediately  re 
sponded,  with  just  enough  of  tartness  and  accent 
to  add  impudence  to  disobedience.  He  then  ad 
vanced  towards  me  in  a  rage,  saying  something 
about  putting  me  under  guard,  and  reaching  out 
his  hand  as  if  to  take  me  by  the  collar. 

"  '  Hands  off,  if  you  please,'  said  1,  as  I  brushed 
his  hand  aside  with  a  spiteful  movement.  He 
passionately  seized  his  pistol  hanging  at  his  side. 
I  saw  his  thumb  upon  the  hammer  as  he  drew  it 
forth,  thundering  out  as  he  did  so  : 

"  *  I'll  shoot  you  down  like  —  ' 

"  I  finished  the  sentence  for  him,  as,  springing 
forward  with  an  activity  that  astonished  myselt, 
I  planted  a  blow  just  over  his  left  eye,  which  sent 
him  reeling  backwards  towards  the  stairway ; 
and  he  seized  the  baluster  to  save  himself.  His 
pistol  fell  from  his  hand,  and  rattled  down  the 
stairs  behind.  This  ended  the  interesting  scene, 
for  he  flung  up  his  arms,  and  crying  like  a  child, 
begged  me  not  to  strike  again. 

"  I  was  now  left  to  the  pleasant  contemplation 
of  my  situation,  and  the  penally  attached  to 
striking  an  officer  ;  but  my  fellow-guard,  when, 
questioned,  placed  the  matter  in  so  favorable  a 
light  for  me  that  I  was  not  even  arrested." 


ATTACK   ON    THE    IRONSIDFS.  —  One  of  the 

most  daring   and   gallant   naval  exploits  of  the 
war,  distinguished  by  the  greater,  coolness,  pica- 


238 


AltfECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


ence  of  mind,  and  intrepidity  of  the  brave  men 
associated  in  the  enterprise,  was  performed  Mon 
day  night,  October  6,  18G3.  This  was  no  less  than 
ai  attempt  to  blow  up  the  United  States  steamer 
New  Ironsides,  lying  off  Morris  Island.  Though 
not  fully  meeting  the  expectations  of  those  who 
conceived  the  plan,  and  those  who  carried  it  into 
execution,  it  called  forth  unbounded  admiration 
for  the  brilliant  heroism  of  the  actors  in  their 
dangerous  but  patriotic  and  self-sacrificing  under 
taking. 

The  torpedo  steamer  David,  with  a  crew  of  four 
volunteers,  consisting  of  Lieut.  Wm.  T.  Glassell, 
J.  II.  Toornbs,  chief  engineer,  and  James  Sullivan, 
fireman  of  the  gunboat  Chicora,  with  J.  W.  Can 
non,  assistant  pilot  of  the  gunboat  Palmetto  State, 
left  South  Atlantic  Wharf  between  six  and  seven 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  for  the  purpose  of  running 
out  to  the  Ironsides,  exploding  a  torpedo  under 
that  vessel  near  amidships,  and  if  possible  blow 
her  up.  The  weather,  being  dark  and  hazy,  fa 
vored  the  enterprise.  The  boat,  with  its  gallant 
little  crew,  proceeded  down  the  harbor,  skirting 
along  the  shoals  on  the  inside  of  the  channel,  un 
til  nearly  abreast  of  their  formidable  antagonist, 
the  New  Ironsides. 

They  remained  in  this  position  for  a  short  time, 
circling  around  on  the  large  shoal  near  the  an 
chorage  of  the  object  of  their  visit.  Lieut.  Glas 
sell,  with  a  double-barrelled  gun,  sat  in  front  of 
Pilot  Cannon,  who  had  charge  of  the  helm.  Chief 
Engineer  Toombs  was  at  the  engine,  with  the 
brave  and  undaunted  Sullivan,  the  volunteer  fire 
man,  when  something  like  the  following  conver 
sation  ensued : 

Lieut.  Glassell.  "  It  is  now  nine  o'clock.  Shall 
we  strike  her  ?  " 

Pilot  Cannon.  "That  is  what  we  came  for. 
I  am  ready." 

Engineer  Toombs.  "  Let  us  go  at  her  then, 
and  do  our  best." 

Sullivan,  fireman.  "  I  am  with  you  all,  and 
waiting.  Go  ahead." 

The  boat  was  now  put  bow  on,  and  aimed  di 
rectly  for  the  Ironsides.  As  the  little  steamer 
darted  forward,  the  lookout  on  the  Ironsides  hailed 
them  with  :  "  Take  care  there  ;  you  will  run  into 
us.  What  steamer  is  that  ? "  Lieut.  Glassell 
replied  by  discharging  one  barrel  at  the  Yankee 
sentinel,  and  tendering  the  gun  to  Pilot  Cannon, 
told  him  there  was  another  Yankee,  pointing  to 
one  with  his  body  half  over  the  bulwarks,  and 
asked  Cannon  to  take  care  of  him  with  the  other 
barrel. 

The  next  moment  they  had  struck  the  Iron 
sides,  arid  exploded  the  torpedo  about  fifteen  feet 
from  the  keel,  on  the  starboard  side.  An  im 
mense  volume  of  water  was  thrown  up,  covering 
the  little  boat,  and  going  through  the  smoke-stack, 
entered  the  furnace,  completely  extinguishing  the 
fires. 

In  addition  to  this,  pieces  of  the  ballast  had 
fallen  into  the  works  of  the  engine,  rendering  it 
unmanageable  at  that  time.  Volley  after  volley 
of  musketry  from  the  crew  of  the  Ironsides  and 
from  the  launches  began  to  pour  in  upon  them. 


Lieut.  Glassell  gave  the  order  to  back,  but  it  wae 
found  impossible.  In  this  condition,  with  uo 
shelter,  and  no  hope  of  escape,  they  thought  it 
jest  to  surrender,  and  hailed  the  enemy  to  thai 
effect.  The  Yankees,  howe^  tr,  paid  no  attention 
to  the  call.  It  was  then  proposed  to  put  on  their 
life-preseivers.  jump  overboard,  arid  endeavor  to 
swim  to  the  shore.  All  but  Pilot  Cannon  con 
sented.  The  latter,  being  unable  to  swim,  said  he 
would  stay  and  take  his  chances  in  the  boat. 
Lieut.  Glassell,  Engineer  Toombs,  and  Sullivan 
the  fireman,  left  the  boat,  the  first  two  having 
on  life-preservers,  and  the  latter  supporting  him 
self  on  one  of  the  hatches  thrown  to  him  by  the 
pilot.  Engineer  Toombs,  becoming  embarrassed 
with  his  clothing  in  the  water,  got  back  to  the 
boat,  and  was  assisted  in  by  Cannon. 

The  boat  was  then  rapidly  drifting  from  the 
Ironsides.  He  inw  fortunately  found  a  match,  and 
lighting  a  torch,  crept  back  to  the  engine,  discov 
ered  and  removed  the  cause  of  its  not  working, 
and  soon  got  it  in  order.  Engineer  Toombs  and 
Cannon  reached  their  wharf  in  the  city  about 
midnight,  fatigued,  and  presenting  a  worn-out 
appearance,  but  rejoicing  at  their  fortunate  and 
narrow  escape.  

CAVALRY   SONG. 

BY    ELimiPGE    JEFFERSON    CUTLER. 

THE  squadron  is  forming,  the  war-bugles  play. 
To  saddle,  brave  comrades,  stout  hearts  for  a  fray  ! 
Our  Captain  is  mounted  —  strike  spurs,  and  away  ! 

No  breeze  shakes  the  blossoms  or  tosses  the  grain  ; 
But  the  wind  of  our  speed  floats  the  galloper's  mane, 
As  he  feels  the  bold  rider's  firm  hand  on  the  rein. 

Lo  !  dim  in  the  starlight  their  white  tents  appear! 
Hide  softly  !  ride  slowly  !  the  onset  is  near  ! 
More  slowly  !    more  softly  !    the  sentry  may  hear  ! 

Now  fall  on  the  rebel  —  a  tempest  of  flame ! 
Strike  down  the  false  banner  whose  triumph  were 

shame  ! 
Strike,    strike    for  the  true  flag,  for  freedom  and 

fame ! 

Hurrah  !  sheathe  your  swords  !  the  carnage  is  done. 
All  red  with  our  valor,  we  welcome  the  sun. 
Up,  up  with  the  btars  !    we  have  won  !     wo  have 
won ! 


THE  END  OF  TTIE  ALABAMA.  — A  Confeder 
ate  soldier  gives  the  following  account  of  the  sink 
ing  of  that  famous  vessel  and  his  subsequent  ad 
ventures  : 

"  I  was  with  Semmes  everywhere  he  went,  in 
the  naval  brigade,  and  in  blockade  running,  ar  i 
was  on  the  Alabama  all  the  time  he  commanded 
her.  I  was  with  him  when  she  sank,  and  was 
picked  up  when  he  was,  by  the  Deerhourd.  A 
sharp  fight  it  was,  I  assure  you,  but  it  wasn't 
altogether  the  eleven- inch  guns  o*'  the  Kearsarge 
that" did  the  business.  We  never  had  a  chance 
of  success,  and  our  men  knew  it ;  and  then  we 
had  no  gunners  to  compare  with  the  Kearsarge's. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


239 


"  Our  gunners  fired  by  routine,  and  when  they 
had  a  gun  loaded,  fired  it  off  blind.  Tb^y  never 
oVvttngod  the  elevation  of  their  guns  all  :hrough 
the  tight,  and  the  Kearsarge  was  working  up  all 
Ihe  time,  taking  advantage  of  every  time  she 
vras  hid  by  (lie  smoke  to  work  a  little  nearer,  and 
then  her  gunners  took  aim  for  every  shot.  We 
iiever  tried  to  board  the  Iveavsarge,  hut,  on  the 
Contrary,  tried  our  best  to  get  away,  from  the  time 
t,lie  fight  commenced. 

"  We  knew  very  well  that  if  we  got  in  range 
of  her  Dahlgren  howitzers  she  would  sink  us  in 
ten  minutes. 

"  St'mmes  never  supposed  he  could  whip  the 
Kearsarge  when  he  went  out  to  fight  her.  lie 
was  bullied  into  it,  and  took  good  care  to  leave 
all  his  valuables  on  shore,  and  had  a  life-preserver 
on  through  the  fight.  I  saw  him  put  it  on,  and 
I  thought  if  ft  was  wise  in  him,  it  wouldn't  be 
foolish  in  me  to  do  the  same.  When  Semmes 
saw  that  the  ship  was  going  down,  he  told  us  all 
to  swim  who  could,  and  was  one  of  the  tirst  to 
jump  into  the  water,  and  we  all  made  for  the  Deer- 
hound. 

"  I  was  a  long  way  ahead  of  Semmes,  and  when 
I  came  up  to  the  Deerhound's  boat,  they  asked 
me  if  I  was  Semmes,  before  they  would  take  me 
in.  They  would  not  take  me  in  till  I  told  them 
I  was  an  officer  on  the  Alabama,  and  as  soon  as 
they  had  Semmes  aboard  they  made  tracks  as 
fast  as  they  knew  how,  and  left  everybody  else  to 
be  drowned  or  picked  up  by  the  Ivearsage." 


GF.N.  BUTLER  AND  THE  "  PERFECTIONISTS.'' 
—  In  Norfolk  there  was  a  society  called  "  Perfec 
tionists,"  and  in  their. behalf  some  ten  or  twelve 
of  them  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Commanding 
General  of  that  department,  setting  forth  their 
objections  to  swearing  allegiance  to  any  earthly 
government.  The  subject  was  disposed  of  by  Gen. 
Butler  in  the  following  characteristic  manner : 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  EIGHTKKNTII  ARMY  CORPS,  ) 
Four  MONUOK,  VA.,  January  !•'),  18GK       \ 

J.  F.  Dozier,  E.  II.  Deascley,  and  others : 

GENTLEMEN  :  I  have  read  your  petition  to  Gen. 
Barnes,  setting  forth  your  objections  to  swearing 
allegiance  to  any  earthly  government. 

The  first  reason  which  you  set  forth  is  that 
"  all  human  governments  are  a  necessary  evil,  and 
are  continued  in  existence  only  by  the  permission 
of  Jehovah  until  the  time  arrives  for  the  estab 
lishment  of  his  kingdom,  and  in  the  establishment 
of  which  all  others  will  be  subdued  unto  it,  thus 
fulfilling  that  declaration  in  the  eighth  of  Daniel, 
fourteenth  verse,"  &c. 

You  therein  establish  to  your  own  satisfaction 
three  points : 

First.  That  government,  although  an  evil,  is  a 
necessary  one.  Second.  That  for  a  time  it  is 
permitted  to  exist  by  the  wisdom  of  Jehovah. 
Hard.  That  the  time  at  which  a  period  is  to  be 
|  it  to  its  existence  is  not  come. 

Therefore  you  ought  to  swear  allegiance  to  the 
government  of  the  United  States  : 


First.  Because,  though  ;m  evil,  you  admit  it  to 
be  necessary.  Second.  Although  an  evil,  you 
admit  that  it  is  permitted  by  the  wisdom  of  Je 
hovah,  and  that  it  is  not  for  his  creatures  to 
question  the  wisdom  of  his  acts.  Third.  You 
only  claim  to  be  excused  *>hen  Jehovah's  govern 
ment  is  substituted,  whic.i  p'.riod,  you  udmit,  haa 
not  yet  a: rived. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

BENJ.  F.  BUTLER. 


FIVE  DAYS  A  PRISONER.  —  Lieutenant  Charles 
O.  Phillips  was  captured,  vrith  his  orderly,  on  the 
morning  of  the  13 d  of  April,  186.3,  during  the 
advance  on  Richmond,  and  while  under  orders 
from  General  Weitzel,  upon  whose  staff  he  was 
serving.  "  I  was  taken  to  General  Geary,"  said 
he,  "  and  questioned  closely  by  him ;  he  finally 
concluded  by  telling  me  I  was  'a  d — d  intelligent 
stafi'  oiricer,'  because  I  could  not  tell  him  the 
strength  of  our  corps,  who  commanded  it,  nor 
even  what  troops  were  entering  the  city  when  I 
was  captured. 

"The  first  day's  inarch  was  twenty-eight  miles 
on  foot,  with  nothing  to  eat.  I  tried  to  escape 
that  night,  but  was  caught.  The  second  day  we 
inarched  twenty-three  miles,  and  the  rebels  prom 
ised  to  feed  us'at  night,  but  did  not.  The  third 
day  we  marched  twenty-six  miles,  Sheridan  after 
us.  He  took  a  train  of  three  hundred  wagons, 
with  stores,  and  destroyed  the  whole.  At  night 
(the  third)  I  found  so  much  fault  that  they  gave 
ine  two  ears  of  corn  to  eat.  This  night  I  got 
permission  to  go  to  the  river  and  bathe,  my  feet 
being  very  sore  and  chafed  badly.  I  made  ar 
rangements  with  the  guard  to  desert,  but  Avas 
caught,  when  the  provost,  marshal  told  me  he 
would  shoot  me  if  1  attempted  to  escape  again, 
at  which  I  suggested  whether  it  might  not  be  as 
well  to  shoot  ine  as  to  starve  me  to  death. 

"  The  next  day  we  marched  twenty-five  miles, 
and  at  four  P.  M.  Sheridan  was  very  close  to  us. 
I  was  so  completely  exhausted  that  I  thought  life 
was  not  worth  much;  so  down  I  sat  hi  the  road, 
my  orderly  doing  likewise,  determined  not  to 
march  farther  without  rest.  The  Captain  threat 
ened  to  shoot  me  again,  and  I  told  him  to  act  his 
pleasure,  as  Uncle  Sam  knew  how,  and  had  as 
many  of  their  men  as  they  had  of  ours.  He 
finally  chose  what  he  thought  was  his  best  and 
most  reliable  man  to  leave  as  guard  over  myself 
and  orderly,  giving  him  instructions  to  keep  us 
within  their  lines  at  all  hazards.  Soon  I  got  on 
the  right  side  of  Johnny,  and  made  arrangements 
to  desert  with  him,  whenever  an  opportunity 
could  be  gained. 

"  At  dusk  we  found  ourselves  in  a  little  pine 
grove  with  rebels  all  around  us.  The  bright  moon 
plagued  me  considerably,  and  I  feared  my  plan 
for  escape  would  not  result  favorably;  but  any 
thing,  I  thought,  was  preferable  to  my  present 
condition.  At  a  time  when  no  one  was  watching 
us,  I  succeeded  in  concealing  myself  with  my  two 
comrades  in  a  deep  ravine,  under  a  large  cedar. 
Soon  I  heard  voices,  and  looking  out  carefully,  J 


240 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


saw  a  lieutenant  and  several  men  pass  along. 
Creeping  out,  1  followed  them,  and  saw  the  officer 
post  his  men  on  picket  surrounding  the  ravine. 
I  then  followed  him  to  his  reserve,  ascertained  at 
the  next  relief  that  the  positions  of  the  men 
were  not  changed  each  time,  and  then  returned 
to  our  hiding-place  to  communicate  the  good 
news  to  the  orderly  and  the  Johnny.  The  latter 
began  to  be  a  little  shaky,  and  I  a  little  doubtful. 
It  was  a  long  time  to  wait  till  the  moon  went 
down,  and  finally  the  guard  fell  asleep.  He  had 
previously  agreed  to  let  us  go,  and  he  would  re 
turn  to  his  company,  1  demanding  that  lie  should 
wait  till  we  had  started.  Seeing  him  asleep,  I 
changed  my  tactics,  quietly  took  his  rifle,  &rc., 
gently  shook  him  by  the  shoulder,  and  informed 
him  that  during  his  short  nap  affairs  had  changed. 
He  was  now  my  prisoner,  and  would  do  precisely 
as  I  said,  or  his  brains  were  worthless.  He  looked 
very  much  surprised,  but  saw  there  was  no  help 
for  him. 

"  At  half  past  four  A.  M.  it  was  a  little  cloudy, 
and  I  quietly  informed  Johnny  that  he  was  to 
take  the  lead,  on  his  hands  arid  knees,  my  orderly 
would  .go  next,  and  myself  with  Johnny's  musket 
in  the  rear.  In  this  way  we  escaped  through  the 
enemy's  picket  line,  and  reached  our  friends  in 
safety  at  half  past  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
seventh.  I  turned  the  rebel  guard  over  to  Major 
Stevens,  provost  marshal  of  this  (Twenty-fifth) 
corps,  and  he  immediately  took  the  oath,  thanking 
me  for  bringing  him  over." 


CAPTAIN  CUSTTING'S  EXPLOIT.  —  One  pleasant 
night,  while  the  blockading  fleet  lay  off  Wilming- 
lon,  young  Cushing,  of  the  gunboat  Monticello, 
took  a  first  cutter,  with  fifteen  men  and  two  offi 
cers  (Acting  Ensign  Jones  and  Acting  Master's 
Mate  Howard),  and  succeeded  in  passing  the 
forts  of  the  west  bar  at  Wilmington,  and  started 
up  the  Cape  Fear  River.  After  a  narrow  escape 
of  being  run  over  by  one  of  the  rebel  steamers 
plying  the  river,  he  passed  the  second  line  of  bat 
teries,  and  continued  his  course  until  Old  Bruns 
wick  was  reached,  where  the  rebels  had  a  heavy 
battery,  when  lie  was  hailed  and  fired  upon,  but 
succeeded  in  passing  unscathed,  by  feigning  to 
pass  down  the  river,  and  crossing  to  the  friendly 
cover  of  the  opposite  bank.  He  then  continued 
his  course  up  the  river.  By  this  artifice  the 
rebels  were  deceived,  and  signalized  to  the  forts 
to  intercept  him  as  he  came  down  the  river, 
which  they  supposed  was  the  direction  taken. 

At  half  past  two  the  next  morning  the  Captain 
had  reached  a  point  seven  miles  distant  from 
Wilmington,  where  he  caused  the  boat  to  be 
hauled  on  the  banks,  and  concealed  from  view  by 
bushes  and  marsh  grass.  Day  had  now  dawned, 
and  it  became  necessary  to  select  a  place  of  con 
cealment,  which  was  found  in  the  brush  on  the 
banks. 

Soon  after  daylight,  the  rebel  steamers,  block 
ade  runners,  and  transports  could  be  seen  by  the 
party  plying  up  and  down  the  river ;  and,  in  fact. 
the  flagship  of  the  rebel  Commodore  Lynch 


passed  by,  pennant  flying,  the  distinguished  gen 
t) email  unconscious  of  the  fact  that  a  rifle  in  a 
steady  hand  could,  and  would,  but  for  ob\icus 
reasons,  have  given  him  his  quietus.  Two  block 
ade  steamers,  of  the  first  class,  passed  up,  and 
one  down,  during  the  first  twenty-four  hours. 
When  night  had  fairly  set  in,  the  Captain  pre 
pared  to  launch  his  boat,  when  two  boats  rounded 
the  point;  and,  as  he  supposed,  having  discovered 
his  position,  they  designed  to  attack  him  ;  but  it 
proved  to  be  a  returned  fishing  party.  The  en 
tire  party  were  captured  —  eight  in  number, 
Compelling  them  to  act  in  the  capacity  of  guides, 
he  proceeded  to  examine  all  the  fortifications, 
river  obstructions,  and  other  objects  of  interest 
within  three  miles  of  Wilmington,  Here  he  was 
compelled  to  pass  through  a  creek,  running 
through  a  cypress  swamp,  for  several  hours, 
through  grass  eight  feet  high,  and  immense  cy 
press  trees  on  each  side,  whose  shadow  cast  a 
dark  glqom,  only  exceeded  by  darkness. 

By  two  o'clock  that  morning  a  road  was  reach 
ed,  which  proved  to  be  a  branch  of  the  main  road 
to  Wilmington,  and  joining  it  at  a  point  two 
miles  distant.  The  party  were  here  divided,  ten 
being  left  to  hold  this  road ;  and  the  Captain, 
taking  the  remaining  eight  men,  took  position  at 
the  junction  of  the  roads,  one  of  which  was  the 
main.  Several  prisoners  were  here  captured,  but 
none  of  importance.  At  about  eleven  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  the  rebel  courier,  with  the  mails 
from  Fort  Fisher  and  lower  batteries,  en  route  to 
Wilmington,  whose  approach  was  awaited,  came 
duly  along,  and  he,  with  his  entire  mail,  was  crp- 
tured. 

On  examination,  this  proved  to  be  a  prize  of 
value,  there  being  upwards  of  two  hundred  docu 
ments,  private  and  official,  and  many  of  great  im 
portance.  The  party,  having  thus  far  labored  suc 
cessfully,  experienced  the  necessity  for  refresh 
ment  for  the  inner  man,  and  accordingly  Master's 
Mate  Howard  garbed  himself  in  the  courier's 
clothes,  and  mounting  the  same  worthy's  horrte, 
proceeded  two  miles  to  a  store,  and  purchased  a 
supply  of  provisions,  with  which  he  safely  re 
turned.  The  prices  the  mate  thought  exorbi 
tant,  but  did  not  feel  disposed,  in  his  liberal 
mood,  to  haggle  or  beat  down. 

Shortly  after,  more  prisoners  were  captured, 
and  all  that  was  now  required  to  add  to  the  eclat 
of  the  achievement  was  to  capture  the  courier 
and  mail  from  Wilmington,  whoso  advjnt  was 
looked  for  at  five  P.  M.  The  impatience  of  the 
party  may  be  imagined,  when  it  is  stated  that 
the  'mail  would  contain  the  day:£  papers  issued 
at  Wilmington  at  one  P.  M.,  and  our  nomadic 
friends  were  anxious  to  obtain  the  latest  ne^vs 
early. 

The  courier  arrived  siightly  in  advance  of  time ; 
but  one  of  the  sailors,  having  moved  incautiously 
across  the  road,  was  seen  by  him,  and  taking 
alarm,  he  took  to  his  heels  at  full  speed.  Capt. 
Cushing,  like  Paul  Duval  No.  2,  awaited  him  on 
the  road,  with  pistol  cocked,  put  spurs  to  his 
horse,  and  pursued  for  about  three  miles.  But 
the  courier  speeded  on  like  a  whirlwind,  and  the 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


241 


Captain,  being  rather  farther  from  his  base  than 
he  thought  prudent,  took  to  his  line  of  retreat, 
and  fell  back  in  rapid,  but  good  order. 

The  telegraph  wire  leading  to  Wilmington  was 
th  MI  cut  for  several  hundred  yards,  and  the  party, 
with  prisoners  and  spoils,  rejoined  the  squad  left 
y»ilh  the  boat,  and  proceeding  down  the  creek, 
reached  the  river  about  dark.  The  prisoners 
impeding  the  speed  of  the  boats,  measures  were 
taken  to  dispose  of  them  by  depriving  one  of  the 
fishing  boats  of  oars  and  sails,  and  setting  it 
adiift  in  the  middle  of  the  river,  thus  rendering 
it  i  npossible  for  them  to  give  the  alarm  until  the 
tide  iloated  them  on  some  friendly  bank.  But 
while  putting  this  plan  into  execution,  a  steamer 
approached  rapidly,  and  detection  was  only  avoid 
ed  by  the  party  leaping  into  the  water,  and  hold 
ing  on  to  the  gunwales  of  the  boat.  The 
steamer  passing,  the  prisoners  and  boat  were 
sent  adrift. 

Nothing  of  interest  occurred  on  the  route 
down  the  river,  until  at  a  point  between  the 
batteries  at  Brunswick  and  Fort  Fisher,  when  a 
boat  was  discovered  making  rapidly  towards  the 
shore.  After  an  exciting  chase  she  was  over 
taken,  and  her  occupants,  consisting  of  six  per 
sons,  four  of  whom  were  soldiers,  were  taken  on 
board  and  the  boat  cut  adrift.  From  them  in 
formation  was  obtained  that  the  rebels  were  on 
the  qvi  vive,  having  boats  posted  at  the  narrow 
entrance  between  the  forts  to  intercept  the  re 
turn.  To  understand  the  position  of  the  party, 
it  should  be  known  that  they  were  but  three  hun 
dred  yards  distant  from  two  forts,  and  this  on 
a  moonlight  night.  Capt.  Gushing,  on  learning 
the  rebels'  designs,  resolved  to  take  a  desperate 
chance  of  fighting  his  way  through,  supposing 
that  in  case  there  were  but  one  or  two  boats,  he 
might,  by  giving  a  broadside,  escape  in  the  con 
fusion.  "On  arriving  at  the  mouth  of  the  harbor, 
he  perceived,  as  he  imagined,  one  large  boat, 
which,  wonderfully  prolific,  soon  gave  birth  to 
three  more,  which  were  afterwards  increased  in 
number  by  five  from  the  opposite  bank. 

This  completely  blocked  up  the  narrow  en 
trance  to  the  harbor.  The  helm  was  put  hard 
aport  to  gain  distance,  and,  seeing  a  large  sail 
boat  filled  with  troops  (seventy-five  musketeers), 
it  was  decided  that  the  only  hope  lay  in  outma 
noeuvring  them.  The  rebels,  providentially,  did 
not,  during  this  interval,  fire  a  shot,  no  doubt  an 
ticipating  the  certain  capture  of  all.  There  be 
ing  another  means  of  entrance  into  the  harbor 
(ths  west  bar),  the  only  possible  hope  was  in  im 
pressing  the  rebels  with  the  opinion  that  he  would 
attempt  that,  the  only  remaining  chance  of  es 
cape.  Accordingly,  apparently  making  for  this 
point,  the  rebel  boats  were  drawn  together  in 
pursuit,  when,  rapidly  changing  his  direction, 
the  Captain  brought  his  boat  back  to  the  other 
entrance  (the  east  bar),  and,  deeply  loaded  as 
she  was  (twenty-six  in  the  boat),  forced  her  into 
the  breakers.  The  rebels,  evidently  foiled,  dared 
not  venture  to  follow,  and  the  guns  of  the  bat 
teries,  which  were  pointed  to  rake  the  channel, 
were  unprepared  to  inflict  damage. 
16 


Capt.  Gushing  arrived  safely  with  his  prisorers 
and  the  mail,  having  performed  one  of  the  moat 
hazardous  and  daring  feats  of  the  war,  and  ob 
tained  information  of  great  value  to  the  service. 


A  COMPLIMENT.  —  "  W°  have  heard  of  an  inci 
dent  which  lately  took  place  at  a  review  of  the 
army  of  the  Potomac,"  says  a  correspondent  of  a 
Southern  paper,  "  which  should  send  a  thrill  of 
pleasure  through  the  breast  of  every  man,  wo 
man,  and  'hild  in  Florida.  At  the  time  when  tl:e 
Florida  corps  was  passing,  Gen.  Hill  turned  V.o 
Gen.  Lee,  saying :  *  That  is  the  remnant  of  the 
gallant  Florida  brigade.'  Gen.  Lee  immediately 
took  off  his  hat,  and  remained  uncovered  until 
the  Florida  brigade  passed.  It  was  a  compli 
ment  which  we  do  not  remember  ever  to  have 
seen  paid  jy  our  gallant  commander  of  the  Po 
tomac  to  any  other  corps.  Gen.  Lee  never  pays 
a  compliment  to  any  person  or  party  of  men 
without  it  is  deserved." 


AN   EDITOR,   announcing   that  he   had   been 
drafted,  discoursed  as  follows : 

•*  Why  should  we  mourn  conscripted  friends, 

Or  shake  at  draft's  alarms  ? 
Tis  but  the  voice  that  Abr'ain  sends 
To  make  us  shoulder  arms." 


THE  YANKEE  SOLDIER.  —  Major  Clark  Wright 
obtained  considerable  prominence  as  a  scout  and 
soldier.  He  moved  from  Ohio  to  Polk  County, 
Missouri,  in  1858,  and  buying  a  large  amount 
of  prairie,  commenced  the  business  of  stock  rais 
ing,  lie  was  just  before  married  to  a  woman  of 
more  than  ordinary  intelligence  and  determina 
tion,  who  proved  herself  eminently  fitted  for  the 
duties  which  their  new  life  imposed  upon  them. 
He  prospered  greatly,  and  in  a  short  time  had 
erected  a  house,  furnished  in  the  best  style  pos 
sible,  had  two  young  children,  an  amiable  wife,  a 
good  home,  and  was  adding  rapidly  to  an  original 
fortune. 

In  the  winter  of  1860,  when  the  roar  of  seces 
sion  came  up  from  South  Carolina,  he  heard  it  in 
common  with  others  of  his  neighbors  ;  but  while 
avowing  himself  in  favor  of  sustaining  the  Union, 
he  determined  to  attend  strictly  to  his  own  busi 
ness.  He  had  no  hesitation  in  expressing  his 
sentiments  of  loyalty  to  the  Government,  but  he 
did  it  quietly,  and  with  a  view  not  to  give  offence.. 
Soon  after,  at  a  Baptist  meeting  near  his  resi 
dence,  a  few  of  the  brethren,  after  refreshing  their 
spiritual  appetites  in  the  sanctuary,  took  his  case 
into  consideration,  and  unanimously  determined; 
that  he  should  be  made  to  leave  the  cbuntry,  ap 
pointing  a  committee  of  three  to  inform  him  of 
their  decision. 

One  of  the  party,  although  an  ardent  seces 
sionist,  happened  to  be  a  personal  friend  of 
Wright,  and  hastening  away,  informed  him  of 
the  meeting,  and  that  ',he  committee  would  wait 
on  him  the  next  day.  Wright  thanked  his  kind/ 


242 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


friend,  and  then,  like  a  dutiful  husband,  laid  the 
case  hefore  his  wife,  and  asked  her  advice.  She 
pondered  a  few  moments,  and  then  asked  if  he 
had  done  anything  to  warrant  such  a  proceeding. 
Nothing.  "  Then  let  us  fight !  "  was  the  reply  ; 
and  to  fight  was  the  conclusion.  Wright  was 
plentifully  supplied  with  revolvers ;  he  took  two, 
and  his  wife  another,  loaded  them  carefully,  and 
avaited  further  developments. 

Monday  afternoon  three  men  rode  up  ar.d  in 
quired  for  Mr.  Wright.  He  walked  out,  with  the 
butt  of  a  revolver  sticking  warily  from  his  pocket, 
and  inquired  their  wishes.  The  revolver  seemed 
to  upset  their  ideas.  They  answered  nothing  in 
•particular,  and  proceeded  to  converse  upon  every 
thing  in  general,  but  never  alluded  to  their  errand. 
Finally,  after  a  half  hour  had  passed,  and  the 
men  still  talked  on  without  coining  to  their  mis 
sion,  Wright  grew  impatient,  and  asked  if  they 
had  any  special  business  ;  if  not,  he  had  a  pressing 
engagement!  and  would  like  to  be  excused.  Well, 
they  hai  a  little  business,  said  one,  with  consider 
able  hesitation,  as  he  glanced  at  the.  revolver  butt. 

"  Stop !  "  said  Wright ;  "  before  you  tell  it.  I 
wish  to  say  a  word.  I  know  your  business,  and 
I  just  Tromised  my  Avife,  on  my  honor  as  a  man, 
that  I  would  blow'h — 1  out  of  the  first  man  who 
told  me  of  it,  and  by  the  eternal  God  I'll  do  it ! 
Now  tell  me  your  errand! "  and  as  he  concluded 
he  pulled  out  his  revolver  and  cocked  it.  The 
fellow  glanced  a  moment  at  the  deadly-looking 
pistol,  and  took  in  the  stalwart  form  of  Wright, 
who  was  glaring  at  him  with  murder  in  his  eye, 
and  concluded  to  postpone  the  announcement. 
The  three  rode  away,  and  reported  the  reception 
to  their  principals. 

The  next  Sunday,  after  another  refreshing 
season,  the  brethren  again  met,  and  took  action 
upon  the  contumacy  of  Mr.  Wright.  The  Cap 
tain  of  a  company  of  secessionists  was  present, 
and  after  due  deliberation,  it  was  determined 
that,  upon  the  next  Thursday,  he  should  take  his 
command,  proceed  to  Wright's,  and  summarily 
eject  him  from  the  sacred  soil  of  Missouri. 
Wright's  friend  was  again  present,  and  he  soon 
communicated  the  state  of  affairs  to  Mr.  W.,  with 
a  suggestion  that  it  would  save  trouble  and  blood 
shed  if  lie  got  away  before  the  day  appointed. 

Wright  lived  in  a  portion  of  the  country  re 
mote  from  the  church  and  the  residence  of  those 
who  were  endeavoring  to  drive  him  out,  and  he 
determined,  if  possible,  to  prepare  a  surprise  for 
the  worthy  Captain  and  his  gallant  force.  To 
this  end  he  bought  a  barrel  of  whiskey,  another 
of  crackers,  a  few  cheeses,  and  some  other  pro 
visions,  and  then  mounting  a  black  boy  upon  a 
swift  home,  sent  him  around  the  country,  inviting 
his  friends  to  come  and  see  him,  and  bring  their 
arms.  By  Wednesday  night  he  had  gathered  a 
force  of  about  three  hundred  men,  to  whom  he 
communicated  the  condition  of  things,  and  asked 
their  assistance.  They  promised  to  back  him  to 
the  death.  The  next  day  they  concealed  them 
selves  in  a  cornfield,  back  of  the  house,  and 
awaited  the  development  of  events. 

A   little   after  noon,   the  Captain   and   some 


eighty  men  rode  up  to  the  place,  and  inquired 
for  Mr.  Wright.  That  gentleman  immediately 
made  his  appearance,  when  the  Captain  informed 
him  that,  being  satisfied  of  his  Abolitionism,  they 
had  come  to  eject  him  from  the  State. 

"  Won't  you  give  me  two  days  to  settle  up  my 
affairs  ?  "  asked  Wright. 

"  Two  days  be  -  !  I'  1  give  you  just  five 
minutes  to  pack  up  your  traps  and  leave  !  " 

(<  But  I  can't  get  ready  in  five  minutes  !  I 
Lave  a  fine  property  here,  a  happy  home,  arid  if 
you  drive  me  oft',  you  make  me  a  beggar.  I  have 
lone  nothing.  If  I  go,  my  wife  and  children 
must  starve  !  " 

"  To  -  with  yonr  beggars  !  You  must 
travel  !  " 

"  Give  me  two  hours  !  " 

"I'll  give  you  just  five  minutes,  not  a  second 
longer  !  If  you  ain't  out  by  that  time  (here  the 
gallant  soldier  owore  a  most  fearful  oath),  I'll 
blow  out  your  cursed  Abolition  heart!" 

"  Well,  if  I  must,  I  must  !  "  and  Wright  turned 
towards  the  house,  as  if  in  despair,  gave  a  pre 
concerted  whistle,  and  almost  instantly  after,  the 
concealed  forces  rushed  out,  and  surrounded  the 
astounded  Captain  and  his  braves. 

"All,  Captain!"  said  Wright,  as  he  turned 
imploringly  towards  him,  "  won't  you  grant  me 
two  days,  —  two  hours,  at  least,  —  my  brave 
friend  —  only  two  hours  in  which  to  prepare  my 
self  and  family  for  beggary  and  starvation  —  now 
do  —  won't  you  ?  " 

The  Captain  could  give  no  reply,  but  sat  upon 
his  horse,  shaking  as  if  ague-smitten. 

"  Don't  kill  me  !  "  he  at  length  found  voice  to 
say. 

"  Kill  you  !  No,  you  black-livered  coward,  I 
won't  dirty  my  hands  with  any  such  filthy  work. 
If  I  kill  you,  I'll  have  one  of  my  niggers  do  it  ! 
Get  down  from  that  horse  !  " 

The  gallant  Captain  obeyed,  imploring  only 
for  life.  The  result  of  the  matter  was,  that  the 
whole  company  dismounted,  laid  down  their 
arms,  and  then,  as  they  filed  out,  were  sworn  to 
preserve  their  allegiance  inviolate  to  the  United 
States.  An  hour  after,  Mr.  Wright  had  organ 
ized  a  force  of  two  hundred  and  forty  men  for 
the  war,  and  by  acclamation  was  elected  Captain. 
The  next  Sunday,  he  started  with  his  command 
to  join  the  national  troops  under  Lyon,  stopping 
long  enough  on  his  way  to  surround  the  Hard 
shell  Church,  at  which  had  been  inaugurated  all 
his  miseries.  After  the  service  was  over,  he  ad 
ministered  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  every  one 
present,  including  the  Reverend  Pecksniff  who 
otiiciated,  and  then  left  them  to  plot  treason 
and  worship  God  in  their  own  peculiarly  pious 
and  harmonious  manner. 

He  soon  after  became  Maj.  Wright,  and  con 
tinued  in  command  of  the  crowd  he  enlisted  at 
the  beginning. 


UNION  MEN  AT  THE  SOUTH.  —  An 
soldier,  who  was  captured  at  SLiloh,  gives  the 
following  incident  of  his  visit  to  Menr.  phis,  then 
in  the  hands  of  t'je  Confederates  :, 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


243 


"  A  little  good  talking,  mixed  with  the  requi 
site  amount  of  '  cheek,'  secured  to  Serg.  Eddy, 
well  known  among  the  Chicago  typos,  and  my 
self,  the  privilege  of  a  walk  around  town  in  com 
pany  with  a  couple  of  German  home  guards, 
who  carried  two  of  Fremont's  '  needle  gun '  for 
our  protection.  Our  first  stopping-place  was  the 
'  Appeal '  office,  where  we  found  eight  or  ten 
'comps,'  and  a  score  or  so  of  'secesh'  flags  — 
all  hands  intensely  bitter  against  the  North, 
'  secesh  '  all  over,  and  every  man  of  them 
born  outside  of  Dixie.  One  of  them  —  I  for 
get  his  name,  but  shall  never  forget  the  man  — 
asked : 

"  '  Do  you  find  as  much  Union  sentiment  as 
jou  expected?' 

"  I  answered  that  I  felt  sure  that  such  senti 
ment  everywhere  existed. 

"  '  You  are  mistaken,'  said  he;  'there  is  not 
to-day  a  Union  man  in  Memphis  —  not  one.' 

"  Glancing  at  the  guards,  I  saw  evident  signs 
of  nervousness  and  anger,  and  thinking  that  per 
haps,  in  the  heat  of  debate,  we  had  said  too 
much,  and  should  have  a  difficulty  with  them, 
my  friend  and  I  made  preparations  to  leave. 
Scarcely  had  the  door  closed  behind  us,  when 
one  of  the  guards  brought  his  piece  down  with  a 
thump  on  the  iron  step,  exclaiming : 

"  '  Dare  ish  no  Union  sentiment  here,  eh  ?  O, 
no  !  We  are  all  tamd  "  secesh  "  !  You  comes 
rnit  me,  I  shows  you.  We  all  lay  down  our  lives 
for  dis  Suturn  Confederacy.  O,  yes!  We  be 
glad  to.' 

"  We  followed  the  guard  to  the  outskirts  of 
the  town,  and  entered  a  blacksmith's  shop,  where, 
working  at  the  forge,  we  recognized  a  couple  of 
Chicago  boys  —  they,  too,  belonged  to  the  home 
guard.  A  sharp  lookout  was  kept  at  the  front 
and  back  doors  ;  presently  the  coast  was  an 
nounced  clear,  and  then  you  should  have  seen  us 
making  good  time  over  back  fences  and  through 
alleys,  until  we  reached  the  abiding-place  of  our 
guide  —  entering,  a  buxom  German  girl  placed 
chairs  for  us  to  be  seated. 

"  '  Frau,'  said  the  guard,  as  soon  as  he  had  re 
covered  sufficient  breath  to  speak.  ' Frau,  here 
is  a  couple  of  tamd  Yankees ;  you  show  dem 
we  is  good  "  secesh,"  eh.'  '  Yes,  I  show  dem  ; ' 
and  the  *  Frau '  placed  a  table  in  the  centre  of 
the  room,  ajid  then  disappeared.  Presently  the 
hissing  of  the  tea-kettle  is  heard,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  coffee  which  cost  one  dollar  and  twenty- 
five  cents  per  pound,  bread  made  from  flour  cost 
ing  twenty  dollars  per  barrel,  and  sausages  from 
meat  proportionately  high,  were  served  up  to  us. 
Our  haversacks  were  filled,  and  then  'Frau' 
grumbled  because  we  would  not  accept  more. 
They  were  poor,  and  we  could  not  rob  them. 
While  we  were  eating,  the  guards  amused  them 
selves  by  taking  the  main-springs  out  of  their 
gun-locks,  and  burning  them  in  the  stove.  As 
vc  shook  hands  at  our  prison-house  door,  they 
whispered,  '  We  are  all  tarn  "  secesh." '  We 
made  arrangements  with  these  men  for  a  disguise 
to  escape,  but  before  they  were  again  on  du'y, 
ths  *  show '  was  started  foi  a  new  place." 


SONG   OF  THE    CROAKER. 

BY  HOKATIO  ALGER,  JR. 

AN  old  frog  lived  in  a  dismal  swamp, 

In  a  dismal  kind  of  way ; 
And  all  that  he  did,  whatever  befell, 
Was  to  croak  the  livelong  day. 

Croak,  croak,  croak, 
When  darkness  filled  the  air, 

And  croak,  croak,  croak, 
Wlien  the  skies  were  bright  and  fair, 

«»  Good  Master  Frog,  a  battle  is  fought, 
And  the  foeman's  power  is  broke ;  " 
But  he  only  turned  a  greener  hue, 
And  answered  with  a  croak. 

Croak,  croak,  croak, 
When  the  clouds  are  dark  and  dun, 

And  croak,  croak,  croak, 
In  the  blaze  of  the  noontide  sun. 

«« Good  Master  Frog,  the  forces  of  Right 

Are  driving  the  hosts  of  Wrong ;  " 
But  he  gives  his  head  an  ominous  shake, 
And  croaks  out,  "Nous  vcrrons!" 

Croak,  croak,  croak, 
Till  the  heart  is  full  of  gloom, 

And  croak,  croak,  croak, 
Till  the  world  seems  but  a  tomb. 

To  poison  the  cup  of  life 

By  always  dreading  the  worst, 
Is  to  make  of  the  earth  a  dungeon  damp, 
And  the  happies^life  accursed. 

Croak,  croak,  croak, 
When  the  noontide  sun  rides  high, 

And  croak,  croak,  croak, 
Lest  the  night  come  by  and  by. 

Farewell  to  the  dismal  frog: 

Let  him  croak  as  loud  as  he  may, 
He  cannot  blot  the  sun  from  heaven, 
Nor  hinder  the  march  of  day, 

Though  he  croak,  croak,  croak, 
Till  the  heart  is  full  of  gloom, 

And  croak,  croak,  croak, 
Till  the  world  seems  but  a  tomb. 


A  PHILADELPHIA  WELCOME.  —  A  soldier  01 
the  Fourth  New  Hampshire  regiment  gives  hk 
experience  in  Philadelphia  as  follows : 

"  We  arrived  in  the  city  at  five  o'clock  on  Sun 
day  morning,  Sept.  29,  1861,  and  the  regiment 
was  welcomed  in  a  manner  better  appieciated 
than  described.  Within  five  or  six  rods  of  the 
ferry  are  three  or  four  hundred  wash-bowls,  with 
pipes  of  warm  and  cold  water  to  supply  them. 
Here  a  scene  followed,  which  reminded  me  that 
'  cleanliness  is  next  to  godliness.'  Then  we  were 
marched  to  a  building  literally  filled  with  nice 
bread,  hot  coffee,  cold  meats,  pickles,  cheese,  and 
sour  krout,  and  invited  to  partake  of  a  Quaker's 
hospitality.  After  eating  we  were  informed  thai 
stationery  and  every  convenience  for  writing  was 
at  our  disposal,  and  r  ot  a  few  accepted  the  kind 
privilege  of  writing  home.  No  pay  would  bo 


244 


ANECDOTES.   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


received  for  postage  stamps,  which  were  furnished 
as  freely  as  water. 

"  As  the  good  old  matrons,  with  their  three- 
cornered  handkerchiefs  and  nicely  ironed  caps, 
glided  among  us,  attending  to  our  every  want, 
inquiring  after  our  health,  wishing  us  God  speed, 
<£:e.,  many  an  eye  was  moistened,  and  emotions 
awakened,  which,  perhaps,  had  been  sleeping  in 
many  for  years.  And  as  the  Quaker  girls  shook 
our  hands,  and  even  kissed  some  of  the  Yankee 
boys,  I  know  our  New  Hampshire  girls  will  not 
be  jealous  if  we  say,  and  truthfully  too,  that  for 
the  time  being  we  forgot  them  at  home.  Although 
it  is  said  that  on  one  or  two  occasions  '  the  Qua 
kers  didn't  come  out,'  it  is  true  they  come  oat  to 
meet  every  regiment  that  passes  through  their 
city  in  a  manner  that  no  other  city  can  boast  of." 


A  DARING  ADVENTURE.  —  It  was  late  in  the 
summer  of  1864.  The  veteran  and  heroic  army 
of  Sherman  had  commenced  in  May  that  wonder 
ful  series  of  battles  and  marches  which  lasted 
while  the  rebellion  continued,  and  which  were  the 
fatal  and  finishing  blows  by  which  the  rebellion 
was  crushed.  By  degrees,  and  after  marking 
every  mountain  pass  and  almost  every  mile  with 
blood,  the  rebel  army  had  been  pushed  back  and 
dislodged  from  one  position  after  another,  ti)l 
now  they  had  settled  sullenly  around  the  doomed 
city  of  Atlanta.  The  cautious  and  able  Johnson 
was  displaced  in  favor  of  the  madcap  and  brain 
less  fighter,  Hood,  who,  in  the  language  of  the 
insurgent  chief,  "  was  determined  to  strike  one 
manly  blow  for  Atlanta."  While  the  antagonists 
lay  thus  at  bay,  and  Sherman  was  perfecting  the 
details  of  that  splendid  manoeuvre  by  which  the 
stronghold  became  ours,  a  youthful  soldier  in  the 
Union  army,  by  the  name  of  Ira  B.  Tuttle,  with 
four  of  his  men,  performed  a  feat  of  military  dar 
ing,  which  equals  the  exploits  of  Morgan,  or  any 
of  the  famous  raiders  of  the  war.  The  small  vil 
lage  of  Villa  Rica  lies  about  twenty-seven  miles 
south  by  west  of  Atlanta,  and  about  ten  miles 
south  of  Dallas  ;  near  it  is  another  little  village, 
not  inappropriately  called  Dark  Corner. 

In  this  village  of  Villa  Rica  the  rebel  Gen 
eral  had  established  a  principal  magazine  of  sup 
plies.  As  the  greater  part  of  his  force  lay  be 
tween  that  point  and  the  enemy,  he  regarded  the 
point  as  entirely  safe,  and  had  left  no  guard  on 
the  spot,  but  only  a  Lieutenant-Colonel,  a  Cap 
tain,  and  three  issuing  Sergeants,  to  deliver  the 
subsistence  stores  to  the  army  wagons  as  they 
came  for  them.  Rebel  camps  were,  in  fact,  all 
around  the  point,  in  front  and  in  rear,  not  more 
than  a  mile  distant.  Tuttle  and  his  four  men,  in 
theii  scouting  adventures,  had  penetrated  very 
near  the  place,  and  resolved  on  making  a  bold 
dash  upon  it,  thus  running  an  immense  risk  ; 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  they  might  inflict  on  the 
enemy  a  great  loss,  and  make  good  their  escape. 
Putting  spurs  to  their  horses,  they  rode  directly 
up  to  the  largest  building,  where  fifty  thousand 
bushels  of  corn  and  a  large  amount  of  bacon  were 
stored.  The  officers  and  enlisted  men  at  the 


magazine  were  taken  wholly  by  surprise,  not  eves 
having  side  arms.  Tuttle  made  them  mount  their 
horses,  while  he  and  his  men  fired  the  buildings, 
and  five  wagons  loaded  with  bacon  for  the  army. 
As  soon  as  the  flames  were  well  started,  he  or 
dered  his  five  prisoners  to  ride  on  in  front,  while 
he  with  his  four  men  rode  behind,  with  hands  on 
their  pistol  hilts. 

As  they  rode  away  with  their  prisoners,  the 
smoke  of  the  bui.iing  storehouses  had  been  seen 
at  the  rebel  camp  a  mile  distant,  and  men  were 

?n  rushing  to  save  them,  if  possible.  But  it 
was  too  late.  The  material  was  highly  combusti 
ble,  the  weather  hot  and  dry,  and  water  distant. 
While  the  astonished  rebels  were  running  towards 
the  fire,  in  the  vain  hope  of  "  saving  their  bacon," 
Tuttle  and  his  brave  companions,  who  had  the 
fear  of  Andersonville  before  their  eyes,  put  spurs 
to  their  horses,  and  drove  their  five  prisoners  be 
fore  them  into  the  Union  camp. 


CLARA  BARTON.  —  The  following  ie  an  extract 
of  a  letter  from  Brigade  Surgeon  James  L. 
Dunn : 

"  The  Sanitary  Commission,  together  with  three 
or  four  noble,  self-sacrificing  women,  have  fur 
nished  everything  that  could  be  required.  I  will 
tell  you  of  one  of  these  women,  a  Miss  Barton, 
the  daughter  of  Judge  Barton,  of  Boston,  Ma«s. 
I  first  met  her  at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain, 
where  she  appeared  in  front  of  the  hospital  at 
twelve  o'clock  at  night,  with  a  four  mule  teara. 
loaded  with  everything  needed,  and  at  a  time 
when  we  were  entirely  out  of  dressings  of  every 
kind  ;  she  supplied  us  with  everything  ;  and  while 
the  shells  were  bursting  in  every  direction,  took 
her  course  to  the  hospital  on  our  right,  where  she 
found  everything  wanting  again.  After  doing  ev 
erything  she  could  on  the  field,  she  returned  to 
Culpepper,  where  she  staid  dealing  out  shirts  to 
the  naked  wounded,  and  preparing  soup,  and  see 
ing  it  prepared,  in  all  the  hospitals.  I  thought 
that  night  if  Heaven  ever  sent  out  an  angel, 
she  must  be  one,  her  assistance  was  so  timely. 
Well,  we  began  our  retreat  up  the  Rappahannock. 
I  thought  no  more  of  our  lady  friend,  only  that 
she  had  gone  back  to  Washington.  We  arrived 
on  the  disastrous  field  of  Bull  Run  ;  and  while 
the  battle  was  raging  the  fiercest  on  Friday,  who 
should  drive  up  in  front  of  our  hospital  but  this 
same  woman,  with  her  mules  almost  dead,  having 
made  forced  marches  from  Washington  to  the  ar 
my.  She  was  again  a  welcome  visitor  to  both  the 
wounded  and  the  surgeons. 

"  The  battle  was  over,  our  wounded  removed  on 
Sunday,  and  we  were  ordered  to  Fairfax  Station ; 
we  had  hardly  got  there  before  the  battle  of  Chan- 
tilly  commenced,  and  soon  the  wounded  began  to 
come  in.  Here  we  had  nothing  but  our  instruments 
—  not  even  a  bottle  of  wine.  When  the  cars  whis 
tled  up  to  the  station,  the  first  person  on  the  plat 
form  was  Miss  Barton,  to  again  supply  us  with 
bandages,  brandy,  wine,  prepared  soup,  jellies, 
meal,  and  every  artiole  that  could  be  thought 
of.  She  staid  there  until  ths  kit  wounded 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


245 


soldier  was  placed  on  the  cars,  and  then  bade  us 
good  by  and  left. 

"  I  wrote  you  at  the  time  how  we  got  to  Alex 
andria  that  night  and  next  morning.  Our  soldiers 
had  no  time  to  rest  after  reaching  Washington, 
but  were  ordered  to  Maryland  by  forced  marches. 
Several  days  of  hard  marching  brought  us  to 
Frederick,  and  the  battle  of  South  Mountain 
followed.  The  n?xt  day  our  army  stood  face 
to  face  with  'h*  whole  force.  The  rattle  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  muskets,  and  the  fear 
ful  thunder  of  over  two  hundred  cannon,  told  us 
that  the  great  battle  of  Antietam  had  commenced. 
I  was  in  a  hospital  in  the  afternoon,  for  it  was 
then  only  that  the  wounded  began  to  come  in. 

"  We  had  expended  every  bandage,  torn  up  ev 
ery  sheet  in  the  house,  and  everything  we  could 
find,  when  who  should  drive  up  but  our  old  friend 
Miss  Barton,  with  a  team  loaded  down  with  dress 
ings  of  every  kind,  and  everything  we  could  ask 
for.  She  distributed  her  articles  to  the  different 
hospitals,  worked  all  night  making  soup,  all  the 
next  day  and  night ;  and  when  I  left,  four  days 
after  the  battle,  I  left  her  there  ministering  to  the 
wounded  and  the  dying.  When  I  returned  to  the 
field  hospital  last  week,  she  was  still  at  work,  sup 
plying  them  with  delicacies  of  every  kind,  and  ad 
ministering  to  their  wants  —  all  of  which  she  does 
out  of  her  own  private  fortune.  Now,  what  do 
you  think  of  Miss  Barton  P  In  my  feeble  estima 
tion,  Gen.  McClellan,  with  all  his  laurels,  sinks 
into  insignificance  beside  the  true  heroine  of  the 
age  —  the  angel  of  the  battle-jield." 


A  PRIVATE  in  battery  F,  Fourth  U.  S.  artillery, 
wiote  the  following  epitaph  for  John  B.  Floyd  : 

Floyd  has  died,  and  few  have  sobbed, 

Since,  had  he  lived,  all  had  been  robbed : 

He's  paid  Dame  Nature's  debt,  'tis  said, 

The  only  one  he  ever  paid. 

Some  doubt  that  he  resigned  his  breath, 

But  vow  he  has  cheated  even  death. 

If  he  is  buried,  O,  then,  ye  dead,  beware ! 

Look  to  your  swaddlings,  of  your  shrouds  take  care, 

Lest  Floyd  should  to  your  coffins  make  his  way, 

And  steal  the  linen  from  your  mouldering  clay. 


SONGS  UPON  THE  BATTLE-FIELD.  —  A  brave 
and  godly  Captain  in  one  of  our  Western  regi 
ments  told  us  his  story  as  we  were  taking  him  to 
the  hospital*  He  was  shot  through  both  thighs 
with  a  rifle-bullet  —  a  wound  from  which  he  could 
not  recover.  While  lying  on  the  field  he  suffered 
intense  agony  from  thirst.  He  supported  his  head 
upon  his  hand,  and  the  rain  from  heaven  was  fall 
ing  around  him.  In  a  little  whii<*  a.  little  pool  of 
water  formal  under  his  elbow,  and  he  thought  if 
he  could  only  get  to  that  puddle  he  might  quench 
his  thirst.  He  tried  to  get  into  a  position  to  suck 
up  a  mouthful  of  muddy  water,  but  he  was  unable 
to  reach  within  a  foot  of  it.  Said  he,  "  I  never 
felt  HO  much  the  loss  of  any  earthly  blessing.  By 
and  by  night  fell,  and  the  stars  shone  out  c.ear 
and  beautiful  above  the  dark  field,  and  I  began  to 


think  of  that  great  God  who  had  given  his  Son 
to  die  a  death  of  agony  for  me,  and  that  he  was 
up  there  —  up  above  the  scene  of  suffering,  and 
above  those  glorious  stars  ;  and  I  felt  that  I  was 
going  hom-i  to  meet  him,  and  praise  him  there; 
and  I  felt  that  I  ought  to  praise  God,  even 
wounded  and  on  the  battle-field.  I  could  not 
help  singing  that  bea.  tifal  hyrnn : 

«  <Vhen  I  can  read  my  title  clear 

To  mansions  in  the  skies, 
I'll  bid  farewell  to  every  fear. 
And  dry  my  weeping  eyes.' 

"  And.  '  said  he,  "  there  was  a  Christian  brother 
in  the  brosh  near  me.  I  could  not  see  him,  but  1 
could  hear  him.  He  took  up  the  strain,  and  be 
yond  him  another  and  another  caught  it  up,  all 
over  the  terrible  battle-field  of  Shiloh.  That 
night  the  echo  was  resounding,  and  we  made  the 
field  of  battle  ring  with  the  hymns  of  praise  to 
God.'*  

THE  DRUMMER  BOY  OF  THE  RAPPAHANNOCK. 
—  Recently,  a  bright  boy,  with  dark  eyes  and 
ruddy  cheeks,  gave  a  brief  history  of 'his  ad 
ventures  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  He  was 
neatly  dressed  in  a  military  suit  of  gray  cloth,  and 
carried  in  his  hands  a  pair  of  drumsticks ;  his 
drum  was  destroyed  by  the  fragment  of  a  shell 
immediately  after  his  landing  on  the  river  bank, 
in  that  hurricane  of  sulphury  fire  and  iron  hail  on 
the  12th  of  December,  1862. 

The  reader  will  distinctly  remember  that  for 
several  days  a  curtain  of  thick  fog  rose  up  from 
the  waters  of  the  Rappahannock,  completely 
hiding  from  view  the  artillery  that  crowned  the 
opposite  hills,  and  the  infantry  that  crowded  the 
sheltering  ravines;  but  the  preparation  for  the 
great  fight,  so  hopefully  commenced,  was  contin 
ued  amid  the  thunder  of  cannon  and  the  volcanic 
eruptions  of  exploding  batteries. 

The  hazardous  work  of  laying  the  pontoon 
bridges  was  frequently  interrupted  by  the  murder 
ous  fire  of  rebel  sharpshooters,  concealed  in  the 
stores  and  dwelling-houses  on  the  bank  of  the 
river.  To  dislodge  these  men,  and  drive  them  out 
of  their  hiding-places,  seemed  an  impossible  task. 
At  a  given  signal  our  batteries  opened  with  a  ter 
rific  fire  upon  the  city,  crashing  through  the  walls 
of  houses  and  public  buildings,  not  sparing  even 
the  churches,  in  which  treason  had  been  taught 
as  paramount  to  Christianity.  In  this  storm  of 
shot  and  shell,  which  ploughed  the  streets  and  set 
the  buildings  on  fire,  the  sharpshooters  survived, 
like  salamanders  in  the  flames,  and  continued  to 
pour  a  deadly  fire  upon  our  engineers  and  biidge 
builders. 

In  this  dilemma  it  became  evident  that  the 
bridges  could  not  be  laid  except  by  a  bold  dash. 
Volunteers  were  called  for  to  cross  in  small  boats ; 
forthwith,  hundreds  stepped  forward  and  offered 
their  services.  One  hundred  men  were  chosen, 
and  at  once  started  for  the  boats.  Robert  Henry 
Hendershot,  the  hero  of  our  sketch,  was  then  a 
member  of  the  Eighth  Michigan,  acting  as  a  drum 
mer.  Seeing  a  part  of  the  Michigan  Seventh 


246 


ANECDOTES.  POETRY,  AND 


preparing  to  cross  the  river,  he  ran  ahead  and  j 
leaped  into  the  boat.  One  of  the  officers  ordered  ; 
him  out,  saying  he  would  be  shot.  The  boy  re 
plied  that  he  didn't,  care,  he  was  willing  to  die  for 
his  country.  When  he  (the  boy)  found  that  the 
Captain  would  not  permit  him  to  remain  in  the 
boat,  he  begged  the  privilege  of  pushing  the  boat 
off,  and  the  request  was  granted.  "Whereupon, 
instead  of  remaining  on  shore,  he  clung  to  the 
st.ern  of  the  boat,  and,  submerged  to  the  waist  in 
water,  he  crossed  the  Rappahannock.  Soon  asne 
land  3d,  a  fragment  of  a  shell  struck  his  old  drum 
and  knocked  it  to  pieces.  Picking  up  a. musket, 
he  went  in  search  of  rebel  relics,  and  obtained  a 
secesh  flag,  a  clock,  a  knife,  and  a  bone  ring.  On 
opening  a  back  door  in  one  of  the  rebel  houses, 
he  found  a  rebel  wounded  in  the  hand,  and  or 
dered  him  to  surrender.  He  did  so,  and  was 
taken  by  the  boy  soldier  to  the  Seventh  Michigan. 
When  the  drummer  boy  recrossed  the  river  Irom 
Fredericksburg,  General  Burnside  said  to  him,  in 
the  presence  of  the  army,  "  Boy,  I  glory  in  your 
spunk ;  if  you  keep  on  this  way  a  few  more  years, 
you  will  be  in  my  place." 

At  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro',  where  the 
Union  forces  were  to  ten  by  surprise,  before  day 
light  in  the  morning,  after  beating  the  long  roll, 
and  pulling  the  fifer  out  of  bed  to  assist  him,  he 
threw  aside  his  drum,  and  seizing  a  gun,  fired  six 
teen  rounds  at  the  enemy  from  the  window  of  the 
court-house  in  which  his  regiment  was  quartered ; 
but  the  nationals  were  compelled  to  surrender, 
and  they  were  all  taken  prisoners,  but  were  im 
mediately  paroled,  and  afterwards  sent  to  Camp 
CJhase,  Ohio.  

THE    BONNIE    BLUE   FLAG. 

WE  are  a  band  of  brothers,  and  natives  to  the  soil, 
Fighting  for  the  property  we  gained  by  honest  toil ; 
And  when  our  rights  were  threatened,  the  cry  rose 

near  and  far, 
Hurrah  for  the  bonnie  Blue  Flag  that  bears  the 

single  star  ! 

CHORITS. 

Hurrah  !  hurrah  !  for  the  bonnie  Blue  Flag 
That  bears  the  single  star. 

As  long  as  the  Union  was  faithful  to  her  trust, 
Like  friends  and  like  brothers,  kind  were  we  and 

just ; 
But  now,  when  Northern  treachery  attempts  our 

rights  to  mar, 
We  hoist  on  high  the  bonnie  Blue  Flag  that  bears 

the  single  star. 

First,  gallant  South  Carolina  nobly  made  the  stand; 
Then  came  Alabama,  who  took  her  by  the  hand ; 
Next  quickly  Mississippi,  Georgia  and  Florida  — 
All  raised  the  flag,  the  bonnie  Blue  Flag  that  bears 
a  single  star. 

Ye  men  of  valor,  gather  round  the  banner  of  the 

right ; 

Texas  and  fair  Louisiana  join  us  in  the  fight. 
i)avis,  our  loved  President,  and  Stephens,  statesmen 

are; 
N ow  rally  round  the  bonnie  Blue  Flag  •  hat  bears  a 

single  star. 


And  here's  to  brave  Virginia !    The  Old  Dominion 

State 
With  the  young  Confederacy  at  length  has  linked 

her  fate. 

Impelled  by  her  example,  now  other  States  prepare 
To  hoist  on  high  th'i  bonnie  Blue  Flag  that  bears  a 

single  star. 

Then  here's  to  our  Jonfederacy ;  strong  we  are  and 

brave  : 

Like  patriots  of  old  we'll  fight,  our  heritage  to  save; 
And  rather  than  submit  'o  shame,  to  die  we  would 

prefer  ; 
So  cheer  for  the  bonnie  B  ue  Flag  that  bears  a  single 

-  tar. 

Then  c.jeer,  boys,  cheer ;     aise  the  joyous  shout, 
For  Arkansas  and  North  Carolina  now  have  both 

gone  out ; 

And  let  another  rousing  cheer  for  Tennessee  ba  given. 
The  single  star  of  the  bonnie  Blue  Flag  has  grown 

to  be  eleven ! 


THE  PRIVATE  SOLDIER.  —  Under  this  head 
the  Jackson  Mississippi  Crisis  pays  the  following 
tribute  to  the  private  soldier : 

Justice  has  never  been  done  him.  His  virtu 
ous  merit  and  unobtrusive  patriotism  have  never 
been  justly  estimated.  We  do  not  speak  of  the 
regular  soldier,  who  makes  the  army  his  trade  for 
twelve  dollars  per  month.  We  do  not  ir  elude  the 
coward,  who  skulks ;  nor  the  vulgarian,  who  can 
perpetrate  acts  of  meanness ;  nor  the  laggard, 
who  must  be  forced  to  fight  for  his  home  and 
country.  These  are  not  the  subjects  of  our 
comment.  We  speak  of  the  great  body  of  citi 
zen  soldiery  who  constitute  the  provisional  army 
of  the  Confederacy,  and  who,  at  the  sound  of  a 
trumpet  and  drum,  marched  out  with  rifle  or 
musket  to  fight  —  to  repel  their  country's  in 
vaders,  or  perish  on  that  soil  wrhich  their  fathers 
bequeathed,  with  the  glorious  booii'Of  civil  liberty. 
These  are  the  gallant  men  of  whom  we  write, 
and  these  have  saved  the  country;  these  have 
made  a  breastwork  of  their  manly  bosoms  to 
shield  the  sacred  precinct  of  altar-place  and  fire 
side.  Among  these  private  soldiers  are  to  be 
found  men  of  culture,  men  of  gentle  training, 
men  of  intellect,  men  of  social  position,  men  of 
character  at  home,  men  endeared  to  a  domestic 
circle  of  refinement  and  elegance,  men  of  wealth, 
men  who  gave  tone  and  character  to  the  society 
in  which  they  moved,  and  men  who  for  con 
science'  sake  have  made  a  living  sacrifice  of 
property,  home,  comfort,  and  are  ready  to  add 
crimson  life  to  the  holy  offering.  Many  of  these, 
if  they  could  have  surrendered  honor  and  a  sense 
of  independence,  could  have  remained  in  posses 
sion  of  all  these  elegances  and  comforts.  But 
they  felt  like  the  Roman  who  said,  "  Put  honor 
in  one  hand  and  death  in  the  other,  and  I  will 
look  on  both  indifferently."  Without  rank,  with 
out  title,  without  anticipated  distinction,  animated 
only  by  the  highest  and  noblest  sentiments  which 
can  influence  cur  common  nature,  the  private 
labors, and  toils,  and  marches,  and  fights  ;  endures 
hungei  and  thirst,  and  fatigue;  through  .watchmgs, 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


247 


and  weariness,  and  sleepless  nights,  and  cheerless, 
laborious  days,  he  holds  up  before  him-  the  one 
glorious  prize  —  "  Freedom  to  my  country  ; "  "  In 
dependence  and  my  home!"  If  we  can  suppose 
the  interven  tion  of  less  worthy  motive,  the  officer, 
and  not  the  private,  is  the  man  whose  merit  must 
commingle  such  alloy.  The  officer  may  become 
renowned  —  the  private  never  reckons  upon  that ; 
the  officer  may  live  in  history  —  the  private  looks 
to  no  such  record  ;  the  officer  may  attract  the 
public  gaze —  the  private  does  not  look  for  such 
recognition  ;  the  officer  has  a  salary  —  the  private 
only  a  monthly  stipend,  the  amount  of  which  he 
has  been  accustomed  to  pay  to  some  field  laborer 
on  his  rich  domains ;  the  officer  may  escape 
harm  in  battle  by  reason  of  distance  —  the  private 
must  face  the  storm  of  death ;  the  officer  moves 
on  horseback  —  the  private  on  foot ;  the  officer 
carries  a  sword,  the  emblem  of  authority,  and 
does  not  fight  —  the  privates  carries  his  musket, 
and  does  all  the  fighting.  The  battle  has  been 
fought  —  the  victory  won;  and  Lee,  or  Long- 
street,  or  others,  hatfe  achieved  a  glorious  success ; 
but  that  success  was  attained  by  the  private  sol 
dier,  at  the  cost  of  patriot  blood,  of  shattered 
bones,  and  torn  and  mangled  muscle  and  nerves ! 
We  do  not  mean  to  under-estimate  the  officer,  or 
disparage  his  courage,  or  his  patriotism.  We 
draw  the  parallel  for  another  purpose,  and  that 
is,  to  show,  if  other  than  the  highest  human  mo 
tive  prompts  the  soldier  to  action,  it  is  the  officer, 
p.nd  not  the  private,  who  is  not  liable  to  feel  its 
influence. 

We  have  often  felt  pained  and  annoyed  at  the 
flippant  reference  to  the  privates,  while  the  un 
reasoning  speaker  seemed  to  regard  the  officers 
as  the  prime  and  meritorious  agents  of  all  that 
is  done.  Why,  in  those  ranks  is  an  amount  of 
intellect  which  would  instruct  and  astonish  a 
statesman.  In  those  ranks  the  merit  of  every 
officer  and  every  action  is  settled  unappealably. 
In  those  ranks  there  is  public  virtue  and  capacity 
enough  to  construct  a  government,  and  administer 
its  civil  and  military  offices.  The  opinion  of 
these  men  will  guide  the  historian,  and  fix  the 
merit  of  generals  and  statesmen.  The  opinion 
of  these  men  will  be,  and  ought  to  be,  omnipotent 
with  the  people  and  government  of  the  Confed 
eracy.  Heaven  bless  these  brave,  heroic  men! 
Our  heart  warms  to  them.  Our  admiration  of 
their  devotion  and  heroism  is  without  limit. 
Their  devotion  to  principle  amounts  to  moral 
sublimity.  We  feel  their  sufferings,  and  share 
their  hopes,  and- desire  to  be  identified  in  our 
day  and  generation  with  such  a  host  of  spirits, 
tried  and  true,  who  bend  the  knee  to  none  but 
God,  anu  render  homage  only  to  worth  and  merit. 


MARKED  ARTICLES.  —  Some  of  the  marks 
vehich  were  fastened  on  the  blankets,  shirts,  &c., 
ient  to  the  Sanitary  Commission  for  the  soldiers, 
show  the  thought  and  feeling  at  home.  Thus  — 
on  a  home-spun  blanket,  worn  but  washed  as 
clean  as  snow,  was  pinned  a  bit  of  paper,  which 
said:  "This  blanket  was  carried  b)  Milly  Al- 


drich  (who  is  ninety-three  years  old),  down  hitl 
and  up  hill,  one  a1  d  a  half  miles,  to  be  given  to 
some  soldier." 

On  a  bed-quilt  77as  pinned  a  card,  saying  :  "  My 
son  is  in  the  army.  Whoever  is  made  warm  by 
this  quilt,,  which  I  have  worked  on  for  six  days 
and  most  a .1  ;  f  six  nights,  let  him  remember  his 
own  mother'^  _c  ve." 

On  another  blanket  was  this :  "  This  blanket  was 
used  by  a  a..lclier  in  the  war  of  1812 — may  it  keep 
some  sr'dier  warm  in  this  war  against  traitors." 

On  JL  pillow  was  written :  "  This  pillow  be 
longed  to  my  little  boy,  who  died  resting  on  it ; 
it  is  a  precious  treasure  to  me,  but  I  give  it  for 
the  soldiers." 

On  a  pair  of  woollen  socks  was  written :  "  These 
stockings  were  knit  by  a  little  girl  five  years  old, 
and  she  is  going  to  knit  some  more,  for  mother 
says  it  will  help  some  poor  soldier." 

On  a  box  of  beautiful  lint  was  this  mark  : 
"  Made  in  a  sick  room,  where  the  sunlight  has 
not  entered  for  nine  years,  but  where  God  has  en 
tered,  and  where  two  sons  have  bid  their  mother 
good  by  as  they  have  gone  out  to  the  war." 

On  a  bundle  containing  bandages  was  written  : 
"  This  is  a  poor  gift,  but  it  is  all  I  had  ;  I  have 
given  my  husband  and  my  boy,  and  only  wish  I 
had  more  to  give,  but  I  haven't." 

On  some  eye-shades  were  marked  :  "  Made  by 
one  who  is  blind.  O,  how  I  long  to  see  the  dear 
Old  Flag  that  you  are  all  fighting  under  !  " 

TO    PRESIDENT    LINCOLN. 

PROUDEST  of  all  earth's  thrones 

Is  his  who  rules  by  a  free  people's  choice ; 
Who,  'midst  fierce  party  strife  and  battle  groans, 
Hears,  ever  rising  in  harmonious  tones, 
A  grateful  people's  voice. 

Steadfast  in  thee  we  trust, 

Tried  as  no  man  was  ever  tried  before  ; 
God  made  thee  merciful —  God  keep  thee  just; 
Be  true  !  —  and  triumph  over  all  thou  must. 

God  bless  thee  evermore  I 


A  SOLDIER'S  STORY.  — "Not  long  since/' 
said  a  soldier,  "  a  lot  of  us  —  I  am  a  H.  P., 
'  high  private,'  now  —  were  quartered  in  several 
wooden  tenements,  and  in  the  inner  room  of  one 
lay  the  corpus  of  a  young  secesh  officer  awaiting 
burial.  The  news  soon  spread  to  a  village  not 
far  off,  and  down  came  a  sentimental,  not  bad- 
looking  specimen  of  a  Virginia  dame. 

"  '  Let  me  kiss  him  for  his  mother  ! '  she  cried, 
as  I  interrupted  her  progress.  '  Do  let  me  kiss 
him  for  his  mother ! ' 

"  '  Kiss  whom  ? ' 

"  'The  dear  little  Lieutenant,  the  one  who  lies 
dead  within.  I  never  saw  him,  but,  O  ' 

"  I  led  her  through  a  room  in  which  Lieut. 
,  of  Philadelphia,  lay  stretched  out  in  an  up 
turned  troug  i,  fast  asleep.  Supposing  him  to  be 
the  article  sought  for,  she  rushed  up,  exclaiming, 
'  Let  me  kiss  him  for  his  mother,'  aud  approached 


248 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


her  lips  to  his  forehead.  What  was  her  amaze 
ment,  when  the  '  corpse  '  clasped  his  arms  around 
her,  and  exclaimed,  '  Never  mind  the  old  lady, 
miss ;  go  it  on  your  own  account.  I  haven't  the 
slightest  objection.' " 


EXPERIENCE  OF  A  WOUNDED  SOLDIER.  —  The 
following  extract  gives  the  experience  of  one  shot 
in  battle : 

"  I  remember  no  acute  sensation  of  pain,  not 
even  any  distinct  shot,  only  an  instantaneous 
consciousness  of  having  been  struck;  then  my 
breath  came  hard  and  labored,  with  a  croup-.ike 
sound,  and  with  a  dull,  aching  feeling  in  my  right 
shoulder ;  my  arm  fell  powerless  at  my  side,  and 
the  Enfield  dropped  from  my  grasp.  I  threw  my 
left  hand  up  to  my  throat,  and  withdrew  it  cov- 
ered^with  the  warm,  bright-red  blood.  The  end 
had  come  at  last !  But,  thank  God,  it  was  death 
in  battle.  Only  let  me  get  back  out  of  that 
deathly  storm,  and  breathe  away  the  few  minutes 
that  were  left  me  of  life  in  some  place  of  compar 
ative  rest  and  security.  It  all  rushed  into  my 
mind  in  an  instant.  I  turned  and  staggered  away 
to  the  rear.  A  comrade  brushed  by  me,  shot 
through  the  hand,  who,  a  moment  before,  was 
firing  away  close  at  my  side.  I  saw  feeble  reen- 
foreements  moving  up,  and  I  recollect  a  thrill  of 
joy  even  then,  as  1  thought  that  the  tide  of  battle 
might  yet  be  turned,  and  those  rebel  masses 
beaten  back,  broken,  foiled,  disheartened. 

6"  But  my  work  was  done.  I  was  growing  faint 
and  weak,  although  not  yet  half  way  out  of  range 
of  lire.  A  narrow  space  between  two  massive 
bowlders,  over  which  rested  lengthwise  the  trunk 
'of  a  fallen  tree,  offered  refuge  and  hope  of  safety 
from  further  danger.  I  crawled  into  it,  and  lay 
down  to  die.  I  counted  the  minutes  before  I 
must  bleed  to  death.  I  had  no  more  hope  of 
seeing  the  new  year  on  the  morrow  than  I  now 
have  of  outliving  the  next  century.  Thank  God, 
death  did  not  seem  so  dreadful,  now  that  it  was 
come.  And  then  the  sacrifice  was  not  all  in  vain, 
falling  thus  in  God's  own  holy  cause  of  freedom. 
But  home  and  friends !  O,  the  rush  of  thought 
then ! 

"let  the  veil  be  drawn  here.  The  temp]e  of 
memory  has  its  holy  place,  into  which  only  oi,,% 
own  soul  may,  once  in  a  great  season,  solemnly 
enter. 

"  And  so  I  lay  there,  with  my  head  pillowed  on 
my  blanket,  while  the  battle  swelled  again  around 
and  over  me  —  bullets  glancing  from  the  sides  of 
stone  that  sheltered  me,  or  sinking  into  the  log 
above  me,  and  shot  and  shell  crashing  through 
the  tree-tops,  and  falling  all  about  me.  Two 
shells,  I  remember,  struck  scarcely  ten  feet  from 
me,  and  in  their  explosion  covered  me  with  dirt 
and  splinters  ;  but  that  was  all.  Still  I  lived  on. 
I  smile  now  as  I  think  of  it,  how  I  kept  raising 
my  left  hand  to  see  if  the  finger  nails  were  grow 
ing  white  and  purple,  as  they  do  when  one  bleeds 
to  death,  and  wondering  to  find  them  still  warm 
nnd  ruddy.  Hemorrhage  must  have  ceased  al 
most,  and  the  ii^tmcts  of  existence  said,  '  Live  !' 


Then  came  the  agony  of  waiting  for  remcval  from 
the  field.  How  1  longed  and  looked  for  some  fa 
miliar  face,  as  our  men  twice  charged  up  into  that 
wood,  directly  over  me !  But  they  belonged  to 
another  division,  and  had  other  work  to  do  tb>;n 
bearing  oif  the  w  unded." 


COULDN'T  UNLERSTASD  IT.  —  A  war-beaten 
Voteran  of  L  /ngstrt  'it's  corps  made  a  funny  re 
mark  to  a  prominent  politician  who  conversed 
with  him  whLe  coming  in  from  the  front.  Said 
he,  "  I  do  net  understand  this  ;  Lee  has  won  a 
big  victory  over  Grant  on  the  llapidan,  and  told 
us  so,  and  that  night  we  retreated.  Then  he  won 
another  in  the  Wilderness,  and  told  us  so,  and 
we  retreated  to  Spottsylvania.  Then  he  won 
another  tre-men-jus  victory,  and  I  got  tuk  pris 
oner  ;  but  I  reckon  he  has  retreated  ag'in.  Now, 
when  he  used  to  lick  them,  the  Yanks  fell  back 
aud  claimed  a  victory,  and  we  understood  it. 
Now  Lee  claims  victories,  and  keeps  a  fallin' 
back,  and  I  can'1  understand'  it." 


A  No-SlDER.  —  A  correspondent  tells  the  fol 
lowing  story  of  one  of  the  farmers  in  the  vicinity 
of  Culpepper,  whose  possessions  lay  in  a  district 
where  both  armies  foraged.  The  old  chap,  one 
day,  while  surveying  ruefully  the  streak?  in  the 
soil  where  his  fences  once  stood,  remarke  1  ttiih 
much  feeling  : 

"  I  hain't  took  no  sides  in  this  yer  reLf'Jicn, 
but  I'll  be  dog-gorued  if  both  sides  hain't  took 
me."  

A  WHITE  HOUSE  ANECDOTE.  —  An  old  farm  - 
er,  from  the  West,  who  knew  President  Lin 
coln  in  days  by-gone,  called  to  pay  his  respects 
at  the  Presidential  mansion.  Slapping  the  Chief 
Magistrate  upon  the  back,  he  exclaimed  :  "  Well, 
old  hoss,  how  are  you  P  "  Old  Abe,  being  thor 
oughly  democratic  ,n  his  ideas,  and  withal  relish 
ing  a  joke,  responded  :  "  So  I'm  an  old  hoss — am 
I H  What  kind  of  a  hoss,  pray  ?  "  "  Why,  an  old 
draft  hoss,  to  be  sure,"  was  the  rejoinder. 


BARBARITIES   OF  THE   SIOUX. 

MRS.  KURD'S  NARRATIVE. 

On  the  2d  of  June,  1862,  Mr.  Phineas  B.  Kurd, 
with  another  man,  left  home,  at  the  north  end  of 
Sheteck  Lake,  Minnesota,  on  a  trip  to  Dacotah 
Territory,  to  be  absent  a  month,  taking  a  span  of 
horses  and  wagon,  and  such  other  outfit  as  would 
be  required  upon  such  an  expedition,  leaving  Mrs. 
Hurd  alone  with  her  two  children  and  a  Mr. 
Vcight,  who  had  charge  of  the  farm.  On  the 
morning  of  the  20th  of  August,  about  five  o'clock, 
while  Mrs.  Hurd  was  milking,  some  twenty  In 
dians  rode  up  to  the  house  and  dismounted.  Mrs. 
Hurd  discovered  among  the  horses  one  of  their 
own  that  was  taken  away  by  Mr.  Hurd.  Mrs. 
H.  got  into  the  house  bef<  re  the  Indians,  who 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


249 


entered  and  began  smoking,  as  was  their  custom. 
Five  of  these  she  knew,  one  being  a  hall-breed 
vho  could  speak  English.  Her  children  were  "11 
bed,  and,  at  the  time  of  the  entrance  of  the  I  '-- 
dians,  asleep.  The  youngest,  about  a  year  old, 
awoke  and  cried,  when  Mr.  Voight  took  it  up  and 
carried  it  into  the  front  yard,  when  one  of  the  In 
dians  stepped  to  the  door  and  shot  him  through 
the  body.  He  fell  dead  with  the  child  in  his 
arms.  At  this  signal  some  ten  or  fifteen  more 
Indians  and  squaws  rushed  into  the  house,  —  they 
having  been  concealed  near  by,  —  and  commenced 
an  indiscriminate  destruction  of  everything  in  the 
house,  breaking  open  trunks,  destroying  furni 
ture,  cutting  open  feather  beds,  and  scattering  the 
contents  about  the  house  and  yard. 

Mrs.  Hurd,  in  her  uncommon  energy  and  in 
dustry  as  a  pioneer  housewife,  had,  with  a  good 
stock  of  cows,  begun  to  make  butter  and  cheese, 
and  had  on  hand  at  the  time  about  two  hundred 
pounds  of  butter  and  twenty-three  cheeses.  These 
the  Indians  threw  into  the  yard  and  destroyed. 
While  this  destruction  was  going  on,  Mrs.  Hard 
was  told  that  her  life  would  be  spared  on  the  con 
dition  that  she  would  give  no  alarm,  and  leave 
the  settlement  by  an  unfrequented  path  or  trail, 
leading  directly  east  across  the  prairie,  in  the  di 
rection  of  New  Ulm,  and  was  ordered  to  take  her 
children  and  commence  her  march.  Upon  plead 
ing  for  her  children's  clothes,  they  having  on  only 
thfc,ir  right  clothes,  she  was  hurried  off',  being  re 
fused  even  her  sun-bonnet  or  shawl.  She  took 
the  youngest  in  her  arms,  and  led  the  other,  a 
little  boy  of  a  little  over  three  years,  by  the  hand  ; 
and  being  escorted  by  seven  Indians  on  horse 
back,  she  turned  her  back  on  her  once  prosperous 
and  happy  home.  The  distance  across  the  prai 
rie,  in  the  direction  which  she  was  sent,  was  sixty 
or  seventy  miles  to  a  habitation.  The  Indians 
went  out  with  her  three  miles,  and  before  taking 
leave  of  her,  repeated  the  condition  of  her  release, 
and  told  her  that  all  the  whites  were  to  be  killed, 
but  that  she  might  go  to  her  mother.  Thus  was 
she  left  with  her  two  children  almost  naked,  her 
self  bareheaded,  without  food  or  raiment,  not 
even  a  blanket  to  shelter  herself  and  children  from 
the  cold  dews  of  the  night  or  storm. 

After  the  Indians  left  her,  three  miles  from  her 
home,  on   the  prairie,  "  we  took  our  way,"  said 
Mrs.  Kurd,  "through  the  unfrequented  road  or 
trail  into  which  the  Indians  had  conducted  us.    It 
was  clear,  and  the  sun  shone  with  more  than  usual 
brightness.     The  dew  on  the  grass  was  heavy. 
My  little  boy,  William  Henry,  being  barefooted 
and  thinly  clad,  shivered  with  the  cold,  and  press 
ing  close  to  me,  entreated  me  to  return  to  our 
h  irne.     lie    lid  not  know  of  the  death  of  Mr. 
V  ciighf ,  as  I  kept  him  from  the  sight  of  the  corpse. 
He  did  not  understand  why  I  insisted  upon  going  j 
on,  enduring  the  pain  and  cold  of  so  cheerless  a  i 
walk.     He  cried  pitifully  at  first,  but  after  a  time,  • 
pressing  my  hand,  he  trudged  manfully  along  by  j 
my  side.     The  little  one  rested  in  my  arms,  un-  } 
conscious  of  our  situation.     Two  guns  were  fired  j 
when  I  was  a  short  distance  out,  which  told  the  j 
death  of  my  neighbor,  Mr.  Cook.     I  knew  well  I 


the  fearful  meaning.  There  was  death  behind,  and 
all  the  hoi.  :>rs  of  starvation  before  me.  But 
there  was  nc  alternative.  For  my  children,  any- 
tiding  except  death  at  the  hands  of  the  merciless 
savage  ;  even  starvation  on  the  prairies  seemed 
preferable  to  this. 

"  About  ten  oVock  in  the  forenoon  a  thunder 
storm  suddenly  a/ose.  It  vas  of  unusual  vio 
lence  ;  the  wind  was  not  high,  but  t/ie  lightning, 
thunder,  and  .tin  were  most  terrible.  The  vio 
lence  of  the  storm  was  expended  in  about  three 
hours,  but  the  rain  c  jn.inued  to  fall  slowly  until 
night,  and  at  intervals  continued  until  morning. 
During  the  storm  1  lost  the  trail,  and  walked  on, 
not  knowing  whether  I  w;is  right  or  wrong. 
Water  covered  the  lower  portions  of  the  prairie, 
and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  I  could  find  a  place 
to  resi  when  night  came  on.  At  last  I  came  to 
a  sand-hill  or  knoll ;  on  the  top  of  this  I  sat  down 
to  rest  for  the  night.  I  laid  my  children  down, 
and  leaned  over  them  to  protect  them  from  the 
rain  and  chilling  blast.  Hungry,  weary,  and  wet, 
William  fell  asleep,  and  continued  so  until  morn 
ing.  The  younger  one  worried  much  ;  the  night 
wore  away  slowly,  and  the  morning  at  last  came, 
inviting  us  to  renewed  efforts.  As  soon  as  1 
could  see,  I  took  my  little  ones  and  moved  on. 
About  seven  o'clock  I  heard  guns,  and  for  the 
first  time  became  conscious  that  I  had  lost  mv 
way,  and  was  still  in  the  vicinity  of  the  lake.  I 
changed  my  course,  avoiding  the  direction  in  which 
I  heard  the  guns,  and  pressed  on  with  increased 
energy.  No  trail  was  visible.  As  for  myself,  1 
was  not  conscious  of  hunger;  but  it  was  harass 
ing  to  the  nlother's  heart  to  li  sten  to  the  cries  of 
my  precious  boy  for  his  usual  beverage  of  milk, 
and  his  constant  complaints  of  hunger.  But  there 
was  no  remedy.  The  entire  day  was  misty,  and 
the  grass  wet.  Our  clothes  were  not  dry  during 
the  day.  Towards  night  William  grew  sick,  and 
vomited,  until  it  seemed  impossible  for  him  longer 
to  keep  up.  The  youngest  child  still  nursed,  and 
did  not  stem  to  suffer  materially. 

"  About  dark  on  the  second  day  I  struck  a  road, 
and  knew  at  once  where  I  was,  and  to  my  horror 
found  I  was  only  four  miles  from  home.  Thus 
had  two  days  and  one  night  been  passed,  travel 
ling,  probably,  in  a  circle.  I  felt  almost  exhausted, 
and  my  journey  but  just  begun  ;  but  as  discoura 
ging  as  this  misfortune  might  be,  as  the  shades  of 
night  again  closed  around  me,  the  sight  of  a 
known  object  was  a  pleasure  to  me.  I  was  no 
longer  lost  upon  the  vast  prairies. 

"It  was  now  that  I  felt  for  the  first  time  it 
would  be  better  to  die  at  once ;  that  it  would  be 
a  satisfaction  to  die  here,  and  end  our  weary  jour 
ney  on  this  travelled  road,  over  which  we  had 
passed  in  our  happier  days.  I  could  not  bear  to 
lie  down  with  my  little  ones  on  the  unknown  and 
trackless  waste  over  which  we  had  been  wander 
ing.  But  this  feeling  was  but  for  a  moment.  I 
took  courage  and  started  on  the  road  to  New 
Ulm.  When  it  became  quite  dark  I  halted  for 
the  night ;  that  night  I  pas-ed,  as  before,  without 
sleep. 

"  in  the  morning  eaily  I  started  on.     It  wa§ 


250 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


foggy,  and  the  grass  wet ;  the  road,  being  hut  little 
travelled,  was  grown  up  with  grass.  William  was 
so  sick  that  morning  that  he  could  not  walk  much 
of  the  time  ;  so  I  was  obliged  to  carry  both.  I  was 
now  sensibly  reduced  in  strength,  and  felt  ap 
proaching  hunger.  My  boy  no  longer  asked  for 
p>od,  but" was  thirsty,  and  drank  frequently  from 
tin  pools  by  the  wayside.  I  could  no  longer  car 
ry  both  my  children  at  the  same  time,  but  took 
on'?  on  at  a  distance  of  a  quarter  or  half  a  mile, 
laid  it  in  the  grass,  and  returned  for  the  other. 
In  this  way  I  travelled  twelve  miles,  to  a  place 
called  Dutch  Charlie's,  sixteen  miles  from  Lake 
Sheteck.  I  arrived  there  about  sunset,  hav 
ing  been  sustained  in  my  weary  journey  by  the 
sweet  hope  of  relief.  My  toils  seemed  almost 
at  an  end,  as  I  approached  the  house,  with  a  heart 
full  of  joyous  expectations ;  but  what  were  my 
consternation  and  despair  when  I  found  it  emp 
ty  !  Every  article  of  food  and  clothing  was  re 
moved  !  My  heart  seemed  to  die  within  me,  and 
I  sank  down  in  despair.  The  cries  of  my  child 
aroused  me  from  my  almost  unconscious  state, 
and  I  began  my  search  for  food.  The  house  had 
nol  been  plundered  by  the  Indians,  but  abandoned 
by  its  owner.  I  had  promised  my  boy  food  when 
we  arrived  here,  and  when  none  could  be  found 
he  cried  most  bitterly.  But  I  did  not  shed  a  tear, 
nor  am  I  conscious  of  having  done  so  during  all 
this  journey.  I  found  some  green  corn,  which  -I 
endeavored  to  eat,  but  my  stomach  rejected  it.  I 
fo'nd  some  carrots  and  onions  growing  in  the 
KvrdtTi,  which  I  ate  raw,  having  no  fire.  My  old 
est  child  continued, vomiting.  I  offered  him  some 
i.  vuTOt,  but  he  could  not  eat  it. 

"  That  night  we  staid  in  a  cornfield,  and  the 
next  morning  at  daylight  I  renewed  my  search 
for  food.  To  my  great  joy  I  found  the  remains 
of  a  spoiled  ham.  Here,  I  may  say,  my  good  for 
tune  began.  There  was  no  more  tban  a.  pound 
of  it,  and  that  much  decayed.  This  I  saved  for 
my  boy,  feeding  it  to  him  in  very  small  quanti 
ties  ;  his  vomiting  ceased,  and  he  revived  rapidly. 
I  gathered  more  carrots  and  onions,  and  with 
this  store  of  provisions,  at  about  eight  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  the  third  day,  I  again  set  forth  on 
my  weary  road  for  the  residence  of  Mr.  Brown, 
twenty-five  miles  distant.  This  distance  I  reached 
in  two  days.  Under  the  effects  of  the  food  I  was 
able  to  give  my  boy,  he  gained  strength,  and  was 
able  to  walk  all  of  the  last  day.  When  within 
about  three  miles  of  the  residence  of  Mr.  Brown, 
two  of  our  old  neighbors,  from  Lake  Sheteck  set 
tlement,  overtook  us  under  the  escort  of  the  mail 
carrier.  Both  of  them  had  been  wounded  by  the 
Indians  and  left  for  dead  in  the  attack  on  the  set 
tlement.  Thomas  Ireland,  one  of  the  party,  had 
been  hit  with  eight  balls,  and,  strange  to  say,  was 
still  able  to  walk,  and  had  done  so  most  of  the 
way.  Mrs.  Estleck,  the  other  person  under  es 
cort,  was  utterly  unable  to  walk,  having  been 
shot  in  the  foot,  once  in  the  side,  and  once  in  the 
arm.  Her  husband  had  been  killed,  and  her  son, 
about  ten  years  old,  wounded.  The  mail  carrier 
had  overtaken  this  party  after  the  fight  with  the 
Indians  at  the  Lake,  and  placing  Mrs.  Estleck 


in  her  sulky,  he  was  leading  his  horse.  As  the 
little  party  came  in  sight  I  took  them  to  be  Indians, 
and  felt  that  after  all  my  toil  and  suffering  I  must 
die,  with  my  children,  by  the  hands  of  the  savage 
I  feared  to  look  around,  but  kept  on  my  way  un 
til  overtaken,  when  my  joy  was  so  great  at  seeing 
my  friends  alive,  I  sank  tD  the  earth  insensible. 

"THs  was  a  little  before  svnset,  and  we  all 
arrived  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Brown  that  week. 
This  house  was  also  deserted  and  empty,  but 
being  fasten  3d  up,  we  thought  they  might  come 
back.  Our  company  being  too  weak  and  desti 
tute  to  proceed,  we  took  possession  of  the  house, 
ai.  .  remained  ten  days.  There  we  found  pota 
toes  and  green  corn.  The  mail  carrier,  accom 
panied  by  Mr.  Ireland,  lame  as  he  was,  proceeded 
on  the  next  morning  to  New  Ulm,  where  they 
found  there  had  been  a  battle  with  the  Indians, 
and  one  hundred  and  ninety-two  houses  burned. 
A  party  of  t\\elve  men  were  immediately  sent 
with  a  wagon  to  our  relief.  It  was  now  that,  we 
learned  the  fate  of  Mr.  Brown  and  family  —  all 
had  been  murdered !  We  also  learned  of  the 
general  outbreak,  and  massacre  of  all  the  more 
remote  settlements,  and  the  sad,  sickening  thought 
was  now  fully  confirmed  in  my  mind,  that  my 
husband  was  dead!  my  fatherless  children  and 
myself  made  beggars  ! " 

Mrs.  Hurd  had  resided  at  the  Lake  three 
years,  and  was  well  acquainted  with  many  of  ths 
Indians  —  could  speak  their  language,  and  bad 
always  treated  them  with  much  friendship.  It  is 
to  this  fact  that  she  attributed  their  mercy  in 
saving  her  life.  But  who  can  bring  back  to  her 
the  murdered  husband  —  the  beauty,  loveliness, 
and  enjoyment  that  surrouneded  her  DH  the 
morning  of  the  20th  of  August,  1862,  Dr  blot 
from  her  memory  those  awful,  dreary  nights  of 
watching,  alone  upon  the  broad  prairie,  in  the 
storm  and  in  the  tempest,  amid  thunderings  and 
lightning?  Or  who  can  contemplate  that  moth 
er's  feelings  r.s  Ler  sick  and  helpless  child  cried 
for  bread,  and  there  was  none  to  give,  or  as  she 
bore  the  one  along  t  le  almost  trackless  waste, 
and  laid  it  down  amid  the  prairie  grass,  and  then 
returned  for  her  other  offspring  ? 

The  Mantuan  bard  has  touched  a  universal 
chord  of  human  sympathy  in  his  deep-toned  de 
scription  of  the  flight  of  his  hero  from  the  burn 
ing  city  of  Troy,  bearing  his  "  good  father,"  An- 
chises,  on  his  back,  and  leading  "  the  little 
Ascanius  "  by  the  hand,  who,  ever  and  anon  fall 
ing  in  the  rear,  would  "  follow  with  unequal  step." 
The  heroine  of  Lake  Sheteck  bore  her  two  As- 
canii  in  her  arms,  but  unequal  to  the  do  ible 
burden,  was  compelled  to  deposit  half  of  her 
precious  cargo  in  the  prairie  grass,  and  returning 
for  the  other,  to  repeat  for  the  third  time  her 
painful  steps  over  the  same.  This  process,  re 
peated  at  the  end  of  each  quarter  or  half  mile, 
extended  the  fearful  duration  of  her  terrible 
flight  through  the  lonely  and  uninhabited  prairie. 

The  force  of  nature  could  go  no  farther,  and 
maternal  love  has  no  stronger  exemplification. 
But  for  the  plentiful  showers  of  refreshing  rain, 
sent  by  a  merciful  Provi  ierice,  these  poor  wan- 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


251 


derers  would  have  fainted  by  the  way,  and  the 
touching  story  of  the  heroine  of  Sheteck  Lake 
would  have  been  forever  shrouded  in  mystery. 


AN  INCIDENT  AT  CHATTANOOGA.  —  At  one 
point  there  was  a  lull  in  the  hattle.  At  least,  it 
had  gone  scattering  and  thundering  down  the 
line,  and  the  boys  were  as  much  "  at  ease "  as 
boys  can  be  on  whom  at  any  moment  the  storm 
may  roll  back  again.  To  be  sure  bccasional 
shots,  and  now  and  then  a  cometary  .shell,  kept 
them  alive  ;  but  one  of  the  boys  ran  down  to  a 
little  spring,  and  to  the  woods  where  the  enemy 
lay,  for  water.  He  had  just  stopped  and  swung 
down  liis  canteen  — "  tick,"  and  a  minie  ball 
struck  it  at  an  angle,  and  bounded  away.  He 
looked  around  an  instant,  discovered  nobody, 
thought  it  was  a  chance  shot  —  a  piece  of  lead, 
you  know,  that  goes  at  a  killing  rate  without 
malice  prepense ;  and  so,  nowise  infirm  of  pur 
pose,  he  bent  to  get  the  water.  Ping  !  a  second 
bullet  cut  the  cord  of  his  canteen,  and  the  boy 
"grt  the  idea"  —  a  sharpshooter  was  after  him, 
and  he  went  on  the  right-about,  on  the  double- 
quick,  to  the  ranks.  A  soldier  from  another 
part  of  the  line  made  a  pilgrimage  to  the  spring, 
was  struck,  and  fell  by  its  brink.  But  where 
was  the  marksman  ?  Two  or  three  boys  ran  out 
to  draw  his  fire  while  others  watched.  Crark 
went  the  unseen  piece  again,  and  some  keen- 
eyed  fellow  spied  the  smoke  roll  out  from  a  little 
cedar.  This  was  the  spot,  then.  The  reb  had 
made  him  a.  hawk's  nest,  —  in  choice  Indian,  a 
Chattanooga  in  the  tree,  —  and  drawing  the 
green  covert  around  him,  was  taking  a  quiet 
hand  at  "  steeple- shooting  "  at  long  range. 

A  big  blue-eyed  German,  tall  enough  to  look 
into  the  third  generation,  and  a  sharpshooter 
withal,  volunteered  to  dislodge  him.  Dropping 
into  a  little  run-way  that  neared  the  tree  diago 
nally,  he  turned  upon  his  back,  and  worked  him 
self  cautiously  along  ;  reaching  a  point  perilously 
close,  he  whipped  over,  took  aim  as  he  lay,  and 
God  and  his  true  right  hand  "  gave  him  good 
deliverance."  Away  flew  the  bullet,  a  minute 
elapsed,  the  volume  of  the  cedar  parted,  and 
"  like  a  big  frog,"  as  the  boys  described  it,  out 
leaped  a  grayback  —  the  hawk's  nest  was  empty, 
and  a  dead  rebel  lay  under  the  tree.  It  was 
neatly  done  by  the  German.  May  he  live  to  tell 
the  story  a  thousand  times  to  his  moon-faced 
grandchildren ! 


A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  thus  wrote  to  her  cousin, 
who  was  a  prisoner  at  Camp  Morton,  Indianapo 
lis: 

"I  will  be  for  Jeffdavise  till  the  tenisee  river 
freazes  over,  and  then  be  for  him,  and  scratch  c  a 
the  ice 

Jeffdavise  rides  a  white  horse, 

Lincoln  rides  a  mule, 
Jeffdavi.se  is  a  gentleman, 

And  Lincoln  is  a  fule." 


THE  SHARPSHOOTER'S  LAMENT  ON  THE 
BANKS  OF  THE  POTOMAC. 

"  THE  sunlight  is  yellow  and  pleasant ; 

.    What  darkens  your  spirit,  Jem  True :  " 
'Ay,  Sergeant,  'Vs  bright  for  the  present, 
And  I  know   t  looks  n.ean  to  be  blue, 
Squatl  n'  here,  like  a  draggle-tailed  pheasant ; 
But  what's  a  poor  fel]  3W  to  do  r 

''  Nary  shot  since  1  left  t!  e  '  peraries,' 

And  'listed  in  sicch  o  big  game. 
It's  a  rule  that  must  work  by  contraries, 

That  inveigled  me  on  till  I  came 
To  this  ground  without  even  canaries 

Or  chipp.es  to  warrant  an  aim. 

"Misfortin'  comes  crowdin'  misfortin', 

And  between  'em  old  Jem  is  nigh  beat, 

For  here  comes  the  news  of  the  sportin* 
As  has  come  to  them  chaps  on  the  fleet ; 

And,  bless  yer,  they're  greenies  for  courtin' 
The  shrews  of  grim  death  as  they'll  meet. 

"  Why,  there  isn't  one  cove  in  a  dozen, 
For  all  they're  stout  as  you'll  see, 

As  distinguishes  well  'twixt  the  buzzin' 
Of  a  bullet  and  that  of  a  bee  ; 

And  among  'em  there's  Billy,  my  cousin  — 
He  shakes  « on  a  rest '  like  a  nea. 

"  And  Toby,  though  brave  as  a  lion, 
His  intentions  his  in'ards  confound ; 

When  to  jerkin'  the  trigger  he's  nigh  on, 
The  vartigo  bobs  him  around  ; 

And  that  bully  old  sinner,  O'llyan, 

He's  cross-eyed,  and  shoots  at  the  ground. 

"  While  here's  the  old  boy  as  can  jingle 
Any  button  as  shines  on  a  breast, 

With  a  pill  as  can  operate  single 
'At  eight  hundred  yards  and  'no  rest;* 

He's  left  for  his  cusses  to  mingle, 

Like  a  eagle  what's  glued  to  his  nest. 

'« 'Twas  only  last  night,  when  on  duty, 

A.  sightin*  them  pickets  o'  theirs, 
That  I  drew  a  true  bead  on  a  •  beauty,' 

With  a  greasy  old  coon  on  his  ears. 
«  O  beautiful  varmint !  I'll  shoot  ye,' 

I  whispered  aloud  unawares. 

"  'No,  you  won't,'  says  my  comrade,  old  Dan'l; 

'  The  orders  keep  pickets  from  harm.' 
'  Well,  I'll  rip  up  them  stripes  of  red  flannel 

What  so  sarcily  shine  on  his  arm..' 
I  pleaded  ;  but  '  No,'  says  old  Dan'l, 

'The  orders  keep  pickets  from  harm.' 

"  Sech  orders  my  heart's  disappointin'  — 

'Twasn't  seen  as  inveigled  me  in 
To  clap  my  mark  down  to  the  writin* 

The  recruiter  said  glories  would  win. 
O,  when  fellers  is  gathered  for  fightin', 
Say,  why  can't  the  scrimmage  begin  > 

"  O,  I'm  sick  of  this  lazy  black  river, 

Where  forever  we're  likely  to  stay. 
Why,  the  Capital's  saved,  if  it  ever 

Will  be,  and  it  can't  run  away  ! 
Can't  we  'eave  it  a  spell  ?  arc  we  nerer 
To  spoil  in  these  cliggius  here  — say  J 


252 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


"  Must  a  cove  as  can  ring  up  his  twenty 

At  twelve  hundred  yards  on  a  «  string,' 
Get  his  hand  out  when  varmints  is  plenty, 

Like  a  watch-works  what  hasn't  no  spring  ? 
Mast  a  screamer  be  mum  when  he's  sent  t'ye 
In  voice  for  his  sweetest  to  sing  r 

*'!  care*!  not  for  fierce  adversaries, 
If  for  fighting  we  wasn't  so  slow. 

0  Sergeant !  it's  waitiii'  that  varies 
I  he  misery  that  hangs  on  me  so. 

1  longs  for  my  darlin'  '  peraries,' 
And  that's  why  my  feelin's  is  low." 


CuLONEL     .WlLLICIl'S      VICTORY.  —  Chaplain 

Ganter,  of  the  Fifteenth  Ohio  regiment,  gives  the 
following  account  of  the  fight  that  took  place  near 
Camp  George  Wood,  Kentucky,  on  the  17th  of 
December,  1861 : 

"  The  noted  Texas  Rangers  have  been  for  some 
time  dodging,  sneaking,  dashing  about  us  in  a 
desperate  manner.  Sunday  last  we  had  a  skir 
mish  with  them  in  which  Colonel  Willich  had 
two  men  wounded  and  one  sergeant  taken  pris 
oner.  Yesterday  (Tuesday,  17th,)  Colonel  Wil 
lich  sent  over  one  or  two  companies  to  watch 
them.  About  noon  the  trumpeter  came  to  the 
bank  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  and  blew 
the  signal  for  reinforcements.  Immediately  four 
or  five  companies  (of  Colonel  Willich's  regiment) 
crossed  the  river  at  double-quick  (across  the 
bridge  which  they  had  just  completed).  They 
ran  in  eagerness  to  fight,  stimulated  to  rage,  to 
revenge  their  wounded  comrades  of  Sunday  last. 
When  they  crossed  the  river  they  deployed  as 
skirmishers  and  double-quicked  it  over  fences, 
through  the  woods,  when  all  at  once  one  of  their 
men  cried  halt,  and  seeing  a  horse  in  the  woods 
rear  by,  he  fired,  and  the  horse  fell.  Immediately 
a  yell  echoed  through  the  woods,  and  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  Hangers  issued  forth,  and  came 
within  ten  feet  of  the  muzzles  of  the  guns  of  our 
men.  Here  they  halted,  and  did  not  stir  or 
budge  one  inch  until  each  one  of  their  number  had 
fired  fourteen  shots,  being  armed  with  a  pair  of 
revolvers  and  double  shot  gun  apiece.  But  while 
this  was  going  on  our  men  were  not  idle.  Han 
gers  dropped  —  Hangers  yelled,  groaned,  and 
cursed  —  horses  Rangerless,  riderless,  were  gal 
loping  in  all  directions.  When  the  Hangers  had 
performed  their  shooting  in  a  cool,  careless  way, 
they  just  as  coolly  turned  round  and  retired. 
They  had  no  sooner  disappeared,  and  our  men  were 
once  more  advancing  —  than  another  company 
of  Hangers  galloped  up,  and  performed  the  same 
remarkable  fourteen-shot  feat  in  the  same  cool, 
determined  manner,  and  were  met  by  the  same 
sturdy,  bravo  German  square.  Once  more  Han 
gers  and  Germans  mingled  dying  groans  —  when 
at  length,  after  the  Hangers  had  gone  through 
this  exact  programme  several  times,  three  or  four 
hundred  of  them  made  one  grand  rush,  with  the 
evident  intention  of  breaking  the  German  carrere, 
cr  square.  They  came  up  with  the  same  dash, 
and  fired  their  shots  with  the  same  apparent 
neglect  of  life  —  some  were  literally  lifted  from 


their  horses  on  the  point  of  the  bayonet  —  some 
were  knocked  off  with  butts  of  the  guns.  It  be 
came  a  hand-to-hand  fight  —  Hangers  retreating 
and  Germans  following  up.  Lieutenant  Saxu  at 
this  point  of  the  fight  was  somewhat  in  advance 
He  was  surrounded  by  Hangers  —  they  asked  him 
to  surrender  —  but  irutead  of  replying  he  rushed 
at  the  man  who  made  this  request,  but  before  he 
reached  the  object  of  his  attack  dropped  dead  in 
his  tracks,  receiving  five  bullets  in  the  chest  and 
about  twenty  buckshot  in  the  abdomen.  Then  the 
struggle  became  fiercer  and  hotter,  when  all  at  once 
the  Germans  found  themselves  in  a  net.  On  the 
right  came  the  firing  from  concealed  infantry  ;  on 
j  the  left  the  boom  of  cannon  from  a  masked  battery 
'  startled  the  heroes.  Seven  hundred  cavalry  at  once 
•  came  into  view  in  front.  We  could  see  the  whole  af 
fair  from  the  high  bluff  on  this  side  of  Green  River. 
Reinforcements  were  hurried  across  —  Cotter's 
batteries  opened  from  our  bluff —  Germans  slowly, 
but  unwillingly,  retired  to  the  woods,  and  just  by 
chance,  the  merest  in  the  world,  escaped  from  a 
dreadful  slaughter.  The  Forty-ninth  Ohio  and 
Thirty-ninth  Indiana  formed  in  line  of  battle,  and 
double-quicked  it  over  the  field ;  but  the  enemy 
had  retired.  Now  let  me  give  you  the  results 
and  objects  of  this  fight ;  and  what  I  tell  you  may 
be  relied  upon,  especially  with  regard  to  number. 
Our  loss  was  eleven  killed,  twenty-one  woundedi 
and  five  missing  (when  I  say  wounded,  I  mean 
severely).  Among  the  killed  was  one  officer, 
Lieutenant  Saxe,  .a  Jew,  an  old  country  soldier, 
and  a  brave  man.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  (I  am  giv  • 
ing  you  the  lowest  figures)  was  thirty-three  killed  j 
wounded  we  camiot  positively  tell,  for  they  werti 
all  carried  off  the  field.  Colonel  Terry,  then1 
brave  and  celebrated  Colon?!  of  Hangers,  was 
killed.  And  now  with  regard  to  numbers  en 
gaged  :  We  had  about  five  hundred  men  (all  of 
Colonel  Willich's  command)  actually  engaged  at 
one  time  or  another.  They  had  seven  hundred 
Rangers,  one  regiment  of  infantry  (six  hundred 
men),  and  four  cannon.  The  fight:  well,  you 
may  judge  from  my  description,  that  there  was 
'  no  discount '  on  that  from  either  side.  The 
Germans  acknowledge  that  they  never  saw  '  Reg 
ular  Cavalry '  in  the  old  country  wars,  surpass 
the  Hangers  in  daring,  bravery,  and  apparent  in 
sensibility  to  danger  and  death.  They  describe 
them  as  swarthy  complexioned,  a  mixture  of  Cre 
oles,  trappers,  desperadoes,  with  long  hair  and 
shaggy  whiskers,  and  even  when  lying  wounded 
upon  the  ground  exhibiting  the  fierceness  of  a 
wounded  tiger.  I  visited  all  the  wounded  '-a-day. 
Number  one  has  his  ear  shot  off,  num::*,r  two  is 
minus  the  bridge  of  his  nose,  four  or  five  wounded 
in  the  arms,  four  or  five  in  the  legs,  four  in  the 
chest,  one  in  the  abdomen,  another  has  a  quantity 
of  buckshot  in  his  side.  I  saw  the  latter  gentle 
man  as  the  doctor  was  cutting  out  the  shot.  He 
remarked  '  tat  dey  didn't  shoot  mit  buckshot  in 
de  old  country,'  but  he  hoped  the  rebels  would 
'shoot  buckshot  all  de  times.  They  ah1  took 
great  pleasure  in  explaining  their  wounds,  and 
most  of  them  did  not  wince  under  the  doctor's 
dressing.  One  poor  fellow  comforted  himself 


ANECDOTES,    POETIIY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


253 


with  the  reflection  that  if  he  had  to  lose  his  leg 
he  would  join  the  cavalry.  This  morning  I  went 
to  see  the  dead ;  they  were  laid  out  in  the  field, 
neatly  dressed ;  graves  were  dug  on  the  top  of  a 
knoll,  in  a  semicircle.  The  regiment  formed 
around  them.  The  Colonel  made  a  speech,  and 
then  remarked,  '  that  as  their  brave  comrades 
had  fallen  in  the  struggle  for  human  rights  and 
liberty,  and  were  now  on  their  journey  to  immor 
tality,  they  would  give  them  three  cheers ; '  and 
cheer  the*y  did,  and  then  the  band  played  the 
Marseilles  Hymn,  and  the  soldiers  marched 
around  the  graves,  each  throwing  a  handful  of 
earth  into  each  of  the  graves.  No  salutes  were 
fired  on  account  of  the  close  proximity  of  the 
hospital."  

A  SQUAD  of  Indiana  volunteers,  out  scouting, 
came  across  a  female  in  a  log  cabin  !n  the  moun 
tains.  After  the  usual  salutations,  one  of  them 
asked  her,  "Well,  old  lady,  are  you  a  secesh?" 
"No,"  was  the  answer.  "Are  you  Union?" 
"  No."  "  What  are  you,  then  ?  "  "*A  Baptist,  an* 
always  have  been."  The  Hoosiers  let  down. 


A  SINGULAR  SPECTACLE  IN  BATTLE.  —  At  the 
battle  of  Stone  River,  while  the  men  were  lying 
behind  a  crest,  waiting,  a  brace  of  frantic  wild 
turkeys,  so  paralyzed  with  fright  that  they  were 
incapable  of  living,  ran  between  the  lines,  and  en 
deavored  to  hide  among  the  men.  But  the  frenzy 
among  the  turkeys  was  not  so  touching  as  the 
exquisite  fright  of  the  birds  and  rabbits.  When 
the  roar  of  battle  rushed  through  the  cedar  thick 
ets,  Hocks  of  little  birds  fluttered  and  circled 
above  the  field  in  a  state  of  utter  bewilderment, 
and  scores  of  rabbits  fled  for  protection  to  the  men 
lying  down  ih\line  on  the  left,  nestling  under 
their  coats,  and  creeping  under  their  legs  in  a 
state  of  utter  distraction.  They  hopped  over  the 
field  like  toads,  and  as  perfectly  tamed  by  fright 
as  household  pets.  Many  officers  witnessed  it, 
remarking  it  as  one  of  the  most  curious  specta 
cles  ever  seen  upon  a  battle-field. 


TIME  TO  LEAVE.  —  One  of  the  "  contrabands," 
who  found  his  way  to  Boston  with  returning 
troops,  related  his  experience  on  the  battle-field 
is  follows  :  "  Ye  see,  massa,  I  was  drivin*  an  am 
bulance,  when  a  musket-ball  come  and  kill  my 
horse;  and  den,  pretty  soon,  the  shell  come  alonsf, 
and  he  blow  my  wagon  all  to  pieces  —  and  den  I 
got  oft! "  

SOL.  MEREDITH.  —  A  pleasant  story  is  told  by 
a  correspondent,  of  Colonel  Sol.  Meredith,  of 
Wayne  County,  Indiana,  commanding  the  Nine 
teenth  Indiana,  on  the  Potomac. 

At  the  Lewinsville  skirmish,  the  Colonel  was 
at  the  head  of  his  men,  as  they  were  formed  in 
line  of  battle,  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  As 
the  shells  exploded  over  them,  his  boys  would  in 
voluntarily  duck  their  heads.  The  Colonel  saw 
their  motions,  and  in  a  pleasant  way  exhorted 


them,  as  he  rode  along  the  line,  to  hold  up  their 
heads  and  act  like  men.  He  turned  to  speak  to 
one  of  his  officers,  and  at  that  moment  an  f,igh- 
teen-pounder  shell  burst  »dthin  a  few  yards  of  him, 
scattering  the  fragment*  in  all  directions.  In 
stinctively,  he  jerked  his  head  almost  to  the  sad 
dle-bow,  while  his  horse  squatted  with  fear. 
"  Boys."  said  he,  as  he  raised  up  and  reined  his 
steed,  "  you  MAY  dodge  the  large  ones !  "  A 
laugh  ran  along  the  line  at  his  expense,  and  after 
that  no  more  was  said  about  the  impropriety  of 
dodging  shells.  

"MOST  THAR.". —  During  the  march  of  Mc- 
Clellan's  army  up  the  Peninsula,  from  York- 
town,  a  tall  Vermont  soldier  got  separated  from 
his  regiment,  and  was  trudging  along  through 
the  mud,  endeavoring  to  overtake  it.  Finally, 
coming  to  a  crossing,  he  was  puzzled  as  to  which 
road  he  should  take  ;  but  on  seeing  one  of  the  "  na 
tives,"  his  countenance  lighted  up  at  the  prospect 
of  obtaining  the  desired  information,  and  he  in 
quired,  "  Where  does  this  road  lead  to  ?  "  "  To 
hell!"  was  the  surly  answer  of  the  "native."' 
"  Well,"  drawled  the  Vennonter,  "judging  by  the 
lay  of  the  land,  and  the  appearance  of  the  inhab 
itants,  I  kalkeriate  I'm  most  tlvar." 


AN  EASY  CAPTURE.  —  Captain  Wood,  of  the 
Fourth  Khode  Island  regiment,  was  ?  ailing  around 
alone,  a  day  or  two  after  the  occupancy  of  Caro 
lina  City,  N.  C.,and  seeing  a  suspicious  schooner 
coming  down  towards  the  fort,  he  sailed  along 
side,  and  the  following  colloquy  ensued  : 

"  What  kept  you  so  long  P  "  queried  the  Cap- 
tain. 

"  Well,  bad  weather,  &c.,  £c.,"  responded  the 
unsuspicious  Skipper,  adding,  "  have  the  Yan 
kees  got  down  this  way  yet  ?  " 

"  O,  no !  They're  up  towards  Newhern,  ] 
hear." 

The  Captain  ingratiated  himself,  and  told  them 
his  "  nice  new  clothes "  were  the  uniform  of 
Branch's  men  (rebels),  who  now  were  encamped 
at  Carolina  City. 

He  learned  their  cargo  was  salt,  &c. :  they  had 
a  mail,  despatches,  money,  &c.,  for  Colonel 
White,  and  finally,  under  pretext  of  seeing  the 
"  General "  at  the  depot,  got  them  to  make  fast 
to  the  railroad  pier.  The  Skipper  introduced 

Mr. ,  who  piloted  lots  of  ves-stls  through  our 

blockade,  and  two  other  men.  The  Captain  chat 
ted,  and  drew  them  unsuspiciously  into  the  depot, 
where,  fortunately,  General  Parke  was,  and  in 
troduced  the  four  to  the  General. 

"  Well  !  I'm  blowed  if  that  ain't  the  smartest 
Yankee  trick  yet!  Well,  I'll  have  to  gin  in," 
was  the  Skipper's  ejaculation. 


BEAUREGARD'S  ADVICE.  —  Beauregard,  on  a 
visit  to  the  "  Response  "  battalion,  after  shaking 
hands  with  the  "  boys,"  addressed  them  as  fol 
lows  : 

"  Boys,  I  e  patient.     The  spider  is  patient ;  it 


254 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


takes  him  a  long  time  to  weave  his  web,  but  he 
never  fails  to  catch  his  fly.  We  must  imitate  the 
spider ;  our  web  is  nearly  complete.  In  a  few 
days  you  will  have  work  to  do.  My  advice  to 
you  is,  to  keep  cool;  don't  be  in  too  great  a 
hurry ;  take  your  time  when  the  fight  comes, 
which  I  think  will  be  in  a  few  days ;  load  and 
shoot  slow,  and  aim  low.  Follow  this,  and  his 
tory  will  have  another  victory  to  record  for  you." 
After  another  warm  shake  of  the  hands,  and 
a  cordial  "  God  bless  you,"  the  General  left, 
amid  the  wildest  applause. 


A  SCOTCH  TRAVELLER,  on  a  visit  to  the  United 
States,  furnished  the  following  anecdote  of  Gen 
eral  Grant : 

"  The  day  before  Grant  attacked  Fort  Donel- 
soii.  the  troops  had  had  a  march  of  twenty  miles, 
part  of  it  during  a  bitter  cold  night.  Grant  called 
a  council  of  war,  to  consider  whether  they  should 
attack  the  fort  at  once,  or  should  give  the  troops 
a  day  or  two's  rest.  The  officers  were  in  favor 
of  resting.  Grant  said  nothing  till  they  had  all 
given  their  opinion ;  then  he  said :  *  There  is  a 
deserter  come  in  this  morning-  let  us  see  him, 
and  hear  what  he  has  to  say.'  When  he  came  in, 
Grant  looked  into  his  knapsack.  '  Where  are 
you  from  ?  '  '  Fort  Donelson.'  *  Six  days'  ra 
tions  in  your  knapsack,  have  you  not,  my  man  ? ' 
'  Yes,  sir.'  '  When  were  they  served  out  ? '  '  Yes- 
terdav  morning.'  'Were  the  same  rations  served 
out  to  all  the  troops  ?'  '  Yes,  sir.'  'Gentlemen,' 
said  Grant;  '  troops  do  not  have  six  days'  rations 
served  out.  to  them  in  a  fort  if  they  mean  to  stay 
there.  These  men  mean  to  retreat  —  not  to 
fight.  We  will  attack  at  once.'" 


ANECDOTES  OF  GENERAL  BUFORD.  —  Major- 
General  Buford,  than  whom  probably  no  com 
mander  was  so  devotedly  loved  by  those  around 
him,  was  offered  a  Major-General's  commission 
in  the  rebel  army,  when  in  Utah.  He  crushed 
the  communication  in  his  hand,  and  declared  that 
he  would  live  and  die  under  the  flag  of  the  Union. 
A  few  hours  before  his  death,  and  while  suffering 
from  delirium,  he  roundly  scolded  his  negro  ser 
vant  ;  but,  recovering  himself  temporarily,  he 
called  the  negro  to  his  bedside,  and  said  to  him  : 
"  Edward,  1  hear  I  have  been  scolding  you.  I 
did  not  know  what  I  was  saying.  You  have  been 
a  faithful  servant,  Edward."  The  poor  negro  sat 
down  and  wept  as  though  his  heart  was  broken. 
When  General  Buford  received  his  commission 
as  Major-General,  he  exclaimed  :  "  Now  I  wish 
that  I  could  live."  His  last  intelligible  words, 
uttered  during  an  attack  of  delirium,  were  :  "  Put 
guards  on  all  the  roads,  and  don't  let  the  men 
run  back  to  the  rear."  This  was  an  illustration  I 
of  the  ruling  passion  strong  in  death,  for  no  trait  • 
in  General  Buford's  character  was  more  conspicu 
ous  than  his  dislike  to  see  men  skulking  or  hang 
ing  on  the  rear. 


VERSES. 

Suppcaei.l  to  bo  written  by  General  John  Morgan,  OB 
surveying  his  solitary  abode  iu  Ian  cell,  in  the  Ohio  PaEi- 
tentiary  at  Columbus. 

I  AM  monarch  of  all  I  mrvey  ; 

My  right  there  is  m  no  'jo  dispute  ; 
Naked  walls,  a  stone  flee.,  a  tin  tray, 

Iron  spoon,  checkered  pants,  and  clean  suit. 

I  am  out  of  Jeff.  Davis' s  reach, 
I  must  finish  my  journey  in  stone, 

Never  hear  a  big  secession  speech  — 
I  start  at  the  sound  of  my  own. 

O  solitude  !  strange  are  the  fancies 
Of  those  who  see  charms  in  thy  face  ; 

Better  dwell  in  the  midst  of  the  Yankees, 
Than  reign  in  this  horrible  place. 

Ye  steeds  that  have  made  me  your  sport, 

Convey  to  this  desolate  cell 
Some  cordial,  endearing  report 

Of  the  thefts  I  have  practised  so  well. 

Horse- stealing,  bridge-burning,  and  fight, 

Divinely  bestowed  upon  man ; 
O,  had  I  the  wings  of  a  kite, 

How  soon  would  I  taste  you  again  ! 

My  sorrows  I  then  might  assuage 

In  the  work  of  destruction  and  raiding  j 

Might  laugh  at  the  wisdom  of  age, 
Nor  feel  the  least  pang  of  upbraiding. 

Rebellion  !  what  music  untold 

Resides  in  that  heavenly  word  I 
It  helps  me  to  silver  and  gold, 

And  all  that  the  earth  can  afford. 

But  the  sweet  sound  of  burning  and  plunder 
These  prison- walls  never  yet  heard, 

Never  echoed  the  chivalry's  thunder, 
Nor  mocked  at  the  Union's  grand  bird. 

How  fleet  is  a  glance  of  the  mind 

Compared  with  the  speed  of  my  flight  I 

But  Shackelford  came  up  behind, 
So  I  found  'twas  no  use  to  fight. 

The  Buckeyes  that  gave  me  a  race 

My  form  with  indifference  see  ; 
They  are  so  light  of  foot  on  the  chase, 

Their  ooolness  is  shocking  to  me. 

When  I  think  of  my  dear  native  land, 

I  confess  that  I  wish  I  was  there ; 
Confound  these  hard  stone  walls  at  hand, 

And  my  bald  pate,  all  shaven  of  hair. 

My  friends,  do  they  now  and  then  seo.(3 

.^  wish  or  a  thought  after  me  ? 
Like  Burbeck,  that  quick-coming  friend? 

For  a  friend  in  need  truly  was  he. 

But  the  sea-fowl  is  gone  to  her  rest, 
The  beast  is  laid  down  in  his  lair ; 

Yet  not  like  John  Morgan  unblest, 
As  I  to  my  straw-bed  repair. 


How  FORT  SUMTER  WAS  PROVISIONED. — Th« 
traitor  Floyd  took  great  paim  to  put  the  United 
States  forts  in  Charleston  hmbor  into  the  hande 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


255 


of  the  South  Carolinians,  without  expense  of  men 
or  money.  For  this  purpose  he  refused  the  con 
stant  entreaties  of  Colonel  John  L.  Gardner,  the 
o  IHcer  in  command  at  Fort  Moultrie,  for  troops. 
Just  at  the  time  the  danger  was  becoming  immi 
nent,  he  sent,  instead  of  soldiers  for  defence,  a 
body  of  laborers,  who,  under  the  direction  of  an 
engineer,  wore  ordered  to  repair  the  fort  in  such 
a  way  and  at  such  a  time  as  to  render  the  fort 
defenceless  against  the  seceders.  These  labor 
ers  were  to  be  fed  from  the  supplies  at  the  fort. 
This  made  it  necessary  to  purchase  provisions  in 
Charleston  from  week  to  week,  so  that,  in  the 
event  of  a  siege,  the  garrison  would  be  starved 
out  in  a  few  days.  By  desperate  efforts  the  re 
pairs  were  finished  in  such  a  way  that  the  forty- 
five  men  in  the  fort  could  make  some  defence ; 
but  being  dependent  on  Charleston  for  food,  the 
South  Carolinians  and  Floyd  well  knew  that  the 
fort  was  completely  in  their  power  whenever  they 
should  see  fit  to  cut  off  supplies  from  the  city. 

In  this  dilemma  Colonel  Gardner  practised  the 
piece  of  strategy  which  finally  enabled  Anderson 
to  hold  the  fort  and  make  his  defence.  Colonel 
G.  wrote  to  an  old  friend,  the  chief  of  the  com 
missary  department,  to  send  him  provisions  for 
one  hundred  men  for  six  months;  at  the  same 
time  significantly  hinting  to  him  that  he  could 
obey  this  requisition  in  the  ordinary  discretionary 
routine  of  his  duty  without  consulting  with  the 
Secretary  of  War.  lie  added  also  the  further 
request  that  the  transport  should  be  ordered  to 
land  her  cargo  at  Fort  Moultrie  immediately  on 
her  arrival  in  the  harbor,  and  before  she  should 
go  to  Charleston.  The  patriotic  commissary  offi 
cer,  Colonel  Taylor,  the  brother  of  the  late  Presi 
dent  Taylor,  understood  the  hint  conveyed,  and 
the  reason  for  it,  and  took  the  responsibility  of 
acting  on  Colonel  Gardner's  requisition.  The 
provisions  were  thus  safely  landed  at  Fort  Moul 
trie,  the  traitor  Secretary  being  not  a  whit  the 
wiser  for  the  operation.  These  were  the  provis 
ions  which  were  gradually  carried  over  to  Fort 
Sumter  in  the  engineer's  boats,  and  supported 
Major  Anderson  and  his  gallant -command  during 
the  memorable  siege.  Floyd,  not  knowing  the 
ruse  that  had  been  played  upon  him  by  Colonel 
Gardner,  expected  every  day  that  hunger  would 
do  the  business  for  the  little  garrison,  which  he 
intended  to  hand  over,  bound  hand  and  foot,  to 
the  enemy. 

While  these  matters  were  going  on,  Floyd  sent 
down  a  young  officer  to  look  after  the  carrying 
out  of  his  plans,  and  to  represent  to  Colonel  G., 
by  various  indirect  processes,  the  Secretary's  idea 
of  an  officer's  duty  in  command  at  Fort  Moultrie. 
Colonel  Gardner  had  reported  to  the  Secretary 
that,  though  he  had  but  one  man  for  each  great 
gun,  he  was  determined  to  defend  the  place  to  the 
utmost  against  whatever  force  should  be  sent 
against  it.  Floyd's  spy  found  Colonel  Gardner's 
men  at  work  day  and  night  adding  to  the  de 
fences  of  the  place.  He  found  even  the  brick 
quarters  within  the  fort  loopholed  for  a  stand  with 
musketry,  in  case  of  an  escalade  by  a  sudden  rush  ! 
of  a  lorge  number  of  men.  All  this  was  evidently  j 


directly  the  opposite  of  the  Secretary's  policy,  as 
represented  in  various  indirect  ways  by  the  offi 
cer  whom  he  had  sent.  He  was  shown  all  the 
preparations  for  a  desperate  defence,  which  Ccl- 
onel  Gardner  had  made,  and  was  told  th»t  t\v.  y 
would  be  used  against  any  force  which  should 
march  from  Charleston,  as  soon  as  they  came 
within  range  of  the  guns.  He  was,  moreover, 
requested  to  tell  the  Secretary  all  that  he  had 
seen  and  heard.  The  Consequence  was,  that  the 
commandant,  disposed  to  do  his  duty  too  well, 
was  suspended,  and  an  officer  of  Kentucky  birth, 
who  had  married  in  Georgia,  was  put  in  command. 
Frcm  Major  Anderson's  birth  and  connections 
Floyd  evidently  supposed  that  he  had  obtained  a 
pliant  tool  for  his  purposes.  A  few  days'  obser 
vation  convinced  Major  Anderson  that  he  had 
been  sent  there  to  sacrifice  his  honor,  and  that  he 
could  save  it  only  by  carrying  out  the  desperate 
measures  of  defence  already  begun  by  Colonel 
Gardner.  The  retreat  to  Fort  Sumter,  its  repair, 
its  siege,  and  bombardment  were  the  natural  se 
quel.  All  these  events,  so  important  already  in 
history,  turned  upon  the  i*use  by  which  Colonel 
Gardner's  requisition  for  provisions  was  met  by 
Colonel  Taylor  and  kept  secret  from  Floyd.  This 
is  a  scrap  of  history  well  worth  remembering,  and 
is  given  on  the  best  of  authority. 


BUCK  TRAVIS'  CAPT JRE.  —  In  the  early  days 
of  the  rebellion,  ere  the  keen  edge  of  Southern 
chivalry  was  blunted  by  contact  with  the  mudsills 
of  the  North,  Buck  Travis  raised  a  regiment 
among  the  young  bloods  of  Henry  County,  in 
West  Tennessee.  The  regiment  was  organized 
by  the  election  of  Travis  as  Colonel,  and  the  cel 
ebrated  J.  I).  C.  Atkins  as  Lieutenant-Colonel. 
Travis  lost  no  time  in  putting  himself  at  the  head 
of  his  gallant  band,  and  "  starting  forth  on  mar 
tial  deeds  intent,"  they  approached  Union  City, 
Tennessee,  just  at  the  time  when  Pillow  was 
transferring  military  stores,  ordnance,  &c.,  to  Co 
lumbus.  Kentucky.  They  arrived  at  the  depot 
simultaneously  with  a  train  from  the  South,  bear 
ing  several  pieces  of  artillery.  These,  by  some 
strange  mistake,  were  at  once  seized  by  Travis 
as  Lincoln  guns,  and  a  telegram  was  immedi 
ately  sent  to  Atkins,  who  had  remained  behind  at 
Paris,  announcing  the  brilliant  achievement.  The 
despatch  was  handed  to  him  on  the  Square,  sur 
rounded  by  a  crowd  of  citizens.  He  glanced  at 
its  contents,  and  looked  around  for  the  most  eli 
gible  site  for  a  rostrum.  Discovering  a  pile  of 
boxes  on  the  corner,  he  made  for  them,  followed 
by  the  eager  crowd.  Mounting  the  box,  he  lifted 
his  voice  and  announced  the  glorious  intelligence. 
"  My  countrymen  !  "  he  said,  "  this  is  a  proud  duy 
for  Henry  County  and  for  the  State.  I  am  proud 
to  annour.ee  to  you  that  your  gallant  sons,  under 
the  lead  of  the  indomitable  Travis,  have  already 
wreathed  their  brott's  with  an  imperishable  fame, 
The  murderous  artillery  with  which  the  tyrant 
Lincoln  sought  to  enslave  our  people,  has  been 
wrested  from  the  tyrant's  hands,  and  —  "  Here 
another  despatch  was  handed  to  the  speaker,  aad 


256 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


he  was  heard  to  remark,  with  an  oath,  "  Buck  al 
ways  was  a  d — d  fool.  Boys,  them  was  our  guns, 
after  all."  

STONEWALL  JACKSON  ADMINISTERS  THE  SAC- 
IUMEXT.  —  On  the  morning  of  a  battle  near  Har 
per's  Ferry,  after  a  sermon  by  one  of  his  chaplains, 
Stonewall  Jackson,  who  was  an  elder  in  the  Pres 
byterian  Church,  administered  the  sacrament  to 
the  church  members  in  his  army.  He  invited  all 
Christians  to  participate  in  the  ceremony.  A 
Baptist,  the  straitest  of  his  sect,  thoroughly  im 
bued  with  the  idea  of  close  communion,  was  seen 
to  hesitate ;  but  the  occasion,  and  the  man  who 
presided,  overcame  his  scruples  ;  and  thus  it  has 
happened  that  the  prospect  of  a  fight  and  the  elo 
quence  of  Jackson  made  a  Baptist  forget  that 
baptism  is  the  door  into  the  church.  In  all  Jack 
son's  army  an  oath  was  rarely  uttered.  A  reli 
gious  enthusiasm  pervaded  it,  which  made  every 
man  a  hero.  Conscious  of  the  justice  of  his 
cause,  and  imbued  with  the  strongest  convictions 
of  patriotism,  his  men  were  irresistible.  In  this 
incident  we  have  an  explanation  of  General  Jack 
son's  invincibility;  and  we  are  thus  enabled  to 
understand  why  his  men  were  heroes,  and  why 
they  endured  without  a  murmur  the  severest 
hardships  to  which  any  troops  were  subjected 
during  the  war. 


ADVENTURES  AT  BULL  RUN. 

BY    EDWIN    g.    BAKRETT. 

This  narrative  of  personal  adventures  before 
and  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  commences  with 
the  night  preceding  the  action  :  "  On  Saturday 
evening,  the  20th  of  July,  I  heard  we  were  to  start 
at  half  past  two  the  following  morning,  and  our 
line  was  to  be  in  readiness  at  that  early  hour.  We 
had  occupied  the  camp  at  Centreville  since  Thurs 
day  night.  Wrapping  my  blanket  around  me,  at 
ten  o'clock  I  stretched  myself  upon  the  bare 
ground  to  sleep.  The  night  was  cool,  and  at 
twelve  o'clock  I  awoke,  feeling  very  cold,  and,  un 
able  to  sleep  more,  I  anxiously  waited  to  hear  the 
signal  to  prepare.  At  two  o'clock  one  drum 
sounded  through  the  camp,  and  was  repeated 
through  the  numerous  camps  around  us,  and  in 
half  an  hour  forty  thousand  men.  stood  ready  to 
battle  for  the  Union. 

"  The  Fifth  Massachusetts  regiment,  which  I 
accompanied,  was  in  the  division  under  Colonel 
Heintzelraan,  acting  Major  General,  and  our  regi 
ment  was  third  in  the  column.  The  First  Minne 
sota,  under  Colonel  Gorman,  led,  followed  by  the 
Massachusetts  Eleventh,  Colonel  Clarke;  then 
the  Fifth,  Colonel  Lawrence,  with  the  regular  cav 
alry,  and  a  battery  of  artillery  leading  the  ad-  I 
vunce.  We  waited,  in  marching  order,  from  half 
past  two  o'clock  until  after  six  before  the  order 
was  given  to  advance,  and  then  we  learned  that 
Colonel  Hunter,  with  eight  regiments,  including 
Governor  Sprague's  command,  had  preceded  us, 
and  we  were  to  follow.  General  McDowell  and  j 
staff  now  headed  our  division. 


"  Mounted  on  a  secession  horse,  which  I  had  cap- 
tured  two  days  previously,  I  followed  in  the  rear 
of  the  regiment,  in  company  with  Quartern:  nstei 
Billings  and  Surgeon  Hum.  From  Centre viLe 
we  took  the  extreme  northern  road,  leaving  ths 
Warrenton  road  on  our  left,  which  General  Tyler 
had  taken  with  his  division.  Passing  through  a 
forest  of  heavy  oak  timber,  some  three  or  four 
miles  in  length,  we  emerged  into  the  open  coun 
try,  with  a  wide  intervale  on  our  left,  and  the 
Blue  Ridge  Mountains  distinctly  visible  on  our 
right.  We  had  heard  an  occasional  cannon  shot 
during  the  morning,  but  not  until  ten  o'clock  was 
there  any  sound  of  a  general  engagement.  The 
heavy  cannonading  on  our  left  and  in  front  caused 
the  march  to  be  hastened,  and  our  men  could 
hardly  be  restrained,  so  eager  were  they  for  the 
fight.  About  a  mile  and  a  half  before  we  reached 
the  field,  the  men  began  to  throw  away  their 
blankets,  haversacks,  and  all  unnecessary  append 
ages  —  the  different  regiments  trying  'to  throw 
them  into  a  pile,sor  as  near  together  as  possible, 
without  halting.  I  tied  my  horse  near  the  hos 
pital  headquarters,  and  hastened  to  the  head  of 
the  column,  which  advanced  in  double-quick  time 
till  they  came  within  reach  of  the  enemy's  guns. 
The  fight  was  raging  on  our  left  and  in '  front,  as 
our  division  came  on  to  the  field.  I  could  see 
that  the  enemy's  batteries  were  posted  on  a  long 
ridge,  with  woods  extending  on  either  flank,  and 
separated  from  us  by  a  valley.  It  was  now  about 
half  past  eleven  o'clock.  General  McDowell  or 
dered  one  brigade,  under  Colonel  Franklin,  con 
sisting  of  the  First  Minnesota,  Eleventh  and  Fifth 
Massachusetts,  and  a  Pennsylvania  regiment,  to 
advance  down  the  hill  and  take  a  position  in  the 
valley,  on  a  slight  elevation  directly  in  front  of 
the  rebel  batteries.  I  followed  on  some  distance, 
but  the  shot  rattled  about  me,  and  I  halted  near 
General  McDowell  and  staff,  while  the  brigade 
swept  past  me  and  down, the  hill.  I  watched  for 
some  time  the  colors  of  $ie  Fifth  with  intense  in 
terest.  The  regiment  reached  the  valley,  and  de 
ploying  to  the  right  on  to  a  slight  knoll,  fell  flat 
on  their  faces,  while  the  shot  from  the  rebel  bat 
teries  mostly  passed  over  their  heads.  A  battery 
swept  past  me  to  take  a  position.  I  followed  it 
along  some  distance,  when  the  Major  galloped 
back  to  me,  and  called  out,  '  Friend,  tell  Captain 
F.  to  hurry  up  my  supports.'  I  did  not  know 
Captain  F.,  but  hastened  back  and  met  an  order 
ly,  of  whom  I  inquired  where  he  was.  He  pointed 
him  out  to  me,  near  a  regiment  of  infantry.  I 
rushed  up  to  him  and  gave  my  message.  He  re 
plied,  '  They  are  coming  right  along.5  And  on 
double-quick  the  regiment  followed  after  the  bat 
tery.  The  rifle-cannon  shot,  shells,  and  bullets, 
struck  all  around  me,  and  men  were  falling  in 
every  direction.  Seeing  a  high  persimmon  tree 
standing  alone,  a  short  distance  down  the  hill,  1 
determined  to  climb  it.  The  top  of  it  was  dead, 
and  about  thirty  feet  from  the  ground.  From  this 
elevation  I  had  an  unobstructed  view  of  the  whole 
line,  and  I  could  see  into  the  enemy's  intrench- 
ments,  where  the  men  looked  like  so  many  bees 
in  a  hive ;  and  I  could  plainly  see  their  officers 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


25  J 


riding  about,  and  their  different  columns  moving 
hither  and  thither.  Their  batteries  on  the  right 
and  left  were  masked  with  trees  so  completely, 
that  I  could  not  distinguish  them  except  by  the 
flash  from  their  guns ;  and  a  battery  in  a  corn 
field,  on  our  extreme  left,  was  so  completely 
concealed  by  the  cornstalks  placed  so  naturally 
about  it,  that  our  men  came  suddenly  upon  it, 
never  dreaming  of  one  so  near.  The  cannon 
balls  struck  the  ground  continually  close  to  the 
tree,  and  bounded  along  for  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to 
the  rear.  I  felt  that  I  was  above  the  range  of 
these,  but  the  rifle  balls  whistled  about  my  head, 
striking  the  tree  in  a  way  anything  but  pleasant. 
Just  after  I  had  reached  the  top  of  the  tree,  a  New 
Hampshire  regiment,  close  at  my  left,  had  suc 
ceeded  in  driving  the  rebels  from  the  woods  in 
front,  and,  with  three  cheers,  they  fell  back  into 
line.  When  the  line  was  formed,  three  cheers 
were  given  for  Colonel  Marston,  who  had  fought 
gallantly  and  received  two  severe  wounds.  Sher 
man's  battery  then  commenced  firing,  on  my  right, 
within  thirty  rods  of  me,  and  at  the  first  dis 
charge  the  men  cheered,  and  watched  the  effect 
of  the  shell,  which  exploded  inside  the  enemy's 
intrenchments.  The  men  cheered  again,  to  see 
that  they  got  the  iange  so  quickly,  and  continued 
to  fire  with  great  rapidity,  while  the  enemy  re 
turned  the  fire  with  equal  vigor  and  precision,  the 
cannonading  being  kept  up  incessantly  for  an 
hour. 

"  The  shot  and  shell  from  this  battery  must  have 
done  the  rebels  great  damage,  as  every  shot  took 
effect  within  their  intrenchments.  Still  men  and 
horses  kept  falling  near  our  guns,  and  the  infan 
try  lines  were  parted  in  many  places  by  their  can 
non  balls.  The  valley  for  nearly  one  half  a  mile 
in  front  of  tht,  enemy's  works  was  filled  with  our 
infantry,  extending  to  some  patches  of  woods 
on  our  right.  Our  batteries  were  placed  on  va 
rious  eminences  on  the  flank  and  rear,  shifting 
their  positions  from  time  to  time.  The  fire  from 
our  lines  in  this  valley  was  terrific,  and  as  they 
kept  slowly  advancing,  firing,  retreating  to  load, 
and  then  advancing  again,  it  was  a  sight  which 
no  words  could  describe.  For  three  long  hours 
we  poured  into  their  intrenchments  this  terrible 
fire,  and  whenever  the  enemy  showed  themselves 
on  the  flanks  they  were  driven  back  with  great 
slaughter.  During  all  this  time  our  men  were 
subjected  to  a  cross-fire  from  the  enemy's  infan 
try  stationed  in  the  woods  on  our  left.  At  one 
time  the  '  Stars  and  Stripes '  were  waved  in  these 
woods,  and  men  dressed  much  like  our  own  called 
out  not  to  fire  that  way.  Our  men  gradually 
drew  up  towards  the  flag,  when  immediately  the 
secession  flag  was  thrown  out,  and  the  rebels 
poured  a  volley  into  our  men  so  unexpectedly 
that  they  were  for  the  time  driven  back,  but  we 
soon  regained  the  ground. 

"  General  McDowell  now  ordered  a  battery  for 
ward  to  take  a  position  near  a  house  on  our 
right ;  the  Fire  Zouaves  were  ordered  to  support 
it.  The  position  appeared  to  me,  from  my  look 
out,  like  a  strong  one,  as  it  was  on  a  hill  on  a 
level  with  the  rebel  batteries.  Our  battery  started, 
17 


the  horses  running  at  the  top  of  their  speed,  and 
shortly  began  to  ascend  the  eminence,  the  Zouuvea 
following  closely  ;  but  scarcely  had  the  battery 
halted  and  fired,  before  tho  enemy  opened  upon 
them  from  new  masked  batteries,  and  a  terrifiv 
fire  of  musketry  from  the  woods,  and  our  artil 
lery  were  driven  back,  marly  of  their  men  and 
horses  being  killed.  The  Zouaves  stood  their 
ground  manfully,  firing  in  lines  and  then  falling 
on  their  faces  to  lond.  Their  ranks  were  becom 
ing  dreadfully  thinr  ed,  yet  they  would  not  yield 
an  inch ;  when  suddenly  out  dashed  the  Black 
Horse  Cavalry,  and  charged  furiously,  with  up 
lifted  sabres,  upon  them.  The  Zouaves  gallantly 
resisted  'Jiis  furious  onset  without  flinching,  and 
after  firing  their  muskets  —  too  sorely  pressed  to 
load  —  would  fight  furiously  with  their  bayonets, 
or  any  weapon  they  could  seize,  and  in  some  in 
stances  drag  the  riders  from  their  saddles,  stab 
bing  them  with  their  knives,  and  mounting  their 
splendid  black  horses,  gallop  over  the  field.  Nev 
er,  since  the  famous  charge  of  the  Light  Brigade, 
was  a  cavalry  corps  more  cut  to  pieces.  There 
is  a  bitter  animosity  existing  between  the  Black 
Horse  Cavalry  and  Ellsworth's  Zouaves.  A  great 
many  of  the  cavalry  are  citizens  of  Alexandria 
and  Fairfax  County,  and  they  resolved  to  kill  ev 
ery  Zouave  they  could  lay  their  hands  upon,  to 
avenge  the  death  of  Jackson ;  and  the  Zouaves 
were  equally  determined  to  avenge  the  murder  of 
Ellsworth ;  so  no  quarter  was  expected  by  them. 

"  I  had  now  been  in  the  tree  some  two  hours, 
and  all  this  time  a  continuous  stream  of  wounded 
were  being  carried  past  me  to  the  rear.  The  soldiers 
would  cross  their  muskets,  place  their  wounded 
companions  across,  and  slowly  carry  them  past  j 
another  soldier  would  have  a  wounded  man  with 
his  arm  around  his  neck,  slowly  walking  back ;  and 
then  two  men  would  be  bearing  a  mortally  wound 
ed  comrade  in  their  arms,  who  was  in  convulsions 
and  writhing  in  his  last  agonies.  These  were  to 
me  the  most  affecting  scenes  I  witnessed,  and  I 
could  hardly  keep  back  the  tears,  while  I  could 
look  upon  the  dead  unmoved.  Picking  a  couple 
of  persimmons  as  a  remembrance,  I  descended  the 
tree,  startling  two  soldiers  leaning  against  it,  by 
requesting  them  to  move  their  guns  so  that  I 
could  get  down.  They  looked  up  in  astonish 
ment  at  hearing  a  voice,  and  no  doubt  their  fir^t 
thought  was  that  I  might  be  a  rebel  spy ;  but  the 
*  U.  S.'  on  my  belt,  and  my  anxious  inquiries  af 
ter  their  regiment,  soon  reassured  them. 

"  Leaving  the  tree,  I  went  along  over  the  field  to 
the  left,  the  bullets  whistling  about  me,  and  the 
cannon  balls  ploughing  up  the  ground  in  every  di 
rection,  when  I  came  across  two  of  our  men  with 
a  prisoner,  who  said  he  belonged  to  a  South  Car 
olina  regiment.  I  asked  him  some  questions,  bu* 
he  was  dogged  and  silent,  and  did  not  appear  to 
be  disposed  to  reply  to  my  inquiries.  The  shot 
fell  so  thick,  and  shells  bursting  around  me,  I 
hardly  knew  which  way  to  turn.  A  musket  bail 
whizzed  past  my  ear,  so  near  that  I  felt  the  heat, 
and  for  a  moment  thought  I  was  hit.  The  ground 
was  strewed  with  broken  guns,  svrords,  cartridge- 
boxes,  blankets,  haversacks,  gun-carriages,  to- 


258 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


gether  with  all  the  paraphernalia  of  warfare,  min 
gled  with  the  dead  and  wounded  men.  I  saw 
here  a  horse,  and  his  rider  under  him,  both  killed 
by  the  same  cannon  ball.  Seeing  a  small  white 
house  still  towards  the  left,  with  a  well  near  it,  I 
started  for  some  water,  and  getting  over  a  wall,  I 
discovered  lying  beside  it  a  number  of  our  dead 
with  their  haversacks  drawn  over  their  faces. 
I  lifted  the  cover  from  their  faces,  thinking,  per 
haps,  I  might  come  across  some  of  my  friends ; 
but  they  were  all  strangers,  or  so  disfigured  that 
I  could  not  recognize  them.  I  went  to  the  well 
for  a  drink,  and  as  I  drew  near  the  house,  I  heard 
loud  groans ;  and  such  a  scene  as  was  there  pre 
sented,  in  that  little  house  of  two  rooms,  and  on 
the  grass  around  it,  was  enough  to  appall  the 
stoutest  heart. 

"  The  rooms  were  crowded,  and  I  could  not  get 
in ;  but  all  around  on  the  grass  were  men  mor 
tally  wounded.  I  should  think  there  were  at  least 
forty  on  that  greensward  within  twenty  rods  of 
the  house,  and  such  wyounds  —  some  with  botn 
legs  shot  oft';  some  with  a  thigh  shot  away; 
some  with  both  legs  broken  ;  others  with  horrid 
flesh  wounds  made  from  shells.  I  saw  one  man 
with  a  wound  in  his  back  large  enough  to  put  in 
my  fist ;  he  was  fast  bleeding  to  death.  They  lay 
so  thick  around  me,  that  I  could  hardly  step  be 
tween  them,  and  every  step  was  in  blood.  As  I 
walked  among  them,  some  besought  me  to  kill 
them,  and  put  an  end  to  their  agony ;  some  were 
just  gasping,  and  some  had  died  since  they  had 
been  brought  there,  and  the  dying  convulsions  of 
these  strong  men  were  agonizing  in  the  extreme. 
Some  were  calling  for  the  surgeon,  but  the  hos 
pital  was  more  than  a  mile  off,  and  there  were  but 
two  surgeons  here. 

"  I  left  the  house,  and  bore  off  to  the  right, 
towards  some  low  pine  woods,  about  a  hundred 
rods  distant,  and  scattered  along  were  the  dead 
bodies  of  our  men.  On  reaching  the  wood,  I 
found  the  ground  literally  covered  with  the  corpses 
of  the  enemy,  and  I  counted,  in  the  space  of 
about  ten  rods  square,  forty-seven  dead  rebels, 
and  ten  mortally  wounded,  and  scattered  all 
through  the  woods,  still  farther  back,  wrere  any 
number  more.  I  talked  with  several  of  the 
wounded,  and  they  told  me  they  belonged  to  the 
Eighth  Georgia  regiment,  Colonel  Bartow,  and 
had  arrived  at  Manassas,  from  Winchester,  the 
day  before,  where  they  had  been  with  General 
Johnston.  They  told  me  their  whole  regiment 
was  posted  in  this  pine  wood.  One  young  man 
told  me  he  wras  from  Macon,  and  that  his  father 
was  a  merchant.  I  asked  another  where  he  was 
from.  He  replied,  defiantly,  *  I  am  for  disunion 
—  opposed  to  you.'  This  man  had  both  thighs 
broken. 

"  I  heard  one  of  our  soldiers  ask  a  wounded 
Georgian  if  their  orders  were  to  kill  our  wounded. 
He  answered,  '  No.'  Our  soldiers  carried  water 
to  these  wounded  men,  and  as  they  lay  there 
wu thing  in  agony,  a  cup  of  water  was  put  within 
their  reach.  The  convulsions  of  one  of  these  was 
awful  to  look  upon.  lie  appeared  to  have  been 
«hot  in  the  lungs,  as  he  vomited  blood  in  large 


quantities,  and  in  his  struggles  for  breath,  would 
throw  himself  clear  from  the  ground.  I  noticed 
among  this  heap  of  bodies  an  officer  dressed  in 
light  blue  uniform,  with  green  stripes  on  his 
pants,  —  a  fine-looking  man,  —  whom  I  took  to 
be  a  captain.  I  also  saw  one  of  our  soldiers  take 
sixty  dollars  from  the  body  of  a  dead,  Georgian, 
and  their  knives,  revolvers,  &c.,  wrere  appropri 
ated  in  the  same  way.  This  I  looked  upon  as  le 
gitimate  plunder  for  the  soldiers,  but  a-,  a  citizen, 
I  forbore  to  take  anything  from  the  field. 

"I  think  the  fight  in  this  wood  must  have 
been  fiercer  than  in  any  part  of  the  field,  except 
it  may  be  on  our  right,  where  the  Zouaves  were. 
This  wood  was  near  tte  enemy's  right,  and  where 
the  fight  commenced  in  the  morning  with  Hunters 
division,  and  as  Heintzelman's  division  came  into 
action,  the  rebels  were  giving  way  at  this  point, 
under  the  galling  fire  of  Colonel  Marston's  regi- 
mentj  while  the  Rhode  Island  troops  and  some 
New  York  regiments  had  driven  back  their  ex 
treme  right.  Passing  through  these  pine  woods, 
I  still  bore  to  the  right,  towards  our  centre,  and 
crossed  a  cleared  space,  and  came  to  some  heavy 
wood,  on  the  edge  of  which  I  perceived  a  num. 
ber  of  dead  scattered  about,  and  seeing  several 
wounded  men,  I  went  up  to  one  of  them,  and 
found  he  was  a  rebel  belonging  to  an  Alabama 
regiment.  He  told  me  he  joined  the  regiment 
the  13th  of  April.  He  pointed  to  a  dead  horse 
close  to  us,  and  said,  'There  is  my  Colonel's 
horse,  and  I  suppose  you  have  taken  him  pris 
oner.' 

"  Most  of  these  rebels  had  gray  suits,  with 
black  trimmings  —  very  similar  to  tbe  uniforms 
of  some  of  our  men.  Scattered  all  through  this 
wood  were  our  men  and  the  Alabamians,  dead 
and  wounded  mingled  together.  I  noticed  a 
splendid  bay  horse  nibbling  the  leaves  from  a 
tree,  and  was  thinking  what  a  fine  animal  he  was, 
when  I  saw  that  one  fore  leg  was  shot  off,  clean 
as  though  cut  by  a  knife,  and  bleeding  a  stream. 
Until  this  time  I  supposed  that  everything  was 
being  swept  before  us,  as  the  fire  from  the  bat 
teries  had  been  nearly  silenced  on  their  right, 
and  only  an  occasional  discharge  was  heard.  On 
the  enemy's  left,  the  firing  was  not  nearly  as 
vigorous  as  half  an  hour  previous.  I  came  out 
of  the  woods,  and  to  my  utter  astonishment,  saw 
our  whole  body  retreating  in  utter  confusion  and 
disorder  —  no  lines,  no  companies,  no  regiments, 
could  be  distinguished.  I  stood  still  a  few  mo 
ments,  unable  to  comprehend  the  extraordinary 
spectacle. 

"  1  heard  my  name  called,  and  turning  round, 
a  Lieutenant  of  the  Massachusetts  Fifth  came 
towards  me.  *  My  God,  Ed. !  what  are  you  here 
for  ?  '  he  exclaimed.  Without  replying,  1  asked 
if  the  Fifth  had  suffered  much.  He  said  it  had, 
and  that  the  Colonel  was  dangerously  wounded. 
I  waited  to  find  others  of  my  friends,  but  the 
whole  line  was  drifting  back  through  the  valley. 
I  fell  in  with  them,  and  wrent  slowly  up  the  hill, 
occasionally  halting  and  looking  back.  I  stopped 
on  the  brow  of  a  hill  while  the  volume  drifted 
by,  and  I  can  compare  it  to  nothirg  moie  than  a 


ANECDOTES.   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


259 


drove  of  cattle,  so  entirely  broken  and  disorgan 
ized  were  our  lines.  The  enemy  had  nearly 
ceased  firing  from  the  batteries  on  their  right 
and  centre,  but  still,  on  our  extreme  right,  be 
yond  a  patch  of  woods,  the  fight  was  going  on, 
and  their  cannonading  was  kept  up  with  vigor. 

"  The  line  where  the  main  battle  was  fought 
was  a  half  to  three  quarters  of  a  mile  in  length, 
the  ground  uneven  and  broken  by  knolls  and 
patches  of  wood.  At  no  time  did  we  have  a  fair 
chance  at  the  enemy  in  the  open  field.  They 
kept  behind  their  intrenchments,  or  under  cover 
of  the  woods.  Our  comparatively  slight  loss 
may  be  attributed  to  the  fact  that  the  great  body 
of  our  troops  were  posted  in  the  valley  in  front 
of  the  enemy's  batteries,  but  by  keeping  as  close 
to  the  ground  as  possible,  the  enemy's  shot  passed 
over  their  heads,  Avhile  the  cross  fire  of  infantry 
from  their  flanks  caused  us  the  most  damage. 

"  I  did  not  leave  the  hill  until  the  enemy's  in 
fantry  came  out  from  their  intrenchments,  and 
slowly  moved  forward,  their  guns  glistening  in 
the  sun ;  but  they  showed  no  disposition  to 
charge,  and  only  advanced  a  short  distance. 
Had  they  precipitated  their  columns  upon  our 
panic-stricken  army,  the  slaughter  would  have 
been  dreadful,  for  so  thorough  was  the  panic, 
that  no  power  on  earth  could  have  stopped  the 
retreat,  and  made  our  men  turn  and  fight.  They 
were  exhausted  with  twelve  hours'  marching  and 
fighting,  having  had  little  to  eat,  their  mouths 
parched  with  thirst,  and  no  water  in  their  canteens 
—  what  could  be  expected  of  them  then  ?  Our 
men  did  fight  like  heroes,  and  only  retreated 
when  they  had  no  oflicers  to  control  and  com 
mand  them. 

"  I  found  my  horse  tied  to  the  tree  where  I 
left  him  in  the  morning.  Mounting  him,  I  rode 
up  to  the  hospital  headquarters,  and  stopped 
some  time  watching  the  ambulances  bringing 
their  loads  of  wounded,  fearing  I  might  discover 
a  friend  or  acquaintance.  As  these  loads  of 
wounded  men  were  brought  up,  blood  flowed 
from  the  ambulances  like  water  from  an  ice  cart, 
and  their  mutilated  limbs  protruding  from  the 
rear  had  no  semblance  of  humanity. 

"  I  left  these  scenes  of  blood  and  carnage,  and 
fell  into  this  retreating  mass  of  disorderly  and 
confused  soldiery.  Then  commenced  my  retreat. 
None  who  dragged  their  weary  limbs  through 
the  long  hours  of  that  night  will  ever  forget  it. 
Officers  of  regiments  placed  themselves  in  front 
of  a  body  of  their  men,  and  besought  them  to 
halt  and  form,  for  if  they  did  not  make  a  stand, 
their  retreat  would  be  cut  off.  But  they  might 
as  well  have  asked  the  wind  to  cease  blowing. 
The  men  heeded  them  not,  but  pressed  on  in  re 
treat.  The  regiments  two  or  three  miles  to  our 
rear,  which  had  not  been  in  action,  exhorted  our 
men  to  halt,  as  we  drifted  by,  but  all  to  no  pur 
pose.  No  power  could  stop  them.  The  various 
regiments  tried  to  collect  as  many  as  possible  by 
calling  out  the  number  of  their  regiment  and 
their  State.  In  some  instances,  they  collected 
together  two  or  three  hundred  men. 

"  At  a  narrow  place  in  the  road  the  baggage 


wagons  and  artillery  got  jammed  together  in  a 
dead  lock,  and  in  trying  to  get  through  I  was 
hemmed  in  so  completely  that  for  fifteen  minutes 
I  could  not  move  in  either  direction,  arid  in  this 
way  I  became  separated  from  a  remnant  of  the 
Fifth,  and  did  not  see  them  again  till  I  reached 
CentreviLle.  I  finally  extricated  myself  by  break 
ing  down  a  rail  fence,  and  driving  my  horse  over 
it,  struck  across  a  large  coinfield,  thus  cutting 
off  considerable  distance  and  reaching  the  road  at 
a  point  where  it  entered  the  oak  forest.  Shortly 
after  entering  the  woods  the  column  in  front  of 
me  suddenly  broke  and  ran  uito  the  woods  on  the 
left ;  the  panic  spread  past  me,  and  soldiers  ran 
pell-mell  into  the  woods,  leaving  me  alone  on  iny 
horse.  I  was  afraid  that  in  their  fright  they 
might  shoot  me,  and  I  shouted  lustily,  '  False 
alarm.' 

"  Turning  my  hoi  je  about,  not  a  man  could  I 
see ;  but  soon  a  soldier  thrust  his  head  from  behind 
a  large  oak.  I  asked  him  what  the  matter  was. 
He  replied,  '  The  enemy  are  in  front.'  Somewhat 
provoked  at  the  scare,  I  made  some  reflection  on 
his  courage,  and  shouted  again  still  louder, '  False 
alarm,"  which  was  soon  taken  up  along  the  road, 
arid  in  five  minutes  we  were  going  along  as  be 
fore.  This  was  between  five  and  six  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon.  Shortly  after  I  overtook  two  sol 
diers  helping  along  a  disabled  Lieutenant ;  they 
asked  me  to  take  him  up  behind  me,  to  which  I 
readily  assented,  although  my  horse  was  already 
encumbered  with  a  pair  of  saddle-bags  and  sev 
eral  blankets.  The  poor  man  groaned  as  they 
lifted  him  up  behind  rne.  I  was  fearful  he  might 
fall  off,  and  I  told  him  to  put  both  arms  around 
me  and  hold  on  tight.  Leaning  his  head  upon 
my  shoulder,  we  started  on. 

"  He  soon  felt  better,  gave  me  his  name,  and 
informed  me  that  he  was  a  First  Lieutenant  of 
the  Marines,  and  belonged  in  Connecticut.  He 
stated  that  they  had  in  the  fight  four  companies, 
of  eighty  men "  each,  and  that  Lieutenant  Hitch 
cock  (a  very  dear  friend)  was  killed  by  his  side. 
A  cavalry  officer,  with  his  arm  in  a  sling,  came 
riding  along,  and  drawing  up  near  to  me,  I  asked 
him  if  he  was  much  hurt.  He  replied,  that  he 
had  received  a  rifle  ball  through  the  fleshy  part 
of  his  arm.  He  also  told  me  that  during  the  fight 
he  had  two  horses  shot  under  him,  and  the  one 
on  which  he  was  then  riding  he  caught  on  the 
field.  I  questioned  him  as  to  the  cause  of  our 
disaster,  and  he  answered,  that  our  light  troops 
and  light  batteries  could  make  no  headway  against 
the  heavy  guns  of  the  enemy,  strongly  intrenched. 
I  asked  him  how  the  enemy's  works  could  have 
been  carried ;  with  characteristic  faith  in  his 
branch  of  the  service,  he  replied,  *  By  allowing 
ths  cavalry  to  charge,  supported  by  infantry/ 
He  also  informed  me  that  we  had  about  one 
thousand  cavalry  in  the  field  during  the  battle. 

"As  we  continued  our  retreat  through  the 
wood,  the  men,  overcome  with  weariness,  dropped 
by  the  roadside,  and  immediately  fell  asleep: 
some,  completely  exhausted,  begged  to  be  carried, 
the  wagor.s  being  already  overloaded  with  those 
unable  tc  walk;  and  some  shrewd  ones  qrietly 


260 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


bargained  with  the  driver  of  an  ordnance  wagon 
for  a  seat  by  his  side.  Passing  out  through  this 
wood,  we  came  in  sight  of  the  hills  of  Centreville. 
I  noticed  that  the  column  mostly  left  the  road, 
and  bore  off  through  an  open  field,  leaving  the 
bridge  \ve  had  crossed  in  the  morning  some  dis 
tance  on  our  right.  I  could  not  account  for  this 
delation  from  the  morning's  course,  and  I  left 
the  main  body  and  continued  along  some  distance 
farther,  determined  to  keep  the  main  road,  as  I 
knew  of  no  other  way  to  cross  the  creek,  except 
by  the  bridge  we  had  crossed  in  the  morning ;  but 
coming  up  to  a  line  of  broken-down  wagons,  it 
occurred  to  me  that  the  bridge  might  be  blocked 
up,  as  I  recollected  the  passage  was  quite  narrow. 
I  then  started  off  to  the  left,  across  a  level  field, 
but  upon  looking  back  I  perceived  that  the  wag 
ons  still  continued  on  towards  the  bridge  ;  in  fact, 
there  was  no  other  way  for  them  to  cross.  I  fo.- 
lowed  the  crowd  of  soldiers  through  the  field  and 
into  some  low  woods. 

"Here  they  scattered  in  every  direction,  as 
there  was  no  path,  and  each  one  was  compelled 
to  choose  his  own  route.  I  picked  my  way  among 
the  tangled  underbrush  till  I  came  to  the  creek ; 
the  bank  down  to  the  water  was  very  steep,  and 
I  feared  my  horse  could  not  carry  us  both  down 
safely ;  so,  dismounting,  I  led  him  slowly  down, 
and  then,  mounting,  I  drove  into  the  stream. 
The  bottom  was  soft  and  miry,  and  my  horse  sunk 
in  to  his  belly.  I  began  to  think  that  we  should 
all  be  soon  floundering  in  the  stream ;  then  urg 
ing  him  to  his  utmost  strength,  we  reached  the 
opposite  bank  in  safety.  Twice  my  gallant  horse 
started  up  the  bank  and  fell  back.  After  cross 
ing  this  creek  I  came  into  a  cornfield,  and  soon 
struck  a  road  leading  into  Centreville,  which  vil 
lage  I  soon  reached,  and  there  my  companion 
met  with  his  captain,  and  he  then  dismounted. 
Never  was  a  man  more  grateful  for  a  favor  than 
was  this  Lieutenant.  With  tears  in  his  eyes,  he 
thanked  me  a  thousand  times,  and,  wringing  my 
hands,  walked  away  with  his  friends. 

"  From  Centreville  I  could  see  the  disordered 
army  winding  along  for  some  two  miles ;  a  por 
tion  of  the.men,  and  all  the  wagons  and  artillery, 
took  the  road  over  the  bridge,  while  another  por 
tion  came  in  nearly  the  direction  I  had  taken.  It 
was  now  nearly  eight  o'clock,  and  as  it  grew 
darker,  our  retreating  army  kept  the  main  road 
over  the  bridge.  About  two  miles  from  Centre 
ville,  on  the  southern  road,  was  a  rebel  battery, 
where  the  fight  had  taken  place  the  Thursday 
previous.  Tin's  battery  commanded  the  bridge 
above  mentioned.  Suddenly  a  cannon  shot  was 
fired  from  the  battery  and  struck  our  column, 
crowding  across  this  narrow  bridge.  The  utmost 
consternation  was  created  by  this  fire.  In  their 
haste,  wagons  and  gun-carriages  were  crowded 
together  and  overturned ;  the  drivers  cut  their 
horses  loose,  who  galloped  they  scarcely  knew 
whither.  Our  men  plunged  into  the  stream,  waist 
deep,  and  were  scattered  in  every  direction,  and 
some  who  were  seen  up  to  this  time  have  not  been 
heard  of  since. 

"  The  enemy  still  fired  from  the  battery,  but 


did  not  dare  to  sally  out,  as  they  wer«  kept  in 
check  by  our  reserve  on  the  heights  of  Centre 
ville.  I  reached  our  camp  that  we  had  left  in  the 
morning  a  little  after  eight  o'clock,  ar.d  found 
that  a  few  of  the  Fifth  had  arrived  before  me.  It 
was  then  expected  we  should  encamp  for  the 
night ;  but  about  nine  o'clock  we  received  orders 
to  march  to  Alexandria.  We  had  already  trav 
elled  from  ten  to  twelve  miles,  and  now  our  weary 
soldiers  were  ordered  to  maieh  twenty-five  or 
thirty  miles  farther. 

"  Slowly  t^e  fragment  of  our  regiment  fell  into 
line  and  began  this  dreadful  night  march.  I  took 
a  sick  man  behind  me  and  followed  in  the  rear 
of  our  regi  nent,  and  crossing  a  field  to  the  main 
road  we  fell  in  with  the  drifting  mass.  A  friend 
of  mine  from  the  Fifth,  who  could  hardly  walk, 
approached  me.  I  offered  him  my  horse  if  he 
would  hold  the  sick  man  who  was  groaning  at 
every  step.  To  this  he  readily  assented ;  so  I 
dismounted.  I  saw  no  more  of  my  horse  till 
morning,  but  trudged  along  all  night  without 
once  sitting  down  to  rest,  only  occasionally  stop 
ping  to  get  water. 

"  I  felt  comparatively  fresh  when  compared  with 
my  companions.  The  dust  was  intolerable,  and,  not 
having  any  canteen,  I  suffered  exceedingly  from 
thirst.  Men  dropped  down  along  the  road  by 
scores ;  some,  completely  exhausted,  pleaded  pit- 
eously  to  be  helped  along ;  some  took  hold  of 
the  rear  of  the  wagons,  which  was  considerable 
support  to  them,  and  many  a  horse  had  two  men 
on  his  back,  with  another  helped  along  by  hia 
tail;  in  fact,  a  horse  carrying  but  one  was  an 
exception.  I  assisted  one  fine  fellow  along  for  a 
long  distance,  who  told  me  he  was  taken  with 
bleeding  at  the  lungs  while  on  the  field  ;  he  was 
very  weak,  and  in  vain  I  tried  to  find  an  oppor 
tunity  for  him  to  ride,  but  he  bore  up  manfull) 
through  the  night,  and  I  saw  him  the  next  day  in 
Washington. 

"  After  passing  Fairfax  Court  House  some  of 
the  regiments,  or  such  a  portion  as  could  be  col 
lected  together,  bivouacked  for  the  night,  but  the 
men  were  so  scattered  *hat  I  doubt  if  half  a  regi 
ment  halted  at  any  one  spot.  I  still  walked  on, 
never  once  resting,  fearing  if  I  did  I  should  feel 
worse  when  I  again  started.  Towards  morning 
my  feet  began  to  be  blistered,  and  the  cords  of 
my  legs  worked  like  rusty  wires,  giving  me  great 
pain  at  every  step.  Gladly  did  I  hail  the  first 
faint  streak  of  light  in  the  east. 

"  At  daylight  we  were  within  five  miles  of  Alex 
andria.  About  this  time  we  came  to  where  the 
Washington  road  branches  off  from  'the  main 
road  to  Alexandria,  and  here  our  column  divided. 
I  continued  on  towards  Alexandria,  and  in  about 
an  hour  came  in  sight  of  Shuter's  hill.  I  then 
felt  my  journey  was  nearly  accomplished,  but  the 
last  two  miles  seemed  endless. 

"  I  stopped  at  a  small  house  just  back  of  Fort 
Ellsworth,  and  asked  the  old  negro  woman  for 
some  breakfast.  Two  Zouaves  were  there  when 
I  entered,  and  soon  four  more  came  in.  She 
knew  them  all,  as  they  had  paid  her  frequent  vis 
its  whi.e  encamped  in  that  neighborhood.  Sfc« 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


261 


gladly  got  us  the  best  she  had,  and  these  six 
Zcnaves  and  myself,  nearly  famished  as  we  were, 
eat  down  to  that  breakfast  of  fried  pork,  hoe 
cake-,  and  coffee,  served  to  us  by  this  old  slave 
woman,  with  greater  delight  than  ever  a  king 
seated  himself  at  a  banquet. 

"  The  Zouaves  each  had  their  story  of  the  battle 
to  relate,  but  the  charge  of  the  Black  Horse  Cav 
alry  was  their  especial  theme.  One  of  them, 
pulling  a  large  Colt's  pistol  from  his  pocket,  said, 
'  There,  I  gave  that  fellow  h — 1,  and  he  wasn't  the 
only  one  either.'  I  coveted  this  pistol,  and  soon 
bargained  for  it,  and  now  have  it  in  my  posses 
sion  ;  one  barrel  only  had  been  fired.  The  Zouave? 
gradually  dropped  off,  and  after  paying  the  sla  e 
woman  for  the  meal,  I  started  over  the  hill  to  the 
camp  of  the  Fifth,  where  I  arrived  about  half 
past  eight  o'clock,  and  found  that  my  horse  with 
bis  riders  had  arrived  safely  some  time  before." 


A  PSALM  OF  LIFE. 

At  chanted  by  Gideon  J.  Pillow  and  Ms  boys  on  re 
treating  from  Lafayette,  Georgia,  June  24,  1864. 


not,  in  boastful  twaddle, 
Yankees  five  by  one  "  Confcd  " 
Are  unnerved  and  made  skedaddle, 
With  coat-tail  as  high  as  head. 

"Feds"  will  fight  —  a  bold  defender 
Is  each  member  of  their  ranks  ; 

That  they  readily  surrender, 

Can't  be  spoken  of  the  "  Yanks." 

TVas  enjoyment,  and  not  sorrow, 
That  we  hoped  to  reap  to-day  ; 

Certain  that  before  the  morrow 
We  should  march  the  Yanks  away. 

Without  bloodshed,  without  battle, 

In  their  bivouac  so  nice, 
We  would  pen  them  like  dumb  cattle, 

Gobble  all  up  in  a  trice. 

But  their  bullets  now  remind  us 
We  should  all  be  making  tracks, 

And,  departing,  leave  behind  us  — 
Far  behind  —  those  deadly  "cracks." 

Deadly,  and  perhaps  some  other 
Fell  shots  may  increase  our  slain  ; 

Many  a  fallen,  war-  wrecked  brother 
Never  can  take  aim  again. 

'Stride  our  horses  let's  be  jumping, 
While  our  hearts  we  thought  so  brave, 

Like  unmufiled  drums,  are  thumping, 
And  our  knees  are  like  to  cave. 

Trufit  no  shelter,  howe'er  pleasant  ! 

Let  the  Yankees  bury  our  dead  ! 
Run  !  run  !  in  this  dreadful  present, 

Bullets  whizzing  overhead  ! 

Let  us,  too,  continue  going, 

Spur  our  "  plugs  "  to  fa&t«*ft  gait  : 

For  the  blue-coats  arc  purging, 
And  we've  had  «'  enough"  af  late. 


A  BRAVE  IRISHMAN.  —  One  of  the  Indiana 
regiments  was  fiercely  attacked  by  a  whole  bri 
gade,  in  one  of  the  battles  in  Mississippi.  The 
Indianians,  unable  to  withstand  such  great  odds, 
were  compelled  to  fall  back  about  thirty  or  forty 
yards,  losing,  to  the  utter  mortification  of  the  offi 
cers  ani  men,  their  flag,  which  remained  in  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  Suddenly,  a  tall  Irishman, 
a  private  in  the  color  company,  rushed  from  the 
ranks  across  the  vacant  ground,  attacked  the 
squad  of  rebels  who  had  possession  of  the  con 
quered  flag,  with  his  musket  felled  several  to  the 
ground,  snatched  the  flag  from  them,  and  returned 
safely  back  to  his  regiment.  The  bold  fellow  was, 
of  course,  immediately  surrounded  by  his  jubilant 
comrades,  and  greatly  praised  for  his  gallantry. 
His  Captain  appointed  him  to  a  sergeantcy  on  the 
spot ;  but  the  hero  cut  everything  short  by  the 
reply,  "  O,  never  mind,  Captain,  —  say  no  more 
about  it.  I  dropped  my  whiskey  flask  among  the 
rebels,  and  fetched  that  back,  and  I  thought  I 
might  just  as  well  bring  the  flag  along  !  " 


"  IT  is  MY  MOTHER!  "  —  An  interesting  anec 
dote,  though  of  doubtful  authenticity,  is  related 
of  Franklin,  who,  it  is  alleged,  in  order  to  test  the 
parental  instinct  existing  between  mother  and 
child,  introduced  himself  as  a  belated  traveller  to 
his  mother's  house  after  an  absence  of  many  years. 
Her  house  being  filled  with  more  illustrious  guests 
than  the  unknown  stranger,  she  refused  him  shel 
ter,  and  would  have  turned  him  from  her  door. 
Hence,  he  concluded  that  this  so-called  parental 
instinct  was  a  pleasant  delusive  belief,  not  suscep 
tible  of  proof. 

The  opposite  of  this  lately  occurred  in  Wash 
ington.  In  one  of  the  fierce  engagements  with 
the  rebels  near  Mechariicsville,  in  May,  1864,  a 
young  Lieutenant  of  a  Ilhode  Island  battery  had 
his  right  foot  so  shattered  by  a  fragment  of  shell 
that,  on  reaching  Washington,  after  one  of  those 
horrible  ambulance  rides,  and  a  journey  of  a 
week's  duration,  he  was  obliged  to  undergo  am 
putation  of  the  leg.  He  telegraphed  home,  hun 
dreds  of  miles  away,  that  all  was  going  well,  and 
with  a  soldier's  fortitude  composed  himself  to 
bear  his  sufferings  alone. 

Unknown  to  him,  however,  his  mother,  one  of 
those  dear  reserves  of  the  army,  hastened  up  to 
join  the  main  force.  She  reached  the  city  at 
midnight,  and  the  nurses  would  have  kept  her 
from  him  until  morning.  One  sat  by  his  side 
fanning  him  as  he  slept,  her  hand  on  the  feeble, 
fluctuating  pulsations  which  foreboded  sad  re 
sults.  But  what  woman's  heart  could  resist  the 
pleadings  of  a  mother  then?  In  the  darkness 
she  was  finally  allowed  to  glide  in  and  take  the 
place  at  his  side.  She  touched  his  pulse  as  ihf 
nurse  had  done  ;  not  a  word  had  been  spoken, 
but  the  sleeping  boy  opened  his  eyes  and  said, 
"  That  feels  like  my  mother's  hand ;  who  is  this 
beside  me  ?  It  is  my  mother ;  turn  up  the  gas 
and  let  me  see  mother !  " 

The  two  dear  faces  met  in  one  long,  joyful>  sob 
bing  embrace,  and  the*  fondness  pent  up  in  each 


262 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


heart  sobbed  and  panted,  and  wept  forth  its  ex 
pression. 

The  gallant  fellow,  just  twenty-one,  his  leg  am 
putated  on  the  last  day  of  his  three  years'  service, 
underwent  operation  after  operation ;  and  at  last, 
when  death  drew  nigh,  and  he  was  told  by  tearful 
friends  that  it  only  remained  to  make  him  com- 
fortable,  said  he  had  "looked  death  in  the  face 
too  many  time?  to  be  afraid  now,"  and  died  as 
gallantly  as  die  the  men  of  the  Cumberland. 


THE  FLIGHT  FROM  BULL  RUN. — A  corre 
spondent  gives  the  following  account  of  the  panic 
and  flight  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Bun  :  "  I  was  near 
the  rear  of  the  movement,  with  the  brave  Captain 
Alexander,  who  endeavored,  by  the  most  gallant 
but  unavailable  exertions,  to  check  the  onward 
tumult.  It  was  difficult  to  believe  in  the  realit)r 
of  our  sudden  reverse.  *  What  does  it  all 
mean  ?  '  I  asked  Alexander.  '  It  means  de 
feat,'  was  his  reply.  '  We  are  beaten ;  it  is  a 
shameful,  a  cowardly  retreat !  Hold  up,  men  ! ' 
he  shouted ;  *  don't  be  such  infernal  cowards ! ' 
and  he  rode  backwards  and  forwards,  placing  his 
horse  across  the  road,  and  vainly  trying  to  rally 
the  running  troops.  The  teams  and  wagons  con 
fused  and  dismembered  every  corps.  We  were 
now  cut  off  from  the  advance  body  by  the  ene 
my's  infantry,  who  had  rushed  on  the  slope  just 
left  by  us,  surrounded  the  guns  and  sutlers'  wag 
ons,  and  were  apparently  pressing  up  against  us. 
'  It's  no  use,  Alexander,'  I  said ;  '  you  must  leave 
with  the  rest.'  *  I'll  be  d — d  if  I  will,'  was  the 
aujlen  reply  ;  and  the  splendid  fellow  rode  back 
to  make  his  way  as  best  he  could.  Meantime, 
I  saw  officers  with  leaves  arid  eagles  on  their 
shoulder-straps,  Majors  and  Colonels,  who  had 
deserted  their  commands,  pass  me,  galloping  as 
if  for  dear  life.  No  enemy  pursued  just  then  ; 
but  I  suppose  all  were  afraid  that  his  guns  would 
be  trained  down  the  long,  narrow  avenue,  and 
mow  the  retreating  thousands,  and  batter  to 
pieces  army  wagons  and  everything  else  which 
crowded  it.  Only  one  field-officer,  so  far  as  my 
observation  extended,  seemed  to  have  remem 
bered  his  duty.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Speidel,  a 
foreigner,  attached  to  a  Connecticut  regiment, 
strove  against  the  current  for  a  league.  I  posi 
tively  declare  that,  with  the  two  exceptions  men 
tioned,  all  efforts  made  to  check  the  panic  before 
Centreville  was  reached,  were  confined  to  civil 
ians.  I  saw  a  man  in  citizen's  dress,  who  had 
thrown  off  his  coat,  seize  a  musket,  and  was  try 
ing  to  rally  the  soldiers  who  came  by  at  the  point 
of  the  bayonet.  In  reply  to  a  request  for  his 
name,  he  said  it  was  Washburne,  and  I  learned 
he  was  the  member  by  that  name  from  Illinois. 
The  Hon.  Mr.  Kellogg  made  a  similar  effort. 
Both  these  Congressmen  bravely  stood  their 
ground  till  the  last  moment,  and  were  servicea 
ble  at  Cent jeville  in  assisting  the  halt  there  ulti 
mately  maue.  And  other  civilians  did  what  they 
COL  Id.  ^ 

"  But  what  a  scene !  and  how  terrific  the  onset 
of  that  tumultuous  retreat !  For  three  miles,  hosts 


of  Federal  troops  — all  detached  from  their  regi 
ments,  all  mingled  in  one  disorderly  rout —  were 
fleeing  along  the  road,  but  mostly  through  the 
lots  on  either  side.  Army  wagons,  sutlers-  teams, 
and  private  carriages,  choked  the  passage,  tum 
bling  against  each  other,  amid  clouds  of  dust, 
and  sickening  sights  and  sounds.  Hacks,  con 
taining  unlucky  spectators  of  the  late  affray, 
were  smashed  like  glass,  and  the  occupants  were 
lost  sight  of  in  the  debris.  Horses,  flying  wildly 
from  the  battle-field,  inaMy  of  them  in 'death  ago 
ny,  galloped  at  randor.  forward,  joining  in  the 
stampede.  Those  on  foot,  who  could  catch  them, 
rode  Uiem  bareback,  as  much  to  save  themselve& 
from  being  run  over,  as  to  make  quicker  time. 
Woui;ded  men,  lying  along  the  banks,  —  the  fevr 
neither  left  on  the  field  nor  taken  to  the  captured 
hospitals,  —  appealed,  with  raised  hands,  to  those 
who  rode  Inorses,  begging  to  be  lifted  behind,  but 
few  regarded  such  petitions.  Then  the  artillery 
—  such  as  was  saved  —  came  thundering  along, 
smashing  and  overpowering  everything.  The 
regular  cavalry  (I  record  it  to  their  shame)  joined 
in  the  melee,  adding  to  its  terrors,  for  they  rode 
down  footmen  without  mercy.  One  of  the  great 
guns  was  overturned,  and  lay  amid  the  ruins  of  a 
caisson.  As  I  passed  it,  I  saw  an  artillerymzji 
running  between  the  ponderous  fore  and  after 
wheels  of  his  gun-carriage,  hanging  on  with  both 
hands,  and  vainly  striving  to  jump  upon  the  ord 
nance.  The  drivers  were  spurring  the  horses  ; 
he  could  not  cling  much  longer,  and  a  more  ago 
nized  expression  never  fixed  the  features  of  a 
drowning  man.  The  carriage  bounded  from  the 
roughness  of  a  steep  hill  leading  to  a  creek ;  he 
lost  his  hold,  fell,  and  in  an  instant  the  great 
wheels  had  crushed  the  life  out  of  him.  Who 
ever  saw  such  a  flight?  Could  the  retrtat  at 
Borodino  have  exceeded  it  in  confusion  and  tu 
mult  ?  I  think  not.  It  did  not  slack  in  the 
least  until  Centreville  was  reached.  There  the 
sight  of  the  reserve  —  Miles'  brigade  —  formed 
in  order  on  the  hill,  seemed  somewhat  to  reas 
sure  the  van.  But  still  the  teams  and  foot  sol 
diers  pushed  on,  passing  their  own  camps,  artd 
heading  swiftly  for  the  distant  Potomac,  until, 
for  ten  miles,  the  road  over  which  the  grand 
army  had  so  lately  passed  southward,  gay  with 
unstained  banners,  and  flushed  with  surety  of 
strength,  was  covered  with  the  fragments  of  its 
retreating  forces,  shattered  and  panic-stricken  in 
a  single  day.  From  the  branch  route,  the  trains 
attached  to  Hunter's  division  had  caught  the 
contagion  of  the  flight,  and  poured  into  its  al 
ready  swollen  current  another  turbid  freshet  of 
confusion  and  dismay.  Who  ever  saw  a  more 
shameful  abandonment  of  munitions,  gathered  at 
such  vast  expense?  The  teamsters,  many  of 
them,  cut  the  traces  of  their  horses,  ard  galloped 
from  the  wagons.  Others  threw  cut  their  loads 
to  accelerate  their  flight,  and  grain,  picks,  and 
shovels,  and  provisions  of  every  kind,  lay  tram 
pled  in  the  dust  for  leagues.  Thousands  of  mus 
kets  strewed  the  route,  and  when  some  of  us 
sue  ?e°ded  in  rallying  a  body  of  fugitives,  and  form 
ing  them  in  a  line  across  the  road,  hardly  one  but 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


263 


bad  thrown  away  his  arms.  If  the  enemy  had  officer  to  take  command,  and  that  the  rebels  were 
brought  up  his  artillery,  and  served  it  upon  the  close  upon  us,  this  brave  young  man  seized  a 
retreating  train,  or  had  intercepted  our  progress  musket,  and  calling  upon  his  comrades  to  rally 
with  five  hundred  of  his  cavalry,  he  might  have  and  follow  him,  he  posted  his  little  company  at  a 
c apiured  enough  supplies  for  a  week's  feast  of  short  distance  from  the  railroad,  near  an  old 
thanksgiving.  As  it  was,  enough  was  left  be- ,  rebel  fortification,  and  awaited  with  fixed  bayonets 
hind  to  tell  the  story  of  the  panic.  The  rout  of  I  the  approach  of  the  enemy.  The  first  that  ap- 


ibe  Federal  army  seemed  complete." 


INCIDENTS  OP  SHILOH.  —  Early  on  Monday 
morning,  General  Nelson  despatched  an  orderly 
from  a  cavalry  company  to  the  river  with  a  mes 
sage.  The  General  waited  in  vain  for  an  answer, 
and  the  day  wore  away  without  hearing  from  the 
messenger.  General  Nelson  was  furious,  and 
directed,  the  following  day,  a  search  to  be  made 
for  the  orderly.  He  was,  after  some  trouble, 
found,  and  taken  immediately  to  headquarters. 
He  was  called  upon  for  an  account,  and  said,  in 
a  brief,  off-hand  manner,  that  when  he  got  to  the 
river,  he  found  several  thousand  skulkers,  an. I 
six  hundred  of  these  agreed  to  go  into  action  if 
they  could  find  a  leader.  The  young  cavalryman 
promptly  offered  himself,  and  as  promptly  led 
the  men  into  the  hottest  of  the  fight.  He  re 
ported  to  General  Crittenden,  was  assigned  a 
position  which  he  maintained  all  day,  losing  from 
his  impromptu  command  ten  men  killed  and  fifty 
wounded.  The  General  was  so  well  pleased  with 
the  young  man  and  his  gallant  conduct,  that  he 
immediately  sent  his  name  to  General  Buell,  and 
instead  of  being  a  private,  he  is  now  a  commis 
sioned  officer. 

A  begrimed  individual,  face  several  shades 
blacker  than  the  ace  of  spades,  and  continually 
deepening  in  color  from  a  contact  with  powder, 
hurriedly  ran  up  to  Captain  Pick  liussell  and 
asked  for  a  few  rounds  of  cartridges.  "  Give  me 
some,  for  God's  sake,  Captain ;  right  down  here 
I  have  a  bully  place,  and  every  time  I  fire,  down 
goes  a  secesher."  He  was  accommodated,  and 
while  the  Captain  was  filling  his  cartridge-box, 
the  fellow  was  loading  his  piece.  After  being 
supplied,  he  dashed  to  the  left  and  disappeared 
in  the  woods.  A  roar  of  musketry  in  the  direc 
tion  he  took  was  kept  up  all  day,  but  whether  he 
escaped  or  not  has  not  been  ascertained. 


A  GALLANT  BAND.  —  A  soldier  gives  the  fol 
lowing  account  of  one  of  the  most  brilliant  exhi 
bitions  of  bravery  and  daring  that  occurred  during 
the  war  : 

"  When  the  advance  of  the  rebel  cavalry  arrived 
at  Manassas  Junction,  on  the  evening  of  the  26th 
of  August,  1862,  about  fifty  stragglers  belonging 
to  different  regiments  in  Pope's  and  McClellan's 
commands  gathered  around  the  railroad  depot, 
with  loaded  muskets,  uncertain  whether  to  run  or 
stay  by  and  try  to  defend  the  nlace.  Among  the 
number  was  one  Samuel  Conde,  a  member  of  the 
Eleventh  New  York  battery,  who  for  the  previous 
two  months  had  been  on  duty  at  General  Pope's 


peared  was  a  squadron  of  ca  airy,  who  dashed  up 
furiously  to  yards  the  depot.  No  sooner  had  they 
passed  us  than  our  little  band,  led  by  their  new 
commander,  charged  with  a  shout  at  the  enemy, 
scattering  them  in  all  directions.  On  reaching 
the  depot,  we  were  surrounded  by  a  whole  regi 
ment  of  rebel  infantry,  who  commanded  us  to 
surrender.  '  Never,'  shouted  our  brave  leader, 
and  with  the  words  '  come  on,  boys,'  we  dashed 
through  their  ranks,  only  to  find  ourselves  still 
further  surrounded  by  a  large  force  of  cavalry. 
Here,  for  a  moment,  we  faltered  ;  but  hearing  our 
leader  still  urging  us  on,  we  pushed  forward 
through  a  heavy  volley  of  musketry,  and  soon 
passed  the  enemy's  lines  with  the  loss  of  more 
than  half  of  our  little  band,  including  our  brave 
commander.  Finding  it  folly  to  remain  longer  in 
that  vicinity,  we  took  to  the  woods,  and  arrived 
at  Fairfax  Station  early  the  next  morning.  It 
would  be  impossible  for  me  to  give  the  names  of 
any  of  this  little  band,  for  we  were  all  strangers 
to  each  other,  and  I  can  only  bear  testimony  to 
the  fearless  bravery  of  our  leader,  who,  I  fear, 
has  fallen  a  victim  to  a  rebel  bullet,  hoping  that, 
if  this  ever  meets  the  eye  of  any  of  his  friends, 
they  may  have  the  gratification  of  knowing  that 
he  died  a  hero."  

THE  CLOTHES-LINE  TELEGRAPH.  — In  the  s»r- 
ly  part  of  1863,  when  the  Union  army  was  en 
camped  at  Falmouth,  and  picketing  the  banks 
of  the  Rappahannock,  the  utmost  tact  and  inge 
nuity  were  displayed,  by  the  scouts  and  videttes,  in 
gaiuing  a  knowledge  of  contemplated  movements 
on  either  side ;  and  here,  as  at  various  other 
times,  the  shrewdness  of  the  African  carnp  at 
tendants  was  very  remarkable. 

One  circumstance  in  particular  shows  how 
quick  the  race  are  in  learning  the  art  of  commu 
nicating  by  signals. 

There  came  into  the  Union  lines  a  negro  from 
a  farm  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  known  by 
the  name  of  Dabney,  who  was  found  to  possess 
a  remarkably  clear  knowledge  of  the  topography 
of  the  whole  region  ;  and  he  was  employed  as 
cook  and  body  servant  at  headquarters.  When 
he  first  saw  our  system  of  army  telegraphs,  the 
idea  interested  him  intensely,  and  he  begged  the 
operators  to  explain  the  signs  to  him.  They  did 
so,  and  found  that  he  c  )uld  understand  and  re 
member  the  meaning  of  the  various  movements 
as  well  as  any  of  his  brethren  of  paler  hue. 

Not  long  after,  his  wife,  who  had  come  with  him, 
expressed  a  great  anxiety  to  be  allowed  to  go  over 
to  the  other  side  as  servant  to  a  "  secesh  woman," 
whom  General  Hooker  was  about  sending  over  to 
her  friends.  The  request  was  granted.  l)abne>'e 


headquarters,  and  was  then  on  Ail  way  to  Wash*   wife  went  across  the  Rappahannock,  and  in  a  few 
ington.     Finding    there  was  ft&  commissioned  [  days  was  duly  installed  as  laundress  at  tha  head- 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


quarters  of  i  prominent  rebel  General.  Dabney, 
her  husband,  on  the  north  bank,  was  soon  found 
to  be  wonderfully  well  informed  as  to  all  the  rebel 
plans.  Within  an  hour  of  the  time  that  a  move 
ment  of  any  kind  was  projected,  or  even  discussed, 
among  the  rebel  generals,  Hooker  knew  all  about 
it.  He  knew  which  corps  was  moving,  or  about 
to  move,  in  what  direction,  how  long  they  had 
been  on  the  march,  and  in  what  force ;  and  all 
this  knoAvledge  came  through  Dabney,  and  his 
reports  always  turned  out  to  be  true. 

Yet  Dabney  was  never  absent,  and  never  talked 
with  the  scouts,  and  seemed  to  be  always  taken 
up  with  his  duties  as  cook  and  groom  about  head 
quarters. 

How  he  obtained  his  information  remained  for 
some  time  a  puzzle  to  the  Union  officers.  At 
length,  upon  much  solicitation,  he  unfolded  his 
marvellous  secret  to  one  of  our  officers. 

Taking  him  to  a  point  where  a  clear  view  could 
be  obtained  of  Fredericksburg,  he  pointed  out  a 
tittle  cabin  in  the  suburbs  near  the  river  bank, 
and  asked  him  if  he  saw  that  clothes-line  with 
clothes  hanging  on  it  to  dry  "  Well,"  said  he, 
*'  that  clothes-line  tells  me  in  half  an  hour  just 
what  goes  on  at  Lee's  headquarters.  You  see  my 
wife  over  there;  she  washes  for  the  officers,  and 
cooks,  and  waits  around,  and  as  soon  as  she  hears 
about  any  movement  or  anything  going  on,  she 
comes  down  and  moves  the  clothes  on  that  line 
so  I  can  understand  it  in  a  minute.  That  there 
gray  shirt  is  Longstreet ;  and  when  she  takes  it 
off',  it  means  he's  gone  down  about  Richmond. 
That  white  shirt  means  Hill ;  and  when  she  moves 
it  up  to  the  west  end  of  the  line,  Hill's  corps  has 
moved  up  stream.  That  red  one  is  Stonewall. 
He's  down  on  the  right  now,  and  if  he  moves,  she 
will  move  that  red  shirt." 

One  morning  Dabney  came  in  and  reported  a 
movement  over  there.  "  But,"  says  he,  "  it  don't 
amount  to  any  thing.  They're  just  making  be 
lieve." 

An  officer  went  out  to  look  at  the  clothes  line 
telegraph  through  his  field-glass.  There  had 
been  quite  a  shifting  over  there  among  the  army 
flannels.  "  But  how  do  you  know  but  there  is 
something  in  it  ?  " 

"  Do  you  see  those  two  blankets  pinned  tor 
gether  at  the  bottom  ? "  said  Dabney.  "  Yes, 
but  what  of  it  ?  "  said  the  cfScer.  "  Why,  that's 
her  way  of  making  a  fish-trap;  and  when  she 
pins  the  clothes  together  that  way,  it  means 
that  Lee  is  only  trying  to  draw  us  into  his 
fish-trap." 

As  long  as  the  two  armies  lay  watching  each 
other  on  opposite  banks  of  the  stream,  Dabney, 
with  his  clothes-line  telegraph,  continued  to  be 
one  of  the  promptest  and  most  reliable  of  General 
Hooker's  scouts. 


ARKANSAS  TACTICS.  —  An  Arkansas  Colonel 
had  the  following  order  for  mounting  his  men : 

First  order.  —  Prepare  fer  tur  git  onto  yer 
ereeters ! 

Second  order.  —  Grr  1 


THE   OLD   SERGEANT. 

BY   FORCEYTHE   WILL8ON. 

THE  carrier  cannot  sing  to-day  the  ballads 

With  which  he  used  to  go 
Rhyming   the   grand  rounds  of  the   Happy 
Years 

That  are  n;>w  beneath  the  snow  ;  —  . 

For  the  same  awful  and  portentous  shadow 

That  overcast  the  earth, 
And  smote  the  land  last  year  with  desolation, 

Still  darker  &  every  hearth. 

And  the  carrier  hears  Beethoven's  mighty  dead- 
march 

Come  up  from  every  mart, 
And  he  hears  ai  d  feels  it  breathing  in  his  bosom, 

And  beating  in  his  heart. 

And  tc-day,  like  a  scarred  and  weather-beaten  Tet- 
eran, 

Again  he  comes  along, 
To  tell  the  story  of  the  Old  Year's  struggles, 

In  another  New  Year's  song. 

And  the  song  is  his,  but  not  so  with  the  story ; 

For  the  story,  you  must  know 
Was  told  in  prose  to  Assistant- Surgeon  Austin, 

By  a  soldier  of  Shiloh  ;  — 

By  Robert  Burton,  who  was  brought  up  on  tfee 

Adams 

With  his  death-w:und  in  his  side, 
And  who  told  the  story  to  the  Assistant-Surgeon. 
On  the  same  night  that  he  died. 

But  the  singer  feels  it  will  better  suit  the  ballad, 

If  all  should  deem  it  right, 
To  sing  the  story  as  if  what  it  speaks  of 

Had  happened  but  last  night. 

"Come  a  little  nearer,  Doctor  —  Thank  youl   let 

me  take  the  cup  ! 
Draw  your  chair  up!  —  draw  it  closer — just  nn- 

other  little  sup ! 
May  be  you  may  think  I'm  better,  but  I'm  pretty 

well  used  up  — 
Doctor,  you've  done  all  you  could  do,  but  I'm  just 

a  going  up. 

•«  Feel  7ny  pulse,  sir,  if  you  want  to,  but  it  is  no  use 
to  try." 

"  Never  say  that,"  said  the  Surgeon,  as  he  smoth 
ered  down  a  sigh ; 

"It  will  never  do,  old  comrade,  for  a  soldier  to  s*j 
die ! " 

"  What  you  say  will  make  no  difference,  Doctor, 
when  you  come  to  die. 

"  Doctor,  what  has  been  the  matter  ? "    <«  You  were 

very  faint,  they  say  ; 
Ycu  must  try  to  get  to  sleep  now."   •«  Doctor,  ha*e 

I  been  away  ?  " 
"  No,  my  venerable  comrade."     "  Doctor,  will  you 

please  to  stay  ? 
There  is  something  I  must  tell  you,  and  you  won't 

have  long  to  stay  ! 

"  I  have  got  my  E  «»rchin  g  order  a,  and  am  roady  now 

to  g-o; 
Bo  fcor,  did  you  say  I  fc'nted  f  —but  it  couldn't 

hare  been  so  — 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


265 


For  as  sure  as  I'm  a  Sergeant  and  was  wounded  at 

Shiloh, 
fve  this  very  night  been  back  there  —  on  the  old 

field  of  Shiloh ! 

M  You  may  think  it  all  delusion  —  all  the  sickness 

of  the  brain  : 

If  you  do,  you  are  mistaken,  and  mistaken  to  my  pain  ; 
For  upon  my  dying  honor,  as  I  hope  to  live  again, 
I  have  just  been  back  to  Shiloh  and  all  over  it  again  ! 

•«  This  is  all  that  I  remember ;    the  last  time  the 

Lighter  came, 
And  the  lights  had  all  been  lowered,  and  the  noises 

much  the  same, 
He  had  not  been  gone  five  minutes  before  something 

called  my  name  — 
'  ORDERLY -SERGEANT -ROBERT- BURTON  !' — just 

that  way  it  called  my  name. 

"  Then  I  thought,  who  could  have  called  me  so  dis 
tinctly  and  so  slow  — 

It  can't  be  the  Lighter,  surely ;  he  could  not  have 
spoken  so  ; 

And  I  tried  to  answer,  '  Here,  sir  1 '  but  I  couldn't 
make  it  go,  „ 

For  I  couldn't  move  a  muscle,  and  I  couldn't  make 
it  go! 

"  Then  I  thought  it  all  a  nightmare —  all  a  humbug 

and  a  bore ! 
It  is  just  another  grapevine,  and  it  won't  come  any 

more; 
But  it  came,  sir,  notAvithstanding,  just  the  same 

words  as  before, 
*  OADERLY  -  SERGEANT  -  ROBERT  -  BURTON  ! '    more 

distinctly  than  before ! 

'  That  is  all  that  I  remember,  till  a  sudden  burst  of 
light, 

And  I  stood  beside  the  river,  where  we  stood  that 
Sunday  night, 

Waiting  to  be  ferried  over  to  the  dark  bluffs  oppo 
site, 

When  the  river  seemed  perdition,  and  all  hell  seemed 
opposite ! 

14  And  the  same  old  palpitation  came  again  with  all 

its  power, 
And  I  heard  a  bugle  sounding,  as  from  heaven  or  a 

tower ; 
And  the  same  mysterious  voice  said  :  «  IT  is  —  THE 

ELEVENTH  HOUR ! 

ORDERLY- SERGEANT — ROBERT    BURTON  —  IT  is 

THE  ELEVENTH  HOUR  !  ' 

"Dr.    Austin  !  —  what    day    is    this?"—  "  It  is 

Wednesday  night,  you  know." 
"  Yes  !    To-morrow  will  be  New  Year's,  and  a  right 

good  time  below  ! 
What  time  is  it,  Dr.  Austin  ? " —  "Nearly  twelve." 

—  "  Then  don't  you  go  ! 

Can  it  be  that  all  this  happened  —  all  this  —  not  an 
hour  ago ! 

"  There  was  where  the  gunboats  opened  on  the  dark, 

rebellious  host, 
Aj\d  where  Webster  seinicircled  his  last  guns  upon 

the  coast  — - 
There  were  still  the  two  log-houses,  just  the  same, 

or  else  their  ghost  — 
And  the  same  old  transport  CUD*  &a<"  *>ok  me  over 

—  01  its  ghost ! 


"  And  the  whole  field  lay  before  me,  all  deserted  fai 

and  wide  -s- 
There   was   where   they  fell    ou   Prentiss  —  there 

McClernand  met  the  tide  ; 
There  was  where  stern  Sherman  rallied,  and  where 

Hurlbut's  heroes  died  — 
Lower  down,  waere  Wallace  charged  them,  and 

kept  charging  till  he  died ! 

<   There  was  where  Lew  Wa  'ace  sho  ted  them  he 

was  of  the  cannie  kin  — 
There  was  where  old  Nt  Ison  thundered,  and  w,here 

Rousseau  waded  in  —          . 
There  McCook  '  sent  them  to  breakfast,'  and  we  aL 

began  to  win  -  - 
There  was  where  the  grape-shot  took  me  just  as  we 

began  to  win. 

"Now  a  shroud  of  snow  and  silence  over  everything 

was  spread ; 
And  but  for  this  oldt  blue  mantle,  and  the  old  hat 

on  aiy  head, 
I  should  not  have  even  doubted,  to  this  moment,  i 

was  dead ; 
For  my  footsteps  were  as  silent  as  the  snow  upon 

the  dead ! 

"  Death  and  silence !     Death  and  silence !    starry 

silence  overhead ! 
And  behold  a  mighty  tower,  as  if  builded  to  the 

dead, 
To  the  heaven  of  the  heavens  lifted  up  its  mighty 

head! 
Till  the  Stars  and  Stripes  of  heaven  all  seemed 

waving  from  its  head ! 

"Round  and  mighty-based,  it  towered  —  up  into 

the  infinite ! 
And  I  knew  no  mortal  mason  could  have  built  a 

shaft  so  bright ; 
For  it  shone  like  solid  sunshine;  and  a  winding 

stair  of  light 
Wound  around  it  and  around  it  till  it  wound  clear 

out  of  sight ! 

"  And,  behold,  as  I  approached  it  with  a  rapt  and 
dazzled  stare  — 

Thinking  that  I  saw  old  comrades  just  ascending  the 
great  stair  — 

Suddenly  the  solemn  challenge  broke,  of,  '  Halt  I  * 
and  «  Who  goes  there  ? ' 

•I'm  a  friend,'  I  said,  « if  you  are/ — «Then  ad 
vance,  sir,  to  the  stair ! ' 

"  I  advanced  —  that  sentry,  Doctor,  was  Elijah  Bal- 

lantyne  — 
First  of  all  to  fall  on  Monday,  after  we  had  formed 

the  line ! 
'  Welcome  !  my  old  Sergeant,  welcome  1    Welcome 

by  that  countersign  ! ' 
And  he  pointed  to  the  scar  there  under  this  old 

cloak  of  mine ! 

"  As  he  grasped  my  hand,  I  shuddered  —  thinking 

only  of  the  grave  — 
But  he  smiled,  and  pointed  upward,  with  a  bright 

and  bloodless  glaive  — 
•That's  the  way,  sir,  to  headquarters.'  —  <  What 

headquarters  ? '  —  'Of  the  brave  ! ' 
« But  the  great  tower  ? '  —  •  That  was  builded  of  the 

great  deeds  of  the  bra  ye  1 ' 


266 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


"  Then  a  sudden  shame  came  o'er  me  at  his  uniform 
of  light  — 

At  my  own  so  old  and  tattered,  and  at  his  so  new 
and  bright : 

«Ah!'  said  he,  •you  have  forgotten  the  new  uni 
form  to-night ! 

fliyry  back,  for  you  must  be  here  at  just  twelve 
o'clock  to-night ! ' 

'«  And  the  next  thing  I  remember,  you  were  sitting 
the)  e,  and  I  — 

Doctor  !  it  is  hard  to  leave  you  —  Hark  !  God  bless 
you  all !  Good  by ! 

Doctor  !  please  to  give  my  musket  and  my  knap 
sack,  when  I  die, 

To  my  son  —  my  son  that's  coming  —  he  won't  get 
here  till  f  die  ! 

"  Tell  him  his  old  father  blessed  him  as  he  never 

did  before  — 
And  to  carry  that  old  musket  —  "  Hark !  a  knock 

is  at  the  door  !  — 
"  Till  the  Union  "  —  see  !    it  opens  !  —  «  Father  ! 

father  !  speak  once  more  !  "  — 
"  Bless  you  !  "  gasped  the  old,  gray  Sergeant,  and 

he  lay  and  said  no  more  ! 

When  the  Surgeon  gave  the  heir-son  the  old  Ser 
geant's  last  advice  — 

And  his  musket  and  his  knapsack  —  how  the  fire 
flashed  in  his  eyes  1  — 

He  is  on  the  march  this  morning,  and  will  march 
on  till  he  dies  — 

He  will  save  this  bleeding  country,  or  will  fight 
until  he  dies !  * 


PRESIDENT  LINCOLN'S  TRIBUTE  TO  THE  LOY 
AL  WOMEN  OF  AMERICA.  —  At  the  close  of  the 
Patent  Office  Fair  in  Washington,  Mr.  Lincoln, 
in  answer  to  loud  and  continuous  calls,  made  the 
following  remarks : 

"  Ladies  and  Gentlemen :  I  appear,  to  say  but 
a  word.  This  extraordinary  war  in  which  we  are 
engaged  falls  heavily  upon  all  classes  of  people, 
but  the  most  heavily  upon  the  soldier.  For  it  has 
been  said,  '  All  that  a  man  hath  will  he  give  for 
his  life ; '  and  while  all  contribute  of  their  sub 
stance,  the  soldier  puts  his  life  at  stake,  and  often 
yields  it  up  in  his  country's  cause.  The  highest 
merit,  then,  is  due  to  the  soldier. 

"  In  this  extraordinary  war  extraordinary  de 
velopments  have  manifested  themselves,  such  a^ 
have  not  been  seen  in  former  wars ;  and  among 
these  manifestations  nothing  has  been  more  re 
markable  than  these  Fairs  for  the  relief  of  suffer 
ing  soldiers  and  their  families.  And  the  chief 
agents  in  these  Fairs  are  the  women  of  America. 

"  I  am  not  accustomed  to  the  use  of  language 
of  eulogy  ;  I  have  never  studied  the  art  of  paying 
compliments  to  women ;  but  I  must  say,  that  if 
all  that  has  been  said  by  orators  and  poets  since 
the  creation  of  the  world  in  praise  of  woman  were 
applied  to  the  women  of  America,  it  would  not  do 
them  justice  for  their  conduct  during  this  war.  I 
ndll  close  by  saying,  God  bless  the  women  of 
America." 

*  This  very  remarkable  poem  was  distributed  on 
the  first  day  of  the  year,  1863,  by  the  carriers  of  the 
Louisville  journal. 


THE  LOYAL  VIRGINIA  GIRL,  AND  HOW  SHE 

SAVED  THE  WAR  MAPS  FOR  THE  UNION   SCOUTS. 

—  During  the  winter  of  1861-2,  when  McClel- 
lan's  grand  army  lay  along  the  Potomac,  and  be 
fore  it  had  been  decided  to  try  an  advance  by 
the  Peninsula,  it  became  a  matter  of  the  utmost 
importance  to  the  Union  Generals  to  obtain  ac 
curate  and  thorough  maps  of  all  North-eastern 
Virginia,  the  region  destined  to  be  the  theatre 
)f  movements  so  important. 

With  that  vie  v,  a  number  of  intelligent  and 
scientific  scouts,  armed  with  minute  pocket  com 
passes  and  smdl  boxes  of  drawing  materials, 
fearlessly  pushed  their  way  through  the  lines, 
and  as  they  were  apparently  rambling  about 
among  the  hills  and  through  the  woods  as  non- 
belligerents  and  in  the  dress  of  citizens,  were 
collecting  and  tracing  down  on  maps  a  very 
complete  topographical  history  of  all  they  saw. 

Southern  surveyors  and  draughtsmen  were  en 
gaged  in  the  same  work,  and  as  they  had  every 
facility  in  their  operations,  and  were  directed  by 
|  an  engineer  no  less  skilful  than  Beauregard, 
their  maps  were  of  inestimable  value  to  the  Fed 
eral  officers,  and  for  the  service  of  preserving 
and  delivering  them  to  the  Union  scouts,  we  are 
indebted  to  the  coolness,  presence  of  mind,  and 
loyalty  of  Miss ,  a  Virginia  girl  of  fourteen. 

The  topographical  corps  sent  out  by  Beaure 
gard  had  established  their  headquarters  at  her 
lather's  house,  and  were  there  busy  in  plotting 
down  their  surveys,  when  this  girl,  who  was 
watching  at  the  window,  gave  the  alarm,  "  The 
blue-coats  are  coming  down  the  road."  Without 
stopping  to  save  a  paper,  they  all  rushed  the 
other  way,  out  at  the  back  door,  and  hid  in  the 
woods  adjacent.  The  little  squad  of  Union 
scouts  rode  quickly  down  the  road,  but  mistrust 
ing  some  mischief,  soon  turned  back,  and  rods 
away. 

Meantime  this  young  girl  had  gathered  up  all 
the  maps  into  one  great  roll,  and  taken  it  into 
the  attic,  and  hid  it  in  a  hole  in  the  chimney. 

In  time  the  alarm  subsided,  and  the  topogra 
phers  came  cautiously  back  from  the  bushes,  but, 
to  their  great  astonishment  and  chagrin,  found 
not  a  vestige  of  their  work. 

They  inquired  of  the  girl  what  had  become  of 
their  maps. 

" O,"  said  she,  "do  you  think  I  was  stupid 
enough  to  let  them  Yanks  get  hold  of  them? 
No,  indeed.  When  I  saw  them  riding  down  the 
road,  those  maps  were  going  up  the  chimney !  " 

"  Good  for  you  !  "  was  the  reply.  "  We'll  have 
them  all  to  draw  over  again,  but  that's  bettei 
than  for  those  confounded  blue-coats  to  get 
them." 

Considering  the  situation  somewhat  perilous, 
they  withdrew ;  and  a  day  or  two  after,  a  Union 
scout  came  in,  and  found  a  prompt  welcome. 

He  requested  hei  to  watch  at  the  window  for 
him,  while  he  pulled  out  a  secret  roll  of  paper, 
and  commenced  to  map  out  the  country  through 
tfhich  he  had  been  wandering. 

"  So  it's  maps  that  you  are  making  too.  I 
think  I  can  give  you  some  that  1  reckon  you 
never  saw  before."  So  saying,  she  ran  up  stairs. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS 


267 


and  brought  down  the  roll  from  the  hole  in  the 
chimney,  and  told  him  how  she  saved  them,  and 
how  entirely  satisfied  the  other  party  had  been 
that  their  maps  had  gone  up  the  chimney  in  a 
very  different  sense. 


"DIDN'T  SEE  IT."  —  A  correspondent  gives 
the  following  instance  of  Vermont  pluck:  "In 
Kilpatrick's  last  'On  to  Richmond'  was  a  soldier 
boy  by  the  name  of  Edwin  A.  Porter,  whose 
mother  lives  in  Wells,  Vt.  In  one  of  the  skir 
mishes,  he  rode  up  fearlessly  to  a  squad  of  rebels. 
The  officer  demanded  of  him  to  surrender.  He 
replied,  coolly,  '  Don't  see  it ; '  and  suiting  his 
actions  to  his  words,  he  instantly  drew  his  sabre, 
with  which  he  cleft  the  head  of  the  officer,  at  the 
same  instant  wheeling  his  horse  to  join  his  com 
pany,  the  rebels  firing  a  volley  at  him,  of  which 
shower  the  lad  carried  off  in  his  person  four  bul 
lets,  joining  his  company,  G.  He  kept  his  sad 
dle  for  more  than  one  hour,  and  is  now  doing 
well." 


THE  AMERICAN  FLAG  IN  NASHVILLE.  —  The 

following  letter,  on  the  joy  of  seeing  the  Ameri 
can  flag  in  Nashville,  was  written  by  a  young  lady  : 

"  Rej  oice  with  me,  dear  grandma !  The  glorious 
Star-spangled  Banner  of  the  United  States  is 
again  floating  above  us !  O,  how  we  have  hoped 
for,  longed  for,  prayed  for  this  joyous  day !  I 
am  wild,  crazed  almost,  with  delight.  I  am  still 
fearful  that  I  shall  awake,  and  find  our  deliver 
ance,  our  freedom,  is  all  a  dream.  I  cannot  be 
lieve  that  it  is  a  positive  fact,  it  has  come  upon 
us  so  unexpectedly,  this  successful  move  of  the 
UnioB  army.  Grandma,  I  cannot  write  connect 
edly  at  all.  Forgive  me  all  faults  of  composi 
tion,  for  I  can  see  the  Stars  and  Stripes  of  my 
evar-loved  floating  from  the  State  House  —  the 
first  time  my  eyes  have  been  gladdened  by  such 
a  sight  for  nearly  a  year.  So  great  is  my  ecstasy, 
I  cannot  sit  still  —  I  cannot  keep  my  eyes  on  the 
paper — indeed,  I  cannot  do  anything  but  sing, 
whistle,  or  hum  '  Yankee  Doodle,'  *  Hail  Colum 
bia,'  *  The  Star-spangled  Banner,'  and  feast  my 
eyes  on  those  victorious  colors. 

"  O  grandma !  you  cannot  imagine  our  happi 
ness  at  this  sudden  change  in  the  aspect  of  pub 
lic  affairs.  The  morning  that  Fort  Doneison 
surrendered,  there  seemed  to  be  such  an  intense 
feeling  of  bitterness  here  against  the  Union  men  ! 
The  papers  (how  little  did  they  imagine  that  that 
would  be  their  last  issue  !)  came  out  on  that  Sun 
day  morning  with  maledictions  and  threats  the 
most  inhuman  against  them,  saying  that  if  such 
&  fiendish  villain  remained  in  our  midst,  he  must 
and  should  be  dealt  with  instantly  as  a  traitor  of 
the  deepest  dye. 

"  We  have  had  so  much  to  bear  since  I  wrote 
you  !  My  father  and  brother  have  been  taunted, 
sneered  and  hissed  at,  threatened  by  every  one, 
until  endurance  was  becoming  impossible.  But 
nothing  (I  am  so  proud  to  say  it,  and  thank  God 
for  it),  nothing  co'uld  make  them  play  the  hypo 


crite.  They  believed  the  Federal  cause  was  just 
and  right,  and  they  would,  in  spite  of  our  prayers 
and  tears,  express  their  opinions  openly,  and  de 
nounce  secession  boldly.  We  have  been  warned, 
since  Zollicoffer's  death,  thrt  there  was  imminent 
danger  here  for  them  ;  and  the  hatred  towards 
Union  men  was  becoming  so  intense  that  both 
ma  and  I  have  been  in  an  agony  of  suspense. 
We  could  not  leave  home,  a&  we  never  did,  with- 
OT:*,  being  insulted.  I  have  had  to  sit  quietly  by, 
ani  hear  my  father  and  brother  denounced  as 
traitors.  My  temper  is  quick,  and  the  curb  that 
I  have  been  obliged  to  keep  .ipon  it  has  been  a 
galling  one  —  indeed,  sometimes  I  have  thought 
all  that  was  gentle  and  womanly  in  me  was  turned 
into  bitterness  and  hate. 

"  For  my  idolized  brother  I  have  felt  more  keen 
ly  than  for  anything  else.  He  is  naturally  sensi 
tive,  and  of  such  delicacy  of  feeling  that  he  has 
suffered  deeply.  Being  drafted,  he  procured  a 
substitute  ;  and,  though  displaying  so  much  moral 
courage,  lie  has  been  hissed  at  as  a  coward  ever 
since,  until  he  would  vow  to  escape  and  join  the 
Federal  army,  and  several  times  endeavored  to 
do  so  ;  but  pa,  discovering  his  plans,  prevented 
him  from  it,  by  showing  him  the  ruin  he  would 
bring  upon  us  all  by  such  a  step.  The  cloud  was 
lowering  over  us,  growing  darker  and  darker  day 
by  day,  and  I  thought  the  silver  lining  never 
would  appear;  but  it  is  here!  —  even  now  beam 
ing  upon  us  so  brightly  that  we  can  scarcely 
credit  the  reality. 

"  Can  you  wonder  that,  in  the  state  of  feeling 
I  was  'in  that  Sunday  morning,  dear  grandma, 
when  Tom  knocked  at  the  door,  and  called  out  to 
me  that  Fort  Doneison  was  surrendered,  and  the 
Federal  army  would  soon  be  in  Nashville,  I  be 
came  perfectly  frantic  with  joy  ? 

"  I  ran  screaming  over  the  house,  knocking 
down  chairs  and  tables,  clapping  my  hands,  and 
shouting  for  the  '  Union,'  until  the  children  were 
terrified,  and  ma  and  pa  thought  I  was  delirious ! 
I  rushed  into  the  parlor  and  thundered  '  Yankee 
Doodle  '  on  the  piano  in  such  a  manner  as  I  had 
never  done  before.  I  caught  little  Johnny  up  in 
my  arms,  and  held  him  over  the  porch  railing  up 
stairs  until  he  hurrahed  for  the  Star-spangled 
Banner,  Seward,  Lincoln,  and  McClellan  !  The 
little  fellow  thought  his  sister  was  going  to  kill 
him,  she  looked  so  wild,  and  would  not  come  near 
me  again  for  several  days. 

"  Just  in  the  midst  of  these  rejoicings,  intelli 
gence  came  that  Johnston's  army  from  Bowling 
Green  had  evacuated  the  place,  and  was  even 
then  passing  on  the  turnpike  to  Nashville.  Could 
it  be  possible  ?  Yes,  indeed !  There  they  were 
retreating  most  valiantly.  Grandma,  you  never 
saw  such  a  frightened  set  of  men !  They  could 
not  get  over  the  river  fast  enough !  I  never  bade 
the  Southern  army  'God-speed'  but  that  once, 
and  then  I  did  it  with  my  whole  heart.  May  their 
present  advance  be  successful  even  to  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico  itself!  , 

"  If  you  could  have  seen  Breckinridge !  the 
meanest,  the  most  down  fallen  looking  specimen 
of  huma  -uty  imagir  able.  The  army  did  not  stop 


208 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND   INCIDENTS. 


in  Nashville  one  day,  but  went  on  as  swiftly  as 
possible.  The  citizens  here  were  mortified  and 
exasperated  to  the  quick  by  this  surrender.  Floyd 
remained  in  Nashville  a  few  days  after  his  brave 
escape  from  Fort  Donelson.  After  the  army  had 
gone,  and  the  city  had  sent  commissioners  to  sur 
render,  he  had  both  bridges  destroyed,  though  he 
could  give  no  reason  for  it,  and  though  it  was 
against  the  prayers  and  protestations  of  the  citi 
zens.  He  is  a  wicked  wretch.  Is  it  wrong  to 
wish  that  he  may  soon  meet  the  fate  he  deserves  ? 

"  It  was  not  until  a  week  after  Donelson's  fall 
that  the  Federals  came  in.  We,  whose  all  de 
pended  upon  their  speedy  arrival,  had  begun  to 
think  that  they  were  not  coming,  after  all,  and  our 
freedom  was  not  yet  at  hand ;  but  on  a  Sunday 
afternoon,  my  brother  came  in,  the  picture  of  hap 
piness,  with  the  intelligence  that  Buell  would  be 
here  in  a  few  days ;  that  he  had  ridden  up  and 
met  his  advanced  guard,  and  that  now  at  last  we 
could  rejoice.  Buell  came  in  at  night.  The 
troops  were  in  perfect  discipline,  and  completely 
amazed  the  poor  duped  people  here  by  their  or 
derly  behavior.  For  the  people  believed  that  the 
soldiers  would  not  stop  till  they  had  murdered  the 
women  and  eaten  the  children ;  but  when  it  was 
seen  that  they  took  nothing  without  pay,  the 
people  were  rejoiced  to  sell,  for  money  "of  any 
kind  has  long  been  a  marvellous  sight  here. 

"  But  O,  grandma,  I  have  not  told  you  what  did 
me  more  good  than  anything  else  —  the  pairic 
here  on  the  16th.  Away  flew  the  citizens  without 
stopping  for  anything !  The  brave  city  regiments 
who  on  the  Hth  took  their  stand  on  the  square 
with  Andrew  Ewing  at  their  head,  and  vowed  to 
die  there,  fighting  eveii  against  myriads  of  the 
4  barbarians,'  should  they  ever  reach  Nashville, 
heard  at  twelve  o'clock  on  the  16th  of  the  sur 
render  of  Donelsojn,  and  at  eight  o'clock  in  the 
evening  of  that  same  day,  not  one  of  the  gallant 
determined  braves  was  to  be  found  within  miles 
of  Nashville.  Didn't  I  clap  my  hands  and  shriek 
for  joy  when  it  was  told  on  Monday  that  not  one 
editor  remained  in  our  city !  that  their  wicked 
threats  had  been  published  for  the  last  time  here  ? 

"  The  town  is  almost  deserted,  so  many  fami 
lies  have  left  their  homes,  and  fled,  panic-stricken, 
away.  It  is  so  distressing  to  think  of  the  suffer 
ings  they  have  brought  upon  themselves  so  need 
lessly.  The  Federals  have  interfered  with  no  one 
whatever,  and  have  behaved  much  better  than 
the  rebel  army.  The  Governor  and  Legislature 
left  the  very  day  Donelson  surrendered.  May 
they  never  return ! 

"  Grandma,  you  will  think  me  a  heartless  girl 
to  write  thus,  and  I  know  it  is  wrong,  but  you 
would  excuse  me  if  you  knew  what  we  had  to 
contend  with.  I  speak  the  truth  when  I  say  that, 
notwithstanding  our  former  social  position  and 
popularity  here,  there  is  not  now  one  family  of 
all  our  friends  who  would  cross  our  threshold, 
or  bid  us  welcome  to  theirs.  My  noble  uncle  is 
always  an  exception.  He  and  pa  have  stood 
firmly  together,  enduring  the  tempest,  and  noth 
ing  now  should  ever  divide  us.  Mr. ,  too, 

has  never  faltered  in  '  is  allegiance.  "When  the 


death  of  his  only  son  was  told  him,  his  exclama 
tion  was,  '  Would  to  God  he  had  died  in  a  nobler 
cause ! ' 

"But  I  tremble  when  I  think  of  the  possibility 
of  a  reverse  —  that  the  Confederates  should  evei 
get  back  here.  Tl  e.i  our  doom  is  apoken  —  either 
flight  —  beggary  —  or,  remainii..g,  death. 

"  O  that  th  3  United  Si  ites  troops  would  push 
onward  rapidly,  and  make  an  end  to  the  rebellion 
while  the  Confederates  are  quaking  with  fear  and 
dismay.  Give  them  no  time  to  rally. 

"  Now  that  the  rai_road  and  telegraph  will  soon 
be  opened,  we  will  be  again  in  a  civilized  country ; 
and  surely  we  have  cause  to  rejoice,  for  Ave  have 
been  living  in  utter  darkness  a  long,  weary  time. 
If  you  could  see  my  father  it  would  do  you  good. 
He  looks  happy  again !  The  gloomy,  sad  brow 
of  two  veeks  ago  is  once  more  smoothed  with 
content ! 
banner ! " 


Three  cheers  for  the  sight  of  the  old 


"  DABNEY,"  THE  COLOKED  SCOUT.  —  He  was 
emphatically  what  the  old  Southern  advertise 
ments  used  to  call  a  "  smart,  likely  negro  fel 
low  ;  "  and  after  he  had  left  his  secesh  master, 
who  lived  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Ilappahan- 
nock,  above  Fredericksburg,  General  Hooker 
found  his  minute  and  reliable  knowledge  of  the 
country  and  the  character  of  its  inhabitants  of 
great  importance  to  him. 

On  one  occasion,  just  before  the  battle  of 
Chancellorsville,  a  scouting  party  had  come  in, 
who  reported  a  certain  locality  "entirely  free  of 

the  enemy;  they  had  talked  with  Mr.  1) -,  a 

farmer,  who  said  there  were  no  Southerners  any 
where  near  him,  and  had  not  been  for  several 
days.  Dabney  heard  the  report  of  the  scouts, 
and  warned  the  General  not  to  believe  a  word  of 
what  they  heard  Mr.  D say. 

"  You  must  take  him  just  contrariwise  from 
what  he  talks,"  said  Dabney.  "  If  he  says  there 
are  no  rebs  there,  you  may  be  sure  there  are 
plenty  of  them  all  aboutj  and  got  their  big  guns 
all  ready." 

But  considerable  faith  was  attached  to  what 
the  scouts  had  reported,  and  a  force  was  sent  to 
feel  in  that  neighborhood,  and  see  what  there 
might  be  there. 

Dabney  went  at  the  head  of  the  column  as 
pilot,  though  all  the  time  protesting  that,  instead 
of  taking  that  man  at  his  word,  they  should  be 
prepared  for  the  worst.  Dabney  was  well  mount 
ed,  and  felt  no  little  pride  as  he  moved  along,  at 
the  head  of  a  powerful  column,  over  roads  which 
he  had  so  often  trod  with  the  dejected  air  and 
clouded  spirit  of  a  slave. 

"  I  know  that  man  very  well,"  he  kept  saying. 
"  He's  my  ole  mass'r,  and  he's  a  man  you  have 
to  take  just  contrary  to  what  he  says." 

Soon  the  head  of  the  column  approached  the 
locality ;  and,  sure  enough,  the  rebels  were  there 
in  force,  and  opened  with  a  storm  of  grape  and 
canister.  The  Union  force  soon  got  guns  in  po 
sition,  and  a  brisk  skirmish  was  going  on,  in  the 
midst  of  which  Dabney's  fine  horse  fell  under 
him,  pierced  by  a  grape- -hot.  But  he  was  not  to 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


269 


be  dismounted  as  easily  as  that,  and  while  the 
fight  was  quite  lively,  and  his  old  master  was 
fully  occupied  with  the  stirring  scene,  Dabney 
slipped  down  to  the  river,  swam  across,  went  to 
the  stables,  and  taking  the  finest  horse  there, 
mounted  him,  dashed  down  to  the  river,  swam 
him  across,  and  came  back  to  the  Union  lines, 
all  the  time  under  fire,  saying,  as  he  rode  up,  "  I 
told  you  you  couldn't  depend  on  what  that  man 
said  about  the  rebs  not  being  there ;  but  never 
mind,  it  has  given  me  a  chance  to  'fiscate  a 
mighty  fine  horse." 

After  that  adventure,  as  he  was  finely  mounted, 
and  his  knowledge  of  the  inhabitants  was  shown 
to  be  reliable,  he  was  constantly  employed  as  a 
pilot  to  the  scouting  parties. 


PADDY   OX    SAMBO  AS  A   SOLDIER. 

BY  PRIVATE  MILES  O'REILLY. 

AIR  :  "  The  Low*  Backed  Car" 

SOME  tell  us  'tis  a  burning  shame 

To  make  the  naygurs  fight, 
An'  that  the  thrade  of  bein'  kilt 

Belongs  but  to  the  white  ; 
But  as  for  me,  upon  my  sowl! 

So  liberal  are  we  here, 

I'll  let  Sambo  be  murdered  in  place  cf  my  self 
On  every  day  in  the  year  ! 

On  every  day  in  the  year,  boys, 
*    And  every  hour  in  the  day, 
The  right  to  be  kilt  I'll  divide  wid  him, 
An'  divil  a  word  I'll  say. 

IB.  battle's  wild  commotion 

I  shouldn't  at  all  object 
If  Sambo's  body  should  stop  a  ball 

That  was  comin'  for  me  direct ; 
And  the  prod  of  a  Southern  bagnet, 

So  liberal  are  we  here, 
I'll  resign,  and  let  Sambo  take  it, 
On  every  day  in  the  year ! 

On  every  day  in  the  year,  boys, 

And  wid  none  of  your  nasty  pride, 
All  my  right  in  a  Southern  bagiiet  prod 
Wid  Sambo  I'll  divide. 

The  men  who  object  to  Sambo 

Should  take  his  place  and  fight ; 
And  it's  better  to  have  a  naygur's  hue 

Than  a  liver  that's  wake  an'  white. 
Though  Sambo's  black  as  the  ace  of  spades, 

His  finger  a  thrigger  can  pull, 
And  his  eye  runs  straight  on  the  barrel-sights 
From  under  his  thatch  of  wool ! 
So  hear  me  all,  boys,  darlings,  — 

Don't  think  I'm  tippin'  you  chaff,  — 
The  right  to  be  kilt  I'll  divide  wid  him, 
And  give  him  the  largest  half ! 


^  INCIDENTS  OF  BULL  RUN.  —  The  famous  Sixty- 
ninth  Irish  regiment,  sixteen  hundred  strong, 
who  had  so  much  of  the  hard  digging  to  perform, 
claimed  the  honor  of  a  share  in  the  hard  fighting, 
and  led  the  van  of  Tyler's  attack,  followed  by  the 
Seventy-ninth  (Highlanders)  and  Thirteenth  New 
York  and  Second  Wisconsin. 


It  was  a  brave  sight  —  that  rush  of  the  Sixty- 
ninth  into  the  death-struggle !  With  such  cheers 
as  those  which  won  the  battles  in  the  Peninsula,, 
with  a  quick  step  at  first,  and  then  a  double  quick, 
and  at  last  a  run.  they  dashec.  forward,  and  along 
the  edge  of  the  extended  forest.  Coats  and  knap 
sacks  were  thrown  to  either  side,  that  nothing 
might  impede  their  v>  ork  ;  but  we  knew  that  no 
guns  would  slip  from  the  hands  of  those  deter 
mined  fellows,  even  if  dying  agonies  were  needed 
to  close  them  with  a  firmer  grasp.  As  the  line 
swept  along,  Meagher  gal. aped  towards  the  head, 
crying,  "  Come  on,  boys!  you've  got  your  chance 
at  last ! " 

Colonel  Bartow's  horse  had  been  shot  from 
under  him.  It  was  observed  that  the  forces  with 
which  his  movement  was  to  be  supported  had  not 
come  up.  But  it  was  enough  that  he  had  been 
ordered  to  storm  the  battery ;  so,  placing  himself 
at  the  head  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  he  again 
led  the  charge,  this  time  on  foot,  and  gallantly 
encouraging  his  men  as  they  rushed  on.  The  first 
discharge  from  the  enemy's  guns  killed  the  regi 
mental  color-bearer.  Bartow  immediately  seized 
the  flag,  and  again  putting  himself  in  the  front, 
dashed  on,  flag  in  hand,  his  voice  ringing  clear 
I  over  the  battle-fields,  and  saying,  "  On,  my  boys ! 
Ave  will  die  rather  than  yield  or  retreat."  And  on 
the  brave  boys  did  go,  and  faster  flew  the  enemy's 
bullets.  The  fire  was  awful.  Not  less  than  four 
thousand  muskets  were  pouring  their  fatal  con 
tents  upon  them,  while  the  battery  itself  was 
dealing  death  on  every  side. 

The  gallant  Eighth  regiment,  which  had  al 
ready  passed  through  the  distressing  ordeal,  again 
rallied,  determined  to  stand  by  their  chivalric 
Colonel  to  the  last.  The  more  furious  the  fire, 
the  quicker  became  the  advancing  step  of  the 
two  regiments.  At  last,  and  just  when  they  were 
Hearing  the  goal  of  their  hopes,  and  almost  in 
the  arms  of  victory,  the  brave  and  noble  Bartow 
was  shot  down,  the  ball  striking  him  in  the  left 
breast,  just  above  the  heart.  Colonel  Bartow  died 
soon  after  he  was  borne  from  the  field.  His  last 
words,  as  repeated  to  me,  were :  "  They  have 
killed  me,  my  brave  boys,  but  never  give  up  the 
ship  —  we'll  whip  them  yet."  And  so  we  did ! 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTH  RHODE  ISL 
AND.  —  One  of  the  Rhode  Island  boys  out  on 
picket  near  Yorktown,  Va.,  found  himself  in  close 
proximity  to  one  of  the  enemy's  pickets,  and, 
after  exchanging  a  few  *shots  without  availing 
anything,  they  mutually  agreed  to  cease  and  go 
to  dinner.  "  What  regiment  do  you  belong  to  F  " 
asked  our  inquisitive  Yankee  friend  of  his  neigh 
bor.  "  The  Seventeenth  Georgia  "  was  the  re 
sponse  ;  "  and  what  regiment  do  you  belong  to  ?  " 
asked  Secesh.  "  The  One  Hundred  and  Fifth 
Rhode  Island,"  answered  our  Yankee  friend.  Se 
cesh  gave  a  long,  low  whistle,  and  —  evaporated. 


ANECDOTE  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.  —  A  lieu 
tenant,  whom  debts  compelle  i  to  leave  his  father- 


270 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


land  ami  service,  succeeded  in  being  admitted  to 
thy  Ial3  President  Lincoln,  and,  by  reason  of  his 
commendable  and  winning  deportment  and  intel 
ligent  appearance,  was  promised  a  lieutenant's 
commission  in  a  cavalry  regiment.  He  was  so 
enraptured  with  his  success,  that  he  deemed  it  a 
duty  to  inform  the  President  that  he  belonged 
to  one  of  the  oldest  noble  houses  in  Germany. 
"  O,  never  mind  that,"  said  Mr.  Lincoln ;  "  you 
will  not  find  that  to  be  an  obstacle  to  your  ad 
vancement."  

PATRIOTISM.  —  Orpheus  C.  Kerr  says:  "Pa 
triotism,  my  boy,  is  a  very  beautiful  thing.  The 
surgeon  of 'a  Western  regiment  has  analyzed  a 
very  nice  case  of  it,  and  says  it  is  peculiar  to  the 
hemisphere.  He  says  it  first  breaks  out  in  the 
mouth,  and  from  thence  extends  to  the  heart, 
causing  the  heai't  to  swell.  He  says  it  goes  on 
raging  until  it  reaches  the  pocket,  when  it  sud 
denly  disappears,  leaving  the  patient  very  consti 
tutional  and  conservative." 


TO  AND  FROM  LIBBY  PRISON. 

BY   JOHN   F.    HILL. 

For  the  satisfaction  of  the  friends,*  1  shall 
give  a  brief  statement  cf  our  capture,  prison  life, 
and  of  the  escape  of  three  of  our  members  fro'm 
the  Danville  prison,  with  an  account  of  their  safe 
arrival  within  our  Union  lines. 

The  post  my  regiment  was  assigned  to,  at  the 
great  battle  of  Chickamauga,  on  the  20th  of  Sep 
tember,  1803,  was  one  which  it  required  great 
coolness  and  bravery  on  our  part  to  hold  against 
the  heavy  masses  that  were  from  time  to  time 
hurled  against  us.  It  was  past  the  middle  of  the 
day  when  we  were  brought  into  action.  We  had 
been  held  back  in  the  forenoon  on  the  reserve, 
and,  when  we  went  into  the  fight,  the  original  line 
had  become  broken,  and  was  falling  back  in  con 
siderable  confusion.  The  rebels  came  charging 
down  upon  us,  but  our  boys  stood  the  fire  nobly. 
We  would  be  compelled  at  times  to  fall  back,  but 
we  would  rally  again,  and  regain  the  ground  we 
had  lost.  We  had  orders  to  hold  the  ground  to 
the  last  possible  moment,  so  as  to  allow  our  line 
of  battle  to  fall  back  and  re-form.  For  over  five 
hours  we  kept  three  times  our  number  at  bay, 
fighting  them  from  behind  trees  and  logs,  and 
lying  down  on  the  ground.  Our  ammunition 
began  to  fail  at  last,  an$  we  had  to  resort  to  the 
cartridge-boxes  of  the  slain  for  more.  Half  of 
our  men  had  been  killed,  wounded,  or  fallen  back 
to  the  rear.  Darkness  was  coming  on ;  still  we 
despaired  not.  General  Granger  had  been  on  the 
ground,  and  promised  to  send  us  reinforcements. 

A  column  of  infantry  was  seen  at  our  right, 
coming  directly  towards  us,  but  it  was  so  dark 
that  we  could  not  discern  who  they  were.  At  the 
distance  of  one  hundred  yards  our  men  com 
menced  firing  into  them,  when  our  Colonel  or- 

*  Written  especially  for  the  Eighty-ninth  Ohio  regi 
ment,  and  published  in  the  Scioto  Gazette. 


dered  us  to  cease  firing,  for  they  were  friends. 
At  the  distance  of  fifty  yo'-ds  our  Colonel  hailed 
them,  asking  who  they  «"2nu  and  they  replied, 
"  Friends ; "  but  in  a  moment  we  saw  who  they 
were  ;  for  they  were  rebels  coming  at  charge 
bayonet.  Our  Colonel  hallooed  out,  "  I  know 
who  you  are."  Their  rebel  commander  demanded 
with  an  oath,  "  Do  you  never  intend  to  sur 
render  ?  "  to  whi  ;h  Colonel  Carlton  asked,  "  Is 
there  a  possibility  of  an  escape?"  to  which  the 
rebel  commander  replied  :  "  None,  for  we  have 
our  lines  thrown  entirely  around  you."  With 
out  further  ceremony  we  soon  found  ourselves 
divested  of  guns  and  cartridge-boxes,  and  under 
guard  by  our  victors — the  Fifty-Fourth  Vir 
ginia  infantry.  Out  of  three  hundred  and  thirty 
of  our  regiment  that  went  into  the  fight,  only 
one  hundred  and  seventy  were  captured,  the  re 
mainder  having  been  either  Iqlled,  wounded,  or 
straggled  back  to  the.  rear,  early  enough  in  the 
day  to  make  good  their  escape.  Of  commissioned 
officers  they  got  a  good  sprinkle,  including  Col 
onel  Carlton,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Glenn,  Captains 
Day,  Barrett,  Adams,  Gatch,  and  Glenn ;  Lieu 
tenants  Edmonson,  Harrison,  Scott,  Baird,  and 
Fail-field,  and  Assistant-Surgeon  Purdum. 

We  were  taken  directly  to  the  rear  that  night, 

j  and  passed  directly  over  the  battle-ground  of  Sat- 

j  urday.     Here  we  noticed  that  none  of  the  dead 

!  had  been  interred,  or  even  the  wounded  attended 

s  to  ;  and  many  a  poor  fellow  cried  piteousjy  to  us 

i  for  lulp.     There  they  had  been  lying  for  thirty- 

s  six  hours,   suffering  from  painful  wounds,  in  a 

j  hot  sun,  parching  up  for  want  of  water  ;  and  the 

woods  were  in  several  places  on  fire,  threatening 

them  with  the  most  horrible  death. 

We  found  our  captors  very  kind  and  gentle 
manly  to  us,  doing  everything  in  their  power  to 
make  us  feel  happy  and  contented  with  our  lot. 
We  acknowledged  to  them  that  they  were  victors ; 
but  they  said  they  had  nothing  to  boast  of,  for 
they  had  bought  us  at  a  dear  price  of  life  and 
blood. 

They  hurried  us  that  night  to  General  Buck- 
ner's  headquarters,  where  we  rested  about  an 
hour,  and  then  were  sent  on  farther  to  the  rear, 
and  it  must  have  been  two  o'clock  Monday  morn 
ing,  when  they  permitted  us  to  lie  down  and 
sleep  till  sunrise.  We  were  then  marched  to 
Tunnel  Hill.  There  we  were  robbed  of  our  knap 
sacks,  gum  blankets,  and  canteens.  The  next 
day  they  marched  us  to  Dalton,  where,  on  the 
morning  of  the  23d,  we  took  the  cars  to  Atlanta, 
Ga.  There  the  authorities  and  citizens  were  very 
saucy  and  insulting  to  us,  calling  us  by  all  kinds 
of  names  and  asking  us:  "When  is 'old  Rosy 
coming  again  to  Georgia  ?  and  how  we  liked 
Chickamauga."  But  our  boys  would  give  them 
half-a-dozen  for  six,  and  ask  them  when  old  Lee 
was  going  up  into  Pennsylvania  again,  or  how 
they  liked  Gettysburg,  &c.  There  they  robbed 
us  again  of  our  woollen  blankets,  and  also,  by  an 
order  from  Howell  Cobb,  Provost  Marshal,  they 
took  all  of  our  penknives,  in  retaliation,  they 
said,  for  the  way  the  North  had  served  JoLn  Mor 
gan  and  his  men. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


273 


There  we  were  put  aboard  the  cars  again,  and 
after  six  days'  and  nights'  travel,  found  our 
selves  in  the  rebel  capital,  and  shortly  afterwards 
inmates  of  one  of  the  Libby  prisons,  known  as 
<.he  warehouse  of  Crew  &  Pemberton,  tobacco- 
ni&cs.  The  building  was  a  substantial  brick,  four 
stories  high.  In  this  they  thrust  twenty-one  hun- 
ired  of  us.  There  were  seven  rooms  of  about 
forty  by  one  hundred  feet,  with  three  hundred 
men  to  each  room.  There,  almost  crowded  to 
death,  commenced  a  life  that  will  be  forever  im 
pressed  upon  our  minds  ;  and  I  am  fearful  that 
some  of  us  will  have  the  effects  of  that  prison 
life  so  impressed  into  our  systems  that  it  will  hur 
ry  us  to  our  graves.  The  horrors  of  those  pris 
ons  I  will  leave  for  future  historians  to  paint ; 
but  I  will  attempt,  in  my  plain  and  simple  style, 
to  bring  a  few  items  to  the  public  gaze  —  now 
while  humanity,  charity,  and  Christianity  are  the 
boast  of  the  great  Southern  Confederacy. 

Th$  first  day  after  we  had  been  thrust  into  this 
modern  bastile,  a  rebel  officer  by  the  name  of  Cap 
tain  Turner  came  in  and  had  us  all  drawn  up  into 
lines,  and  there  we  had  to  stand  under  guard. 
He  then  proceeded  to  tell  us  that  we  had  to  give 
up  all  our  greenbacks.  He  said  that  he  had  a 
book  there  in  which  he  would  enter  our  names, 
company,  and  regiment,  and  the  amount,  and 
that  when  we  left  the  prison,  exchanged  or  pa 
roled,  we  would  have  all  our  money  refunded  to 
us  ;  and  moreover,  if  we  refused  to  give  our  mon 
ey  up  thus  voluntarily,  we  should  be  searched, 
and  all  moneys  and  valuables  found  about  us 
would  be  confiscated.  We  saw  the  dilemma  we 
were  in,  and  concluded  that  we  would  take  the 
matter  as  easy  as  possible,  swearing  vengeance 
would  be  ours  some  day.  The  boys  were  thus 
robbed  of  several  thousand  dollars,  and  I  have 
not  the  least  idea  that  they  will  ever  see  one  cent 
of  it  again. 

We  were  also  robbed  of  almost  everything 
eke  we  had,  save  the  clothes  on  our  backs,  and 
they  were  poor  and  thin,  for  we  had  worn  them 
for  the  last  eight  months  (not  having  drawn  our 
winter  suits  yet).  Some  had  no  shirts,  others  no 
blouses,  some  barefooted,  others  bareheaded, 
and  our  pants  all  full  of  holes.  With  this  thin 
clothing,  and  no  blankets,  we  were  compelled  to 
stretch  ourselves  upon  the  hard  floor  to  sleep  and 
rest,  and  that  too  in  rooms  where  there  was  not 
the  least  spark  of  fire.  You  may  have  some  idea 
of  our  suffering  at  that  season  of  the  year  ;  but 
your  imaginations  can  never  realize  the  true  state 
of  things.  To  say  we  slept  would  only  be  in 
imagination,  for  I  am  confident  of  myself  that  I 
never  enjoyed  a  nap  of  over  half  an  hour's  du 
ration  at  one  time  during  my  whole  stay  in  prison. 
And  when  we  slept,  it  was  nothing  but  a  doze, 
filled  with  pleasant  dreams  of  home  and  friends, 
of  well-spread  tables  and  inviting  victuals.  I 
have  often  awoke,  catching  myself  in  the  very 
act  of  feeling  for  the  bed  covering ;  and  then  im 
agine  my  feelings,  when  I  found  myself  disap 
pointed  and  compelled  to  lie  there  shivering. 
Our  bones  would  become  so  sore  that  we  were 
compelled  to  be  turning  from  side  to  side  the 


whole  night  long.  Through  the  coldness  of  the 
room,  and  the  hardness  of  the  floor,  we  would 
often  be  compelled  to  get  up  in  the  night  and 
walk  up  and  down  the  room  ',o  keep  ourselveh 
warm.  And  I  have  seen  at  the  hour  jf  midnight 
one  third  of  the  men  in  the  room  pacing  ir.e 
floors  to  and  fro,  sc,  as  to  pass  off  the  long,  weary 
hours  of  the  night.  H:»w  many  a  poor  suffer  er 
in  after  life  will  trace  back  the  cause  of  his  dis 
ease  to  seeds  sown  in  this,  cold,  desolate  prison ! 

But  the  darkest  part  of  my  story  remains  yet 
to  be  told.  Man  may  suffer  with  cold,  pass 
through  incredible  hardships,  endure  fatigue,  and 
never  murmur  —  but  let  hunger  prey  upon  his 
vitals,  ani  he  becomes  mad,  frantic,  and  raving. 
He  loses  all  patience,  humanity,  and  sympathy 
for  others,  and  will  then  stoop  to  acts  which  he 
would  at  other  times  have  shunned  with  disdain. 

At  first,  our  daily  allowance  was  one  half 
pound  of  bread  per  day>  and  two  ounces  of  taint 
ed  beef,  and  that  without  salt.  I  do  not  remem 
ber  of  our  ever  getting  any  fresh  meat  all  the 
time  we  were  there.  It  generally  was  so  bad 
that  we  could  smell  it  as  soon  as  it  was  brought 
into  the  room.  At  times  we  had  some  bacon  is 
sued  to  us,  and  it  was  strong,  old,  and  maggot- 
eaten,  looking  like  a  honey-comb,  it  having  been 
saved  and  cured  with  ashes  and  saltpetre,  and  the 
meat  then  had  a  slimy  look,  like  soft  soap.  At 
last  we  got  some  kind  of  meat  we  could  not  fairly 
account  for.  It  was  neither  beef,  pork,  mutton, 
veal,  nor  venison.  It  was  a  tough,  lean,  black- 
looking  kind  of  flesh;  and  it  was  the  decided 
opinion  of  all  that  it  was  mule  meat.  Hard  as  it 
was,  we  were  very  thankful  to  get  even  that. 
From  off  this  mingled  lot  of  corrupted  flesh  they 
would  furnish  us  a  pint  of  soup.  No,  I  will  not 
class  it  with  that  much-favored  dish  —  it  was 
mere  dish  slop. 

You  may  ask  if  we  relished  this,  and  that  with 
out  salt.  Yes,  the  crumbs  that  fall  from  your  ta 
ble,  and  the  slop  of  your  swill-tubs,  could  be 
eaten  there  without  asking  any  questions.  At 
last,  meat  was  entirely  "  played  out"  and  then  for 
two  days  we  got  one  gill  of  rice,  and  then  one  day 
we  got  two  sweet  potatoes,  and  then  at  last  had 
nothing  but  bread  alone,  and  that  from  half  a  pcuad 
had  been  also  reduced  to  a  small  corn  "  dodger," 
about  the  size  of  a  saucer,  and  hard  enough  to 
knock  a  negro  down,  and  so  strong  with  alam  — 
instead  of  salt  —  as  to  fairly  burn  our  throats.  We 
became  so  starved  at  last  that  'we  fell  upon  some 
bran  that  we  found  in  a  cellar  under  our  prison. 
Of  this  we  helped  ourselves  freely.  We  gener 
ally  managed  it  so  as  to  keep  a  good  supply  of 
this  stuff  ^n  hand.  We  took  the  dry  bran  and 
put  it  in  our  tin  cups,  and  then  poured  enough 
water  upon  it  to  mix  it  into  a  dough,  and  of  this 
we  ate  freely ;  and  to  satisfy  hunge-  we  thought 
it  answered  remarkably  well.  It  looked  distress 
ing  to  see  us  eating  this  weak  diet  with  our  fin 
gers,  relishing  it  as  if  it  was  food  supplied  from 
a  king's  table. 

We  were  also  compeJed  by  starvation  to  seD 
the  guards  all  of  our  jewelry,  including  our 
watches,  gold -pens  and  hoklers.  finger-rings,  and 


272 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


pocket-books ;  and  some  even  sold  the  shoes 
from  off'  their  feet,  for  a  small  pittance  to  keep 
soul  and  body  together.  Starvation  caused  us  to 
resort  to  a  great  many  means  to  procure  the  ne 
cessaries  of  life  ;  and  although  we  were  closely 
confined,  and  strictly  guarded,  we  often  played 
off  some  pretty  sharp  jokes  and  tricks  on  "the 
Southern  Confederacy. 

Some  of  the  boys,  that  had  smuggled  some 
money  through,  would  take  'one-dollar  bills 
(greenbacks),  and  have  them  altered  to  tens. 
These  they  would  take,  after  night,  and  pass  off  on 
the  guards  for  bread  and  tobacco.  And  I  know  of 
one  instance  where  one  of  our  new  copper  cents 
was  passed  off  for  a  two  and  a  half  gold  dollar 
piece.  This  may  look  too  much  like  roguery  ; 
but  what  will  not  a  man  do  before  he  will  starve  ? 
All  of  our  trading  had  to  be  done  after  dark,  for 
the  guards  were  not  allowed  to  speak  to  us.  They 
even  had  orders  to  shoot  us,  if  we  even  put  our 
heads  out  of  the  windows.  But  after  dark,  when 
there  was  no  rebel  officer  near,  we  could  approach 
the  guard,  and  trade  freely ;  but  ere  this  time, 
their  trading  times  are  over,, for  their  resources 
have  lon^  ago  failed. 

There  is  one  joke  that  we  played  off  on  the 
rebel  authorities  that  I  must  not  forget  to  men 
tion.  It  looks  like  a  gigantic  thing,  but  it  can 
be  well  vouched  for  by  hundreds  of  prisoners. 
It  was  nothing  less  than  stealing  a  great  quantity 
of  sugar  and  salt  in  the  rebel  capital.  We  had 
a  large  cellar  under  our  prison,  and  it  was  strong 
ly  locked  and  bolted ;  and  we  soon  mistrusted 
that  there  might  be  something  under  there  that 
we  could  use  to  advantage.  So  we  went  to  work 
and  cut  a  hole  through  the  lower  floor,  and  let 
ourselves  down  into  the  cellar  after  night.  And, 
lo !  there  we  found  it  filled  with  sugar  and  salt. 
We  made  daily  draws  upon  it  for  a  week,  until 
the  authorities  found  it  out,  when  they  cut  off  our 
supplies  by  removing  their  commissariat.  You 
may  judge  we  lived  upon  the  "  fat  of  the  land  " 
for  one  week,  if  we  did  suffer  for  it  afterwards. 
The  joke  was  a  good  one,  and  the  rebels  felt 
completely  sold  over  it.  By  a  statement,  shortly 
afterwards,  in  the  " Dispatch"  they  called  us 
*'  gray  rats,  that  had  dug  a  hole  into  their  cellar, 
and  carried  off  over  nine  thousand  pounds  of 
sugar,  and  thirty-five  hundred  pounds  of  salt." 
Upon  this  I  need  add  no  comments,  for  every 
one  will  say,  "  Well  done." 

We  had  no  regular  prison  rules,  only  what  we 
made  of  our  own.  We  drew  rations  only  once  a 
day ;  sometimes  that  would  be  at  nine  o'clock 
A.  M.,  and  then  sometimes  not  until  eight  o'clock 
at  night.  That  was  h)deed  a  long  time  to  fast, 
but  we  had  to  bear  it  all  with  patience.  We 
would  always  be  so  hungry  that  we  would  devour 
it  all  at  one  meal,  and  then  be  compelled  to  go 
twenty-four  hours  without  tasting  another  mouth 
ful  of  food. 

Amidst  all  our  suffering  we  had  also  another 
enemy  to  contend  against  —  that  was  the  vermin. 
We  soon  became  so  covered  with  these  living 
creatures  that  it  took  several  hours  of  our  daily 
life  to  rid  ourselves  of  them.  It  was  to  me  an 


unclesired  job,  but  J  Kad  to  do  it,  or  be  literally 
eaten  up  alive.  This  may  look,  in  some  people's 
eyes,  like  laziness  or  negligence  on  our  part  to  get 
so,  but  I  will  defy  any  person  to  be  put  a  few 
weeks  in  prison  without  getting  so  infested. 

It  always  appeared  to  me  that  the  rebel  au 
thorities  tried  to  make  our  sojourn  with  them  as 
miserable  as  they  possibly  could.  They  would 
agree  to  no  terms  of  a  parole  or  exchange.  It 
appeared  as  if  they  intended  to  keep  us  there  for 
the  purpose  of  punishing  us,  and  to  kill  us  all 
inch  by  inch.  We  never  could  receive  a  civil  an 
swer  from  the  authorities  to  any  question  we 
might  ask  them.  When  we  would  ask  them  foi 
bread,  they  would  threaten  to  give  us  lead.  Ev 
ery  sentence  would  be  accompanied  with  an  oath 
and  epithets  of  abuse,  calling  us  invaders,  negro 
stealers,  Lincoln  hirelings,  &c.,  saying  we  were  get 
ting  better  treatment  than  we  deserved.  Of  the 
soldiers  that  guarded  us,  we  have  no  complaint  to 
make.  They  treated  us  with  a  great  deal  of  hu 
manity  and  respect.  They  would  run  great  risks 
to  try'to  accommodate  us,  and  often  made  them 
selves  liable  to  the  severest  punishment  in  trying 
to  smuggle  us  in  a  little  bread,  tobacco,  or  some 
newspapers. 

I  talked  with  a  great  many  of  them,  who  said 
they  were  tired  of  the  war,  and  that  they  had  not 
the  least  hope  of  y  access.  And  a  great  many  told 
me  that  they  &'  ew  they  were  fighting  on  the 
wrong  side,  and  contrary  to  their  own  principles ; 
they  had  not  gone  voluntarily,  having  been  con 
scripted  ;  and  they  said  if  they  ever  got  near 
enough  to  some  of  our  armies,  they  were  going 
across  the  lines.  I  can  truthfully  say,  that  one 
third  of  the  soldiers  that  guarded  us  were  good 
Union  men,  but  had  been  dragged  into  the  rebel 
ranks,  and  were  too  fearful  to  make  an  attempt 
to  escape.  They  knew  their  doom,  if  caught  at 
tempting  to  escape  to  our  lines,  would  be  death. 
The  guards  acknowledged  also  to  us,  that  they 
were  also  in  nearly  a  starving  condition.  They 
drew  the  same  quality  of  rations  that  we  did,  only 
a  little  more.  The  inhabitants  of  Richmond 
showed  signs  of  being  in  a  starving  condition. 

In  the  month  of  October  there  were  two  bread 
riots  in  the  city.  The  women  collected  together 
in  masses,  and  proceeding  to  the  rebel  commissa 
ries,  burst  open  the  doors,  and  helped  themselves. 
There  is  no  doubt  that  there  are  thousands  of 
helpless  families  in  the  South  in  as  bad  a  condi 
tion  as  our  own  Union  prisoners. 

A  rebel  soldier's  pay  is  only  one;  hundred  and 
thirty-two  dollars  per  year ;  now  on  this  small 
sum,  how  is  he  to  support  a  family,  where  every 
thing  is  selling  at  such  extravagant  prices  ?  Flour 
at  one  hundred  dollars  per  barrel,  corn  ten  dol 
lars  per  bushel,  pork  two  dollars  per  pound,  calico 
twelve  dollars  per  yard,  and  cotton  five  dollars, 
and  wool  ten  dollars  per  pound.  Imagine,  ye 
Northern  sympathizers,  the  fruits  that  follow  a 
rebellious  people,  and  you  will  soon  come  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  way  of  the  transgressor  is 
hard.  Of  the  two  most  horrible  prisons  in  Rich 
mond,  we  are  so  fortunate  as  to  know  but  little. 
One  is  Belle  Island,  said  to  be  a  dreary,  sandy, 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


273 


bleak  place.  On  it  are  generally  put  our  Eastern 
troops,  whom  the  rebels  have  a  greater  hatred  for 
than  Western  troops.  The  suffering  on  that 
island  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  picture.  If  you 
could  see  some  of  those  miserable  prisoners  there, 
in  their  tattered  clothing,  and  with  dejected  coun 
tenances,  on  a  cold,  bleak  morning  in  November, 
hoverirg  over  some  smouldering  embers,  it  would 


There  were  few  troops  in  the  city.     We  were 

guarded  principally  by  artillerymen  from  the  for 
tifications. 

As  for  the  rebel  currency,  it  is  nothing  but 
mere  trash;  the  whole  country  is  overflowing 
with  it.  The  rich  are  putting  it  all  oil  on  the 
poor,  buying  up  their  stock  and  grain  at  extrav 
agant  price  5 ;  so  that  when  their  rotten  Confedor- 


n:elt  the  hardest  heart  with  compassion.  Castle  !  acy  goes  dcwn,  the  poor  class  will  have  the  worth- 
Thunder  is  also  another  prison  of  considerable  less  pictures  on  hand,  and  they  will  only  be  worth 
note.  There  they  put  their  own  deserters  and  |  about  two  cents  per  pound  (the  price  of  rags), 
criminals,  and  also  our  own  incorrigible  "  Yan-  and  the  rich  will  have  all  the  produce.  But  I 
kees  "  that  they  cannot  so  easily  manage  in  the  think  they  will  not  have  their  own  way  much 


Libby  prisons.  The  treatment  and  fare  in  Castle 
Thunder  are  said  to  be  worse  than  were  ever  known 
in  any  half-civilized  nation  on  the  globe.  There 
are  said  to  be  men  within  that  prison  who  have 
not  a  particle  of  clothing,  and  have  for  their  beds 
piles  of  saw-dust,  in  which  they  nestle  down  to 
gether  like  hogs.  They  are  there  denied  all  priv 
ileges  of  comfort  —  no  lights,  or  water  to  wash 


longer.  Uncle  3am  will  soon  go  down  amongst 
them  ;  a'.id  I  judge  then  'he  whole  drama  will  be 
changed,  the  oppressed  arid  downtrodden  will 
arise  and  shake  off  their  shackles,  and  be  made 
to  rejoice  under  our  old  banner  of 


once  more 
freedom. 

Friday,    November 


13.  —  This   morning    we 


were    aroused  an  hour   before  daylight,  by  the 


with,  just  only  a  little  food,  barely  to  sustain  na-  j  guards,  with  orders  to  prepare  to  move  immedi- 
ture.  j  ately.     Great   hilarity  existed  among  the  boys 

They  had  also  three  large  hospitals  rilled  with  |  and   we   were   making   great   calculations  on  i 


our  sick  soldiers.  These  were  said  to  be  most 
horrible  places.  The  accommodations  and  treat 
ment  were  nothing  better  than  what  we  received 
at  the  prisons.  Hundreds  upon  hundreds  have 
died  in  these  filthy  pens,  who  would  this  day  have 
been  living  if  they  had  been  under  the  hands  of 
humane  nurses,  and  at  a  place  where  they  could 
have  received  good  healthy  nourishment  and 
proper  remedies.  We  had  a  surgeon,  who  made 
a  call  once -a  day  at  our  rooms,  would  make  a 
^hort  examination  of  our  sick,  but  would  gen- 
rally  go  off  without  giving  them  any  medicine, 
making  the  excuse  that  he  had  none  of  the  proper 
kind.  A  man  would  have  to  get  almost  helpless 
before  they  would  remove  him  to  the  hospital, 
and  probably  when  he  got  there  he  would  not 
survive  more  than  a  day  or  so,  and  then  he  would 
pass  away  from  his  troubles  here  to  his  final  rest. 

The  number  of  Union  prisoners  in  Richmond, 
at  the  date  of  November  13,  was  about  thir 
teen  thousand  ;  something  near  one  thousand 
of  those  were  officers,  and  they  were  confined  in 
what  is  known  as  Old  Libby,  the  same  building 
they  used  when  the  rebellion  broke  out.  To 
Belle  Island  all  of  the  prisoners  from  the  Poto 
mac  are  sent*  They  number  now  about  five 
thousand,  and  some  of  them  have  been  there  ever 
since  the  battle  of  Gettysburg. 

Our  Western  troops  are  all  put  in  large  tobacco 
factories,  which  could  be  made  comfortable  if  they 
would  only  give  them  good  clothes  and  blankets, 
and  furnish  them  with  plenty  of  fuel. 

At  times  great  excitement  would  prevail  in  the 
city.  Every  time  General  Meade  would  make  a 


speedy  trip  around  to  the  North,  where  we  woulc 
get  plenty  to  eat,  and  meet  once  again  with  the 
loved  ones  at  home.  But  our  bright  hopes  were 
soon  blasted,  and  we  were  made  to  feel  more 
despairing,  when  we  learned  that  our  removal 
was  to  anotner  prison.  They  issued  to  us  that 
morning  a  small  loaf  of  corn  bread,  weighing 
about  ten  ounces.  We  all  considered  that  it  was 
intended  for  our  breakfast ;  so  we  ate  it  all,  thoy 
promising  us  that  they  were  going  to  take  us  to 
a  place  where  we'  would  get  plenty  to  eat,  and 
that  there  would  be  a  supper  ready  for  us  on 
our  arrival  that  evening  at  Danville,  N.  C.,  our 
destined  place.  The  sun  was  just  peeping  up 
from  be  land  the  eastern  fortifications  of  the  capi 
tal  ofllebeldom  when  we  bade  adieu  to  the  Libby 
prisons,  and  soon  found  ourselves  safely  stored 
away  in  box  cars,  and  rolling  along  at  the  speed 
of  eleven  miles  per  hour.  We  arrived  safe  at 
Danville  that  night,  by  eight  o'clock  P.  M.,  and 
were  soon  incarcerated  in  another  "  Tobacco 
Prison."  Danville  is  south-west  of  Richmond, 
distance  one  hundred  and  forty  miles,  and  is  lo 
cated  on  the  south  bank  of  Dan  River,  a  tribu 
tary  of  the  Roanoke.  It  contains  about  twelve 
or  fifteen  hundred  inhabitants,  with  some  pretty 
snug  buildings,  and  is  in  one  of  the  best  tobacco 
regions  in  the  State.  It  also  is  the  terminus  of 
the  Richmond  and  Danville  Railroad.  Our  prison 
there  was  another  brick  building,  forty  by  sixty 
feet,  and  three  stories  high  ;  and  our  train  load 
of  seven  hundred  prisoners  filled  the  building  full 
enough  to  be  comfortable.  But  to  our  disap 
pointment  (and  not  much  either,  for  we  had  lost 


movement  towards  the  rebel  capital,  we  would  |  all  faith  in  their  promises),  we  had  to  lie  down  to 
notice  it  by  a  great  bustle  on  the  streets.  And  I  sleep  without  anything  to  eat.  But  such  things 
at  time*  I  thought  they  were  fearful,  also,  of  the  we  had  got  so  used  to  that  we  acquiesced  with- 
prisoners,  for  it  had  more  than  once  been  whis 
pered  around  that  we  were  all  going  to  make  a 
general  outbreak,  fire  the  city,  arid  make  our  es 
cape.  The  thing  could  have  been  once  easily  done 
:f  we  could  only  have  had  a  little  help  from  outside. 


1H 


out  a  murmur. 

{Saturday,  November  14.  —  Daylight  came, 
but  nothing  to  eat.  Noon  came,  but  still  no 
food.  Night  came,  an  1  nothing  yet.  No  won 
der  we  looked  up  some  desperate  effort  to  better 


274 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


our  condition.  Thoughts  had  been  in  my  head, 
from  the  time  I  had  been  in  Libby  one  week,  to 
make  my  escape  if  the  thing  was  in  any  way  pos 
sible  ;  I  had  even  felt  sorry  that  I  had  let  so 
many  opportunities  slip,  when  they  were  bring 
ing  us  to  Richmond,  which  I  could  have  clone  a 
hundred  times,  from  the  carelessness  of  our 
guards.  While  in  Richmond,  it  was  continually 
upon  my  mind,  but  the  thing  looked  like  an  im 
possibility  there.  Probably  I  could  have  got  out 
of  the  prison,  but  I  never  could  get  out.  of  the 
city,  and  pass  their  line  of  pickets  and  fortifica 
tions.  We  also  thought  of  making  the  attempt 
when  we  run  down  on  the  cars  to  Danvl'le,  but 
before  dark  set  in  they  came  around  and  locked 
us  all  safe  up  in  the  cars.  The  first  thing  I  did 
on  that  morning,  when  I  got  up,  was  to  take  a 
general  survey  of  the  place,  and  see  what  the 
prospect  was  for  making  an  escape.  I  saw  thi  igs 
looked  pretty  favorable  ;  and  I  soon  found  an 
accomplice  in  the  Sergeant-Major  of  the  Nine 
teenth  Regulars,  a  brave  and  dashing  young 
ni3.ii. 

We  two  put  our  heads  together,  and  laid  a 
scheme  for  making  a  general  outbreak,  by  burst 
ing  open  all  three  of  our  prison  doors,  overpow 
ering  the  guards,  capturing  the  town,  destroying 
the  railroad  bridge  across  Dan  River,  cutting  the 
telegraph,  destroying  all  the  commissary  stores, 
securing  all  the  arms  and  horses  that  \$e  could,  and 
then  making  all  speed  for  the  mountains.  The 
whole  thing  could  have  been  easily  effected,  for  we 
were  seven  hundred  strong  in  the  building,  and 
there  were  seven  hundred  more  expected  about 
eight  o'clock  that  night,  and  thaf,  then,  would  make 
a  considerable  force.  The  rebels  had  not  more 
than  one  hundred  soldiers  there,  and  no  more 
troops  nearer  than  Richmond,  and  they  had  only 
nine  on  duty  at  a  time.  When  night  came,  it 
set  in  dark  and  rainy,  and  guards  that  were  not 
on  duty  were  rambling  about  the  town.  We  had 
selected  the  time  when  the  cars  would  come  in 
to  make  the  move.  We  were  to  divide  into  three 
squads.  One  was  to  capture  the  guards  as  qui 
etly  as  possible,  and  then  go  to  their  headquar 
ters  and  pick  up  all  there,  and  then  break  out 
into  the  town,  and  take  and  destroy  everything 
valuable.  \Ve  had  assigned  for  this  four  hun 
dred  men.  Then  two  hundred  more  were  to 
make  for  the  railroad  bridge,  and  burn  it,  and 
then  one  hundred  were  to  go  to  the  telegraph  office 
and  demolish  it.  We  were  then  to  burn  the  en 
tire  train,  depot  buildings,  &c. ;  and  then,  as  soon 
as  we  could  mount  and  arm  seventy-five  or  one 
hundred  men,  we  were  to  start  them  off  to  the 
East  Tennessee  and  Virginia  Railroad  to  cut  the 
telegraph,  and  destroy  the  track  by  burning  some 
bridges  at  and  near  Salem,  in  Roanoke  County,  a 
distance  of  sixty  miles,  which  they  could  make 
in  twelve  hours  ;  and  then  for  them  to  go  on  and 
notify  our  forces  in  Western  Virginia  to  jome  to 
our  assistance,  and  meet  us  in  the  mountains. 

After  having  everything  completed,  we  set  to 
work  to  talk  with  the  men,  and  to  enlist  every 
one  in  the  enterprise.  We  labored  hard  and 
faithfully  that  day  among  the  men,  and  could 


only  get  sixty  men  out  of  seven  hundred  to  go 
into  it.  They  said  they  would  not  go  out  if  we 
threw  the  doors  wide  open.  They  were  so  weak 
and  feeble  from  their  sufferings  for  want  of  clothes 
and  food  that  they  could  never  reach  our  lines, 
and  were  certain  we  would  be  captured  ;  and  then 
they  judged  we  would  all  have  to  fare  hardei 
than  ever.  This  might  have  been  the  case,  but 
1  viewed  it  in  a  different  light;  for  to  remuin 
there  much  longer  would  be  death,  and  it  could 
not  be  worse  than  death  to  make  the  attempt. 
So  when  we  found  out  that  we  could  not  effect  -a 
gent,  il  stampede,  we  concluded  that  it  would  be 
the  best  policy  to  get  out  as  secretly  as  possible, 
and  get  as  far  away  .ts  we  could  before  the  au 
thorities  would  find  .t  cut.  After  dark  we  went 
to  work  and  cut  a  hole  through  the  fence.  It 
was  a  pine  board  one  inch  thick  and  one  foot 
broad ;  we  cut  it  oft"  about  eighteen  inches  from 
the  ground.  It  was  done  with  an  old  table  knife 
that  had  been  broken  off  two  inches  short.  It 
was  not  more  than  the  work  of  half  an  hour, 
and  all  was  ready  ;  but  we  waited  so  as  to  let  the 
people  in  town  settle  down.  About  half  past 
seven  o'clock  we  commenced  going  out  in  small 
squads  of  three  and  four  men.  We  had  to  pass 
within  ten  feet  of  one  of  their  guards,  but  ht  did 
not  appear  to  pay  any  attention  to  us.  I  should 
judge  he  was  a  good  Union  man,  or  well  bribed, 
and  how  it  turned  out  with  him  1  have  never 
learned.  A  little  before  eight  o'clock  three  of  us, 
Sergeant  Solomon  Stookey,  Corporal  Henry 
Thompson,  and  myself,  all  being  members  of  ihn 
same  company,  started,  and  in  a  moment  were 
through  the  orifice  and  once  more  in  free  air. 

We  knew  we  had  undertaken  a  very  hazardous 
enterprise  —  but  it  was  life  or  death.  We  had 
not  tasted  any  food  for  thirty-six  .hours,  and  were 
almost  frantic  with  hunger.  As  soon  as  we  found 
ourselves  safely  out,  we  made  for  the  banks  of 
the  river,  distant  about  fifty  yards.  By  the  time 
we  reached  the  river  we  heard  the  guards  crying 
the  rounds  of  the  night,  and  when  it  came  to  the 
guard  that  we  passed,  we  distinctly  heard  him 
halloo  out,  "Post  number  nine,  eight  o'clock, 
and  all's  well."  I  could  not  help  laughing  to  my 
self,  and  thought,  "  Old  soldier,  you  did  not  tell 
the  truth  that  time." 

We  hurried  up  the  river  bank  on  a  fast  run, 
but  as  it  was  raining  and  the  ground  slippery,  I 
fell  down  almost  every  rod,  being  weak  and  ex 
hausted  ;  but  my  two  comrades  would  hurry  me 
along.  About  half  a  mile  from  the  prison  we 
came  to  a  small  meadow,  and  found  in  it  a  per 
simmon  ^ree ;  we  pitched  into  it  and  ate  over 
one  pint  of  the  fruit  apiece,  and  I  thought  they 
did  us  a  great  deal  of  good  by  giving  us  strength. 
We  could  have  eaten  a  great  many  more,  but  I 
urged  the  boys  on.  for  we  were  not  yet  out  of 
sight  of  the  lights  of  the  town.  I  had  been  se 
lected  as  the  guide,  and  it  was  my  intention  to 
take  a  north-west  course,  as  anything  between 
north  and  west  would  bring  us  into  our  linos  at 
some  place  in  Western  Virginia. 

My  first  object  was  to  get  across  Dan  River  as 
qu'.ik  as  possible,  for  I  knew  our  escape  would  be 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


275 


found  out,  and  they  would  hotly  pursue  us,  and 
that  ail  ferries  would  soon  be  guarded  for  the 
purpose  of  recapturing  us.  We  made  up  the 
ri'cr  as  fast  as  we  could  travel,  reaching  what  is 
ki  own  as  Wilson's  Ferry.  There  the  Danville 
Pike  crosses,  going  to  the  Blue  Ridge.  There 
\t  e  worked  for  two  hours,  trying  to  break  the 
locks  or  draw  the  staple,  but  could  not  effect 
anything.  We  felt  a  great  interest  in  getting  the 
boat  loose  for  the  purpose  of  crossing,  and  ah  o 
of  setting  the  ferry  boat  afloat  so  as  to  retard 
our  pursuers.  Finding  all  our  efforts  fruitless, 
we  abandoned  it  and  moved  up  the  river  about 
three  miles,  and  as  it  was  raining  very  hard  and 
dark,  we  became  so  exhausted  that  we  could  not 
'  proceed  any  farther.  We  lay  down  in  a  pine 
thicket  to  rest,  but  there  was  no  rest  for  us.  We 
were  so  famished,  and  the  weather  so  wet  and 
cold,  that  hope  almost  fled.  There  was  Dan  River 
we  must  cross  early  in  the  morning  if  we  had  to 
swim.  Delay  srould  be  dangerous.  The  whole 
thing  kept  ray  mind  excited  so  that  I  could  not 
rest. 

Sunday,  November  \  5.  —  We  felt  very  blue  this 
morning,  but  by  daylight  we  were  up  and  off. 
We  proceeded  right  up  the  banks  of  the  river, 
gathering  some  raw  corn  and  turnips  to  subsist 
on.  We  had  not  gone  very  far  until  we  found  a 
canoe  tied  up  to  a  tree,  and  half  full  of  water. 
We  went  to  work  and  soon  had  it  baled  out,  and 
wit  i  a  piece  of  a  root  for  a  paddle,  we  managed  to 
get  across,  the  canoe  turning  around  some  half 
a  dozen  times  in  the  middle  of  the  stream.  As 
soon  as  we  wore  safely  across,  wre  "  broke  for 
timber,"  but  had  not  proceeded  far,  when,  as  we 
were  going  out  of  a  ravine  to  the  top  of  a  hill, 
we  espied  three  armed  men  in  advance  of  us. 
Two  of  them  were  on  horseback,  and  they  had  a 
kind  of  an  ugly  look.  We  ordered  a  retreat, 
and  fell  back  half  a  mile  unobserved  by  them, 
hid  ourselves  in  some  thick  undergrowth,  consid 
ering  that  it  would  not  be  best  to  travel  in  the 
daylight.  We  lay  by  the  balance  of  the  day  and 
slept  some,  and  as  soon  as  it  began  to  get  dark 
started  again.  We  took  our  direction  through 
bush  and  woods  and  over  fields  ur.til  about  nine 
o'clock,  when  it  became  so  dark  th3t  u<a  rrould 
not  see  how  to  travel,  and  as  I  user*  the  niuon 
and  stars  for  my  guide,  we  were  obliged  to  halt 
and  camp.  In  doing  so  w?e  gathered  a  few  leaves 
into  a  fence  corner ;  into  this  we  nestled  down 
and  tried  to  sleep,  but  no  sleep  closed  our  eyelids 
that  night.  Everything  was  wet  and  cold,  and 
we  did  nothing  but  lie  there  and  shiver.  God 
forbid  that  I  should  ever  pass  through  such  an 
other  ] light.  Death  would  then  have  been  a 
welcome  visitor.  I  then  despaired,  and  told  my 
two  partners  we  never  could  make  it.  Here  we 
were  three  days  without  anything  to  eat,  save  a 
lit.tle  raw  corn  and  turnips,  and  that  was  doing  us 
more  harm  than  good.  O,  ye  rich  and  opulent 
oi  llir:  North,  when  you  lie  down  on  downy  beds, 
dc  you  think  what  the  poor  soldier  has  to  pass 
through  at  times  to  save  your  country,  your  home, 
and  your  wealth? 

Monday,  November  16. — We  arose  this  morn 


ing  in  despair ;  we  did  not  care  which  way  the  scale 
turned.  We  had  lost  all  energy  to  push  forward, 
and  the  only  thing  that  engrossed  our  mind  was 
something  to  eat.  We  looked  around  and  espied 
a  small  cabin  at  £.  short  distance  in  a  small  clear 
ing.  We  took  it  t  D  be  a  negro  hut,  and  we  wotld 
make  a  venture  to  it,  let  the  consequences  be 
what  they  would.  It'  was  agreed  that  but  one 
should  make  tho  venture,  and  if  all  was  not  safe 
the  other  two  could  2scape.  It  was  put  upon  me 
to  make  that  venture.  I  proceeded  to  the  house, 
caring  but  little  what  the  consequences  might  be, 
so  that  I  got  something  to  eat.  When  I  came  to 
.ne  yard,  a  white  woman  came  out ;  it  frightened 
me  a  little,  but  I  thought  I  would  go  ahead,  let 
what  might  follow.  I  told  her  not  to  be  alarmed, 
that  I  was  a  "  Yankee,"  and  had  escaped  from  a 
Confederate  prison,  and  was  making  an  effort  to 
reach  my  home  in  Ohio.  She  looked  suspiciously 
at  me  for  a  while ;  but  after  talking  a  few  mo 
ments,  she  believed  my  story.  I  then  told  her  I 
was  famishing  for  something  to  eat.  She  then 
bade  me  come  in,  and  said  she  would  do  the  best 
she  could,  although  she  knew  she  was  running  a 
great  risk,  for  if  the  rebel  authorities  should  find 
it  out  they  would  severely  punish  her  for  harbor 
ing  and  assisting  their  enemy.  I  then  told  her 
of  my  two  comrades,  and  she  bade  me  call  them  in, 
and  said  we  were  welcome  to  the  best  she  had. 
We  enjoyed  ourselves  around  a  warm,  blazing 
fire,  for  it  was  the  first  we  had  seen  or  felt  for 
eight  weeks.  Mrs.  Corban  (for  that  was  the  good 
woman's  name)  wrent  to  work  and  hastily  prepared 
us  a  good  warm  breakfast  of  stewed  chicken,  but 
ter,  cabbage,  coffee  (Confederate),  and  corn  bread. 
You  need  not  ask  us  whether  we  did  justice  to 
the  smoking  dishes  before  us.  There  is  one  thing 
certain,  we  had  very  grateful  hearts.  At  the  ta 
ble  Mrs.  Corban  informed  us  who  she  was.  Sh« 
said  she  was  as  good  a  Union  woman  as  we  ever 
saw,  and  that  she  had  a  husband,  who  was  in  the 
rebel  army  at  that  time,  but  was  as  good  a  Union 
man  as  was  ever  in  Ohio.  But  he,  like  thousands 
more  of  his  unfortunate  class,  had  been  con 
scripted,  but  was  going  to  cross  the  lines  at  the 
first  favorable  opportunity. 

After  breakfast  she  took  us  to  a  deep  forest, 
where  a  couple  of  deserters  were  hid.  We  found 
them  in  their  hermit  home,  and  she  left  us  with 
them  there,  while  she  went  off  to  find  a  good 
Union  man  to  help  us,  one  who  had  some  knowl 
edge  of  the  country,  so  as  to  get  us  on  safely 
without  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  She 
returned  late  in  the  evening,  bringing  with  her  a 
nice  dinner  of  beef,  potatoes,  corn  bread,  and 
pumpkin  pies,  and  also  the  good  intelligence  that 
she  had  found  a  man  by  the  name  of  Yates,  an 
overseer  on  a  plantation,  who  was  true  Union, 
and  willing  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  make  us 
comfortable  and  to  assist  us  on  our  journey. 
How  devoted  and  true  is  a  loyal  woman  to  the 
cause  of  our  country  !  Such  heroines  are  not 
rare,  and  that,  too,  in  the  very  heart  of  tho  South 
ern  Confederacy.  Noble  woman!  As  t\e  were 
parting,  she  went  into  the  house  and  brought  ui 
the  U  Bt  quilt  she  had  and  gave  it  to  us. 


276 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS*. 


Now  consider  one  moment:  that  woman  was  o'clock  in  the  morning  were  across  what  is  known 
noor.  and  she  had  five  helpless  children,  her  hus-  as  Turkey  Mountain,  and  entered  a  poor  man's 
hand  in  the  rebel  rank*;  most  of  her  subsistence  ,  house  by 'the  name  of  Carder,  who  allowed  us  to 
she  had  to  draw  weekly  from  the  Confederate  {  sleep  on  the  floor  it  front  of  the  fire.  He  would 
Government,  and  you  may  plainly  see  why  we  call  not  believe  we  were  Yankees,  but  took  us  to  be 
iier  a  heroine.  Do  not  such  "people  —  laying  !  rebel  detectives,  and  I  could  not  exactly  find  him 

the  great  interest  of  our  country  —  demand  j  out. 

protection?  Can  we  not  bravely  fight  for  such,  Thursday,  November  19. — Mr.  Carder  was  not 
and  redeem  them  from  the  thraldom  of  tyrants  ?  I  able  to  give  us  our  breakfast  j  so  we  had  to  go  on 
Al'rer  dark  the  two  deserters  (who  were  Union  to  J  half  a  mile  to  a  Mrs.  Reynolds,  who  was  as  good  a 
the  core  also)  piloted  us  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Yates. !  Union  woman  as  any  in  Old  Virginia.  She  has- 
We  found  him  a  thorough  Union  man,  who  was  \  tily  prepared  us  a  warm  meal ;  and  as  she  was  in 
glad  to  receive  us,  and  gave  us  a  hearty  supper  j  the  kitchen  cooking  it,  a  rebel  soldier  came  into 
and  a  warm  bed  under  his  hospitable  roof.  He  j  the  sitting-room  where  we  were.  He  immediately 
was  one  of  those  bold,  dashing  men  who  did  not >  asked  us  if  we  were  not  runaway  Yrankee  prison- 
care  what  he  said ;  and  he  remarked  to  us  that  ers.  "'  "  * 


the  Confederate  authorities  were  more  afraid  of 


We  answered  in  the  affirmative.  He  then 
said  he  took  us  to  be  such,  for  he  had  heard  of 
him  than  he  was  of  them.  Of  his  being  a  Union  our  escape  froin  Danville,  and  two  of  our  boya 
man,  almost  every  man  knew  it,  and  yet  he  re-  had  been  a]ong  there  the  day  before ;  and  as  the\ 
xnained  unmolested.  About  midnight  three  more  j  were  somewhat  astray,  he  piloted  them  a  couple 
of  our  runaway  boys  came  to  his  house  and  craved  j  of  miles ;  but  he  had  not  more  than  left  them  be- 
his  hospitality,  which  he  freely  gave  by  treating  j  fore  they  were  recaptured  by  some  rebel  cavalry, 
them  the  same  as  he  did  us.  This  is  another  j  He  then  advised  us  not  to  attempt  to  get  any  far- 


proof  of  the  loyalty  of  the  downtrodden  people 
of  the  South.  What  would  have  been  that  man's 
fate  if  the  rebels  had  caught  us  all  in  his  house  ? 
Was  there  any  doubt  of  true  loyalty  there  ? 

Tuesday,  November  17.  —  Long  before  daylight 
we  were  up  and  had  our  breakfasts,  and  then  our 
good  friend  advised  us  that  it  would  not  be  safe 
for  us  to  remain  at  his  house  that  day,  for  proba 
bly  the  rebel  soldiers  would  be  there  and  search 
bis  house  for  some  of  us.  He  then  took  us  to  a 


ther,  for  it  was  impossible  for  us  to  get  through, 
as  the  cavalry  and  citizens  had  turned  out  to  the 
number  of  five  hundred,  and  were  ranging  the 
country  all  around  for  us.  He  said  it  would  go 
easier  with  us  if  we  would  voluntarily  give  our 
selves  up  to  him,  and  he  would  take  us  to  where 
we  would  be  well  treated  and  get  plenty  to  eat. 
We  gave  him  to  understand  we  did  not  put  much 
faith  in  his  promises,  and  also  we  did  not  intend 
to  surrender  ourselves  to  one  man.  Here  our 


nice  pine  thicket  adjacent  to  his  house,  where  we  j  conversation  M-as  interrupted  by  breakfast  being 


passed  the  day  quietly.  At  noon  his  son  brought 
us  our  dinner,  and  after  dark  the  old  gentleman 
came,  bringing  us  our  supper  and  one  day's  ra 
tions.  Then  we  learned  for  the  first  time  that 
sixty  of  our  men  had  actually  effected  their  es- 


ready.  At  the  table  Mrs.  Reynolds  informed  us 
that  the  rebel  soldier  was  her  brother,  but  for  us 
to  pay  no  attention  to  him,  and  advised  us  to  go 
ahead  at  all  hazards.  She  deep!1'  sympathized 
with  us  in  our  perilous  undertaking,  but  wished 


.  and  that  the  whole  country  was  swarming  j  us  God  speed, 
with  cavalry  in  hot  pursuit,  and  that  six  of  our  j  After  breakfast,  the  rebel  soldier  volunteered 
boys  had  been  captured  that  day  in  front  of  his  j  his  services  to  pilot  us  to  sorr.e  secluded  spot, 
door.  I  could  not  pity  them  much,  for  they  were  [  where  we  might  r^st  in  safety  through  the  day. 
too  foolhardy  and  careless  in  attempting  to  tiavel  1 1  politely  thanked  him.  *I  had  undertaken  that 
in  the  daylight,  and  that,  too,  upon  a  public  high-  |  job  myself,  and  1  did  not  wish  his  assistance.  I 
way  ;  and  moreovei  to  let  one  man  capture  the  saw  what  he  was  fishii  g  after,  for  there  was  three 


whole  of  them ! 


thousand  dollars  reward  for  each  of  us,  and 

We  left 


he 


We  ate  our  supper,  and  bade  our  good  friend  I  was  after  Confederate  legal  tender, 
adieu ;  and  as  the  shades  of  night  were  closing  in,  J  very  unceremoniously,  and  broke  for  a  chair,  .f 
we  set  out  again  to  the  "  land  of  promise,"  with  a   small  hills  and  mountains.     That  cursed  imp  of 
determination  to  go  through  now  or  die  in  the  at 
tempt.     I  set  out  as  guide  about  one  hundred 


yards  in  advance  of  my  two  comrades.     On  that 
night,  through  woods  and  over  fields,  and  wading 


rebeldom  caused  me  a  great  amount  of  uneasi 
ness,  and  we  travelled  nearly  the  whole  day,  so 


as  to  get  as  far  away  as  possible.     By  sundown 
we  were  over  another  small  mountain  called  Snow 


one  considerable  stream,  we  travelled  about  twelve  j  Creek,  at  the  foot  of  which  we  entered  a  man's 
miles  in  a  proper  direction,  when  the  moon  went  i  house  and  got  our  supper.  He  was  good  Union, 
down  and  it  became  dark.  We  travelled  on,  but !  although  he  had  a  son  in  the  rebel  ranks.  He  in- 
I  soon  found  I  was  making  a  circle,  as  I  had  lost  I  formed  us  then  that  we  were  in  Franklin  County, 
iny  way ;  so  after  midnight,  we  raked  together  j  and  within  fifteen  miles  of  the  county  seat  (Rocky 
some  leaves  and  slept  till  morning.  j  Mound).  He  said  that  it  was  directly  on  our  road 

Wednesday,  November  18. — We  ate  our  break-  i  to  the  Blue  Ridge,  but  advised  us  to  leave  it  to 
fast  at  a  widow  woman's  by  the  name  of  Smith, '  the  right  or  left,  as  it  was  not  safe  for  us  to  go 
who  was  true  and  loyaL  We  slept  in  the  woods  :  through,  as  there  were  two  companies  of  cavalry 
near  by  all  day,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  dark  we  always  stationed  there.  We  thanked  him  for  his 
were  off.  This  night  we  took  through  woods  and  ;  information,  and  proceeded  on,  crossing  another 
fields  again,  keeping  our  course,  and  by  two  small  mountain  called  Chestnut  Ridge,  and  then 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND 


277 


for  the  first  time  took  the  road.  When  we  thought 
we  were  near  Rocky  Mound,  and  had  come  to  a 
folk  i?i  the  road,  we  aimed  to  take  the  road  that 
I  not  take  us  through  that  place.  But  we 
to<:k  ine  wrong  road,  and  directly  we  crossed  a 
liiT'.T  on  a  bridge,  and  found  ourselves  right  in 
trt  of  a  considerable  sized  town.  It  was 
loo  late  to  back  out;  so  we  moved  on  as  noise- 
-  cats.  V\*e  looked  every  moment  for  some 
one  to  halt  us ;  but,  thank  God,  we  went  through 
undisturbed.  We  learned  next  day  that  we  had 
actually  come  through  Rocky  Mound.  We  trav 
elled  on  that  night,  crossing  Grassy  Mountain 
and  Black  water  River,  wading  it,  and"  turned  into 
a  house  for  breakfast  just  at  daylight. 

Friday,  November  20.  —  We  felt    very   sore,  | 
having  walked  thirty-five  or  forty  miles  in   the ; 
last  twenty-four  hours,  and  not  having  slept  any. '. 
There  was  none  but  a  woman  and  children  in  the  j 
house,  and  she  took  us  to  be  rebel  deserters,  and  j 
we  said  nothing  to  the  contrary.     We  ate  our  j 
breakfast,  and  then  went  into»a  thicket  and  slept 
sweetly  all  day.     At  dark  we  went  to  a  house 
near  by.  where  we  got  our  supper.     There  we 
*ere  taken  for  rebel  deserters  again,  and  the  old  \ 
man  let  on  to  be  a  rebel  himself ;  but  I  have 
since  thought  him  to  be  a  good  stanch  Union 
man.     But  he  was  fearful  of  us.     We  were  soon  j 
off  again,  and  took  the  main  road,  and  by  mid 
night  reached  the  Blue  Ridge.     There  we  passed 
some  splendid  natural  scenery ;  but  we  did  not 
waste  much  time  in  stopping  to  admire  it.     This  ! 
night  we  were   pursued   by  a  wildcat   or  cara-  j 
mount  for  over  three  miles.     The  mischievous, 
little  creat'ire  ga?e  us  a  great  deal  of  uneasiness, 
for  we  had  no  amis  to  defend  ourselves.     We  * 
then  proceeded  safely,  and  about  three  o'clock  it 
set  in  to  rain,  and  we  were  compelled  to  stop  and 
take  shelter  under  some  }  ine  bushes. 

Saturday,  November  21.  —  It  rained  all  day. 
This  morning  we  had  to  go  without  any  thing  to 
eat.     All  the  houses  looked  too  fine  for  us  to  • 
make  a  venture.     We  got  into  an  old  barn,  and 
hid  ourselves  hi  some  hay.  so  as  to  see  and  not 
be  seen.     We  noticed  through  the  day  .several 
rebel  soldiers  pass  the  road,  but  we  felt  We.     In 
the  afternoon,  as  it  was  raining  so  hard  til*-,  '.here 
was  no  travel,  we  ventured  out,  and  went  Lack 
from  the  road  a  mile,  and  found  a  house  where 
we  got  some  bread  and  beef,  and  also  learned 
that  we  were  within  three  miles  of  the  East  Ten- ; 
nessee  Railroad.     We  proceeded  on  cautiouslv  ; 
through  the  rain,  and  got  within  half  a  mile  of 
the  railroad,  and  then  waited  for  the  shades  of  '• 
night,  so  as  to  pursue  our  way.     As  soon  as  it 
was  dark  enough,  we  proceeded  on,  and  every! 
place  was  a  sea  of  water  and  pretty  cold.     We 
crossed  Roanoke  River  by  wading,  and  the  rail- ! 
road  half  a  mile  south  of  what  is  known  as  Lick 
Spring  Station.   We  then  proceeded  up  the  valley 
parallel  to  the  railroad,  and  through  one  of  the 
finest  and  the  most  fertile  and  well  improved  sec 
tions  that  I  had  seen  in  the  Confederacy.     The 
plantations  were  large,  and  appeared  in  the  high 
est  state  of  cultivation.    Alter  going  up  the  valley 
tbout  eight  miles,  we  were  compelled  by  v  unger , 


j  to  enter  a  small  cabin  for  somethirg  to  cat.    We 
then  learned  that  we  were  in  Roancke  ' 
within  a  mile  or  .so  of  the  county  seat,  S 
|  and  were  advised  to  flank  the  town,  as  it  was  not 

.*  us  to  pass  through,  and  also  to  av 
:  road  over  Salem  Mountain  (a  spur  of  t: 
g ha  lies),  as  it  was  constantly  watched,  night  and 
day,   to  catch  rebel  deserters  who  were  : 
•  for  the  Union  lines.     We  also  learned  tha: 
|  was  one  of  the  ho  test  nests  of  secession  ia  the 
!  whole  valley,   hat  it  was  their  principal  depot  for 
;  army  stores,  end  that  there  was  at  that  tirn3  on 
|  hand  an  abundance  of  com,  flour,  meat,  & 
since  our  visit  there  I  have  learned  that  0 
Averill  has  been  in  there  and  damaged  their  hive, 
tc  their  great  discomfiture. 

We  proceeded  on  that  night,  making  direct  to 
the  mountain.  We  soon  reached  its  foot,  and 
began  our  weary  ascent,  through  brush,  and  over 
ledges  of  rocks,  and  climbing  places  airnos 
;Iar ;  and  the  night  wa.s  as  dark  a? 
besides  being  wet  and  cold.  Our  lot  was  then  a 
trying  one,  so  much  so  that  we  at  last  became 
completely  bewildered.  We  called  a  halt  and 
camped  for  the  night,  buflding  a  large  foe  out  of 
dry  chestnut,  and  contrived  to  dry  ourselves,  but 
slept  none. 

Sunday,  November  22. —  As  soon  as  h  was 
light  enough,  we  fell  back  about  half  a  mile,  and 
found  a  house  in  which  we  had  a  very  welcome 
breakfast  set  before  us  by  a  good  old  Qua 
who  appeared  as  if  she  could  not  do  enou . 
us.     After  eating  and  thanking  the  good  v. 
we  made  for  the  top  of  Salem  Mountain. 
we  reached   after  a  two   hours*  walk,  cl: 
nearly  the  whole  way  by  pulling  ourselves  up  by 
the  bushes.     We  built  a  fire,  and  spent   the  day 
in  returning  thanks  to  Almighty  God  for  his  pro 
tection  in  our  perilous  undertaking.     We  slept 
sor-ie  through  the  day,  but  always  kept  one  ou> 
on  guard  while  the  other  two  would  sleep.    From 
our  refuge  we  could  see  all  around  for  mil 
was  a  beautiful  sight ;  we  could  see  directly  down 
into  the  rebel  town  of  Salem,  and  see  the'people 
promenading  the  streets.  Little  dreamt  ib- 
they  were  watched   by  Yankees  ;  but,  as  for  us, 
we  felt  secure,  for  I  felt  as  if  a  kind  Providence 
had  a  hand  in  our  escape.    We  began  our  descent 
an  hour  before  sundown,  and  dark  found  us  again 
in  the  road  making  pretty  good  headway  f •.  i 
keeuom. 

Our  course  led  about  ten  miles  up  that  valley 
(Catawba).  This  was  also  very  fertile,  & 
travelling  along  the  road,  we  had  to  pass  near 
some  very  fine  houses.  All  these  we  endeavored 
to  avoid  by  taking  across  the  fields.  And.  as  a 
general  thing,  we  never  went  near  a  hou- 
what  a  dozen  dogs  would  come  baying  out  after 
us,  and  they  would  keep  up  their  yelping  as  far 
as  we  could  hear.  I  often  remarked  to  my  com 
rades  that  I  could  never  have  any  more  "friend- 
sliip  for  the  canine  creatures.  That  night  a  maa 
chased  us  for  nearly  two  miles  with  his  dogs. 
We  would  have  stood  and  given  battle,  but  we 
did  not  want  to  leave  any  tracks  behind.  W^ 
irossed  another  small  mountain  known  as  C*- 


278 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    ANT)    INCIDENTS. 


ta\vba,  and  came  into  Craig  Valley.  After  mid 
night  it  became  cloudy,  and,  as  our  road  led  up 
Craig  Creek,  and  we  had  to  wade  it  in  several 
places,  and  it  turned  cold,  and  as  we  were  wet 
and  very  much  fatigued,  we  began  to  look  around 
for  some  place  to  sleep  and  rest.  But,  as  every 
place  was  wet  and  muddy,  we  could  do  no  better 
than  to  chase  some  pigs  from  their  bed,  and,  for 
the  time  being,  take  military  possession  of  their 
snug  and  comfortable  quarters  —  comfortable,  if 
we  did  rise  up  covered  with  creepers.  But  we 
were  willing  to  do  or  pass  through  anything  to 
regain  our  freedom. 

Monday,  November  23.  —  "We  rose  feeling 
pretty  well,  except  our  empty  stomachs  ;  but  we 
soon  found  a  nice  warm  breakfast  at  the  house 
of  a  Mrs.  Brillhart.  While  at  the  table,  she  in 
formed  us  of  a  band  of  deserters  which  was  near 
by,  who,  she  thought,  would  do  all  in  their  power 
to  aid  and  assist  us  in  getting  through.  We  got 
the  direction,  and  found  their  headquarters  about 
aoos.  We  were  cordially  received,  and  treated 
with  the  best  they  had.  The  news  of  our  arrival 
spread  fast,  and  by  dark  not  less  than  twenty  per 
sons  came  in  to  see  us.  They  thought  it  was  a 
great  curiosity  to  see  "  live  Yankees "  in  their 
midst.  We  found  them  all  true  Union  men  in 
principle,  and  would  be  so  in  action,  if  it  was  not 
for  the  iron  rule  of  tyrants  that  keeps  them  down. 

There  we  found  deserters  from  the  rebel  ranks 
who  had  been  there,  hid  in  the  mountains,  for 
over  eighteen  months.  We  were  assigned  a  room 
that  night  in  the  stable  loft,  and  received  visitors 
until  nearly  midnight.  I  was  heartily  glad  when 
they  quit  coming,  for  I  needed  some  rest.  I 
slept  that  night  as  sweetly,  and  felt  as  safe,  as  if 
I  had  been  at  home.  I  knew  I  was  among  friends, 
and  that  not  a  few. 

Tuesday,  November  24.  —  We  arose  in  great 
ghe.  A  Squire  Somebody  had  sent  us  a  bottle 
of  home-made  liquor,  which  we  did  not  object  to, 
as  we  thought  a  little  refreshment  would  not  go 
amiss,  if  it  did  cost  six  dollars  a  pint.  Visitors 
came  Hocking  in  all  day,  and  I  was  getting  fear 
ful,  lest  the  thing  was  getting  too  public,  and 
might  arouse  suspicion.  We  coaxed  four  de 
serters  to  fix  up  and  go  along  with  us,  for  we 
knew  they  would  be  excellent  pilots,  from  their 
knowledge  of  the  country. 

We  also  found  that  they  had  been  running  de 
serters  from  that  place  across  to  our  lines.  And 
for  doing  this,  they  had  established  a  route  with 
a  number  of  posts  on  it  —  a  kind  of  an  under 
ground  railroad.  And  besides  this,  they  had  a 
«ecrot  organization,  with  its  grips,  signs,  and 
passwords ;  and  for  a  person  to  be  a  member,  he 
had  to  sign  an  obligation,  and  take  a  solemn  oath, 
Jie  punishment  for  violation  of  which  was  death. 

Under  an  old  shed  near  by,  we  were  all  three 
ef  us  initiated  into  this  mystic  lodge ;  and  there 
after  we  could  tell  our  friends  at  first  sight ;  and 
it  was  a  great  help  to  us  during  the  balance  of 
our  sojourn  in  Dixie.  We  found  there  men  of 
all  ages  —  from  the  beardless  youth  to  the  gray- 
b^adcd  old  man  —  praying  day  and  night  that  the 
Yankees  might  come  and  take  possession  of  their 


country.  ^  They  had  felt  the  gall  and  bitterness 
of  secession  —  the}'  knew  its  aim  —  the  subjuga 
tion  of  the  poor,  and  to  lift  up  the  rich  into  des 
potic  chairs.  O  ye  butternuts  of  the  Norlh,  who 
voted  for  exiles,  and  outlaws,  and  friends  of  se 
cession,  if  yo  i  could  but  half  feel  the  fruit,"  of 
disunion,  how  srLi\  you  would  change  your  prin 
ciples  !  We  spent  one  happy  day  in  the  Confed 
eracy.  They  brought  us  in  great  baskets  of  pro- 
vis''»r'»  It  appeared  as  if  they  could  not  do  enough 
for  it  ;  and  when  vrj  went  to  start,  they  filled  our 
hav  ;rsacks  to  overflowing,  and  gave  us  also  fifteen 
dollars  in  money  (Confederate).  Everything 
being  in  readiness,  and  with  many  adieus  and 
God  speed  you  well,  from  both  men  and  women, 
we  started  off,  a  :companied  by  the  four  deserters 
and  about  twen.y  of  the  citizens,  who  went  with 
us  a  couple  of  miles.  Such  true  types  of  Union 
ism  are  hardly  found  here  in  our  midst  —  cer 
tainly  no  better. 

The  deserters  went  ahead  as  our  guides.  We 
were  soon  across  Craig  Mountain,  and  in  the  Sink 
ing  Creek  Valley,  and  were  proceeding  along,  as 
we  thought,  in  all  security.  As  we  were  going 
down  a  small  creek,  which  led  out  to  a  public 
road,  we  had  not  more  than  got  out  into  the  road, 
when  all  in  an  instant  we  heard  the  words,  "  Halt, 
halt,  halt!"  coming  fro.n  a  sentinel  not  over  twen 
ty-five  yards  in  front  of  us.  We  then  saw,  to  the 
right  of  the  road,  eight  or  ten  camp  fires,  and  saw 
in  an  instant  our  danger.  We  made  off  at  full 
speed,  and  ran  on  for  a  mile  until  we  were  coai- 
pletely  exhausted.  The  sentinel  never  fired  at 
us,  nor  made  the  alarm  in  camp.  I  have  always 
thought  that  he  did  not  suspect  who  we  were.  It 
was  a  narrow  escape,  and  also  a  lesson  of  caution. 

After  getting  over  our  fright,  we  made  off  again, 
over  fields  and  through  woods,  wading  Sinking 
Creek,  and  then  over  Sinking  Creek  Mountain, 
through  the  brush  ;  then  across  John's  Creek  Val* 
ley,  and  wading  John's  Creek,  which  was  very 
deep  and  cold,  and  made  the  top  of  John's  Creek 
Mountain  by  daylight. 

Wednesday,  November  25.  —  We  took  a  good 
day's  rest,  and  were  off'  again  at  dark,  down  across 
a  large  valley,  thence  over  Peter's  Mountain  ;  the 
last  and  highest  of  the  Alleghanies.  This  night 
was  very  cold,  and  we  suffered,  for  our  clothes 
were  so  thin,  and  my  shoes  were  now  about  gone  ; 
and  I  was  compelled  to  tear  up  some  of  my  other 
clothes  to  keep  my  feet  safe,  for  I  knew  our  suc 
cess  depended  upon  them.  We  stopped  that  night 
about  midnight  at  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Smith,  at 
the  west  foot  of  Peter's  Mountain.  This  was  a 
post  on  our  route,  and  as  the  next  one  was  twen 
ty-five  miles  ahead,  we  wanted  to  take  a  whole 
night  for  it.  Mr.  Smith  gave  us  a  very  hospitable 
reception,  but  informed  us  that  it  would  be  im 
possible  for  us  to  get  through,  as  General  Averill 
had  been  pitching  into  the  rebels  at  Leuisburg, 
and  had  scattered  them  all  along  down  the  Green- 
brier  country,  —  and  we  also  had  in  our  pathway 
the  two  bushwhacking  companies,  commanded  by 
William  and  Philip  Thurman,  who  were  doing 
great  mischief,  taking  their  spite  out  on  the  Union 
men  in  the  country  for  their  defeat  at  Lewi«burg. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


279 


His  tales  were  so  horrible  that  we  could  not 
persuade  the  rebel  deserters  to  come  another  foot 
with  us;  they  started  back  immediately  that 
night.  Their  courage  failed  them  after  coming 
forty  miles  with  us,  and  we  were  then  within 
eighty  miles  of  our  lines. 

Thursday,  November  26.  —  After  a  good  nap 
on  the  floor,  and  a  warm  breakfast  before  day 
break,  we  went  into  a  thicket  and  lay  concealed 
there  all  day  in  perfect  security.  Mr.  Smith  went 
ahead  that  day  several  miles  to  learn  the  true 
state  of  things,  as  to  the  safety  of  our  going  for 
ward,  and  returned  at  night  with  the  news,  that 
it  might  be  barely  possible.  At  night,  after  a 
hearty  supper,  \ve  set  forward  to  make  Greenbrier 
River  before  daylight,  with  a  recommendation  to 
a  Mr.  L.  Guinn,  our  next  post.  That  night's 
travel  took  us  directly  through  Monroe  County, 
and  our  road  led  through  Uniontown,  the  county 
seat,  and  as  that  was  another  hot  secesh  hold  we 
were  told  to  flank  it.  We  came  in  sight  of  the 
town  about  ten  o'clock.  As  there  were  a  great 
many  lights  there,  we  struck  off  to  the  left,  and 
by  so  doing  got  upon  the  wrong  road,  but  did  not 
find  our  mistake  until  \ve  had  gone  eight  miles. 
We  then  altered  our  course,  and  made  Greenbrier 
a  little  before  daylight.  I  entered  a  cabin,  and 
inquired  for  a  man  by  the  name  of  L.  Guinn. 
I  was  informed  that  a  man  by  the  name  of  Lay- 
ton  Guinn  lived  a  mile  down  the  river.  Without 
stopping  to  ask  whether  he  was  Union  or  not,  we 
started  down  the  river  to  Mr.  Guinn's.  We  soon 
came  in  sight  of  the  house  ;  and  as  it  was  Ser 
geant  Stookey 's  turn  to  make  the  venture,  the 
other  two  of  us  lay  hid.  Sergeant  Stookey  went 
up  to  the  yard  fence,  as  it  was  breaking  day. 
The  folks  of  the  house  were  up.  He  hallooed, 
and  a  man  came  out.  Stookey  asked  him  "  if 
Mr.  Guinn  lived  there,"  to  which  the  man  replied. 
that  was  his  name,  and  residence,  but  he  had  only 
got  home  the  night  before,  for  he  belonged  to  one 
of  Thurman's  independent  companies  —  a  kind 
of  genteel  name  for  bushwhackers.  Stookey  soon 
saw  the  difficulty  he  was  in,  but  gathered  up 
courage  and  played  off.  lie  immediately  replied 
that  he  was  the  very  man  he  "  wanted  to  find,  for 
he  wanted  to  enlist  in  one  of  them  independent 
companies,"  and  probably  now  he  could  get  some 
information  how  to  get  to  them.  This  appeared 
to  please  the  man,  and  he  immediately  asked, 
"Who  are  you?  a  deserter?  What  regiment, 
Twenty-second,  Forty-fifth,  or  Sixtieth  Virginia  ?" 
Stookey  answered  him  that  he  used  to  belong  to 
the  army,  but  as  his  regiment  was  a  long  way  off, 
he  thought  he  would  try  one  of  his  companies  for 
a  while.  To  this  Mr.  Guinn  proceeded  to  inform 
him  where  the  two  companies  were.  One  was 
at  such  a  ferry  on  New  River,  and  had  scouts 
scattered  here  and  there,  &c.,  the  other  one  was 
up  on  Muddy  Creek,  with  directions  how  to  go 
to  it,  where  to  cross  the  river,  and  what  roads  to 
take,  &c.  Just  the  very  kind  of  information  we 
so  greatly  desired.  He  then  invited  Stookey  to 
come  in  and  get  his  breakfast.  Stookey  politely 
thanked  him,  as  he  had  plenty  in  his  haversack ; 
so  he  bade  him  good  morning,  and  hastily  rejoined 


I  us.     After  this  news,  we  set  our  wits  to  work  to 

!  make  the  best  of  it.     We  had  struck  the  wrong 

|  man,  and  to  make  any  more  ventures  we  thought 

I  would  not  be    lafe,  and  we  must  manage  to  get 

across  Greenb_*ier  the  best  we  could.     We  made 

immediately  for  the  river,  and  went  down  it  a 

mile,  to  a  place  where  there  were  no  houses  in 

j  sight.     There  we  built  a  fire.     We  were  com- 

I  pelled  to  lo  so,  for  it  was  a  very  cold  night,  and 

I 1  had  my  feet  and  fingers  partially  frost-Mtten. 
After  we  .'ad  tha\ved  out  a  little,  and  eaten  the 
last  moutnful  in  cur  haversacks,  we  began  to  look 
for  some  way  to  cross  the  river.     In  a  pile  of 
drift-wood  there  was  an  old  canoe.     This  we  got 
out  and  launched,  and  all  three  of  us  got  into  it, 
and  tegan  to  paddle  over,  but  were  not  more  than 
one  third  over  when  the  little,  frail  thing  upset, 
and  threw  us  into  the  water.     It  was  a  cold  bap 
tism,  and  we  swanl  back,  dripping  with  wet  and 
trembling  with  cold.     We  rebuilt  our  fire,  wrung 
and  dried  our  clothes,   and  in  two  hours  were 
ready  to  try  it  again.     This  time  Stookey  went 
over  in  the  canoe  alone,  and  Thompson  and  my 
self  went  down  about  half  a  mile  to  a  riffle,  strip 
ped,  and  waded.     It  was  a  bitter  pill,  but  there 
was  no  alternative.     After  being  safely  over  we 

!  made  for  the  Snell  Mountains,  whose  summit  we 
reached  a  little  after  dark.  A  bed  was  soon  made 
out  of  some  leaves,  in  which  we  snugly  slept  all 
night. 

Saturday,  November  27. — Hunger  drove  us 
this  morning  to  a  cabin  for  something  to  eat. 
We  met,  as  usual,  with  a  good  Union  man.  We 
were  now  aiming  for  New  Kiver,  and  he  advised 
us  to  keep  along  the  top  of  the  Snell  Mountains, 
and  that  they  would  take  us  there  in  fourteen 
miles.  We  started  off,  but  as  it  was  raining  and 
sleeting  we  made  poor  headway,  stopping  at  sev 
eral  houses,  and  keeping  ourselves  well  posted  a§ 
to  the  dangers  of  the  country. 

By  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  we  tad  reached 
the  residence  of  Mr.  Thomas  Richmond)  one  of 
the  best  Union  men  in  the  country,  and  a  man  of 
wealth.     He  advised  us  to  go  no  farther  in  day 
light,  but  told  us  to  stay  with  him  until  midnight, 
when  he  would  go  with  us  as  far  as  New  River ; 
ther  he  thought  we  should  be  safe.     We  passed 
!  our  time  very  much  at  home  at  Mr.  Richmond's, 
!  who  was  a  whole-souled  gentleman.     He  inter 
ested  us  by  giving  an  account  of  his  family  and 
connections,  which  were  very  numerous,  and  good 
Union.     But  they  had  suffered  severely  from  the 
hands   of  the  bushwhackers.     His  brother,  who 
owned  a  ferry  on  New  River,  had  been  shot  dead 
in  his  own  yard,  and  his  two  POIIS  taken  thirty 
miles  off  and  shot.    He  also  had  one  brother  who 
!  had  been  in  Castle  Thunder  for  over  two  years, 
I  and  he  did  not  know  whether  he  was  alive  or 
|  not.     Besides,  a  great  many  of  the  family  had  tr 
j  flee  to  the  North,  leaving  all  of  their  possessions 
i  behind.     It  would  make  any  one  shudder  to  Us- 
I  ten   to  his  tales  of  the  sufferings  of  the  loyal 
|  people.     He  told  me  there  would  be  a  great  many 
I  old  grudges  to  settle  after  this  war  was  over,  be- 
( tween  them  and  the  tr  tacherous  and  murderous 
I  rebel  bushwhackers  cf  the  country. 


280 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Sunday,  November  29. —  This  was  the  third  Sab 
bath  we  hud  passed  in  making  our  escape  from 
Rebeldom.  By  three  o'clock  we  were  up,  had  our 
breakfast,  and  were  off,  Mr.  Richmond  acting  as 
our  guide.  By  daylight  we  were  at  New  River, 
at  what  is  known  as  Richmond's  Ferry.  There 
Mr.  Richmond  parted  with  us.  Are  proceeded 
down  on  the  right  hand  bank  of  the  river  for  ten 
miles,  and  then  got  a  man  to  take  us  across  in  his 
canoe,  and  then  down  the  left  bank,  travell.ng 
pretty  briskly  until  dark,  when  we  stopped  with  a  ; 
man  by  the  name  of  Samuel  Kincade,  who  turned 
out  to  be  a  notorious  bushwhacker.  When  we 
entered  the  house  he  took  us  to  be  men  of  his  own 
order.  He  proceeded  to  tell  us  about  the  success 
of  the  freebooters  in  that  part  of  the  country,  &c. 
He  was  getting  under  pretty  good  headway,  when 
Sergeant  Stookey  told  him  he  had  better  be  care 
ful  how  he  was  talking,  for  we  were  Yankees. 
This  put  the  old  fellow  "  on  nettles  ;  "  he  was 
restless  all  night,  and  was  not  very  communica 
tive  thereafter. 

Monday,  November  30.  —  We  were  up  pretty 
early,  and  our  old  rebel  host  appeared  rather  cool. 
He  charged  us  a  dollar  apiece  for  our  lodging — the 
first  and  only  man  that  took  a  cent  from  us.  They 
generally  would  rather  give  us  something  than 
take  anything  from  us.  If  M'e  had  had  any  kind 
of  weapons  we  would  have  marched  this  Mr.  Kin- 
caid  into  Fayetteville  that  day.  We  left  him 
deeply  absorbed  in  thought  as  to  who  we  actually 
were. 

We  walked  very  rapidly  for  ten  miles  down  the 
river,  and  then  took  off  across  the  country  for 
Fayetteville.  The  nearer  we  got  to  our  lines,  the 
more  uneasy  I  felt,  to  think,  after  coming  so  far, 
and  through  so  many  hardships,  and  then  that  we 
might  be  "  gobbled  up  "  in  sight  of  our  haven  of 
rest.  We  also  knew  our  doom  would  be  death 
if  we  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  bushwhackers.  At 
last  I  thought  we  could  not  travel  fast  enough,  I 
was  so  impatient  to  get  through. 

About  three  o'clock  P.  M.,  as  we  made  a  bend 
in  the  road,  we  espied  off  ahead  of  us  a  blue  over 
coat  ;  it  was  a  picket  post.  Can  I  describe  our 
feelings  at  that  time?  I  am  not  capable  of  the 
task.  I  only  refer  you  to  the  indescribable  joy 
of  Pilgrim  when  he  crossed  the  River  Jordan.  At 
the  post  we  met  some  of  the  boys  from  the  Nine 
ty-first  Ohio  infantry.  After  they  learned  who 
MC  were,  they  were  overjoyed  to  see  us.  A  cou 
rier  was  sent  in  immediately  to  Colonel  White, 
commander  of  the  post  at  Fayetteville.  An  order 
was  sent  out  to  have  us  brought  in.  You  may 
imagine  we  had  not  a  very  prepossessing  appear 
ance.  Our  clothes  were  hanging  all  in  tatters 
and  rags.  I  was  nearly  barefooted,  and  my  feet 
were  so  bruised  and  sore  that  I  could  but  just 
hobble  along.  We  also  looked  dirty  and  mangy, 
and  our  countenances  had  a  sallow,  haggard  look. 
Indeed,  we  were  hard-looking  specimens  of  hu 
manity.  Colonel  White  very  hospitably  received 
ufc,  and  furnished  us  with  new  suits  of  clothes. 
And  the  noble  and  generous  boys  of  the  Twelfth 
Ohio  volunteers,  shall  we  ever  forget  them  ?  They 
took  us  in  as  strangers,  and  fed  us ;  and  not  sat 


isfied  with  doing  that,  they  gave  us  thirty  dollars 
in  money.  Brave,  generous  fellows:  may  your 
future  be  a  bright  and  happy  one.  We  now  felt 
ourselves  at  home  ;  we  had  run  the  blockade ;  we 
had  for  once,  is  common  soldiers,  out-ger,er ailed 
the  rebels,  ant.  made  good  our  escape.  We  were 
sixteen  days  and  nights  making  the  trip  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  miles,  over  a  dozen  mountains,, 
wading  streams  of  all  sizes,  suffering  from  cold, 
and  all  manner  of  hardships.  Always  in  danger, 
scarcely  saw  a  moi:ient  that  we  felt  safe,  making 
ventures  all  the  time  fcr  something  to  eat.  We 
entered  twenty-two  houses ;  nineteen  of  them  were 
Uniovi.  We  ate  nineteen  meals  in  houses,  md 
slept  three  nights  in  houses.  To  the  good  1<  iyal 
people  of  the  country,  and  the  All-wise  Creator, 
that  rules  the  nations,  we  owe  our  success. 

We  remained  at  Fayetteville  two  days,  and  then 
proceeded  with  letters  to  General  Scammon,  .at 
Charleston,  West  Virginia.  He  very  cordially  re 
ceived  us,  and  sent  us  on,  with  passes,  through 
the  lines  of  his  department. 


ISIIMAEL  DAY.  —  This  determined  old  hero 
gives  the  following  account  of  the  attack  on  his 
nag,  at  his  house  in  Baltimore  County,  Maryland, 
on  Monday,  July  11,  1864  : 

"  On  Sunday  evening,  the  10th,  I  heard  that 
Dulaney's  Valley  was  rilled  with  rebels,  stealing 
horses  and  cattle  ;  did  not  believe  it,  but  thought 
they  were  Federal  troops  pressing  horses.  About 
sundown,  the  same  day,  I  heard  the  rebels  werr 
on  the  Harford  Pike,  about  a  mile  distant,  th«s 
people  living  thereon  being  much  excited.  I  went 
to  bed,  leaving  my  lamp  dimly  buining  all  night, 
and  arose  early  on  Monday  morning,  and  ran  up 
the  glorious  old  Stars  and  Stripes  rather  earlier 
than  usual.  I  then  sat  down  in  my  front  porch, 
and  was  soon  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Day.  About 
six  o'clock  A.  M.  my  little  colored  girl  told  her 
mistress  that  she  heard  soldiers  up  the  road  hur 
rahing.  I  still  thought  they  were  our  troops.  In 
a  few  minutes  my  wife  said  she  heard  the  sound 
of  horses'  feet  coming  down  the  road  ;  and  look 
ing  up  the  road,  said,  *  There  they  are,'  two  of 
them  coming  in  full  tilt.  A  little  while  after,  they 
were  before  the  door,  and  I  moved  down  on  the 
lower  step  to  see  if  there  were  any  more  near; 
and  seeing  none,  resumed  my  seat.  By  this  time 
the  foremost  one  had  dismounted,  seized  hold  of 
the  bottom  of  the  flag,  jerked  it  down,  and  broke 
the  rope,  cursing  and  calling  it  a  «  damned  old  rag.' 
1  then  coolly  asked  him,  •  What  do  you  mean  r 
What  are  you  about?'  and,  without  waiting  a 
reply,  ran  immediately  up  stairs,  seized  one  of  my 
two  guns,  already  loaded  in  my  bed-room,  and 
shot  the  foremost  one  of  them,  out  of  the  second 
story  window,  which  was  already  up,  while  he  was 
in  the  act  of  folding  up  the  flag  for  his  departure. 
He  then  raised  his  hands  and  fell  back,  exclaim- 
ing,  « I  am  shot.'  I  then  seized  the  other  gun, 
ran  down  stairs,  when  I  was  mat  by  Mrs.  D.  cry 
ing,  imploring  me  not  to  shoot  again,  or  they 
would  kill  me.  I,  however,  pressed  out  into  the 
yard  to  take  a  ?hot  at  the  ether;  but  he  wag 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND   INCIDENTS. 


23J 


among  the  missing,  having  clapped  spurs  to  his 
horse  on  the  fall  of  his  companion,  which  I  re 
gretted  very  much,  as  he  did  not  give  me  an  op 
portunity  of  giving  him  his  bitters  also ;  and  see 
ing  none  of  the  squad  at  the  time,  I  walked  up 
to  the  wounded  man,  and  said, '  You  rebel  rascal, 
1  will  now  finish  you,'  and  cocked  the  gun  for 
that  'purpose,  but  he  asked  for  mercy,  and  sur 
rendered;  and  knowing  that  he  had  received  the 
whole  charge,  I  was  satisfied  that  he  could  not 
live,  and,  therefore,  did  not  shoot  him  again.  By 
this  time  I  heard  the  whole  troop  coming  down 
the  road  ;  I  returned  to  my  bed-room,  got  my  six- 
barrelled  revolver,  and  with  the  loaded  gun  started 
for  my  hiding-place,  about  two  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  north-east  of  my  house,  and  hardly  had  done 
so  before  they  were  all  at  the  house,  and  fired  all 
my  buildings,  except  a  small  corn  and  hen-house. 
Everything  was  burnt,  including  ail  my  personal 
property,  and  thirty-five  dollars  in  money,  which 
was  either  taken  by  the  rebels  or  consumed  by  the 
fire ;  after  which  I  went  to  one  of  my  nearest 
neighbors  to  get  my  breakfast,  and  went  to  a  sec 
ond  one  to  get  dinner,  and  was  conveyed  to  Bal 
timore  on  the  same  day.  On  Thursday  after,  I 
had  my  name  enrolled  in  the  Company  of  the  Aged 
Guard  of  1862,  commanded  by  Captain  Child,  for 
the  defence  of  Baltimore  ;  and  on  the  same  day 
obtained  a  guard  from  headquarters  to  bring  m 
the  wounded  rebel,  whom  I  took  to  Wsst's  Hos 
pital,  where  he  has  since  died." 


THE    PATRIOT    ISHMAEL    DAY. 

BY    W.    H.   HAY  WARD. 

COME  forth,  my  muse,  now  don't  refuse ; 

Assist  me,  in  this  lay, 
To  sing  of  one  —  *'  My  Maryland's  "  son  — 

The  patriot  Ishmael  Day. 

One  Monday  morn,  at  early  dawn, 

The  hour  when  good  men  pray, 
A  rebel  host,  with  throats  and  boast, 

Came  on  to  scare  old  Day. 

He  soon  had  word  —  the  noise  he  heard 

In  tht  distance  far  away  — 
That  Gilmore's  men  were  coming  then 

To  capture  Ishmael  Day. 

4 That's  what's  the  matter  —  O,  what  a  clatter  ! 

I'll  keep  them  awhile  at  bay, 
Fill  I  hoist  my  rlag,  of  which  I  brag," 

Said  the  brave  old  Ishmael  Day. 

On  rushed  the  crowd  with  curses  loud, 

Begrimed  with  dust  arid  gray ; 
14  My  flag  I'll  nail  to  the  garden  pale, 

And  die  by  it,"  said  Day. 

The  thieving  horde  came  down  the  road  — 

They  had  no  time  to  stay. 
41  Our  flag  is  here  —  touch  it  who  dare !  " 

Shouted  old  Ishmael  Day. 

A  trooper  rushed,  with  whiskey  flushed, 

Swore  he'd  take  that  rag  away. 
44  Let  any  man  dare  try  that  plan, 

I'll  shoot  him,"  says  old  Dfty. 


He  feared  the  cock  of  his  old  flint-lock 
Might  miss,  so  this  prayer  did  say  : 

That  a  load  of  duck-shot  might  pepper  him  hot 
By  the  hands  of  Ishmael  Day. 

On  the  raider  came  —  old  Day  was  game ; 

Reb  swore  that  flag  shouldn't  stay  ; 
With  a  CTirse  and  a  frown,  cried,  "  Down  with  itj 
down !  " 

Bang  !  blazed  away  Ishmael  Day. 

Flint-lock  he  could  trust,  for  dowrn  in  the  dust. 

The  traitorous  rebel  lay, 
Crying,  "  Spare  my  life,  I'm  tired  of  this  strife." 

"So  am  I,"  said  Ishmat^  Day. 

Now  let  each  loyal  heart  in  our  cause  take  a  part, 
Do  his  duty,  watch,  fight,  and  pray  ; 

Shoulder  his  gun,  stand  by,  never  run, 
And  imitate  Ishmael  Day. 

Chen  we  boldly  say,  a  few  men  like  Day, 

With  guns,  ammunition  at  hand, 
vVe  need  not  be  afraid  of  Gilmore's  next  raid 

On  the  soil  of  "  My  Maryland." 

1  now  close  my  song,  for  fear  it's  too  long ; 

On  this  subject  I  could  much  more  say ; 
Let  us  all  shout  hosauna  to  the   Star-spangled 
Banner, 

And  hurrah  for  brave  Ishmael  Day. 


INCIDENT  OF  WILLIAMSBURG.  —  During  the 
battle,  one  of  the  Louisiana  Tigers  went  up  to 
one  of  the  wounded  Union  soldiers,  who  played 
dead  for  fear  of  being  bayoneted,  and  commenced 
searching  his  pockets,  when  a  Tennessee  soldier 
came  up,  and  saying  to  him,  "  Will  you  rob  a 
dead  man  ?  "  shot  him  dead  on  the  spot.  Another 
rebel  came  up  to  a  wounded  soldier,  and  was  in 
the  act  of  bayoneting  him,  when  another  rebel 
came  up,  and  knocked  the  fellow  down  with  his 
musket,  and  gave  the  soldier  a  drink  from  his 
canteen.  In  bringing  in  a  boat  load  of  wounded 
rebels  from  Williamsburg,  a  rebel  swore  that  he 
would  kill  every  Yankee  he  saw,  if  he  could,  and 
threw  a  large  knife  at  one  of  the  doctors,  injur 
ing  him  slightly,  when  the  doctor  drew  his  re 
volver  and  shot  him  through  the  heart 


THE  GLORY  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  —  An  accom 
plished  and  brilliant  woman  gives  the  following 
account  of  that  noble  institution  in  Philadelphia, 
the  Volunteer  Refreshment  Saloon,  in  a  letter 
dated  October,  1861  : 

"  On  Thursday  last  I  spent  a  day,  that,  if  I  live, 
I  hope  many  a  time  to  describe  to  my  grand- 
nieces  and  nephews.  Emily  and  I  were  sitting 
knitting  by  our  cheery  glass  door,  through  which 
a  warm  October  sun  wras  pouring  a  flood  of  red, 
and  yellow,  and  purple  light,  when  we  heard  two 
cannons  fired.  It  wras  a  signal  that  soldiers  were 
to  pass  through  the  city.  By  the  same  impulse, 
Emily  and  I  both  proposed  that  we  should  go 
iown  and  see  them  land,  and  be  entertained  at 
the  Volunteer  Refreshment  Saloon.  Off  we  start 
ed,  on  the  spur  of  the  moment,  went  down  to 


282 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Helen's  a  recruiting  —  got  her  to  join  us  —  took 
the  cars,  and  soon  found  ourselves  at  the  corner 
of  Prince  and  Front  Streets,  where  the  Refresh 
ment  Saloon  stands. 

"  When  we  entered,  we  were  met  by  a  dapper, 
smart   little    man  —  a   real   handsome  fellow  — 

— ,  such   beautiful 


looking  very  much  like  — 
features  and  bright  eyes.  He  belonged  to  the 
class  of  mechanics,  but,  with  our  American  facili 
ty,  had  picked  n_  most  excellent  manners  and 
address.  We  asked  whether  we  had  properly  in 
terpreted  the  signal  of  firing  the  cannons,  and  if 
a  regiment  were  shortly  expected.  It  appeared 
we  had  made  a  mistake,  the  firing  we  heard  be 
ing  in  another  direction,  where  they  were  trying 
the  range  of  a  new  piece.  However,  a  regiment 
was  expected  in  the  afternoon,  and  two  during  the 
evening.  Our  dapper  friend  invited  us  to  look 
over  the  establishment.  But  let  me  stop  a  min 
ute  to  give  you  some  little  account  of  what  the 
Volunteer  Refreshment  Saloon  is.  When  the  war 
first  broke  out,  and  thousands  and  tens  of  thou 
sands  of  soldiers  were  passing  through  our  city 
daily,  we  found  there  was  great  deficiency  of 
means  of  providing  an  immediate  meal  for  them. 
Sometimes  they  would  have  to  wait  for  hours, 
sometimes  go  away  hungry.  In  Southwark,  some 
dozen  or  so  of  the  women  joined  heads  and 
purses,  and  put  up  a  little  street  corner  refresh 
ment  place,  just  boards  propped  up  against  the 
sides  of  the  houses,  where  they  served  hot  coffee 
and  other  things,  as  they  could  afford  it,  free  of 
charge  to  the  soldiers,  as  they  landed  at  the  foot 
of  Prime  Street  to  proceed  to  the  Baltimore  de 
pot.  The  thanks  and  blessings  of  the  weary  and 
hungry  soldiers,  who  went  away  refreshed,  in 
cited  these  patriotic  women  to  renewed  efforts, 
arid  the  thing  has  taken  form  and  system.  I  will 
describe  it  to  you  as  our  little  friend  showed  it  to 
us,  with  many  a  bow  and  flourish,  last  Thursday. 
We  entered  a  long,  low  room,  rather  poor-look 
ing,  and  with  marks  of  partitions  having  been 
knocked  away  to  make  it.  In  it  were  ranged, 
along  the  whole  length,  five  long  tables,  about 
breast  high,  so  that  the  soldiers  might  conven 
iently  stand  and  eat.  These  were  neatly  spread 
with  a  white  cloth,  and  set  with  plates,  tin  cups, 
castors,  &c.  At  the  upper  end  of  the  room  were 
two  rather  handsomely  laid  tables  for  the  officers. 
In  this  room  they  make  a  spread,  for  five  hundred 
at  one  time.  The  scrupulous  cleanliness  and 
neatness  of  the  whole  strike  you.  From  the 
eating-room  we  went  into  tna  *arder  and  cook 
ing-room.  In  the  larder  we  saw  abundance  of 
ham,  corned  beef,  fresh  mutton  and  beef,  cheese, 
pickles,  cold  slaw,  and  most  beautiful  butter  and 
bread,  sweet  potatoes  tomatoes  —  in  short,  all 
the  vegetables  of  the  season.  Everything  the 
very  best  of  its  kind.  Up  stairs  is  a  retiring 
room,  where  they  take  any  sick  or  wounded. 
There  are  comfortable  lounges  all  around  it,  and 
in  the  middle  a  table  with  writing  materials,  and 
envelopes  all  ready  stamped,  if  any  one  wants  to 
despatch  a  letter.  There  is  a  bed  or  two,  if  any 
become  sick  and  want  to  be  nursed  a  day  or  two 
before  rejoining  their  company.  Now,  remember 


this  thing  is  wholly  the  work  of  the  middle  das* 
Southwark  women.  There  are  now  about  twenty 
men  and  twenty-five  women  who  are  actively 
employed  in  it.  Only  one  person  is  a  paid  em 
ployee.  All  the  others'  labor  is  voluntary.  The 
young  man,  who  was  our  guide,  said  that  l.e  had 
been  at  work  since  three  o  Jock  in  the  night,  an<3 
did  not  expect  to  g(-t  any  rest  until  after  mid 
night,  as  they  Tiad  three  thousa*  d  men  to  give 
supper  to.  It  \vorks  on  this  vise:  they  take 
turns  among  th  jmselves  for  one  man  and  woman 
to  remain  all  day  on  the  spot.  When  they  re 
ceive  a  despatch  that  a  raiment  is  coming,  a 
cannon  is  fired  as  a  signs  J,  and  within  half  an 
hov.r  every  member  is  bound  to  make  his  appear 
ance,  or  send  a  substitute,  never  mind  what  hour 
of  day  or  night  it  is.  Well !  we  were  so  inter 
ested  and  stirred  up  by  the  sight  of  so  much 
patriotism,  that  we  determined  to  return  in  the 
evening,  and  see  a  thousand  New  Hampshire 
boys  take  their  supper.  When  we  were  going 
out,  I  said  to  our  bright  and  hearty  little  guide, 
*  Now  you  people  must  remember  all  you  are  do 
ing,  and  write  it  down,  for  it  will  make  an  inter 
esting  page  in  history  one  day.'  l  Why,  miss, 
that  is  just  what  I'm  thinking  myself.  When 
one  thing  or  another  happens,  I  say  to  myself,  I'll 
remember  that,  and  maybe  when  I'm  an  old  man, 
and  they're  making  books  about  it,  I  can  help 
them  to  a  thing  or  two.'  Then  he  went  on  to 
tell  two  or  three  incidents  of  some  poor  little 
boys  in  the  neighborhood  who  set  to  work  pick 
ing  and  selling  chips  till  they  had  five  dollars  to 
give  for  the  soldiers  ;  and  of  a  little  five-year  old 
boy,  whose  mother  had  given  him  a  ten-cent  piece 
for  the  Fourth  of  July.  Five  he  laid  out  in  irre 
sistible  fire-crackers,  the  other  five  he  came  and 
offered  to  feed  the  soldiers.  The  committee  laid 
by  that  five-cent  piece,  and  intend  to  keep  it. 

"  In  the  afternoon,  Doctor  and  Sallie,  Matty, 
Emily,  and  myself,  made  a  party,  and  went  down 
there  again.  What  a  hive  it  was,  to  be  sure ! 
Nice  young  girls,  and  plump,  hearty  materj'a- 
milias  bustling  about  with  meat  and  cheese,  arid 
all  good  things,  a  real  tempting  meal.  And  O  ! 
the  coffee :  the  delicious  aroma  almost  brought 
tears  to  the  eyes  of  us  outsiders,  who  had  to  con 
tent  ourselves  with  the  smell  alone. 

"  By  and  by,  after  a  half  hour's  waiting,  a  signal 
gun  was  fired,  and  the  cry,  '  They  come !     They 
come ! '  went  forth  from  mouth  to  mouth.    Sarah, 
I  can't  give  you  any  idea  of  the  intense  excite 
ment  and  enthusiasm  of  that  moment  —  the  tap 
ping  of  the  drum;  the  tramp,  tramp,  tramp ;  the 
!  ringing  order,  "  Halt ;  "  and  then  they  began  filing 
j  in,  company  by  company,  in   perfect  quiet  and 
i  order,  ranging  themselves  along  the  table,  till  the 
i  great  room  was  one  dense  mass  of  soldiers ;  un- 
;  less  you  were  here,  and  had  caught  the  enthusiasm 
I  of  our  war  spirit,  you  cannot  know  how  the  sight 
|  of  a  thousand  armed  men  moves  one.     I  wanted 
1  to  embrace  the  whole  regiment.     I  wanted  to  put 
;  my  hands  on  their  heads  and  bless  them.      I 
wanted  to  beat  the  drun;,  and  sing,  '  Hail  Colum- 
j  bia.'     I  wanted  to  turn  myse  f  inside  out,  gener- 
[  ally,  and  not  being  able  :o  dc  any  of  these  things. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


283 


I  shed  some  tears  on  my  bonnet  strings,  much 
to  their  detriment,  and  rushed  off  and  gave  five 
dollars,  that  I  don't  know  how  I  can  possibly 
spare.  Sarah,  they  were  a  magnificent  looking 
set  of  men.  Never  tell  me  the  Yankees  are  an 
ugly  race,  after  seeing  those  five  hundred  hand 
some  New  Hampshire  hoys.  They  were  mostly 
farmers,  and  scarcely  a  small  man  among  them. 
You  never  saw  so  quiet  and  orderly  a  meal ;  no  in 
decent  haste  or  snatching,  no  raised  voiee  or  word 
of  swearing ;  perfect  courtesy  to  the  women,  in 
most  cases  turning  to  thank  them  before  leaving, 
They  were  supplied  with  newspapers,  while  eat 
ing,  and  it  was  remarkable  to  see  how  many  made 
haste  to  finish  and  have  a  few  minutes  to  read 
their  papers.  I  do  not  believe  there  was  ever 
such  an  intelligent  army  in  the  world  as  ours. 
Our  farmers,  our  mechanics,  the  very  bone  and 
sinew  of  our  nation,  are  going  forth,  intelligently 
and  determinedly,  to  fight  the  cause  of  freedom 
against  slavery,  liberty  against  tyranny,  civiliza 
tion  against  barbarism. 

"  Let  me  wind  up  my  rather  long  description  by 
saying  that  these  people  have  fed  one  hundred 
and  twenty  thousand  soldiers,  and  that  it  takes 
one  hundred  dollars  to  each  thousand,  and  sup 
ported  entirely  by  voluntary  subscription.  One 
more  remark  and  I  have  done.  I  never  wished 
more  heartily  than  at  that  blessed  moment  to  be  a 
mother,  and  then  I  wished  for  six  big  sons,  that 
I  might  send  them  all  to  fight  their  country's  bat 
tles.  I  even  gave  vent  to  the  sentiment  in  a  way 
that  shocked  some  of  my  auditory.  I  had  been 
looking  long  and  admiringly  at  a  very  handsome 
six-foot  youth,  an  officer.  He  was  very  like 

,  only  even  handsomer,  with  a  "clear, 

pure,  truthful  face.  He  ate  with  a  hearty, 
manly  appetite,  and  when  risen  from  the  table, 
shook  hand?  with  two  or  three  common-looking 
Southwark  dames,  in  a  respectful,  courteous  way, 

just  as  gracefully  as would  have  done 

it,  saying,  '  I  thank  you,  ladies  ;  I  thank  you  for 
your  hospitality.'  I  could  not  help  exclaiming, 
*  I  wish  that  boy  were  my  son/  I  am  glad  that 
I  am  living  history.  It  is  a  fine  thing  to  read  it, 
but  a  far  better  thing  to  live  history.  I  am  going 
to  do  everything  I  can,  and  connect  myself  as 
much  as  possible  with  what  I  believe  to  be  a 
great  era  in  our  history.  I  should  be  disappointed 
to  die  before  I  saw  it  through.  They  are  going 
to  open  the  Girard  House  as  a  hospital  here,  and 

if  I  can  possibly  get to  accede  to  it,  and 

I  can  make  satisfactory  arrangements,  I  shall  go 
as  a  volunteer  nurse.  In  Baltimore  the  nurses 
have  a  uniform, —  a  black  or  brown  merino  dress, 
tight  sleeves,  no  hoops,  tiny  linen  collar  and  cuffs, 
and  a  white  tarleton  cap.  Wouldn't  that  be 
'cute'?  Imagine  me  flying  around  with  a  little 
tarleton  cap  on,  reading  and  doing  the  sentimen 
tal  part  of  the  nursing  —  soothing  their  brows  — 
and  grapes  —  and  jelly  —  and  talking  about  their 
mothers,  and  so  on. 

"  What  do  you  think  ! ;  the 

elegant ; of  the  club,  and  red  mustache,  has 

been  doing.     Fcvgive  me  ,  if  I  have  ever  j 

done  thee  any  injustice,  even  in  my  thoughts.     I  j 


do  revere  thee  now.     Seriously, has  been 

doing  the  work  of  a  hero.  You  know  he  has  a 
gem  of  a  little  house  up  in Pla  :e,  so  ele 
gantly  furnished,  where  he  watches  over  his  little 

children  like  a  mother.      Well, could  not 

leave  his  little  brood  to  go  to  the  war;  so  all 
summer  long  he  hns  sought  out  sick  and  wounded 
soldier.*,  taken  thsm  to  his  house,  and  there 
nu.sed  them.  A.I  his  beds  have  been  filled,  and 
during  the  summer  he  has  nursed  about  a  hun 
dred  men.  "There,  who  will  say  that  war  does  not 
develop  fine  virtues  ?  You  have  heard,  of  course, 
that  1  am  taking  care  of  my  country's  toes,  corns, 
and  bunions,  in  the  way  of  knitting  stockings.  I 
have  sent  ninety  pairs  to  the  Quartermaster,  four 
knit  by  my  own  fingers.  I }  are  one  hundred  and 
ten  pairs  out,  in  process  c.'  being  knit.  I  am 
going  to  accomplish  four  hundred  before  I  begin 
anything  else.  Helen  is  employed  in  collecting 
luxuries  for  the  hospitals — jellies,  farina,  gelatin, 
&c.  She  will  despatch  a  large  box  to-morrow, 
and  still  expects  enough  material  for  another. 
So  you  see  we  are  all,  according  to  our  ability, 
spending  and  being  spent  for  our  dear  old  mother 
country.  .  - 

"  One  word  more  for  our  country,  and  I  have 
done.  We  are  at  our  wits'  ends  for  blankets. 
With  five  hundred  thousand  men  under  arms  in 
the  Northern  States,  it  is  no  easy  thing  to  provide 
them  all  with  blankets  ;  and  as  this  is  no  wool- 
growing  country,  there  is  no  store  or  supply  1o 
fall  back  upon.  Government  has  put  forth  stir 
ring  appeals  to  the  loyal  women  to  come  to  the 
rescue,  and  give  or  sell  their  hoards  of  household 
blankets  to  the  army :  you  may  be  sure  this  was 
generously  responded  to ;  and  yet  there  is  great  and 
pressing  need.  Many  women  I  know  have  cut  up 
their  drugget  and  half  worn  ingrain  carpets,  bound 
them,  and  sent  them  off.  I  do  believe  the  gen 
erosity  of  this  people,  now  and  here,  has  no  par 
allel  in  history.  Helen  sent  two  pairs  of  good 
bed  blankets,  and  my  sisters  out  at  Darley  (you 
know  their  limited  means)  sent  ten  —  almost  all 
they  possessed.  I  mean  to  send  some  druggst. 
I  can't  well  send  my  only  two  pairs  of  blankets, 
as  they  are  old  rose  relics.  If  the  need  continues, 
however,  I  shall  make  the  sacrifice.  You  under 
stand  it  is  no  little  economy  in  Government,  It  it 
because  there  is  not  enough  wool  in  the  country. 
Money  cannot  get  them ;  so  they  must  be  got  foi 
love.  Now,  my  darling,  you  can  perhaps  perceive 
what  my  hobby  is  now.  If  you  were  here,  you 
would  be  deatk  on  patriotism  too.  Dr.  Board- 
man's  church  is  the  very  head  of  all  good  works 
for  the  country ;  you  would  find  it  would  cost  as 
much  labor  and  money  to  keep  up  with  them,  as 
travelling  among  the  Alps  does.  .  .  .  Do  you 
know,  Sarah,  it  is  fashionable  here  to  be  traitor 
ous  ;  not  exactly  to  say,  I  am  a  secessionist,  b:it 
to  call  one's  self  a  '  peace  man '  —  an  anti-adminia- 
tration  man — just  as  in  the  days  of  the  Revolution 
it  was  fashionable  to  be  Tories.  It  is  the  legiti 
mate  offspring  of  the  spirit  of  trade,  whose  cry  is, 
'Give  us  prosperity;  only  give  us  prosperity  ia 
our  day,  and  aprts  novs  le  deluge*  It  is  willing 


HE 

ilTY 


284 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


that  the  South  should  pull  our  noses,  and  that  all 
nations  under  heaven  should  spit  in  our  faces  for 
cowards,  rather  than  have  wealth  and  trade,  ease 
an  I  comfort,  interfered  with.  It  is  only  in  the 
great  citfss,  and  among  the  wealthy,  that  you  meet 
thk  demoralization.  Throughout  the  country, 
and  among  the  great  middle  classes,  patriotism  is 
warm  and  earnest.  .  .  .  We  had  a  stirring 

1  alk  last  night  at ,  on  the  times.     We 

1  here  all  believed  that  the  North  was  too  back 
ward  about  facing  the  subject  of  slavery.  We 
have  been  in  the  habit  so  long  of  protecting  it, 
and  of  so  hating  the  word  Abolitionist,  that  now 
we  are  afraid  to  face  the  great  question  that  Provi 
dence  is  thrusting  upon  us.  We  are  willing  to 
kill  our  white  brethren,  if  need  be,  burn  their  cit 
ies,  and  yet  are  squeamish  about  their  slave  prop 
erty.  We  acknowledge  it  to  be  an  evil,  and*  a 
burden  to  the  land  ;  and  yet,  in  this  time  of  great 
uprooting  and  regeneration,  we  are  afraid  to  say 

this  thing  shall  be  purged  away      Mr. said 

he  believed  there  was  a  special  Providence  in  our 
panic  at  Bull  Run  ;  that  if  we  had  been  victorious, 
and  taken  Hichrnond,  and  patched  a  hasty  peace, 
we  would  have  shirked  the  whole  question  — 
skinned  over  the  cancer  that  would  have  broken 
out  again.  W said  that  he  thought  Provi 
dence  had  taken  the  whole  matter  out  of  the  hands 
of  man,  and  by  showing  the  world  the  necessity 
of  growing  cotton  elsewhere,  had  given  the  death 
blow  to  slavery.  When  the  American  cotton 
King  is  deposed,  Cuffee  is  free." 


COLONEL  MONTGOMERY'S  ESCAPE.  —  The  fol 
lowing  story  of  the  escape  of  Colonel  Montgomery 
from  the  Confederate  authorities  at  Vicksburg, 
was  given  by  him  at  the  Union  League  llooms  at 
Washington,  in  April,  1864  :  — 

"  One  year  ago  last  November  I  was  in  jail  in 
Vicksburg,  condemned  to  be  shot.  I  escaped  one 
day  ;  I  ran  home  to  my  wife  and  little  ones.  It 
was  about  noon  ;  a  train  would  leave  the  city  at 
three  o'clock.  I  told  my  wife  to  pack  up  our 
trunks,  and  we  must  go.  She  packed  them,  and 
seat  them  to  the  depot  by  a  negro,  and  then  fol 
lowed  with  our  little  girl,  and  boy,  while  I  went 
around  outside  the  town,  met  the  train  going 
through  a  cut,  jumped  aboard,  and  all  went  well 
till  we  got  to  Holly  Springs.  I  must  go  to  Mem 
phis,  fifty  miles,  and  no  raih-oad,  and  most  of  the 
way  through  rebel  pickets.  I  must  get  a  pass 
and  a  conveyance  if  I  could.  I  went  to  the  Gen 
eral's  office ;  he  was  away,  but  his  Adjutant  was 
there,  and  said  it  was  of  no  use  to  ask  for  a  pass ; 
if  I  was  Jefferson  Davis*  son,  and  had  my  mother 
with  me,  I  could  not  be  passed  in  that  direction. 
I  talked  with  him  about  other  things  ;  I  asked 
him  down  to  take  a  drink.  He  drank,  and  I 
talked.  I  told  him  how  many  adjutants  I  had 
known,  and  what  smart  men  they  were,  and  that 
1  thought  him  the  smartest  of  all,  and  was  sure, 
when  his  merits  were  known,  he  would  be  at  the 
head  of  all  the  adjutants  in  the  Confederacy.  The 
General  came  at  last,  and  the  Adjutant  begged 
birr,  to  grant  a  pass  to  this  very  particular  friend  i 


of  his,  to  take  his  wife  and  children  to  Memphis 
and  return.  I  was  particular  about  the  return. 
He  give  the  rasa,  but  it  did  rot  cover  a  convey 
ance,  and  thsre  was  none  to  be  had.  Then  the 
*':legraph  brought  news  of  my  escape,  and  orders 
ta  have  me  sent  I  ick  to  be  shot.  The  Adjutant 
had  the  order,  jrid  he  told  me  to  git.  Do  you 
know  what  git  n  aans  ?  Well,  I  tell  you,  in  such 
a  case  it  means  to  —  git!  The  Adjutant  had 
indorsed  me  as  his  friend  ;  he  was  afraid  he  had 
his  fcxt  in,  so  he  wanted  me  to  git,  and  I  did. 
My  wife  made  a  bundle  of  what  clothes  the  chil 
dren  must  havt.  I  put  it  on  my  back,  took  my 
little  boy  by  the  hand,  she  took  the  little  girl,  and 
we  started  on  foot  for  Memphis.  It  was  a  day 
of  scorching  heat ;  the  thermometer  above  90° ; 
the  burning  sand  six  inches  deep  ;  my  little  ones 
both  barefooted  ;  my  little  boy  with  no  hat ;  and 
my  wife  with  only  thin-soled  slippers  on,  worth 
about  forty  cents,  but  for  which  I  paid  ten  dollars 
hard  cash.  There  was  no  getting  out  of  that 
burning  sun  and  burning  sand ;  and,  as  we  went 
on,  O  my  God !  the  screams  of  those  little  chil 
dren  !  the  red,  fiery  streaks  ran  up  their  white 
ankles ;  every  step  was  agony,  and  every  breath, 
We  dragged  them  on.  Every  moment  we  ex 
pected  to  hear  the  couriers  behind,  coining  for 
me.  My  wife  and  little  girl  were  before  me,  tlw 
little  boy  was  too  young  to  keep  up  with  them. 
At  every  rise  of  ground  my  wife  would  turn  and 
look  to  see  if  a  messenger  were  coming  for  me. 
One  time,  as  she  stood  so,  my  little  boy  reached 
her,  his  poor  feet  all  red  and  blistered,  his  curls 
matted  to  his  head  with  perspiration,  with  both 
hands  clinging  to  her  dress,  and  his  dusty,  tearful 
face  lifted  to  hers,  he  cried  out,  '  O  mamma,  can't 
you  see  our  home  now  ? ' 

"  So  we  went  on  all  one  day.  At  night  we 
stopped  at  an  overseer's  house,  where  we  were 
permitted  to  stay.  They  were  poor,  but  kind.  A 
bed  was  made  on  the  floor  for  us,  but  the  agony 
the  children  suffered  was  so  great  they  could  not 
sleep,  exhausted  as  they  were.  We  bound  their 
little  feet  in  cloths,  and  I  sat  by  all  night  to  keep 
them  wet  with  cold  water  ;  then  they  could  sleep. 
If  in  my  stupor  and  exhaustion  I  chanced  to 
forget  myself,  their  shrieks  quickly  wakened  me 
again.  In  the  morning  we  had  to  start ;  there 
was  no  staying  here.  Those  poor  little  feet, 
burnt  all  day  and  soaked  all  night,  looked  as  if 
they  had  been  parboiled ;  yet  blistered  as  they 
were,  swollen  till  shapeless,  and  streaked  with  red 
and  purple  and  blue,  they  must  go  into  that 
burning  sand  again.  O  my  God !  my  God  !  those 
cries!  will  thine  a  verging  angel  gather  up  the 
tears  that  bedewed  that  fiery  path,  tears  from 
those  helpless  little  ones  in  their  awful  agony ! 
[He  covered  his  face  with  his  hand  an  instant, 
and  then  resumed.]  But  we  dragged  them  on! 
I  don't  know  how  it  happened  that  I  did  not 
notice  when  the  little  hand  slipped  from  mine, 
but,  from  whatever  distraction  of  mind  I  was  in, 
I  was  startled  by  a  shriek  that  is  ringing  in  my 
ears  yet,  and  looking  back  I  saw  my  little  boy 
lying  in  the  sand  in  the  road  behind  me.  He 
could  not  walk  anct  er  step,  and  thought  I  had 


"I  walked  up  to  him    *    »    *    and  handed  up  my  pass."— Page  285. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


285 


left  him  to  die.  I  put  my  pack  over  on  one 
shoulder,  and  laid  him  across  the  other  with  his 
burning  cheek  to  mine,  and  his  hot  breath  fan 
ning  my  face.  His  mother  and  sister  had  gone 
on,  and  were  sitting  on  the  grass  under  a  tree 
waiting  for  us.  Little  Freddy  saw  them,  and 
said : 

"  *  Papa,  do  mamma  and  sister  see  our  home 
now  ? ' 

"  I  said,  «  Yes.' 

•' '  Well,'  said  he,  '  if  Ponto  sees  them,  he'll 
know  I'm  coming,  and  he'll  run  past  them,  and 
I'll  call  him,  and  get  on  his  back,  and  ride  home, 
and  then  you  won't  have  to  carry  me  —  will  you, 
papa  ?  '  Ponto  was  a  great  dog  we  had  at  home. 

"  I  laid  the  child  down  on  the  grass  beside  his 
mother  ;  she  told  me  then  that  she  could  go  no 
farther.  There  we  were.  Presently  my  wife  saw 
a  cloud  of  dust  in  the  distance.  I  saw  it  too. 

"  *  It  is  the  courier  coming  for  you,'  she  said. 
'  He  will  take  you  from  us ;  and  what  will  be 
come  of  you  ?  what  will  become  of  us  H ' 

"  I  looked  and  saw  that  the  man  was  in  a  small 
buggy — just  room  enough  for  him  and  me  —  no 
provision  for  my  family.  My  poor  wife  was  on 
her  knees.  Her  face  was  white  as  marble,  and 
cold.  She  was  trying  to  pray,  but  she  only 
repeated  over  and  over  again,  '  0  my  God !  O 
my  God ! '  Not  another  word  would  come.  I 
put  ray  hand  on  her  shoulder,  and  said,  '  My 
dear,  there  is  but  one  man,  and  no  one  man  takes 
me  from  you  to-day ! ' 

"  The  man  in  the  buggy  drove  up.  He  stopped 
and  looked  at  us.  Said  he,  '  I  see  you  are  trav 
elling.'  'No,  sir,'  said  I;  *  travelling  and  I  have 
quit.'  '  Well,  you  don't  live  hereabouts.'  « No.' 
'  What  is  your  name  P '  '  Montgomery.' 

"  He  looked  at  the  feet  of  my  little  ones, 
lying  on  the  grass.  *  Plave  those  children  got 
the  small  pox  ?  '  '  No.'  '  The  measles  ?  '  *  No.' 
*  Well,  what  have  they  got  ? '  '  My  dear  sir,  they 
have  got  just  as  near  nothing  as  it  is  possible  for 
a  human  being  to  get.'  I  found  he  was  the 
rebel  mail  carrier.  I  showed  him  my  pass, 
and  asked  what  he  would  charge  to  take  my 
wife  and  children  through  the  lines.  He  said, 
'  Fifty  dollars  in  gold.'  My  wife  and  her  mother 
had  saved  fifty  dollars  in  gold,  and  fifty  cents 
in  silver,  all  of  which  I  had,  and  it  was  all.  I 
put  my  wife  in  the  seat  beside  him,  the  little 
boy  in  her  lap,  the  little  girl  at  her  feet,  my  bun 
dle  under  the  seat,  gave  the  man  the  fifty  dollars 
in  gold,  put  the  fifty  cents  in  my  pocket,  and 
they  drove  off.  I  followed.  When  I  came  to  a 
picket,  I  showed  my  pass,  and  asked  about  the 
buggy.  The  answer  was  always,  '  Yes ;  the  mail 
carrier,  with  a  woman  and  two  children,  went  by 
about  an  hour  and  a  half  ago,  and  reported  a  man 
coming  with  a  pass  covering  the  woman  and  chil 
dren.  All  right.'  I  went  on.  At  last  I  asked, 
'  How  many  more  picket  stations  are  there  ? ' 
'  Only  one.'  «  How  far  is  it  ? '  '  Three  miles.' 
1  That  is  the  last  ?  '  *  Yes.'  I  had  on  such  boots 
as  the  slaves  wear.  I  had  paid  thirty  dollars  for 
them,  and  I  made  them  earn  every  cent  of  the 
money  in  that  three  miles.  I  came  in  sigl  t  of  j 


the  picket  so  soon  that  I  was  frightened.  I 
thought  of  the  telegraph  wires.  What  might 
they  not  have  told  before  this  ?  W  ho  knew  but 
that  man  h  »ld  my  life  in  his  hands  ?  There  was 
no  help  for  it.  I  walked  up  to  him  is  he  sat  on 
his  horse,  and  handed  up  my  pas-:,  and  asked 
about  the  buggy.  Yes,  it  had  gone  by  an  hour 
and  a  half  ago.  But  why  did  the  man  not  give 
me  back  my  pass?  W:mM  he  never  be  done 
reading  it  ?  —  or,  instead  of  giving  it  back,  would 
he  level  his  pistol  and  shoot  me  ?  There  I  stood, 
on  the  border  of  Rebeldom.  The  United  States 
was  before  me  —  the  free,  glorious  United  States, 
and  wife  and  little  ones  ;  and  what  was  behind  ? 

0  God !  would  the  man  never  be  done  reading 
that  little  scrap  of  writing?     That  flag,  our  flag 
was  before  me,  and  freedom.     My  heart  beat  so 
loud  I  was  afraid  the  man  would  hear  it.     I  tried 
to  stir.    Was  he  reaching  down  his  hand  to  shoot 
me  ?     No ;  it  was  only  to  give  back  the  pass,  as 
he  said,  'All    right!'    and   I   was   a   free   man 
again  —  free,  and  in  the  United  States,  and  un 
der  the  flag  of  stars !     I  was  not  long  in  getting 
to  St.  Louis  with  my  family.     We  walked  the 
streets  of  that  city   barefooted.      There    was  a 
political  meeting  that  night  —  a  republican  one. 

1  happened  in.     The  chances  are  that  something 
was  said.     The  next  morning  the  copperhead  pa 
per  stated  that   there  was  such  a  meeting,  arid 
that  it  was  entertained  by  the  blatant  ravings  of 
a  southern  renegade.     That   meant    me.     Since 
then,  I  have  been  in  many  of  your  Northern  cities 
and   States,  and   without  a  pass.     Here   is   the 
difference :    at  the  South  you  cannot  turn  round, 
cross  the  street,  kiss  your  wife,  or  go  to  market, 
without  a  pass.     Here,  where  Abraham  Lincoln 
tyrannizes  like   a   military  despot,  —  where   he 
usurps  all  .the  people's  rights  and  puts  them  in 
his  pocket,  \—  every  one  can  go  where  he  pleases, 
like  sheep  without  a  shepherd.     Jeff  Davis  takes 
better  care  of  the  liberties  of  his  people  ! 

"  Now  I  must  say  a  word  about  that  little  wife 
of  mine.  I  am  going  to  take  her  home  to  die  ! 
[Here  the  tears  almost  choked  his  utterance ; 
but  he  crushed  them  back,  and  went  on.  His 
simple,  touching  narrative  had  already  brought 
tears  to  many  eyes,  and  there  was  scarcely  a  dry 
one  in  that  crowded  room.]  Yes,  I  am  going  to 
take  her  home  to  die  !  The  doctors  have  told  us 
she  cannot  live  long,  and  she  wants  to  die  and  be 
buried  among  her  own  people  ;  so  we  are  going. 
The  ladies  of  one  of  your  Northern  cities  have 
given  her  a  beautiful  silk  flag  —  a  flag  with  all 
the  stripes  and  all  the  stars  upon  it.  We  will 
take  that  with  us,  and  if  our  old  home  is  stand 
ing,  the  flag  shall  float  above  it.  If  it  is  not 
standing,  then  we  will  plant  the  flag  upon  its 
ruins,  or  over  the  place  where  it  once  was  ;  and 
as  we  sit  beneath  its  folds,  we  will  think,  witli 
tears  of  gratitude,  of  all  the  kindness  of  these 
free  and  happy  Northern  people  to  the  wandering, 
homeless  refugees."  

A  WHITE  SOLDIER,  at  the  camp  of  the  Fif 
teenth  regiment  of  colored  troops,  in  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  while  deprecating  the  employment  of  ne- 


286 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS 


groes  as  soldiers,  boasted  that  he  could  make  the 
grand  rounds  on  the  colored  boys,  and  capture  a 
musket  or  bayonet.  Accordingly,  he  approached 
a  sable  guard,  drew  him  into  conversation,  and 
kindly  requested  to  see  his  musket,  which  the 
giu.rd  refuse!.  He  then  wished  to  look  at  his 
bayonet,  but  the  guard  stood  on  his  orders.  lie 
then  tried  intimidation,  and,  pretending  to  be 
insulted,  assumed  a  fighting  attitude;  but  the 
guard  ordered  him  to  retire  or  he  would  shoot. 
The  foolish  fellow  advanced,  and  was  promptly 
shot,  and  the  loss  of  an  arm  was  the  penalty  of 
his  imprudence. 


HUMORS   OF  THE  CAMP.  —  A  soldier  at  the 

headquarters  of  the  artillery  brigade  of  the  Fifth 
corps,  at  Culpepper,  Va.,  gives  the  following  ac 
count  of  the  amusements  in  camp: 

"  Almost  the  only  diversion  the  soldiers  have 
nowadays,  is  derived  from  the  new  recruits, 
constantly  arriving.  They  are  the  butt  of  all 
jokes,  and  the  easy  prey  of  all  sells  and  tricks. 
No  class  of  men  enjoy  fun  more  heartily  than 
the  soldiers.  They  squeeze  sport  out  of  every 
thing,  and  seem  to  have  acquired  the  faculty  of 
ascertaining,  intuitively,  where  most  of  it  is  to  be 
found.  On  drill,  a  new  recruit  is  always  sure  to 
get  his  toes  exactly  where  a  '  Vet.'  wishes  to  put 
the  butt  of  his  musket,  as  he  '  orders  arms  ; '  and 
if  there  is  a  mud-puddle  within  a  yard  of  him;  he 
is  sure  to  '  dress '  into  it.  Captain  lleynolds,  of 
Buttery  '  S/  First  New  York  artillery,  has  got  a 
large  number  of  new  recruits,  and  some  of  the 
jokes  that  the  Veterans  play  on  them  are  very 
amusing.  The  recruits  are  constantly  sighing 
over  departed  luxuries,  and  are  very  easily  duped 
into  any  sell,  where  the  inner  man  is  concerned. 
A  mischievous  '  Vet.'  got  a  whole  squad  of  them 
out  in  line  the  other  day,  when  it  was  raining 
quite  hard,  to  receive  their  ration  of  '  warm 
bread.'  One  fellow,  greener  than  the  rest,  was 
sent  to  the  Captain's  quarters  for  his  '  ticket  for 
butter.1  Another  one  went  to  the  Company  Clerk 
with  a  two-quart  pail  for  his  '  three  days'  ration 
of  maple  suyar.1  Some  of  them  have  very  funny 
ideas  of  discipline  in  the  army.  In  a  newly  ar 
rived  squad,  a  few  days  since,  was  one  of  these, 
who  thought  he  would  ingratiate  himself  with  the 
Captain  by  making  him  a  call  in  the  evening. 
Accordingly,  he  rapped  at  the  door,  walked  in, 
took  off  his  hat,  made  a  very  low  bow,  and  re 
placed  his  hat  on  his  head. 

'"Well,  what  do  you  want?'  said,  the  Cap 
tain. 

" '  0,  nothing,'  says  the  fellow,  at  the  same 
time  seating  himself  in  a  chair  opposite  the  Cap 
tain.  '  I  thought  I  would  come  down  and  have  a 
little  chat  with  you.' 

"  '  O,  that's  it,'  said  the  Captain.  «  Well,  that 
isn't  the  wa)  they  do  in  the  army.  When  a  sol 
dier  comes  into  an  officer's  quarters,  he  takes  off 
his  hat  and  stands  at  "  attention,"  with  his  heels 
together,  his  toes  at  an  angle  of  forty-five  de 
grees,  hands  at  his  side,  and  eyes  to  the  "  front." 
He  does  not  take  a  seat  unless  asked  to,  and 


when  he  has  done  h  s  business,  salutes  the  offi 
cer,  makes  an  "  about  IV.  e,"  and  —  leaves.' 

"  The  fellow  did  not  wait  for  further  instruc- . 
tiorn,  but  took  his   departure,  having  received 
his  first  i-3son  in  the  'school  of  the  soldier/" 

In  repaitee  and  fun  our  soldiers  are  not  be 
hind  any  class  of  men  living,  and  they  have  a 
most  keen  appreciation  <  f  the  ludicrous  and  sar 
castic.  Chapman  tells  a  ^ood  story: 

"  A  few  days  ago,  tvo  soldiers  were  sentenced, 
for  some  trivial  offence,  to  ten  days  in  the  guard 
house  ;  but  they  were  taken  out  occasionally  to 
do  police  duty  about  camp.  Doing  police  duty, 
you  must  know,  is  not  in  the  army  what  it  is  in 
tiie  city  ;  but  consists  in  going  about  urider  guard 
and  cleaning  up  the  camp.  These  soldiers  were 
put  to  cleaning  away  the  mud  from  the  front  of 
the  Colonel's  quarters.  They  were  from  a  New 
York  city  regiment,  and  to  judge  from  their  dia 
lect,  might  have  been  named  Mose  and  Sykesy. 
At  any  rate,  I  shall  call  them  so  in  the  recital. 
They  had  worked  well,  and  finally  seated  them 
selves  on  a  log  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  Ser 
geant  of  the  Guard  to  relieve  them,  when  the 
following  conversation  took  place : 

"  Mose  — '  Say,  Sykesy,  what  you  going  to  do 
when  yer  three  years  up  ?  Goin'  to  be  a  Vet.  ? 
Say/ 

"  Sykesy  —  *  Not  if  I  know  myself,  I  ain't ;  no  ! 
I'm  goin'  to  be  a  citizen,  I  nm.  I'm  goin'  back 
to  New  York,  and  am  goin'  to  lay  off  and  take 
comfort,  bum  around  the  engine-house,  and  run 
wid  der  machine/ 

"  Mose  — '  Well,  I  tell  yer  what  I'm  agoin'  to  do. 
I've  jest  been  thinkin'the  matter  all  over,  and  got 
the  whole  thing  ficed.  In  the  first  place,  I'm 
goin'  home  to  New7  York,  and  as  soon  as  I  get 
my  discharge,  I'm  goin'  to  take  a  good  bath,  and 
get  this  Virginia  sacred  soil  off  me.  Then  I'm 
goin'  to  have  ray  head  shampooed,  my  hair  cut 
and  combed  forward  and  'iled,  and  then  I'm  goin' 
to  some  up-town  clothing  store,  and  buy  me  a 
suit  of  togs.  I'm  agoin'  to  get  a  gallus  suit,  too 
—  black  breeches,  red  shirt,  black  silk  choker, 
stove-pipe  hat,  with  black  bombazine  around  it, 
and  a  pair  of  them  shiny  butes.  Then  I'm  goin' 
up  to  l)elmonico's  place,  and  am  goin'  for  to  or 
der  jest  the  best  dinner  he  can  get  up.  I'm 
goin'  to  have  all  he  has  on  his  dinner  ticket,  you 
can  bet.  What  ?  No  !  I  guess  I  won't  have  a 
gay  old  dinner,  much ;  for  I'll  be  a  citizen  then, 
and  won't  have  to  break  my  teeth  off  gnawin' 
hard  tack.  After  I've  had  ray  dinner,  I  will  call 
for  a  bottle  of  wine  and  a  cigar,  and  all  the  New 
York  papers,  and  then  I'll  jest  set  down,  perch 
my  feet  up  on  the  table,  drink  my  wine,  smoke 
my  cigar,  read  the  news,  and  wonder  why  the 
devil  the  army  of  the  Potomac  don't  move/  " 


SCENES  IN  THE  HOSPITAL.  — The  editor  of 
The  American  Wesleyan  relates  the  following  as 
a  portion  of  his  experience  among  the  wounded 
in  the  hospitals : 

"  Not  long  s.V.'.e  I  was  called  t3  witness  the 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


287 


following,  which  I  will  call  *  The  Dying  Soldier's 
Dream  of  Childhood.' 

"He  was  brr light  in  mortally  wounded,  al 
though  by  a  false  feeling  of  kindness  one  or  two 
of  th-:,'  surgeons  told  him  his  wound  was  severe, 
but  not  dangerous.  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  un 
deceive  him  ;  and  so,  sitting  down  beside  his  lowly 
pallet,  and  taking  his  hand  in  mine  while  I  brushed 
hack  the  dark  curls  from  his  high,  open  brow,  I 
tried  to  le:xl  him  easily  into  such  a  channel  of 
conversation  as  I  desired.  I  had  not  conversed 
long  with  him  when  he  suddenly  inquired  what  I 
thought  of  his  prospects  of  recovery.  Rather 
avoiding  for  the  time  giving  a  direct  answer,  I 
inquired  how  he  felt  himself  in  regard  to  that 
matter.  He  answered  with  considerable  hesita 
tion,  that  the  surgeons  told  him  he  would  get 
along  nicely ;  but  that  he  himself  felt  afraid  that 
he  would  never  recover.  I  noticed,  too,  that  his  lips 
quivered,  and  he  drew  a  long,  deep  sigh.  Then 
he  turned  his  youthful,  open  face  full  upon  me ; 
he  sighed  again ;  there  was  a  choking,  fluttering 
sensaiion  which  told  the  intensity  of  his  feelings, 
and  he  said,  '  If  I  was  only  at  home ! '  Poor 
boy !  Many  a  hill,  and  valley,  and  mountain 
gorge,  and  broad  river,  lay  between  him  and  his 
home  !  And  the  loving  ones  there  were  all  un 
conscious  of  his  deep  distress ;  and  even  before 
bis-name  would  appear  in  the  list  of  killed  and 
wounded  of  some  daily  paper,  he  would  already 
be  '  where  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling,  and 
the  weary  are  at  rest.'  I  spoke  to  him  of  the 
tender  sympathy  of  the  infinite  Father,  of  the 
all-sufficient  Savior,  who  was  wounded  for  our 
transgressions  and  bruised  for  our  iniquities,  and 
how  that  a  full  and  free  salvation  was  offered  to 
all  through  the  death  and  sufferings  of  the  Lord 
Jesus.  1  co'.dd  not  get  him  to  say  much,  and  so, 
after  praying  with  him,  I  left  him  for  a  time.  In 
a  few  hours  1  called  to  see  him  again,  and  in  the 
course  of  conversation  endeavored  to  press  home 
the  momentous  truths  of  salvation.  At  last  he 
opened  his  mind  freely,  told  me  he  thought  he 
was  once  a  Christian,  that  he  sought  an  interest 
in  Christ  when  a  boy,  and  felt  happy  in  the  belief 
that  he  loved  the  Savior  —  that  his  happiest  hours 
were  spent  in  the  Sunday  school,  and  that  he  used  to 
take  delight  in  prayer  and  reading  the  Scriptures. 
'I  remember,  too,'  said  he,  'how  my  father 
prayed  —  O  Chaplain !  I  had  a  good  father  —  he's 
in  heaven  now  —  how  he  prayed  for  me,  that  I 
might  always  be  good.  I  remember  the  night 
that  he  died"  —  and  how  happy  he  was,  and  how 
he  sung  "  On  Jordan's  stormy  banks  I  stand,"  and 
how  he  put  his  hand  on  my  head  and  told  me  to 
serve  God  and  meet  him  in  heaven.  O,  if  I  was 
as  good  as  ray  father  was,  it  would  be  better  with 
me  now  !  I  have  forgotten  my  promises,  I  have 
turned  my  back  on  Christ.  What  shall  I  do? 
*?liat  shall  I  do?  I'm  dying  —  I  know  I'm  dy 
ing,  and  I  am  afraid  to  die !  O  Jesus,  have  mercy 
or.  me  a  sinner  ! ' 

;<  T  did  not  interrupt  him  till  he  had  given  full 
find  free  vent  to  his  feelings,  and  then  tried  to 
point  him  to  the  all-sufficient  Savior. 

"'Do  you  think  God  will  have  mercy  on  my 


poor  soul?'  he  exclaimed  in  such  a  piteous  tcae 
of  voice  and  with  such  genuins  earnestness,  that 
my  own  feelings  nearly  overcame  me,  and  I  could 
barely  say,  '  Yes,  dear  brother,  God  is  ready  now 
to  bless  you,  to  forgive  you  all  your  sins,  and 
make  you  happy  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  love.' 

"  «  But  I  have  neglected  prayer  and  backslidden 
from  God ;  I  sinned  agunst  light  and  knowledge  ; 
I  knew  better,  Chaplain,  I  knew  better,  for  my 
conscience  troubled  me ;  it  was  God's  Spirit  striv 
ing  with  me,  —  yes,  I  knew  better,  for  I  once 
loved  Jesus.  O  Jesus,  have  mercy  on  a  poor 
sinner ! ' 

"  '  Hear  God's  own  answer  to  your  question/ 
said  I.  "  If  any  man  sin,  we  have  an  Advocate 
with  the  Father,  Jesus  Christ  the  righteous ;  and 
He  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins,  and  not  for 
ours  only,  but  also  for  the  sins  of  the  whole 
world."  "  God  so  loved  the  world  that  He  gave 
His  only-begotten  Son,  that  whose  ever  believeth 
in  him  might  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting 
life."  Now,  these  words  are  as  much  addressed 
to  you  as  if  there  were  not  another  sinner  upon 
earth.  Take  them  as  God's  own  words  to  your 
self,  and  remember  that  that  dear  Savior  whom 
you  say  that  you  once  served,  loves  you  yet, 
loves  you  now,  and  is  yearning  over  you  with 
the  deepest  sympathy.  He  waits  to  take  away 
the  heavy  burden  from  your  heart,  and  give  you 
joy  and  peace  in  believing.  Just  come  back  as  a 
poor  wanderer,  weary  and  helpless  ;  and  remem 
ber  you  are  coming  to  your  own  God  and  Savior, 
who  knows  just  what  you  need,  and  how  you  feel, 
and  is  more  willing  to  receive  you  and  forgive 
you  than  you  are  to  return  to  him.' 

" '  O,  if  I  was  just  as  happy  as  I  once  was  !  but 
now  I'm  here  wounded  and  dying  —  and  O,  this 
awful  pain  —  what  will  I  do  — what  will  I  do  — 
Jesus,  Jesus,  what  will  I  do ! '  he  exclaimed  in 
the  deepest  agony  of  body  and  mind. 

"  '  Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  cast  your 
poor  troubled  soul  upon  the  Savior,  just  place 
yourself  as  a  poor  helpless  sinner  in  His  hands, 
and  you  will  be  saved/  said  I,  trying  to  lead  his 
mind  to  the  one  only  source  of  comfort. 

"  The  agony  of  this  poor  boy  was  terrible. 
His  pitiful  groans  sunk  into  my  very  heart,  and 
made  me  feel  as>  if  I  was  entirely  powerless  to  do 
him  good. 

"  Sometimes  it  was  difficult  to  tell  whether 
his  bodily  or  mental  anguish  was  greater.  Fre 
quently  the  deep,  agonizing  groan  of  bodily  pain 
would  end  in  a  most  pathetic  cry  for  mercy,  or  a 
child-like  petition  to  be  received  into  the  favor  of 
his  heavenly  Father.  Sometimes  he  turned  upon 
me  such  a  pitiful,  helpless  look,  such  a  look  as  a 
drowning  child  might  cast  towards  its  mother ;  a 
look  of  unutterable  meaning,  but  which  plainly 
said,  '  I'm  dying,  —  won't  you  help  me  ? '  Seeing 
that  to  all  appearance  he  was  rapidly  sinking,  I 
urged  him  to  accept  the  free  offer  of  reconcilia 
tion  to  God  through  the  atonement  of  Christ, 
and  after  again  praying  with  him,  I  left  him  for 
a  little  time.  An  hour,  perhaps,  had  elapsed, 
when  I  again  was  beside  him.  The  Srst  words  h« 
uttered  were : 


288 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


" '  I'm  trying  to  come  back  to  God,  and  I  think 
that  he  will*  not  cast  me  off;  but  I'm  afraid.' 

"  '  I  am  going  to  ask  you  one  question,'  said  I ; 
'  but  you  must  not  answer  it  till  you  think  over 
it.  It  is  this :  Do  you  think  that  God  loves 
you  P ' 

"  He  seemed  to  ponder  the  question  a  little,  and 
then  answered, — 

" '  I  think  —  I  think  He  does." 

" '  Yes,'  I  said,  *  He  loves  you  dearly,  and  sym 
pathizes  with  you  in  your  great  distress,  and  is  so 
very  anxious  for  your  soul's  salvation  that  He  is 
waiting  even  now,  this  moment,  to  forgive  you  all 
your  sins  and  make  you  happy  in  His  love.  Can 
you  not  take  your  own  heavenly  Father's  word, 
that  "whosoever  believeth  on  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  shall  be  saved  !  "  Just  trust  in  him  ;  just 
throw  yourself  as  you  are,  —  a  poor,  helpless  sin 
ner, —  into  His  hands,  and  you  will  be  saved.' 

" '  Is  that  all  I'm  to  do  ?  '  said  he,  musingly ; 
4  and  yet  what  else  can  I  do  ?  Yes,  yes ;  I  think 
I  see  it  all ;  I  have  been  afraid  to  trust  in  the 
promises  of  God,  I  feel  myself  to  be  so  unwor 
thy  ;  but  now,  Jesus,  Savior,  I  come  to  th«e,  a 
poor,  helpless  sinner. 

"  Here,  Lord,  I  give  myself  to  thee  — 
'Tis  all  that  I  can  do." 

Yes,  Lord,  it  is  all  that  I  can  do ! ' 

"  Then  followed  a  scene  I  shall  never  forget  to 
my  dying  day.  It  was  night.  The  temporary  hos 
pital  was  in  an  old,  dark,  dingy  house.  The  can 
dle  burned  dimly,  and  seemed,  by  its  flickering, 
uncertain  light,  to  make  the  gloomy  surroundings 
all  the  more  gloomy.  The  poor  mangled  soldier 
boy  lay  rolling  uneasily  from  side  to  side.  Large 
drops  of  cold  sweat  stood  like  beads  on  his  open 
brow.  A  quivering  sensation  seemed  to  pass 
through  every  nerve  and  fibre  of  his  body ;  and 
there  was  a  long,  dee]),  shivering  sigh,  which  told 
of  the  very  extremity  of  mortal  anguish.  His 
large  bright  eye  grew  dim,  and  seemed  as  if  look 
ing  up  from  a  great  depth ;  and  that  mysterious 
change  of  color  and  feature  took  place,  which  tells 
that  the  wheels  of  life  are  about  to  stand  still. 
Suddenly  he  threw  out  his  arms',  and  clasped  me 
tightly  round  the  neck  as  I  stooped  over  him,  and 
exclaimed,  *  What  shall  I  do,  O  Chaplain,  what 
shall  I  do  ?  ' 

" '  Put  your  trust  in  Christ,  your  own  Savior, 
who  died  for  you,'  I  replied. 

"  '  I  do  believe  in  Jesus,'  he  said,  *  and  I  think 
He  will  save  me  ;  yes,  He  will  save  me !  But 
(),  what  is  this?  am  I  dying  now  ?  Tell  me,  am 
I  dying  ?  ' 

"  '  Yes,  you  are  dying,  dear  brother,'  I  answered; 
'  you  will  soon  be  in  the  spirit  world.  Is  Jesus 
near  you  ?  Have  you  peace  of  mind  ?  ' 

"  *  It's  all  over  now,'  he  whispered.  '  God  has, 
for  Chi  ist's  sake,  forgiven  me,  a  poor  sinner ;  and 
he  will  take  me  to  himself.  Good  by,  Chaplain; 
K<>od  by.' 

44  He  fell  into  a  kind  of  stupor,  or  what  might  be 
called  an  uneasy  slumber,  and  I  sat  by  his  side 
waiting  and  watching.  He  dreamed.  He  seemed 
to  be  again  at  home,  mingling  with  loved  ones, 


for  he  whisperod  the  name  of  mother.  Then  he 
seemed  to  be  praying,  as  if,  a  child  again,  he  knelt 
at  a  parent's  knee  and  repeated  his  evening 
prayer.  I  stooped  over  him  and  listened  atten 
tively  to  every  whisper.  At  last  I  caught  a  few 
disjointed  sentences,  as  follows:  'Our  Father  — 
who  art — this  night — Hay  me — down  —  0  Jesus 
— my  Savior — take  me  — to  heaven.  Hallowed 
be  —  thy  name  — '  There  \\as  then  a  pause,  and 
a  deep  sigh.  The  angel  of  death  had  come  !  The 
golden  bowl  was  broken,  and  the  wheel  stood  still 
at  the  cistern  I  Poor  mangled  sufferer !  he  had 
found  Christ, ;  and  his  dream  of  childhood's  devo 
tions  gave  place,  we  trust,  to  the  brighter  visions 
of  glory  and  the  songs  of  salvation !  " 


CONFEDERATE  SONG  OF  FREEDOM. 

BY   EMILY   M.    WASHINGTON. 

MARCH  on,  ye  children  of  the  brave  — 

Descendants  of  the  free  ! 
On  to  the  hero's  bloody  grave, 
Or  glorious  liberty  ! 

On,  on  —  with  clashing  sword  and  drum  : 
The  foe  !  —  they  come  !  they  come !  —  strik 

home  ! 

For  more  than  safety,  or  for  life,  — 
For  more  than  mother,  child,  or  wife, 
Strike  home  for  Liberty  ! 

Charge,  charge  !  nor  shed  the  pitying  tear  ; 

Too  long  hath  mercy  plead  ! 
Charge,  charge  !  and  share  the  hero's  bier, 
Or  strike  the  foeraan  dead  ! 

Charge,  charge  I  for  more  than  vital  g&ins, 
Strike  home,  and  rend  the  freeman's 
For  more  than  safety,  or  for  life,  — 
For  more  than  mother,  child,  01  •  wife. 
Strike  home  for  Liberty  1 

Draw,  draw  —  by  every  hope  this  hoxir 

That  animates  the  brave  ! 
Draw  !  —  strike  !  —  and  rend  the  foeman'a 
Or  fill  the  patriot's  grave  ! 

Strike  —  die  —  or  conquer  with  the  free  I 
Strike  home,  strike  home  for  Liberty  1 
For  more  than  glory,  safety,  life,  — 
For  more  t-tmn  mother,  child,  or  wife, 
Strike  home  for  Liberty  ! 


COLONEL  GILLEM  was  one  day  reprimanding 
one  of  his  soldiers,  who  was  slightly  intoxicated 
at  the  time.  After  the  Colonel  had  concluded, 
the  soldier  remarked,  "  Yez  wuddint  have  occasion 
to  talk  to  me  so  ef  I  had  a  pistol."  The  Colonel, 
much  astonished,  asked,  *4  Well,  sir,  what  would 
you  do  if  you  had  a  pistol  ?  "  4<  Why,  I'd  shoot 
—  myself,  sir."  _ 

"OUR  RIGHTS."  —  The  following  conversation 
occurred  at  Normandy,  Tennessee,  between  a  Con 
federate  prisoner,  captured  at  Knoxville,  and  tht 
correspondent  of  a  Northern  paper : 

"  Are  you  going  to  take  the  oath  ?  " 

"  No ;  I'll  rot  in  prison  first." 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


289 


"  What  are  you  fighting  for  ?  " 

"  Our  rights." 

"  What  are  your  rights  ?  " 

"Well,"  —  hesitating,  and  attempting  to  clear 
his  throat,  —  "well,  1  can't  'xactly  tell  yer ;  the 
fact  is,  I  can't  read ;  hut  there's  them  that  does 
know."  

A  NEGRO'S  PRATER.  —  The  following  is  a  prayer 
offered  hy  a  colored  man  at  a  funeral,  and  reported 
by  Dr.  Calkins,  Surgeon  of  a  Mass,  regiment: 

"  Massa  Jesus,  like  de  people  ob  de  ole  time, 
de  Jews,  we  weep  by  de  side  ob  do  ribber,  wid  de 
strings  ob  de  harp  all  broke  ;  but  we  sing  ob  de 
broken  heart,  as  dem  people  could  not  do.  Hear 
us,  King,  in  de  present  state  ob  our  sorrow.  You 
know,  King  Jesus,  honey,  \vejust  got  from  de  lied 
Sea,  and  wander  in  de  wilderness,  a  poor,  fee1  *le 
portion  ob  de  children  ob  Adam,  feeble  in  bcdy, 
feeble  in  mind,  and  need  de  help  ob  de  good  Al 
mighty  God.  O,  help  us,  if  yon  please,  to  homes, 
for  we's  got  no  homes,  Massa  Jesus,  but  de  shel 
ter  ob  de  oak  tree  in  de  daytime,  and  de  shelter 
ob  de  cotton  tent  at  night.  Help  us  for  our  own 
good  and  de  good  of  God's  blessed  Union  people, 
dat  want  all  people  free,  whatsomebber  be  de 
color.  Massa  Jesus,  you  know  de  dee])  tribula 
tions  ob  our  hearts,  dat  sickness  is  among  us,  dat 
our  children  is  dyin'  in  de  camp;  and  as  \ve  tote 
'era  from  one  place  to  tudder,  and  bury  dem  in 
de  cold  ground,  to  go  in  spirit  to  de  God  ob  de 
people  whar  dc  soul  hab  no  spot  nor  color.  Great 
King  ob  Kings,  and  Doctor  ob  Doctors,  and  God 
ob  battles  !  help  us  to  be  well ;  help  us  to  be  able 
to  light  wid  de  Union  sogers  de  battle  for  de  Un 
ion  ;  help  us  to  light  for  liberty,  fight  for  de  coun 
try,  fight  for  our  own  homes,  and  our  own  free 
children,  and  our  children's  children.  Fotch  out, 
Gocl  ob  battles,  de  big  guns  wid  de  big  bustin' 
shells,  and  gib  dem  God- forsaken  sece.sh.  dat 
would  carry  to  shame  our  wives  and  daughters. 
O,  mighty  Jesus!  if  you  please,  a  right-  smart 
charge  ob  grape  and  canister  ;  make  'em  glad  to 
stop  de  war  and  come  back  to  shoes  and  de  fat 
ted  calf,  and  de  good  tings  ob  de  Union.  No 
more  murderm'  brudder  ob  de  Norf  States.  No 
more  ragged,  bare  feet.  No  more  slave-whippers 
and  slave-sellers.  No  more  faders  ob  yellow  skins. 
No  moie  meaner  as  meanest  niggers." 


A  CLASSIC  SOLDIER.  —  A  Lieutenant  in  the 
Twelfth  Indiana  relates  the  following  : 

Being  out  on  a  scout  with  a  squad  of  his  men, 
and  becoming  fatigued,  they  stopped  at  a  house 
to  see  if  they  could  get  some  buttermilk  to  drink. 
In  their  squad  was  a  young  man  who  had  been 
higniy  educated,  but  who  had  become  dissipated 
before  entering  the  army,  and  had  the  appearance 
of  one  very  low  in  life.  When  they  entered  the 
house,  there  were  two  young  ladies  sitting  in  the 
room,  very  busily  engaged  in  reading,  and  did  not 
seem  to  take  any  notice  of  them  whatever.  After 
getting  their  buttermilk,  the  young  man,  supposed 
to  be  an  ignonunus,  walked  to  one  of  tie  ladies, 
and  very  politely  asked  her  what  book  she  was 


reading.  Thinking  his  question  impertinent,  she 
indignantly  replied,  "  You  would  not  know,  if  I 
should  tell  you."  "  That  may  be  true,"  says  Iw; 
"  still,  I  would  like  very  much  if  you  would  tell 
me."  "  Well,"  says  she,  "  if  you  must  know,  I 
am  reading  Virgil.'"  "  Ah  !  Virgil !  And  how  do 
you  like  it  ?  "  "  Very  veil ;  but  I  have  come  to 
a  hard,  knotty  sentence  here,  that  I  cannot  trans 
late."  "  Well,  perhaps  I  can  assist  you  about  it, 
i  if  you  will  allow  me."  "  You  assist  me  !  It  is 
Latin  that  I  am  reading  !  "  "  Very  well,  miss. 
Will  you  b2  &;>  kind  as  to  let  me  see  if  1  cannot 
assist  you  with  it?  "  Somewhat  softened  by  his 
kind  and  gentlemanly  manner,  she  handed  him  the 
book,  when,  to  her  utter  astonishment,  he  trans 
lated  the  difficult  sentence  with  great  ease.  She 
now  addressed  him  politely.  "  Are  you  an  offi 
cer,  sir?"  "  O,  no,  miss;  I  am  only  a  private. 
If  I  had  had  a  little  better  education,  I  do  not 
know  but  I  might  have  been  an  ofiicer  in  the 
i  Federal  army."  Surprised  still  more,  she  re- 
I  plied,  "  I  am  astonished  !  I  thought  I  was  a 
good  Latin  scholar.  Here  is  a  boy  in  the  Fed 
eral  army  who  can  read  Latin  better  than  I  can, 
and  yet  he  says  he  is  not  well  enough  educated 
to  be  an  officer.  Why,  sir,  what  kind  of  an  army 
have  you  P  "  "  Well,  miss,  we  have  a  very  intel 
ligent  army ;  one  that  knows  what  they  are  fight 
ing  about,  and  what  they  are  fighting  for.  We 
have  an  army  of  men  who  will  continue  to  fight 
until  this  wicked  rebellion  you  intelligent  South 
erners  have  stirred  up  is  crushed.  Good  by,  miss." 


CAPTURE  ON  MOSBY'S  HORSE.  — Captain  J.  S, 
Graham,  of  the  Twenty-first  New  York  cavalry, 
detailed  the  following: 

"  One  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  Twenty-first 
cavalry  were  sent  out  from  Halltown,  Va.,  on  a 
three  days'  scout.  At  night  they  stopped  about 
five  miles  above  Berryville.  Sergeant  Wetherbee 
and  Corporals  Simpson  and  Van  Antwerp  went 
about  a  mile  from  the  camp  to  a  house  to  get  sup 
per.  After  eating,  they  concluded  to  stay  there 
all  night,  and  so  put  their  horses  in  the  stable. 
Having  safely,  as  they  thought,  secured  their  ani 
mals,  they  sat  down  in  the  house  by  the  fire  to 
warm  their  fret  and  make  themselves  as  comfort 
able  as  possible.  Just  then  the  door  opened,  and 
three  men,  with  revolvers  in  hand,  marched  in 
and  demanded  a  surrender.  There  was  no  alter 
native.  Having  disarmed  their  prisoners,  the 
guerrillas  took  them  to  the  stables  to  get  their 
horses.  While  in  the  stable  Van  Ant  verp  no 
ticed  a  hole  in  the  Hoor,  into  which  hr*  dropped 
and  concealed  himself.  Mosby  (for  he  -rcas  the 
leader  of  the  party)  supposed  that  Van  Antwerp 

;  had  run  away,  and  gave  him  no  further  tl  ought. 

I  He  took  the  other  prisoners  and  hurried  them 
away  into  the  London  Mountains  to  a  littl»  place 
called  Paris.  Stopping  at  a  house,  Mos1  >y  dis 
mounted,  and  told  his  prisoners  to  do  lil  ewi.se, 
and  follow  him  into  a  house.  Simpso.i  dis 
mounted,  and  while  pretending  to  tie  his  'torse, 
snatched  a  pistol  from  the  holster  on  TV'  >sby's 
saddle,  shot  the  Lieutenant  who  stood  r  i  the 


290 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


other  side  of  the  horse,  mounted  Moshy's  horse, 
fired  a  shot  at  Mosby,  and  away  he  flew  as  fast 
as  the  horse  could  carry  him.  Mosby  returned 
his  fire,  but  without  effect,  and  Simpson  rode  at 
full  gallop  towards  the  Shenandoah.  "VVetherbee, 
who  had  not  dismounted,  took  advantage  of  the 
occasion  to  take  the  same  course,  and  both  got 
•  safely  into  the  'Federal  camp,  —  Simpson  with 
Mosby's  famous  gray  horse." 


THE  CHARGE  AT  PORT  HUDSON.  —  A  soldier 
who- participated  in  the  storming  of  Port  Hudson, 
on  the  14th  of  June,  1863,  gives  the  following 
account  of  that  unfortunate  affair:  "I  have 
been  in  many  battles,  but  I  never  saw,  and  never 
wish  to  see,  .such  a  fire  as  that  poured  on  us  on 
June  14th.  It  was  not  terrible  —  it  was  HOR 
RIBLE. 

Our  division  (Second)   stormed  about  a  mile 


half-score  who  fell   attest, 
fell,  but  the  '  flag '  did  not. 


The   'color-bearer' 
Half  the  guard  fell, 


but  the  Miug'  was  there.  Ask  (if  I  never  come 
home)  my  Colonel  or  Lieutenant-Colonel  if  any  one 
could  have  done  better  than  I  did  that  day.  I  do 
not  fear  their  answer.  When  about  three  h'.m- 
dred  yards  from  the  works,  1  was  struck.  The 
pain  was  so  intense  that  1  could  not  go  on.  I 
turned  tc  my  Second  Lieutenant,  who  was  in  com 
mand  c-i  .company  C,  as  he  came  up  to  me,  and 
said  :  '  Never  m'_:id  me,  Jack ;  for  God's  sake, 
jump  to  the  colois.'  I  don't  recollect  any  more, 
till  I  heard  Colonel  B.  say  :  '  Up,  men,  and  for- 
Avard.'  I  looked,  and  saw  the  rear  regiments 
and  Colonel  B.  stand- 
all  about  him,  and  he 
never  flinching.  It  was  "rand  to  see  him.  I  wish 


lying  flat  to  escape  the  fire, 
ing  there,  the  shot  striking 


I  was  of  '  iron  nerve,'  as  he  is.  When  I  heard 
him  speak,  I  forgot  all  else,  and,  running  forward, 
did  not  stop  till  at  the  very  front  and  near  the 

from  the  Mississippi.  We  left  our  camp  at  twelve  j  colors  again.  There,  as  did  all  the  rest,  I  lay 
o'clock,  midnight,  on  the  13th,  and  proceeded  to  !  down,  and  soon  learned  the  trouble.  Within  two 
the  left,  arriving  just  at  daylight,  where  the  bal-  i  hundred  yards  of  the  works  was  a  ravine  parallel 
ance  of  our  brigade  (Second)  awaited  us. 


"  Colonel  Benedict  arrived  from  opposite  Port 
Hudson  on  the  12th,  and  our  regiment  was  trans 
ferred  from  the  First  to  the  Second  brigade,  and 
he  placed  in  command.  The  movement  to  the 
left  took  all  by  surprise  ;  but  we  got  in  shape  be 
hind  a  piece  of  woods  which  concealed  the  ene 
my's  works,  and  rested.  The  First  brigade  went 
in  first,  and  we  followed —  the  Third  brigade  be 
ing  a  reserve.  I  saw  the  First  brigade  file  left 
and  move  on,  but  saw  no  more  of  it.  When  the 
order  came  to  move  on,  we  did  so  in  '  column  -of 
company,'  at  full  distance.  Ask  some  good  mili 
tary  man  what  he  thinks  of  a  brigade  moving  to 
a  charge  in  that  manner.  The  One  Hundred  and 
Sixty-second  leading,  the  One  Hundred  and  Sev 
enty-fifth  (Bryan's)  after  us;  then  the  Forty- 
eighth  Massachusetts,  and  Twenty-eighth  Maine. 
We  were  in  a  road  parallel  to  the  eni-niy's  works, 


and  had  to  change  direction  to,  or 


jncray  s  we 

•  file  left  re 


round 


the  corner  of  the  woods,  and  then  started  for- 


"\vitli  them,  imperceptible  till  just  on  the  edge  of 
it,  completely  impassable  by  the  fallen  timber  in 
it.  Of  course  we  could  not  move  on.  To  stand 
up  was  certain  death ;  so  was  retreat.  Nought 
was  left  but  to  lie  down  with  what  scanty  cover 
we  could  get.  So  we  did  lie  down,  in  that  hot, 
scorching  sun.  I  fortunately  got  behind  two 
small  logs,  which  protected  me  on  two  sides,  and 
lay  there,  scarcely  daring  to  turn,  for  four  hours, 
till  my  brain  reeked  and  surged,  and  I  thought  I 
should  go  mad.  Death  would  have  been  prefera 
ble  to  a  continuance  of  such  torture.  Lots  of 
poor  fellows  were  shot  as  they  were  lying  down, 
and  to  lie  there  and  hear  them  groan  and  cry  was 
awful.  Just  on  the  other  side  of  the  log  lay  the 
gallant  Colonel  Bryan,  with  both  legs  broken  by 
shot.  He  talked  of  home,  but  bore  it  like  a 
patriot.  Near  hirn  was  one  of  my  own  brave 
boys,  with  five  balls  in  him.  i  dared  not  stir, 
my  hand  ached  so,  and  it  would  have  been  death 
also.  Well,  the  Colonel  get  out  of  pain  sooner 


ward  by  a  road  leading  up.  The  ground  rose  j  than  some,  for  he  died  after  two  hours  of  intense 
gradually,  and  away  above,  the  rebel  works  were  j  agony.  Bullets  just  grazed  me  as  they  passed 
in  plain  sight.  The  moment  we  turned  into  the  j  over,  and  one  entered  the  ground  within  an  \nch 
road,  shot,  shell,  grape,  and  canister  fell  like  of  my  right  eye.  I  could  not  go  that.  Our  boys 
hail,  in,  amongst,  and  around  as.  But  on  we  j  had  run  back  occasionally,  but  got  a  volJ/.y  as 
went.  A  little  higher,  a  new  gun  opened  on  us.  j  they  dlu  so  from  the  rebels,  who  would  curse 
Still  farther  they  had  a  cross-fire  on  us  —  0  !  j  them.  I  waited  till  our  cannon  fired  a  round  at 
such  a  terrible  one;  but  on  we  went,  bending  j  them,  then  up  and  ran  across  the  road,  and  fell 


as,  with  sickening  shrieks,  the  grape  and  canister 
swept  over  us.  Sometimes  it  fell  in  and  about 
us ;  but  I  paid  no  heed  to  it. 

"  After  the  first,  my  whole  mind  was  given  to 


flat  behind  some  low  bush  or  weeds  ;  and  well  I 
did.  They  saw  my  sword,  and  fired  several  vol 
leys  after  me.  As  my  hand  was  very  lame,  I 
crawled  several  rods  back,  then  under  a  big  log, 


the  colors,  and  to  keep  ray  men  around  them  ;  j  got  behind  it,  and,  for  the  first  time  in  five  hours, 
and  they  did  it  well.  I  wonder  now,  as  I  think  -  sat  up.  I  bathed  my  hand,  and  after  a  while 
of  it,  how  I  did  so.  I  walked  erect,  though  from  \  made  my  way  to  the  rear,  got  it  dressed,  and  was 
the  moment  I  saw  how  they  had  us,  I  was  sure  I  }  on  my  way  back,  when  I  learned  that  the  men 
we  uld  be  killed.  I  had  no  thought  (after  a  short  j  were  to  work  in,  by  one  and  twos  ;  so  I  staid. 
praver)  but  for  my  flag.  I  talked  and  shouted.  !  I  then  learned  of  poor  Bryan's  fate,  and  one  by 


y 

id  all  man  could  do  to  keep  my  boys  to  their  |  one  came  the  tidings  of  ray  own  men,  and  when 
lors.'  I  tried  to  draw  their  attention  from  the  the  word  came  of  them  I  cried  like  a  child. 
enemy  to  it,  as  I  knew  we  would  advance  more  Some  of  them  passed  me  on  tht>  way  to  have 
rapidly.  The  brave  fellows  stood  by  it,  is  the  ,  their  woun  Is  Iressed,  and  blessed  me  as  they 


1  did 
colors. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


29) 


passrd  by.  When  night  came,  the  troops  came 
in  and  line  was  formed,  and  a  small  one  we  had. 
The  Major's  body  was  brought  in  to  be  sent 
home,  o.nd  my  pot  favorite,  Sergeant  Fred.  Mitch- 
oil  (who,  as  a  favor  to  me,  Colonel  Benedict  had 
made  an  acting  Lieutenant  —  he  was  so  good  a 
soldier,  and  handsome  and  talented),  the  last 
I  saw  of  him,  was  his  sword  flashing  in  the  sun 
light  as  he  urged  the  men  forward  ;  but  he  was 
brought  in  with  half  his  head  torn  off,  and  it  was 
hard  to  recognize  him.  But  God  bless  him !  Ue 
was  true,  for  his  right  hand  grasped  his  sw  tfd 
firmly  in  death.  1  have  it  stored  to  be  sent  to 
his  friends.  Colonel  B.  and  Lieutenant-Colonel 
B.  came  out  safe.  The  Lieutenant-Colonel  had 
been  sick  for  some  time,  and  tins  finished  him. 
So  I  took  command  of  the  regiment,  brought  it 
to  the  mortar  battery,  and  bivouacked  for  the 
m'ght."  ^ 

THE  TRUE  STORY  ABOUT  COLONEL  DAIIL- 
GIIEN'S  BODY.  —  It  was  not  until  the  war  was 
over,  that  all  the  facts  of  this  somewhat  mysteri 
ous  case  could  bo  cleared  up  ;  and  now  it  is  ap 
parent  that  a  loyal  Virginian,  living  near  liich- 
mond,  rescued  his  corpse  from  its  obscure  and 
ignominious  burial-place,  and  reinterrecl  it  in  a 
place  whence  it  could  easily  be  recovered  by  his 
friends. 

After  having  been  stripped  and  plundered,  by 
the  roadside,  near  Richmond,  two  men  were  or 
dered  to  take  the  corpse  away  and  bury  it  where 
iione  would  ever  know  the  spot,  or  be  able  to  re 
cover  the  remains.  But  a  loyal  Virginian,  not 
far  from  whose  house  he  had  been  shot,  deter 
mined  to  watch  their  operations,  and  know  the 
place  of  the  grave. 

It  was  midnight,  and  they  took  him,  in  the 
stillness  and  gloom,  across  the  city,  to  the  other 
side  of  the  James  iliver,  and  to  the  outer  cor 
ner  of  an  obscure  burial-place,  in  the  skirt  of  the 
forest,  where  common  soldiers  who  had  died  in 
the  hospitals  had  been  in:  erred.  He  could  only 
observe  them  at  a  distance,  and  was  able  to  rec 
ognize  only  the  vicinity  of  the  spot  where  they 
buried  him.  When  he  went  there  afterwards,  he 
found  three  graves  all  fresh,  and  with  no  mark 
af  any  kind  to  indicate  which  was  Dahlgren's. 

Determined,  however,  not  to  abandon  his  ef 
forts,  he  only  waited  a  favorable  time.  Pickets 
were  much  more  numerous  arid  particular  at 
night  than  duiing  the  day  ;  and  he  accordingly 
determined  to  put  a  bold  front  on  the  enterpri.se. 
So,  taking  a  small  cart,  he  drove  out  in  midday, 
and  went  directly  over  to  the  grave-yard,  in  the 
dress,  and  apparently  on  the  errand,  of  a  laborer. 
The  first  body  he  exhumed  had  a  leg  missing, 
and  the  hair,"  and  eyes,  arid  figure,  answered  to 
the  description  of  Dahlgren.  Laying  him  in  the 
cart,  he  proceeded  to  dig  up  and  lay  over  him 
quite  a  number  of  young  peach  trees,  with  dirt 
enough  to  cover  the  body,  and  with  this  very 
peaceful- looking  and  unsuspicious  load  lu  passed 
ail  the  sentries,  and  through  the  streets  of  .Rich 
mond,  without  challenge.  Arriving  home,  he 
dug  ar,  ether  grave  for  his  body  in  the  corner  of 


his  own  door-yard,  and  only  a  few  steps  from  his 
door.  Here,  in  silent  sympathy,  and  loyal  re 
gret  at  the  death  of  the  brave  but  imfoi  tunate 
young  soldier,  his  body,  mutilated  in  battle,  and 
insulted  by  the  country's  foes,  was  laid. 

Not  long  after,  a  boat,  -with  a  flag  of  truce, 
went  up  the  Jamt^  and  requested  of  the  Con 
federate  authorities  to  know  the  place  of  his 
burial.  A  party  was  sent  out  to  the  cemetery 
where  they  had  buried  him,  and  to  their  great  as 
tonishment,  the  corpse  was  not  there,  and  his 
unhappy  friends  had  almost  despaired  of  ever 
receiving  his  body  back  again  to  give  it  a  Chris 
tian  and  \  soldier's  burial,  when  the  above  facts 
became  k  ,owa  to  an  officer  on  General  Meade's 
staff,  and  they  were  at  once  communicated  to  the 
Government. 

About  the  same  time,  the  Union  army  lines 
were  advanced  so  near  Richmond  as  to  take  in 
the  farm  of  tne  loyal  Virginian  who  had  dis 
played  such  praiseworthy  zeal  in  securing  the  re 
mains  from  ignominy. 

For  a  second  time  he  was  disinterred,  and 
upon  removal  to  Washington,  the  third  time 
buried,  being  finally  laid  to  rest,  with  full  mili 
tary  honors,  among  those  who  loved  and  admired 
him  in  life,  and  bewailed  his  premature  but  glo 
rious  death.  

THE  SPIRIT  OF  ILLINOIS.  —  Governor  Yotes, 
of  Illinois,  received  a  letter  from  a  town  in  the 
south  part  of  the  State,  in  which  the  writer  com 
plained  that  traitors  in  his  town  had  cut  down 
the  American  flag,  and  asked  what  ought  to  be 
done  in  the  premises.  The  Governor  promptly 
wrote  him  as  follows  :  "  Whenever  you  raise  the 
flag  on  your  own  soil,  or  on  the  public  property 
of  the  State  or  county,  or  at  any  public  celebration, 
from  honest  love  to  that  flag, "and  patriotic  devo 
tion  to  the  count] y  which  it  symbolizes,  and  any 
traitor  dares  to  lay  his  unhallowed  hand  upon  it 
to  tear  it  down,  then  I  say,  shoot  him  down  as 
you  would  a  dog,  and  I  will  pardon  you  for  the 
offence."  

WHILE  MR.  BUCHANAN  was  President,  the 
Pottstown  Bank  came  into  existence,  and  out 
of  compliment  tc  him  the  notes  contained  his 
portrait.  But  during  the  Avar,  the  bank  received 
so  many  mutilated  notes,  with  the  words  "traitor," 
"  Judas  Iscariot,"  &c.,  inscribed  under  the  portrait, 
that  it  was  resolved  to  call  in  all  the  notes  bear 
ing  the  likeness,  and  re-issue  new  ones. 


THE  DOCTOR  KNOW'D  WHAT  HE  GIV'HIM. — 

During  the  war,  one  of  those  lovely  ladies,  who 
devoted  themselves  to  relieving  the  sufferings  of 
the  soldiers,  was  going  through  a  ward  of  a 
crowded  hospital.  There  sho  found  two  conva 
lescent  soldiers  sawing  and  hammering,  making 
such  a  noise  that  she  fe-t  it  recessary  to  interfere 
in  her  gentle  way. 

"  Why,"  she  sa  d,  "  what  is  '.his?  — what  are 
you  doing  ?  " 


292 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND   INCIDENTS, 


"What   we   doin'?     Makin'   a   coffin — that's 

Want." 

"A  coffin?  indeed,  and  whom  is  it  for?  " 

"Who  for?  that  feller  over  there"  —  pointing 
behind  hiu. 

The  lady  looked,  and  saw  a  man  lying  on  his 
while  bed,  yet  alive,  who  seemed  to  be  watching 
what  was  being  done. 

"  Why,"  she  said,  in  a  low  voice,  "  that  man 
isn't  dead.  He  is  alive,  and  perhaps  he  won't 
dip.  You  had  better  riot  go  on." 

"Goon!  Yes,  yes,  we  shall.  The  doctor  he 
told  us.  lie  said,  make  the  coffin ;  and  I  guess 
he  know'd  what  he  giv'  him." 


"  GREENBACKS." 

The  following  was  written  across  the  back  of  oue  of  Viose 

bills. 

GKEEN  be  thy  back  npon  thce  ! 

Thou  pledge  of  happier  days, 
When  bloody-handed  treason 

No  more  its  head  shall  raise ; 
But  still,  from  Maine  to  Texas, 

The  Stars  and  Stripes  shall  wave 
O'er  the  hearts  and  homes  of  freemen, 

Nor  mock  one  fettered  slave. 

Pledge  —  of  the  people's  credit, 

To  carry  on  the  war, 
By  furnishing  the  sinews 

In  a  currency  at  par  , 
With  cash  enough  left  over, 

When  they've  cancelled  every  note, 
To  buy  half  the  thrones  of  Europe, 

With  the  crowns  tossed  in  to  boot. 

Pledge  —  to  our  buried  fathers, 

That  sons  of  patriot  sires, 
On  Freedom's  sacred  altars, 

lielight  their  glorious  fires  — 
That  fortune,  life,  and  honor 

To  our  country's  cause  we  give ; 
Fortune  and  life  may  perish, 

Yet  the  Government  shall  live. 

Pledge  —  to  our  unborn  children, 

That,  free  from  blot  or  stain, 
The  flag  hauled  down  at  Sumter 

Shall  yet  float  free  again ; 
And,  cleansed  from  foul  dishonor, 

And  rebaptized  in  blood, 
Wave  o'er  the  land  forever, 

To  Freedom  and  to  God  ! 


SCENES  AT  FORT  DONELSON.  —  The  fbllowin  * 
hi  Mclents  were  given  in  a  narrative  sermon  preached 
by  Rev.  Itobert  Collyer,  at  Chicago,  a  few  daj3 
after  the  terrible  battle  at  Fort  Doneison : 

"After  leaving  home  our  great  desire  was,  of 
course,  to  get  to  Fort  Doneison  and  to  our  work 
in  the  shortest  possible  time;  and  I  am  sure  you 
will  not  thank  me  for  a  full  account  of  Cairo,  his 
torical  and  descriptive.  I  will  merely  say,  when 
you  want  to  solicit  a  quiet  place  of  retirement  in 
the  summer,  do  not  even  go  to  look  at  Cairo.  I 
assure  you,  it  will  not  suit.  It  is  notable  ''.  ere 


only  for  being  the  first  point  where  we  meet  with 
traces  of  the  great  conflict.  The  first  I  saw  were 
three  or  four  of  those  long  boxes,  that  hoH  onlv 
and  always  the  same  treasure ;  these  were  sheila 
nailed  together  by  comrades  in  the  camp,  I  sup 
pose,  to  send  some  brave  man  home.  As  I  vsfiit 
past  one  lying  on  tl.f»  sidewalk  in  the  dreary  ram 
and  mud,  I  read  on  a  card  the  name  of  a  gallant 
oiiicer  who  had  fallen  in  the  fight ;  and  as  I  stood 
for  a  moment  to  look  at  it,  the  soldier  who  had 
attended  it  came  up,  together  with  the  brother  of 
the  dead  man,  who  had  been  sent  for  to  meet  the 
body.  It  seemed  there  was  some  doubt  whether 
this  might  not  be  some  other  of  the  half  dozen 
who  had  been  jibelled  at  once,  and  the  coffin 
must  be  opened  before  it  was  taken  away. 

"  I  glanced  at  the  face  of  the  living  brother  as 
he  stood  and  gazed  at  the  face  of  the  dead ;  but 
I  must  not  desecrate  that  sight  by  a  description. 
He  was  his  brother  beloved,  and  he  was  dead  ; 
but  he  had  fallen  in  a  great  battle,  where  treason 
bit  the  dust,  and  he  was  faithful  unto  death.  He 
must  have  died  instantly,  for  the  wound  was  in  a 
mortal  place ;  and  there  was  not  one  line  or  fur 
row  to  tell  of  a  long  agony,  but  a  look  like  a  quiet 
child,  which  told  how  the  old  confidence  of  He 
brew  David,  '  I  shall  be  satisfied  when  I  wake  in 
thy  likeness,'  was  verified  in  all  the  confusion  of 
the  battle.  God's  finger  touched  him,  and  ha 
slept ;  and 

«  The  great  intelligences  fair 

That  range  above  our  mortal  state, 
In  circle  round  the  blessed  gate, 
Received  and  gave  him  welcome  there.' 

"One  incident  I  remember,  as  we  were  de 
tained  at  Cairo,  that  gave  me  a  sense  of  how 
curiously  the  laughter  and  the  tears  of  cur  lives 
are  blended.  I  had  hardly  gone  a  square  from 
that  touching  sight,  when  I  carne  across  a  group 
of  men  gathered  round  a  eoldier  wounded  i:i  the 
head.  Nothing  would  satisfy  them  but  to  see  the 
hurt;  and  the  man,  •with  perfect  good  nature,  re 
moved  the  bandage.  It  was  a  bullet  wound,  very 
near  the  centre  of  the  forehead  ;  and  the  man  de 
clared  the  ball  had  flattened,  and  fallen  off.  *  But,' 
said  a  simple  man,  eagerly,  '  why  didn't  the  ball 
go  into  your  head  ? '  «  Sir,'  said  the  soldier, 
proudly,  '  my  head's  too  hard ;  a  ball  can't  get 
through  it !  * 

"  A  journey  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles  up 
the  Ohio  and  Cumberland  Rivers  brought  us  to 
Fort  Doneison,  and  we  got  there  at  sunset.  I 
went  at  once  into  the  camp,  and  found  there  dear 
friend  s,  who  used  to  sit  in  these  pews,  and  had 
stood  fast  through  all  the  thickest  battle.  They 
gave  us  coffee,  which  they  drank  as  if  it  were 
nectar,  and  we  as  if  it  were  senna. 

"  A  body  of  men  drew  up  to  see  us,  and  de 
manded  the  inevitable  '  few  remarks  ; '  and  we 
told  them,  through  our  tears,  how  proud  and 
thankful  they  had  made  us.  and  what  great  tides 
of  gladness  had  risen  for  them  in  our  city,  and 
wherever  the  tidings  of  victory  hud  run;  and 
how  our  hands  gave  but  a  i'eeble  pressure,  our 
voices  b'.t  a  fe*'ile  echo  of  tie  mighty  spirit  that 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


293 


was  everywhere  reaching  out  to  greet  those  that 
were  safe,  to  comfort  the  suffering,  and  to  sorrow 
for  the  dead. 

"  The  '  OT  n  correspondents  '  of  the  newspapers 
describe  Fort  Donehon  just  as  if  a  man  should 
say  that  water  is  a  fluid,  or  granite  a  solid.  I 
have  seen  no  printed  description  of  it  that  will 
make  a  picture  in  the  mind.  I  think  there  is  a 
picture  graven  on  some  silent  soul  that  will  get 
il  self  printed  some  time.  But  it  took  years  to 
get  a  word-picture  of  Dunbar,  and  it  may  take  as 
long  to  get  one  of  Donelson.  If  you  take  a  bow 
and  tighten  the  string  until  it  is  very  much  over- 
bent,  and  lay  it  down  on  a  table,  with  the  string 
towards  you,  it  will  give  a  faint  idea  of  the  breast 
works  —  the  river  being  to  them  what  the  cord  is 
to  the  bow.  At  the  right  hand  corner,  where  the 
bow  and  cord  join,  is  the  famous  water  battery, 
commanding  a  straight  r?ach  in  the  river  of  about 
a  mile,  where  the  gunboats  must  come  up ;  and 
at  the  other  end  of  the  cord,  up  the  river,  lies  the 
town  of  Dover. 

"  It  was  my  good  fortune  to  go  over  the  entire 
ground  with  a  number  of  our  friends,  and  to  wan 
der  here  and  there  alone  at  rare  moments  besides. 
The  day  I  spent  there  was  like  one  of  our  sweet 
est  May-days.  As  I  stood  in  a  bit  of  secluded 
woodland,  in  the  still  morning,  the  spring  birds 
sang  as  sweetly,  and  flitted  about  as  merrily,  as 
if  no  tempest  of  fire,  and  smoke,  and  terror  had 
t\er  driven  them  in  mortal  haste  away.  In  one 
plijce  where  the  battle  had  raged,  I  found  a  little 
hyndi  of  sweet  bergamont,  that  had  just  put  out 
Its  brown-blue  leaves,  rejoicing  in  its  first  resur 
rection,  and  a  bed  of  daffodils,  ready  to  unfold 
their  golden  robes  to  the  sun ;  and  the  green 
grass,  in  sunny  places,  was  fair  to  see.  But 
where  great  woods  had  cast  their  shadows,  the 
necessities  of  attack  and  defence  had  made  one 
haggard  and  almost  universal  ruin  —  trees  cut 
down  into  all  sorts  of  wild  confusion,  torn  and 
splintered  by  cannon  ball,  trampled  by  horses  and 
men,  and  crushed  under  the  heavy  wheels  of  ar 
tillery.  One  sad  wreck  covered  all. 

"  Of  course,  it  was  not  possible  to  cover  all  the 
ground,  or  to  cut  down  all  the  trees.  But  here 
and  there,  where  the  defenders  would  sweep  a 
pass,  where  our  brave  men  must  come,  all  was 
bared  for  the  work  of  death  ;  and  where  the  battle 
had  raged,  the  wreck  was  fearful. 

"  Our  ever-busy  mother  Nature   had   already 
brought  down   great  rains  to  wash  the  crimson  j 
stains  from  her  bosom  ;  and  it  was  only  in  some 
blanket  cast  under  the  bushes,  or  some  loose  gar 
ment  taken  from  a  wounded  man,  that  these  mo>.t 
fearful  sights    were   to   be  seen.      But  all  over 
the  field  were  strewn  the  implements  of  death, 
with   garments,    harness,    shot   and   shell,   dead 
horses,  and  the  resting-places  of  dead  men.     Al- 1 
most  a  week    had  passed  since  the  battle,  and  j 
most  of  the  dead  were  buried.    We  heard  of  twos  | 
and  threes,  and  in  one  case  of  eleven,  still  lying 
where  they  fell ;  and,  as  we  rode  down  a  lonely 
pass,  we  came  to  one  waiting  to  be  laid  in  the  j 
dust,  and  stopped  for  a  moment  to  note  the  sad  { 
sight.     Pray  look  out  from  my  eyes  at  him,  as  he  j 


lies  where  he  fell.  You  see  by  his  garb  that  he 
is  one  of  the  rebel  army,  and,  by  the  peculiar 
marks  of  that  class,  that  he  is  a  city  rough.  There 
is  little  about  him  to  soften  the  grim  picture  that 
rises  up  before  you,  as  he  rests  in  perfect  stillness 
by  that  fallen  tree  ;  but  there  is  a  shawl>  coarse 
and  hcmely,  Liat  rr.  ist  have  belonged  to  some 
woman;  and 

*  His  hands  are  folded  on  his  breast ; 
There  is  no  other  thing  expressed, 
But  long  disquiet  merged  in  rest.' 

"  Will  you  still  let  me  guide  you  through  that 
scene  as  it  comes  up  before  me  ?  That  long  mound, 
with  pieces  of  board  here  and  there,  is  a  grave ; 
and  sixty-one  of  our  brave  fellows  rest  in  it,  side  by 
side.  Those  pieces  of  board  are  the  gravestones, 
and  the  chisel  is  a  black  lead  pencil.  The  queer 
straggling  letters  tell  you  that  the  common  sol 
dier  has  done  this,  to  preserve,  for  a  few  days  at 
least,  the  memory  of  one  who  used  to  go  out  with 
him'  on  the  dangerous  picket  guard,  and  sit  with 
him  by  the  camp  fire,  and  whisper  to  him,  as  they 
lay  side  by  side  in  the  tent  through  the  still  win 
ter  night,  the  hope  he  had  before  him  when  the 
war  was  over,  or  the  trust  in  this  comrade  if  he 
fell.  There  you  see  one  large  board,  and  in  a 
beautiful  flowing  hand,  '  John  Olver,  Thirty-first 
Illinois  ; '  and  you  wonder  for  a  moment  whether 
the  man  who  has  so  tried  to  surpass  the  rest  was 
nursed  at  the  same  breast  with  John  Olver,  or 
whether  John  was  a  comrade,  hearty  and  trusty 
beyond  all  price. 

"  And  you  will  observe  that  the  dead  are  buried 
in  companies,  every  man  in  his  own  company, 
side  by  side ;  that  the  prisoners  are  sent  out  af 
ter  the  battle  to  bury  their  own  dead;  but  that 
our  own  men  will  not'permit  them  to  bury  a  fel 
low-soldier  of  the  Union,  but  every  man  in  this 
sacred  cause  is  held  sacred  even  for  the  grave. 

"  And  thus  on  the  crest  of  a  hill  is  the  place 
where  the  dwellers  in  that  little  town  have  buried 
their  dead  since  ever  they  came  to  live  on  the 
bank  of  the  river.  White  marble  and  gray  lime 
stone,  and  decayed  wooden  monuments,  tell  who 
rests  beneath.  There  stands  a  gray  stone,  cut 
with  these  home-made  letters,  that  tell  you 
how  William  N.  Ross  died  on  the  26th  day  of 
March,  1814,  in  the  twenty-sixth  year  of  his  age; 
and  right  alongside  are  the  graves,  newly-made, 
of  men  who  died  last  week  in  a  strife  which  no 
wild  imagining  of  this  native  man  ever  conceived 
possible  in  that  quiet  spot.  Here,  in  the  midst 
of  the  cemetery,  the  rebel  officers  have  pitched 
their  tents;  for  the  place  is  one  where  a  com 
mander  can  see  easily  the  greater  part  of  the 
camp.  Here  is  a  tent  where  some  wroman  has 
lived,  for  she  has  left  a  sewing-machine  and  a 
small  churn  ;  and  not  far  away  you  see  a  hapless 
kitten  shot  dead ;  and  everywhere  things  that 
make  you  shudder,  and  fill  you  with  sadness  over 
the  wreck  and  ruin  of  war. 

"  Here  you  meet  a  man  who  has  been  in  com 
mand,  and  stood  fast ;  and  when  you  say  some 
simple  wrrd  of  praise  to  lim  in  the  name  of  all 
who  love  their  country,  he  blushes  ai.d  stammers 


294 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


like  a  woman,  and  tells  you  he  tried  to  do  his 
best ;  and  when  we  get  to  Mound  City,  we  shall 
find  a  man  racked  with  pain,  who  will  forget  to 
suffer  in  telling  how  this  brave  man  you  have  just 
spoken  to,  not  only  stood  by  his  own  regiment 
in  a  fierce  storm  of  shot,  but  when  he  saw  a  regi 
ment  near  his  own  giving  back,  because  their  of- 
tieers  showed  the  white  feather,  rode  up  to  the 
regiment,  hurled  a  mighty  curse  at  those  who 
were  giving  back,  stood  fast  by  the  men  in  the 
thickest  fight,  and  saved  them  ;  and,  says  the  sick 
man,  with  tears  in  his  eyes  :  '  I  would  rather  be 
a  private  under  him,  than  a  captain  under  any 
other  man! ' 

"  I  noticed  one  feature  in  this  camp  that  I 
never  saw  before  ;  the  men  do  not  swear  and  UCT 
profane  words  as  they  used  to  do.  There  is  a 
little  touch  of  seriousness  about  them.  They  are 
cheerful  and  hearty,  and  in  a  few  days  they  will 
mostly  fall  back  into  the  old  bad  habit  so  painful 
to  hear :  but  they  have  been  too  near  to  the  tre 
mendous  verities  of  hell  and  heaven  on  that  battle 
field,  to  turn  them  into  small  change  for  every 
day  use  just  yet.  They  have  taken  the  eternal 
name  for  common  purposes  a  thousand  times  ; 
and  we  feel  as  if  we  could  say  with  Paul,  *  The 
times  of  this  ignorance  God  passed  by.'  But  on 
that  fearful  day,  when  judgment  fires  were  all 
aflame,  a  voice  'said,  '  Be  still,  and  know  that  I 
am  God : '  and  they  are  still  under  the  shadow  of 
tl'ut  awful  name. 

"  Now,  friends,  I  can  give  you  these  hints  and 
incidents,  and  many  more  if  it  Avere  needful ;  but 
you  must  still  he  left  without  a  picture  of  the 
b.il  tie-field,  and  I  must  hasten  to  the  work  we 
want  to  do.  The  little  town  of  Dover  was  full 
of  sick  and  wounded  ;  and  they,  first  of  all,  com 
manded  our  attention.  I  have  seen  too  much  of 
the  soldier's  life  to  expect  much  comfort  for  him  ; 
but  we  found  even  less  than  I  expected  among 
those  who  were  huddled  together  there.  There 
was  no  adequate  comfort  of  any  kind;  many 
were  laid  on  the  floor  ;  most  were  entirely  unpro 
vided  with  a  change  of  linen,  and  not  one  had 
any  proper  nourishment.  What  we  carried  with 
us  was  welcome  beyond  all  price.  The  policy  of 
our  commanders  was  to  remove  all  the  wounded 
on  steamboats  to  Paducah,  Mound  City,  and  other 
places  on  the  rivers ;  and  it  was  a  part  of  my 
duty,  with  several  other  gentleman  acting  as  sur 
geons  and  nurses,  to  attend  one  hundred  and 
fifty-eight  wounded  men  from  Fort  Donelson  to 
Mound  City. 

"  I  may  not  judge  harshly  of  what  should  be 
done  in  a  time  of  war  like  this  in  the  West ;  it  is 
very  easy  to  be  unfair.  I  will  simply  tell  you 
that  had  it  not  been  for  the  things  sent  up  by 
the  Sanitary  Commission  in  the  way  of  linen,  and 
tilings  sent  by  our  citizens  in  the  way  of  nourish 
ment,  I  see  no  possibility  by  which  those  wounded 
men  could  have  been  lifted  out  of  their  blood 
stained  woollen  garments,  saturated  with  wet  and 
mud,  or  could  have  had  any  food  and  drink,  except 
corn-mush,  hard  bread,  and  the  turbid  water  of 
the  river. 

"  That  long  cabin  of  the  steamboat  is  packed 


with  wounded  men,  laid  on  each  side,  side  by 
side,  so  close  that  you  can  hardly  put  one  foot 
between  the  men  to  give  them  a  drink,  or  to  cool 
their  fearful  hurts.  M  >st  of  us  have  been  hurt 
badly  at  some  time  in  our  life,  and  remember 
what  tendei  end  constant  care  we  needed,  and 
got.  Ify.  u  vill  substitute  a  rather  careless  and 
clumsy  man  for  the  mother  or  wife  who  waited 
-in  you,  and  divide  his  time  and  attention  among 
perhaps  forty  patients,  you  will  be  able  to  con 
ceive  something  of  *.vhat  had  been  the  condition 
of  these  poor  travellers,  but  for  the  Chicago  Com 
mittee. 

"  Here  is  one  who  has  lost  an  arm,  and  there 
one  who  has  lost  a  leg.  This  old  man  of  sixty 
hns  been  struck  by  a  grape  shot,  and  that  boy  of 
!  eighteen  has  been  shot  through  the  lung.  Here 
a  noble-looking  man  has  lived  through  a  fear 
ful  bullet  wound  just  over  the  eye  ;  and  that  poor 
j  German,  who  could  never  talk  English  so  as  to 
be  readily  understood,  has  been  hit  in  the  mouth, 
and  has  lost  all  hope  of  talking,  except  by  signs. 

"That  man  with  a  shattered  foot  talks  in  the 
old  dialect  I  spoke  when  I  was  a  child  ;  and  when 
I  answer  him  in  his  -own  tongue,  the  words  touch 
him  like  a  sovereign  medicine. 

"  The  doctor  comes  to  this  young  man,  and 
says  quietly,  '  I  think,  my  boy,  I  shall  have  to 
take  your  arm  off; '  and  he  cries  out  in  a  great 
agony,  '  O  dear  doctor !  do  save  my  arm  ! '  and 
the  doctor 'tells  him  he  will  try  a  little  longer, 
and  when  he  has  gone,  the  poor  fellow  says  to 
me,  '  What  shall  I  do  if  1  lose  my  arm  ?  I  have 
a  poor  old  mother  at  home,  and  there  is  no  one 
to  do  anything  for  her  but  me.' 

"  That  man  who  has  lost  his  arm  is  evidently 
sinking.  As  1  lay  wet  linen  on  the  poor  stump, 
he  tells  me  how  '  he  has  a  wife  and  two  children 
at  home,  and  he  has  always  tried  to  do  right,  and 
to  live  a  manly  life.,'  The  good,  simple  heart  is 
clearly  trying  to  balance  its  accounts,  before  it 
faces  the 'great  event  which  it  feels  to  be  not  far 
distant.  As  I  go  past  him,  I  see  the  face  grow 
ing  quieter ;  and  at  last  good  Mr.  Williams,  who 
has  watched  him  to  the  end,  tells  me  he  put  up 
his  one  hand,  gently  closed  his  own  eyes,  and 
then  laid  the  hand  across  his  breast  and  died. 

"  That  boy  in  the  corner,  alone,  suffers  agony 
such  as  I  may  not  tell.  All  day  long  we  hear  his 
cries  of  pain  through  half  the  length  of  the  boat ; 
far  into  the  night,  the  tide  of  anguish  pours  over 
him  ;  but  at  last  the  pain  is  all  gone,  and  he  calls 
one  of  our  number  to  him,  and  says,  '  I  am  going. 
I  want  you  to  please  write  a  letter  to  my  father ; 
tell  him  I  owe  such  a  man  two  dollars  and  a  half, 
and  such  a  man  owes  me  four  dollars  ;  and  he 
must  draw  my  pay,  and  keep  it  all  for  himself.' 
Then  he  lay  silently  a  little  while,  and,  as  the 
nurse  wet  his  lips,  said,  '  O,  I  should  so  like  a 
drink  out  of  my  father's  well ! '  and  in  a  moment 
he  had  gone  where  angels  gather  immortality 

« By  Life's  fair  stream,  fast  by  the  throne  of  God.* 

"And  so  all  day  long,  with  croling  water  and 
soft  linen,  with  morse's  of  food  and  sips  of  wine, 
with  words  of  theer  a.'.d  tender  jity  to  every  one, 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


295 


and  most  of  all  to  those  that  were  in  the  sorest 
need,  we  tried  to  do  some  small  service  for  those 
that  had  done  and  suffered  so  much  for  us.  Some 
are  dead,  and  more  will  die,  and  some  will  live, 
and  be  strong  men  again;  but  I  do  not  believe 
thai  one  will  forget  our  poor  service  in  that  ter 
rible  pain ;  while  to  us  there  came' such  a  reward 
in  the  work  as  not  one  of  us  ever  felt  before,  and 
we  all  felt  that  it  was  but  a  small  fragment  of  the 
debt  we  owed  to  the  brave  men  who  had  given 
life  itself  for  our  sacred  cause. 

"  Two  or  three  things  came  out  of  this  jour 
ney  to  the  battle-field  that  gave  me  some  new 
thoughts  and  realizations.  And  first,  in  all  honor, 
I  realized  more  fully  than  you  can  do,  that  in 
those  victories  of  which  Fort  Donelson  is  the 
greatest,  we  have  reached  not  only  the  turning- 
point,  as  we  hope,  of  this  dreadful  war,  but  we 
have  plucked  the  first  fruits  of  our  Western  civ 
ilization.  I  am  not  here  to  question  for  one 
moment  the  spirit  and  courage  of  our  brotheis  in 
the  E  ist ;  the  shade  of  Winthrop,  noblest  and 
knightliest  man,  the  peer  of  Arthur  for  truth,  of 
llicp-ird  for  courage,  and  of  Sidney  for  gentle 
ness,  would  rise  up  to  rebuke  me.  Ball's  Bluff 
was  wor?e  than  Balaklava  as  a  criminal  blunder, 
and  equal  to  it  in  every  quality  of  steady,  hope 
less  courage.  America  will  never  breed  a  true 
o;aa  who  will  not  weep  as  he  reads  the  story  of 
those  hapless  Harvard  boys,  whose  clear  eyes 
looked  out  at  death  steadily  to  the  last,  and  who 
scorned  to  flinch. 

"  Rat  here  on  our  Western  prairies,  and  in  our 
backwoods,  we  have  been  raising  a  new  genera 
tion  of  men,  whose  name  we  never  mentioned, 
under  new  influences,  whose  bearing  we  did  not 
understand  ;  and  the  first  time  they  could  get  a  fair 
field  and  no  favor,  they  sprang  into  the  foremost 
soldiers  in  the  land. 

"  Good  elderly  New  England  ministers,  of  our 
own  faith,  have  made  it  a  point  to  speak,  in  East 
ern  conventions,  of  our  hopeless  struggle  with 
the  semi-savagery  of  these  mighty  wildernesses. 
My  dear  doctor,  that  boy  of  eighteen  was  born 
in  the  prairies,  and  went  to  meetings  where  you 
would  have  gone  crazy  with  the  noise  of  the 
mighty  prayers  and  psalms :  and  he  got  the  eon- 
version  which  you  do  not  believe  in,  and  was  a 
sort  of  Methodist  or  Baptist ;  but  he  stood  like 
one  of  Napoleon's  Old  Guard  through  all  the 
battle  ;  and  when  he  was  shot  down,  and  could 
fight  no  longer,  his  mighty  spirit  dragged  the 
broken  tabernacle  into  the  bushes,  and  there  he 
prayed  with  all  his  might,  not  for  himself,  but 
that  the  God  of  buttles  would  give  us  the  victory. 
That  rough-looking  man  was  wounded  twice  with 
ghastly  hurts,  and  twice  went  from  the  surgeon 
back  to  the  fight,  and  only  gave  up  when  the  third 
shot  crippled  him  beyond  remedy. 

"']  saw  those  <:Iowa  Second"  boys  come 
on  to  charge  the  breastworks,'  said  our  friend 
Colonel  Webster  to  us.  '  More  than  one  regi 
ment  had  been  beaten  back,  and  the  fortunes 
of  the  day  began  to  look  very  uncertain.  They 
came  on  steadily,  silently,  through  the  storm  of 
ahot,  closing  up  aa  their  comrades  fell ;  and  with 


out  stopping  to  fire  a  single  volley  that  might 
thin  the  ranks  of  the  defenders,  and  make  some 
gap  by  which  they  might  pour  into  the  fortress, 
they  went  ^.own  into  the  ditch,  and  clean  over 
the  defence",  ar. .1  there  they  staid  in  spite  of  all.' 

"One  quiet-looking  officer  saw  his  company 
sorely  thinned  in  the  beginning  of  the  day  ;  and 
that  the  cause  might  have  one  more  arm,  he 
took  musket  an.l  ammu  .lition  from  one  who  could 
use  them  no  more,  and  fought  at  the  head  of  his 
company,  shot  for  shot,  all  day  long ;  and,  as  a 
wounded  soldier  told  me  this  through  his  pain, 
he  added,  '  I  tell  you,  sir,  if  that  man  ever  runs 
for  an  oifice,  I'll  vote  for  him,  sure.' 

"  Secondly,  from  all  these  experiences,  [  have 
got  a  fresh  conviction  of  the  great  mystery  of 
the  shedding  of  blood  for  salvation.  We  have 
been  accustomed,  especially  in  Unitarian  churches, 
to  consider  Paul's  ideas  about  blood-shedding  as 
the  fruit  of  his  education  under  a  sacrificial  Ju 
daism,  and  that,  again,  as  a  twin-sister  of  bar 
barism  ;  but  as  I  went  over  this  battle-field,  and 
thought  on  the  dead  heroes,  and  of  all  they  died 
for,  I  kept  repeating  over  each  one,  '  He  gave  his 
life  a  ransom  for  many;  '  and  I  wondered,  when 
I  thought  of  how  we'  had  all  gone  astray  as  a 
people,  and  how  inevitable  this  war  had  become, 
in  consequence,  as  the  final  test  of  the  two  great 
antagonism^,  whether  it  may  not  be  true  in  our 
national  a  flairs,  as  in  a  more  universal  sense, 
'  without  the  shedding  of  blood  there  is  no  remis 
sion  of  sins.'  And  so,  by  consequence,  every 
true  hero  fallen  in  this  struggle  for  the  right  is 
also  a  savior  to  the  nation  and  the  race. 

"  Finally,  I  came  to  feel  a  more  tender  pity  foi 
the  deluded  men  on  the  other  side,  and  a  more 
unutterable  hatred  of  that  vile  thing  that  has 
made  them  what  they  are.  On  all  sides  I  found 
young  nun  with  faces  as  sweet  and  ingenuous  as 
the  faces  of  our  own  children,  —  as  open  to  sym- 
pathv,  and,  according  to  their  light,  as  ready  to 
give  -ill  they  had  for  their  cause. 

"  I  felt  like  weeping  to  see  children  of  our  noble 
mother  so  bare,  and  poor,  and  sad ;  to  see  their 
little  villages  so  different  from  those  where  the 
community  is  not  tainted  by  the  curse  and  pro 
scription  of  human  bondage;  and  I  felt  more 
deeply  than  ever  before  how,  for  the  sake  of  those 
men,  who,  in  spite  of  all,  are  our  brothers,  this 
horrible  curse  and  delusion  of  slavery  ought  to  be 
routed  utterly  out  of  the  land." 


WILLIAM  REID,  an  old  sailor  and  man-of-v--ar'8- 
man,  who  was  on  board  the  Owasco,  was  one  of 
the  heroes  of  the  fight  at  Galveston.  During 
the  hottest  moments  of  the  battle  between  the 
Owasco  and  the  rebel  batteries,  this  man  received 
a  severe  wound  while  in  the  act  of  loading  his 
rifle.  His  two  forefingers  on  his  left  hand  were 
shot  away,  and  the  surgeon  ordered  him  below ; 
but  he  refused  to  go,  and,  tying  his  pocket  hand 
kerchief  around  his  fingers,  he  remained  on  deck, 
and  did  good  execution  with  his  rifle.  Not  more 
than  thirty  minutes  after  another  shot  struck 
him  in  his  right  shoulder,  and  tLe  o.ood  spirted 


296 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AN1>    INCIDENTS. 


out  through  his  shirt.  Master's  Mate  Arbana 
then  ordered  him  to  go  below,  and  have  the  sur 
geon  dress  his  wounds.  The  brave  old  fellow 
said :  "  No,  sir ;  as  long  as  there  is  any  fighting 
to  be  done,  I  will  stay  on  deck ! " 

After  the  engagement  was  over,  the  noble- 
hearted  saiior  had  his  wounds  dressed  and  prop 
erly  attended  to.  He  remained  on  board  the 
Owasco,  and  whenever  they  beat  to  general  quar 
ters,  William  lleid  was  at  his  post  ready  for 
orders,  lie  was  told  one  day  by  the  captain  to 
go  below,  as  he  was  on  the  sick  list,  and  his 
place  was  in  the  hospital.  lie  was  displeased 
with  this  remark,  and  replied  :  "  No,  captain,  ray 
eyes  are  good,  and  I  can  pull  a  lock-string  as 
well  as  any  on  'em."  The  lock-string  is  a  lanyard 
connected  with  the  cap  that  fires  the  gun. 


JOHN  BURNS,  THE  HERO  OF  GETTYSBURG.  — 

The  following  thrilling  narrative  was  related  by 
B.  1).  Beyea,  who  spent  several  days  on  the 
battle-field  in  search  of  the  body  of  Captain  C. 
H.  Flagg,  who  fell  in  that  terrible  fight : 

"  In  the  town  of  Gettysburg  live  an  old  couple 
by  the  name  of  Burns.  The  old  man  was  in  the 
war  of  1812,  and  is  now  nearly  seventy  years  of 
age ;  yet  the  frosts  of  many  winters  have  not 
chilled  his  patriotism,  nor  diminished  his  love  for 
the  old  flag  under  which  lie  fought  in  his  eaj-ly 
days.  When  the  rebels  invaded  the  beautiful 
Cumberland  Valley,  arid  were  marching  on  Get 
tysburg,  old  Burns  concluded  that  it  was  time  for 
every  loyal  man,  young  or  old,  to  be  up  and  doing 
ail  in  his  power  to  beat  back  the  rebel  foe,  and,  if 
possible,  give  them  a  quiet  resting-place  beneath 
the  sod  they  were  polluting  with  their  unhallowed 
feet.  The  old  hero  took  down  an  old  State  mus 
ket  he  had  in  his  house,  and  commenced  running 
bullets.  The  old  lady  saw  what  he  was  about, 
and  wanted  to  know  what  in  the  world  he  was 
going  to  do.  '  Ah,'  said  Burns,  '  I  thought  some 
of  the  boys  might  want  the  old  gun,  and  I  am 
getting  it'ready  for  them.'  The  rebels  came  on. 
Old  Burns  kept  his  eye  on  the  lookout-until  he 
saw  the  Stars  and  Stripes  coming  in,  carried  by 
our  brave  boys.  This  was  more  than  the  old 
fellow  could  stand.  His  patriotism  got  the  better 
of  his  age  and  infirmity.  Grabbing  his  musket, 
he  started  out.  The  old  lady  hallooed  to  him : 
'  Burn?!,  where  are  you  going  ?  '  *  O,'  says  Burns, 
'  I  am  going  out  to  see  what  is  going  on.'  He  im 
mediately  went  to  a  Wisconsin  regiment,  and 
asked  them  if  they  would  take  him  in.  They  told 
him  they  would,  and  gave  him  three  rousing  cheers. 

"  The  old  musket  was  soon  thrown  aside,  and  a 
first-rate  rille  given  him,  and  twenty-five  rounds 
of  cartridges. 

"  The  engagement  between  the  two  armies  soon 
came  on,  and  the  old  man  fired  eighteen  of  his 
twenty-five  rounds,  and  says  he  killed  three 
rooels  to  his  certain  knowledge.  Our  forces 
were  compelled  to  fall  back  and  leave  our  dead 
and  wounded  on  the  field  ;  and  Burns,  having 
received  three  wounds,  was  left  also,  not  being 


able  to  get  away.  There  he  lay  in  citizen's  dress 
and  if  the  rebs  found  him  in  that  condition,  he 
knew  death  was  his  portion  ;  so  he  concluded  to 
try  strategy  as  his  only  hope.  Soon  the  rebs  came 
up,  and  approached  him,  saying  :  *  Old  man,  what 
are  yo .;  doing  heie  ? '  'I  am  lying  IH.TC  wounded, 
as  you  see,'  he  replied.  '  Well,  but  what  business 
have  you  to  be  here  ?  and  who  wounded  you  ? 
our  troops,  or  yours  ? '  'I  don't  know  who 
wour  ded  me  ;  but  1  only  know  that  I  am  wounded, 
I  and  i.i  a  bad  fix.'  '  Well,  what  were  you  doing 
here  ?  —  what  was  your  business  ?  '  'If  you  will 
hear  my  story,  I  will  tell  you.  My  old  woman's 
health  is  very  poor,  and  I  was  over  across  the 
country  to  get  a  girl  to  help  her ;  and,  coming 
back,  before  I  knew  where  I  was,  I  had  got  right 
into  this  fix,  and  here  I  am.'  « Where  do  you 
live?'  inquired  the  rebels.  'Over  in  town,  in 
such  a  small  house.'  They  then  picked  him  up, 
and  carried  him  1  .me,  and  left  him.  But  they 
soon  returned,  as  f  suspecting  he  had  been  lying 
to  them,  and  made  him  answer  a  great  many 
questions  ;  but  he  stuck  to  his  old  story,  and  they 
failed  to  make  anything  out  of  old  Burns,  and 
then  left  him  for  good. 

"  He  says  he  shall  always  feel  indebted  tc  some 
of  his  neighbors  for  the  last  call ;  for  he  believes 
some  one  had  informed  them  of  him.  Soon  after 
they  left,  a  bullet  came  into  his  room,  and  stra<  li 
in  the  wall  about  six  inches  above  wht.ro  he  l:i) 
on  his  sofa  ;  but  he  don't  know  who  fired  it.  Hia 
wounds  proved  to  be  only  flesh  wounds,  and  he 
is  getting  well,  feels  first-rate,  and  says  he  would 
like  one  more  good  chance  to  give  them  a  rip." 


THE    BATTLE   OF  GETTXSBUBQ. 

BY     flOW-ARD    GLYNDON. 

THE  days  of  June  were  nearly  done; 
The  fields,  with  plenty  overrun, 
Were  ripening  'neath  the  harvest  sun, 
In  fruitful  Pennsylvania ! 

Sang  birds  and  children,   "  All  is  well !  " 
'When,  sudden,  ov>  r  hill  and  dell, 
The  gloom  of  coming  battle  fell 

On  peaceful  Pennsylvania  ! 

Through  Maryland's  historic  land, 
With  boastful  tongue,  and  spoiling  hand* 
They  burst  —  a  fierce  and  famished  band  — 
Right  into  Pennsylvania ! 

In  Cumberland's  romantic  vale 
Was  heard  the  plundered  farmer's  wail, 
And  every  mother's  cheek  was  pale 
In  blooming  Pennsylvania ! 

Witl.  taunt  and  jeer,  and  shout  ard  song, 
Through  rustic  towns  they  passed  along  — 
A  confident  and  braggart  throng  — 

Through  frightened  Pennsylvania  I 

The  tidings  startled  hill  and  glen ; 
Up  sprang  our  hardy  Northern  men, 
there  was  speedy  travel  then, 
All  into  Pt  unsylvania  I 


ANECDOTES.    PO*ETHY,    A.ND    INCIDENTS. 


297 


The  foe  laughed  out  in  open  scorn  ; 
For  "Union  men  were  coward-born," 
And  then  —  they  wanted  all  the  corn 
That  grew  in  Pennsylvania  ! 


It  was  the  languid  hour  of  noon, 
"When  all  the  birds  were  out  of  tune, 
And  nature  in  a  sultry  swoon, 

In  pleasant  Pennsylvania  !  — 

When,  sudden  o'er  the  slumbering  plain, 
Ked  flashed  the  battle's  fiery  rain  ; 
The  volleying  cannon  shook  again 
The  hills  of  Pennsylvania  ! 

Beneath  that  curse  of  iron  hail, 
That  threshed  the  plain  with  flashing  flail, 
Well  might  the  stoutest  soldier  quail, 
In  echoing  Pennsylvania ! 

Then,  like  a  sudden  summer  rain, 
Storm-driven  o'er  the  darkened  plain, 
They  burst  upon  our  ranks  and  main, 
In  startled  Pennsylvania ! 

We  felt  the  old  ancestral  thrill, 
From  sire  to  son  transmitted  still, 
And  fought  for  Freedom  with  a  will, 
In  pleasant  Pennsylvania ! 

The  breathless  shock  —  the  maddened  toil- 
The  sudden  clinch  —  the  sharp  recoil  — 
And  we  were  masters  of  the  soil, 
In  bloody  Pennsylvania ! 

To  westward  fell  the  beaten  foe ; 
The  growl  of  battle,  hoarse  and  low, 
Was  heard  anon,  but  dying  slow, 

In  ransomed  Pennsylvania  ! 

SotT -westward,  with  the  sinking  sun, 
The  cloud  of  battle,  dense  and  dun, 
Flashed  into  lire — and  all  was  won 
In  joyful  Pennsylvania ! 

But  ah !  the  heaps  of  loyal  slain  ! 
The  bloody  toil !  the  bitter  pain  I 
For  those  who  shall  not  stand  again 
In  pleasant  Pennsylvania  I 

Back,  through  the  verdant  valley  lands, 
East  fled  the  foe,  in  frightened  bands, 
With  broken  swords,  and  empty  hands, 
Out  of  fair  Pennsylvania  ! 


AN  HEROIC  OLD  MAN.  —  A  soldier  of  the  Con 
federate  army,  writing  from  Missionary  Ridge,  in 
October,  18G3,  says  :  "  I  presume  you  know  Fa 
ther  Chullon,  a  Catholic  priest  of  Mobile.  Well, 
he  has  a  brother,  an  old  man  of,  perhaps,  sixty 
years,  who  is  a  member  of  Captain  Muriel's  com 
pany.  Tins  old  man  was  in  Kansas  when  the 
war  broke  out ;  he  immediately  turned  his  steps 
homeward,  and  coming  across  a  Louisiana  regi 
ment,  he  joined  it  as  a  private.  General  McCul- 
lough,  with  whom  the  regiment  was,  happening 
to  notice  this  brave  old  man,  and  also  seeing  how 
cheerfully  he  bore  the  fatigues  and  dangers  of 
camp  and  battle,  offered  him  a  staff  appointment ; 
but  Mr.  Challon  refused  it,  preferring  to  fight  as 


a  private  in  the  ranks,  until  he  could  find  some 
of  the  Mobile  or  Alabama  troops.  This  was  not 
effected,  however,  until  he  got  to  Corinth  with 
[  Price's  army,,  Soon  after,  he  was  transferred  to 
the  24th  Alabama  regiment,  company  A,  com 
manded  by  your  fellow-citi/on,  A.  Hurtel,  where 
he  has  remained  ever  since,  discharging  1m  du 
ties  faithfully  a;.<i  well,  so  much  so,  indeed,  thai 
he  was  noticed  by  the  General  of  the  brigade, 
\  and  other  officers,  with  whom  he  was  a  great  fa 
s'  vorite  ;  and  many  *:is  the  time  that  he  might  have 
been  noticed  sitting  around  the  General's  fire,  in 
|  free  conversation  with  that  officer,  always  eager 
5or  news,  and  when  he  obtained  any  that  was 
good,  would  hurry  off  to  impart  it  to  his  regi 
ment.  But  for  the  incident. 

"  It  was  on  the  ever-memorable  day  of  the  20th 
of  September  (battle  of  Chickamauga),  that  Mr. 
Challon  took  his  place  in  the  front  ranks  to  at 
tack  the  enemy  in  a  strong  position  on  a  hill. 
Gallantly  did  all  act  on  this  occasion ;  but  con 
spicuous  among  those  brave  men  was  the  subject 
of  this  anecdote.  They  rushed  on,  driving  the 
enemy  from  his  breastworks,  capturing  three 
pieces  of  artillery,  &rc. ;  but  the  enfilade  lire  from 
the  right  and  left  was  so  very  heavy  that  we  were 
obliged  to  full  back.  Here  Mr.  Challon  fell  with 
his  thigh  broken.  Lieutenant  Higley,  passing  by, 
and  seeing  his  condition,  tendered  him  assist 
ance;  but  the  old  man  waved  him  off,  telling  him 
to  go  and  whip  the  Yankees,  and  let  him  alone ; 
that  he  would  take  care  of  himself.  We  moved 
on,  leavir.g  the  litter-bearers  to  take  care  of  the 
dead  and  wounded  ;  but  in  a  few  moments  the 
news  reached  us  that  the  enemy  had  set  fire  to 
the  woods  by  their  guns,  and  that  the  wounded 
would  all  be  burned  to  death. 

"  Several  officers  immediately  volunteered  to 
take  a  party,  and  rescue  the  sufferers.  They  has 
tened  to  the  spot,  and  succeeded  in  saving  all  our 
men,  but  not  until  some  of  them  had  been  scorched. 
Among  thc.se  latter  was  my  old  friend,  who  was 
manfully  battling  with  this  new  enemy.  He  had 
crawled  some  distance  from  the  spot  where  he 
fell,  and  many  of  the  surgeons  think  that  he,  in 
these  efforts-,  broke  his  thigh  entirely,  that  was 
only  fractured  in  the  first  instance  by  the  ball. 
The  old  man  is  still  alive,  and  strong  hopes  are 
entertained  of  his  recovery,  his  cheerfulness  aid 
ing  in  it.  Many  of  the  brigade  have  visited  him. 
lie  is  always  cheerful,  and  says,  '  No  matter  —  the 
old  man  can  die  ;  we  whipped  the  rascals.'  " 


THE  DEAD  AT  VICKSBUP.O.  —  They  lay  in  all 

j  positions  ;  some  with  musket  grasped  as  though 

j  still  contending  ;  others  with  the  cartridge  in  toe 

j  fingers,  just  ready  to  put  the  deadly  charge  "vhere 

1  it  might  meet  the   fee.     All  ferocity  had  gone. 

Noble  patriots  !  uninhabited  tenements  !  ye  rest 

here  now  in  security !     Your  portals,  whence  the 

;  spirits  fled,  are  as  cairn  and  pale  as  moonlight 

I  upon  snow — as  though  no  sweet  love  had  ever 

woven  for  ye  myrtle  ^  reaths,  nor  death  draped 

your  heirts  in  ivy  —  as   though  mirth  had  nsrver 

I  smiled,  uor  sorrow  wept  whcfe  all  is  now  silent. 


238 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS, 


War  with  its  dangers,  earth  with  its  perplexities, 
neglect  and  poverty  with  their  pangs,  slander 
with  its  barb,  the  dear  heart-broken  ones  at 
home  —  all  fail  to  call  ye  back  to  strife.  A  dark 
niiil  fearful  shadow  has  crept  over  the  land,  and 
£2i1.ercd  ye  in  its  gloom.  O  the  tears  that  will 
be  shed  !  "  O  the  hearths  that  will  be  desolated  ' 
Eyes  will  look  in  vain  for  your  return  to  thi 
hearths  that  ye  once  gladdened,  while  Fame 
crowns  ye  with  its  laurels,  and  the  land  of  the 
hereafter  welcomes  ye  as  "  they  who  saved  the 
land." 

A  remarkably  sweet  and  youthful  face  was  that 
of  a  rebel  boy.  Scarce  eighteen,  and  as  fair  as  a 
maiden,  with  quite  small  hands,  long  hair  of  the 
pale,  golden  hue  that  auburn  changes  to  when 
much  in  the  sun,  and  curling  at  the  ends.  He 
had  on  a  shirt  of  coarse  white  cotton,  and  brown 
pants,  well  worn;  while  upon  his  feet  were  a 
woman's  shoes  of  about  the  size  known  as 
"  fours."  Too  delicate  was  his  frame  for  war ; 
perchance  some  mother's  idol.  His  left  side  was 
torn  by  a  shell,  and  his  left  shoulder  shattered. 
Poor  misguided  boy !  Hyacinth  was  scarce  more 
delicately  beautiful  than  he.  Mayhap  he  had  his 
Apollo,  too. 

Two  men,  who  had  caught  at  a  fig  tree  to  as 
sist  them  up  a  steep  embankment,  lay  dead  at  its 
feet,  slain,  in  all  probability,  by  an  enfilade  fire 
from  their  right ;  the  branch  at  \vLich  they  caught 
vi  as  still  in  their  grasp.  Some  could  not  be  .rec 
ognized  by  their  nearest  friends.  Several  were 
l.cadless  —  others  were  armless;  but  the  manner 
of  their  death  was  always  plain.  The  minie  left 
its  large,  rather  clear  hole ;  the  shell  its  horrid 
rent,  the  shrapnel  and  graps  their  clear,  great 
gashes,  as  though  one  had  thrust  a  giant's  spear 
through  the  tender,  quivering  ilesh. 

In  one  trench  lay  two,  grasping  the  same 
weapon — friend  and  foe.  Across  their  hands 
fell  a  vine,  the  end  upon  the  breast  of  the  rebel, 
where  it  had  fallen  with  them  from  an  elevation 
above,  the  roots  still  damp  with  the  fresh  earth ; 
upon  it  was  a  beautiful  passion  flower  in  full 
bloom,  and  two  buds  ;  the  buds  were  stained 
with  blood  —  tt_i  ficwer  as  bright  as  was  the  day 
when  the  morning  stars  sang  together.  On  the 
faces  of  both  was  the  calm  that  follows  sleep  — 
rather  pale,  perhaps,  but  seeming  like  him  of 
old,  of  whom  it  was  said,  "  He  is  not  dead,  but 
sleepeth."  But  ah,  the  crimson!  All  is  not 
well  where  earth  is  stained  with  blood.  In  some 
places  the  dead  were  piled,  literally,  like  sacks  of 
grain  upon  the  shore. 

It  is  remarkable  with  what  patience  the  fatally 
wounded,  they  who  already  stood  upon  the  shore, 
bore  their  sufferings.  Some  knew  that  they 
could  not  recover,  but  bore  it  manfully.  Some 
times  a  tear,  and  a  low  voice  would  say,  "  My 
aweet  wife,"  or  "Darling,"  "Mother,"  "God 
forgive  "  —  a  quiver,  then  all  was  over.  Let  us 
bopa  that  friend  and  foe  alike  found  favor  in  His 
sigh  t  where  all  is  well. 

Death  is  life's  mystery — that  undiscovered 
country  whence  none  return  —  in  no  place  so  great 
and  marvellous  a  study  as  here. 


One  would  think  that  war  would  develop  fero 
city  in  hard  natures ;  perhaps  it  does,  but  it  is 
not  shown  in  the  faces  -jf  the  dead.  They  enter 
the  silent  land  with  eyes  open  ;  a  stare  of  sur 
prise  is  in  them;  the  line?  of  care  are  softened 
upon  the  brow,  and  the  cheek,  when  untorn, 
shows  determination,  as  though  they  slept  whern 
doubt  is  unknown,  where  all  mystery  is  revealed, 
where  the  reason  of  our  creation,  to  bear  the 
myrtle  .cat"  of  j  ty  br  th .  nabiliments  of  mourn 
ing,  to  reap  the  golden  sheaves  of  content  01 
gather  the  milder  of  rnif.^ry,  is  known. 

They  bi\e  been  sent,  rather  than  gone,  to  the 
garner  where  all  shall  be  gathered. 

This  is  the  work  of  treason !  This  it  is  U 
unroof  the  temple  of  law  and  order,  and  let 
loose  the  demon  of  discord.  A  people  more 
than  prosperous  have  fallen  upon  evil  times. 
Murder,  arson,  theft,  all  kinds  of  injustice,  follow 
in  the  footsteps  of  war.  Nor  is  the  end  yet. 
When  shall  spears  and  swords  be  beaten  into 
ploughshares  and  pruning-hooks  ?  "  How  long, 
OLordP"  

THE  ESCAPE  OF  THE  "PLANTER." — A  corre 
spondent  on  board  the  gunboat  Onward,  on  duty 
in  the  port  of  Charleston,  gives  the  following 
account  of  this  important  event: 

"  We  have  been  anchored  in  the  ship  channel 
for  some  days,  and  have  frequently  seen  a  secesh 
steamer  plying  in  and  around  the  harbor.  Well, 
this  morning,  about  sunrise,  I  was  awakened  by 
the  cry  of  'All  hands  to  quarters  ; '  and  before  I 
could  get  out,  the  steward  knocked  vigorously 
on  my  door :  *  All  hands  to  quarters,  sir  !  de  ram 
is  a  coming,  sir ! '  I  don't  recollect  of  ever 
dressing  myself  any  quicker,  and  got  out  on  deck 
in  a  hurry.  Sure  enough,  we  could  see,  through 
the  mist  and  fog,  a  great  black  object  moving 
rapidly,  and  steadily,  right  at  our  port  quarter. 
Notwithstanding  '  Merrimacs?  Iron  Rams,  Tur 
tles,  and  death  and  destruction  in  all  shapes,  were 
instantly  conjured  up  in  the  minds  of  all,  yet 
every  man  worked  with  a  determination  and  will 
that  showed  too  plainly  that  be  it  a  limn,  Turtle, 
or  the  old  boy  himself,  he  would  meet  with  a  warm 
reception.  Springs  were  bent  on,  and  the  On 
ward  was  rapidly  warping  around  so  as  to  bring 
her  broadside  to  bear  on  the  steamer,  that  was 
still  steadily  approaching  us  ;  and  when  the  guns 
were  brought  to  bear,  some  of  the  men  looked 
up  at  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  and  then  at  the 
steamer,  and  muttered  :  '  You  !  if  you  run  into 
us  we  will  go  down  with  colors  flying.'  Just  us 
No.  3  port  gun  was  being  elevated,  some  one 
cried  out,  '  1  see  something  that  looks"  like  a 
white  flag;'  and  sure  enough  there  was  some 
thing  flying  on  the  steamer  that  would  have 
been  white  by  an  application  of  soap  and  water. 
As  she  neared  us,  we  looked  in  vain  for  the  face 
of  a  white  man.  When  they  discovered  that  we 
did  not  fire  on  them,  there  was  a  rush  of  contra 
bands  out  on  her  deck,  some  dancing,  some  sing 
ing,  whistling,  jumping,  and  others  stood  look 
ing  towards  F'jrt  Sumter,  shaking  their  frts,  and 
|  muttering  all  sc  rts  of  maledictions  on  Fort  Sumter 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


and  the  'heart  of  the  South'  generally.  As  the 
steamer  came  under  the  stern  of  the  Onward,  a 
very  ancient  old  darky  stepped  out  of  the  crowd, 
and  taking  off  his  hat,  said,  'Good  morning,  sir ! 
Fse  brought  you  some  of  dem  old  United  States 
guns,  sir  !  —  from  Fort  Sumter,  sir  ! '  and  all  the 
others  around  him  set  up  a  yell  —  '  Iti !  dat's  so  ! 
yah ! '  and  the  antics  and  capers  they  cut  could 
only  be  done  by  slaves,  who,  by  a  bold  and  suc 
cessful  move  had  gained  their  freedom  —  run- 
ring  a  steamer  out  of  a  large  city  —  passing  the 
frowning  battlements  of  Castle  Pinckney,  Forts 
Mcultrie  and  Sumter.  Had  such  a  feat  been 
performed  by  a  white  man.  Congress  would  have 
passed  a  vote  of  thanks,  and  the  public  would 
have  gone  into  ecstasies,  and  feted  them.  But 
to  continue :  As  soon  as  she  came  up,  Captain 
Nichols  went  alongside  of  her,  and  was  joyously 
received  on  board.  They  all  flocked  around  him, 
and  asked  eagerly,  '  Has  you  got  one  of  dem  old 
flags,  sir  ? '  '  We'd  like  to  see  him,  sir ! '  The  boat's 
flag  was  hauled  up,  and  bent  on  the  halliards  of 
the  steamer,  amidst  the  greatest  excitement.  The 
male  contrabands  again  commenced  dancing, 
singing,  whistling,  and  cheering,  and  in  a  few 
moments  out  came  five  female  contrabands  and 
three  children.  As  soon  as  the  females  came  out, 
they  commenced  shouting — looking  up  to  the 
old  flag,  '  Hi !  yah  !  dat's  him  !  dat's  de  same 
old  fellow!  I  know'd  him  ! '  and  one  rather  good- 
looking  one,  with  a  very  young  child,  elevated 
her  baby  over  her  head,  and  said,  'Just  look  up 
dare,  honey  !  it'll  do  you  good,  I  knows  it  will ; ' 
and  she  held  the  infant  close  to  her  breast,  and 
cut  the  '  pigeon  wing,'  with  a  vim,  across  the 
deck,  and  then  shook  her  clothes  like  a  hen  in  a 
rain-storm,  and  settled  down  the  happiest  look 
ing  creature  the  world  ever  saw. 

"  We  learned  from  some  of  the  most  intelligent 
that  they  had  been  concocting  this  thing  for  three 
weeks.  The  leader  in  it  was  an  old  darky 
named  Robert  Small  —  they  call  him  the  '  Major.' 
The  Major  says  they  would  have  run  two  weeks 
ago  with  a  large  number  of  rifle  cannon  on  board, 
but  there  was  one  fellow  that  they  couldn't  trust  ; 
so  they  were  compelled  to  postpone  it.  They 
have  done  very  well  as  it  is,  for  they  have 
brought  off  four  long  thirty-two  pounders,  one 
one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  pounder  riile  can 
non,  and  one  small  mortar,  besides  minie  rifles, 
ammunition,  derricks,  and  a  lot  of  apparatus  uf-ed 
for  planting  heavy  guns  in  battery.  One  of  the 
men  has  been  on  her  for  some  time,  in  the  capa 
city  of  an  engineer,  and  another  as  pilot.  The 
whole  number  on  her  is  sixteen,  viz. :  eight  men, 
five  women,  and  three  children. 

"  The  old  '  Major'  said  he  thought  he'd  try  it, 
any  way ;  for  if  he  staid  there  he'd  get  killed, 
and  he  couldn't  more  than  get  killed  in  making 
the  attempt,  and  wound  up  by  saying,  '  I  tells 
you  what  it  is,  sar !  I  was  born  under  the  old 
f!*i£,  and  I'se  gitting  old,  and  I  jist  feel  as 
though  I'd  like  to  die  under  it,  and  all  we  wants 
of  you,  gentlemen,  is  to  let  us  live  under  de  old 
flag —  give  us  a  little  to  start  on,  and  we  will  earn 
our  ovsii  living.  We  ain't  no  poor,  lazy  niggers.' 


The  steamer  is  now  on  her  way  to  the  Augusta, 
the  flag-ship  on  this  station,  and  as  she  passes  by 
the  different  vessels,  the  crews  man  the  rigging, 
and  it  would  do  your  heart  good  to  hear  the 
hearty  and  prolonged  cheers  that  greet  her  as  she 
is  passing  through  the  fleet.  I  have  forgotten  to 
tell  you  that  the  fcteamer  is  the  '  Planter.'  She 
•>s  armed  with  tlu-  thirty-twos  and  a  howitzer,  and 
•js  the  same  one  we  have  seen  so  often.  The 
other  g.ms  and  apparatus  were  put  on  board  the 
day  before,  ;o  be  transported  l,o  a  new  battery 
they  are  bui.diag.  "  

INCIDENT  OF  STONE  RTVKR. — In  the  rebel 
charge  upor.  Me  Cook's  right,  the  rebel  Third 
Kentucky  was  advancing  full  upon  one  of  the 
loyal  Kentucky  regiments.  These  two  regiments 
were  brought  from  the  same  county,  and  conse 
quently  were  old  friends  and  neighbors,  and  now 
about  to  meet  for  trie  first  time  as  enemies.  As 
soon  as  they  came  near  enough  for  recognition, 
they  mutually  ceased  firing,  and  began  abusing, 
and  cursing,  and  swearing  at  each  other,  calling 
each  other  the  most  outlandish  names  ;  and  all  this 
time  the  battle  was  roaring  around  them  without 
much  attention  from  either  side.  It  was  hard  to 
tell  which  regiment  would  come  off  the  victor  in 
this  wordy  battle.  As  far  as  1  could  see,  both 
sides  were  terrible  at  swearing;  but  this  could 
not  always  last ;  by  mutual  consent  they  finally 
ceased  cursing,  and,  grasping  their  muskets, 
charged  into  each  other  with  the  most  unearthly 
yell  e,ver  heard  on  any  field  of  battle.  Muskets 
were  clubbed,  bayonet  met  bayonet,  and  in  many 
instances,  when  old  feuds  made  the  belligerents 
crazy  with  passion,  the  musket  was  thrown  away, 
and  at  it  they  went,  pummelling,  pulling,  and 
gouging  in  rough-and-tumble  style,  and  in  a 
manner  that  any  looker-on  would  consider  a  free 
fight.  The  rebels  were  getting  rather  the  better 
of  the  fight,  when  the  Twenty-third  Kentucky 
succeeded  in  giving  a  flanking  fire,  when  they 
retreated  with  quite  a  number  of  prisoners  in 
their  possession.  The  rebels  had  got  fairly  under 
way,  when  the  Ninth  Ohio  came  up  on  the 
double-quick,  and  charging  on  their  now  disor 
dered  ranks,  succeeded  in  capturing  all  their  pris 
oners,  besides  taking  in  return  a  great  many 
of  the  rebels.  As  the  late  belligerents  wrere 
conducted  to  the  rear,  they  appeared  to  have 
forgotten  their  late  animosity,  and  were  now  on 
the  best  terms  imaginable,  laughing,  and  chatting, 
and  joking,  and,  as  the  rebels  were  well  supplied 
with  whiskey,  the  canteens  were  readily  handed 
about  from  one  to  the  other,  until  they  all  became 
as  jolly  as  possible  under  the  circumstances. 


A  MASONIC  INCIDENT.  —  The  day  after  the 
battle  of  Antietam,  the  Fifth  New  Hampshire 
formed  the  picket  line  along  the  edge  of  thfl 
cornfield  where  Richardson's  division  fought. 
The  reserve  was  in  one  edge  of  the  corn,  and  the 
pickets  about  middle  way  of  the  field  concealed 
in  the  ccrr,  as  the  sharpshooters  of  the  enemy 
fired  on  all  who  underto<  k  to  walk  around  on  the 


300 


ANECDOTES..    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


1  attle-field  at  that  locality.  Early  in  the  morning  encamped  at  the  junction  of  the  Bayou  Cache 
one  of  the  wounded  rebels,  who  lay  just  outside  |  and  Cache  .River,  where  his  progress  was  delayed 
the  pickets,  called  one  of  the  New  Hampshire  j  by  a  blockade  of  fallen  timber.  A  road  had  been 
men,  and  handed  him  a  little  slip  of  paper,  on  j  cut  through  this  blockade  on  the  evening  of  the 
he  had,  evidently  with  great  difficulty,  |  Gth,  and  early  next  morning  Colonel  Hovey  of 

the  83d  Illinois  regiment  wa~  ordered  by  General 
Steele  to  open  the  road  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  Cache,  make  a  r;con.ioissance  in  front  down 
to  the  Clarendon  i^ad,  along  *ihich  the 


_  , 

succeeded   in  making  some 


mystic    signs   in    a 

r/irde  with  a  bit  of  stick  wet  in  blood.  The 
soldier  was  begged  to  give  it  to  some  Freemason 
as  soon  as  possible,  and  he  took  it  to  Colonel  E. 
F.  Cross,  of  his  regiment.  The  Colonel  was  a 
Master  Mas:on,  but  could  not  read  the  mystic 
token,  it  belonging  to  a  higher  degree.  He 


arm 


were  to  march,  and  also  to  scour  the  woods  thor 
oughly.  Colonel  Ilovey  d  italic:!  for  this  enter 
prise  the  following  force  :  Colonel  Harris  of  the 


therefore  sent  for  Captain  J.  B.  Perry,  of  the  Fifth,  I  llth  Wisconsin,  with  parts  of  four  companies  of 
who  was  a  membor  of  the  thirty-second  degree  of  J  his  regiment,  viz.  :    company  I),   Captain  Jesse 


Freemasonry,  and  showed  him  the  letter.  Cap 
tain  Perry  at  once  said  there  was  a  brother 
Mason  in  great  peril,  and  must  be  rescued. 


Miller ;  company  F,  Lieutenant  Chesebro  ;  com 
pany  H,  Captain  Christie  ;  company  G,  Captain 
Patridge  ;  and  also  parts  of  four  companies  of 


Colonel  Cross  instantly  sent  for  several  brother  the  33d  Illinois,  viz. :  company  E,  Captain  Ei- 
Masons  in  the  regiment,  told  the  story,  and  in  a  liott ;  company  K,  Captain  Nixon  ;  company  F, 
few  moments  four  "  brothers  of  the  mystic  tie"  |  Captain  Lawton  ;  and  company  A,  Captain  Pot- 
were  crawling  stealthily  through  the  corn  to  find  ter,  who  took  charge  ;  and  one  small  rilled  steel 
the  brother  in  distress.  He  was  found,  placed  J  gun,  belonging  to  the  First  Indiana  cavalry.  The 
on  a  blanket,  and  at  great  risk  drawn  out  of  j  whole  force  numbered  riot  over  three  hundred 
range  of  the  rebel  rifles,  and  then  carried  to  the  i  and  fifty  men.  Colonel  Hovey  started  about  six 

to   A.  M.,  with  company  D  of  the  Eleventh  Wiscon 
sin  ahead.     Skirmishers  were  thrown  out,  and  in 


Fifth  New  Hampshire  hospital.  He  proved 
be  First  Lieutenant  Edon  of  the  Alabama  volun 
teers,  badly  wounded  in  the  thigh  and  breast. 
A  few  hours  and  he  would  have  perished.  Lieu 
tenant  Edon  informed  his  brethren  of  another 
\\  ouncled  Mason,  who,  when  brought  out,  proved 
to  be  a  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  a  Georgia  rcgt- 
msr.t.  These  two  wounded  rebel  officers  received  ! 


this  way  they  proceeded  to  the  Hill  plantation,  at 
the  forks  of  the  road,  four  miles  distant  from 
camp.  On  the  way  some  pickets  were  driven  in. 
The  main  road  here  leads  to  Cotton  Plant  ant  I 
Clarendon.  The  road  to  the  left  is  a  neighbor 
hood  road,  while  that  turning  to  the  side  leads 


the  same  attention  as  the  wounded  officers -of  the  I  across  the  Cache,  four  miles  distant,  and  thence 
Fifth,  and'  a  warm  friendship  was  established  j  to  the  DPS  Arc,  on  the  White  lliver.  Detach- 
between  men  who  a  few  hours  before  were  in  |  merits  were  sent  forward  on  each  of  these  roads 
mortal  combat.  This  is  one  of  the  thousand  i  to  reconnoitre.  Colonel  Harris,  with  three  corn- 
instances  in  which  the  Masonic  bond  has  proved  panics  of  the  Eleventh  Wisconsin,  and  Captain 


a  blessing  to  mankind. 


'AN  AGREEABLE    SURPRISE.  —  Three    fathers 
went  up  the  Cumberland  lliver  in  the  same  boat, 


Potter,  with  the  small  rifle  piece,  proceeded  rap 
idly  down  the  Des  Arc  road,  having  no  cavalry. 
They  passed  a  cornfield  on  the  left,  entered  an 
open  wood,  and,  reaching  a  turn  in  the  road,  at 
the  same  time  rising  up  in  elevation,  they  fell  in 


with  three  metallic  coffins,  to  bring  away  the  I  with  two  Texan  regiments  of  cavalry,  with  a  regi- 
bodies  of  fl>"ir  sons  who  had  fallen  in  the  battle  [  ment  of  conscript  infantry  drawn  up  on  their 
of  Stone  llivci.  As  they  stepped  ashore  at  j  right,  ready  to  receive  them.  The  rebels  fired  a 


Clarksville  they  met  their  boys  jolly  and  hearty,  i  murderous  volley  as  soon  as  the  nationals  got 
with  as  little  idea  of  going  into  burial  cases  as  |  into  the  snare,  killing  five  of  thn  men  and  wound- 
in  to  a  Southern  convention.  ing  Colonel  Harris  and  Captain  Potter.  The  men 

returned  the  fire  and  fell  back,  the  enemy  being 
too  preponderating  in  numbers  to  withstand  with 
INCIDENTS  OF  CURTIS'"  MARCH.  —  On  the  10th  j  the  little  force.  Captain  Potter,  though  wounded, 
of  May,  1862,  Elijah  D.  Jenkins,  of  Henry  County,  j  gave  them  a  few  rounds  from  his  piece,  and  fyll 
Illinois,  was  shot  at  Cotton  Plant,  Arkansas.  The  j  back,  firing  into  the  enemy's  ranks.  The  rebels 
company  to  which  he  belonged  attempted  to  take  then  made  a  charge,  and  the  retreat  became  tem- 
him  with  them,  although  in  a  dying  state.  Stop-  j  porarily  a  panic.  Colone1  Ilovey,  hearing  the 
ping  at  a  house  by  the  roadside,  they  carried  him  tiring,  and  judging  the  turn  affairs  were  taking 
in.  He  suddenly  grew  pale,  and,  staring  wildly  j  by  the  clouds  of  dust  which  rose  and  filled  the  air 
around,  said  to  his  comrades,  "  liaise  me  up,  j  above  the  trees,  took  the  remaining  companies 
boys;  1  want  to  give  three  cheers  for  the  old  i  of  the  Thirty-third  Illinois,  and  hastened  to  the 
Hag,"  and  instantly  expired. 


firer1 


The  battle  of  the  7th  of  July,  near  "  Bayou 


scene  of  action.     Some  of  the 

upon  did  not  stop  till  they  reached  Hill's  house, 

rushing  past  Captain  Potter,  who  would  unlimber 


Cache  "  —  won  against  tremendous  odds  —  re-  ;  his  gun,  fira  a  round,  and  then  retire  ;  thus  check- 
suited  in  the  death  of  over  a  hundred  and  ten  !  ing  the  advance  of  the  rebels  until  CoJorel  Hovey 
rebels  and  the  utter  demoralization  of  six  Texan  j  came  up.  The  latter  had  hardly  timt  to  place 
regiments.  The  army  under  General  Curtis  was  i  his  ncen  in  ambush  behind  the  ience,  at  :he  angle 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


301 


of  the  cornfield,  when  the  rebels,  coming  furi-  and  replied  by  a  heavy  volley  from  their  cioss- 
onsly  forward  with  loud  yells,  received  a  well-  fire  on  the  gunners.  Several  of  the  latter  were 
aimed  fire  from  Colonel  Hovey  and  his  men.  wroun  led,  but  net  disabled.  The  steel  rifled  guns 
Twenty-five  rebels  were  killed  the  first  pop.  They  ;  now  oelched  forth  a  continued  round  of  firing  ; 
were  checked.  The  column  reeled,  and  staggered  j  when  the  enemy,  finding  it  too  hot,  fell  back  into 
by  this  murderous  fire,  broke,  and  the  men  fled  I  the  woods  out  of  sight.  The  command  was  given 
in  confusion.  At  the  same  time  a  heavy  column  ;  again,  "  Pieces  by  hand  to  the  -front  ;  forward 
of  the  enemy  was  seen  moving  through  the  woods  |  march."  Colone.  Hovey  himself  caught  hold  of 
between  Colonel  Hovey's  position  and  the  Union  j  the  trail  of  one  of  the  guns,  and  exclaimed,  "  Let's 
camp.  "  Their  intention  was  to  get  to  the  road  i  push  them  forward,  boys."  Colonel  Wood,  and 
on  our  rear,''  says  a  correspondent.  "  cut  us  off  |  Lieutenant  Baker  also  took  hold  of  the  drag  rope 
from  our  camp,  and  thus  surround  our  brave  men.  i  hooks,  and  assisted  in  moving  the  guns  forward. 
But  when  they  reached  the  road,  and  seeing  the  I  On  the  guns  were  pushed,  the  cavalry  under  Ma- 
Wisconsin  troops,  which  had  fallen  bark,  and,  I  jor  Clendenning  following  in  line  cf  battle,  ready 
supposing  them  to  be  a  reinforcement  come  to  j  for  the  charge.  Our  men  pressed  on  with  enthu- 
our  aid,  they  abandoned  their  design,  and  re-  j  siastic  ardor.  Advancing  in  this  way  a  quarter 
turned.  Thus  what  appeared  to  be  disastrous  at  j  of  a  mile,  the  enemy  were  descried  formed  in  the 
one  time,  turned  to  our  advantage."  I  same  mode  as  before.  We  got  up  to  within  one 

Colonel   Hovey  rallied  the  above  companies,  I  hundred  yards,  when  they  opened  fire  upon  us. 
and,  advancing  one  fourth  of  a  mile,  to  a  cotton   We  returned  the  fire  with  canister  from  the  little 


gin,  held  the  position  over  an  hour. 

At  this  time  (about  half  past  ten),  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Wood  came  up  with  the  second  battalion 
of  the  First  Indiana  cavalry,  bringing  with  him 
two  steel  rilled  guns.  This  detachment  had  been 
ordered  by  General  Curtis  to  proceed  to  the 
Bayou  l)e  Vue  —  fifteen  miles  from  camp  —  with 
orders  to  save  the  bridge  at  that  point  from  being 
destroyed  by  the  enemy.  The  arrival  of  this  re- 
enforcement  proved  extremely  opportune.  Colo- 
ntv  Hovey  was  posted  about  a  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  from  Colonel  Hill's  house  on  the  DCS  Arc 
road,  and  the  army  was  not  in  view.  Coming 
up  at  full  speed,  having  heard  the  firing,  the  First 
Indiana  were  welcomed  with  enthusiastic  cheers 
from  the  brave  little  command  of  Colonel  Hovey. 

The   latter    exclaimed,    "  There    comes   Colonel  J  and    Captain   Sloane,    of  company  E,  who  was 
Wood;  we  are  all  right  now,  boys;"  and,  ad-   bravely  charging  in  front,  was  instantly  killed  by 


guns,  with  occasional  carbine  and  pistol  shots 
from  the  cannoneers.  The  fire  proving  too  gall 
ing  for  the  enemy,  he  again  retreated,  leaving  a 
number  of  dead  strewn  on  the  ground.  Thirteen 
dead  rebels  were  biting  the  dust  from  the  effects 
of  cur  canister  shots.  Bowels  and  brains  were 
scattered  on  the  ground,  and  the  blood  besmeared 
the  bushes  in  the  vicinity. 

The  order  was  given  by  Coloiiel  Wood  to  Major 
Clendenning  to  draw  sabre  and  charge.  Taking 
companies  E  and  G,  the  Major  shouted,  "  Come 
on,  boys;  it's  our  turn  now  ;  "  and  plunged  down 
the  road  into  the  brush,  where  they  were  met  by 
a  tremendous  volley  poured  in  on  them  by  the 
rebels.  At  the  first  fire  the  Major  was  wounded 
severely,  receiving  a  ball  through  the  lei't  lung; 


vancing  to  Colonel  Wood,  he  said.  "  You'll  find 
them  (the  enemy)  down  there,  Colonel,  thick 
enough  ;  pitch  into  'em."  The  cavalry,  with 
shouts  and  yells,  then  plunged  forward,  at  a  fu 
rious  rate  towards  the  rebels.  The  horses  leaped 
a  ditch  four  feet  in  width,  which  crossed  their 
path,  the  bridge  being  torn  up.  One  of  the 
horses  had  a  leg  broken,  and  some  of  the  men 
were  pitched  to  the  ground  while  making  the 
perilous  leap.  Fortunately,  none  were  seriously 
hurt.  A  few  rails  were  piled  into  the  ditch,  and 
the  steel  rifled  guns  were  passed  over.  A  solitary 
rebel  was  now  seen  advancing  to  within  one  hun 
dred  yards  of  our  front.  He  wheeled  about  and 
fled.  The  pieces,  under  charge  of  Lieutenant 
Baker,  were  unlimbered,  and  the  cavalry  brought 
into  line  of  battle.  The  command  was  given  : 
''Pieces  by  hand  to  the  front;  forward  march." 
The  cannoneers  seized  their  pieces  by  hand,  and 


a  shot  in  the  h'ad.  The  Major,  unmindful  of 
his  wound,  still  led  on  his  men,  and  the  latter 
poured  in  several  volleys  o*  the  rebels  from  their 
carbines  and  pistols,  unhorsing  one  and  killing  a 
number  of  the  .enemy.  The  rebels  were  staggered, 
and  turning  on  their  heels,  fled  in  confusion.  Our 
artillery  followed  close  up,  when  the  recall  was 
sounded,  and  the  cavalry  fell  back  behind  the 
pieces.  Major  Clendenning,  in  returning,  fainted 
and  fell  from  his  horse,  and  was  picked  up  by  one 
of  the  men,  who  carried  him  off  the  field  on  his 
shoulders. 

The  pieces  were  then  limbered  up  and  pushed 
forward  in  pursuit,  the  cavalry  keeping  close  in 
the  rear.  In  this  way  we  advanced  three  fourths 
of  a  mile,  when  small  parties  of  the  rebels  were 
discovered,  still  retreating.  The  guns  were  again 
unlimbered,  and  a  dozen  shells  were  thrown  a.'ter 
them,  killing  four,  who  were  found  at  a  long  dis- 


advanced  on  the  enemy;  the  latter  being  now  j  tar.ee  ahead  in  the  road,  soon  afterwards,  by  the 
discovered  advancing,  with  extended  wings,  in  i  pursuing  cavalry.  Colonel  Hovey  now  ordered 
the  form  of  a  V,  the  concave  side  facing  towards  { the  infantry  to  the  front,  intending  to  deploy  them 
our  men.  Their  intention,  it  appeared  evident,  as  skirmishers,  with  an  extended  front,  and  follow 
was  to  surround  us.  The  rebels  were  dismounted,  up  the  foe.  A  consultation  was  held  by  the  ofli- 
no  horses  being  seen.  Our  pieces  were  loaded  cers,  and  it  was  decided  to  hold  the  ground  al- 
with  canister,  and,  getting  within  point-blank  ready  won,  and  wait  further  developments,  as  our 
range  —  some  two  hundred  yards  —  we  opened  |  force  was  getting  too  far  from  succor,  in  a  country 
upon  them  with  a  terrible  fire.  The  enemy  halted,  i  with  which  we  were  perfectly  ignorant.  The  woods 


802 


ANECDOTES,    POETEY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


were  thick,  the  force  of  the  enemy  unknown.  We 
had  driven  the  enemy  three  miles.  After  halting 
there  two  hours,  and  no  enemy  making  his  ^jj- 
pearance,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Wood  returned  to 
the  Clarendon  road,  and  went  to  the  Bayou  du 
Vue  to  carry  out  his  original  intention.  General 
Benton  came  up  with  his  brigade  and  took  com 
mand.  In  camp  it  was  supposed  that  the  fight 
took  place  on  another  road,  and,  consequently, 
General  Benton's  orders  were  to  make  a  rapid  re- 
connoissance  down  the  Des  Arc  road.  Bowen's 
howitzers  were  pushed  forward  down  one  road 
after  the  enemy.  A  shot  was  fired  on  the  rebels 
and  three  men  killed.  Four  kegs  of  powder  were 
found  concealed.  The  houses  along  the  road  were 
filled  with  rebel  wounded,  and  the  porches  and 
door-steps  were  besmeared  with  blood  from  those 
which  they  carried  away.  They  abandoned  their 
camp  and  lied  across  the  Cache  Iliver,  destroying 
a  bridge  they  had  constructed  with  boats.  "The 
bank  on  the  opposite  side  was  also  cut  out  very 
steep,  so  as  to  prevent  pursuit  from  our  cavalry. 

The  following  incident  occurred  on  the  battle 
field.  At  one  time  four  out  of  six  cannoneers 
serving  one  of  the  pieces  were  wounded  at  the 
same  time.  Sheafner,  a  German,  clapped  his  hand 
to  his  left  temple,  and  exclaimed,  "  Mine  Got,  I'm 
shot !  "  Sheppard  placed  his  hand  on  his  back, 
saying,  "  O  Lord,  I'm  shot !  "  Then  Lieutenant 
Dennaman  brought  his  hand  to  his  eye,  saying, 
"  I'm  shot,  too  !  "  Charley  Barge  was  hit  in  the* 
neck.  He  only  said,  "  I'm  burnt."  The  simul 
taneous  movement  of  the  hands  of  the  cannoneers 
to  the  parts  injured,  and  the  accompanying  ex 
clamations,  were  a  little  singular. 

Riding  leisurely  along,  General  Curtis  inquired 
of  a  contraband,  whose  broadly-spread  mouth  in 
dicated  satisfaction  at  our  approach,  "  Where  did 
those  rascals  go  whom  we  thrashed  up  above 
here  ?  " 

Contraband  inquired,  "  Dem  as  what  run  down 
dis  way  yester  night,  sail?  O,  dem  fellers  was 
awful  scared.  One  lot  of  'em  went  down  to  do 
bayou,  and  one  lot  had  done  gone  out  on  de  Des 
Arc  road,  and  de  Colonel  dat  was  wid  'em  wanted 
'era  all  to  go  de  Des  Arc  track ;  but  clern  at  de 
bayou  told  him  right  out  dat  dey  would  not  do  it ; 
and  just  about  den  dey  dat  was  on  de  Des  Arc 
road  had  run  up  ag'in  one  ob  your  Cap'ns,  and 
back  all  dey  come  to  de  bayou,  where  de  odors 
was  ;  and  jes'  as  dey  all  went  down  in  de  swamp, 
up  come  your  Cap'ns  wid  dem  little  guns,  and 
commenced  what  you  call  a  shellin'  dem  ;  and 
dat  is  de  last  account." 

The  above  version  was  given  off  rapidly,  in  a 
high  key,  in  the  regular  "  Brudder  Bones  "  style, 
and  was  highly  applauded. 


ROBERT  GUMMING s.  — The  reader  will  recollect 
tht;  circumstance  of  a  lad  on  board  the  Harriet 
1  ane  exhibiting  unusual  courage  in  the  fight 
that  took  place  on  the  deck  of  that  vessel,  ending 
in  her  capture,  on  the  morning  of  January  1, 
1863.  Robert  was  engaged  as  a  "  messenger 
boy  "  on  board  the  Harriet  Lane,  and  won  the 


gocc  A*ill  of  he:  officers  by  his  pluck,  good  humor, 
and  avacity.  Whe  i  the  attack  occurred,  and 
the  storm  of  b  illets  was  pouring  down  upon  the 
overmatched  crew  from  Jrie  cotton  bulwarks  of 
the  Neptune  and  Bayou  City,  as  our  wounded 
men  were  carried  below,  the  lad  pick -id  up  two  of 
their  fallen  revolvers*  and  taking  his  place  upon 
the  quarter-deck,  blazed  away  at  the  invaders, 
firing  off  every  charge  of  both  weapons,  and 
then  hurling  them  overboard.  As  the  rebels 
clustered,  thick  as  bees,  on  the  cotton-bales,  in 
the  words  of  our  informant,  "  every  shot  must 
have  told.  "  Robert  was  subsequently  wounded 
in  the  hand  by  a  musket  bullet,  when  momen 
tarily  his  spirit  gave  way.  Surrendering  with  the 
rest,  he  shared  the  fortunes  of  the  paroled  offi 
cers,  naturally  becoming  a  great  favorite  wi'Ji 
them.  

NEGRO   SONG  OF  MISSION  RIDGE. 

OLE  massa  he  come  dancin'  out, 
And  call  de  black  uns  roun', 

Oh  — O!     Oh  — O! 
He  feel  so  good  he  couldn't  stan' 
Wid  buff  feet  on  de  groun*. 

Oh !  —  O  —  ee  ! 

Say !  don't  you  hear  dem  'tillery  guns 
You  niggers  ?  don't  you  hear? 

Oh  —  O  !     Oh  —  O I 
Ole  Gen'ral  Bragg's  a  mowin*  down 
De  Yankees  ober  dar  ! 

Oh !  —  O  —  ee ! 

You  Pomp,  and  Pete,  and  Dinah  too, 
You'll  catch  it  now,  I  swear, 

Oh— O!     Oh  — 0! 
I'll  whip  yo  i  good  for  mixin'  wii 
Dem  Yanks  when  dcv  was  heie. 

Oh!— O  — ee! 

Here  conies  our  troops  !  in  crowds  on  crowdo ! 
I  knows  _lat  red  and  gray. 

Oh  — O!     Oh— O! 
But,  Lord !  what  makes  dem  hurry  so, 
And  fro  w  dcre  guns  away  ? 

Oh!_O  —  ee! 

Ole  massa  clcn  keep  boff  feet  still, 
And  stared  wid  bolf  he  eyes, 

Oh  —  O  !     Oh  —  O  1 
Till  he  seed  de  blue-coats  jcs  bchin', 
Which  cotch  him  wid  surprise  ! 

Oh!  — O  — ee! 

Ole  massa' s  busy  cluekm'  'boiit 
In  de  swamps  up  to  lie  knees. 

Oh !  —  O  !     Ob  —  O  ! 
While  Dinah,  Pomp,  and  Pete,  dey  look 
As  if  dey's  mighty  pleas'. 

Oh!  — O  — ee! 


WASHING  DAY  IN  CAMP.  —  "  This  is  « 
day'  with  us,"  vviites  a  soldier  of  the  Forty-first 
Ohio  regiment.  "  Washing  day !  You  know  at 
home  what  a  terrible  disturber  of  domestic  com 
fort  it  is.  My  recollections  of  it  are  associated 
with  cold  feet,  damp  floors,  meagre  dinners,  cross 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


303 


mothers,  and  birch  rods.  The  servant  girls  and 
I  used  to  fight  more  on  washing  days  than  on  any 
other.  Washing  is  as  much  a  duty  as  fighting. 
Woe  to  the  unlucky  sloven  that  appears  at  Sun 
day  morning  inspection  with  dirty  clothes,  dirty 
tends,  long  hair,  or  untrimmed  beard.  We  are  ex- 
t)t  3tcd  to  bathe  all  over  once  or  twice  a  week. 
This  requirement  is  one  of  the  soldier's  greatest 
blessings.'  At  first,  clothes  washing  was  a  diffi 
cult,  and  tedious  operation  ;  but  now  there  is  not 
on.1  of  us  that  is  not  thoroughly  initiated  into  the 
mysteries  of  washing,  rinsing,  and  wringing.  It 
is  genuine  satisfaction  to  see  a  fastidious  youth, 
who,  perhaps,  has  often  found  fault  with  his  mother 
or  sister  on  account  of  fancied  imperfections  in  his 
linen,  knee  deep  in  water,  worrying  about  some 
garment,  in  vain  endeavors  to  wash  it.  Justice 
comes  round  at  last.  When  I  was  a  little  brat  I 
frequently  used  to  throw  down  my  bread  and  but 
ter  when  it  was  not  sugared  to  suit  my  whim. 
My  mother  would  then  say,  '  You'll  see  the  day, 
my  boy,  when  you'll  be  glad  to  get  that  crust.' 
I  have  realized  the  truth  of  her  words  scores  of 
times  within  the  last  year.  Washing  day  with  us 
has  its  amusements.  On  one  occasion,  last  sum 
mer,  while  we  were  stationed  at  Murfreesboro',  a 
party  of  about  a  hundred  of  us  were  washing  at  a 
large  spring  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  town  from 
where  we  were  encamped.  Buell's  army  was,  at 
that  time,  exceedingly  short  of  supplies.  But  few 
of  us  had  more  than  one  shirt  —  some  were  not 
even  that  fortunate.  It  was  a  warm,  pleasant  day. 
We  had  removed  our  clothes,  placed  them  in  ket 
tles,  built  fires,  and  were  boiling  them  out,  busy 
ing  ourselves,  meanwhile,  in  playing  'leap-frog,' 
*  tag,'  '  blackmail,'  and  divers  other  games,  when 
lo  !  a  party  of  rebel  cavalry  came  thundering 
down  upon  us  in  pursuit  of  a  forage  train  that 
had  been  sent  out  in  the  morning.  TV" hat  were 
we  to  do  ?  We  had  no  arms  with  us  ;  our  clothes 
were  in  boiling  hot  water ;  the  enemy  were  draw 
ing  near,  fearfully  near.  Jumping  over  the  fence, 
the  whole  party  of  us  scud  right  through  the 
town  for  camp  like  so  many  wild  Indians,  as  fust 
as  our  legs  could  carry  us.  The  citizens,  suppos 
ing  we  would  all  be  captured,  came  out  in  great 
glee,  shouting,  '  Run,  Yanks  !  run  Yanks  ! '  as  we 
tied  through  the  streets.  We  reached  cam])  in 
safety,  to  ttie  great  astonishment  and  amusement 
of  our  comrades.  It  was  a  long  time  before  we 
heard  the  last  of  that  washing  day.  I  asked  one 
old  black  woman  if  she  didn't  blush  when  she  saw 
us  running  through  town.  She  replied,  '  Why, 
de  Lord  God  A'mi'ty  bress  ye,  child  —  I  couldn't 
blush  for  laughing.'  " 


ADVENTURE  WITH  AN  ALLIGATOR.  —  A  soldier 
writing  from  Louisiana  gives  the  following  inter 
esting  and  exciting  personal  adventures  : 

"  You  must  remember  that  this  whole  country 
i&  one  vast  swamp,  thickly  wooded  with  gum  and 
cypress  trees,  and  interlaced  with  bayous,  which 
answer  the  purpose  of  roads.  After  attending  to 
the  pickets,  I  often  indulge  my  spirit  of  adven 
ture,  aud  learn  important  facts  about  the  country, 


by  running  up  some  small  bayn  i  on  an  exploring 
expedition.  I  presume  you  remember  the  olcj 
picture,  in  the  Geography,  of  the  Dismal  Swamp  : 
a  little  strip  of  water,  trees  meeting  overhead; 
the  fallen  tree  in  the  water  with  a  huge  alligatoi 
on  it ;  the  snakes  here  and  there  on  bits  of  flout 
wood ;  the  pelican  and  cranes,  and  many  othei 
birds.  This  is  a  true  picture.  It  is  what  I  see 
every  day.  I  do  not  notice  the  reptiles,  except  a 
large  alligator  comes  within  range  of  my  pistol, 
and  then,  with  almost  certain  aim,  I  send  a  ball 
whizzing  into  his  eye,  the  only  place  where  a  ball 
will  penetrate.  The  alligators  are  not  very  large, 
—  few  of  them  being  over  ten  feet  long.  Some 
of  the  snakes  are  very  large,  measuring  over 
fifteen  feet  in  length;'  but  the  most  common 
snake  is  the  water  moccason,  usually  about  five 
feet  long.  Its  bite  is  more  fatal  than  the  rattle 
snake. 

"  Now  that  I  am  on  the  alligator  chapter,  I  will 
tell  you  of  an  exciting  adventure  I  had  with  one. 
1  had  always  been  anxious  to  obtain  some  portion 
of  an  alligator  to  carry  home  as  a  trophy.  One 
day,  as  I  was  returning  from  one  of  the  outposts, 
1  put  into  Alligator  Bayou.  An  alligator  swim 
ming  shows  but  little  bumps  above  water,  the 
larger  one  at  his  eyes,  the  other  at  his  nose ;  and 
it,  requires  a  marksman  of  no  mean  skill  to  hit  it. 
I  soon  fell  in  with  a  number,  and  picking  out  the 
largest,  I  fired.  lie  turned  on  his  back,  his  feet 
quivered  in  the  air,  his  jaws  opened,  and  he  sank. 
I  paddled  to  the  spot,  and  brought  his  lordship 
to -the  surface.  Alter  a  good  deal  of  prying  and 
pulling,  1  got  him  into  the  boat,  turning  his  head 
to  the  bow.  He  had  hardly  struck  the  bottom 
of  the  boat,  when  his  mouth  and  eyes  opened 
with  a  start,  and  his  tail  swept  from  side  to  side 
with  the  force  of  a  sledge  hammer.  In  an  instant 
I  comprehended  my  situation.  To  jump  out  and 
swim  for  shore  was  to  jump  into  the  jaws  of  a 
dozen  reptiles,  and  my  only  salvation  was  to  keep 
out  of  the  reach  of  his  tail,  the  canoe  being  so 
narrow  that  he  could  not  face  me. 

"  At  length,  by  tin-owing  his  head  over  the  side 
of  the  boat,  he  got  his  head  towards  me,  and  made 
a  charge  with  his  jaws  wide  open.  For  once 
in  my  life  1  think  I  was  thoroughly  frightened. 
In  an  instant  I  plunged  my  paddle  down  hia 
throat.  His  jaws  closed  on  it  like  a  vice,  and 
he  was  quiet  for  a  moment,  and  I  had  time  to 
draw  rny  pistol  and  send  two  balls  into  his  head. 
He  now  lay  quiet,  but  I  saw  that  lie  was  by  no 
means  dead,  and  1  loaded  my  pistol,  preparatory 
to  another  attack;  but  as  he  did  not  ftecm  disposed 
to  renew  hostilities,  I  paddled  swiftly  down  the 
stream,  and  landed  at  I  lie  fiist  convenient  place. 
I  then  paid  my  last  respects  to  his  alligatorship 
by  sending  another  bull  entirely  through  his 
head,  and  'went  on  my  way  rejoicing.'  I  did 
not  succeed  in  getting  the  desired  trophy,  foi 
alligators  are  like  snakes  ;  '  their  tails  do  not  die 
until  sundown,'  and  every  time  I  touched  him  hia 
tail  would  fly  from  side  to  side  with  such  force  as 
to  endanger  my  bones.  I  think  1  shall  never 
handle  another  alligator  until  his  head  and  tail 
are  cut  off." 


304 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


STORY  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.  —  Apersonal  |  a  revolving  rifle,  turned  fiercely  around  to  shoot 
lend   said    to   him:    "Mr.  President,  do  you   his  assailant ;   but  Edwards  caught  his  gun,  and, 

after  a  desperate  struggle,  both  going  at.  full 
gallop,  succeeded  in  wresting  it  from  him.  It 
was  then  Edwards'  turn  to  endeavor  to  shoot  the 


fr  iei  id 

roally  expect  to  end  this  war  during  your  admin 
istration  ?  " 

"  Can't  say,  can't  say,  sir." 
'•  But,  Mr.  Lincoln,  what  do  you  mean  to  do  ?  " 
"  Peg  away,  sir ;    peg  away.      Keep  pegging 
away ! "  

INCIDENTS  OF  ALEXANDRIA.  —  On  Sunday 
morning,  August  3,  1862,  that,  place  was  plun 
dered  by  a  band  of  seventy-five  rebels.  After 
they  had  searched  and  robbed  the  Union  stores 
of  all  the  arms  and  ammunition  they  coukl  find, 
and  destroyed  a  national  flag  found*  in  the  store 
of  B.  J.  Kinney,  Esq.,  they  magnanimously  paid 
their  respects  to  the  only  five  Union  families  in 
the  place.  The  house  of  Mrs.  II.  A.  Conway,  a 
widow  lady,  and  for  years  a  resident  of  the  place, 
was  proposed  to  be  the  first  one  searched ;  but 
for  the  well-known  reception  her  two  daughters 
would  have  given  the  Vandals,  Secesh  deemed 
"  discretion  the  better  part  of  valor."  and  visited 
the  house  of  Mr.  J.  Ualler,  where,  by  threats  and 
vile  oaths,  they  forced  his  daughter  Julia  to  sur 
render  a  Union  flag,  which  she  had  often  been 
seen  waving  to  the  boats  passing  on  the  Missis 
sippi. 

Then  mounting  their  horses,  they  rode  to  the 
houses  of  other  Union  families,  giving  insults, 
and  acting  in  a  manner  that  would  disgrace  a  civ 
ilized  people.  When  passing  the  residence  of 
one  Fitzpatrick,  a  secesh  sympathizer,  and  in 
whose  house  had  been  made  a  rebel  flag  presented 
them,  the  drunken  rabble,  in  their  frenzy,  dropped 
the  captured  Union  flag,  which  they  had  been 
trailing  in  the  street ;  when  Miss  Banscie  Conway, 
a  young  lady  of  seventeen,  seeing  it  fall,  ran  and 
picked  it  up,  and  safely  carried  it  off,  amid  the 
angry  oaths  of  the  rebel  throng.  When  command 
ed  to  give  it  up,  "  No,"  she  replied,  "  though  you 
disgrace  the  name  of  men,  with  my  life  I'll  de 
fend  the  Stars  and  Stripes."  On  going  into  the 
bouse,  she  pinned  the  flag  beneath  her  dress,  and 
then  bravely  walked  down  the  street,  returning  it 
to  Miss  Ualler.  

ADVENTURES  OF  SERGEANT  EDWARDS.  —  In 
the  charge  made  upon  the  rebels  by  company  F, 
of  the  Seventeenth  Indiana  regiment,  at  the 
fight  at  Woodbury,  Tenn.,  Sergeant  William  B. 
Edwards  Avas  amongst  the  foremost  to  dash  in 
the  enemy's  midst,  closely  followed  by  four  of  his 
companions.  In  a  moment,  however,  the  Ser 
geant,  without  being  aware  of  it,  was  separated 
from  the  rest,  they  taking  another  direction.  The 
rebels  were  endeavoring,  by  a  free  use  of  the 
spur,  to  reach  the  mouth  of  a  certain  lane  before 
they  should  be  intercepted  by  another  party  of 
ours,  who  were  coming  from  another  quarter  to 
jut  them  off. 

Edwards  fired  off  his  gun,  and,  without  knowing 
he  was  alone,  galloped  up  to  a  Texan  Hanger, 
TV  ho,  with  the  rest,  was  in  full  retreat,  and  seizing 
hold  of  him,  endeavored,  by  main  strength,  to 


Ranger.  lie  elevated  the  piece  and  snapped  it; 
but,  from  some  injury  the  rifle  had  received,  the 
hammer  would  not  fairly  strike  the  caps,  and  the 
gun  could  not  be  discharged.  All  this  time 
Edwards  had  forgotten  his  own  single-barrelled 
gun.  lie  now  perceived  it,  in  the  hands  of  the 
Ranger.  They  had  exchanged  pieces  during  the 
' 


Edwards    dashed 
drawn  his  revolver. 


ahead.     The    Hanger    lu.d 
He  fired  it  after  his  oppo 


nent,  and  the  ball  passed  through  his  coat.  Not 
another  one  of  the  retreating  rebels  attempted  to 
molest  him  for  some  time.  As  he  galloped  by 
each  one,  he  called  upon  him  to  surrender,  still 
supposing  that  he  was  closely  followed  by  his 
four  companions,  and,  a  little  further  back,  by  his 
entire  party.  The  frightened  rebels  seemed  to 
be  under  the  same  impression,  and  those  that 
Edwards  called  upon  immediately  halted,  waiting 
for  whoever  were  to  take  them  in  charge  to  come 
up.  This  gave  them  time  to  look  about,  and  to 
perceive  that  none  of  our  soldiers  were  following. 
Some  of  them  then  climbed  the  fences  and  ske 
daddled  in  different  directions,  while  the  rest, 
gnashing  their  teeth  with  vexation  and  rage, 
dashed  after  Edwards. 

Above  the  shouts  of  all  the  rest,  the  Sergeant 
could  now  hear  behind  him  th.e  voice  of  the 
Hanger  with  whom  he  had  maintained  so  des 
perate  a  scuffle  :  "  Shoot  him  !  shoot  him  !  why 
don't  you  shoot  that  d  —  d  Yankee?"  Most  of 
the  rebels  having  blue  overcoats  on,  they  did  not 
exactly  know  which  was  Edwards,  and  called  back 
to  the  Hanger  to  say  which  one  he  meant.  But 
the  Sergeant  had  lost  his  hat  in  the  melee,  and 
the  ]  I  anger  shouted,  "  The  one  without  a  hat  !" 
Several  bullets  were  immediately  sent  whizzing 
round  his  ears  ;  but,  fortunately,  none  of  them 
took  effect,  and,  a  number  of  the  rebels  surround 
ing  him,  he  surrendered,  while  a  dozen  revolvers 
were  levelled  at  his  head  and  heart.  But  he  only 
gave  himself  up  when  he  perceived  that  no  other 
Union  soldier  was  in  sight. 

Edwards  remained  a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of 
the  rebels  four  days.  They  were  a  portion  of 
Morgan's  old  regiment. 

All  sorts  of  questions  were  put  to  the  prisoner 
by  his  captors.  One  asked  him  if  it  were  true 
that  Lincoln  had  called  out  three  millions  of  men. 
Another  wanted  to  know  if  he  indorsed  the  procla 
mation  ;  and,  on  his  signifying  that  he  did,  an 
officer  pulled  out  a  copy  of  Vallandigham's  speech, 
thrust  it  in  his  face,  and  asked  him  how  he  liked 
that.  He  found  quite  a  number  of  officers  who 
each  had  a  copy  of  this  infamous  speech,  which 
they  were  in  the  habit  of  quoting  to  confuse  and 
confound  our  poor  soldier  boys  who  fell  into  their 
hands.  The  prayer  of  the  patriot,  as  he  graspa 
his  rifle  and  kneels  in  the  mud,  the  snow,  or  the 
blood  of  his  murdered  comrades,  is  :  "  Palsied  be 


drag  him  from  the  saddle.     The  rebel,  who  had   the  tongue  that  uttered  that  accursed  harangue ! 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


305 


Anathema  upon  the  head  of  the  wretch  who  dares 
put  cunning  falsehoods  in  the  mouths  of  our 
country's  enemies,  that  they  may  cast  them  in  the 
teeth  of  the  poor  soldier,  who  lias  given  up  all  — 
home,  comfort,  friends  —  that  he  may  fight  in  that 
country's  behalf! " 

They  robbed  him  of  everything  —  overcoat, 
blankets,  and  even  a  lead  pencil  which  he  carried 
in  his  pocket. 

Their  living  was  rather  scant.  Each  man  drew, 
for  a  day's  rations,  half  a  pound  of  rusty  bacon 
and  a  little  corn  meal.  They  did  not  depend 
altogether  upon  this  supply,  however,  but  regaled 
themselves  with  chickens,  &c.,  stolen  from  the 
country  people. 

After  he  had  been  with  them  for  four  days,  a 
corporal  and  a  few  men  were  detached  from  the 
principal  party,  in  order  to  take  Edwards  and 
four  conscripts,  who  had  been  found  concealed  in 
the  woods,  to  McMinniville. 

This  squad  stopped  the  first  night  at  the  house 
of  a  widow  Beckwith,  and  partook  of  a  comfort 
able  supper  at  her  expense.  The  night  was  rainy 
and  dark,  and  Edwards  determined,  if  possible, 
to  effect  his  escape.  Making  a  pretence  of  going 
into  the  back  yard  of  the  house,  he  was  accom 
panied  by  the  Corporal,  gun  in  hand.  After  look 
ing  round  a  moment,  Edwards  stepped  upon  the 
porch,  as  if  to  go  back  into  the  house;  and, 
while  the  eye  of  the  reassured  Corporal  was  taken 
oft'  him,  he  made  a  leap  from  the  porch  into  the 
darkness,  and  ran  with  all  speed  towards  the  bot 
tom  of  the  yard.  The  astonished  Corporal  hastily 
fired  his  gun,  but  the  ball  probably  went  far  wide 
of  the  mark,  as  Edwards  did  not  hear  it.  Indeed, 
such  was  his  haste  that  he  scarcely  heard  the 
report. 

He  could  see  nothing,  so  dense-  was  the  dark 
ness  ;  but  as  he  ran  he  unluckily  struck  the  yard 
fence  in  such  a  way  that  he  tumbled  sheer  over  it, 
and  heels  over  head  into  a  thick  patch  of  briers 
on  the  other  side.  Gathering  himself  up,  and 
getting  out  of  the  briers  as  best  he  could,  —  his 
head,  face,  and  hands  terribly  scratched  and  torn, 
—  he  ran  hastily  on  until  he  became  certain  that  he 
was.  not  pursued.  Then  he  stopped  to  rest  a  while. 
After  this  he  wandered  about  for  nearly  a  week, 
travelling  mostly  by  night,  and  concealing  himself 
by  day,  several  times  passing  in  and  out  the  rebel 
picket  lines,  sometimes  within  a  few  yards  of  them ; 
he  once  wholly  lost  his  way,  and  was  put  upon  the 
track  by  a  member  of  a  poor  Union  family,  and 
subsisted  almost  all  this  time  upon  an  ear  or  two 
of  raw  corn.  At  last  he  came  in  sight  of  Union 
soldiers  at  the  burnt  bridge  on  Stone  River,  seven 
miles  north  of  Murfreesboro',  where  he  once  more 
gained  his  freedom  under  the  old  rlag 


COMEDY  OF  BATTLE.  —  A  correspondent  tells 
this  incident  of  the  fight  at  Murfreesboro' : 

"  A  cluster  of  mangled  fellows  were  huddled 
about  a  field  hospital  waiting  surgical  attention. 
A  big,  brawny  trooper,  with  a  bullet  in  his  left  leg  j 
and  another  in  his  right  arm,  hobbled  up,  holding  1 
his  wounded  arm  in  his  left  hand.     «  Doctor,'  said  ! 
20 


he,  with  much  less  piety  than  pain,  « the  d  - -d 
rebs  came  pretty  near  hitting  me.'  Another  fel 
low,  blowing  blood  copiously  from  his  nose,  —  the 
point  of  which  had  been  shot  off,  —  as  a  whul* 
spouts  sea-water,  interposed,  '  The  d — d  rascals  ' 
—  sputter  — '  corne  d — d  near '  —  another  blow 
and  sputter  — '  missin'  me.'  " 


How  GENERAL  HOOKER  TALKED  TO  A  CAVAL 
RY  BRIGADIER.  —  Said  he  to  a  Brigadier  of  cav 
alry,  "  I  know  the  South,  and  I  know  the  North. 
In  point  of  skil .,  of  intelligence,  and  of  pluck,  the 
rebels  will  not  compare  with  our  men,  if  they  are 
equally  well  led.  Our  s  ildiers  are  a  better  qual 
ity  of  men.  They  are  better  fed,  better  clothed, 
better  armed,  and  infinitely  better  mounted;  for 
the  rebels  are  fully  half  mounted  on  mules,  and 
their  animals  get  but  two  rations  of  forage  per 
week,  while  ours  get  seven.  Now,  with  such  sol 
diers,  and  such  a  cause  as  we  have  behind  them  — 
the  best  cause  since  the  world  began  —  we  ought 
to  be  invincible,  and  by — ,  sir,  we  skull  be !  You 
have  got  to  stop  these  disgraceful  cavalry  « sur 
prises.'  I'll  :;ave  no  more  of  them.  I  give  you  fuL 
power  over  }  our  officers,  to  arrest,  cashier,  shoot — 
whatever  you  will  —  only  you  must  stop  these 
'  surprises.'  And,  by  — ,  sir,  if  you  don't  do  it,  I 
give  you  fair  notice,  1  will  relieve  the  whole  cf  you, 
and  take  the  command  of  the  cavalry  myself!  " 


THE  SURRENDER  OF  VICKSBURG.  —  A  corre 
spondent  gives  the  following  interesting  particu 
lars  of  the  surrender  of  the  city  : 

"  As  melancholy  a  sight  as  ever  man  witnessed, 
for  brave  men  conquered  and  humbled,  no  matter 
how  vile  the  cause  for  which  they  fight,  present 
always  a  sorrowful  spectacle ;  and  these  foes  of 
ours,  traitors  and  enemies  of  liberty  and  civiliza 
tion  though  they  be,  are  brave,  as  many  a  hard- 
fought  field  can  well  attest.  They  marched  out 
of  their  intrenchments  by  regiments  upon  the 
grassy  declivity  immediately  outside  their  fort ; 
they  stacked  their  arms,  hung  their  colors  upon 
the  centre,  laid  off  their  knapsacks,  belts,  car 
tridge-boxes,  and  cap-pouches,  and  thus  shorn  of 
the  accoutrements  of  the  soldier,  returned  inside 
their  works,  and  thence  down  the  Jackson  road 
into  the  city.  The  men  went  through  the  cere 
mony  with  that  downcast  look  so  touching  on  a 
soldier's  face  ;  not  a  word  was  spoken  ;  there  was 
none  of  that  gay  badinage  we  are  so  much  ac 
customed  to  hear  from  the  ranks  of  regiments 
marching  through  our  streets ;  the  few  words  of 
command  necessary  were  given  by  their  own  offi 
cers  in  that  low  tone  of  voice  we  hear  used  at 
funerals.  Generals  McPherson,  Logan,  and  For 
ney,  attended  by  their  respective  staffs,  stood  on 
the  rebel  breastworks  overlooking  the  scene  never 
before  witnessed  on  this  continent.  The  rebel 
troops,  as  to  clothing,  presented  that  varied  ap 
pearance  so  familiar  in  the  North  from  seeing 
prisoners,  and  were  from  Texas,  Alabama,  Mis 
sissippi,  1  ouisiana,  Georgia,  and  Missouri ;  the 
arms  were  mostly  muskets  and  rifles  of  superior 


•60Q 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


excellence,  and  I  saw  but  very  few  shot-guns,  or 
indiscriminate  weapons  of  any  kind  ;  it  was  plain 
that  I'emberton  had  a  splendidly-appointed  army. 
Their  flags  were  of  a  kind  new  to  me,  all  I  saw 
being  cut  in  about  the  same  dimensions  as  our 
regimental  colors,  all  of  the  single  color  red,  with 
a  white  cross  in  the  centre. 

"  The  ceremony  of  stacking  arms  occupied  a 
little  over  an  hour  upon  that  part  of  the-  lines ; 
and  when  it  was  concluded,  the  glittering  caval 
cade  of  officers,  -Federal  and  rebel,  mounted  and 
swept  cityward  on  the  full  gallop,  through  such 
clouds  of  dust  as  I  hope  never  to  ride  through 
again.  A  few  minutes,  fortunately,  brought  us  to 
a  halt  at  a  house  on  the  extreme  outskirts  of  the 
city,  built  of  stone,  in  the  Southern  fashion,  with 
low  roof  and  wide  verandas,  and  almost  hidden 
from  view  in  an  exuberance  of  tropical  trees,  and 
known  as  Forney's  headquarters. 

"  And  here  were  gathered  all  the  notables  of  both 
armies.  In  a  damask-cushioned  armed  rocking- 
chair  sat  Lieutenant-General  Pemberton,  the  most 
discontented-looking  man  I  ever  saw.  Presently 
there  appeared  in  the  midst  of  the  throng  a  man 
small  in  stature,  heavily  set,  stoop-shouldered,  a 
broad  face,  covered  with  a  short,  sandy  beard, 
habited  in  a  plain  suit  of  blue  flannel,  with  the 
two  stars  upon  his  shoulder,  denoting  a  Major- 
General  in  the  United  States  army.  He  ap 
proached  Pemberton  and  entered  into  conversa 
tion  with  him  ;  there  was  no  vacant  chair  near, 
but  neither  Pemberton  nor  any  of  his  Generafis 
offered  him  a  seat ;  and  thus  for  five  minutes  the 
conqueror  stood  talking  to  the  vanquished  seated, 
when  Grant  turned  away  into  the  house,  and  left 
Pemberton  alone  with  his  pride  or  his  grief — it 
was  hard  to  tell  which.  Grant  has  the  most  im 
passive  of  faces,  and  seldom,  if  ever,  are  his  feel 
ings  photographed  upon  his  countenance  ;  but 
there  was  then,  as  he  contemplated  the  result  of 
his  labors,  the  faintest  possible  trace  of  inward 
satisfaction  peering  out  of  his  cold  gray  eyes. 
All  this  occupied  less  time  than  this  recital  of  it ; 
and  meantime  officers  of  both  armies  were  com 
mingled,  conversing  as  sociably  as  if  they  had  not 
been  aiming  at  each  other's  lives  a  few  hours  be 
fore.  Generals  McPherson  and  Logan  now  turned 
back  towards  our  camps  to  bring  in  the  latter's 
division  ;  and  a  party,  specially  detailed,  galloped 
cityward,  about  a  mile  distant,  for  the  purpose  of 
hoisting  the  iiag  over  the  court-house. 

"  Lieutenant-Colonel  William  E.  Strong,  as 
sisted  by  Sergeant  B.  F.  Uugan,  fourth  company 
Ohio  independent  cavalry,  and  followed  by  a  nu 
merous  throng  of  officers,  soldiers,  and  civilians, 
ascended  to  the  cupola  of  the  court-house ;  and 
ut  half  past  eleven  o'clock  on  the  Fourth  of  July, 
18G3,  flung  out  our  banner  of  beauty  and  glory 
to  the  bresze."  

A  GALLANT  MICHIGAN  CAPTAIN.  —  During  the 
retreat  of  the  Confederates,  after  a  cavalry  skir 
mish  near  Corinth,  Captain  Botham,  of  the  Third 
Michigan  cavalry,  who  was  finely  mounted,  pur 
sued  them  ;  and  with  the  cry,  "  Come  on,  boys !  " 
gave  his  horse  rein  and  spur,  and  quickly  disap 


peared  in  the  wood,  through  ivhich  their  course 
lay.  He  was  followed  by  two  or  three  of  the  cav 
alry,  Captain  Sailor  taking  the  same  direction  with 
his  company.  But  Captain  Bothan;.,  without  hat, 
his  face  glowing  with  excitement,  his  sabre  flash 
ing  aloft,  outstripped  all  :ave  the  three  men  in 
question,  and  went  flying  after  the  frightened  foe, 
now  fa  fly  on  tl  3  Corinth  road.  The  chivalry  ran 
well,  bat  the  ir.aclsills  gained  upon  them  every 
instant.  The  party  numbered  about  fifty  strong  : 
and  in  the  mad  race  they  threw  away  their  blan 
kets,  haversacks,  and,  in  some  instances,  their  re  • 
volvers,  carbines,  and  sabres.  Like  all  reconnoi  • 
tring  parties,  they  were  all  armed  to  the  teeth. 
At  the  end  of  tte  first  mile  the  Captain  left  both 
of  his  companions  behind  ;  and  about  the  time 
the  half  of  the  second  mile  was  accomplished  he 
came  up  with  the  rear  of  the  flying  column,  yell 
ing  at  the  top  of  his  voice.  By  a  single  blow  with 
his  sabre  he  killed  the  first  man  he  reached,  the 
good  blade  cleaving  his  skull ;  but  just  at  this 
time  observing  a  road  that  led  into  a  field  on  the 
right,  in  order  to  avoid  a  stretch  of  the  highway 
that  was  very  bad,  he  dashed  into  it,  and  by  the 
manoeuvre  headed  off'  about  thirty  of  the  rebels, 
crying  but  to  them  to  surrender,  or  he  would  cut 
them  all  down,  at  the  same  time  swinging  his 
sabre  madly  around  his  head.  They  drew  rein  at 
once,  and  there  he  stood  alone  with  them,  and  in 
a  loud  voice  bade  them  tlnow  down  their  arms 
and  surrender.  Meantime,  one  half  of  them,  when 
they  found  themselves  headed  off",  turned  down  a 
road  to  the  left.  But  their  captor  put  a  stop  lo 
this  by  swearing  that  if  another  man  left  he  would 
shoot  him  dead  in  his  saddle.  The  two  cavalry 
men  who  started  with  Captain  Botham  now  came 
up  and  disarmed  the  prisoners.  Upon  counting 
them,  the  Captain  found  that  he  had  bagged  thir 
teen  live  secesh,  single-handed  and  alone  !  Has 
the  feat  been  beaten  during  the  war?  Thirteen 
of  their  cavalry  taken  by  a  single  mudsill !  Upon 
each  of  the  prisoners  was  either  a  loaded  pistol,  a 
loaded  carbine,  or  a  sabre.  They  were  never  more 
completely  panic-stricken.  They  were  ail  safely 
brought  to  camp.  Eight  or  ten  others  were  also 
taken,  and  four  or  five  killed  and  wounded.  None 
of  the  Union  men  received  a  scratch,  although 
several  of  their  horses  were  wounded. 


MRS.  JOHN  HART.  —  A  soldier,  belonging  to 
the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-ninth  New  York 
regiment,  in  February,  1863,  wrote  as  follows: 
"We  have  a  woman  in  our  regiment,  who  has 
marched  with  us  through  all  our  tedious  and  tire 
some  journeys,  and  shared  all  our  tribulations 
without  a  murmur.  Her  name  is  Mrs.  John 
Hart,  of  Syracuse.  She  is  a  stout  Irish  woman, 
with  a  good  constitution,  capable  of  enduring  as 
much  fatigue  and  labor  as  any  man  in  the  regi 
ment,  and  withal,  she  is  a  kind-hearted,  virtuous,, 
and  estimable  lady,  who  performs  many  kind  of 
fices  for  the  men,  and  is  universally  esteemed  in  the 
regiment.  Her  husband  is  a  member  of  company 
E,  and  is  a  good  soldier  an  1  an  intelligent  man. 
She  came  w  th  the  regiment  to  share  his  fortunes, 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


807 


and  in  all  our  troubles  and  exposures  not  a 
whimper  of  complaint  has  ever  been  heard  from 
her  lips. 

"  For  some  considerable  time  she  was  employed 
while  in  camp  in  mending  and  washing  for  the 
men  ;  but  since  the  arrival  of  Colonel  Barhum, 
an  officers'  mess  has  been  formed,  with  Mrs. 
Hart  for  cook  and  hostess;  and  well  does  she 
perform  the  duties  of  our  camp  household.  Out 
of  the  simplest  materials  she  sets  a  meal  upon 
our  table  fit  for  a  prince,  and  our  sharpened  ap 
petites  are  abundantly  satisfied.  Her  services  in 
this  department  are  invaluable,  and  it  is  difficult 
for  us  to -understand  how  we  could  possibly  dis 
pense  with  them.  In  addition  to  her  other  du 
ties,  she  is  now  acting  as  nurse  for  Colonel  Bar- 
num  in  his  illnevss,  and  we  all  hope  her  motherly 
care  will  soon  restore  him  to  health  and  strength 
again."  

ANECDOTE  OF  STONEWALL  JACKSON.  —  The 
night  after  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  a  coun 
cil  of  war  was  held  by  General  Lee,  to  which  all 
his  Generals  of  divisions  were  invited.  General 
Jackson  slept  throughout  the  proceedings,  and 
upon  being  waked,  and  asked  for  his  opinion, 
curtly  said  :  "  Drive  'em  in  the  river  ;  drive  'em 
in  the  river !  "  

CIVILITIES  OF  WAR.  —  A  letter  from  the  array 
of  the  Potomac,  dated  February  12,  1863,  con 
tains  the  following  : 

"  The  rebels  recently  rigged  up  a  plank,  with  a 
sail  and  rudder  attached,  and  OR  top  placed  a 
drawer,  evidently  taken  from  an  o.d  secretary,  in 
which  they  put  two  liichmond  papers,  and  on  top 
a  half  plug  of  tobacco,  with  a  written  request  for 
a  New  York  Herald,  and  stating  that  '  they  would 
come  over  and  have  a  little  chat,'  if  we  would 
pledge  faith.  But  this  kind  of  intercourse  is 
strictly  forbidden  on  our  part.  The  next  day,  after 
the  Ninth  army  corps  had  left,  the  rebels' hailed 
our  pickets,  and  asked  *  where  the  Ninth  army 
corps  had  gone.' " 

"  I  returned  this  morning  from  a  visit  to  our 
pickets.  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
ninth  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  has  a  very  good 
location  for  standing  post,  but  the  '  Johnny  itebs ' 
are  perfectly  docile.  Night  before  last  Harry  Born, 
one  of  our  boys,  was  busily  engaged  in  singing  a 
song  entitled  '  Fairy  Bell,'  and  when  the  time 
came  for  the  chorus,  the  four  rebs  on  the  post 
opposite  struck  up,  drowning  Harry's  voice  almost 
entirely."  

INCIDENTS  OF  HELENA.  —  "  Yesterday,  in  com 
pany  with  Captain  Sherman,  of  the  Second  Wis 
consin  cavalry,"  says  a  writer  in  the  Milwaukee  [ 
News,  "  we  rode  by  the  negro  graveyard  in  the  i 
rear  of  General  Washburn's  headquarters.     Four  | 
darkies  had  just  deposited  on  the  ground  a  stout  j 
negro,  dead  as  a  door  naiL     His  woolly  head  and  ! 
dirty   feet    protruded  from  under  the  worn-out 
horse  blanket,  which  served  as  a  winding-sheet. 
One  of  the  living  was  slowly  digging  a  trench, 
the  others  stood  watching. 


"  '  Halloo,  boys,  what's  the  matter  with  him?' 

" '  He's  dun  gone  dead,  massa  ! '  and  the> 
chuckled  to  think  we  could  riot  guess  why  he  was 
there. 

"  «  What's  the  mat  tor  of  him  ?  ' 

"  '  Too  much  hard  times,  massa !  De  niggers 
can't  stan'  every  ting.' 

"  '  Niggers  die  pretty  easy  here — don't  they?' 

"  '  Yes,  mas!=a,  (ley  get  shut  of  they  selves  right 
smart  now  —  dern's  bar  1  times  for  niggers  !  ' 

"  And  so  though*  we,  as  they  were  left  behind 
to  conduct  their  fuueial  to  a  termination.  ID 
half  an  hour  some  thousand-dollar  chap  will  be 
Lift  to  rot,  and  add  richness  to  the  soil,  whicb 
will  hereafter  grow  larger  peaches  than  ever  be 
fore. 

"  In  the  house  of  Dr.  Grant,  where  I  board,  is 
an  intelligent  African  girl,  about  twenty-four 
years  old,  owned  by  the  doctor.  The  other 
morning,  while  she  was  sweeping  up  the  hearth, 
said  I : 

"  '  Millie,  are  you  a  slave  ?  ' 

"  '  Course  I  is  —  why  ? ' 

"  '  Why  don't  you  run  away,  and  be  free  ? ' 

*'  *  Umph  —  imipli !  Dis  chile  is  too  smart  for 
dat.  Dere  is  no  fun  in  sleepin'  in  de  mud,  starv- 
in'  to  death,  and  gittin'  no  medicine  when  you 
are  sick.' 

"  '  There  are  Jots  and  lots  of  niggers  in  town 
who  have  run  away  —  ain't  there,  Millie  ?' 

"  '  Umph  —  umph  —  right  smart  lot  of  'em.' 

«•  « Well,  Millie,  ain't  they  better  off  than  be 
fore  they  run  away  ? ' 

"  '  Now,  wat's  de  use  of  foolin*  ?  You  know 
better.  Would  you  be  better  off  without  clothes, 
and  a  bed,  and  a  house  to  sleep  in,  and  some 
body  to  look  out  for  you,  than  if  you  had  'etn 
all  P  De  time  was  here  when  us  niggers  had  our 
parties,  and  heaps  of  fun  —  and  we  had  good 
clo'es,  and  was  jis  as  good  as  anybody.  Be 
fore  dis  war  begun,  a  wagon-load  of  niggers 
didn't  dun  gone  dead  every  day  as  dem  does 
now.  Dis  chile  knows  somefin'  yet,  and  dat  is, 
to  stick  to  missus.' 

" '  Well,  Millie,  cannot  the  niggers  take  care 
of  themselves  ? ' 

"  '  Lord  help  you,  no  !  About  one  in  a  hun 
dred  is  smart  enough  to  live,  and  de  odders 
would  dun  gone  dead  right  smart.  Wat-wat- 
wat-wat  de  niggers  know  about  buyin'  stuff,  and 
takin'  care  of  demselves  —  dey  never  done  'em  ! 
De  massa  always  buys  for  de  niggers  jes  like  as 
if  dey  was  his  own  family,  and  wen  dem  is  sick. 
he  has  'em  doctored  up.  Umph  —  umph !  de 
white  Yankee  folks  skin  de  last  chicken  out  of  de 
nigger  'fore  it  were  hatched,  if  de  nigger  took 
care  of  demselves  !  Deed  dey  would ! ' 

"  '  Well,  Millie,  you  are  a  very  sensible  girl ; 
stick  to  your  home,  and  you  will  be  better  off.' 

"  *  Deed  I  will.  We've  all  dun  gone  got  sick  of 
Yankees  long  ago.  Nebber  had  such  thieves  in 
town  afore.  Dey  beat  de  niggers  stealin',  and 
some  of  de  niggers  steal  right  smart  too,  1 
reckon.' 

"'What  do  they  steal  M:llie?' 

"  '  Golly,  de}  steal  a.l  iley  see,  if  two  m*»n 


308 


ANECDOTES,    POETKY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


jes  watch  it  all  de  time.  We  nebber  had  white 
folks  in  jail  here  till  de  army  come,  and  now  dey 
is  in  dar  all  de  time.' 

•' '  Don't  you  look  on  the  white  folks  who  come 
with  the  army  as  your  friends  ? ' 

" * Umph  —  umph  !  Not  now ;  dey  is  too  wick 
ed.  Wat-wat-wat-wat  dey  care  for  niggers,  when 
dev  l^ts  dem  die  here,  and  won't  give  dem  noth- 
in'.  Niggers  don't  know  much,  but  dey  learn 
who  am  dar  friends  right  smart ! ' 

"  And  there  is  a  world  of  truth  in  her  ideas." 


CAPTURE   OF  ARKANSAS  POST. 

ACCOUNT   BY    A    HOOSIEtt   WHO    WAS    THERE. 

IN  storming  and  taking  Arkansas  Post  the 
Sixteenth  Indiana  regiment  has  realized  the  ex 
ulting  sense  of  being  conquerors.  Once  defeated, 
almost  annihilated,  in  Kentucky,  a  few  days  before 
compelled  to  retreat  before  the  rebel  stronghold 
of  Mississippi,  it  knows  now  what  it  is,  after  a 
desperate  fight,  to  charge  upon  fortifications,  in 
a  blinding  tornado  of  shells,  grape,  canister,  and 
musket  balls,  to  be  the  first  regiment  inside  of 
the  intrenchments,  and  among  the  smoking  ruins, 
dismantled  casemates,  and  exploded  cannon,  to 
plant  the  glorious  old  flag  on  the  stronghold  of 
the  traitor's  fort. 

On  Friday,  the  9th  of  January,  1863,  the  Mis 
sissippi  squadron,  returning  from  Vicksburg, 
sailed  up  White  River,  through  the  cut-off,  and 
forty  miles  up  the  Arkansas.  Late  at  night, 
when  the  soldiers  were  sleeping  in  the  steamer's 
elegant ly  furnished  cabin,  the  General  opened  his 
maps  and  gave  us. some  idea  of  the  morrow's 
work. 

On  Saturday  morning  the  troops  were  disem 
barked,  cannon  dragged  up  the  bank,  wagons 
loaded  with  provisions,  and  an  occasional  feeling 
shot  was  fired  from  the  gunboats.  Messengers 
were  galloping,  and  Generals  with  their  staffs 
superintending  the  movements.  There  was  a 
putting  revolvers  in  order,  donning  fatigue  suits, 
leaving  hastily  written  letters  behind. 

At  twelve  o'clock  the  Sixteenth  started.  The 
long  voyage,  the  terrible  sixty  miles'  march  in 
Louisiana  in  thirty-six  hours,  when  we  destroyed 
their  Western  Railroad,  and  the  five  days  in  the 
Chickasaw  swamps  before  the  enemy's  works  at 
Vicksburg,  had  sadly  thinned  their  ranks.  Many, 
almost  exhausted  with  fever,  dragged  themselves 
into  the  ranks,  determined  to  go  with  their  regi 
ment.  Forward  rode  our  General  to  where  at 
such  an  hour  a  leader  should  be  —  the  front*  No 
doubt  his  heart  thrilled  with  pride  as  he  glanced 
along  the  regiments  of  his  brigade.  Young,  tall, 
and  handsome,  his  chivalric  bearing  and  courte 
ous  manners  have  won  the  love  of  all  who  know 
him.  A  General  at  thirty,  made  so  for  gallant 
conduct  at  Shiloh,  his  after  conduct  proved  that 
we  were  not  mistaken  in  deeming  him  the  beau- 
ideal  of  a  hero.  The  brigade  marched  up  along 
the  river  bank,  and  rested  in  an  open  field  for  a 
short  time.  Steele's  division,  mud  to  their  knees, 
after  having  vainly  tried  to  pass  through  the 


swamps  and  bayous,  returned  and  took  a  new 
course. 

It  is  now  sunset,  and  we  move  forward  past  tf  a 
outer  rifle  pits,  from  which  the  rebels  had  be*  a 
driven  this  afternoon,  on  through  the  den&s 
woods.  Mud  was  everywhere ;  we  no  longer 
stopped  to  avoid  deep  places,  but  plunged  right 
through.  It  is  now  dark,  and  the  gunboats  hcve 
opened  on  the  fort,  from  which  the  one  hundred 
and  twenty-eight  pounders  are  shaking  the  ground 
in  thundering  replies.  It  is  not  like  looking  upor 
a  mountain's  quiet  grandeur,  but  rather,  only  ten 
fold  more  inte  ise,  like  the  lightning  crashing  at 
your  f'_  it,  reni  ing  the  oak  in  splinters.  There  is 
a  blaze  of  ligl.t  from  the  gunboats.  As  sight  is 
quicker  than  so'.ind,  a  moment's  pause  before  the 
awful  roar  and  scream  of  the  monstrous  missile 
flying  through  the  air  followed  by  a  dull  explosion. 
Seldom  can  you  thus  trace  the  journey  of  a  single 
shot  in  the  roar  of  a  dozen  guns.  Now  they  are 
shelling  the  woods.  One  passes  to  the  right,  an 
other  strikes  to  the  left  of  our  regiment,  killing 
one  and  wounding  four  or  five  in  company  II. 
Darkness,  with  its  half-seen  horrors,  the  cannon's 
awful  roar,  the  screams  of  shell  and  crash  of 
falling  timber,  the  blood  and  smoke  and  groans 
of  wounded  men,  make  life  seem  so  intense.  In 
such  an  hour,  into  what  nothingness  sink  com 
mon  every-day  affairs  before  such  awful  realities ! 
The  puffing  gunboats  drop  slowly  down  the  river, 
the  fort  fires  two  shells,  and  all  is  quiet. 

Silently  commands  are  given  and  obeyed:  *h< 
men  lie  down  where  they  had  stood,  in  line  of  battle* 
on  bush  and  in  the  mud.  No  fire  is  allowed. 
With  their  sixty  rounds  of  ammunition  4h°y  hzne 
brought  but  one  blanket,  which  they  wrap  aiouud 
them  as  a  feeble  protection  iguiii<-t  the  winter 
cold.  From  out  a  broken  slumber  I  am  roused 
by  a  gun's  report.  A  Corporal,  in  his  sleep,  haa 
kicked  the  hammer  of  rrs  3-111,  and  his  wife  and 
little  ones  will  sadly  heov  of  a  right  hand  shot  off. 

I  could  stand  the  cola  no  longer.  In  our  rear 
were  some  Luts,  ..pon  /caching  which,  I  found 
men  from  different  regiments  gathered  around 
sickly-looking  fires,  making  coffee.  An  Eighth 
Missouri  regiment  man  was  telling  how  they 
hustled  the  rebels  through  the  woods  that  after 
noon  ;  about  sixty  of  the  scamps  had  been  cap 
tured,  while  a  wounded  one  lay  dying  in  the 
corner.  Slowly  the  night  dragged  along,  till  we 
almost  thought  the  morrow  never  would  come. 

Steele's  division  was  passing  silently,  save  with 
the  hum  which  always  marks  the  movements  of 
large  bodies  of  men,  and  the  rumbling  artillery 
wagons  cutting  through  ruts.  Brigade  after  bri 
gade  moves  on  to  join  the  right. 

With  morning  comes  General  Burbridge,  tell 
ing  us  that  Sherman  would  commence  the  attack 
on  the  right,  while  he  intends  that  his  brigade 
shall  be  the  first  to  mount  the  breastworks  on 
the  left. 

We  are  now  w'thin  five  hundred  yards  of  the 

fort ;  we  can   see  the  buildings  within  its  walls. 

j  The  skirmishers  who  have  been  thrown  to  the 

front  have  stirred  up  the  hornets,  who  favor  us 

with  a  few  she-Is. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


309 


Some  of  those  able-bodied  young  merf-—  those 
contemptible  cowards  —  who  are  lounging  in 
school-rooms,  and  smirking  behind  counters,  may 
think  it  a  very  light  matter  to  storm  the  enemy's 
retrenchments;  but  plain  soldiers,  who  have  stood 
ou  battle-fields  before,  and  seen  the  How  of  blood 
£.3  it  gushed  from  fountains  in  human  hearts, 
deem  it  no  disparagement  to  their  manhood  to 
think  it  a  serious  matter  to  meet  the  crashing 
rounds  of  grape  and  canister,  and  musket  balls, 
as  they  lead  the  advance  of  a  storming  party. 

The  Colonel  calls  us  up  around  him,  and  reads 
the  order.  Our  army,  with  batteries  placed  in 
every  available  position,  and  the  gunboats  on  the 
river,  have  completely  encircled  the  fort.  After 
the  batteries  have  opened,  Sherman  is  to  commence 
the  attack  on  the  right,  which  is  the  signal  for  us 
to  advance.  The  Sixteenth  is  to  lead  the  ad 
vance,  with  the  Sixtieth  Indiana  and  the  Eighty- 
third  Ohio  on  our  right  and  left.  The  gunboats 
are  moving  to  the  attack,  though  not  a  gun  has 
yet  been  fired  from  our  side. 

The  stillness  grows  irksome.  All  know  full 
well  the  awful  storm  is  coming.  At  length  a 
huge  roar  from  one  of  the  gunboats,  followed  by 
a  shot  from  cue  of  the  thirty-two  pounders  on 
the  left,  announces  that  the  ball  is  opened.  A 
shot  from  the  battery  on  the  right  tells  that  Sher 
man  lias  commenced.  Fiercely  the  rebel  guns 
answer  back.  Thicker  and  faster  come  the  shells 
and  solid  shot,  crossing  in  the  air  in  curves  from 
the  circle  of  batteries  around  the  devoted  works. 
Not  often  could  you  trace  the  course  of  a  single 
shot  amid  that  incessant  roar.  Old  soldiers  say  it 
was  a  cannonading  only  equalled  by  Donelson. 

The  rebel  regiments  had  retired  from  our  front 
within  the  protection  of  their  works.  The  boys 
took,  off  overcoats,  blankets,  haversacks,  canteens, 
drew  their  coats  down,  and  buckled  their  belts 
tightly  around  their  waists.  In  charge  of  sick 
men  were  left  lettem,  photographs,  and  articles 
of  value.  Officers  unbuckled  their  swords  and 
took  guns.  The  McClellan  exercise  we  had 
learned  on  the  Potomnc  might  be  useful  here. 
Cheering  far  to  the  right  is  heard.  It  is  the  sig 
nal.  Every  man  was  at  his  post,  and  blood  was 
throbbing1  high,  as  heard  and  obeyed  were  the 
commands,  "  Attention,  battalion  —  by  the  right 
of  companies  to  the  front  —  Forward  !  "  On 
coming  into  the  field,  "  By  company  into  line  — 
guide  centre."  Lieutenant-Colonel  Orr  shouted, 
"  Now,  men,  fellow  me."  We  looked  from  our 
own  glorious  banner  to  the  traitorous  red,  white, 
and  red,  that  floated  full  in  view  from  the  gar 
rison  staff.  The  mud  was  over  ankle  deep,  but 
with  Hoosier  yells,  onward  right  gallantly  they 
went,  like  men  whose  blood  was  up,  though  met 
by  a  plunging  storm  of  grape,  canister,  shells,  and 
musket  balls.  The  regiments  on  either  side  gave 
back,  or,  in  the  language  of  the  General's  report, 
"  My  right  and  left  wavered,  while  my  centre  stood 
firm,  though  met  by  a  perfect  tornado  of  the  en 
emy's  missiles."  We  passed  the  house  where 
two  guns  were  posted,  over  the  fence,  into  a  little 
peach  orchard.  An  exploding  shell  sent  rails  and 
men  flying. 


We  are  now  within  a  hundred  yards  of  their 
strongest  work,  and  the  order  is  given  to  lie 
down  and  fire.  Manj,  killed  or  badly  wounded, 
never  discharged  their  guns  the  first  time. 
Lieutenant-Cc.onel  Orr  is  severely  wounded  in 
the  head  by  *  piece  of  one  of  the  shells  that  go 
flying  ov£*  us,  while  the  grape  and  singing  bul 
lets  made  music  around  our  ears  not  soon 
forgotten.  The  huge  pivot  gun  is  throwing 
canister,  at  least  half  a  bushel  at  each  discharge. 
One  load  killed  and  wounded  men  in  three  com 
panies.  But  our  men  were  not  idle,  and  soon 
their  shower0  of  oalls  silenced  the  cannon  that 
bore  on  us.  A  rebel  captain  of  artillery  told  us 
he  could  not  get  his  men  to  go  near  the  guns. 
Still  the  ceaseless  fire  from  our  gunboats  was 
vying  with  the  land  batteries  in  raining  the  iron 
storm  upon  the  devoted  works. 

Here  let  me  relate  a  little  incident  of  personal 
experience,  to  show  how  the  thing  works.  While 
lying  on  my  side  loading  a  gun,  whack!  went 
something ;  and  I  felt  like  the  darky  who, 
when  shaking  a  coon  off  a  tree,  felt  something 
drop  that  was  not  exactly  a  coon.  A  bullet  had 
grazed  the  skin  below  my  shoulder.  It  stunned 
me  like  hitting  a  man  over  the  head  with  a  club. 
Almost  at  the  same  instant,  a  piece  of  shell, 
hunting  for  its  affinity,  as  A.  Ward,  Esq.,  would 
say,  gently  rolled  against  my  leg. 

I  retired  in  good  order  to  the  rear,  and  meet 
ing  a  negro  with  coffee,  I  was  reenforced  and 
enabled  to  return.  Upon  rejoining  the  company 
I  was  very  proud  to  find  each  man  at  his  place, 
the  Lieutenant  interlarding  an  oath  after  each 
discharge  of  his  gun,  and  the  Orderly,  a  dark, 
stern,  resolute  man,  giving  the  boys  worthy 
models  for  imitation. 

The  sun  had  sunk  low  in  the  west.  The  gun 
boats  were  still  steadily  puffing  up  towards  the 
fort.  Many  who  had  fired  away  their  sixt) 
rounds  of  ammunition  would  coolly  roll  over  the 
dead  and  wounded  to  get  their  cartridges.  A 
Quaker  lad  came  to  me  saying,  very  deliberately, 
"  Captain,  I  am  out  of  ammunition." 

The  gunboats  sent  solid  shot  through  the  four 
feet  thickness  of  oak,  and  scattered  in  splinters 
the  railroad  iron  with  which  the  top  was  plated. 
Some  shells,  which  made  centre  shots,  had  torn 
off  the  muzzles  of  their  monstrous  guns  as  they 
exploded. 

Many  of  their  guns  were  dismounted  while  the 
circle  of  our  batteries  was  drawing  closer  in. 

Among  the  most  unpleasant  things  were  the 
groans  of  the  wounded.  A  Corporal  in  company 
I)  lay  groaning  with  the  brain  oozing  out  of  his 
head,  as  though  death  would  never  come  to  his 
relief.  The  stifling  smell  of  powder,  the  cannon's 
awful  roar,  the  explosion  of  shells,  illuminating 
the  smoke  that  hung  in  clouds,  made  it  seem  as 
if  we  beheld  the  opening  of  hell's  fiery  caverns. 

At  last  a  white  flag  is  seen  at  the  upper  end  of 
the  breastworks;  we  rise  up  and  commence 
cheering,  but  they  pour  in  a  murderous  vollej 
from  the  lower  pits;  and  we  drop  down.  Soon 
more  white  flags  are  seen  on  bayonets,  and  a 
man  passes  a.::ig  the  lower  works  waving  the 


310 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


emblem  of  defeat.  O,  how  the  exulting  shout 
of  victory  at  that  maddening  hour  of  triumph 
rolled  along  the  lines  of  the  Union  army.  All 
start  on  a  foot  race  for  the  fort. 

General  Burbridge,  with  a  flag  around  his 
waist,  was  followed  by  Colonel  Lucas,  who,  when 
Oolonel  Orr's  riderless  horse  had  come  through 
the  woods,  had  left  his  sick  bed  and  rode  out  in 
time  to  be^^n  at  the  death." 

The  suJlW*  rebels  seemed  a  little  startled  as 
half  a  score  of  regiments  came  rushing  pell-mell 
into  their  ruined  works.  Alter  a  four  hours' 
fight  the  day  was  ours. 

General  Churchill,  who  had  fought  us  at  Rich 
mond,  gave  his  sword  to  Burbridge.  Seven 
thousand  one  hundred  and  some  odd  prisoners, 
mostly  Texans,  besides  a  vast  amount  of  com 
pany  stores  and  arms,  were  captured.  Wagons 
that  once  belonged  to  our  regiment,  and  guns 
with  our  boys'  names  on  them,  are  found  here  in 
Arkansas,  that  had  been  lost  on  the  far-off  Ken 
tucky  battle-field.  It  is  worth  going  through  a 
battle  to  celebrate  its  victory.  Some  of  their 
dead,  with  arms  cut  off,  heads  and  brains  scat- 
t,en;d,  lay  in  the  trenches.  At  one  place  a  man's 
shoes  were  standing  with  his  feet  in  them,  while 
the  body  lay  a  rod  away.  I  saw  a  pile  of  flesh 
and  bones,  which  had  lost  all  semblance  of  a 
human  being.  All  distinctions  of  rank  were 
forgotten ;  general  and  private  shook  hands ; 
friends,  rejoicing  to  find  each  other  safe,  .em 
braced  ;  and  from  the  whole  body  of  troops  rang 
aLouts  of  joy. 

The  regiment  returned  to  the  point  from  which 
tke  assault  was  made,  and  made  coffee  around 
blazing  fires.  Now  came  the  saddest  part  —  the 
after  the  battle.  The  red  sun  was  sinking  in  the 
west,  <k  like  a  banner  bathed  in  slaughter."  Am 
bulances  were  running  to  the  hospitals,  and  men 
were  gathering  the  dead  and  wounded.  Heart 
rending  were  the  groans  and  labored  breathing 
of  many  of  the  latter.  Horses  lay  with  white 
foam  and  blood  oozing  from  their  nostrils. 
Gazing  upon  such  a  scene,  we  feel  the  truth  of 
those  beautiful  lines  :  - 
"There  is  something  of  pride  in  the  perilous  hour, 

Whate'er   be   the   shape   iu  which   Death    may 
lower ; 

Fame  is  there  to  say  who  bleeds, 

And  Honor's  eye  is  on  daring  deeds; 

But  when  all  is  past,  it  is  humbling  to  tread 

O'er  the  weltering  lield  of  the  tombless  dead." 

Leaving  to  official  reports  to  bestow  praise 
upon  those  who  hold  command,  let  me  mention 
one  from  among  the  humblest,  as  a  name  to  be 
remembered  —  the  nag-bearer  of  the  16th,  Dick  S. 
Tenant,  a  beardless  student,  fresh  from  college. 
He  was  a  faithful  guardian  to  his  trust  amid  that 
blinding  hail,  and  was  among  the  first  to  mount 
and  plant  the  banner  of  our  fathers  upon  the  con 
quered  ramparts.  

A  SNOWBALL  BATTLE.  —  A  soldier  of  one  of 
the  New  Jersey  regiments  writes  as  follows  : 

"  You  are  probably  aware  that  the  Second 
brigade  of  this  division  consists  of  four  Vermont 


regiments,  besides  the  Twenty-sixth.  During  thfi 
late  heavy  fall  of  snow,  the  Vermonters  twlve 
made  an  attack  on  the  encampment  of  the  Twen 
ty-sixth,  sending  a  perfect  shower  of  snow  balk 
at  the  head  of  every  luckless  Jerseyman  who 
made  his  appearance  without  his  tent.  The  first 
attack  'vaj  a  complete  surprise  to  us ;  but  we  es 
sayed  a  sally  from  the  camp,  and  drove  the  attack 
ing  party  back  to  their  reserves.  Being  heavily 
reenforced,  they  'l.arged  on  us  again,  and  after  a 
desperate  resist?  :i2e  we  were  driven  back  into 
camp,  fighting  •  tsolutely  from  the  shelter  of  oui 
tents  until  darki.ess  put  an  end  to  the  contest. 
Our  casualties  were  quite  heavy,  but  those  of  the 
enemy,  it  is  thought,  exceeded  ours.  A  few  days 
after  -vards  the  attack  was  renewed,  but  we  tool, 
up  i  strong  position  on  a  hill  in  the  rear  of  the 
can  p,  and  repulsed  every  assault  of  the  foe.  The 
snow  was  crimsoned  with  the  blood  issuing  from 
the  olfactory  organs  of  the  Vermonters,  and  the 
appearance  of  the  battle-field  indicated  the  fierce 
nature  of  the  contest.  The  enemy  raised  a  flag 
of  truce,  an  armistice  of  a  few  hours  was  con 
cluded,  and  then  ensued  that  novel  spectacle  of 
war  —  men,  who  but  a  few  minutes  previous  were 
engaged  in  one  of  the  most  sanguinary  battles 
of  modern  times,  harmonizing  and  fraternizing 
with  clasped  hands. 

"  But  the  matter  did  not  rest  here.  The  night 
of  the  24th  had  enveloped  terra  firm  a  with  its 
dusky  shades.  Many  a  waxen  nose  in  the  cany  a 
of  the  Second  brigade  snored  sonorously,  happily 
unconscious  of  its  ruby  discoloration  on  the  mor 
row.  Many  an  eye  placidly  closed  in  slumber 
was  to  be  violently  closed  in  battle  ere  the  ap 
proach  of  another  nightfall.  And  many  a  phren 
ological  bump  sparsely  developed  on  the  night  in 
question  was  to  be  suddenly  brought  to  an  age 
of  puberty  on  the  approaching  day.  The  event 
ful  morning  opened.  Colonel  Morrison  sent  a 
challenge  to  Colonel  Seaver  of  the  Third  Vermont 
to  engage  in  the  open  field  at  three  o'clock  P.  M. 
The  challenge  was  accepted,  on  the  condition  that 
the  Fourth  Vermont  should  be  included  with  the 
Third.  This  was  agreed  to  by  the  Colonel.  Be 
fore  the  appointed  time  some  of  our  men  were 
detailed  on  fatigue  duty,  and  at  the  time  of  the 
engagement  we  were  only  able  to  muster  some 
three  hundred  men. 

"  Nothing  daunted  by  the  superiority  of  num 
bers,  Colonel  Morrison  ordered  Lieutenant  Mc- 
Cleese,  of  company  C  (Captain  Pemberton  being 
sick),  to  fortify  a  small  hill  on  our  right,  make  as 
much  ammunition  as  possible,  and  pile  the  snow 
balls  in  pyramids.  This  arduous  duty  was  hastily 
performed.  It  was  a  strong  position,  a  swollen 
brook  at  its  base  answering  the  purpose  of  a 
moat — too  strong,  in  fact,  for  the  Vermonters, 
and  they  declined  to  attack  us  while  occupying 
this  miniature  Chepultepec.  Commissioners  were 
appointed,  and  after  a  parkv,  the  Twenty-sixth 
was  marched  across  the  brook,  and  formed  in 
line  of  battle  on  the  field  fronting  the  Vermonters. 
The  hills  were  covered  with  spectators,  and  the 
eagerness  to  witness  the  no^el  cor  test  knew  no 
bounds.  Companies  A  and  B  were  thrown  out 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


811 


ES  skirmishers.  Company  E  occupied  the  right, 
0  was  given  the  centre,  and  H  rested  on  the  left. 
The  Colonel  dashed  over  the  field  in  all  direc 
tions,  encouraging  the  men  to  stand  fast,  amid 
the  blue  wieaths  curling  from  a  'brier  wood' 
nonchalantly  held  in  his  left  hand,  and  the  Adju 
tant  danced  about  on  a  spirited  charger,  appar 
ently  impatiently  awaiting  the  hour  of  contest, 
the  light  of  battle  dilating  within  his  eyes,  and  a 
quid  of  '  navy  plug '  reposing  beneath  his  cheek. 
Lieutenant  Woods,  of  the  ambulance  corps, 

and  Lieutenant  acted  as  mounted  aids  to 

the  Colonel,  while  the  '  Sergeant '  and  John  K. 
Shaw,  an  aspiring  Newark  youth  of  eighteen, 
acted  as  perambulating  aids.  The  line  being 
formed  and  everything  in  readiness  for  the  con 
test,  a  red  ilag  was  raised  as  a  signal,  and  in  a 
breath  of  time  a  strong  body  of  the  enemy  drove 
in  our  skirmishers,  and  fiercely  attacked  our 
centre.  At  the  same  moment  another  strong 
force  advanced  against  our  right,  but  only  as  a 
feint ;  for  they  suddenly  wheeled  to  the  right, 
and  joined  their  comrades  in  a  furious  charge  on 
our  centre.  Major  Morris  ordered  up  company 
E  from  our  right,  but  too  late  to  be  of  any  ad 
vantage,  and  they  were  completely  cut  oft'  from 
the  main  body  of  our  army.  Although  flanked 
and  pressed  in  front  by  ovenvhelming  numbers, 
our  centre  heroically  contested  the  advance  of  the 
enemy.  Animated  by  the  presence  of  the  Colonel, 
the;y  fought  like  veterans,  and  the  white  snow 
balls  eddied  through  the  air  like  popping  corn 
from  a  frying  pan.  But  the  enemy  were  madly 
surging  upon  us  in  superior  force,  and  it  was 
hardly  within  the  power  of  human  endurance  to 
stand  such  a  perfect  feu  d'enfer  any  longer. 
Gradually  the  centre  fell  back  inch  by  inch,  the 
line  then  wavered  to  and  fro,  and  finally  the  men 
broke  in  confusion  and  rolled  down  the  hill  fol 
lowed  by  the  victorious  Vermonters.  In  vain  the 
Colonel  breasted  the  torrent;  in  vain  the  Major 
urged  the  men  to  stand  fast ;  in  vain  did  Adju 
tant  White,  the  chivalric  De  Bayard  of  the  Twenty- 
sixth,  implore  the  gods  for  aid. 

"  The  boys  never  rallied.  Lieutenant  Woods 
made  an  attempt  to  rally  them  and  form  them  in 
hollow  square  on  the  fortified  hill  to  the  right, 
but  he  was  mistaken  by  the  boys  for  a  Vermonter, 
and  unceremoniously  pelted  from  their  midst. 
But  the  Colonel  was  not  totally  deserted  by  his 
men.  The  Vermonters  seized  his  horse  by  the 
bridle,  and  macfe  a  desperate  attempt  to  take  him 
prisoner.  The  fight  at  this  point  was  terrific  be 
yond  description.  The  men  fought  hand  to  hand. 
Colonel  Seaver,  the  Achilles  of  the  day,  dashed 
through  the  combatants,  seized  Colonel  Morrison 
by  the  shoulder,  and  called  upon  him  to  surren 
der.  But  his  demand  was  choked  by  the  inces 
sant  patter  of  snow-balls  on  his  '  physcg.'  Around 
the  rival  chieftains  the  men  struggled  fearfully ; 
there  was  the  auburn-haired  Hodge,  alias  '  Wild 
Dutchman,'  fighting  manfully.  There  was  the 
fierce  Teuton  Captain  of  company  E,  dropping 
the  foe  right  eftid  left  at  every  swing  of  his  arms  ; 
but  all  in  vain.  Amid  the  wild  excitement  con 
sequent  upon  the  shouting,  the  rearing,  and 


plunging  of  horses,  the  Colonel  was  drawn  from 
his  saddle  and  taken  by  the  enemy.  Most  of  his 
'  staff'  followed  him  as  prisoners.  A  desperate 
attempt  was  made  to  rescue  him,  but  it  proved 
of  no  avail.  Major  Morris  fared  no  better.  Ad 
jutant  White,  however,  made  a  bold  attempt  to 
retrieve  the  fortunes  of  the  day.  Dashing  into 
the  den  -e  ranks  of  the  foe,  he  seized  the  bridle 
of  Colons!  Stoughton's  Bucephalus,  and  gallantly 
attempted  the  impossibility  of  capturing  the 
Colonel,  who  was  the  acting  BrigafKer  of  the  at 
tacking  party.  But  the  Adjutant  had  '  caught  a 
Tartar,'  for  the  Vermonters  rushed  around  him 
like  the  waves  beating  upon  some  lone  rock  in 
the  ocean,  and  vainly  clamored  for  his  surrender. 
He  fought  like  an  Ajax  mounted  on  a  '  Black 
Bass/  retaining  his  position  in  the  saddle  by 
resting  hi£  knee  against  the  pommel.  This  was 
at  last  observed  by  a  shrewd  Yankee,  who  dex 
terously  slipped  between  the  two  horses,  detached 
the  supporting  knee,  and  the  Adjutant  fell  from 
his  lofty  position  like  a  tornado-stricken  oak. 
This  fall  disheartened  the  Twenty -sixth,  and  only 
detached  parties  of  a  dozen,  scattered  over  the 
field,  persisted  in  an  obstinate  resistance.  The 
'  Sergeant '  received  a  solid  shot  in  the  back  of 
the  head,  and  was  borne  to  the  rear  a  captive, 
and  then 

« The  bugles  sang  truce/ 

"  Thus  ended  the  great  battle  of  Fairview ;  un 
equalled  in  desperateness,  and  the  theme  of  many 
a  future  poet's  cogitations.  Our  loss  was  very 
heavy,  and  we  w?ere  severely  defeated.  The  spec 
tators,  acting  on  the  well-known  principle  of 
kicking  a  man  when  he  is  down,  pitched  into  us 
most  unmercifully  when  our  centre  was  broken, 
and  prevented  us  from  re-forming  in  line  of  battle. 
The  slaughter  of  the  enemy  was  fearful,  and  the 
prowess  of  the  Newark  ball  players  and  firemen 
was  displayed  on  their  battered  visages.  Colonel 
Stoughton  was  honored  with  a  black  eye,  and 
the  gallant  Seaver  fared  but  little  better.  The 
following  is  a  fair  recapitulation  of  the  casualties 
on  both  sides : 

"  Bloody  noses,  fifty-three ;  bunged  peepers, 
eighty-one  ;  extraordinary  phrenological  develop 
ments,  twenty-nine ;  shot  in  the  neck  after  the  en 
gagement,  unknown. 

"  The  Vermonters  fought  with  the  determined 
energy  characterizing  them  when  engaging  Jeff's 
myrmidons."  

COOLNESS  IN  BATTLE.  —  Tn  the  report  of  Ma 
jor-General  Foster,  of  his  expedition  to  Kins- 
ton,  N.  C.,  in  the  list  of  killed  and  wounded  is 
the  name  of  Ezra  Wormouth.  Ezra  was  wound 
ed  at  Whitehall,  while  serving  at  one  of  the  guns 
of  Captain  Jenny's  battery,  Third  New  York  ar 
tillery.  A  ball  struck  his  left  wrist,  shattering 
the  bor.es,  and  cutting  off  his  little  finger.  Am 
putation  was  rendered  necessary  immediately  — 
so  now,  all  that  Ezra  has  left  of  his  arm  is  four  or 
five  inches  bflow  the  elbow.  The  nobl°  fellow 
says  "  he  has  done  all  he  can  do  to  whip  the  ene 
my  and  crush  the  rebellion,  arid  he  is  not  sorry 


312 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


he  ever  enlisted,  but  is  conscious  of  having  done 
his  duty,  as  all  true  men  should."  Does  not  that, 
and  many  other  such  sentiments  which  are,  ut 
tered  by  men  who  have  felt  the  sad  effects  of 
war,  show  who  are  true  heroes  ? 

Not  fifteen  minutes  before  Ezra  was  wounded, 
Thomas  Johnson,  of  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  whil^  serv 
ing  at  the  same  gun,  was  severely  would eu  in 
the  left  forearm  and  hand.  Says  Captain  Jenny 
to  him,  "  Johnson,  you  had  better  go  to  the  rear 
and  have  your  wound  dressed."  Hea,r  the  rep.y  : 
"  No,  Captain,  I  am  going  to  work !  "  And  work 
he  did ;  but  in  a  few  minutes  another  ball  took 
his  right  arm  off.  Turning  to  Captain  Jenny, 
said  he,  "  Now,  Captain,  I  guess  111  quit !  " 

Numbers  of  such  instances  can  be  cited,  espe 
cially  that  of  a  private  in  Company  K  (Captain 
Cole's),  Third  New  York  cavalry,  who  was  shot 
down  by  a  ball  passing  through  his  head,  making 
nearly  an  inch  hole.  He  immediately  jumped  up, 
and  with  true  cavalry  recklessness  exclaimed, 
"  Blast  them !  give  'em  thunder,  boys  !  I'll  live  to 
fight  them  yet !  "  And,  sure  enough,  he  did. 


THE  "  THIRD  ARTICLE  "  OF  WAR.  —  A  sol 
dier  correspondent  writes  the  following  from  the 
camp  of  the  Ohio  volunteers,  at  Falmouth : 

"  Yesterday  being  Sunday,  after  the  usual 
gaard,  picket,  and  inspection  calls,  the  ensuing 
hour  and  a  half  was  spent  in  hearing  the  Articles 
of  War  read.  As  Corporal  Humphrey,  of  our 
company,  was  reading  the  aforesaid  *  Articles,'  we 
noticed  that  '  Eph '  smiled  '  out  loud '  several 
times,  —  attempting  each  time  to  disguise  it  by 
dryly  coughing,  —  and  after  the  inspection  was 
over,  we  asked  him  what  made  him  cough  while 
in  the  ranks.  «  Why,'  said  he,  '  when  the  Corpo 
ral  read  "  Article  Third,"  about  any  non-commis 
sioned  officer  or  soldier  who  should  use  any  pro 
fane  oath  or  execration,  should  forfeit  one  sixth 
of  a  dollar,  to  be  applied  for  the  benefit  of  the 
sick  soldiers  of  the  command  ;  and  a  commis 
sioned  officer  should  forfeit  and  pay,  for  each 
such  offence,  one  dollar,  to  be  applied  in  the  same 
manner, I  thought  the  "  Article"  was  one  of  "  Old 
Abe's  jokes  ; "  and  that  the  Corporal  had  got  to 
the  place  "  where  the  laugh  came  in."  '  We  told 
him  that  the  Articles  of  War  were  no  'joke,'  but 
that  they  were  enacted  by  Congress  for  the  gov 
ernment  of  all  our  armies. 

"  '  Well,'  said  "Eph,"  *  if  that  is  so,  my  opinion 
is  that  the  sick  soldiers  of  this  army  will  "  fare 
sumptuously  every  day,"  and  as  banks  have  what 
they  caii  a  "  sinking  fund,"  I  think  it  would  be 
well  for  Congress  to  provide  the  officers  with  a 
"  swearing  fund."  '  As  he  was  speaking,  '  Ike  ' 
plodded  past  in  charge  of  the  pickets  of  this  di 
vision,  and  '  Eph  '  continued  :  '  Now,  there  goes 
"  Ike  "  on  picket,  and  he  don't  swear  —  only 
when  he  thinks  it  a  "  military  necessity  "  —  but 
I'll  bet  you  a  paper  of  "  Fighting  Joe  smoking 
tobacco'"  that  before  he  arrives  at  the  Lacy 
House,  over  those  hiils  and  through  all  that 
mud,  Article  Tliree  will  get  busted  more  than  one 
hundred  dollars  worth ;  and  if  the  members  of 


Congress,  who  framed  those  Articles,  were  the 
picket  that  is  going  out  with  him,  it  would  cost 
them  more  pay  than  the)  get  in  one  season  extra 
session,  mileage  and  all.' 

"  During  the  day  '  Eph  '  came  into  our  quar- 
ters,  and,  taking  from  his  pocket  a  little  morrcco 
covered  book,  said  he  would  like  to  read  a  few 
lines  from  to-day's  evening  prayer  — '  22d  day'— 
and  accordingly  ^ead  as  follows  : 

" .  .  '  Mu.if:  sas  is  mine  ;  Ephraim  also  is 
the  strength  ^f  my  head.  .  .  Who  will  lead 
me  into  the  strong  city  ?  .  .  Hast  thou  not 
forsaken  rr  ;,  O  God  ?  and  wilt  not  thou,  O  God, 
go  forth  wi!;h  our  hosts  ?  O,  help  us  against  the 
enemy,  for  vain  is  the  help  of  man.  Through 
God  we  shall  do  g:  eat  acts  ;  it  is  He  that  shall 
tread  down  our  enemies. 

"  '  Now,'  remarked  "  Eph,"  '  my  opinion  is,  Da 
vid  meant  us.  We  have  got  Manassas  ;  took  it 
—  "  without  loss  "  —  over  a  year  ago.  But 
"  who  will  lead  us  into  the  strong  city  "  ?  Who 
will  bring  us  into  Richmond  ?  "  Fighting  Joe  " 
is  here  in  command  of  the  army,  and  •'  Eph  "  is 
here  too,  and  I  hope  he  may  have  the  honor  of 
following  "  Old  Joe  "  into  Richmond.  I  believe 
God  is  on  our  side  ;  but  my  opinion  is,  we  Lad 
better  let  those  works,  the  enemy  have  erected 
on  the  other  side,  alone.  The  last  time  I  wab 
there  I  made  up  my  mind  General  French  was 
correct  in  his  opinions.  Said  he  to  General 
Couch,  "  General,  the  men  can't  take  thos? 
works."  Said  General  Couch,  "  Brave  men  can 
do  anything  !  "  "  Brave  men  can't  stop  a  can 
non-ball,  ,"  said  old  General  French, 

at  the  same  time  lusting  Aiticle  Three;  but  out 
we  went,  and  tried  it  all  day.  I  saw  over  twenty 
men  try  to  stop  one  cannon  ball  —  brave  men, 
too  —  but,  poor  fellows!'  French  was  right; 
they  could  not  do  it.  In  fact,  the  ground  was 
piled  up  with  brave  men,  who  looked  as  though 
they  had  tried  very  hard  to  stop  some  of  those 
cannon  balls,  but  were  '  wearied  out,'  and  had 
lain  down  to  rest.  Through  God,  brave  men 
may  do  many,  very  many,  great  things ;  but  in 
the  providence  of  God,  He  has  not  so  constituted 
nun,  that  even,  though  he  is  brave,  he  can  stop 
a  ^innon  ball." 

THE    HOSPITAL. 

NARROW  beds  by  one  another — 

White  and  low  ! 
Through  them  softly,  as  in  church-ais?.e% 

Nurses  go  — 
For  the  hot  lips  ice-drops  bring, 

Cold  and  clear ; 
Or  white  eyelids  gently  closing, 

For  the  bier. 

Strong  men,  in  a  moment  smitten 

Down  from  strength, 
Brave  men,  now  in  anguish  praying — 

Death  at  length, 
Burns  the  night-lamp  where  the  watchers, 

By  the  bed,  • 

IVi'te  for  many  a  waiting  loved  one, 

"He  is  dead!" 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


313 


One  lies  there  in  utter  weakness  — 

Shattered,  faint  — 
But  his  brow  wears  calm  befitting 

Martyred  saint ; 
And  although  the  lip.-*  must  quiver, 

They  can  smile, 
As  he  says,  "  This  will  be  ovtr 

In  a  while. 

44  As  the  old  crusaders,  weeping 

In  delight, 
Knelt  when  Zion's  holy  city 

Rose  in  sight, 
So  I  fling  aside  my  weapon, 

From  the  din 
To  the  quietness  of  heaven 

Entering  in. 

14  Standing  in  the  solemn  shadow 

Of  God's  hand, 
Love  of  glory  fading  from  me, 

Love  of  land, 
I  thank  God  that  he  has  let  me 

Strike  one  blow 
For  this  poor  and  helpless  people, 

Ere  I  go." 

White  and  whiter  grows  the  glory 

On  his  brow  ; 
Does  he  see  the  towers  of  Zion 

Rising  now  ? 
Stands  the  doctor,  weary,  hurried, 

By  his  bed  : 
44  Here  is  room  for  one  more  wounded 

He  is  dead." 


ARMY  DISCIPLINE.  —  A  writer  in  the  Cincin 
nati  Commercial  relates  the  fallowing  anecdote 
of  General  A.  J.  Smith,  who  was  in  command  of 
a  division  of  General  Grant's  army  of  the  Missis 
sippi.  It  shows,  characteristically,  his  style  of 
treating  with  delinquent  officers,  whose  shoitcom- 
ings  chance  to  come  within  his  observation  : 

"  As  I,  with  my  small  command,  was  quartered 
on  board  the  steamer  l)es  Arc,  which  boat  was  at 
that  time  used  as  General  A.  J.  Smith's  head 
quarters,  I  necessarily  became  a  witness  to  this 
(to  lookers  on)  most  amusing  interlude  : 

44  On  our  passage  down  from  Arkansas  Post  to 
Young's  Point,  after  our  glorious  victory  at  the  for 
mer  place,  we  had  on  board  with  us  (for  transpor 
tation)  three  companies  of  the  — th  Illinois  volun 
teers.  Now  it  happened  that  these  men  had 
rather  neglected  to  clean  their  guns,  which  the 
sharp  eye  of  the  old  veteran  soon  discovered.  It 
was  in  the  morning  of  our  third  day  out  —  the 
wind  was  blowing  terribly,  and  the  weather  un 
usually  cold,  rendering  it  very  unpleasant  to  re 
main  long  on  the  hurricane  roof — that  the  Gen 
eral  came  rushing  into  the  cabin,  where  nearly  all 
the  officers  were  comfortably  seated  around  a 
warm  stove. 

"  '  Captain,'  exclaimed  the  General,  in  no  very 
mild  tone,  addressing  himself  to  the  commander 
(»i  one  of  the  companies  aforesaid,  '  have  you  had 
an  inspection  of  arms  this  morning  ? ' 

'• '  No,  General,'  timidly  replied  the  Captain,  '  I 
have  not.' 


" 4  Have  you  held  an  inspection  of  your  com 
pany  at  any  time  since  the  battle  of  Arkansas 
Post  ?  '  sharply  isked  the  General. 
j  "  'No,  sir  ;  tl  3  weather  has  been  so  unpleasant, 
and  I  thought  I  would  let  my  men  rest  a  while,' 
hesitatingly  replied  the  Captain,  already  nervous, 
through  fear  that  something  disagreeable  was 
about  to  turn  up. 

44  *  You  thought  you'd  let  them  rest  a  whilr;  ?  In 
deed  !  The  d — 1  you  did !  Who  pays  you,  sir, 
for  permitting  y:  ur  men  to  lie  and  rot  in  idle 
ness,  while  such  important  duties  remain  unat 
tended  to  ?  What  kind  of  condition  are  your 
men  in.  now,  to  defend  this  boat,  or  even  the 
lives  of  your  own  men,  in  case  we  should  be  at 
tacked  by  the  enemy  this  moment.  What  the 
d — 1  are  you  in  the  'service  for,  if  you  thus  neg 
lect  your  most  important  duty  ? '  fairly  yelled  the 
old  General.  And  then  starting  menacingly  to 
wards  the  quaking  Captain,  said  he  imperatively : 
4  Mount,  sir !  on  that  roof  this  moment,  and  call 
your  men  instantly  into  line,  that  I  may  examine 
their  arms.  And  you,'  resumed  he,  turning  and 
addressing  the  lieutenants,  who  commanded  the 
other  companies,  4  are  fully  as  delinquent  as  the 
Captain.  Sirs !  I  must  see  your  men  into  line 
within  ten  minutes.' 

44  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  state  that  the  officers 
in  question  made  the  best  of  their  time  in  drum 
ming  up  their  men,  whom  they  found  scattered  in 
all  parts  of  the  boat.  Finally,  however,  the  com 
panies  referred  to  were  duly  paraded  on  the  4  hur  - 
ricane,'  and  an  abridged  form  of  inspection  waa 
gone  through  with.  The  General,  finding  their 
arms  in  bad  condition,  very  naturally  inflicted 
some  severe  talk,  threatening  condign  punishment 
in  case  such  neglect  should  be  repeated. 

4'  But  during  the"  time  in  which  one  of  these  com 
panies  was  falling  in,  which  operation  was  not 
executed  with  that  degree  of  promptness  on  the 
part  of  the  rank  and  tile  satisfactory  to  the  Lieu 
tenant  commanding,  that  officer  called  out  in  a 
most  imploring  strain  —  'Fall  in,  gentlemen! 
Fall  in  lively,  gentlemen  !  '  That  application  of 
the  word  '  gentlemen  '  fell  upon  the  ear  of  Gen 
eral  Smith,  who,  turning  quickly  around,  hastily 
inquired,  *  Are  you  the  Lieutenant  in  command 
of  that  company  ? '  addressing  the  individual  who 
had  given  the  command  in  such  a  polite  manner. 

44 '  Yes,  sir,'  replied  the  trembling  subaltern. 

44  4  Then,  who  the  d — 1  are  you  calling  gentle 
men  ? '  cried  the  General.  '  I  am  an  old  soldier,' 
continued  he,  approaching  and  looking  more  ear 
nestly  at  the  Lieutenant,  4  but  I  must  confess,  sir, 
that  I  never  before  heard  of  the  rank  of  gentle 
men  in  the  army.  Soldiers,  sir,  are  all  supposed 
to  be  gentlemen,  of  course ;  but  hereafter,  sir, 
when  you  address  soldiers,  remember  to  say  sol 
diers,  or  men  ;  let  us  have  no  more  of  this  44  bow 
ing  and  scraping,"  where  it  is  your  duty  to  "  com 
mand/'  '  Then  turning  upon  his  heel,  his  eyes 
snapping  with  impatience,  the  old  General  gave 
vent  in  the  following  words  :  '  Gentlemen  !  Gen 
tlemen,  forsooth  !  And  rusty  guns !  Umph  ! 
That's  good !  But  that  is  ihi  way  it  goe;i  in  our 
army  nowadays.  Each  man  expects  to  run  for 


314 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


seme  civil  office,  on  his  return  from  the  war,  and 
so  great  is  his  fear  of  giving  offence  to  his  men, 
an  1  thus  injure  his  popularity,  that  he  permits 
them  to  neglect  their  most  important  duties ;  and 
to  "  trump  all,"  he  has  to  address  his  command 
with  the  word  "gentlemen  "  prefixed  in  order  to 
be  obeyed  !  Alas,  what  militia.'" 


ANECDOTES  OF  GENERAL  KEARNY.  —  "I  have 
never  told  you  how  popular  the  memory  of  Kearny 
is  with  all  here,"  said  a  soldier  —  "  Jersey  Kearny, 
as  some  call  him.  '  What  is  that  patch  of  red  on 
your  hat  for  ? '  I  asked  a  young  fellow  one  day. 
'  It  is  for  Kearny,  sir,'  said  he  ;  and  anybody  could 
eee  he  was  proud  of  it. 

"  Stories  are  related  by  the  dozen  of  the  daring 
of  Kearny  in  action.  Among  a  party  of  a  dozen 
officers,  many  of  whom  had  fought  under  him  in 
the  battles  on  the  Peninsula  and  Manassas,  I 
beard  a  number  of  adventures  related  to  which 
l.he  narrators  had  been  witnesses.  In  the  midst 
of  the  most  desperate  battles,  when  the  whole 
field  was  ablaze  with  fire  and  smoke,  Kearny  was 
in  an  ecstasy  of  delight,  as  he  rode  along  his 
unbroken  columns,  cheering  where  the  fight  was 
thickest !  '  You  might  hear  the  shrill  voice  of 
Kp3Tny,'  said  Colonel  Kiddoo,  of  a  Pennsylvania 
Jegiment,  '  ringing  out,  as  he  rode  along  the  lines, 
"  Ga)  ly,  men,  gayly !  "  I  shall  hear  that  voice 
of  Kearny's  till  I  die,'  said  the  Colonel.  But  .the 
old  General's  cheering  was  riot  always  couched  in 
the  choicest  terms  ;  for,  when  a  little  doubt  low 
ered  over  our  arms,  then  Kearny  would  put  on 
his  whol?  armor,  he  would  sink  the  rowels  of  his 
spurs  into  that  wonderful  horse  he  rode,  and,  fly 
ing  along  from  right  to  left  and  from  left  to  right, 
Le  would  hail  the  line  with,  'We  are  whipping 
them  like  h — 1,  like  h — 1  we  are  whipping  them  ! ' 

"  He  had  lost  the  left  arm,  and  he  would  often 
satch  the  rein  in  his  teeth ;  his  sword  in  his  right 
hand,  carried  above  his  head.  Nothing  was  too 
daring  for  him.  Once  he  had  cleared  an  immense 
log  and  ditch  together,  but  one  of  his  aids  halted 
when  he  came  to  it.  Kearny  saw  him  hesitate, 
and  spoke  out,  '  Jump  it,  you  d — d  ass  !  jump,  I 
say,  you  d — d  ass!'  he  often  repeated. 

"  It  is  said  that  when  Kearny  fell,  he  had 
ridden  furiously,  and  become  suddenly  surprised 
by  a  force  of  the  enemy  in  a  strip  of  woods. 
They  had  him  entrapped,  and  sang  out,  '  Sur 
render,  surrender  !  '  '  Never,  by  G — d  !  '  and 
Kearny,  wheeling  his  horse,  received  the  fatal 
bullet."  

How  WATERFORD  WAS  SAVED.  —  Just  before 
the  rebels  evacuated  the  village  of  Waterford, 
near  Leesburg,  Virginia,  they  openly  avowed  they 
would  burn  it  to  the  ground,  as  it  was  nothing 
more  than  a  "  cursed  Quaker  settlement."  A 
noble-hearted  Quaker  woman,  whose  husband 
had  been  chased  from  his  home  by  the  rebels 
some  months  before,  besought  a  gentleman  of 
h«rr  faith  to  hasten  over  to  Colonel  Geary's  camp, 
some  eight  miles  away,  and  ask  him  to  send  a 
force  to  Waterford  to  prevent  the  threatened  con 


flagration.  He  had  a  fine  horse,  but  declined  the 
duty,  owing  to  the  dargers  of  getting  through 
the  rebel  pickets.  "  Lend  me  thy  horse,  then," 
she  said.  He  declined  again.  "  Then  I  will  steal 
thy  horse,"  she  fcaid,  "  and  go  myself."  She  forth 
with  directed  a  servant  to  take  the  horse  to  a 
neighboring  wood,  to  wbicb  the  owner  made  no 
resistance.  Another  sei  ,ar*t  took  her  side-saddle 
to  the  horse,  when  the  heroine  appeared,  and, 
mounting  the  animal,  rode  off  in  open  day  right 
through  the  pickets,  who  did  not  stop  her,  strange 
to  say.  When  she  got  to  Geary's  camp,  she  met 
her  husband  ;  and,  being  brought  into  presence 
of  the  Colonel,  she  made  known  the  object  of  her 
mission,  which  was  quickly  complied  with,  and 
she  rode  back  to  Waterford  at  the  head  of  a 
detachment,  which  got  into  the  village  just  in 
time  to  see  the  rebel  force  leaving  the  opposite 
end  of  the  town  as  fast  as  their  heels  could  carry 
them.  And  thus  this  pretty  little  village  was 
saved  from  conflagration  by  the  resolute  eon- 
duct  of  this  Quaker  lady. 


THE  ESCAPE   OF  JOHN  MOPvGAN. 

GENERAL  JOHN  MORGAN  was  honored  with 
an  ovation  on  the  7th  of  January,  18^4,  on  his 
arrival  at  Richmond.  The  following  is  an  ac 
count  of  his  escape  from  the  Ohio  Penitentiary, 
and  subsequent  adventures : 

"  Their  bedsteads  were  small  iron  stools, 
fastened  to  the  wall  with  hinges.  They  could 
be  hooked  up,  or  allowed  to  stand  on  the  floor ; 
and,  to  prevent  any  suspicion,  for  several  days 
before  any  work  was  attempted,  they  made  it  a 
habit  to  let  them  down,  and  sit  at  their  doors 
and  read.  Captain  Hines  superintended  the 
work,  while  General  Morgan  kept  watch  to  divert 
the  attention  of  the  sentinel,  whose  duty  it  was 
to  come  round  during  the  day,  and  observe  if 
anything  was  going  on.  One  day  this  fellow 
came  in  while  Hokersmith  was  down  under  the 
floor,  boring  away,  and,  missing  him,  said,  '  Where 
is  Hokersmith?'  The  General  replied,  'He  is 
in  my  room  sick ;'  and  immediately  pulled  a  docu 
ment  out  of  his  pocket,  and  said  to  him,  '  Here  is 
a  memorial  I  have  drawn  up  to  forward  to  the 
Government  at  Washington.  What  do  you  think 
of  it?' 

"  The  fellow,  who,  perhaps,  could  not  read, 
being  highly  flattered  at  the  General's  condescen 
sion,  took  it,  and  very  gravely  looked  at  it  for 
several  moments  before  he  vouchsafed  any  reply ; 
then,  handing  it  back,  he  expressed  himself 
highly  pleased  with  it.  In  the  mean  time,  Hoker 
smith  had  been  signalled,  and  came  up,  profess 
ing  to  feel  '  very  unwell.'  This  sentinel  was  the 
most  difficult  and  dangerous  obstacle  in  their 
progress,  because  there  was  no  telling  at  what 
time  he  would  enter  during  the  day,  and  at  night 
he  came  regularly  every  two  hours  to  each  cell, 
and  inserted  a  light  through  the  bars  of  their 
door,  to  see  that  they  were  quietly  sleeping ;  and 
frequently,  after  he  had  completed  hi;  rounds,  he 
would  slip  back  in  the  dark,  with  a  p£  ir  of  India- 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


315 


rubber  shoes  on,  to  listen  at  their  cells  if  anything 
was  going  on.  The  General  says  that  he  would 
almost  invariably  know  of  his  presence  by  a  cer 
tain  magnetic  shudder  which  it  would  produce; 
but,  for  fear  that  this  acute  sensibility  might 
sometimes  fail  him,  he  broke  up  small  particles 
of  coal  every  morning,  and  sprinkled  them  before 
the  cell-door,  which  would  always  announce  his 
coming. 

"  Everything  was  now  ready  to  begin  the  work ; 
so,  about  the  latter  part  of  October,  they  be 
gan  to  bore.  All  were  busy,  —  one  making  a 
rope-ladder,  by  tearing  and  twisting  up  strips  of 
bed-ticking,  another  making  bowie-knives,  and 
another  twisting  up  towels.  They  labored  perse- 
veringly  for  several  days,  and,  after  >oring 
through  nine  inches  of  cement,  and  nine  thick 
nesses  of  brick  placed  edgewise,  they  began  to 
wonder  when  they  should  reach  the  soft  earth. 
Suddenly  a  brick  fell  through.  What  could  this 
mean  ?  What  infernal  chamber  had  they  reached  ? 
It  was  immediately  entered  ;  and,  to  their  great 
astonishment  and  joy,  it  proved  to  be  an  air- 
chamber  extending  the  whole  length  of  the  row 
of  cells.  Here  was  an  unexpected  interposition 
in  their  favor.  Hitherto  they  had  been  obliged 
to  conceal  their  rubbish  in  their  bed-tickings, 
each  day  burning  a  proportionate  quantity  of 
straw.  Now  they  had  room  enough  for  all  they 
could  dig.  They  at  once  commenced  to  tunnel  at 
right  angles  with  this  air-chamber,  to  get  through 
the  foundation  ;  and  day  after  day  they  bored  — 
day  after  day  the  blocks  of  granite  were  removed 
—  and  still  the  work  before  them  seemed  inter 
minable. 

"  After  twenty-three  days  of  unremitting  labor, 
and  getting  through  a  granite  wall  of  six  feet  in 
thickness,  they  reached  the  soil.  They  tunnelled 
up  for  some  distance,  and  light  began  to  shine. 
How  glorious  was  that  light !  It  announced  the 
fulfilment  of  their  labors;  and  if  Providence 
would  only  continue  its  favor,  they  would  soon 
be  free.  This  was  the  morning  of  the  26th 
day  of  November,  1863.  The  subsequent  night, 
at  twelve  o'clock,  was  determined  on  as  the  hour 
at  which  they  would  attempt  their  liberty.  Each 
moment  that  intervened  was  filled  with  dreadful 
anxiety  and  suspense,  and  each  time  the  guard 
entered  increased  their  apprehensions.  The  Gen 
eral  says  that  he  had  prayed  for  rain ;  but  the 
morrJng  of  the  27th  dawned  bright  and  beauti 
ful.  The  evening  came,  and  clouds  began  to 
gather.  How  they  prayed  for  them  to  increase ! 
If  rain  should  only  begin,  their  chances  of  detec 
tion  would  be  greatly  lessened.  While  these 
thoughts  were  passing  through  their  minds,  the 
keeper  entered  with  a  letter  for  General  Morgan. 
He  opened  it,  and  what  was  his  surprise  —  and  I 
may  say,  wonder  —  to  find  it  from  a  poor  Irish 
woman  of  his  acquaintance,  in  Kentucky,  com 
mencing  :  '  My  dear  Ginral  —  I  feel  certain  you 
are  going  to  try  to  git  out  of  prison  ;  but,  for  your  ; 
sake,  don't  you  try  it,  my  dear  Ginral.  You  will ; 
only  be  taken  prisoner  again,  and  made  to  sutler  j 
more  than  you  do  now.' 

"  The  letter  then  went  or  to  speak  of  his  kind- 1 


ness  to  the  poor  when  he  lived  at.  Lexington,  and 
concluded  by  agai?i  exhorting  him  to  trust  in 
God,  and  wait  his  time.  What  could  this  mean  ? 
No  human  being  on  the  outside  had  been  informt  d 
of  his  intention  to  escape;  and  yet,  just  as  all 
things  were  re«  ly  for  him  to  make  '.he  attempt, 
here  comes  a  letter  from  Winchester,  Kentucky, 
advising  him  not  to  'try  it.'  This  letter  had 
passed  through  the  examining  cilice  of  General 
Mason,  and  then  through  the  hands  of  the  lower 
officials.  What  if  it  should  excite  their  suspicion, 
and  cause  them  to  exercise  ar  increased  vigi 
lance?  The  situation,  however,  was  desperate. 
Their  fate  could  not  be  much  worse,  and  they 
resolved  to  go.  Nothing  now  remained  to  be 
done  but  for  the  General  and  Colonel  Dick  Mor 
gan  to  change  cells.  The  hour  approached  for 
them  to  be  locked  up.  They  changed  coats,  and 
each  stood  at  the  other's  cell  door  with  his  back 
exposed,  and  pretended  to  be  engaged  in  making 
up  their  beds.  As  the  turnkey  entered,  they 
'  turned  in,'  and  pulled  their  doors  shut. 

"  Six,  eight,  ten  o'clock  came.  '  How  each  pulse 
throbbed  as  they  quietly  awaited  the  approach  of 
twelve  !  It  came  —  the  sentinel  passed  his  round 
—  all  well.  After  waiting  a  few  moments  to  see 
if  he  intended  to  slip  back,  the  signal  was  given. 
All  quietly  slipped  down  into  the  air-chumtar, 
first  stuffing  their  flannel-shirts,  and  placing  them 
in  bed  as  they  were  accustomed  to  lie.  As  they 
moved  quietly  along  through  the  dark  recess  to 
the  terminus  where  they  were  to  emerge  from 
the  earth,  the  General  prepared  to  light  a  match. 
As  the  lurid  glare  fell  upon  their  countenances,  a 
scene  was  presented  which  can  never  be  forgot 
ten.  There  were  crouched  seven  brave  men  who 
had  resolved  to  be  free.  They  were  armed  with 
bowie-knives  made  out  of  case-knives.  Life,  in 
their  condition,  was  scarcely  to  be  desired,  and 
the  moment  for  the  desperate  chance  had  arrived. 
Suppose,  as  they  emerged  fiom  the  ground,  that 
the  dog  should  give  the  alarm  —  they  could 
but  die. 

"  But  few  moments  were  spent  in  this  kind  of 
apprehension.  The  hour  had  arrived,  and  yet 
they  came.  Fortunately  —  yes,  providentially  — 
the  night  had  suddenly  grown  dark  and  rainy, 
the  dogs  had  retired  to  their  kennels,  and  the 
sentinels  had  taken  refuge  under  shelter.  The 
inner  wall,  by  the  aid  of  the  rope-ladder,  was 
soon  scaled,  and  now  the  outer  one  had  to  be  at 
tempted.  Captain  Taylor  (who,  by  the  way,  is  a 
nephew  of  Old  Zach),  being  a  very  active  man, 
by  the  assistance  of  his  comrades  reached  the 
top  of  the  gate,  and  was  enabled  to  get  the  rope 
over  the  wall.  When  the  top  was  gained,  they 
found  a  rope  extending  all  around,  which  the 
General  immediately  cut,  as  he  suspected  that  it 
might  lead  into  the  Warden's  room.  This  turned 
out  to  be  correct.  They  then  entered  the  sen 
try-box  on  the  wall  and  changed  their  clothes, 
and  let  themselves  down  the  wall.  In  sliding 
down,  the  General  skinned  his  hand  very  badly, 
and  all  were  more  or  less  bruised.  Once  down, 
they  separated  —  Taylor  and  Shelton  going  one 
way,  Hokersmith,  Bennett,  and  McGee  aiicther. 


816 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


and.  General  Morgan  and   Captain   Hines    pro 
ceeding  immediately  towards  the  depot. 

"  The  General  had,  by  paying  fifteen  dollars  in 
gold,  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  paper  which  in- 
fiirmcd  him  of  the  schedule  time  of  the  different 
roads.  The  clock  struck  one,  and  he  knew,  by  hur- 
( ying,  he  could  reach  the  down-train  for  n''ncinnati. 
J  te  got  there  just  as  the  train  was  moving  off.  He 
at  once  looked  around  to  see  if  there  were  aay 
poldiers  on  board,  and  espying  a  Union  officer,  he 
boldly  walked  up  and  took  a  seat  beside  him. 
He  remarked  to  him,  that  '  as  the  night  was 
clamp  and  chilly,  perhaps  he  would  join  him  in  a 
drink.'  He  did  so,  and  the  party  soon  became  ,  i 
very  agreeable  to  each  other.  The  cars,  in  cross-  1 1 


"  He  remained  in  Kentucky  some  days,  feel 
ing  perfectly  safe,  and  sending  into  Louisville 
for  many  lit  lie  things  he  wanted.  Went  to 
Bardstown,  and  found  a  Federal  regiment  had 
just  arrived  there,  looking  for  him.  Remained 
here  and  about  for  three  or  four  days,  and  then 
struck  out  for  Dixie  ;  sometimes  disguising  him 


ing  the  Scioto,  have  to  pass  within  a  short  dis 
tance  of  the  Penitentiary.  As  they  passed,  the 
officer  remarked:  'There's  *he  hotel  at  which 
Morgan  and  his  officers  o./e  spending  their  lei 
sure.'  'Yes,'  replied  the  General,  'and  I  sincerely 
hope  he  will  make  up  his  mind  to  board  there  dur 
ing  the  balance  of  the  war,  for  he  is  a  great  nui 
sance.'  When  the  train  reached  Xenia,  it  was  de 
tained  by  some  accident  more  than  an  hour.  Im 
agine  his  anxiety,  as  soldier  after  soldier  would 
pass  through  the  train,  for  fear  that  when  the  sen 
tinel  passed  his  round  at  two  o'clock  their  ab 


sence  might  be  discovered. 
The    train   was    due   in 


Cincinnati    at    six 


o'clock.  This  was  the  hour  at  which  they  were 
turned  out  of  their  cells,  and,  of  course,  their 
escape  would  be  then  discovered.  In  a  few  mo 
ments  after  it  would  be  known  all  over  the 
rount.ry.  The  train,  having  been  detained  at 
^Lenia,  was  running  very  rapidly  to  make  up  the 
time.  It  was  already  past  six  o'clock.  The 
General  said  to  Captain  Hines:  'It's  after  six 
(  'clock  ;  if  we  go  to  the  depot,  we  are  dead 
men  Now  or  never.'  They  went  to  the  rear, 
and  put  on  the  brakes.  '  Jump,  Hines  !  '  Off 
he  went,  and  fell  heels  over  head  in  the  mud. 
Another  severe  turn  of  the  brakes,  and  the  Gen 
eral  jumped.  He  was  more  successful,  and 
lighted  on  his  feet.  There  were  some  soldiers 
near,  who  remarked,  *  What  in  h  —  1  do  you 
mean  by  jumping  off'  the  cars  here  ?  '  The  Gen 
eral  replied  :  '  What  in  the  d  —  1  is  the  use  of  my 
going  into  town  when  I  live  here  ?  and,  besides, 


what  business  is  it  of  yours  ? 

They  went  immediately  to  the  river. 


They 


found  a  skiff,  but  no  oars.     Soon    a   little  boy 
came  over,  and  appeared  to  be  waiting.     '  What 
are  you  waiting  for  ?  '  said  the  General.     '  I 
waiting  for  my  load.'     '  What  is  the  price 


load : 


ing 
p  ? 


my  load.'  *  wnat  is  me  price  of  a 
Two  dollars.'  '  Well,  as  we  are  tired 
and  hungry,  we  will  give  you  the  two  dollars, 
and  you  can  put  us  over.'  So  over  he  took 

them.     '  Where  does  Miss live  ?  '     '  Just  a 

short  distance  from  here.'  '  Will  you  show  me 
her  house  ?  '  '  Yes,  sir.'  The  house  was  reached, 
a  fine  breakfast  was  soon  obtained,  money  and  a 
horse  furnished,  a  good  woman's  prayer  bestowed, 


self  as  a  Government  cattle-contractor,  and  buy 
ing  a  large  lot  of  Gillie  ;  at  other  times  a  Quar 
termaster,  until  he  pot  to  the  Tennessee  River. 
Here  he  found  all  means  of  transportation  de 
stroyed,  and  the  I  ink  strongly  guarded ;  but 
with  the  assistance  of  about  thirty  others,  who 
had  recognized  him,  and  joined  him  in  spite  of 
remonstrances,  he  succeeded  in  making  g 


raft,  and  he  and  Captain  Hines  crossed  over. 
His  escort,  with  heroic  self-sacrifice,  refused  to 
cross  until  he  was  safely  over.  He  then  hired  a 
negro  to  get  his  horse  over,  paying  him  twenty 
dollars  for  it.  The  river  was  so  high  that  the 
horse  came  near  drowning,  and  after  more  than 
one  hour's  struggling  with  the  stream,  was  pulled 
out  so  exhausted  as  scarcely  to  be  able  to  stand. 

"The  General  threw  a  blanket  on  him  and  com 
menced  to  walk  him,  when  suddenly,  he  says,  he 
was  sei/ed  with  a  presentiment  that  he  would  be 
attacked,  and  remarking  to  Captain  Hines,  '  We 
shall  be  attacked  in  twenty  minutes,'  commenced 
saddling  his  horse.  He  had  hardly  tied  his  girth 
when  '  Bang !  bang ! '  went  the  minie  ballu. 
He  bounced  his  horse,  and  the  noble  animal,  ap 
pearing  to  be  inspired  with  new  vigor,  bounded 
off  like  a  deer  up  the  mountain.  The  last  he 
saw  of  his  poor  fellows  on  the  opposite  side,  they 
were  disappearing  up  the  river  bank,  fired  upon 
by  a  whole  regiment  of  Yankees.  By  this  time 
it  was  dark,  and  also  raining.  He  knew  that  a 
perfect  cordon  of  pickets  would  surround  the 
foot  of  the  mountain,  and  if  he  remained  there 
until  morning  he  would  be  lost.  So  he  deter 
mined  to  run  the  gantlet  at  once,  and  com 
menced  to  descend.  As  he  neared  the  foot,  lead 
ing  his  horse,  he  came  almost  in  personal  contact 
with  a  picket.  His  first  impulse  was  to  kill  him, 
but  finding  him  asleep,  he  determined  to  let  him 
sleep  on.  He  made  his  way  to  the  house  of  a 
Union  man  that  he  knew  lived  near  there,  and 
went  up  and  passed  himself  off  as  Captain  Quarter 
master  of  Hunt's  regiment,  who  was  on  his  way  to 
Athens,  Tenn.,  to  procure  supplies  of  sugar  and 
coffee  for  the  Union  people  of  the  country.  The 
lady,  who  appeared  to  be  asleep  while  this  inter 
view  was  taking  place  with  her  husband,  at  the 
mention  of  sugar  and  coffee,  jumped  out  of  bed 
in  her  night-clothes,  and  said  :  '  Thank  God  for 
that ;  for  we  ain't  seen  any  rale  coffee  up  here  for 


She  was  so  delighted  at 
a 


God  knows  how 

the  prospect,  that  she  made  up  a  fire  and 
cooked  them  a  good  supper.  Supper  being  over, 
the  General  remarked  that  he  understood  that 
some  rebels  had  'tried  to  cross  the  river  this 
afternoon.'  '  Yes,'  said  the  woman  '  but  our 


and  off  he  went.  From  there,  forward  through  men  killed  some  on  urn,  and  driv  the  rest  back.' 
Kentucky,  everybody  vied  with  each  other  as  to  i '  Now,'  said  the  General,  '  I  know  that ;  but 
who  should  show  him  the  most  attention  —  even  didn't  some  of  them  get  over  ? '  '  Yes,'  was 
to  the  negroes ;  and  young  ladies  of  refinement  her  reply,  '  but  they  are  on  the  mountain,  and 
begged  the  honor  to  cook  his  meals.  cannot  get  down  without  being  killed,  as  every 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


317 


road  is  stopped  up.'  He  then  said  to  her :  '  It 
is  very  important  for  me  to  get  to  Athens  by  to 
morrow  night,  or  I  may  lose  that  sugar  and 
coffee ;  and  I  am  afraid  to  go  down  any  of  these 
roads  for  fear  my  own  men  will  kill  me.' 

"The  fear  of  losing  that  sugar*  and  coffee 
brought  her  again  to  an  accommodating  mood, 
and  she  replied :  '  Why,  Paul,  can't  you  show 
the  Captain  through  our  farm,  that  road  down  by 
the  field?'  The  General  says:  'Of  course, 
Paul,  you  can  do  it ;  and  as  the  night  is  very 
cold,  I  will  give  you  ten  dollars  (in  gold)  to 
help  you  along.'  The  gold,  and  the  prospect 
of  sugar  and  coffee,  were  too  much  for  any 
poor  man's  nerves,  and  he  yielded,  and  getting 
on  a  horse,  he  took  them  seven  miles  to  the 
big  road. 

"  From  this  time  forward  he  had  a  series  of  ad 
ventures  and  escapes,  all  very  wonderful,  until  he 
got  near  another  river  in  Tennessee,  when  he 
resolved  to  go  up  to  a  house  and  find  the  way. 
Hines  went  to  the  house,  while  the  General  stood* 
in  the  road.  Hearing  a  body  of  cavalry  come 
dashing  up  behind  him,  he  quietly  slipped"  to  one 
side  of  the  road,  and  it  passed  by  without  ob 
serving  him.  They  went  travelling  after  Hines, 
and,  poor  fel'ow !  he  has  not  been  heard  of 
since.  How  s  id  to  think  that  he  should  be  either 
capturt  1  or  killed  after  so  many  brave  efforts,  not 
only  in  his  own  behalf,  but  also  in  that  of  the 
General ;  for  the  General  says  that  it  is  owing 
chieny  to  Hines's  enterprise  and  skill  that  they 
made  their  escape. 

"  When  he  arrived  at  the  river  referred  to  above, 
he  tried  to  get  over,  intending  to  stop  that  night 
with  a  good  Southern  man  on  the  other  side. 
He  could  not  get  over,  and  had  to  stop  at  the 
house  of  a  Union  man.  The  next  morning  he 
went  to  the  house  that  he  bad  sought  the  night 
previous,  and  found  the  track  of  the  Yankees 
scarcely  cold.  They  had  been  there  all  night, 
expecting  that  he  would  come  there,  and  had 
murdered  everybody  who  had  attempted  to  reach 
the  house,  without  hailing  them.  In  pursuing 
this  brutal  course,  they  had  killed  three  young 
men,  neighbors  of  this  gentleman,  and  went 
away,  leaving  their  dead  bodies  on  the  ground. 

"  After  he  had  crossed  Okey's  River,  and  got 
down  into  Middle  Tennessee,  he  found  it  almost 
impossible  to  avoid  recognition.  At  one  time  he 
passed  some  poor  women,  and  one  of  them  com 
menced  clapping  her  hands,  and  said,  *  O !  I 
know  who  that  is  !  I  know  who  that  is ! '  but, 
catching  herself,  she  stopped  short,  and  passed 
on  with  her  companions. 

"The  General  says  that  his  escape  was  made 
entirely  without  assistance  from  any  one  on  the 
outside,  and,  so  far  as  he  knows,  also  without 
their  knowledge  of  his  intention;  that  the  an 
nouncement  of  his  arrival  in  Toronto  was  one  of 
those  fortuitous  coincidences  that  cannot  be 
accounted  for;  that  it  assisted  him  materially, 
no  doubt.  In  fact,  he  says  that  his  *  wife's 
prayers'  saved  him,  and,  as  this  is  the  most 
agreeable  way  of  explaining  it,  he  is  determined 
to  believe  it." 


AN  INCIDENT.  —  Among  the  excuses  offered  for 
exemptions,  some  are  extremely  ludicrous.  In 
Smyth  County,  Va.,  we  learn,  one  man  on  en 
rolling  himself  wrote  opposite  his  name,  "one 
leg  too  short."  The  next  man  that  came  in, 
noticing  th°  excuse,  and  deeming  it  pretty  good, 
thought  he  would  make  his  better,  and  wrote  op 
posite  his  nime,  "bcth  legs  too  short3'  ! 


WIT  weir  H  PR  SERVING.  —  The  committee 
appointed  tc  collect  metal  for  cannon  for  Gen 
eral  Beauregard's  army,  applied  to  a  planter  of 
Adams  County,  Miss.,  for  his  bell.  Not  having 
such  an  article,  he  mentioned  it  to  his  wife,  when 
she  very  patriotically  offered  her  brass  kettle. 
The  little  ones  rather  demurred  to  the  sacrifice, 
and  one  of  them,  with  a  sweet  tooth,  said,  "  La, 
pa,  what  will  we  do  for  preserves  ? "  "  My 
daughter,"  said  the  wag  of  a  father,  "  our  whole 


duty    now    is   to   preserve   our   country, 
kettle  was  sent. 


The 


BUELL'S  STRATEGY.  —  A  soldier  who  was  in  the 
battle  of  Pittsburg  gives  the  following  account 
of  General  BuelPs  strategy  in  the  field : 

"  On  Monday  morning,  about  ten  o'clock,  Gen 
eral  Bueil  executed  a  manoeuvre  that  reflects  great 
credit  on  him  as  a  commander.  The  rebels  were 
advancing  in  great  force  to  turn  our  left  and  cap 
ture  our  transports  and  supplies,  when  Buell,  be 
coming  aware  of  their  intentions,  made  prepara 
tions  to  receive  them.  About  half  a  mile  above 
the  landing  are  two  large  ridges,  and  between 
them  he  placed  a  brigade  of  infantry.  The 
troops  were  ordered  to  lie  down.  He  then 
ordered  a  lower  battery  to  fire  on  the  enemy  and 
make  a  show  of  retreating  in  confusion  to  draw 
the  rebels  on.  On  came  the  rebels,  pell-mell, 
yelling  at  the  top  of  their  voices,  '  Bull's  Run,' 
'  Bull's  Run,'  thinking,  I  suppose,  to  frighten  us. 

"As  soon  as  the  rebels  came  in  range,  the  lower 
battery,  agreeably  to  orders,  opened  fire,  re 
treated,  and  took  a  position  in  rear  of  the  upper 
battery.  The  rebels,  seeing  our  men  retreating, 
charged  up  the  hill,  and  took  possession  of  the 
battery.  The  rebels,  in  the  mean  time,  were  not 
aware  of  our  troops  being  in  the  hollow  below 
them.  At  this  moment  the  signal  was  sounded, 
and  the  whole  brigade  rose  to  their  feet,  and 
poured  a  deadly  fire  of  rifle  balls  into  the  ranks 
of  the  rebels,  cutting  them  down  by  scores.  At 
this  favorable  moment,  also,  the  upper  battery 
poured  in  a  perfect  storm  of  grape  and  canister 
shot.  The  rebels  reeled  and  staggered  like 
drunken  men,  and  at  last  broke  and  fled  in  every 
direction,  leaving  the  ground  strewed  with  dead 
and  dying."  

INCIDENT  or  FORT  DONELSON.  —  One  link 
incident  will  show  wrhat  the  rebels  expected. 
Having  exhibited  such  a  large  force,  and  com 
pletely  surrounded  the  nationals,  they  tbcjght 
it  was  about  time  for  them  to  surrender,  as  many 
others  had  done ;  and  *hey  be^an  to  be  out  of 
patience  at  the  n.en's  foolish  tenacity,  as  they 


318 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


termed  it,  and  determined  to  make  a  charge  upon 
the  siege  gun,  which  they  hoped  to  capture  and 
decide  the  contest.  Two  rebels,  more  venture- 
Rome  than  the  rest,  rode  rapidly  to  the  advance 
of  the  charging  force,  and  ventured  a  little  advice 
—  yelling  out,  "  You  d — d  fools  you,  don't  you 
Know  when  to  surrender?  Don't  you  see  you 
are  completely  surrounded?"  Our 'gallant  little 
force  at  this  point  did  not  appreciate  this  admo 
nition  ;  hut  just  then  bang  went  the  old  gun, 
blowing  Mr.  Rebels  and  horses  to  atoms,  repuls 
ing  the  charge,  and  saving  this  point  again.  The 
men  and  horses  were  about  fifteen  feet  from  the 
gun  when  it  went  off,  loaded  with  canister. 


A  CASE  OF  AFFECTION.  —  A  soldier  at  La 
Grange,  Tennessee,  gives  the  following :  "  The 
women  would  rather  we  would  take  prisoners  all 
the  men  on  the  plantation  than  one  blind  mule. 
A  case  of  like  filial  affection  I  witnessed  one 
time  while  our  company  was  out  picking  up 
scattering  members  of  Faulkner's  guerrilla  band. 
Coming  up  to  a  house  where  we  had  ascertained 
one  of  them  lived,  our  Lieutenant  inquired  of 
the  '  gude  woman '  of  the  house,  the  whereabouts 
of  her  lord.  She  hurriedly  informed  him  that 
her  husband  was  not  at  home.  The  Lieutenant 
knew  he  was,  however,  and  set  some  of  us  to  search 
ing  for  Mr.  Butternut,  while  others  were  looking 
about  for  anything  else  contraband.  During  the 
search,  the  woman  noticed  the  boys  catching  'a 
mule  in  the  lot,  and  bursting  into  tears,  sobbed 
jHtoously,  '  O,  dear,  Mr.  Lieutenant,  they  are 
laking  my  poor  oldmool!  O,  Mr.  Lieutenant, 
good  Mr.  Lieutenant,  for  the  love  of  God  and 
your  mother,  if  you  ever  had  one,  don't  let  'em 
take  my  poor  old  mool ! '  To  this  appeal,  Lieu 
tenant  Watson  only  asked  again  where  she  had 
concealed  her  husband.  «  O,  I'll  show  you  where 
he  is,  but  for  God's  sake  spare  me  that  poor  old 
mool ! '  Her  trembling  husband  was  soon  forth 
coming,  and  mounting  him  upon  the  mule,  we 
left  the  woman  standing  in  the  door  wringing  her 
hands  and  crying,  not  for  her  betrayed  husband, 
but '  my  poor  old  mool '  —  doubtless  beginning  to 
think  this  war  was  not  so  fine  a  thing  as  the  country 
had  supposed  before  it  had  followed  them  home  to 
their  hearthstones."  

HEROISM  AT  FREDERICKSBURG.  —  Captain 
James  H.  Platt,  Jr.,  of  company  B,  Fourth  Ver 
mont  regiment,  having  been  ordered  with  his 
company  to  the  right  of  the  skirmish  line,  after 
having  once  expended  nearly  all  its  ammunition 
and  been  re-supplied,  led  his  men  out  in  front  of 
a  battery  within  three  hundred  yards,  where  they 
did  noble  execution  till  a  charge  of  canister  struck 
down  half  the  company,  killing  four  and  wound 
ing  fourteen,  when  he  ordered  them  back  to  re 
form,  which  they  did,  and  retired  in  good  order 
with  the  regiment  just  relieved.  Yet  not  all,  for 
calling  some  to  his  side,  the  humane  Captain,  a 
skilful  physician,  bound  up  the  most  dangerous 
wounds,  thus  prolonging  at  least  several  lives, 
and  with  the  assistance  he  had  summoned,  bore 


[  away  to  the  hospital  a  mile  distan*  all  who  were 
i  unable  to  help  themselves.  This  was  done  amid 
!  bullets  flying  like  hail,  yet,  1  nrough  a  kind  Provi- 
j  ience,  no  one  was  harmed.  As  the  gallant  Cap- 
j  :ain  said,  "  God  would  nof  let  us  suffer  while  in 
discharge  of  such  a  duty." 


"WHILE  GOD  HE  LEAVES  ME  REASON, 
GOD  HE  \V;LL  LEAVE  ME  JIM."« 

BY    MART    H.    C.    BOOTH. 

"  SOLDIER,  sav,   did  you  meet  my  Jimmy  in  the 

fight  ? 
You'd  know  him  by  his  manliness,  and  by  his  eyes' 

sweet  light." 
"  I  fought  beside  your  gallant  son  —  a  brave,  good 

fellow  he ; 
Alas !  he  fell  beneath  the  shot  that  should  have 

taken  me." 

"And  think  you  that  my  Jimmy  cared  about  a 

little  fall  ? 
Why  make  a  great  ado  of  what  he  would  not  mind 

at  all  ? 
When  Jimmy  was  a  little  boy,  and  played  with 

Bobby  Brown, 
He  always  played  the  enemy,  and  Bob  he  shot  him 

down. 

"I've  seen  him  fall  a  hundred  times,  the  cunning 

little  sprite  ; 
He  can't  forget  his  boyish  tricks  though  in   an 

earnest  right. 
But  never  mind  about  the  fall;  I  want  to  hear  of 

him  ; 
Perhaps  you've  heard  the  Captain  speak  of  what  he 

thinks  of  Jim." 

"  I've  often  heard  the  Captain  say  Jim  was  a  splen 
did  lad, 

The  bravest  and  the  handsomest  of  all  the  boya 
he  had. 

And  here's  a  lock  of  Jimmy's  hair,  and  here's  a 
golden  ring  ; 

I  found  it  tied  around  his  neck  upon  a  silken 
string." 

The  mother  took  the  matted  tress,  she  took  the 

ring  of  gold, 
But  shook  her  head,  and  laughed  aloud  at  what  the 

soldier  told. 
"  Soldier,"  said  she,  ««  where  is  my  boy  ?  where  is 

my  brave  boy,  Jim  ? 
I  gave  the  others  all  to  God,  but  God  he  left  me 

him. 

"  Hush,  there  is  Uncle  Abraham  a-knocking  at  tie 

door  ; 
He  calls  for  other  mothers'  sons,  «  T7iree  hundred 

thousand  more  !  * 
Be  still,  Old  Uncle  Abraham  ;   'twill  do  no  good 

to  call ; 
You  think  ray  house  is  full  of  boys ;   ah,  Jimmy 

was  my  all." 

*  Words  of  a  soldier's  mother,  who,  on  hearing  that 
her  only  son  hid  fallen  in  battle,  became  hopelessly 
insane,  though  continually  declaring  that  his  having 
"  fallen  "  was  cf  no  consequence. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


319 


A  LAUGHABIE  ADVENTURE.  —  The  following 
story  \vas  relate  I  by  lieutenant  J.  H.  Spencer, 
of  the  First  Minnesota  regiment : 

"  On  the  — th  we  moved  towards  Madison  Court 
Tioi.se,  hnd  when  within  two  and  one  half  miles 
r;f  tiio  town  we  came  to  Robson  River,  which 
vas  i-o  high,  from  the  recent  rains,  that  we  could 
uot  cross,  there  being  no  bridge.  We  camped 
for  the  night,  and  remained  until  the  20th.  At 
three  A.  M.  we  crossed  the  river,  and  at  daybreak 
the  advance  guard,  which  consisted  of  sixteen 
men,  a  guide  and  myself,  charged  through  the 
town,  and  drove  the  enemy's  pickets  towards 
Gordonsville.  On  the  south  side  of  the  town  we 
found  a  horse  hitched  in  front  of  a  house,  saddled 
and  bridled,  and  covered  with  sweat.  Our  guide 
told  us  that  the  man  who  lived  there  was  a  strong 
'  secesh,'  and  I  recognized  the  horse  as  one  I  had 
seen  the  day  before,  through  my  glass,  mounted 
by  a  rebel  scout.  I  ordered  my  men  to  surround 
tiie  house,  while  I  quietly  knocked  at  the  door. 
Ai»  elderly  lady  made  her  appearance.  I  asked 
her  if  Mr.  Newton  (the  man's  name)  was  at  home. 
She  said  '  no,  he  had  gone  to  Gordonsville ;  had 
been  gone  two  days.'  I  asked  her  whose  horse 
that  was  at  the  front  gate.  She  did  not  know,  but 
thought,  perhaps,  it  belonged  to  the  rebel  pickets 
that  had  been  stationed  near  the  house.  I  told 
her  that  I  thought  so  too,  and  that  I  should  have 
to  search  the  house,1  for  I  believed  that  some  one 
was  secreted  in  it.  She  begged  of  me  not  to  do 
so,  and  assured  me  that  no  one  was  in  the  house 
bul  herself  and  daughter-in-law  ;  that  her  daugh 
ter  was  very  sick,  and  could  not  be  disturbed.  I 
told  her  that  I  would  not  disturb  her  or  interfere 
with  private  property,  unless  in  the  discharge  of 
my  duties.  I  searched  all  the  rooms  but  the  one 
in  which  the  sick  lady  was.  I  found  two  Enh'eld 
rifles,  and  one  Colt's  revolver,  all  loaded  with 
ball  cartridges.  The  old  lady  begged  of  me  not 
to  disturb  her  daughter  —  she  was  very  sick.  My 
modesty  prompted  me  not  to  enter  the  room,  but 
it  was  my  duty  to  make  a  thorough  search.  I 
quietly  opened  the  door,  and  looked  in.  The 
lady  was  in  the  bed,  and  apparently  in  great 
agony.  I  stepped  into  the  room  and  looked 
carefully  around  into  the  closet  and  under  the 
bed,  but  discovered  nothing  suspicious.  I  noticed, 
with  some  misgivings,  that  the  lady  took  up  more 
room  in  the  bed  than  I  thought  was  necessary, 
(unless  she  h:4  on  hoops).  I  turned  down  the 
bed  clothes,  and  found  —  what?  The  identical 
soldier,  Newton,  who  had  *  been  gone  to  Gordons 
ville  two  days!1  He  was  snugly  curled  up  on 
the  back  side  of  the  bed.  and  it  seemed  that  he 
had  gone  to  bed  in  something  of  a  hurry,  for  he 
had  on  all  his -clothes,  even  his  cap  and  boots. 
His  wife  also  seemed  to  recover  very  rapidly  from 
her  illness.  I  shall  never  forget  the  expression 
that  was  depicted  upon  Newton's  countenance. 
1  posted  my  pickets  and  returned  with  my  pris 
oner  to  camp."  

A  RABBIT  IN  BATTLE.  —  A  full-grown  rabbit 
had  hid  itself  away  in  th?  copse  of  a  fence,  which 
separated  two  fields  near  the  centre  and  most  ex 


posed  portion  of  the  battle-ground.  Rabbits  are 
wont  to  spend  the  clay  almost  motionless,  and  in 
seeming  dreamy  meditation.  This  cne  could  have 
had  but  little  thought  —  if  rabbits  think  — -when 
choosing  its  place  of  retreat  at  early  dawn,  thc:t 
ere  it  was  eventide  there  wou.d  be  such  an  un 
wonted  and  ruthless  disturbance. 

During  all  the  preparations  for  battle  made 
around  its  lair  during  the  forenoon,  it  neverthe 
less  remained  quiet.  Early,  however,  in  the  after 
noon,  when  the  rage  of  battle  had  fairly  begun, 
and  shot  and  shell  were  falling  thick  and  fast  in 
all  directions,  a  shell  chanced  to  burst  so  near  the 
rabbit's  hiding-place  that  he  evidently  considered 
it  unsafe  to  tarry  longer.  So,  frightened  almost 
to  death,  out  he  sprang  into  the  open  field,  and 
ran  hither  and  thither,  with  vain  hope  of  finding 
a  safe  retreat.  Whichever  way  it  ran,  cannons 
were  thundering  out  their  smoke  and  fire,  regi 
ments  of  men  were  advancing  or  changing  position, 
horses  galloping  here  and  there,  shells  bursting, 
and  solid  shot  tearing  up  the  ground.  Sometimei 
it  would  squat  down  and  lie  perfectly  still,  when 
some  new  and  sudden  danger  would  again  start 
it  into  motion.  Once  more  it  would  stop,  and 
raise  itself  as  high  as  possible  on  its  hind  legs, 
and  look  all  round  for  some  place  of  possible 
retreat.  At  length  that  part  of  the  field  seemed 
open  which  lay  in  the  direction  opposite  from 
where  the  battle  raged  most  fiercely.  Thither  it 
accordingly  ran  with  all  its  remaining  speed. 

Unobserved  by  it,  however,  a  regiment  was  in 
that  direction  held  in  reserve,  and,  like  Welling 
ton's  at  Waterloo,  was  lying  flat  on  the  ground, 
in  order  to  escape  the  flying  bullets.  Ere  the 
rabbit  seemed  aware,  it  had  jumped  into  the  midst 
of  these  men.  It  could  go  no  farther,  but  pres 
ently  nestled  down  beside  a  soldier,  and  tried  to 
hide  itself  under  his  arm.  As  the  man  spread  the 
skirt  of  his  coat  over  the  trembling  fugitive,  in 
order  to  insure  it  all  the  protection  in  his  power 
to  bestow,  he  no  doubt  feelingly  remembered  how 
much  himself  then  needed  some  higher  protec 
tion,  under  the  shadow  of  whose  arm  might  be 
hidden  his  own  defenceless  head  from  the  fast 
multiplying  missiles  of  death  scattered  in  all  di 
rections. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  the  regiment 
was  ordered  up  and  forward.  From  the  protec 
tion  and  safety  granted,  the  timid  creature  had 
evidently  acquired  confidence  in  man  —  as  the 
boys  are  wont  to  say,  "  had  been  tamed."  As  the 
regiment  moved  forward  to  the  front  of  the  bat 
tle,  it  hopped  along,  tame,  seemingly,  as  a  kitten, 
close  at  the  feet  of  the  soldier  who  had  bestowed 
the  needed  protection.  Wherever  the  regiment 
went,  during  all  the  remaining  part  of  that  bloody 
day  and  terrible  battle,  the  rabbit  kept  close  be 
side  its  new  friend.  When  night  came  on,  and 
the  rage  of  battle  had  ceased,  it  finally  unmo 
lested  "and  quietly  hopped  away,  in  order  to  find 
some  one  of  its  old  and  familiar  haunts. 


AN  IRISH  GUNNER.  —At  the  battle  of  Fredericks- 
burg  a  large  cannon  was  located  quite  a  distance 


320 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


from  the  rebels,  and  so  much  so  that  it  was  not 
being  fired.  An  Irishman  came  along.and  wanted 
to  fire,  but  they  told  him  it  would  only  be  a  waste 
of  ammu  uition.  "  But,"  said  the  Irishman,  "  be 
d — d  if  I  don't  pay  for  the  ammunition  if  it  don't 
hit  'em."  Consent  was  given,  and  he  loaded  his 
gun,  cutting  his  fuse  from  his  own  sense  of  dis 
tance,  drawn  from  his  unerring  sight.  Soon 
an  officer  was  seen,  with  another  on  each  side, 
when  Pat  sighted  his  gun,  and  let  go.  Down 
went  the  officer,  smash  went  the  shell,  wounding 
or  killing  the  other  two ;  and  thus,  with  equal 
precision,  he  continued  to  cut  his  fuse  and  fire  as 
long  as  they  remained  on  the  ground. 


NOTE  FROM  AN  OFFICER'S  JOURNAL.  —  "  Near 
Chattanooga,  Thursday,  September  17. — To-day 
a  young  lady  called  with  her  mother  at  headquar 
ters,  and  asked  to  see  the  *  old  flag,'  saying  for 
two  years  they  had  been  denied  a  sight  of  it.  As 
it  was  unrolled  before  them,  they  burst  into  tears. 
In  the  door-yard  of  her  home  is  a  grave,  and  I 
will  tell  you  how  it  came  there  —  then  wonder  at 
her  weeping  if  you  will.  While  the  rebels  were 
in  this  place,  and  were  enforcing  the  conscription, 
her  father  fled  to  the  mountains.  Sought  out  and 
captured  by  the  rebel  fiends,  without  the  knowl 
edge  of  his  wife  and  daughter,  by  night  they 
brought  him  to  his  home  and  hung  him  on  the 
tree  beneath  which  he  now  sleeps.  Morning  came, 
and  two  rebel  soldiers  called  to  tell  them  the  hus 
band  and  father  was  outside,  wishing  to  see  them. 
Going  out,  expecting  to  embrace  him,  what  a  sight 
met  their  eyes  !  Horror-stricken,  they  appealed 
to  the  men  to  aid  them  in  giving  him  a  decent 
burial,  but  to  no  purpose ;  and  amid  the  jeers  and 
brutal  insults  of  the  God-forsaken  wretches,  they 
themselves  were  compelled  to  cut  him  down,  dig 
his  grave,  and  bury  him  from  their  sight  forever. 
What  wonder  that  they  wept  when  they  saw  the 
old  banner  of  freedom  waving  over  them  ?  Is 
God  just,  and  will  he  allow  such  men  to  triumph  ? 
Little  indeed  d»  those  at  home  know  of  the  per 
secutions,  the  tortures,  agonies  the  Union  people 
have  endured.  Until  mine  own  eyes  had  seen  it,  I 
could  not  hold  such  belief  against  my  fellow-man." 


INCIDENTS  OF  GETTYSBURG.  —  The  following 
incidents  are  taken  from  the  diary  of  an  English 
officer,  who  was  present  at  the  battle  : 

"  General  Hill  told  me  that  in  the  first  battle, 
near  Gettysburg,  the  Yankees  had  fought  with  a 
determination  unusual  to  them.  He  pointed  out 
a  railway  cutting,  in  which  they  had  made  a  good 
stand  ;  also  a  field,  in  the  centre  of  which  he  had 
seen  a  man  plant  the  regimental  colors,  round 
which  the  regiment  had  fought  for  some  time  with 
much  obstinacy  ;  and  when,  at  last,  it  was  obliged 
to  retreat,  the  color-bearer  retreated  last  of  all, 
turning  around  every  now  arid  then  to  shake  his 
fist  at  the  advancing  rebels.  General  Hill  said 
he  felt  quite  sorry  when  he  saw  this  gallant  Yan 
kee  meet  his  doori. 

"  In  the  first  day's  contest  the  rebels  had  about 


twenty  thousand  men  in  the  field.  In  the  second 
day's 'fight  —  2d  of  July  —  General  Lee  is  de 
scribed  as  sitting  most  of  the  time  '  quite  alone 
on  the  stump  of  a  tree.'  What  I  especially  re 
marked  was,  that  during  the  whole  time  the  firing 
continued,  he  only  sent  one  message,  and  only  re 
ceived  one  report." 

Of  the  preparations  mo.de  for  the  third  and  de 
cisive  day's  contest,  the  wriu-r  says: 

"  Pickett's  division,  which  had  just  come  up, 
was  to  bear  the  brunt  in  Longstreet's  attack,  to 
gether  with  Hill's,  and  Petligrew  in  Hill's  corps. 
Pickett's  division  was  a  weak  one  —  under  five 
thousand  —  owing  to  the  absence  of  two  brigades." 

After  the  battle  had  opened,  the  writer  pro 
ceeded  to  join  General  Longs)  reet: 

"  And  although  astonished  to  meet  such  vast 
numbers  of  wounded,  I  had  not  seen  enough  to 
give  me  any  real  idea  of  the  extent  of  the  mis 
chief.  When  I  got  close  up  to  General  Long- 
street  I  saw  one  of  his  regiments  advancing 
through  the  woods  in  good  order ;  so,  thinking  I 
was  just  in  time  to  see  the  attack,  I  remarked  to 
the  General  that  I  wouldn't  have  missed  this  for 
anything.  Longstreet  was  seated  at  the  top  of  a 
snake  fence,  and  looking  perfectly  calm  and  un 
perturbed.  He  replied,  laughing,  '  The  devil  you 
wouldn't !  /  would  like  to  have  missed  it  very 
much.  We've  attacked  and  been  repulsed.  Look 
there  ! '  For  the  first  time  I  then  had  a  view  of 
the  open  space  between  the  two  positions,  and  saw 
it  covered  with  Confederates  slowly  and  sulkily 
returning  towards  us,  under  a  heavy  fire  of  ar 
tillery.  .But  the  fire  where  we  were  was  not  so 
bad  as  farther  to  the  rear ;  for  although  the  air 
seemed  ali\;e  with  shell,  yet  the  greater  number 
burst  behind  us. 

"  The  General  was  making  the  best  arrange 
ments  in  his  power  to  resist  the  threatened  ad 
vance,  by  advancing  some  artillery,  rallying  the 
stragglers,  £c.  I  remember  seeing  a  General 
(Pettigrew,  I  think  it  was)  come  up  to  him,  and 
report  that  '  he  was  unable  to  bring  his  men  up 
again.'  Longstreet  turned  upon  him  and  replied, 
with  some  sarcasm,  'Very  well ;  never  mind,  then, 
General ;  just  let  them  remain  where  they  are ; 
the  enemy's  going  to  advance,  and  will  spare  you 
the  trouble.' 

"  He  asked  for  something  to  drink  ;  I  gave  him 
some  rum  out  of  my  silver  flask,  which  I  begged 
he  would  keep  in  remembrance  of  the  occasion  ; 
he  smiled,  and,  to  my  great  satisfaction,  accepted 
the  memorial.  He  then  went  off  to  give  some 
orders  to  McLaw's  division. 

"  Soon  afterwards,  I  joined  General  Lee,  who 
had,  in  the  mean  while,  come  to  the  front,  on  be 
coming  aware  of  the  disaster.  If  Longstreet's 
conduct  was  admirable,  that  of  General  Lee  was 
perfectly  sublime.  He  was  engaged  in  rallying 
and  encouraging  the  broken  troops,  and  was  rid 
ing  about  a  little  in  front  of  the  wood,  quite  alone, 
the  whole  of  his  staff  being  engaged  in  a  similar 
manner  farther  to  the  rear.  His  face,  which  is 
always  placid  and  cheerful,  did  not  show  signs  of 
the  slightest  disappointment,  care,  or  annoyance ; 
and  he  was  addressing  to  ev^ry  *eJdk.r  he  met  » 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


321 


few  words  of  encouragement,  such  as,  '  All  this 
will  come  right  in  the  end ;  we'll  talk  it  over  af 
terwards  ;  hut,  in  the  mean  time,  all  good  men 
must  rail} .  We  want  all  good  and  true  men  just 
now,'  &c.  He  spoke  to  all  the  wounded  men  that 
passed  him;  and  the  slightly  wounded  he  ex 
horted  'to  hind  up  their  hurts  and  Lake  up  a 


went  almost  crazy,  shouting,  '  Glory  to  God,  they 
have  come  at  last ; '  then,  sinking  his  heels  into 
his  horse's  sides,  he  went  galloping  through  <h« 
town,  waving  his  hat  and  shouting  away,  '  Glory 
to  God,  they've  come  at  last ! ' 

"  It  \vus  not  long,  however,  before  ho  was  back, 
nnd  coaxing  some  of  the  boys  to  go  home  \\iih 


musket '  in  this  emergency.     Very  tew  failed  to  j  him.     He  said  '  it  weren't  only  twenty  milc«  ; '  if 
answer  his  appeal ;  and  I  saw  many  badly  wounded  j  they  would  go  home  with  him,  '  he  know'd  the  oM 
en  take  oil' their  hats  and  cheer  him.  woman  would  go  crazy.'     He  said  she  had  been 


ine? 


"  He  said  to  me,  'This  has  been  a  sad  day  for 
us,  Colonel  —  a  sad  day;  bat  we  can't  expect  al 
ways  to  gain  victories.'  He  was  also  kind  enough 
to  advise  me  to  get  into  some  more  sheltered 
position. 

*'  Notwithstanding  the  misfortune  which  had 
so  suddenly  befallen  him,  General  Lee  seemed  to 
observe  everything,  however  trivial.  When  a 
mounted  officer  began  beating  his  horse  for  shying 
at  the  bursting  of  a  shell,  lie  called  out,  'Don't 
whip  him,  Captain  —  donl  whip  him;  I've  got 
just  such  another  foolish  horse  myself,  and  whip 
ping  does  no  good.' 

"  I  happened  to  see  a  man  lying  flat  on  his  face 
in  a.sma^i  ditch,  and  1  remarked  that  I  didn't 
think  he  seemed  dead.  This  drew  General  Lee's 
attention  to  the  man,  who  commenced  groaning 
dismally.  Finding  appeals  to  ids  patriotism  of 
no  avail,  General  Lee  had  him  ignominiously  set 
on  his  legs  by  some  neighboring  gunners. 

"  I  saw  General  YY'iJcox  (an  otiicer  Vno  wears 
a  short  round  jacket  and  a  battered  &tra\v  hat) 
come  up  to  him  and  explain,  almost  crying,  the 
state  of  his  brigade.  General  Lee  immediately 
shook  hands  with  him,  and  said,  cheerfully. '  Nev 
er  mind,  General  —  all  this  has  been  my  fault ;  it 
is  I  that  have  lost  this  fight,  and  you  must  help 
me  out  of  it  in  the  best  way  you  can.' 


go 

'  saving  thirteen  jars  of  apple  butter  ever  since 
last  summer,  f/r  the  Yankees  lo  ?at.'  When  our 
boys  told  him  there  would  be  a  fight  at  the  salt 
works,  and  that  that  was  our  destination,  he 
wantt  1  to  borrow  a  gun  and  go  along,  saying  ihe 
rule  of  the  rebels  was  over  now,  and  'his  was 
come,  and  he  was  '  ir\er  revenge  like  a  four-year- 
old."1  

WHOSE  FATHER  WAS  HE?  —  After  the  ba! tie 
of  Gettysburg  a  Union  soldier  was  found  in  a 
secluded  spot  on  the  field,  where,  wounded,  he 
had  laid  himself  down  to  die.  In  his  hands, 
tightly  clapped,  was  an  ambrotype  containing  the 
portraits  of  three  small  children,  and  upon  this 
picture  his  eyes,  set  in  death,  rested.  The  last 
object  upon  which  the  dying  father  looked  was 
the  image  of  his  children,  and.  as  he  silently 
gazed  upon  them,  his  soul  passed  away.  How 
touching!  how  solemn  !  What  pen  can  describe 
the  emotions  of  this  patriot  father  as  he  gazed 
upon  these  children,  so  soon  to  be  made  orphans! 
Wounded  and  alone,  the  din  of  battle  still  sound 
ing  in  his  ears,  he  lies  down  to  die.  His  laet 
thoughts  and  prayers  are  for  his  family.  He  ha* 
finished  his  work  on  earth  ;  his  last  battle  has 
been  fought ;  he  has  freely  given  his  life  to  his 
country  ;  and  now,  while  his  life's  blood  is  ebb- 


"  In  this  manner  I  saw  General  Lee  encourage    ing,   he  clasps   in    his   hands  the  image  of   his 
and  reanimate  his  somewhat  dispirited  troops,  and  j  children,  and,  commending  them  to  the  God  of 
magnanimously  take  upon  his  own  shoulders  the 
whole  weight  of  the  repulse." 


LOYALTY  IN  EAST  TENNESSEE.  — A  letter  from 
a  soldier  in  Burnside's  army,  written  from  Knox- 
ville,  says  : 

"  1  saw  an  old  man  from  Jefferson  County,  in 
this  State,  who,  although  seventy-three  years  of 
age,  came  to  join  the  army.  He  brought,  as  he 
terms  them,  his  own  crowd,  of  one  hundred  men, 
and  another  of  eighty.  He  and  forty  of  his  com 
pany  have  been  bushwhacking  in  the  mountains 
for  fourteen  months. 

"  Seven  or  eight  regiments  are  under  way,  sev 
eral  of  which  will  be  full  this  week.  Morristown, 
Greenville,  and  Jonesboro'  have,  I  learn,  each  a 
regiment  nearly  full. 

"  When  we  were  at  Morristown,  and  gett'ng 
on  the  cars  for  Greenville,  an  old  countryrran 
from  back  some  twenty  miles  came  riding  into 
towTi.  As  he  did  not  know  we  were  there,  he 
looked  at  the  brigade  a  while  with  astonishment. 
When  the  state  of  things  began  to  Hash  upon 
him,  he  asked  If  we  'weren't  the  blue-bellied 
Yankees;'  arid,  as  soon  as  he  was  satisfied,  he 
21 


the  fatherless,  rests  his  last  lingering  look  upon 
them.  

FIGHTING  BY  THE  DAY.  —  At  the  siege  of 
Lexington,  Missouri,  an  old  Texan,  dressed  in 
buckskin  and  armed  with  a  long  rifle,  used  to 
go  up  to  the  works  every  morning  about  seven 
o'clock,  carrying  his  dinner  in  a  tin  pail.  Taking 
a  good  position,  he  bangfd  away  at  the  Federals 
till  noon,  then  rested  an  hour,  ate  his  dinner  ; 
after  which  he  resumed  operations  till  six  P.  M.( 
when  he  returned  home  to  supper  and  a  night's 
sleep.  The  next  day,  a  little  before  seven,  paw 
him,  dinner  and  rifle  in  hand,  trudging  up  street 
to  begin  again  his  reguhr  day's  work,  —  and  in 
this  style  he  continued  till  the  surrender. 


INCIDENT  OF  LINN  CREEK,  MISSOURI.  —  Dur 
ing  the  hottest  of  the  conflict,  Lieutenant  Mont 
gomery,  son  of  the  captain  of  that  name,  found 
himself  without  a  sabre,  having  lost  it  when  he 
discharged  both  of  his  revolvers,  and  having 
nothing  with  which  to  reload,  ani  no  other 
weapon  of  defence,  he  "  pitched  i  i "  with  his  fist. 
One  of  the  prisoners  brought  in  showed  unmis- 


322 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.   AND    INCIDENTS. 


takable  marks  of  violence  from  this  source.  At 
the  close  of  the  fight,  Captain  Switzler  became 
separated  from  his  company,  and  soon  afterwards 
found  himself  set  upon  by  three  of  the  rebels, 
who,  with  their  guns,  were  intent  on  taking  his 
lift;  by  means  of  clubbing  him,  their  guns  being 
unloaded.  As  each  approached,  the  Captain  struck 
him  a  blow  with  the  side  of  his  sabre,  ordering 
him  to  surrender.  He  succeeded  in  defending 
himself  in  this  way  until  young  Montgomery 
came  to  his  assistance,  when  all  three  of  the 
rebels  were  taken  prisoners. 


A  THRILLING  NARRATIVE.  —  Rev.  H.  I).  Fish 
er,  a  well-known  minister  of  the  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Church,  gives  the  following  thrilling  accc  mt 
of  his  escape  from  death  during  the  Lawrence 
massacre : 

"  Many  miraculous  escapes  from  the  assassin's 
hand  were  made  ;  none  perhaps  more  so  than  in 
my  own  case.  For  the  last  eighteen  months  I 
have  been  marked  by  the  rebels  for  death,  be 
cause  I  have  been  ordered  by  various  Generals  to 
provide  '  homes  for  refugees,'  and  find  work  for 
them  to  do  to  support  themselves  and  families. 
Now,  three  times  I  have  signally  escaped  their 
hands.  God  has  saved  my  life  as  by  fire.  When 
Quantrell  and  his  gang  came  into  our  town  al 
most  all  were  yet  in  their  beds.  My  wife  an(\ 
second  boy  were  up,  and  I  in  bed,  because  I  had 
been  sick  with  the  quinsy.  The  enemy  yelled 
and  fired  a  signal.  I  sprang  out,  and  my  other 
children  and  myself  clothed  ourselves  as  quick  as 
possible. 

"  I  took  the  two  oldest  boys  and  started  to  run 
for  the  hill,  as  we  were  completely  defenceless  and 
unguarded.  I  ran  a  short  distance,  and  felt  as  if 
I  should  be  killed.  I  returned  to  my  house,  where 
1  had  left  my  wife  with  Joel,  seven  years  old,  and 
Frank,  six  months  old,  and  thought  to  hide  in 
our  cellar.  I  told  Willie,  twelve  years  old,  and 
Eddie,  ten  years  old,  to  run  for  life,  and  I  would 
hide.  1  had  scarcely  found  a  spot  in  which  to 
secrete  myself,  when  four  murderers  entered  my 
house  and  demanded  of  my  wife,  with  horrid 
oaths,  where  that  husband  of  hers  was,  who  was 
hid  in  the  cellar.  She  replied,  '  The  cellar  is 
open  ;  you  can  go  and  see  for  yourselves.  My 
husband  started  over  the  hill  with  the  children.' 
They  demanded  a  light  to  search.  My  wife  gave 
them  a  lighted  lamp,  and  they  came,  light  and 
revolvers  in  hand,  swearing  to  kill  at  first  sight. 
They 'came  within  eight  feet  of  where  I  lay,  but 
my  wife's  self-possession  in  giving  the  light  had 
disconcerted  them,  and  they  left  without  seeing 
me.  They  fired  our  house  in  four  places,  but  my 
wife,  by  almost  superhuman  efforts,  and  with  baby 
in  arms,  extinguished  the  fire.  Soon  after  three 
others  came,  and  asked  for  me.  But  she  said, 
*  Do  you  think  he  is  such  a  fool  as  to  stay  here  ? 
They  have  already  hunted  for  him ;  but,  thank 
God,  they  did  not  find  him.'  They  then  com 
pleted  their  work  of  pillage  and  robbery,  and 
fired  the  house  in  five  places,  threatening  to  kill 
her  if  she  attempted  to  extinguish  it  again.  One 


stood,  revolver  in  hand,  to  execute  the  threat  if 
it  was  attempted.  The  fire  burned  furiously.  The 
roof  fell  in,  then  the  upper  story,  and  then  the 
lower  lloor  ;  but  a  space  about  six  by  twelve  feet 
was  by  a  great  effort  kept  perfectly  deluged  by 
water  by  my  wife,  to  save  me  from  burning  alive. 
I  remained  thus  concealed  as  long  as  I  could  live 
in  such  peril. 

"At  length,  and  while  the  murderers  were  still 
at  my  front  dcor  and  around  my  lot,  watching 
for  their  prey,  my  wife  succeeded,  thank  God,  in 
covering  me  with  an  old  dress  and  a  piece  of  car 
pet,  and  thus  getting  me  out  into  the  garden,  and 
to  the  refuge  of  a  little  weeping  willow  covered 
with  *  morning  glory '  vines,  where  I  was  secured 
from  their  fiendish  gaze  and  saved  from  their 
hellish  th'rst  for  my  ;ilood.  I  still  expected  to 
be  discovered  and  shot  dead.  But  a  neighbor 
we/man,  vv'io  had  come  to  our  help,  aided  my  wife 
in  throwing  a  few  things  saved  from  the  fire 
around  the  little  tree  where  I  lay,  so  as  to  cover 
me  more  securely.  Our  house  and  all  our  clothes 
—  except  a  few  old  and  broken  garments  (not  a 
full  suit  of  anything  for  one  of  us)  and  some  car 
pet —  with  beds,  books,  and  everything  to  eat  or 
read,  were  consumed  over  us  or  before  our  eyes. 
But  what  of  that?  I  live  !  Through  God's  mer 
cy  I  live !  " 

THE  TWIN  BROTHERS. — That  fact  is  strangor 
than  fiction,  is  exemplified  in  the  following  true 
story  of  two  brothers,  twins,  which  occurred 
during  the  memorable  siege  of  Port  Hudson. 
Passing,  one  day,  through  the  streets  of  that  little 
town,  we  noticed  two  corpses  lying  upon  the  gal 
lery  of  the  carpenters  shop,  awaiting  their  turn 
for  the  boxes,  dignified  with  the  title  of  coffins, 
to  consign  them  to  their  last  resting-place,  They 
were  bodies  of  tall  stature,  stout  and  well  built, 
betokening  the  hardy  backwoodsmen  of  the  South 
west.  Over  the  face  of  each  was  thrown  a  cloth, 
through  which  the  blood  was  oozing,  showing 
that  they  had  received  their  death  wounds  through 
the  head.  It  was  no  uncommon  sight,  during  the 
siege,  to  see  death  in  every  form,  from  the  body 
pierced  by  the  sr.igle  bullet,  to  the  one  shattered  to 
atoms  by  the  cannon  ball  or  mortar  shell.  Yet 
there  was  something  in  the  appearance  of  those 
bodies  which  riveted  our  attention :  we  indulged 
the  inquiry  as  to  who  they  were.  A  rough,  grizzly 
Confederate  soldier  was  sitting  by  their  side, 
whose  arm,  tied  up,  showed  that,  for  the  present, 
he  was  unfit  for  active  service.  The  tears  were 
trickling  down  his  cheeks  as  he  gazed  mournfully 
upon  the  dead  before  him,  while  his  quivering  lip 
told,  better  than  words,  that  they  had  been  more 
to  him  than  simple  comrades  of  the  tent  and 
field. 

He  related  their  story  in  a  few  words.     "  They 

were  my  sons,"  said  he,  "and  were  twins.     One 

of  them  joined  at  the  same  time   I  did.     We 

came  here  with  General  Beale,  and  have  done  ou/ 

duty  to  the  best  of  our  knowledge,  and,  I  believe, 

to  the  satisfaction  of  our  officers. 

[      "This  morning,  sir,  whUo  at  the  breastworks, 

;  one  of  ray  boys,  in  order  to  ge*  good  aim  at  the 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


323 


sharpshooters  outside,  thoughtlessly  raised  him 
self  too  high,  when  a  rifle  ball  pierced  his  brain, 
and  he  fell  dead  at  ray  feet.  His  brother,  seeing 
him  full,  sprang  forward  to  pick  him  up,  but,  in 
so  doing,  exposed  nimself  above  the  line  of  de 
fences,  when  he  too  received  a  ball  through  the 
brain,  and  he  fell  dead  upon  the  still  quivering 
corpse  of  his  brother.  As  they  came  into  the 
world,  so  they  went  out  of  it  —  together.  In 
removing  their  bodies  from  the  breastworks,  I 
got  this  wound,  which  has  shattered  my  arm. 
Would  that  I  had  died  with  them,  sir,  for  I  have 
no  one  to  love  now  upon  this  earth." 

"  And  their  mother  —  your  wife  ?  " 

"  Died,  sir,  in  giving  them  birth." 

One  coffin  received  the  remains  of  the  twins, 
and,  a  few  days  after,  while  sitting  in  front  of  is 
tent,  an  exploding  shell  gave  a  death  wound  to 
their  heart-broken  father. 


AMENITIES  OF  PICKET  DUTY.  —  "Our  regi 
ment  (the  First  Delaware)  was  on  picket,  and 
confronting  the  enemy.  '  Barney,'  our  Sergeant- 
Major, —  who,  by  the  way,  is  quite  an  institution, 
—  espied  a  cow,  which  had  just  escaped  from  the 
rebel  lines,  with  a  reb  in  hot  pursuit,  both  coming 
towards  neutral  territory.  '  Barney/  seizing  his 
sword,  rushed  towards  the  scene.  Secesh,  seeing 
the  advance,  halted.  Imagine  his  surprise,  when 
'  Barney '  ran  up  to  the  cow,  and,  waving  his 
sword,  gave  her  a  gentle  poke  with  it,  and  started 
her  towards  our  lines.  The  rebel,  astonished 
at  the  audacity,  cried  out :  '  Halloo,  you  Yank ! 
bring  that  cow  back  here  !  She  belongs  to  us.' 
'  Barney,'  flourishing  his  sword,  stopped,  and 
looked  back  towards  him,  and  responded :  '  Who 
are  you  cursing,  you  darned  rebel  ?  The  animal 
has  seceded  ! '  Giving  the  cow  another  reminder 
with  his  sword  that  she  was  needed  in  our  bivouac, 
he  brought  her  in  triumphantly,  —  several  of  the 
rebs,  who  had  been  drawn  out  by  the  colloquy, 
laughing  at  the  signal  discomfiture  of  their  com 
panion  in  arms.  '  Barney,'  having  milked  the 
cow,  and  obtained  about  a  gallon  and  a  half  of 
the  lacteal  fluid,  —  enough  to  supply  the  entire 
picket  reserve,  —  turned  her  back  towards  the 
rebel  lines,  and  cried  out  to  the  defeated  Johnny 
that  he  might  have  the  beast  now  —  that  he  didn't 
need  her  any  longer.  The  last  seen  of  her,  she 
was  wending  her  way  slowly  to  the  enemy  in 
quest  of  her  calf,  which  was  tied  to  a  tree.  This, 
to  say  the  least,  was  a  handsome  piece  of  strategy ; 
to  say  nothing  of  the  milk,  it  was  a  coup  de 
main." 


SCENES  IN  THE  SOUTH- WEST.  —  The  follow 
ing  narrative  of  a  recruiting  expedition  into  Ar 
kansas  was  given  by  Engineer  L.  G.  Bennett, 
who  left  St.  Louis  in  April,  1863,  in  company 
with  William  M.  Fishback,  who  was  authorized 
by  General  Curtis  to  raise  a  regiment  amonj?  the 
k>>  al  Arkansians  :  "  The  party  started  for^iass- 
v  llie,  Missouri,  intending  to  make  that  platfe  then' 
point  of  departure  for  the  journey  to  the  moun 
tains. 


"  The  road  to  Cassville  is  intersected  several 
times  by  a  limpid  stream,  called  Flat  Creek.  It 
was  very  high,  from  the  recent  rains.  On  the 
road,  four  '  great  strapping  girls  '  were  overtaken, 
who  were  footing  it  from  Newton  County  to  Cass 
ville.  The  girls  sometimes  kept  up  with,  and 
occasionally  r.utstiipned,  his  ambulance.  Occa 
sionally  the  vdi'cle  would  get  the  start  on  a  level 
stretch  of  road,  and  'Jie  girls  would  fall  behind. 
Coming  up  to  a  deep  ford,  the  Colonel,  with  gal 
lant  intentic  is,  halted  his  ambulance,  until  the 
girls  came  up  and  politely  offered  to  convey 
them  to  the  oj  posite  bank  in  his  ambulance. 

*  O,  no  ;  we  never  ride,'  said  one  ;  and  they  leaped 
into  the  boiling  current,  and,  although  the  creek 
wai  '  waist  deep,'  they  soon  emerged,  dripping, 
on   the  opp'  site  bank,  leaving  the  very  modest 
Colonel  completely  nonplused  by  the    adventur 
ous  "  Amazons.     The  damsels  were  soon  half  a 
mile  in  advance,  singing : 

"  '  0,  did  you  see  my  sister  ? ' 

"  On  arriving  at  Cassville,  intelligence  was  re 
ceived  that  Fayetteville,  our  advanced  post  in 
Arkansas,  was  ordered  to  be  abandoned,  and  that 
the  Federal  troops  were  on  the  retrograde  march 
to  Missouri.  This  information  put  a  damper  on 
recruiting  prospects  in  that  section,  and  the  party 
returned  to  Springfield. 

"  It  was  resolved  to  penetrate  Arkansas  by 
way  of  Forsyth,  on  the  White  River,  and  a  rather 
formidable  company  was  made  up,  consisting  of 
a  number  of  Kansas  officers,  '  regular  dare-dev 
ils,'  and  a  few  Arkansas  fugitives,  numbering 
eighteen  in  all  —  armed  to  the  teeth  —  under 
command  of  Colonel  Fisltiack. 

"  The  White  River  was  reached  by  the  recruit 
ing  party  about  a  mile  above  Forsyth.  The  river 
was  swollen  by  the  recent  rains,  and  the  pros 
pect  of  crossing  seemed  dubious.  The  region 
was  in  possession  of  the  rebels,  and  infested 
with  secesh  sympathizers.  It  was  getting  to 
wards  night.  A  butternut  individual  was  discov-, 
ered  on  the  opposite  shore. 

•  "  After  hailing  the  stranger,  and  parleying  some 
time  with  him,  it  was  agreed  that  one   of  the 
party   should  cross,    and   perfect   arrangements. 
Ivelley,  a  bold,  adroit  man,  volunteered  to   go 
over,  and  a  boy  paddled  over  in  a  '  dug-out '  to 
get  him.    Kelley  and  the  boy  started  in  the  *  dug 
out  '  to  cross,  but  before  they  reached  the  other 
side,  three  more  men  appeared  on  the  opposite 
bank,  with  muskets  and  revolvers  ready  cocked. 
Their  movements  were  closely  watched,  and  our 
men   rested   their  rifles   across   logs,   and,  with 
steady  aim,  intended  to  blaze  away  in  case  any 
hostile  move  should  be  made  on  Kelley.     The 
latter  was  allowed  to  land,  and  had  a  long  con 
ference,  in  which  he  represented  that  his  party 
were  bushwhackers,  who  had  been  chased  by  the 
Federal  authorities  out  of  Missouri,  and  were  en 
their  way  south.     This  artful  story  was  credited, 
and  the  boat  permitted  to  bring  over  the  balance 
of  the  party — which  had  to   be  done  one  at  a 
time  —  making   some  eighteoi  round  trips.     It 
was,  consequently,  late  in  the  night  before  all  Lad 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND   INCIDENTS. 


got  over.  In  swimming  their  horses,  four  were 
drowned. 

"  The  men  who  so  readily  assisted  in  ferrying 
the  party  across  the  river  turned  out  to  be  among 
ihe  worst  class  of  bushwhackers  in  that  region. 

"  One  was  Hendrick,  who  had  hung  and  shot  a 
number  of  loyal  men  in  Ozark  and  Stone  Coun 
ties,  Missouri.  Another,  named  Bird,  was  also  a 
noted  desperado,  being  a  horse  thief  and  a  mur 
derer.  He  and  his  gang  had  '  cleaned  out'  every 
loyal  family  on  Bull  and  Swan  Creeks,  in  Taney 
County,  Missouri,  utterly  depopulating  that  sec 
tion  for  miles  around. 

"  On  taking  leave  of  these  desperadoes  next 
morning,  the  kindest  wishes  for  the  success  of 
our  party  were  expressed.  A  list  of  rebel  leaders 
was  also  given,  where  the  party  would  be  wel 
comed,  and  receive  assistance  in  their  journey 
throughout  the  country. 

"  Proceeding  three  miles  further,  up  popped  a 
picket  from  the  side  of  the  road,  who,  orderirg 
the  party  to  halt,  demanded  who  they  were  and 
their  destination.  The  ever-prompt  Kelley  was 
sent  forward,  and,  after  a  brief  explanation,  made 
all  things  satisfactory  to  the  picket.  The  picket 
said  he  was  from  St.  Louis,  and  was  among  forty 
prisoners  who  escaped  from  the  guard-house  at 
Springfield,  one  dark  and  rainy  night.  He  was 
asked  why  he  was  stationed  in  that  out  of  the 
way  place,  and  replied  that  pickets  were  sta 
tioned  in  these  places  to  kill  the  '  Mountain  Feds,' 
as  they  were  called,  who  were  in  the  habit  of 
fleeing  from  Arkansas  to  Missouri.  He  informed 
the  party  that  ten  more  pickets  were  concealed  in 
the  brush.  His  credulity  was  so  far  overcome 
that  he  gave  the  party  the  rebel  pass-word.  It 
consisted  in  whistling  three  times  like  a  quail. 
He  said  by  making  that  noise  they  would  not  be 
molested  when  they  ran  across  any  of  their  men. 
If  any  one  was  seen  in  the  act  of  firing,  he  said, 
just  whistle  the  signal  as  directed,  and  the  fire 
locks  would  drop  instantly.  Kelley  soon  became 
a  proficient  in  making  the  desired  signal. 

"  The  bald  tops  of  the  hills  were  clothed  with 
a  light  verdure,  sprinkled  with  flowers.  They 
descended  from  the  hill  country  into  a  long  piece 
of  woods.  The  last  picket  had  given  the  locality 
of  the  pickets,  and  in  order  to  avoid  a  strongly 
posted  picket  guard  some  fourteen  miles  ahead, 
the  travellers  held  a  council  and  resolved  to  .eave 
the  main  travelled  road.  By  this  detour  they  in 
tended  to  circumvent  the  picket  guard.  On  leav 
ing  the  main  road  they  got  among  the  hills  again, 
and  after  travelling  a  whole  day,  ascending  and 
descending  the  hills,  they  emerged  at  night  on 
the  road  and  found  they  had  advanced  but  five 
miles. 

"  The  next  morning  the  blankets  were  tied  to 
the  saddles,  and  the  party,  mounting  their  horses, 
determined  to  keep  the  road  and  run  the  risk  of 
encountering  the  pickets.  When  they  got  in 
sight  of  the  latter,  instead  of  meeting  with  oppo 
sition,  the  cowardly  pickets  mounted  their  steeds 
and  precipitately  fled  to  Carrolton,  the  county 
seat  of  Carrol  County,  sixteen  miles  distant.  The 
pickets  spread  the  alarm  that  the  Missouri  en 


rolled  militia  was  coming  in  full  force.  They 
followed  the  terrified  pickets,  and  camped  within 
eight  miles  of  Carrolton,  procuring  a  few  ears  of 
corn,  which  was  parched  for  supper. 

"  In  order  to  avoid  the  rebel  bands,  who  were 
patrolling  the  country,  it  became  necessary,  much 
of  the  time,  to  travel  in  the  woods,  over  moun 
tains,  and  through  rocky  ravines,  away  from  the 
'  settlements.'  Ignorance  of  the  geography  of 
the  country  kept  the  party  so  long  on  the  way 
that  their  scanty  supply  of  hard  tack  was  ex 
hausted.  Hogs  and  cattle  were  plenty,  and  one 
of  the  party,  a  Rocky  Mountain  hunter,  exerci:  ed 
his  agility  in  lassoing  a  fat  steer,  without  exposing 
their  position  by  a  shot. 

"  The  Colonel  one  day  came  up  to  a  cabin,  and 
inquired  of  the  butternut  owner  if  he  had  any 
corn  bread  to  spore.  '  No,'  said  Butternut, 
'  don't  raise  much  of  nothin'  down  ye  re  ;  the 
crap's  poor.'  Casting  a  glance  over  into  a  small 
enclosure,  brist  ing  with  weeds,  the  Colonel 
thought  he  discovered  something  resembling  on 
ions.  Inquiry  was  made  of  the  man  if  he  hail 
onions  to  spare,  and  he  answered  he  '  reckoned 
not.'  Presently  Hs  barefooted  better-half,  who 
had  been  listening,  said,  '  Pap,  I  reckon  ii's  in- 
juns  he's  arter.'  '  O,'  said  Butternut,  « if  it's 
injuns  you're  arter,  I  'low  we  kin  spare  you  a 
heap  on  'em.'  And  the  Colonel  returned  to  camp 
with  an  abundant  supply  of  « injuns  '  to  teirale 
his  half-famished  command. 

"  Not  far  from  Carrolton  was  found  one  Lewis, 
a  most  wicked  rebel,  who,  with  an  'oath'  and 
'  protection  papers  '  in  his  pocket,  obtained  from 
Colonel  Weir,  of  the  Tenth  Kansas,  boasted  that 
he  had  all  along  made  it  his  business  to  hunt  and 
help  to  hang  and  rob  Union  men,  or  oblige  them 
to  flee  from  the  country.  Under  the  idea  that 
the  party  were  Southern  men,  he  piloted  them 
eight  miles  on  the  way. 

"  On  the  top  of  Gaither  Mountain  were  several 
droves  of  horses  belonging  to  '.he  secesh  residing 
on  Crooked  Creek.  Some  of  the  party  were 
much  better  mounted  when  they  left  the  top  of 
the  mountain. 

"  Arriving  at  Jasper,  in  Newton  County,  the 
party  considered  themselves  safe,  as  the  people 
among  the  mountains  are  mostly  loyal.  Captain 
Vanderpool,  of  the  First  Arkansas  infantry,  was 
in  the  neighborhood,  with  a  number  of  armed 
recruits.  He  had  had  several  encounters  with 
the  rebels,  and  defeated  them  every  time.  It 
was  judged  best  not  to  confine  recruiting  opera 
tions  to  one  neighborhood.  Accordingly  a  portion 
went  about  thirty  miles  east,  in  Pope  County,  on 
the  border  of  Searcy  and  Conway  Counties. 

"  An  expedition  was  planned  to  a  saltpetre  cave 
in  Searcy  County,  which  was  being  worked  by 
the  rebels,  who  manufactured  at  the  rate  of  one 
hundred  barrels  per  day.  The  ubiquitous  Kelley, 
at  the  head  of  twelve  men,  cautiously  approached 
the  cave,  surprised  and  captured  the  guard,  de 
stroyed  all  the  machinery,  kettles,  vats,  arches, 
£c.,  pertaining  to  the  works,  and,  with  his  pris 
oners  arid  a  number  of  capturr d  horses,  returned 
withe  t  a  single  misfortune  to  any  of  his  party. 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


325 


This  little  adventure  so  won  the  confidence  of  the 
mountaineers,  that  they  thought  there  was  no 
such  man  as  Kelley  and  the  Kansas  jayhawkers. 

"  Volunteers  came  flocking  in  by  the  score,  and 
in  t')n  days  a  company  of  ninety-six  was  formed, 
with  William  Brashears,  an  Arkansian,  as  Cap 
tain,  Kelley  as  First  Lieutenant,  and  Joseph  Brown 
as  Second  Lieutenant.  Other  expeditions  were 
planned,  many  horses,  guns,  and  prisoners  taken, 
and  much  property  recovered  which  had  been 
captured  from  Union  men. 

"  Word  finally  came  that  an  expedition  of 
three  hundred  rebels  was  coming  from  Dover, 
the  county  seat  of  Pope  County,  to  break  up 
Brashears'  company.  The  boys  retired  to  a  fa 
vorable  position  among  the  mountains,  ind  for 
two  dr.ys  asvaited  their  coming.  At  leng  h  word 
was  brought  from  what  was  deemed  a  reliable 
source  that  the  rebels  had  returned. 

"  Captain  Brashears,  having  business  at  home, 
and  not  suspecting  danger,  with  only  four  men  in 
his  company,  was  proceeding  to  the  transaction 
of  his  business,  when  suddenly  he  fell  among  the 
entire  secesh  force.  They  chased  him  over  a 
mile,  M'ounding  him  several  times,  and  finally 
killing  him. 

"  One  of  Captain  Brashears'  companions  made 
his  escape,  another  was  killed,  and  two  others, 
brothers,  were  captured  and  hung,  after  enduring 
many  tortures  and  fiendish  barbarities,  disgrace 
ful  even  to  savage  Indians,  and  too  repulsive  to 
bs  related.  The  neighboring  women  were  not 
e  vim  permitted  to  bury  their  dead  bodies  without 
being  threatened  and  insulted. 

"  Mention  has  already  been  made  that  Captain 
Vanderpool  was  recruiting  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Jasper.  One  morning,  the  citizens  of  Jasper 
were  surprised  to  find  a  force  of  two  hundred 
rebels,  under  Captains  Mitchell,  Love,  and  Sisel, 
in  their  rnidst,  and  four  or  five  of  Vanderpool's 
recruits  were  captured.  The  Captain  was  in  the 
immediate  neighborhood,  but  his  men  were  scat 
tered,  and  it  was  impossible  immediately  to  col 
lect  them.  Eighteen,  however,  were  near  at 
hand  ;  with  this  handful,  he  did  not  hesitate  to 
attack  them.  Approaching  the  lower  part  of  the 
town,  and  covering  the  men  behind  rocks,  fences, 
and  trees,  a  hot  and  destructive  fire  was  poured 
upon  the  enemy,  and  they  were  glad  to  seek  the 
cover  of  the  neighboring  hills.  But  Vanderpool's 
men  beginning  to  collect,  a  retreat  was  ordered. 
At  the  crossing  of  Hudson  Creek,  our  boys  gave 
them  a  few  more  rounds,  scattering  them  in  every 
direction,  and  leaving  their  dead  behind.  Our 
party  met  with  no  loss,  except  the  prisoners  cap 
tured  early  in  the  morning. 

"  An  expedition  was  planned  to  make  a  raid  in 
the  direction  of  Clarksville  and  the  Arkansas 
River,  and  about  sixty  men  were  collected  for  the 
enterprise.  Two  of  Bennett's  recruiting  officers 
resided  south  of  the  Arkansas,  and  aimed  to  get 
in  their  own  neighborhoods,  where  their  chances 
for  recruiting  were  more  flattering.  In  this  scout, 
Vanderpool  promised  to  aid  them  to  the  river, 
and  accordingly  all  who  had  not  already  gone 
to  Pope  County  joined  the  expedition.  After 


scouting  two  days  among  the  mountains  and 
deep  valleys,  which  had  alternately  been  devas 
tated  by  the  rebels  and  'Mountain  Feds,'  and 
where  nothing  but  the  most  abject  poverty  and 
wretchedness  existed,  our  party  struck  the  valley 
of  Mulberry  Creek,  in  Johnson  County,  which 
had  not  been  visited  by  a  military  force  since  the 
war.  Large  fields  o'  corn  and  plenty  abounded 
on  every  side.  The  ,  nhabitants  were  mostly  of 
the  rebel  persuasion.  No  armed  force  was  met 
with.  A  number  of  horses,  a  few  guns  and  am 
munition,  were  captured,  and  also  four  prisoners. 
A  large  force  prevt  ited  them  from  going  to 
Clarksville.  The  two  recruiting  officers  crossed 
the  river,  but  nothing  has  been  heard  from  them 
since. 

"  The  acquaintance  was  formed  of  Captain  Sam 
uel  Farmer,  who  resides  near  the  head  of  Mulberry 
Creek.  Some  of  the  party  had  been  but  a  few 
minutes  at  his  house,  when  some  of  his  smaller 
children  went  to  his  hiding-place  in  the  woods, 
and  informed  him  that  a  party  of  Federals  was 
at  the  house.  The  Captain  soon  made  his  ap 
pearance,  and  with  tears  of  joy  bade  them  wel 
come,  saying  that  anything  he  had  was  free. 
Such  demonstrations  of  friendship  deterred  the 
boys  from  meddling  with  even  his  bees,  and  the 
old  fellow  had  to  take  the  lead  in  opening  two 
of  his  best  hives  of  honey  for  the  boys.  Corn 
bread  and  bacon  were  served  liberally,  and  for 
the  first  time  since  the  scout  the  boys  got  enough 
to  eat. 

"  The  Captain  said  he  was  an  early  settler  in  Ar 
kansas,  and  for  many  years  had  represented  John 
son  County  in  the  State  Senate.  At  the  break 
ing  out  of  the  secession  troubles,  he  had  taken 
an  open  stand  in  favor  of  the  Union,  and  in  the 
elections  preliminary  to  the  Convention,  had 
steadily  voted  against  secession.  By  the  action 
of  the  Convention  (not  the  people),  the  State 
finally  drifted  with  the  Southern  tide.  Military 
companies  were  everywhere  raised  for  the  South, 
and,  quite  early,  one  in  Mr.  Farmer's  own  neigh 
borhood.  He  had  served  in  the  Mexican  and 
Florida  wars,  and  more  recently  in  the  Indian 
war  in  California  and  Oregon,  and  his  military 
experience  and  qualities  were  well  known.  At 
once,  every  device  which  rebel  ingenuity  could 
invent  was  brought  to  bear  to  force  him  into  the 
service.  Flattery,  threats,  promises  of  high  po 
sitions,  and  the  personal  influence  of  Governor 
Rector,  in  a  measure  overcame  his  scruples,  and 
he  was  made  Major  of  Hill's  Fifteenth  Arkansas 
regiment.  The  work  of  drilling  and  preparing 
the  regiment  for  duty  devolved  entirely  upon 
him. 

"  During  Price's  occupation  of  Springfield,  in 
the  winter  of  1861-2,  his  regiment  Avas  stationed 
at  Elm  Springs,  under  McCulloch.  Price's  rapid 
retreat  before  General  Curtis  called  for  help  from 
McCulloch,  and  he  with  other  forces  met  the  re 
treating  Missourian  at  Sugar  Creek,  where  a  stand 
was  resolved  upon.  All  remember  the  result  of 
that  skirmish,  in  which  tli.e  Federal  cavalry,  under 
'arr,  Ellis,  and  Bowen,  charged  so  vigorously 
among  the  rebel  horse,  foot,  and  artiDeiy  AS  to 


326 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


again  set  then?  in  a  headlong  flight.  The  impet 
uous  charge  of  the  Federal  squadron  of  cavalry 
in  a  measure  removed  from  Farmer's  eyes  the 
scales  which  Lexington,  Wilson  Creek,  and  Bull 
Run  had  placed  over  them.  He  saw  that  the  arm 
of  the  national  government  was  not  yet  palsied, 
but  was  capable  of  dealing  to  traitors  powerful 
blows.  At  Cross  Hollows,  Price,  who  outranked 
McCulloch,  determined  to  make  a  stand.  To  this 
the  latter  was  opposed,  and  so  serious  was  the 
quarrel  between  the  two  leaders  that  a  council  of 
war  was  called  the  settle  the  difficulties  and  adopt 
a  policy. 

"  Farmer  was  the  only  one  of  that  counci.  who 
sided  with  McCulloch.  He  admitted  the  strength 
of  the  position,  provided  Curtis  was  foolish  enough 
to  attack  in  front,  but  stated  that  the  topography 
of  the  country  was  such  that  their  position  could 
be  easily  turned,  and  predicted  that  the  next  thing 
the  Federals  would  be  on  their  (the  rebels')  flank. 
Sure  enough,  the  next  day  Sigel  was  at  Osage 
Springs,  threatening  Price's  flank  and  rear ;  and 
nothing  was  left  for  them  to  do  but  resume  the 
skedaddle  to  the  Boston  Mountains,  where  Mc 
Culloch  wished  to  remain  and  receive  Curtis'  at 
tack.  But  here  Van  Dorn  assumed  the  chief  com 
mand,  which  soon  culminated  in  the  battle  of  Pea 
Ridge.  At  this  battle  Colonel  Hill  and  his  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  early  ran  away  from  the  fight,  tak 
ing;  a  small  part  of  the  regiment  with  them.  But 
Major  Farmer  kept  the  remainder  in  their  places, 
and  was  drawn  up  in  line  but  a  few  rods  from  the 
field,  and  but  a  few  paces  from  where  Ben  McCul 
loch  was  killed.  He  was  the  first  man  to  aid  him 
after  he  was  shot. 

"About  ten  minutes  before  McCulloch  fell, 
they  were  together  reconnoitring  the  Federal  posi 
tion.  The  Thirty-sixth  Illinois  formed  in  line  for 
a  charge ;  and  when  the  breeze  unfolded  the  Stars 
and  Stripes  to  view,  Major  Farmer's  old  love  for 
the  flag  returned,  and  turning  to  McCulloch,  he 
said  that  '  this  was  the  last  battle  and  the  last 
time  he  should  ever  raise  his  hand  against  that 
flag.'  The  scene,  and  such  surrounding  circum 
stances,  in  the  midst  of  the  thunders  of  a  great 
battle,  an  expression  from  one  he  highly  esteemed, 
affected  even  McCulloch,  and  he  asserted  that  it 
was  a  trying  ordeal  for  him  to  fight  against  that 
once-honored  flag.  He  was  among  the  last  to 
leave  the  field  at  Elk^rn,  at  the  rebels'  final 
retreat. 

"Farmer,  shortly  after,  tendered  his  resigna 
tion,  which,  after  many  delays,  was  granted,  and 
he  returned  to  his  home.  Shortly  after  the  con 
script  law  was  put  in  force,  and  at  a  public  meet 
ing  in  his  neighborhood  he  denounced  the  meas 
ure  with  all  his  powers.  Though  not  daring 
openly  to  avow  himself  a  Union  man,  yet  he  pre 
dicted  that  such  arbitrary  measures  wrould  soon 
drive  the  people  of  Arkansas  to  rebel  against  the 
rebellion.  He  compared  the  helpless  condition 
of  Arkansas,  after  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  to  the 
'  valley  of  dry  bones ;  and  his  conviction  that  a 
\v  hid  would  blow  from  the  North,  and  that  bone 
would  soek  its  bone,  and  the  whole  become  a  liv 
ing  mass.'  Ho  w  truly  has  this  come  to  pass  in 


the  present  uprising  of  the  people  of  Arkansas, 
and  the  development  of  a  Union  sentiment  there! 
'  Bone  is  seeking  its  bone  '  all  over  the  South. 

"  Three  of  his  sons  came  within  reach  of  the 
conscription  act,  and  to  avoid  it  they  sought 
safety  among  the  neighboring  crags  of  the  moun 
tains  and  wroods.  They  were  hunted  like  wolves, 
and  one  of  them  shot  down  by  the  rebel  home 
guard ;  and  though  this  occurrence  was  near  a 
year  ago,  he  was  stiil  almost  helpless  from  the 
effect  of  the  shot.  The  father  and  sons,  however, 
by  hid.ng  in  the  woods,  had  thus  far  escaped  the 
provisions  zf  the  act,  and  :iailed  us  as  his  dearest 
friends  and  benefactors.  He  stated  that  there 
wore  a  large  number  in  the  neighboring  moun 
tains  who  were  hunted  the  same  as  he. 

"  The  Captain  was  advised  to  form  a  company, 
and  join  the  Federal  army,  and  that,  if  he  ever 
expected  Arkansas  to  be  free,  and  restored  to  the 
Union,  he  must  help  to  do  it.  He  could  not  ex 
pect  others  to  do  that  which  more  intimately 
concerned  him.  Said  he,  '  Will  the  Federals  re 
ceive  me  after  the  part  I  have  taken  against  them  ?  ' 
Having  been  satisfied  in  regard  to  this,  he  avowed 
his  intention  to  immediately  raise  a  company. 
He  was  given  the  necessary  instructions,  and 
when  next  heard  from,  the  company  numbered 
over  sixty,  with  himself  as  captain,  with  othera 
equally  as  loyal,  as  lieutenants.  When  last  heard 
from,  his  company  numbered  one  hundred  and 
three  men. 

"  Nearly  every  day  after  the  formation  of  hia 
company,  expeditions  were  planned  and  executed 
against,  the  secessionists  for  arms,  ammunition, 
and  horses,  for  his  men.  At  one  time  a  few  of 
his  boys  entered  Clarksville,  captured  a  rifle  from 
one  Basham,  which  cost  one  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  ;  also  a  horse,  valued  at  one  thousand  dol 
lars.  This  Basham  was  a  noted  secessionist,  and 
had  been  a  Lieutenant-Governor  of  the  State. 
On  another  occasion,  Lieutenant  Middleton,  with 
but  one  companion,  came  suddenly  upon  a  Cap 
tain  Birch  and  three  soldiers,  and  demanded  their 
surrender.  Birch,  in  reply,  ordered  Middleton  to 
surrender.  Both  parties  prepared  for  a  fight,  but 
after  a  long  parley,  Birch  and  his  men  surren 
dered.  Captain  Birch  was  armed  with  a  splendid 
Sharp's  cavalry  rifle,  and  all  were  mounted  on 
good  horses.  Middleton  would  scarcely  take 
a  thousand  dollars  for  his  rifle. 

"  One  day  Captain  Farmer  was  alone  at  a  black 
smith's  shop,  getting  his  horse  shod  for  the  jour 
ney,  and  not  dreaming  of  rebels  in  many  miles 
of  him.  He  heard  a  rustling  in  a  neighboring  • 
cornfield,  but  paid  no  attention  to  it,  until  sud 
denly  he  was  fired  on  by  forty  men.  The  bullets 
cut  his  clothes,  and  tore  up  the  gravel  all  around 
him,  but  he  was  not  hurt.  He  dashed  into  a 
neighboring  thicket,  losing  his  hat  in  his  flight. 
Shots  were  poured  after  him,  and  a  number  of 
rebels  pursued,  among  whom  was  Captain  Birch, 
whom  he  had  kindly  treated,  and  released  but  a  few 
days  before,  after  promising  upon  honor  not  to 
molest  the  Union  people  again.  Captain  Farmer 
had  a  rifle  and  a  pistol  with  hinr  bit  the  rifle 
missed  fire,  but  with  his  pistol  he  scratched  the 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


327 


Captain  in  the  face,  and  cut  his  ear  nearly  free  j  and  being  largely  outnumbered,  were  obliged  to 
from  his  head.  |  fall  back.     But  Lieutenant  Cross  was  determined 

"  Of  course,  the  forty  beat  a  hasty  retreat,  for- 1  not  to  give  up  the  unequal  contest,  and  collecting 
getting  even  to  take  off  the  Captain's  horse,  j  a  few  brave  spirits,  charged  almost  among  the 
They  rejoined  the  other  portion  of  their  band,  |  enemy.  He  paid  for  his  temerity  with  his  life, 
consisting,  in  all,  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  men.  I  for  he  fell  pierced  with  a  vscore  of  balls.  The  sur- 
'{ he  Captain  soon  met  seven  of  his  boys,  and  j  vivors  tied  ;  but  no  opportunity  was  lost  to  now 
gave  the  alarm.  While  he  went  to  collect  the  and  then  drop  a  stray  shot  among  the  rebels,  un- 
remainder,  the  seven  secreted  themselves  in  a  I  til  their  situation  became  so  dangerous  that  they 
cornfield,  and  fired  into  the  whole  secesh  crowd  j  retreated  into  Carroll  county,  burying  eight  of 
as  they  passed  along,  killing  two  and  wounding  j  their  dead  in  a  field  adjoining  the  house,  and  car- 
one.  The  secesh  prepared  to  make  a  charge  into  rying  oil'  a  lanre  number  of  wounded. 


the  corn,  but  another  round  from  their  hidden  foe 
put  the  whole  crowd  to  flight,  leaving  five  dead 


Our  loss  was  oi:<2  killed   and   four  slightly 
wounded.     But  by  the  death  of  Lieutenant  Cross 


and  two  wounded  in  the  road.  The  seven,  the  mountaineers  lost  their  bravest  and  best  friend, 
among  whom  were  two  of  Farmer's  sons,  chased  i  He  knew  no  fear,  and  hn  only  fault  was  rashness, 
the  rebels  to  Clarksville.  None  had  such  influence  over  the  men  to  prevent 

"  The  mountainous  districts  of  Arkansas  are  its  i  them  from  the  same  excesses  as  the  rebels,  as  he. 
loyal  portions.  Particularly  is  this  so  in  the  Bos-  After  his  death  Vanclerpool's  recruits  lost  much 
ton  range,  which  extends  from  near  Batesville  to  of  the  discipline  which  the  Lieutenant  had  en- 
an  unlimited  distance  westward.  Its  gorges,  caves,  j  forced.  His  death  added  another  to  the  large  list 
and  thickets  form  a  safe  retreat  from  danger,  and  !  of  widows  and  orphans  who  can  trace  their  be- 
swarm  with  loyal  men,  objects  of  rebel  cruelty  and  i  reavement  directly  to  this  cruel,  heartless  war. 
persecution.  "  Mrs.  Cross  came  with  the  recruiting  party  to 

"  To  cross  these  mountain  ranges,  or  ascend  the  Springfield,  for  the  purpose  of  getting  the  pay 
isolated  peaks,  is  a  most  laborious  undertaking,  j  due  him  for  many  months'  faithful  services ;  but 
With  difficulty  one  clambers  up  the  steep  sides,  j  met  with  little  success.  Many  of  the  heartless 
while  a  loose  rock  occasionally  tumbles  with  a  |  officers  who  have  the  management  of  much  of 
crash  into  a  chasm  below.  The  summits  are  often  the  army  business,  can,  and  often  do,  manage  to 
surrounded  by  a  perpendicular  wall  of  rock,  with  strip  the  ignorant,  but  deserving,  Arkansas  widow 


only  an  occasional  opening  up  the  natural  steps 
by  which  they  are  attained. 

"  From  these  commanding  eminences  is  had  the 
most  singular  and  rom-intic  view  which  imagina 
tion  can  paint.  To  some  this  rough  scenery 
would  be  enchantingly  sublime.  On  either  side 
of  narrow  valleys,  mountains  piled  up  almost  to 
the  clouds,  exhibiting  a  variegated  view  of  huge 
rocks,  crags,  caverns,  and  peaks,  and  the  wh61e 
covered  by  a  thick,  almost  impenetrable  wilder 
ness. 

"  These  are  the  fortresses  of  the  hardy  moun 
taineers,  from  which  they  bid  defiance  to  the  sur 
rounding  rebel  hordes,  and  often  sweep  down 
upon  them  like  an  eagle  on  its  prey. 

"  Nearly  every  crag  and  ravine  among  the  Bos 
ton  Mountains  have  echoed  the  sharp  crack  of 
the  rifle,  used  in  deadly  conflict  between  the  con 
tending  factions  which  divide  the  people  of  Ar 
kansas.  The  mountains  are  the  fortresses  of  the 
Union  men,  and  woe  be  to  the  rebel  who  shows 
himself  in  these  haunts.  The  Union  man  who 
ventures  into  the  surrounding  country  is  caught 
and  hung  to  the  first  limb.  A  rebel  raid  was 
made  up  the  valley  of  Hudson's  Creek  '  for  the 
•purpose  of  cleaning  out  Vanderpool  and  his  cursed 
Feds,'  under  the  command  of  Love  and  Sisel.  As 
they  proceeded  up  the  valley,  two  or  three  unsus 
pecting  Federal  recruits  were  caught  and  hung. 


or  soldier  of  all  or  much  of  their  hard  earnings  — 
oftentimes  costing  blood  and  life. 

"About  the  1st  of  July,  it  was  determined, 
with  the  recruits  on  hand,  to  fight  their  way  out, 
if  necessary,  to  the  Federal  lines  ;  and  all  were 
ordered  to  rendezvous  on  Hudson's  Creek,  about 
four  miles  above  Jasper.  But  a  bareheaded  fe 
male  express  rider,  mounted  on  a  bare-backed 
horse,  reeking  wich  sweat,  announced  that  Sisel, 
with  a  hundred  men,  was  on  Big  Creek,  eight  miles 
distant,  committing  depredations  on  the  Union 
inhabitants.  About  one  hundred  of  our  men 
were  mounted  and  oft'  in  an  instant.  It  was 
thought  best  to  go  over  the  mountain,  to  the 
head  of  the  creek,  and  then  down  it  and  meet 
him,  as  he  was  reported  to  be  moving  up  the 
stream.  This  required  a  circuit  of  twenty  miles ; 
and  when  we  reached  the  settlement  on  Big  Creek, 
we  found  the  bird  had  flown,  retracing  his  course 
down  the  creek.  We  followed  on  until  midnight, 
when  horses  and  men  were  completely  worn  clown. 
They  had  travelled  forty  miles  since  two  o'clock. 

"They  finally  struck  the  Buffalo  Creek,  or  River, 
and  camped  on  the  farm  of  one  Jackey  Adair. 
4  Uncle  Jackey'  was  an  old  man,  was  quite 
wealthy,  and  a  most  bitter  rebel.  His  hogs  and 
corn-cribs  paid  the  penalty  of  this ;  and,  during 
the  tw^o  days  at  his  place,  man  or  beast  lacked 
not  for  something  to  eat.  Here  Mr.  Bennett  had 


But  Vanderpool  was  not  idle.  Hastily  collect-  a  severe  attack  of  the  pleurisy.  It  became  neces- 
ing  about  sixty  or  seventy  of  his  men,  he  made  an  [  sary  for  the  men  to  go  to  other  portions  of  the 
attack  on  them  at  Huston's.  The  rapid  fire  of  |  State,  and  he  was  left  with  « Uncle  Jackey,'  who 
the  huntsmen's  rifles  resounded  among  the  moun-  ;  was  informed  that  his  life  would  pay  the  forfeit  for 
tains,  and  both  parties  fought  with  the  determina-  j  any  harm  which  befell  his  patient.  The  old  gentle- 
tion  to  conquer  or  die.  But  our  men  found  them-  j  man  promised  to  do  the  best  he  could, 
selves  between  two  fires  from  the  barn  and  house,  j  "Before  clayligh ,  the  pursuit  was  resumed,  and 


328 


ANECDOTES,    POETHY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


at  sunrise  the  spot  was  reached  whore  Sisel  had 
camped  during  the  night.  Of  course  he  was 
gone,  and  out  of  reach.  The  jaded  steeds  were 
turned  in  another  direction,  to  Shinn's  lanyard, 
to  get  something  for  man  and  horse  to  eat.  Here 
were  caught  two  persons,  who  said  Sisel  did  not 
leave  his  camp  for  the  night  until  early  sunrise. 
Had  it  been  known  they  were  so  close  upon  him, 
there  would  have  been  either  a  fight  or  a  foot 
race.  It  was  now  too  late. 

"  The  next  morning,  before  daylight,  the  house 
was  surrounded  by  Sisel's  whole  gang,  and  the 
old  man  was  rudely  asked  in  what  room  Mr.  B. 
was.  Never  did  man  plead  for  another  as  '  Uncle 
Jackey'  pleaded  for  his  patient.  He  knew  he 
would  be  killed  if  he  was  found,  and  being  a  per 
sonal  friend  of  Sisel,  he  finally  persuaded  him  to 
leave.  They  did  not  even  take  the  rifle  or  revolver. 
In  the  mean  time,  Vanderpool  had  heard  of  Sisel's 
movements,  and  early  in  the  morning  was  back 
at  '  Uncle  .lackey's.'  The  way  that  the  rebels 
had  gone  being  pointed  out,  a  reconnoitring  party 
was  sent  out,  headed  by  Lieutenant  Fesperman, 
a  man  as  brave  and  rash  as  Lieutenant  Cross. 
They  had  followed  the  rebel  trail  about  a  mile  in 
the  woods,  when,  from  an  ambush,  they  were  fired 
upon,  and  Lieutenant  Fesperman  and  another 
were  dangerously  wounded.  The  remainder  fled 
in  confusion. 

"  The  rebels  came  from  their  covert  and  shot 
Fesperman,  wounded  as  he  was,  through  the, 
head,  killing  him  instantly.  Vanderpool  soon 
came  up,  and  the  rebels  fled.  The  burial  of  Fes 
perman,  and  the  care  of  the  wounded  man,  occu 
pied  them  until  afternoon.  After  this,  the  rebels 
made  no  more  raids  among  the  mountains,  and 
were  much  afraid  of  the  *  Mountain  Feds,'  even  at 
their  places  of  resort.  It  was  believed  that  our 
own  and  Vanderpool's  men  numbered  eight  hun 
dred,  and  that  we  had  a  natural  fort  in  the  moun 
tains  from  which  no  force  could  drive  us. 

"  On  their  return  to  the  Federal  lines,  the  party 
were  not  molested  until  after  passing  Huntsville. 
Guerrillas  had  threatened  to  fire  upon  them  from 
every  point ;  but  strong  flanking  parties  on  either 
side  prevented  this,  and  the  only  loss  from  them 
was  one  horse,  while  several  regular  soldiers  and 
a  few  guerrillas  were  captured. 

"  At  Fayetteville  was  found  a  small  party  of 
Federal  soldiers,  about  fifty  in  number,  mostly 
convalescents  from  the  hospitals,  on  their  way  to 
their  commands,  with  a  number  of  recruiting 
officers  for  Phelps'  Second  Arkansas  cavalry. 
Our  party  numbered  about  four  hundred,  and 
the  column  had  not  all  entered  the  town  when  a 
sharp  firing  was  heard  in  the  western  suburbs, 
which  was  ascertained  to  be  an  attack  of  In- 
graham,  a  guerrilla  Captain,  upon  the  pickets, 
who,  after  exchanging  a  few  shots,  were  driven 
in.  Receiving  orders  to  conduct  the  unarmed 
men  (which  included  near  half  our  number)  to  a 
place  of  safety,  Mr.  Bennett  directed  them  to 
march  out  upon  the  telegraph  road,  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Cassville,  until  out  of  danger.  The  firing 
coming  nearer  towards  the  centre  of  the  town,  a 
sort  of  panic  seized  Vanderpool'!  men,  and  they 


hastily  retreated  to  the  eastern  portion  of  the 
town.  By  the  exertions  of  Vanderpool  and  a 
few  others,  a  stand  was  here  made,  but  the  rebel 
shots  scon  began  to  whistle  around  them,  and 
our  mountain' i>rs  again  took  to  flight.  The  c.  Ul 
cers  in  charge  of  the  detachment  of  rogular  KI'- 
diers  were  sc  newhat  under  the  iriluence  rf 
liquor,  and  they,  too,  partic'patcd  i  i  the  panic 
and  flight,  -in  confusion,  up  Uie  telegraph  road. 
Lieutenant  Kelley  had  coirmand  of  the  rear 
guard  of  our  column,  but  so  rapid  had  been  Van 
derpool's  flight  fron.  the  town  as  to  leave  him 
alone  with  a  small  Detachment  of  his  company. 
He,  too,  fell  back  on  the  telegraph  road. 

"  By  the  exertions  of  Captain  Farmer,  Kelley, 
Mr.  Bennett,  and  one  or  two  of  the  officers  in 
charge  of  the  convalescents,  the  flight  was 
stopped,  order  soon  restored,  and  Kelley  prepared 
to  make  a  charge  upon  the  rebels,  who  now  had 
entire  possession  of  the  town.  Hastily  collecting 
about  twenty  men,  he  bore  down  upon  the  rebel 
flank  just  as  the  last  shots  were  being  exchanged 
with  Vanderpool.  The  rebels,  thinking  this  to  be 
a  Federal  reenforcement,  designed  to  cut  oif  their 
retreat,  fired  one  volley,  and  then  hastily  fled, 
thus  presenting  the  novel  spectacle  of  two  con 
tending  parties  fleeing  from  each  other.  Lieu 
tenant  Kelley  was  severely  wounded  by  the  last 
fire  of  the  rebels,  a  rifle  shot  entering  above  the 
knee,  and  coming  out  of  his  back,  which  pre 
vented  his  pursuing  the  flying  rebels. 

"  They  left  three  of  their  number  dead,  an! 
seven  so  seriously  wounded  as  to  be  left  behind 
Others  of  their  number,  less  dangerously  wound 
ed,  made  their  escape.  Our  loss  was  but  two 
wounded,  including  Lieutenant  Kc.-lley.  In  num 
bers,  the  rebels  were  only  about  eighty,  while  our 
armed  force  was  at  least  near  three  hundred.  Had 
the  rebels  known  our  strength,  they  would  not 
have  made  the  attack.  They  supposed  there 
were  none  to  contend  with  but  the  small  party  of 
convalescents  and  recruiting  oiHcers,  who  en 
tered  the  town  the  evening  before. 

"  The  fight  following  i  o  closely  upon  our  enter 
ing  the  town,  and  there  being  no  difference  be 
tween  the  drtss  of  the  '  Mountain  Feds  '  and  the 
rebels,  led  the  former  to  suppose  the  whole  was 
a  rebel  scheme  to  capture  them.  Hence  their 
rapid  flight  up  the  telegraph  road.  But  Kelley's 
daring  charge  undeceived  them,  and  they  were 
no  longer  afraid  of  us.  About  sixty  of  cur  own 
and  Vanderpool's  recruits  were  so  frightened  aa 
not  to  stop  their  flight  until  they  reached  Cass 
ville.  Vanderpool,  with  the  remainder,  after 
about  three  hours,  came  back  to  the  town.  It 
was  resolved  to  hold  the  place  for  a  time  at 
least,  and  if  the  rebels  wished  to  attack  us  again, 
to  retrieve  what  had  been  lost  in  the  first  en 
counter. 

%<  The  country  around  Fayetteville  had  btien 
made  desolate  by  bcth  armies,  which  had  alter 
nately  occupied  it.  There  was  but  one  small 
field  of  corn  for  many  miles  from  town,  and  it 
was  difficult  subsisting  the  horses.  Bushwhack 
ers  swirracd  around,  firing  upon  and  amoving 
the  Federal  foraging  and  sc  mting  pai  ties.  In  a 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


329 


few  days,  Captains  Robb  and  Worthington,  with 
two  companies  of  the  First  Arkansas  cavalry, 
came  down  fiom  Cassville.  Not  having  orders 
ti  hold  the  place,  it  was  determined  to  abandon 
il ,  after  retaining  possession  only  a  week. 

'*  Captain  Vanderpool,  with  his  recruits  for  the 
First  infuntrv,  and  the  convalescents,  about  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five,  wont  to  his  regiment 
at  Fort  Gibson,  while  Captains  Ilobb  and  Wor- 
thibgtoit,  with  the  recruits  and  a  large  number 
of  citizens,  who  were  moving  north,  took  the 
telegraph  road  for  Cassville. 

"  While  Mr.  Bennett  was  at  Fayetteville,  hav 
ing  some  leisure,  he  wrote  the  details  of  his  trip 
in  a  letter  to  his  wife,  which  he  read  to  Lieutenant 
Kclley,  at  his  solicitation,  while  the  Lieutenant 
was  lying  sick  in  bed.  A  native  Arkansian,  who 
was  aii  attentive  listener  to  the  narrative,  broke  out: 

"  '  Major,  you  must  have  been  to  school  a  right 
smart.' 

"  The  unsophisticated  native  was  informed  that, 
like  all  the  people  of  the  North,  he  had  enjoyed 
the  advantage  of  some  schooling. 

" '  Wall,  you  know  a  heap.  That  letter  to  your 
wife  reads  just  like  a  book.' 

"  It  was  late  in  the  day  before  the  march  north 
ward  was  resumed.  Ten  miles  were  made  the 
first  day.  The  next  morning  Captain  llobb's 
and  Lieutenant  Kelley's  companies  (now  under 
Captain  Farmer,)  numbering  near  one  hundred 
men,  were  ordered  to  proceed  to  the  Elm  Spring 
road,  and  endeavor  to  catch  some  bushwhackers, 
who,  it  was  reported,  infested  it,  and  join  the 
main  command  at  Cross  Hollows. 

"At  tho  same  time,  Lieutenant  Odlin,  with  forty 
men,  were  sent  to  the  rear  of  a  mountain  on  the 
right  of  the  road  in  search  of  guerrillas,  this  being 
a  favorite  haunt  of  theirs.  ""Captain  Worthing 
ton  wir.h  the  remainder,  now  reduced  to  about 
fifty  armed  men,  and  all  our  unarmed  rabble  and 
women  and  children,  proceeded  up  the  telegraph 
road.  They  had  proceeded  but  two  or  three 
miles  when  a  heavy  volley  was  poured  upon  them 
from  the  brush.  The  unarmed  crowd  tied  in 
every  direction,  but  Captain  Worthington,  with 
his  men,  for  a  few  minutes  bravely  held  the 
ground  and  returned  the  enemy's  fire.  Cut  the 
Captain  being  wounded,  and  a  large  number  of 
horses  and  men  being  killed  and  wounded,  they, 
too,  finally  retreated. 

"  Captain  llobb's  command  was  nearly  four 
miles  away  when  the  firing  commenced.  '  To  the 
rescue,  boys,'  was  his  brief  order ;  and  Mr.  Ben 
nett's  party  went  Hying  through  the  woods  in  the 
direction  of  the  firing.  The  rebels  were  prepar 
ing  to  charge  upon  the  train  and  capture  the 
fugitives,  v^lien  Captain  Rcbb  appeared  in  sight. 
The  clatter  of  hoofs,  the  shouts  of  the  men,  and 
the  immense  cloud  of  dust  we  raised,  led  the 
enemy  to  suppose  the  party  were  a  large  and  un 
looked-for  reenforcement  coming  from  an  oppo 
site  direction,  and  they  lied  precipitately  to  the 
woods. 

"  It  was  ascertained  that  the  rebels  numbered 
four  hundred,  commanded  by  Colonel  Hunter. 
Captain  Odlin  encountered  them  in  their  retreat, 


and  with  his  thirty  charged  among  them,  killing 
a  few;  but  seeing  their  overwhelming  numbeis 
pouring  around  him,  he  prudently  retreated  with 
the  loss  of  one  prisoner.  In  this  fight  we  lost 
three  killed  and  quite  a  r.  rniber  wounded,  besides 
a  number  that  were  mis?  u^7  that  we  could  not 
ascertain  what  had  bed  me  of  them.  Twelve 
dead  horses  Belonging  tc  ou:  men  were  counted. 
This  was  considere  I  a  defeat  for  the  Federals.  In 
fact,  our  men  were  so  separated  that  victory  was 
impossible. 

"  The  most  disgraceful  part  of  the  whole  affair 
was  the  leaving  of  our  dead  unburied,  and  three 
of  the  wounded  behind.  The  only  excuse  tor 
this  was,  that  the  enemy  was  expected  to  either 
renew  the  attack  there,  or  make  a  circuit  around 
and  attack  the  party  at  Cross  Hollows,  and  it  was 
necessary  to  proceed  as  fast  as  possible.  We 
were  left  in  possession  of  the  battle-field,  and 
there  can  be  no  reasonable  excuse  for  this  negli 
gence  on  our  part.  Camped  that  night  in  Cross- 
Timbers  Hollow,  but  a  few  miles  fromKeets\'ille, 
being  molested  no  more  on  the  inarch." 


THE   STARS   AND   STHIPES. 

BY   JAMES   T.   FIELDS. 

BALLY  round  the  flag,  boys — 
Give  it  to  the  breeze ! 

That's  the  banner  we  love 
On  the  land  and  seas. 

Bnive  hearts  are  under  it ; 

Let  the  traitors  brag ; 
Gallant  lads,  fire  away! 

And  fight  for  the  flag. 

Their  flag  is  but  a  rag, — 

Ours  is  the  true  one  ; 
Up  with  the  Stars  and  Stripes! 

Down  with  the  new  one! 

Let  our  colors  fly,  boys  — 
Guard  them  day  and  night; 

For  victory  is  liberty, 

And  God  will  bless  the  right. 


A  HOSPITAL  INCIDENT.  —  A  brother  from  the 
Christian  Commission,  while  going  the  rounds 
among  the  wounded,  approached  the  bed  of  a 
soldier  suffering  from  a  severe  wound  in  the  lug. 

"  Ah,  my  dear  brother,  war  is  a  dreadful  thing," 
said  the  preacher. 

"  If  you  had  my  leg,  you'd  think  so;  but  I  had 
the  satisfaction  of  killing  a  few  of  them  d — d  rebe.s 
before  they  knocked  me  down,"  said  the  Boldier. 

"  Yes,  but  you  must  remember  that  the  rebels 
are  not  our  only  enemy.  Satan  is  our  greatest 
enemy  —  he  is  the  enemy  of  our  souls,"  said  the 
preacher. 

"  Satan  is  a  pretty  bad  fellow,  but  he  can't  give 
us  worse  than  we  got  at  Chickamauga,"  replied 
the  soldier,  writhing  under  the  pain  of  his  wound. 

"  We  must  pray  for  our  souls'  sahation, 
brother." 

"  No,  I'll  pray  for  my  leg's  salvation  first,  till 


330 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS, 


I  get  another  crack  at  thorn  hounds,"  pointing  to 
Lookout  Mountain,  "  and  then  I'll  pray  for  my 
soul,"  said  tLe  soldier. 

The  •;) readier  left,  convinced  that  the  case  was 
a  hopcloss  one.  

A  SUBSTITUTE  WANTED.  —  Chief  Engineer 
."Dean,  of  the  fire  department,  called  at  the  office 
where  I  make  shoes  for  a  living,  and  handed  me 
a  big  white  envelope,  notifying  me  that  I  was 
drafted,  and  must  report  myself  for  examination 
at  Lawrence  on  the  18th  day  of  August. 

Now  I  consider  it  tho  duty  of  every  citizen  to 
give  his  life,  if  need  be,  for  the  defence  of  his  coun 
try  ;  so,  on  the  morning  of  the  eventful  18th,  I  put 
on  a  clean  shirt  and  my  Sunday  clothes,  and  started 
for  Lawrence,  to  see  if  I  could  get  exempted. 

Lawrence,  as  all  know,  is  situated  on  the  Mer- 
rimac  lliver,  and  its  principal  productions  are 
mud,  dust,  and  factory  girls.  The  city  proper, 
at  least  that  part  I  saw,  consisted  of  a  long,  nar 
row  entry,  up  one  flight  of  stairs,  adorned  over 
head  with  a  frescoing  of  gas  meters,  and  carpeted 
with  worn-out  tobacco  quids,  and  furnished  with 
one  chair,  two  settees,  and  as  many  huge,  square 
packing  cases,  marked  "  Q.  M.  D."  Scattered 
around  this  palatial  entrance-hall  were  some  forty 
or  fifty  conscripts,  looking  very  much  as  if  they 
expected  to  be  exempted  by  old  age  before  the 
yuung  man  with  a  ferocious  mustache  should 
notify  them  of  their  turn.  Most  of  them  were 
doomed  to  disappointment ;  for,  while  they  count 
ed  thu  hours  of  delay,  a  door  would  suddenly 
open,  and  the  tall  )Toung  man  would  single  out 
one  man,  and  march  him  through  the  open  door 
way,  to  be  seen  no  more. 

By  and  by  —  that  is,  after  several  hours'  wait 
ing —  my  turn  came. 

"  John  Smith  ! "  shouted  the  doorkeeper. 

"  That's  me,"  says  I.  With  a  cheer  from  the 
crowd,  I  entered  a  large,  square  room,  where  two 
persons  sat  writing  at  a  table,  and  the  third,  evi 
dently  the  surgeon,  was  examining  a  man  in  the 
last  stages  of  nudity. 

One  of  the  writers  at  the  table,  a  young  man, 
with  curly  eyes  and  blue  hair,  nodded  to  me,  and 
dipping  his  pen  in  the  ink,  commenced  : 

"John  Smith,  what's  your  name?'* 

"  John  Smith,"  says  I. 

"  Where  was  you  born  ?  '* 

"  Podunk,  Maine." 

"  W~hat  did  your  great  grandfather  die  of?  " 

"  Darned  if  I  know,"  says  I. 

"  Call  it  hapentoo,"  says  he ;  "  and  your  grand- 
fa  ther,  too?" 

"  1  don't  care  what  you  call  it,"  says  I,  for  I 
was  a  little  riled  by  his  nonsensical  question. 

"  Did  you  ever  have  boils ! " 

"  Not  a  boil." 

"  Or  fits  ?  " 

"  Nary  fit." 

"  Nor  delirium  tremens  ?  " 

"  No,  sir-ee ! " 

"  Or  ricketH  ?  " 

"  I'll  ricket  you,"  for  I  thought  he  meant  some 
thing  else. 


"  Did  you  ever  have  the  measles  ?  "  says  he. 

Here  I  took  off  my  coat. 

"  Or  the  itch  ?  " 

"Yes,  sir,"  said  I,  "that  fis  "—and  I  shoved 
a  very  large  brown  one  vrithii  three  inches  of  his 
nose  —  "  has  been  itching  for  che  last  ten  minutes 
to  knock  your  pesky  head  oif,  you  little,  mean, 
.ow-lived,.  contemptible  whelp,  you." 

"  My  dear  sir,''  said  the  mild-s  >oken,  gentle 
manly  surgeon,  laying  his  hand  on  my  arm; 
"  calm  yourself,  I  pray.  Don't  let  your  angry 
passions  rise,  but  take  off  your  clothes,  so  I  can 
see  what  you  are  made  of." 

So  I  suppressed  my  anger,  and  withdrawing  to 
a  corner,  I  hung  my  clothes  upon  the  floor,  and 
presented  myself  for  examination,  clad  only  with 
the  covering  nature  had  given  me,  except  about 
a  square  inch  of  court  plaster  on  my  right  shin, 
where  I  had  fallen  over  a  chair,  the  night  before, 
feeling  for  a  match. 

"  Young  man,"  said  the  surgeon,  looking  me 
straight  in  the  eye,  "  you  have  got  the  myopia." 

"  Hey  ?  " 

"  You  have  got  the  myopia." 

"Yes,  sir,"  said  I,  "and  a  good  one,  too  —  a 
little  Bininger,  with  a  drop  of  Stoughton,  makes 
an  excellent  eye-opener,  of  a  morning." 

"  And  there  seems  to  be  an  amaurotic  tendency 
of  the  right  eye,  accompanied  with  ophthalmia." 

"  Pshaw !  "  says  I. 

"  Arid  that  white  spot  in  the  left  eye  betokens 
a  cataract." 

"  I  guess  you  mean  in  the  ear,"  says  I,  "  'cai.se 
I  went  in  swimming  this  morning,  and  got  an 
all-fired  big  bubble  in  my  left  ear;"  and  heie  I 
jumped  up  and  down,  two  or  three  times,  on  mv 
left  foot,  but  to  no  purpose.  As  soon  as  I 
stopped,  he  mounted  a  chair,  and  commenced 
feeling  the  top  of  my  head. 

"  Was  your  family  ever  troubled  with  epi 
lepsy?"  says  he. 

"  Only  two  of  the  boys,"  says  I ;  "  and  when 
they  catch  them,  my  Avife  always  goes  at  them 
with  a  fine  tooth  comb  the  first  thing." 

Jumping  off  the  chair,  he  hit  me  a  lick  in  the 
ribs  that  nearly  knocked  me  over ;  and  before  I 
had  time  to  remonstrate,  his  arms  were  around 
my  neck,  and  his  head  pressed  against  my  bosom 
the  same  way  that  Sophia  Ann  does,  when  she 
wants  me  to  buy  a  new  bonnet  or  dross. 

"  Just  what  I  thought,"  said  he,  "  tuberculosis 
and  hemoptysis,  combined  with  a  defect  in  tl'e 
scapular  membrane  and  incipient  phthisis." 

"  Heaven !  "  says  I,  "  what's  that  ?  " 

"  And  cardiac  disease." 

"No?"  saidL  ^ 

"  Ami  pericarditis! " 

"  Thunder !  "  said  I. 

"  Stop  talking !     Now  count  after  me —  one ! " 

"  One !  "  said  I,  more  than  half  dtad  with  fright, 

"  Asthma !     Two." 

"  Two  ! "  I  yelled. 

'<  Exostosis  of  the  _ight  fistula  !     Thiee ! " 

'  Three  !  "  I  gasped. 

'  Coxalgia  !     Four  !  " 

"Murder!"  said  I.     "Fcir," 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


331 


"  Confirmed  duodenum  of  the  right  ventricle  ! 
Five!" 

"O,  doctor!  dear  doctor!  ain't  you  most 
through  ?  I  feel  faint." 

"Through?  No  ;  not  half  through.  Why,  my 
friend,  Pandora's  hox  was  nothing  to  your  chest. 
You  have  sphinxiana,  and  gloriosis,  and  conchol- 
ogia,  and  persiflage,  and  —  " 

Here  my  knees  trembled  so,  I  leaned  against 
the  table  for  support. 

"  And  a  permanent  luxation  of  the  anterior 
lobe  of  the  right  phalanx." 

My  only  answer  was  a  deprecatory  gesture. 

"And  scrofulous  diathesis  and  onmipoditis." 

I  sank  to  the  floor  in  utter  despair. 

"  Eluration !  "  he  yelled,  —  for  he  saw  I  was 
going  fast,  —  "  and  maxillarium,  and  —  " 

When  I  woke  to  consciousness  again,  I  found 
myself  in  a  puddle  of  water,  an  empty  bucket  near 
by,  and  the  surgeon  astride  my  chest,  shouting 
something  in  my  ear,  of  which,  however,  I  could 
hear  nothing. 

I  smiled  feebly  in  acknowledgment  of  his  atten 
tions.  At  a  sign  from  him,  two  attendants  drew 
near,  and  having  lifted  him  into  a  chair,  —  for  he 
was  absolutely  black  in  the  face  with  the  violence 
of  his  exertions,  —  they  hoisted  me  to  a  perpen 
dicular,  and  the  examination  proceeded. 

But  I  will  not  harass  your  feelings  by  repeat 
ing  the  heart-rending  details.  Suffice  it  to  say, 
that  I  was  afflicted  with  gastritis,  emphysemation, 
marcidity,  empyema,  obesity,  condyle  of  the  hu- 
uierus,  pilicose  veins,  hernia  in  both  great  toes, 
and  hemorrhoids  in  the  left  heel,  besides  lots  of 
other  diseases,  whose  names  I  cannot  remember. 
Finally,  after  a  rigid  examination  of  my  toe-nails 
in  search  of  eruptive  lesions,  he  arose  to  his  feet, 
drew  a  long  breath,  wiped  the  perspiration  from 
his  face  with  a  stray  newspaper,  and  commenced. 

"  Young  man,"  said  he,  —  and  his  eyes  glistened 
with  delight  as  he  spoke,  —  "  you  are  really  the 
most  interesting  subject  I  ever  met  with.  Ileally 
a  most  wonderful  case!  I  don't  know  when  I 
have  enjoyed  a  half  hour  so  thoroughly.  Why, 
sir,  with  the  exception  of  two,  or  at  most  three, 
you  have  symptoms  of  every  disease  in  the  medi 
cal  dictionary.  Please  let  me  embrace  you  again, 
just  to  see  if  I  can  detect  exicosis  of  the  viscous 
membrane.  Well,  —  no,"  he  continued,  with  a 
slightly  disappointed  air,  as  he  released  me,  "  I 
don't  seem  to  find  it,  exactly  ;  but  would  you  mind 
coming  round  to  my  boarding-house,  after  tea,  so 
that  I  can  spend  the  evening  auscultating  after 
it?" 

He  was  so  anxious  to  find  that  particular  symp 
tom,  that  I  was  sorry  to  refuse  him  ;  but  1  had 
promised  Sophia  Ann  that  I  would  be  home  to 
tea,  and  knew  she  would  worry  if  I  staid ;  so  I 
was  obliged  to  decline.  Seeing  there  was  a  lady 
in  the  case,  he  very  politely  excused  me  —  very 
much  to  my  relief. 

"  Well,  good  by,  my  friend,"  said  he,  as  I  took 
my  hat  to  go ;  "I  wish  it  was  so  you  could  go  to 
the  war ;  I  would  have  you  in  my  hospital  in  less 
than  a  month,  and  then  I  could  examine  you  at 


my  leisure.  I  am  positive  a  little  exposure  would 
bring  on  those  two  .symptoms  I  spoke  of,  and  then 
what  a  magnificent  subject  you  would  be  !  How 
I  should  like  to  dissect  you !  But  then,  pcrhap0 
you  don't  like  it ;  and  if  you  don't,  1  don't  kno^» 
as  I  blame  you  for  wishing  to  preserve  your  won 
derful  organiza.Ion  as  long  as  possible;  so  you 
just  go  into  the  next  room,  and  Captain  Herrick 
Avill  give  you  a  furlough  to  go  home  and  provide 
a  substitute,  or  p,  /  your  commutation  fee.  Boy, 
call  the  next  on  the  list." 

"  But,  sir,"  said  I,  aghast  at  his  concluding  re 
marks,  "  you  don't  pretend  to  accept  me  as  able- 
bodied?'5' 

"  Ileally,  my  frier  d,"  said  he,  "  the  fact  is,  you 
have  so  many  diseases  that  I  actually  don't  know 
which  to  specify.  It  won't  do  to  say  cranial  dis 
ease,  when  it's  your  heart  that's  affected ;  and  if 
I  mention  your  heart,  what's  the  use  of  your  hav 
ing  the  consumption  ?  But  I  know  Dr.  Coggs- 
well  will  be  glad  to  get  your  commutation  fee ;  or 
if  you  will  bring  up  a  likely  substitute,  I  shall  be 
delighted  to  examine  him ;  and  some  day,  when 
we  are  both  at  liberty,  I  shall  be  most  happy  to 
have  you  call  upon  me.  Hold !  just  unbutton 
your  coat,  for  a  moment ;  I  must  find  that  ex- 

•  «* 

ico — 

But  here  I  broke  from  his  grasp,  and  stopping 
in  the  next  room  only  long  enough  to  procure  my 
furlough,  I  started  for  the  railway  station,  and 
never  looked  behind  until  I  was  safe  in  the  arms 
of  Sophia  Ann  and  my  dear  children. 

And  now  can  anybody  tell  me  where  I  can  find 
a  good  substitute,  warranted  diseased  in  the  head, 
heart,  lungs,  and  legs,  or  all  of  them  ?  To  such 
a  man  I  will  give  three  hundred  dollars  down; 
or,  if  he  prefer,  at  the  rate  of  five  dollars  apiece 
for  each  symptom  ;  and  I  promise  him,  in  behalf 
of  our  Uncle  Samuel,  food  and  clothing  for  three 
yeais,  together  with  medical  attendance  in  pro 
portion  to  the  number  and  malignity  of  his  dis 
eases.  

>  CAPTURE  OF  A  SECESSION  FLAG.  —  The  com 
mander  of  Camp  Herron,  Mo.,  in  November, 
1861,  having  learned  that  a  certain  very  fine  se 
cession  flag,  that  had  waved  defiantly  from  a  flag 
staff'  in  the  village  of  Manchester,  twenty  miles 
distant,  until  the  successes  of  the  Union  forces 
caused  its  supporters  to  conclude  that,  for  the 
present,  "  discretion  would  be  the  better  part  of 
valor,"  was  still  being  very  carefully  preserved,  its 
possessors  boasting  that  they  would  soon  be  ena 
bled  to  rehoist  it,  determined  upon  its  capture. 

On  the  loth  inst.,  he  directed  First  Lieutenant 
H.  C.  Bull,  of  company  C,  of  the  Ninth  Iowa 
regiment,  to  take  charge  of  the  expedition,  and 
to  detail  fifteen  good  men  for  the  purpose,  which 
detail  the  Lieutenant  made  from  company  C. 

They  left  camp  by  the  cars  at  half  past  five 
P.  M.,  landing  at  Merrimac,  three  miles  from 
Manchester,  proceeding  from  thence  to  Manches 
ter  on  foot,  and  surrounded  the  house  of  Squire 
B.,  who  had  been  foremost  in  the  secession  move 
ment  of  that  strong  secession  to  MI,  and  was  re 
ported  to  be  in  possession  of  t  le  flag. 


332 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


The  Squire  protested  against  the  imputation, 
declaring  that  the  flag  was  not  in  his  possession, 
and  that  he  knew  not  of  its  whereabouts.  His 
lady  acknowledged  that  she  had  for  a  time  kept 
it  secreted  in  a  box  in  the  garden  ;  but  as  it  was 
likely  to  become  injured,  she  took  it  out,  dried  it 
in  the  sun,  when  it  was  taken  away  by  some  la 
dies,  who  lived  a  lony  distance  in  the  country, 
whose  names  she  refused  to  give.  Finally,  after 
a  thorough  but  fruitless  search  of  the  house,  af 
ter  the  Lieutenant  had  placed  her  husband  under 
arrest,  and  he  was  being  started  for  headquarters, 
the  lady,  probably  hoping  to  save  her  husband, 
acknowledged  that  it  was  taken  by  a  Mrs.  S., 
who  resided  a  mile  and  a  half  in  the  country, — 
not  such  a  terrible  long  distance,  after  all.  Her 
husband  was  then  sent  to  Merrimac,  escorted  by 
four  soldiers,  and  the  remainder,  conducted  by 
the  gallant  Lieutenant,  started  to  visit  the  resi 
dence  of  Mrs.  S.,  in  search  of  the  flag.  The  dis 
tance  to  the  lady's  residence  was  soon  travelled, 
the  house  surrounded,  and  the  flag  demanded  of 
Mrs.  S.,  who  proved  to  be  a  very  intelligent  lady, 
and  was  surrounded  by  a  very  interesting  fam 
ily.  The  lady  replied  to  the  demand  that  she 
would  like  to 'see  the  person  that  stated  that  she 
took  the  flag  from  Squire  B.'s ;  that  as  to  its 
whereabouts  she  had  nothing  to  say  ;  that  the 
Lieutenant  could  search  her  house,  and  if  he 
could  find  anything  that  looked  like  a  flag,  he  was 
welcome  to  it.  Accordingly,  a  thorough  search 
was  made,  in  which  the  lady  and  her  daughter 
aided,  but  no  flag  was  to  be  found.  The  lady 
then  thanked  the  officer  for  the  gentlemanly  man- 
nei  in  which  the  search  had  been  conducted,  and 
added  that  she  trusted  he  was  satisfied.  He  re 
plied  he  was  quite  certain  that  she  had  the  flag, 
and  that  it  would  have  been  far  better  for  her  to 
have  yielded  it ;  but  as  she  did  not,  as  unpleasant 
as  the  task  was,  he  should  arrest  her  and  take 
her  to  headquarters  at  Pacific  City.  Two  men 
were  then  despatched  for  a  carriage  with  which 
to  convey  the  lady  to  Merrimac,  and  from  thence 
the  lady  was  informed  that  she  would  be  sent  by 
railroad.  She  accordingly  made  preparations  to 
go  ;  but  after  about  an  hour  had  elapsed  in  wait 
ing  for  the  carriage,  the  lady  again  demanded 
the  name  of  the  informants,  and  when  told  that  it 
was  Mrs.  13.,  and  that  Squire  B.  was  already  un 
der  arrest,  she  then  asked  whether  any  indignity 
would  have  been  offered  to  her  had  the  flag  been 
found  in  her  possession,  to  which  the  courteous 
Lieutenant  replied,  "  Certainly  not,  madam  ;  our 
object  with  Squire  B.  was  his  arrest,  and  the  cap 
ture  of  the  flag ;  but  with  you,  our  object  was  the 
flag." 

"  Will  you  pledge  your  lionor"  said  she,  "  that 
if  I  surrender  the  flag  I  shall  not  be  arrested,  nor 
my  family  disturbed  H  "  When  replied  to  in  the 
affirmative,  she  added,  "  I  wish  you  to  understand, 
sir,  that  no  fear  of  arrest  or  trouble  would  ever 
have  made  me  surrender  that  flag ;  but  Squire 
B.'s  family  induced  me  to  take  that  flag  to  save 
their  family  from  trouble,  saying  that  it  shpuld 
be  a  sacrt  d  truiU,  known  only  to  ourselves,  and  I, 
consequently,  surrender  it." 


She  then  went  to  a  bed  that  had  been  fruit 
lessly  searched,  took  from  it  a  quilt,  and  with  the 
aid  of  her  daughters  proceeded  to  open  the  edges 
of  the  quilt,  and  cut  the  stitches  through  the 
body  of  it,  and  pulled  rff  the  top,  when,  behold ! 
there  lay  the  mammoth  flag  next  to  the  cotton, 
being  carefully  stretched  twice  and  nearly  a  half 
across  the  quilt.  When  taken  out  and  spread,  ii 
proved  to  be  a  magnificent  flag,  over  twenty-one 
feet  in  length,  and  nearly  nine  feet  in  width,  with 
fifteen  stars,  to  represent  the  prospective  Soul  hum 
Confederacy. 

"  Recollect,"  said  the  lady  to  Lieutenant  Bull, 
"  that  you  did  not  find  it  yourself,  and  when  you 
wish  detectives,  you  had  better  employ  ladies." 
She  also  added,  that  she  gave  up  the  flag  unwill 
ingly.  The  daughter  remarked  that  she  had 
slept  under  it,  and  that  she  loved  it,  and  that  fif 
teen  stars  were  not  so  terribly  disunion,  in  her 
estimation,  after  all. 


THE  BATTLE-CRY  OF  FREEDOM. 

YES,  we'll  rally  round  the  flag,  boys, 

We'll  rally  once  again, 
Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom  ; 
We  will  rally  from  the  hill-side, 

We  will  rally  from  the  plain, 
Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom. 

Chorus. 

The  Union  forever  !  Hurrah,  boys,  hurrah  ! 
Down  with  the  traitors,  up  with  the  Stars  ; 
While  we  rally  round  the  flag,  boys, 

Rally  once  again, 
Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom. 

We  are  springing  to  the  call 

Of  our  brothers  gone  before, 
Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom  j 
And  we'll  rill  the  vacant  ranks 

With  a  million  freemen  more, 
Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom, 

The  Union  forever,  &c. 

We  will  welcome  to  our  number 

The  loyal,  true,  and  brave, 
Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom  j 
And  although  he  may  be  poor 

He  shall  never  be  a  slave, 
Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom. 

The  Union  forever,  &c, 

We  are  springing  to  the  cal?, 

From  the  East  and  from  the  West, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom ; 

And  we'll  hurl  the  rebel  crew 
From  the  land  we  love  the  best, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom. 
The  Union  forever,  &c. 

We  are  marching  to  the  field,  boys, 

Going  to  the  right, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom  ; 
And  we'll  tear  the  glorious  Stars 

Of  the  Ur.ion  and  the  Right, 
Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom. 

The  Union  forever,  &c. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


333 


We'll  meet  the  rebel  host,  boys, 
With  fearless  hearts  and  true, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom  j 

And  we'll  show  what  Uncle  Sam 
Has  for  loyal  men  to  do, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom. 
The  Union  forever,  &c, 

If  we  fall  amid  the  fray,  boys, 
We  will  face  them  to  the  "last, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom  ; 

And  our  comrades  brave  shall  hear  us, 
As  we  are  rushing  past, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom. 
The  Union  forever,  &c. 

Yes,  for  Liberty  and  Union 
We  are  springing  to  the  fight, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom  ; 

And  the  victory  shall  be  ours, 
Forever  rising  in  our  might, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom. 
The  Union  forever,  &c 


BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG. 
BY  SAMUEL  WTLKESOX. 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  POTOMAC,  ) 
Saturday  Night,  July  4.     ) 

How  can  I  write  the  history  of  a  battle  when 
my  eyes  are  immovably  fastened  upon  a  central 
figure  of  transcendingly  absorbing  interest  —  the 
dead  body  of  my  oldest  born  son,  caused  by  a 
shell  in  a  position  where  the  battery  he  com 
manded  should  never  have  been  sent,  and  aban 
doned  to  die  in  a  building  where  surgeons  dared 
not  to  stay  ? 

The  battle  of  Gettysburg !  I  am  told  that  it 
commenced  on  the  1st  of  July,  a  mile  north  of 
the  town,  between  two  weak  brigades  of  infantry 
and  some  doomed  artillery  and  the  whole  force 
of  the  rebel  army.  Among  other  costs  of  this 
error  was  the  death  of  Reynolds.  Its  value  was 
priceless,  however,  though  priceless  was  the 
young  and  the  old  blood  with  which  it  was 
bought.  The  error  put  us  on  the  defensive,  and 
gave  us  the  choice  of  position.  From  the  mo 
ment  that  our  artillery  and  infantry  rolled  back 
through  the  main  street  of  Gettysburg,  and  rolled 
out  of  the  town  to  the  circle  of  eminences  south 
of  it,  we  were  not  to  attack,  but  to  be  attacked. 
The  risks,  the  difficulties,  and  the  disadvantages 
of  the  coming  battle  were  the  enemy's.  Ours 
were  the  heights  for  artillery;  ours  the  short, 
inside  lines  for  manoeuvring  and  reenforcing ; 
ours  the  cover  of  stone  walls,  fences,  and  the 
crests  of  hills. 

The  ground  upon  which  we  were  driven  to 
accept  battle  was  wonderfully  favorable  to  us. 
A  popular  description  of  it  would  be  fo  say  that 
it  was  in  form  an  elongated  and  somewhat 
sharpened  horse-shoe,  with  the  toe  to  Gettysburg 
and  the  heel  to  the  south. 

Lee's  plan  of  battle  was  simple.     He  massed 
his  troops  upon  the  east  side  of  this  shoe  of  po 
sition,  and  thundered  on  it  obstinately  to  break  ; 
it     The  shelling  of  our  batteries  from  the  nearest  [ 


overlooking  hill,  and  the  unflinching  courage  and 
complete  discipline  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac, 
repelled  the  attack.  It  was  renewed  at  the  point 
of  the  shoe  —  renewed  desperately  at  its  south 
west  heel  —  renewed  on  its  western  side  with  an 
effort  consecra  eel  to  success  by  Ewell's  earnest 
oaths,  and  on  which  the  fate  of  the  invasion  of 
Pennsylvania  was  fully  put  at  stake.  Only  a 
perfect  infantry  and  an  artillery  educated  in  the 
midst  of  charges  of  hostile  brigades  could  pos 
sibly  have  sustained  this  assault.  Hancock's 
corps  did  sustuin  it,  and  has  covered  itself  with 
immortr.l  Conors  by  its  constancy  and  courage. 
The  total  wreck  of  Cunning's  buttery — the  list 
of  its  killed  and  wounded  —  the  losses  of  officers, 
men,  and  horses  Cowen  sustained  —  and  the  mar 
vellous  outspread  upon  the  board  of  death  of 
dead  soldiers  and  dead  animals  —  of  dead  sol 
diers  in  blue  and  dead  soldiers  in  gray  —  more 
marvellous  to  me  than  anything  I  have  ever  seen 
in  war  —  are  a  ghastly  and  shocking  testimony 
to  the  terrible  fighting  of  the  Second  corps  that 
none  will  gainsay.  That  corps  will  ever  have  the 
distinction  of  breaking  the  pride  arid  power  of 
the  rebel  invasion. 

For  such  details  as  I  have  the  heart  for.  The 
battle  commenced  at  daylight,  on  the  east  side  of 
the  horse-shoe  position,  exactly  opposite  to  that 
which  Ewell  had  sworn  to  crush  through.  Mus 
ketry-firing  preceded  the  rising  of  the  sun.  A 
thick  wood  veiled  this  fight,  but  out  of  its  leafy 
darkness  arose  the  smoke  —  and  the  surging  an.i 
swelling  of  the  fire,  from  intermittent  to  continu 
ous  and  crushing,  told  of  the  wise  tactics  of  the 
rebels  in  attacking  in  force  and  changing  their 
troops.  Seemingly  the  attack  of  the  day  was  to 
be  made  through  that  wood.  The  demonstration 
was  protracted  —  absolutely  it  was  preparative. 
There  was  no  artillery  fire  accompanying  the 
musketry,  but  shrewd  officers  on  our  western 
front  mentioned,  with  the  gravity  due  to  the 
fact,  that  the  rebels  had  the  day  before  fallen 
trees  at  intervals  upon  the  edge  of  the  wood  they 
occupied  in  face  of  our  position.  These  were 
breastworks  for  the  protection  of  artillerymen. 

Suddenly,  and  about  ten  in  the  forenoon,  the 
firing  on  the  east  side,  and  everywhere  about  our 
lines,  ceased.  A  silence  as  of  deep  sleep  fell 
upon  the  field  of  battle.  Our  army  cooked,  ate, 
and  slumbered.  The  rebel  army  moved  one  hun 
dred  and  twenty  guns  to  the  west,,  and  massed 
there  Longstreet's  corps  and  Hill's  corps,  to  hurl 
them  upon  the  really  weakest  point  of  our  entire 
position. 

Eleven  o'clock  —  twelve  o'clock  —  one  o'clock. 
In  the  shadow  cast  by  the  tiny  farm-house,  sixteen 
by  twenty,  which  Gen.  Meade  had  made  his  head 
quarters,  lay  wearied  staff  officers  and  tired  jour 
nalists.  There  was  not  wanting  to  the  peaceful- 
ness  of  the  scene  the  singing  of  a  bird,  which 
had  a  nest  in  a  peach  tree  within  the  tiny  yard 
of  the  whitewashed  cottage.  In  the  midst  of 
its  warbling,  a  shell  screamed  over  the  house,  in 
stantly  followed  by  another,  and  another,  and  in 
a  moment  the  air  was  full  of  the  most  complete 
artillery  pi  elude  to  an  infantry  battle  that  was 


334 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


ever  exhibited.  Every  size  and  form  of  shell, 
known  to  British  and  to  American  gunnery, 
shrieked,  whirled,  moaned,  whistled,  and  wrath- 
fully  fluttered  over  our  ground.  As  many  as  six 
in  a  second,  constantly  two  in  a  second,  bursting 
and  screaming  over  and  around  the  headquar 
ters,  made  a  very  hell  of  fire  that  amazed  the 
oldest  officers.  They  burst  in  the  yard  —  burst 
next  to  the  fence  on  both  sides,  garnished  as 
usual  with  the  hitched  horses  of  aids  and  order 
lies.  The  fastened  animals  reared  and  plunged 
with  terror.  Then  one  fell,  then  another — six 
teen  lay  dead  and  mangled  before  the  fire  ceased. 
Still  fastened  by  their  halters,  which  gave  the  ex 
pression  of  their  being  wickedly  tied  up  to  die 
painfully,  these  brute  victims  of  a  cruel  war 
touched  all  hearts.  Through  the  midst  of  the 
storm  of  screaming  and  exploding  shells,  an  am 
bulance,  driven  by  its  frenzied  conductor  at  full 
speed,  presented  to  all  of  us  the  marvellous  spec 
tacle  of  a  horse  going  rapidly  on  three  legs.  A 
hinder  one  had  been  shot  off  at  the  hock.  A 
sh-Jl  tore  up  the  little  step  of  the  Headquarters 
Cottage,  and  ripped  bags  of  oats  as  with  a  knife. 
Another  soon  carried  off  one  of  its  two  pillars. 
Soon  a  spherical  case  burst  opposite  the  open 
door — another  ripped  through  the  low  garret. 
The  remaining  pillar  went  almost  immediately  to 
the  howl  of  a  fixed  shot  that  Whitworth  must 
have  made.  During  this  fire,  the  horses  at  twen 
ty  and  thirty  feet  distant  were  receiving  their 
death,  and  soldiers  in  Federal  blue  were  torn  to 
pieces  in  the  road,  and  died  with  the  peculiar 
yells  that  blend  the  extorted  cry  of  pain  with 
horror  and  despair.  Not  an  orderly  —  not  .an 
ambulance — not  a  straggler,  was  to  be  seen  upon 
the  plain  swept  by  this  tempest  of  orchestral 
death,  thirty  minutes  after  it  commenced.  Were 
not  one  hundred  and  twenty  pieces  of  artillery 
trying  to  cut  from  the  field  every  battery  we  had 
in  position  to  resist  their  purposed  infantry  at 
tack,  and  to  sweep  away  the  slight  defences  be 
hind  which  our  infantry  were  waiting?  Forty 
minutes — fifty  minutes  —  counted  on  watches 
that  ran,  O,  so  languidly !  Shells  through  the 
two  lower  rooms !  A  shell  into  the  chimney  that 
fortunately  did  not  explode.  Shells  in  the  yard. 
The  air  thicker  and  fuller,  and  more  deafening 
with  the  howling  and  whirling  of  these  infernal 
missiles.  The  chief  of  staff  struck.  Seth  Wil 
liams,  loved  and  respected  through  the  army, 
separated  from  instant  death  by  two  inches  of 
space  vertically  measured.  An  aid  bored  with 
a  fragment  of  iron  through  the  bone  of  the  arm. 
Another  cut  with  an  exploded  piece  of  case  shot. 
And  the  time  measured  on  the  sluggish  watches 
was  one  hour  and  forty  minutes. 

Then  there  was  a  lull,  and  we  knew  that  the 
rebel  infantry  was  charging.  And  splendidly  they 
ilid  this  work  —  the  highest  and  severest  test  of  the 
stuff  that  soldiers  are  made  of.  Hill's  division, 
in  line  of  battle,  came  first  on  the  double-quick, 
their  muskets  at  the  "  right-shoulder-shift." 
Longstreet's  came  as  the  support,  at  the  usual 
distance,  with  war  cries  and  a  savage  insolence, 
as  yet  untutored  by  defeat.  They  rushed  in  per- 


|  feet  order  across   '.he  open  field  up  to  the  very 
;  muzzles  of  the  giins,  which  tore  lanes   through 
|  them  as  they  came.    But  they  met  men  who  were 
I  their  equals  in  spirit,  and  their  superiors   in  te- 
j  nacity.     There   never  was  better  fighting,  since 
I  Thermopylae,  than  wra°  done    yesterday  by  our 
j  infantry  and  artillery.     The  rebels  were  over  our 
I  defences.      They    had    ckaned    cannoneers    and 
horses  from   one  of  the  guns,  and  were  whiilirig 
it  around  to  use  upon  us.     The  bayonet  drove 
them  back.     But  so  hard  pressed  was  this  brave 
infantry,  that  at  one  time,  from  Hie  exhaustion  of 
their  ammunition,  every  battery  upon  the  princi 
pal  crest  of  attack  was   silent,  except  Cowen's. 
His  service  of  grape  and   canister  was  awful.     It 
enabled  our  line,  outnumbered  two  to  one,  fiist 
to  beat  back  Longstreet,  and  then  to  charge  Upon 
him,  and  take  a  great  number  of  his  men  and 
himself  prisoners.     Strange  sight !     So  terrible 
was  our  musketry  and  artillery  fire,  that  when 
Armistead's  brigade  was  checked  in  its  charge, 
and   stood  reeling,  all  of  its  men  dropped  their 
muskets,  and   crawled  on  their  hands  and  knees 
underneath  the  stream  of  shot  till   close  to  our 
j  troops,   where  they  made  signs  of  surrendering. 
They  passed  through  our  ranks  scarcely  noticed, 
and  slowly  went  down  the  slope  to  the  road  in 
the   rear.     Before   they    got    there,    the   grand 
cliarge  of  Ewell,  solemnly  sworn  to    and  care 
fully  prepared,  had  failed. 

The  rebels  retreated  to  their  lines,  and  opened 
anew  the  storm  of  shell  and  shot  from  their  one 
hundred  and  twenty  guns.  Those  who  remained 
at  the  riddled  headquarters  will  never  forget  the 
crouching,  and  dodging,  and  running  of  the  but 
ternut-colored  captives  when  they  got  under  this, 
their  friends'  fire.  It  wras  appalling  to  as  good 
soldiers  even  as  they  were. 

What  remains  to  'say  of  the  fight  ?  It  strag 
gled  surlily  over  the  middle  of  the  horse-shoe  on 
the  west,  grew  big  and  angry  on  the  heel  at  the 
south-west,  lasted  there  till  eight  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  when  the  fighting  Sixth  corps  went  joy 
ously  by  as  a  reinforcement  through  a  wood  bright 
with  coffee  pots  on  the  fire. 

My  pen  is  heavy.  O,  you  dead,  who  at  Get 
tysburg  have  baptized  with  your  blood  the  second 
birth  of  Freedom  in  America,  how  you  are  to  be 
envied  !  I  rise  from  a  grave  whose  wret  clay  I 
have  passionately  kissed,  and  I  look  up  and  see 
Christ  spanning  this  battle-field  with  his  feet,  and 
reaching  fraternal  arid  loving  up  to  heaven.  His 
right  hand  opens  the  gates  of  Paradise,  —  with 
his  left  he  sweetly  beckons  to  these  mutilated, 
bloody,  swollen  forms  to  ascend. 


INCIDENT  OF  NASHVILLE.  —  The  Sixty- ninth 
Illinois  regiment,  after  marching  in  column 
through  the  principal  streets  of  Nashville,  cheer 
ing  for  the  Union,  came  to  a  halt  and  in  line  of 
battle  in  front  of  the  St.  Cloud  Hotel,  where  Gov 
ernor  Andy  Johnson  was  stopping,  and  offered 
three  cheers  for  the  "  Union,  the  Constitution, 
and  the  enforcement  of  the  laws  ; :>  whereupon 
Governor  Andy  Johnson  appeared,  hat  in  hand, 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


335 


and  made  a  very  little  war  speech.  While  these 
things  were  going  on,  a  pretty  young  lady,  expen 
sively  and  tastily  dressed,  promenading  the  street, 
was  put  to  the  inconvenience  of  having  to  pass 
round  the  right  wing  of  the  battalion,  which 
bloc  ked  up  two  streets.  As  she  swept  along,  she 
turned  up  her  pretty  nose  (as  is  their  custom]  at 
a  manly,  soldierly  appearing  Corporal  in  company 
D.  The  Corporal  promptly  stepped  out  of  ranks, 
caused  three  soldiers  to  do  the  same,  and  invited 
the  young  lady  to  pass  through  the  interval.  She 
accepted  the  invitation,  but,  in  passing  through 
the  lines,  gave  the  Corporal  a  "  withering  glance," 
as  Reynolds  would  have  it,  and  said  to  him,  "  You 
had  better  all  of  you  go  home."  "  O,  no,"  an- 
Bweiad  the  Corporal,  "we  like  your  country,  your 
dim  ate,  your  people."  "  Our  people ! "  the  young 
lady  exclaimed,  sucking  in  a  good  supply  of 
breath  ;  ;<  are  you  not  ashamed  to  drive  our  poor 
men  from  their  homes  and  their  families  ?  "  "  But 
we  don't  want  to  drive  them  away,"  said  the  Cor 
poral,  "  if  they  will  only  have  any  sense  —  we 
don't  want  their  niggers  —  don't  want  to  free 
them  —  have  too  many  niggers  North  noAv  —  all 
we  want  is  to  keep  together  the  old  government, 
and  to  keep  up  the  old  flag,  and  that  we  are  going 
to  do."  

A  TRUE  KENTUCKIAN.  —  The  Provost  Marshal 
of  the  Eighth  District  of  Kentucky,  having  called 
upon  those  whom  he  had  enrolled  to  show  cause 
for  exemption,  —  if  cause  there  were,  —  was  wait 
ed  on  by  a  large  crowd,  nearly  all  of  whom  were 
rebels,  many  of  them  having  served  several 
months  in  the  rebel  army,  but  considered  them 
selves  unfit  for  the  hardships  of  the  tented  field. 
Hereupon,  the  Provost  Marshal  was  favored  with 
the  following  letter : 

RICHMOND,  Ky.,  December  17, 1863. 

Captain  Robert  Hays,  Provost  Marshal  Eighth 
District,  London,  Kentucky  : 

DEAR  SIR  :  I  have  seen  your  advertisement 
giving  the  people  desiring  exemption  from  the 
coming  draft  an  opportunity  to  lay  in  their  com 
plaints,  &c.  Now,  sir,  I  have  never  had  the  honor 
of  your  acquaintance,  but  I  can  refer  you,  for  the 
truth  of  what  I  am  about  to  say,  to  my  worthy 
friend,  James  D.  Foster,  surgeon,  and  a  member 
of  your  honorable  Board.  My  complaints  are  as 
follows,  viz.  : 

I  have  no  broken  limbs.  I  have  no  chronic  dis 
eases,  such  as  inflammatory  rheumatism,  chronic 
inflammation  of  the  stomach,  phthisic,  white  swell 
ing,  &c.  I  am  not  blind  in  either  eye.  I  am  not 
knock-kneed.  I  am  not  bandy  shanked.  I  am 
not  bow-legged.  I  have  no  bad  teeth,  and  can  bite 
off  a  cartridge.  I  stand  straight  on  my  pastern 
joints.  I  have  never  been  drilled  in  the  Southern 
army,  and  never  been  so  fortunate  as  to  belong 
to  the  sympathizing  party  in  Madison.  I  have  no 
impediment  in  my  speech.  I  am  neither  near 
sighted  nor  far-sighted.  I  can  hear  well ;  I  can  hear 
the  ring  of  a  musket  as  well  as  the  ring  of  a  silver 
dollar.  In  short,  I  am  sound  in  wind  and  limb. 


,  I  am  about  twenty-eight  years  old.     I  am  a  house- 
j  keeper,  and  have  a  wife  (a  good   Union  woman), 
I  and  no  children  living.     I  .im  a  citizen  of  Madi- 
j  son  County,  Kentucky,  from  which  you  want  two 
i  hundred  and  thirty-nine  soldiers.     I  am  as  brave 
as  any  man  who  is  no  braver  than  I  am.     One  of 
my  legs  is  as  long  as  the  other,  and  both  are  long 
enough  to  run  well.     I  am  for  the  "  last  man  and 
the  last  dollar,"  "  nigger  or  no  n-gger;"  espe 
cially  the  last  man.     If  you  have  a  good  musket 
marked  "  U.  S-,"  send   it   down  here,  and  I  am 
ready  to  bear  it  in  defence  of  the  Union.     I  am 
no  foreigner,  and  claim  all  the  papers  that  entitltf 
me  to  "  go  in."  WILLARD  DAVIS. 


AT  ISLAND  NUMBER  TEN,  Major  Corse,  In 
spector-General  on  General  Pope's  staff,  discov 
ered  a  crowd  of  secessionists  in  a  cornfield.  As 
soon  as  he  was  seen  by  them,  they  hid  themselves 
amongst  the  corn,  and  the  Major,  being  alone, 
naturally  feared  that  he  himself  would  be  taken 
I  prisoner  instead  of  making  them  his  captives. 
There  was  nothing  to  be  done,  however,  but  to 
put  a  bold  face  on  the  matter  ;  so  he  took  down 
the  rail  fence  surrounding  the  field,  rode  in  among 
them,  and  ordered  them  to  march  into  the  road, 
and  stack  arms  there.  This  order  was  obeyed, 
and  the  Major's  feelings  were  considerably  re 
lieved  when  a  guard  came  along  with  other  pris 
oners,  to  whom  he  very  willingly  transferred  those 
he  had  taken,  and  went  on  his  way  rejoicing. 
Secretary  Scott  and  Adjutant-General  Butler 
found  themselves  at  one  time  in  a  similar  posi 
tion  ;  they,  too,  trusting  to  the  justness  of  their 
cause,  commanded  the  rebels  to  surrender.  This 
they  did,  and  these  two  officers  brought  into 
camp  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  prisoueia  of 
their  own  manufacture. 


THE  VERMONT  BRIGADE.  —  The  following  de 
scription  of  this  noted  brigade  was  written  by  "one 
who  did  not  belong  to  it,  and  who  never  was  in 
Vermont."  It  will  be  seen,  by  the  tenor  of  the 
article,  that  the  writer  is  no  flatterer,  although  the 
relation  of  the  truth  constitutes  his  production 
complimentary  to  the  gallant  "Green  Mountain 
boys : " 

"  They  wrere  honest  farmers  turned  vagabon  is. 
They  were  simple  countrymen  changed  into  heroes. 
They  were  quiet  townsmen  that  had  become  ro 
vers.  They  stole  ancient  horses  and  bony  cows 
on  the  march.  They  pillaged  moderately  in  other 
things.  They  swept  the  dairies,  and  they  stripped 
the  orchards  for  miles  where  they  travelled.  They 
chased  rabbits  when  they  went  into  camp,  after 
long  marches,  and  they  yelled  like  wild  Indians 
when  neighboring  camps  were  silent  through  fa 
tigue.  They  were  ill  disciplined  and  familiar  with 
their  officers.  They  swaggered  in  a  cool,  impu 
dent  way,  and  looked  down  with  a  patronizing 
Yankee  coolness  upon  all  regiments  that  were 
better  drilled,  and  upon  that  part  of  the  army 
generally  that  did  not  belong  to  the  Vermont 
brigade.  They  were  strangely  proud,  not  of  them- 


336 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


selves  individually,  but  of  the  brigade  collective 
ly  ;  for  they  knew  perfectly  well  they  were  the 
bi  st  fighters  in  the  known  world.  They  were 
long  of  limb,  and  could  outmarch  the  army.'  They 
were  individually  self-reliant  and  skilful  in  the  use 
of  arms  ;  and  they  honestly  believed  that  the  Ver 
mont  brigade  could  not  be  beaten  by  all  the  com 
bined  armies  of  the  rebellion. 

"They  were  veterans  in  fighting  qualities  al 
most  from  their  first  skirmish.  This  was  at  Lee's 
Mills.  They  crossed  a  narrow  dam  under  a  fire, 
made  the  attack  they  were  instructed  to  make, 
and  came  back,  wading  deep  in  the  water,  with  a 
steadiness  that  surprised  the  army.  They  were  an 
incorrigible,  irregular,  noisy  set  of  rascals.  They 
were  much  sworn  at  during  their  four  years  of 
service ;  yet  they  were  at  all  times  a  pet  brigade. 
There  were  but  two  things  they  would  do  —  march 
and  fight ;  and  these  they  did  in  a  manner  pe 
culiarly  their  own.  They  had  a  long,  slow,  swing 
ing  stride  on  the  march,  which  distanced  every 
thing  that  followed  them.  They  had  a  quiet, 
attentive,  earnest,  individual  way  of  fighting  that 
made  them  terrific  in  battle.  Each  man  knew 
that  his  neighbor  in  the  ranks  was  not  going  to 
run  away ;  and  he  knew,  also,  that  he  himself  in 
tended  to  remain  where  he  was.  Accordingly  none 
of  the  attention  of  the  line  was  directed  from  the 
important  duty  of  loading  and  firing,  rapidly  and 
rarefully.  When  moving  into  action,  and  while 
hotly  engaged,  they  made  queer,  quaint  jokes, 
and  enjoyed  them  greatly.  They  crowed  like 
cocks,  they  ba-a-ed  like  sheep,  they  neighed  like 
horses,  they  bellowed  like  bulls,  they  barked  like 
dogs,  and  they  counterfeited,  with  excellent  effect, 
the  indescribable  music  of  the  mule.  When,  per 
chance,  they  held  a  picket  line  in  a  forest,  it  seemed 
as  if  Noah's  ark  had  gone  to  pieces  there. 

"  In  every  engagement  in  which  this  brigade 
took  part,  it  was  complimented  for  gallant  con 
duct.  One  of  the  most  remarkable  of  its  perform 
ances,  however,  has  never  appeared  in  print,  nor 
has  it  been  noticed  in  the  reports.  After  the  bat 
tle  of  Gettysburg,  when  Lee's  army  was  in  the 
vicinity  of "  Hagerstown  and  the  Antietam,  the 
Vermont  brigade  was  deployed  as  a  skirmishing 
line,  covering  a  point  of  nearly  three  miles.  The 
enemy  were  in  force  in  front,  near  Beaver  Creek. 
The  Sixth  corps  was  held  in  readiness  in  rear  of 
the  skirmish  line,  anticipating  a  general  engage 
ment.  The  enemy  had  evidently  determined  to 
attack.  At  last  his  line  of  battle  came  forward. 
The  batteries  opened  at  once,  and  the  skirmishers 
delivered  their  fire.  Our  troops  were  on  the  alert, 
and  stood  watching  for  the  skirmishers  to  come 
in,  and  waiting  to  receive  the  coming  assault.  But 
the  skirmishers  would  not  come  in  ;  and  when  the 
firing  died  away,  it  appeared  that  the  Vermonters 
thus  deployed  as  a  skirmish  line  had  actually  re 
pulsed  a  full  line  of  battle  attack.  Twice  after 
wards  the  enemy  advanced  to  carry  the  po 
sition,  and  were  each  time  again  driven  back  by 
this  perverse  skirmish  line.  The  Vermonters, 
it  is  true,  were  strongly  posted  in  a  wood,  and 
each  man  fired  from  behind  a  tree.  But  then 
everybody  knows  that  the  etiquette  in  such  mat 


ters  is  for  a  skirmish  line  to  come  in  so  soon  as 
they  are  satisfied  that  the  enemy  means  business. 
These  simple-minded  patriots  from  the  Green 
Mountains,  however,  adopted  a  rule  of  (.heir  own 
on  this  occasion;  and  the  enemy,  disgusted  with 
such  stupidity,  retired  across  the  Beaver  Creek. 

"When  the  Vermonters  led  the  colv.mn  on  a 
march,  their  quick  movements  h:id  to  be  regulated 
from  corps  or  division  headquarters,  to  avoid  gaps 
in  the  column  as  it  followed  them.  If  a  rapid  or 
forced  march  were  required,  it  was  a  common 
thing  for  Sedgwick  to  say,  with  a  quiet  smile, '  Put 
the  Vermonters  at  the  head  of  the  column  to-day, 
and  keep  everything  well  closed  up.' 

"  After  the  riots  in  New  York,  when  it  wna 
found  necessary  to  send  troops  to  the  city  to  pre 
vent  a  recurrence  of  the  outbreak,  the  Vermont 
brigade  was  specially  named  by  the  War  Depart 
ment  for  this  duty.     Within  two  hours  after  the 
receipt  of  the  despatch,  the  command  was  en  route 
for  the  city.     They  occupied  the  public  squares 
here  for  some  time,  enjoyed  themselves  not  wisely, 
nor  yet  virtuously  ;  and  returned  to  the  army  of 
the  Potomac  sadly  demoralized  in  all  but  the  two 
great  essential  qualities  of  fighting  and  marching. 
j  It  was  a  fortunate  thing  for  the  New  York  mob 
I  that  it  avoided  a  conflict  with  the  New  England 
'  troops  at  that  time.  • 

"  Upon  the  return  of  the  brigade  to  the  field 
they  quietly  held  on  to  their  old  routine  of  life, 
and  maintained  to  the  close  of  the  wur  thrt  splen 
did  reputation  they  had  won  at  the  very  outset. 

"  There  were  many  regiments  equal  to  the  Ver 
mont  regiments  in  actual  battle,  and  some  that, 
like  the  Fifth  New  York  volunteers,  not  only 
equalled  them  in  fighting  qualities,  but  greatly 
surpassed  them  in  drill,  discipline,  and  appearance 
on  parade.  As  a  brigade,  however,  they  were 
undoubtedly  the  best  brigade  in  the  army  of  the 
Potomac,  for  they  not  only  fought  as  well  as  it 
was  possible  to  fight,  but  they  could  outmarch, 
with  the  utmost  ease,  any  other  organization  in 
the  army. 

"  It  was  the  intention  of  the  writer  only  to  refer 
to  this  brigade,  as  furnishing  the  best  type  of  the 
American  soldier;  but  this  article  has  grown  be 
yond  its  intended  limit,  and  wo  have,  therefore, 
not  the  space  to  examine  into  the  causes  of  this 
superiority.  Two,  however,  may  be  briefly  stated. 
First,  that  the  regiments  from  Vermont  were  bri 
gaded  together.  This  rule,  strange  to  say,  seemed 
to  work  well  only  in  regard  to  the  smaller  States, 
like  Vermont  and  New  Jersey.  Secor.d,  the  fact 
that  Vermont,  during  the  first  year  cf  the  war, 
recruited  for  her  regiments,  and  kept  them  full. 
Regimental  and  company  officers,  knowing  that 
their  ranks  would  be  filled  up,  discharged  men 
freely,  and  thus  managed  to  get  rid  of  their  weak 
and  worthless  soldiers.  For  these  reasons  the 
Vermonters  were  good  men.  They  were  fortunate, 
moreover,  in  having  such  commanders  as  General 
W.  F.  Smith  and  General  W.  T.  H.  Brooks.  It 
naturally  resulted  from  this  combination  of  cir 
cumstances  that  they  became  a  great  power  in 
battle,  and  earned  a  reputation  of  which  every 
[  man  and  woman  in  Vermont  may  well  be  proud." 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


337 


SPIRITUALISM  AT  THE  AViiiTE  HOUSE.  —  A 
correspondent  at  Washington,  in  the  spring  of 
18G:j,  narrated  the  following  story : 

"  A  few  evenings  since,  Abraham  Lincoln, 
President  of  the  United  States,  was  induced  to 
give  a  spiritual  soir&e  in  the  crimson  room  at  the 
Win  Q  House,  to  test  the  wonderful  alleged  super 
natural  poweis  of  Mr.  Charles  E.  Shockle.  It 
wr.s  my  good  fortune,  as  a  friend  of  the  medium,  to 
be  present,  the  party  consisting  of  the  President, 
Mrs.  Lincoln,  Mr.  Welles,  Mr.  Stanton,  Mr. 
L ,  of  New  York,  and  Mr.  F ,  of  Phila 
delphia.  We  took  our  se.its  in  the  circle  about 
eight  o'clock,  but  the  President  was  called  away, 
shortly  oiler  the  manifestations  commenced,  and  I 
the  spirit^,  which  had  apparently  assembled  to 
convince  him  of  their  power,  gave  visible  tokens 
of  their  displeasure  at  the  President's  absence, 
by  pinching  Mr.  Stanton's  ears,  and  twitching 
Mr.  Welles'  beard.  He  soon  returned,  but  it  was  j 
some  time  before  harmony  was  restored,  for  the 
mishaps  to  the  secretaries  caused  such  bursts  of 
laughter  that  the  influence  was  very  unpropitions. 
For  some  half  hour  the  demonstrations  were  of 
a  physical  character  —  tables  were  moved,  and 
the  picture  of  Henry  Clay,  which  hangs  on  the 
wall,  was  swayed  more  than  a  foot,  and  two  can- 
dclabras,  presented  by  the  Dey  of  Algiers  to 
President  Adams,  were  twice  raised  nearly  to  the 
ceiling. 

"  It  was  nearly  nine  o'clock  before  Shockle  was 
fully  under  spiritual  influence ;  and  so  powerful 
were  the  subsequent  manifestation*,  that  twice, 
during  the  evening,  restoratives  were  applied,  for 
he  was  much  weakened  ;  and  though  I  took  no 
notes,  I  shall  endeavor  to  give  you  as  faithful  an 
account  as  possible  of  what  took  place. 

"  Loud  rappings,  about  nine  o'clock,  were  heard 
directly  beneath  the  President's  feet,  and  Mr. 
Shockle  staled  that  an  Indian  desired  to  com 
municate. 

" '  Well,  sir,'  said  the  President,  '  I  should  be 
happy  to  hear  what  his  Indian  majesty  has  to  say. 
We  have  recently  had  a  visitation  from  our  red 
brethren,  and  it  was  the  only  delegation,  black, 
white,  or  blue,  which  did  not  volunteer  some  ad 
vice  about  the  conduct  of  the  war.' 

"  The  medium  then  called  for  pencil  and  paper, 
and  they  were  laid  upon  the  table  in  sight  of  all. 
A  handkerchief  was  then  taken  from  Mr.  Stanton, 
and  the  materials  were  carefully  concealed  from  j 
sight.     In  less  space  of  time  than  it  has  required  I 
for  me  to  write  this,  knocks  were  heard,  and  the  j 
paper   was  uncovered.     To   the    surprise  of  all  j 
present,  it  read  as  follows : 

"  '  Haste  makes  waste,  but  delays  cause  vexa 
tions.  Give  vitality  by  energy.  Use  every  means 
to  subdue.  Proclamations  are  useless  ;  make  a  ' 
bold  front,  and  fight  the  enemy ;  leave  traitors  at 
home  to  the  care  of  loyal  men.  Less  note  of 
preparation,  less  parade  'and  policy  talk,  and  more 
action.  HENRY  KNOX.' 

"  '  That  is  not  Indian  talk.  Mr.  Shockle,'  said 
the  President.  «  Who  is  Henry  Knox  ?  ' 

"  I  suggested  to  the  medium  to  ask  who  Gen- 


eral  Knox  was ;  and  before  the  words  were  from 
my  lips,  the  medium  spoke  in  a  strange  voice  . 
*  The  first  Secretary  of  War.' 

" '  O,  yes,  General  Knox,'  said  the  President, 
who,  turning  to  the  Secretary,  said  :  '  Stanton,  that 
message  is  for  you  ;  it  is  from  your  predecessor.' 

"  Mr.  Stanton  made  no  reply. 

"  '  I  should  like  to  ask  General  Knox,'  said  the 
President,  '  if  it  is  within  the  scope  of  Lis  ability, 
to  tell  us  when  this  rebellion  will  be  put  down.' 

"  In  the  same  manner  as  before,  this  message 
was  received : 

"'Washington,  Lafayette,  Franklin,  Wilber- 
force,  NapoL  :m,  and  myself,  have  held  frequent 
consultations  on  this  point.  There  is  something 
which  our  spiritual  eyes  cannot  detect,  which  ap 
pears  well  formed.  Evil  has  come  at  times  by 
removal  of  men  from  high  positions,  and  there 
are  those  in  retirement,  whose  abilities  should  be 
made  useful  to  hasten  the  end.  Napoleon  says, 
concentrate  your  forces  upon  one  point;  Lafay 
ette  thinks  that  the  rebellion  will  die  of  exhaus 
tion  ;  Franklin  sees  the  end  approaching,  as  the 
South  must  give  up  for  want  of  mechanical 
ability  to  compete  against  Northern  mechanics. 
Wilberforce  sees  hope  only  in  a  negro  army. 

KNOX.' 

"'Well,1  exclaimed  the  President,  'opinions 
differ  among  the  saints  as  well  as  among  the  sin 
ners.  They  don't  seem  to  understand  running 
the  machines  among  the  celestials  much  better 
than  we  do.  Their  talk  and  advice  sound  very 
much  like  the  talk  of  my  cabinet  —  don't  you 
think  so,  Mr.  Welles?' 

"  '  Well,  I  don't  know  —  I  will  think  the  mat 
ter  over,  and  see  what  conclusion  to  arrive  at.' 

"  Heavy  raps  were  heard,  and  the  alphabet  wa» 
called  for,  when,  '  That's  what's  the  matter,'  was 
spelt  out. 

"  There  was  a  shout  of  laughter,  and  Mr. 
Welles  stroked  his  beard. 

"  '  That  means,  Mr.  Welles,'  said  the  President, 
1  that  you  are  apt  to  be  long-winded,  and  think 
the  nearest  way  home  is  the  longest  way  round. 
Short  cuts  in  war  times.  I  wish  the  spirits  could 
tell  us  how  to  catch  the  Alabama.' 

"  The  lights,  which  had  been  partially  lowered, 
almost  instantaneously  became  so  dim  that  I 
could  not  see  sufficiently  to  distinguish  the  fea 
tures  of  any  one  in  the  room,  and  on  the  large 
mirror  over  the  mantel-piece  there  appeared  the 
most  beautiful,  though  supernatural,  picture  ever 
beheld.  It  represented  a  sea  view,  the  Alabama, 
with  all  steam  up,  flying  from  the  pursuit  of 
another  large  steamer.  Two  merchantmen,  in 
the  distance,  were  seen,  partially  destroyed  by 
fire.  The  picture  changed,  and  the  Alabama  was 
seen  at  anchor  under  the  shadow  of  an  English 
fort — from  which  an  English  flag  was  waving. 
The  Alabama  was  floating  idly,  not  a  soul  on 
board,  and  no  signs  of  life  visible  about  her.  The 
picture  vanished,  and  in  letters  of  purple  ap 
peared:  'The  English  people  demanded  this  of 
England's  aristocracy.' 

"  '  So  England  is  to  seize,  the  Alabama,  final- 


338 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


ly.'  said  the  President.  '  It  may  be  possible ;  but, 
Mr.  Welles,  don't  let  one  gunboat  or  monitor 
legs  be  built.' 

"  The  spirits  called  for  the  alphabet,  and  again 
'  That  what's  the  matter,'  was  spelt  out. 

"  '  I  see,  I  see/  said  the  President.  '  Mother 
England  thinks  that  what's  sauce  for  the  goose 
may  be  sauce  for  the  gander.  It  may  be  tit-tat, 
too,  hereafter.  But  it  is  not  very  compliment 
ary  to  our  navy,  anyhow.' 

" '  We've  done  our  best,  Mr.  President,'  said 
Mr.  Welles.  '  Pm  maturing  a  plan  which,  when 
perfected,  I  think,  if  it  works  well,  will  be  a  per 
fect  trap  for  the  Alabama.' 

"  •'  Well.  Mr.  Shockle,'  remarked  the  Presi 
dent,  'I  have  seen  strange  things,  and  heard 
rather  odd  remarks  ;  but  nothing  which  con 
vinces  me,  except  the  pictures,  that  there  is  any 
thing  very  heavenly  about  all  this.  I  should  like, 
if  possible,  to  hear  what  Judge  Douglas  says 
•about  this  war.' 

"  '  I'll  try  to  get  his  spirit,'  said  Mr.  Shockle  ; 
1  but  it  sometimes  happens,  as  it  did  to-night  in 
the  case  of  the  Indian,  that  though  first  im 
pressed  by  one  spirit,  I  yield  to  another  more  pow- 
eiful.  If  perfect  silence  is  maintained,  I  will  see 
if  we  cannot  induce  General  Knox  to  send  for 
Mr.  Douglas.' 

"  Three  raps  were  given,  signifying  assent  to  the 
proposition.  Perfect  silence  was  maintained,  and 
after  an  interval  of  perhaps  three  minutes,  Mr. 
Shockle  rose  quickly  from  his  chair,  and  stood 
ap  behind  it,  resting  his  left  arm  on  the  back,  his 
right  thrust  into  his  bosom.  In  a  voice,  such  as 
no  one  could  mistake,  who  had  ever  heard  Mr. 
Douglas,  he  spoke.  I  shall  not  pretend  to  quote 
the  language.  It  was  eloquent  and  choice.  He 
urged  the  President  to  throw  aside  all  advisers 
who  hesitate  about  the  policy  to  be  pursued,  and 
to  listen  to  the  wishes  of  the  people,  who  would 
sustain  him  at  all  points,  if  his  aim  was,  as  he 
believed  it  was,  to  restore  the  Union.  He  said 
there  were  Burrs  and  Blennerhassets  living,  but 
that  they  would  wither  before  the  popular  appro 
val  which  would  follow  one  or  two  victories, 
such  as  he  thought  must  take  place  ere  long. 
The  turning-point  in  this  war  will  be  the  proper 
use  of  these  victories.  If  wicked  men,  in  the 
first  hours  of  success,  think  it  time  to  devote 
their  attention  to  party,  the  war  will  be  pro 
longed;  but  if  victory  is  followed  up  by  ener 
getic  action,  all  will  be  well. 

"'I  believe  that,'  said  the  President,  'whether 
it  comes  from  spirit  or  human.' 

"  Mr.  Shockle  was  much  prostrated  after  this, 
-and  at  Mrs.  Lincoln's  request,  it  was  thought 
best  to  adjourn  the  seance." 


SEVENTY-SIX  AND  SIXTY-FOUR.  —  Among  a 
large  i  umber  of  articles  sent  to  the  Sanitary 
Commission  was  a  good  and  patriotic  old  lady's 
last  tribute,  to  be  laid  on  the  altar  of  her  country, 
bearing  the  following  inscription  : 

"  These  socks  were  spun  and  knit  by  Mrs.  Ze- 
ruah  Ciapp,  ninety-six  years  old,  wh<  ?e  hands, 


in  youth,  were  engaged  in  moulding  bullets  in 
the  Revolutionary  War."  —  Ckestertown,  Jfwr 
York.  

GENERAL  LEE'S  WOOING. 
"  My  Maryland!    My  Maryland  I1* 

MY  MARYLAND  !     My  Maryland! 

Among  thy  hills  of  blue 
I  wander  far,  I  wander  wide, 

A  lover  bold  and  true ; 
I  sound  my  horn  upon  the  hills, 

I  sound  it  in  the  vale ; 
But  echo  only  answers  it  — 

An  echo  like  a  wail. 

My  Maryland  !     My  Maryland  ! 

I  brin^  thee  presents  fine  — 
A  dazzling  sword  with  jewelled  hilt, 

A  flask  c.  e.  .Bourbon  wine  ; 
I  bring  thee  t-'heets  of  ghostly  white, 

To  dress  thy  bridal  bed, 
With  curtains  of  the  purple  eve, 

And  garlands  gory  red. 

My  Maryland  !     My  Maryland  ! 

Sweet  land  upon  the  shore, 
Bring  out  thy  stalwart  yeomanry, 

Make  clean  the  threshing-floor. 
My  ready  wains  lie  stretching  far 

Across  the  fertile  plain, 
And  I  among  the  reapers  stand 

To  gather  in  the  grain. 

My  Maryland  !     My  Maryland  ! 

I  fondly  wait  to  see 
Thy  banner  flaunting  in  the  breeze, 

Beneath  the  trysting  tree; 
While  all  my  gallant  company 

Of  gentlemen,-  with  spurs, 
Come  tramping,  tramping  o'er  the  hills, 

And  tramping  through  the  furze. 

My  Maryland !     My  Maryland  I 

I  feel  the  leaden  rain  ! 
I  see  the  winged  messenger 

Come  hurling  to  my  brain  ! 
If  feathered  with  thy  golden  hair, 

'Tis  feathered  not  in  vain  ; 
I  spurn  the  hand  that  loosed  the  shaft, 

And  curse  thee  in  my  pain. 

My  Maryland !     My  Maryland ! 

A.las  the  ruthless  day 
That  sees  my  gallant  button  woods 

Hide  galloping  away  ! 
And  ruthless  for  my  chivalry, 

Proud  gentlemen,  with  spurs, 
Whose  bones  lie  stark  upon  the  hills, 

And  stark  among  the  furzj. 


AN  ANECDOTE  OF  COLONEL  HUGH  MCNEIL'.  — 
During  the  battle  of  South  Mountain  the  rebels 
held  a  very  strong  position.  They  were  posted 
in  the  mountain  pass,  and  had  infantry  on  trie 
heights  on  every  side.  GUI  men  were  compelled 
to  carry  the  place  by  storm.  The  position  seemed 
impregnable  ;  lar^e  craggy  rocks  protected  the 
enemy  on  e*"ery  si  le,  while  c  .ir  men  were  exposed 
to  a  galling  ire. 


"  It's  me,"  responded  Seth,  "and  I've  captured  a  secesh  gun."— Page  339. 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


A  band  of  rebels  occupied  a  ledge  on  the  ex 
treme  right,  as  the  Colonel  approached  with  a  few 
of  his  men.  The  unseen  force  poured  upon  them 
a  volley.  McNeil,  on  the  instant,  gave  the  com 
mand: 

"  Pour  your  fire  upon  those  rocks ! " 

The  Bucktails  hesitated  ;  it  was  not  an  order 
that  they  had  been  accustomed  to  receive  ;  they 
had  always  picked  their  men. 

"  Fire !  "  thundered  the  Colonel ;  "  I  tell  you  to 
fire  at  those  rocks  ! " 

The  men  obeyed.  For  some  time  an  irregular 
fire  was  kept  up,  the  Bucktails  sheltering  them 
selves,  as  best  they  could,  behind  trees  and  rocks. 
On  a  sudden  McNeil  caught  sight  of  two  rebels 
peering  through  an  opening  in  the  works  to  get 
an  aim.  The  eyes  of  the  men  followed  their  com 
mander,  and  half  a  dozen  rifles  were  levelled  in 
that  direction. 

"  Wait  a  minute,"  said  the  Colonel ;  "  I  will  try 
my  hand.  There  is  nothing  like  killing  two  birds 
with  one  stone." 

The  two  rebels  were  not  in  line,  but  one  stood 
a  little  distance  back  of  the  other,  while  just  in 
front  of  the  foremost  was  a  slanting  rock.  Colonel 
McNeil  seized  a  rifle,  raised  it,  glanced  a  moment 
along  the  polished  barrel ;  a  report  followed,  and 
both  the  rebels  disappeared.  At  that  moment  a 
loud  cheer  a  little  distance  beyond  rent  the  air. 

"  All  is  right  now,"  cried  the  Colonel ;  "  charge 
11  le  rascals." 

The  men  sprang  up  among  the  rocks  in  an  in 
stant.  The  affrighted  rebels  turned  to  run,  but 
encountered  another  body  of  the  Bucktails,  and 
were  obliged  to  surrender.  Not  a  man  of  them 
escaped.  Every  one  saw  the  object  of  the  Colo 
nel's  order  to  fire  at  random  among  the  rocks. 
He  had  sent  the  party  around  to  their  rear,  and 
meant  thus  to  attract  their  attention.  It  was  a 
perfect  success. 

The  two  rebels  by  the  opening  in  the  ledge 
were  found  lying  there  stiff  and  cold.  Colonel 
McNeil's  bullet  had  struck  the  slanting  rock  in 
front  of  them,  glanced,  and  passed  through  both 
their  heads.  There  it  lay  beside  them,  flattened. 
The  Colonel  picked  it  'up,  and  put  it  in  his 
pocket.  

INCIDENTS  OF  SHERMAN'S  MARCH.  —  A  corre 
spondent  who  accompanied  the  army  of  General 
Sherman  gives  the  following  : 

"  I  entered  a  house.  The  hostess  was  standing 
in  a  small  room  with  closed  door,  looking  through 
a  small  aperture,  and  crying :  <  O !  don't  kill  me. 
I  am  a/card  of  you.'  I  assured  her  my  profound 
respect  for  her  sex  had  always  led  me  to  treat 
them  with  the  most  tender  kindness.  « O,  yes,' 
ehe  said,  '  but  —  but  you  Yankees  have  been  rec 
ommended  to  us  to  be  a  very  bad  and  murder- 
some  set  of  people  ! ' 

"  In  another  hut  I  saw  two  women  and  seven 
Hnall  children,  the  oldest  not  more  than  nine 
years  of  age.  They  looked  forlorn  and  hopeless. 
It  seemed  to  me  that  death  would  be  a  relief  to 
them  all.  Though  they  had  not  eaten  a  mouthful 
for  three  days,  both  women  were  smoking.  A 


child  was  lying  on  the  bed.  I  saw,  by  its  burning 
cheek,  that  it  was  very  ill.  I  said,  '  Is  your  child 
sick?1  'Yes,'  she  replied,  and  seemed,  by  her 
indifference,  to  have  even  lost  a  mother's  love.  I 
procured  one  of  our  surgeons  ;  he  examined  the 
child,  and  said,  « Ikying  of  starvation.'  Before  I 
left,  the  doctor  had  ordered  provisions  from  the 
Commissary,  for  which  he  paid  out  of  his  own 
funds.  There  are  some  kind  men  left  yet.  The 
husbands  of  these  women  \vere  in  the  rebel  army. 
The  authorities  make  no  provision  for  the  poor. 
It  is  hard  to  see  the  suffering  here  er/Jured  by 
these  harmless,  illiterate  people. 

"  One  cause  of  their  sufferings  is  the  necessity 
of  taking  something  in  the  way  of  provisions. 
If  the  supplies  of  forage  are  not  up,  the  boys  will 
take  the  corn,  and  other  things,  too.  I  saw  one 
fellow  attacking  a  beehive  which  had  been  left 
behind.  The  bees  were  worse  than  rebels.  He 
was  repulsed.  But,  on  making  the  second  attack, 
he  drew  a  large  grain  sack  over  his  head  and 
shoulders,  donned  his  buckskin  gauntlets,  took 
the  enemy,  and  divided  the  spoils.  It  is  laugh 
able  to  see  the  German  soldiers  out  foraging.  It 
is  not  unfrequently  that  an  ancient  hen  is  seen 
swinging  from  the  pommel  of  a  saddle,  and  a 
brood  of  young  chickens  following  the  horse." 


BRAVERY  OF  CAPTAIN  HESS.  —  On  the  19th 
of  May,  1864,  at  Milford  Station,  on  the  Virginia 
Central  Railroad,  F.  W.  Hess,  senior  Captain  of 
the  Third  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  with  a  detach 
ment  of  the  First  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  was  or 
dered  to  take  some  rifle  pits  defending  the  ene 
my's  position,  at  a  bridge  over  the  Matapony 
Hiver.  Dismounting  his  men,  he  led  them  over  a 
field,  about  three  hundred  yards,  without  cover 
of  any  kind  from  the  enemy's  bullets.  The  num 
ber  of  men  at  Captain  Hess'  disposal  was  less 
than  one  hundred,  armed  with  Sharp's  carbines 
and  pistols.  The  pits  were  taken  in  the  most  gal 
lant  style  ;  and  in  them  were  captured  six  officers 
and  fifty  enlisted  men  of  the  llth  Virginia  infan 
try.  Captain  Horton,  their  commanding  officer, 
as  he  gave  up  his  sword  to  Captain  Hess,  said, 
"  Sir,  you  are  a  brave  man  \ "  The  loss  in  this 
charge  was  six  killed  and  eight  wounded.  By 
the  exploit  the  bridge  was  uncovered,  and  the 
passage  of  the  river  secured.  Captain  Hess  and 
his  men  were  warmly  commended  for  their  gal 
lantry  by  General  Torbert,  and  measures  have 
been  taken  to  obtain  for  the  Captain  the  vacant 
Majority  of  his  regiment.  Captain  Hess  belonged 
in  McConnellsburg,  Fulton  County,  Perm. 


CAPTURING  A  GUN.  —  There  was  an  old  chap 
in  the  Berdan  Sharpshooters,  near  Yorktown, 
known  as  "  Old  Seth."  He  was  quite  a  character, 
and  a  crack  shot  —  one  of  the  best  shots  in  the 
regiment.  His  "instrument,"  as  he  termed  it, 
was  one  of  the  heaviest  telescopic  rifles.  One 
night  at  roll-call,  "  Old  Selh  "  WAS  non  est.  This 
was  somewhat  unusual,  as  the  old  chap  was  al 
ways  up  \ft  time.  A  Sergeant  went  out  to  hunt 


540 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


him  up,  he  being  somewhat  fearful  that  the  old 
man  had  been  hit.  After  perambulating  around 
in  the  advance  of  the  picket  line,  he  heard  a  low 
"halloo."  "Who's  there?"  inquired  the  Ser 
geant.  "  It's  me,"  responded  Seth,  "  and  I've 
captured  a  secesh  gun."  "  Bring  it  in,"  said  the 
Sergeant.  "  Can't  do  it,"  exclaimed  Seth. 

It  soon  became  apparent  to  the  Sergeant  that 
"  Old  Seth  "  had  the  exact  range  of  one  of  the 
enemy's  heaviest  guns,  and  they  could  not  load  it 
for  fear  of  being  picked  off  by  him.  Again  the 
old  man  shouted :  "  Fetch  me  a  couple  of  haver 
sacks  full  of  grub,  as  this  is  my  gun,  and  the 
cussed  varmints  shan't  fire  it  again  while  the 
scrimmage  lasts."  This  was  done,  and  the  old 
patriot  kept  good  watch  over  that  gun.  In  fact 
it  was  a  "  captured  gun." 


AMENITIES  OF  WAR.  —  The  foL' owing  extracts 
from  letters  written  by  a  general  officer  in  the 
Union  army  exhibit  some  of  the  p.easures  of  ac 
tive  service : 

"  CAMP  PIERREPOINT,  Va.,  December  19, 18G1. 

"  MY  DEAR  L. :  .         . 

"  .  Nine  P.  M.  —  I  had  written  the  fore 
going  before  breakfast,  when  I  was  interrupted 
by  the  return  of  one  of  my  'guides,'  or  scouts, 
who  had  just  come  in  from  a  night  ride  beyond 
our  lines. 

"  He  informed  me  that  the  enemy  had,  two 
days  before,  thrown  forward  his  pickets  to  within 
four  or  five  miles  of  my  advance  guard,  and  had 
carried  off  two  good  Union  men  living  within  a 
mile  of  the  advance,  and  had  threatened  others. 
This  party  had  of  course  retired  as  soon  as  they  had 
completed  their  work  of  revenge  on  such  of  their 
fellow-citizens  as  they  suspected  of  entertaining 
feelings  favorable  to  the  Union  party.  Not  know 
ing  whether  their  rallying  point  was  west  or  south 
of  the  railroad,  I  at  once  sent  a  squadron  of  the 
First  cavalry,  with  two  guides,  who  knew  the 
country  well,  to  make  an  extended  circuit,  to 
pick  up  any  small  parties  prowling  near  my  ad 
vanced  cavalry  picket,  and  to  collect  such  infor 
mation  from  the  natives  respecting  larger  bodies, 
as  they  might  possess.  They  have  just  returned, 

and  Major reports  having  obtained  reliable 

information  of  a  strong  body  of  cavalry  on  the 
Centreville  road  below  Dranesville,  and  a  rumor 
of  a  large  force  expected  to-morrow,  with  a  heavy 
wagon  train,  to  sweep  the  country  around  Dranes- 
ville  of  forage.  I  shall  move  a  brigade  in  that 
direction  at  daylight,  to  be  followed  by  a  second 
at  eight  A.  M.,  and  I  shall,  by  a  rapid  ride,  join 
them  as  soon  as  the  morning  business  will  let 
me.  My  watch  (near  twelve  M.)  reminds  me 
that  I.  must  soon  lie  down,  as  I  want  to  get  a  good 
sleep  before  day ;  but  before  I  close  my  letter,  I 
must  tell  you  of  an  amusing  occurrence  of  this 
morning. 

*'  What  think  you  of  being  formally  called  upon 
10  give  my  name  to  a  new-born  son  of  Mars  ? 

"But  without  further  prelude  let  me  inform 
you  that  about  noon,  as  I  wras  quietly  si" ting  in 
my  office  writing  on  official  matters,  the  rderlv 


in  waiting  opened  the  door  and  reported  that  a 
soldier  asked  to  be  admitted  to  speak  to  me  on  ur 
gent  business.  The  many  wants  of  the  private  sol 
dier  were  at  the  moment  engrossing  my  thoughts, 
and  were  in  fact  the  purport  of  my  communica 
tion  then  being  addressed  to  general  headquar 
ters  ;  therefore  I  said, '  Let  him  come  in.*  A  man 
of  middle  size,  with  a  beaming  smile  overspread 
ing  his  whole  countenance,  approached  the  table 
and  ipologized  for  interrupting  me,  saying,  '  Gen 
eral,  I  will  not  detain  you  a  minute ;  but  I  have 
just  received  a  letter  from  my  wife ;  she  tells  me 
she  has  a  son  four  days  old,  and  I  have  come  to 
osk  permission  to  name  the  boy  after  yourself.' 
'What  is  your  own  name,  my  man?'  I  asked. 
'  Thomas  H.  Walker'  was  the  reply. 

"  *  You  have  a  very  good  name ;  why  not  call 
the  child  after  yourself? ' 

"  He  replied,  a  little  embarrassed,  '  The  com 
pany  won't  let  me,  sir :  the  men  say  he  must  be 
named  aftir  the  General;  and  I  have  come  to 
ask  you  to  write  your  name  on  a  piece  of  paper, 
in  full,  for  I  mean  to  give  him  the  whole  of  it.' 

"  Seeing  the  affair  was  of  a  desperate  character, 
I  thought  the  wisest  course  was  to  despatch  it  at 
once  ;  so,  tearing  off  a  slip  of  paper,  I  began  to 
write,  when  private  Walker  remarked,  '  General, 
you  may,  if  you  please,  send  a  couple  of  neck 
laces —  one  for  the  wife,  and  one  for  the  old 
woman,  her  mother ! '  '  O  ho  ! '  says  I  to  my 
self;  'now  comes  the  gist  of  the  matter;  and  as 
I  pushed  the  paper  towards  him,  I  said,  '  Here 
is  the  name,  Walker;  but  where  the  neckkcea 
are  to  come  from  I  can't  exactly  say.'  '  ,\n. . 
that's  easy  enough  said,'  put  in  Walker ;  *  1  pan 
get  them  at  the  store  across  the  road,  opnodte 
to  the  General's  quarters.'  'And  what,'  I  aa^eJ, 
'  are  the  necklaces  to  cost?'  '  Thirty-seven  and 
a  half  cents  apiece,'  was  the  demure  reply. 

"  Much  relieved  by  this  information,  for  I  thought 
I  was  in  for,  at  least,  twenty  dollars,  I  handed 
the  man  a  gold  dollar.  Receiving  the  money 
with  a  low  bow,  he  again  spoke :  '  If  the  orderly 
would  let  me  pass  in  again,  I  should  like  to  show 
them  to  the  General.'  '  Then  tell  the  orderly  to 
let  you  pass,'  I  said,  and  resumed  my  writing. 
Already  the  affair  had  passed  from  my  mind, 
when  ,he  orderly  again  opened  the  door,  with 
'Walker  again,  sir/  'Send  him  in;'  and  in 
came  he,  if  possible,  more  beaming  than  before, 
and  carrying  a  package  about  six  inches  in  diam 
eter,  nicely  tied  up  in  brown  paper,  which  he 
presented  to  me.  It  felt  very  soft,  and  was  se 
curely  bound.  '  Will  the  General  please  to  look 
at  them  ? '  '  Upon  my  word,  Walker,  if  I  undo 
them,  I  shall  never  be  able  to  do  them  up  again.' 
'  Never  mind,  sir ;  you  undo  them,  and  I'll  do 
them  up  again/  So,  without  further  parley,  I 
gave  the  string  a  jerk;  the  knot  parted  suddenly, 
and  out  rolled  at  full  length  upon  the  floor,  one 
end  remaining  under  my  hands,  not  two  '  neck 
laces,'  but  two  gayly-colored  silk  and  worsted 
' neck-scarfs'  about  six  feet  long,  and  six  inches 
wide.  The  surprise  was  immense,  and  an  almost 
irresistible  'It  of  a  strong  sense  of  the  ludi 
crous  seizec.  me.  I  -.lid  manage  to  restrain  it,  aa 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


341 


Walker  exclaimed,  'Ain't  they  beautiful?'  I 
looked  at  the  honest  face  on  the  other  side  of  the 
table,  and  I  could  not  laugh  at  him.  After  a 
pause,  I  observed  him  wipe  the  palm  of  his  right 
hand  upon  the  leg  of  his  pantaloons,  and  then, 
extending  his  fingers  to  their  full  length,  he  placed 
a  silver  quarter  of  a  dollar  upon  the  centre  of 
the  palm,  and  said:  'Here  is  the  change,  sir.' 
'And  what  are  you  going  to  do  with  that,  my 
man  P  '  I  asked.  He  replied  very  seriously,  '  I 
don't  know,  sir  —  what  do  you  think,  yourself?' 
After  a  moment's  reflection,  I  said,  '  Suppose  you 
buy  a  pair  of  red  woollen  socks  for  the  boy.' 
His  eyes  brightened,  and  he  said,  with  vehemence, 
'  I'll  do  it,  General,  for  I  expect  he's  a  BUSTER  ; 
anyhow,  General,  when  the  company  hears  this, 
they'll  have  a  bust-out,  certain ! '  With  that, 
private  Walker,  who  had  been  in  service  about 
three  months,  and  still  retained  the  native  hon 
esty  and  simplicity  which  he  had  brought  from 
the  western  wilds  of  Pennsylvania,  gathered  up 
his  necklaces,  and  bowed  himself  from  my  pres 
ence. 

"  Good  night ;  it  is  time  f6r  me  to  lie  down. 

"  Friday  Evening-,  December  20,  10  o'clock  P.  M. 

"  Dear  L. :  As  I  did  not  close  my  letter  last 
night,  I  will  add  a  postscript,  to  let  you  know 
that  I  met  the  enemy  to-day  at  Dranesville,  and 
thrashed  him  soundly.  His  force  was  about  three 
thousand,  infantry  and  cavalry,  and  one  battery  of 
artillery ;  ours  about  the  same  —  that  is,  one 
brigade,  the  Rifles  and  Easton's  battery,  four 
pieces. 

"  General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart  was  in  command  of 
the  rebel  force,  and  had  with  him  one  hundred 
wagons,  which  the  prisoners  I  have  just  examined 
inform  me  were  sent  home,  pretty  well  filled  with 
wounded  soldiers,  instead  of  plundered  forage. 
His  loss  must  have  been  heavy,  as  he  left  forty- 
three  killed  and  severely  wounded  on  the  field. 
The  First  and  Second  brigades  of  my  division  did 
not  arrive  on  the  ground  in  time  to  parti  ipate  in 
the  affair.  Our  men  fought  very  handsomely, 
and  so,  in  fact,  did  the  rebels.  As  I  had  moved 
out  without  special  authority  from  general  head 
quarters,  and  had  brought  with  me  only  the  day's 
rations,  I  resolved  to  return  to  my  camp,  after 
collecting  the  wounded  of  the  enemy,  and  placing 
them  in  the  keeping  cf  the  people  of  the  town,  where 
they  were  attended  to,  and  their  wounds  dressed 
by  our  own  surgeons.  Such  as  I  had  ambulances 
for,-  in  addition  to  what  were  required  for  our 
own  wounded,  I  brought  in.  Our  loss  I  cannot  yet 
state  accurately ;  it  will  not  reach  more  than  sixty, 
killed  and  wounded.  I  reached  camp,  with  all  my 
men  in  good  condition,  about  one  hour  ago. 

"  I  will  write  you  more  particularly  to-morrow, 
if  I  have  the  time. 

"  Good  night,  my  dear  L. 


INCIDENT  OF  HAGERSTOWN. —  A  young  lady, 
living  near  Hagerstown,  had  an  American  flag 
around  rer  body,  and  a  party  of  rebels  appeared, 
and  demanded  it.  She  refused  to  give  it  up, 


when  the  brave  Southrons  drew  pistols,  and 
threatened  to  shoot  her  if  she  did  not  deliver  it 
up  at  once.  She  then  took  it  ofT,  and  said,  that 
rather  than  suffer  violence,  she  would  present  it  to 
them,  and  hoped  they  would  not  say  they  captured 
it  from  our  soldiers.  She  also  said  she  hoped  they 
would  meet  before  long,  and  under  different  cir- 
circumstancos.  They  took  their  departure,  and 
soon  after  stopped  at  a  hotel,  where,  it  seems,  the 
landlord  regaled  them  bountifully  with  liquor. 
On  leaving  this  place,  and  before  proceeding  far, 
they  were  surprised  at  being  ordered  to  halt  and 
surrender,  by  a  party  of  our  cavalry,  who  had  got 
wind  of  their  proceedings,  which  they  did,  and  were 
led  back  to  where  the  young  lady  lived,  from 
whom  they  had  taken  the  flag.  "  Ah  !  "  said  she, 
"  back  already  ?  Why,  I  did  not  expect  to  see  you 
so  soon,  although  I  was  confident  you  wrould  pay 
us  a  visit  before  long.  Now,  I  will  thank  you  to 
return  me  the  flag  I  presented  you,  as  I  am  sat 
isfied  it  would  become  soiled  if  it  remained  in 
your  hands."  It  was  handed  over  without  reply, 
the  party  feeling  as  cheap  as  though  they  had 
been  caught  at  sheep  stealing. 


AN  AFFECTING  INCIDENT.  —  The  following 
touching  incident  occurred  in  one  of  the  hospi 
tals  at  St.  Louis : 

"  In  another  ward  I  saw  a  Tennesseean,  whose 
cheek  presented  the  pallor  of  death.  I  walked 
up  to  his  bedside.  His  hand  was  trying  to  grasp 
some  object,  that,  in  his  fitful  delirium,  was  pic 
tured  on  his  dying  imagination.  His  lips  feebly 
uttered  the  word  '  Catherine.'  I  took  his  hand 
in  mine ;  his  eyes,  that  were  rolled  upward  in 
their  sockets,  wandered  around  until  he  was  able 
to  fix  their  gaze  on  me.  '  Do  you  say  something  ? ' 
said  I,  tenderly.  He  motioned  to  me  to  put  my 
ear  down.  '6  my  wife  —  Catherine  —  my  chil 
dren  ! '  His  breathing  was  short  —  his  voice  very 
faint.  '  How  many  children  have  you  ? '  said  I. 
He  held  up  his  four  fingers.  '  What  is  your 
name  ?  '  said  I.  «  William  C.  Brandon,'  replied 
he.  '  Where  are  you  from  ? '  I  asked.  '  Dods- 
ville,  Jackson  County,  Tennessee.'  I  was  revolv 
ing  in  my  mind  if  there  would  be  an  opportunity 
to  forward  intelligence  of  him  to  his  family,  when 
he  said,  '  Will  you  write  to  Catherine  ?  Tell  her 
I  —  I  thought  of  her  and  the  children;  I  —  I 
prayed  for  them  —  O  God !  O  God  ! '  I  assured 
him  I  would  endeavor  to  fulfil  his  request.  I 
then  talked  to  him  about  a  Redeemer,  and 
after  a  while  he  seemed  happier.  His  looks 
spoke  what  words  could  not." 


ENDURANCE  OF  COLORED  TROOPS.- — General 
Wistar,  commanding  at  Yorktown,  in  December, 
1863,  sent  one  of  the  colored  regiments  on  a  raid 
through  Matthews  County,  Virginia,  accompa 
nied  by  a  white  cavalry  regiment.  The  black 
troops  marched  a  distance  of  sixty  miles  in 
forty  hours,  and  endured  the  fatigues  of  a 
tramp  considerably  easier  than  the  mounted 
white  men. 


312 


ANECDOTE^    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


CHICKAMAUGA,    "THE    STREAM    OF 
DEATH!" 

CHICKAMAUGA  !  Chickamauga ! 

O'er  thy  dark  and  turbid  wave 
Rolls  the  death-cry  of  the  daring, 

Rings  the  war-shout  of  the  brave ; 
Round  thy  shore  the  red  fires  flashing, 

Startling  shot  and  screaming  shell  — 
Chickamauga,  stream  of  battle, 

Who  thy  fearful  tale  shall  tell  ? 

Olden  memories  of  horror, 

Sown  by  scourge  of  deadly  plague, 
Long  had  clothed  thy  circling  forests 

With  a  terror  vast  and  vague ; 
Now  to  gather  fiercer  vigor 

From  the  phantoms  grim  with  gore, 
Hurried  by  war's  wilder  carnage 

To  their  graves  on  thy  lone  shore. 

Long,  with  hearts  subdued  and  saddened, 

As  th'  oppressor's  hosts  moved  on, 
Fell  the  arms  of  Freedom  backward, 

Till  our  hopes  had  almost  flown ; 
Till  outspoke  stern  Valor's  fiat  — 

"Here  th'  invading  wave  shall  stay; 
Here  shall  cease  the  foe's  proud  progress ; 

Here  be  crushed  his  grand  array !  " 

Then,  their  eager  hearts  all  throbbing 

Backward  flashed  each  battle-flag 
Of  the  veteran  corps  of  Longstreet, 

And  the  sturdy  troops  of  Bragg ; 
Fierce  upon  the  foeman  turning, 

All  their  pent-up  wrath  breaks  out 
In  the  furious  battle-clangor, 

And  the  frenzied  battle- shout. 

Roll  thy  dark  waves,  Chickamauga ; 

Trembles  all  thy  ghastly  shore, 
With  the  rude  shock  of  the  onset, 

And  the  tumult's  horrid  roar  : 
As  the  Southern  battle-giants 

Hurl  their  bolts  of  death  along, 
Breckinridge,  the  iron-hearted, 

Cheatham,  chivalric  and  strong;  — 

Polk  and  Preston,  gallant  Buckner, 

Hill  and  Hindman,  strong  in  might ; 
Cleburne,  flower  of  manly  valor  ; 

Hood,  the  Ajax  of  the  fight ; 
Benning,  bold  and  hardy  warrior; 

Fearless,  resolute  Kershaw, 
Mingle  battle-yell  and  death-bolt, 

Volley  fierce  and  wild  hurrah ! 

At  the  volleys  bleed  their  bodies, 

At  the  fierce  shout  shrink  their  souls, 
While  their  fiery  wave  of  vengeance 

On  their  quailing  column  rolls  ; 
And  the  parched  throats  of  the  stricken 

Breathe  for  air  the  roaring  flame; 
Horrors  of  that  hell  foretasted, 

Who  shall  ever  dare  to  name  ? 

Borne  by  those  who,  stiff  and  mangled, 

Paid,  upon  that  bloody  field, 
Direful,  cringing,  awe-struck  homage 

To  the  sword  our  heroes  wield ; 
And  who  felt,  by  fiery  trial, 

That  the  men  who  will  be  free, 
Though  in  conflict  baffled  often, 

Ever  will  unconquered  be ! 


Learned,  though  long  unchecked  they  spoil  u», 

Dealing  desolation  round, 
Marking  with  the  tracks  of  ruin 

Muny  a  rod  of  Southern  ground. 
Yet,  whatever  course  they  follow, 

Somewhere  in  their  pathway  flows, 
Dark  and  deep,  a  Chickamauga, 

Stream  of  death  to  vandal  foes ! 

They  have  found  it  d°rkly  flowing 

By  Manassas'  fame  us  plain, 
And  by  rushing  Shenandoah 

Met  the  tide  of  woe  again : 
Chickahominy  !  immortal, 

By  *he  long,  ensanguined  flight, 
5.appt.nannock,  glorious  river, 

Twice-  renowned  for  matchless  fight. 

Heed  the  story,  dastard  spoilers, 

Mark  the  tale  these  waters  tell, 
Ponder  well  your  fearful  lesson, 

And  the  doom  that  there  befell : 
Learn  to  shun  the  Southern  vengeance^ 

Sworn  upon  the  votive  sword, 
"  Every  stream  a  Chickamauga 

To  the  vile,  invading  horde  !  " 


IN  AUGUST,  1862,  Colonel  Holcomb  of  the 
First  Indiana  volunteers  sent  a  long  letter  to 
General  Butler's  headquarters  at  New  Orleans, 
detailing  an  account  of  a  disturbance  in  his 
camp,  and  stating  at  the  close  that  he  had  been 
obliged  to  shoot  one  of  the  mutineers.  General 
Butler  read  the  paper  carefully,  indorsed  it, 

Shoot  another,"  and  sent  it  back  to  the  Colonel. 


"HOME,  SWEET  HOME." — War,  terrible  as  it 
is,  has  its  little  stanzas  of  poetry,  its  chapters  of 
romance,  but  lost  and  forgotten  in  the  heavy 
thunders  and  sterner  duties  of  the  battle. 

One  of  those  incidents  that  make  their  way 
straight  to  the  heart  is  related  as  having  oc 
curred  before-  the  two  days  at  Pittsburg  Landing. 

Thursday  evening  preceding  the  battle  was  as 
lovely  as  spring  and  moonlight  could  make  it. 
On  that  night  the  band  of  the  Lead  Mine  regi 
ment  were  serenading  General  McClernand  at 
his  headquarters,  within  cannon  shot  of  the 
Landing.  And  when  the  band  poured  out  upon 
the  stilll  night  the  air  "  Home,  Sweet  Home,"  the 
camps  were  hushed.  In  one  of  them  a  poor  fel 
low  lay  in  a  tent  ill  with  fever.  As  the  well- 
remembered  tune  fell  upon  his  ear,  he  turned  his 
face  with  a  groan  to  the  canvas  wall  and  died  with 
the  dying  strain.  And  so  he  found  "  Sweet 
Home." 

SNOW  BIIID  AND  OWASSO.  —  An  Indian  tra 
dition  is  thus  related  by  a  soldier  in  camp  at  the 
Green  River  Bridge : 

"  The  site  of  our  camp  seems  dedicated  to 
blood-shedding  from  time  in-memorial.  The  spot 
is  rife  with  stories  and  legends  of  the  noble  tribe 
of  '  Harper '  Indians,  who  once  held  undisputed 
possession  of  the  soil.  One  of  their  tales  runs 
thus :  Their  chief,  notorious  fo:  his  cruelty  and 
ungovernable  passions,  became  smitten  with  a 


ANECDOTES,    POETEY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


343 


young  white  lady,  whom  he  had  captured  some 
time  previous,  in  the  legend  she  is  described  as 
having  been  surpassingly  beautiful.  She  very 
naturally  did  not  reciprocate  his  brutal  and  un 
sought  affection,  but  smiled  with  favor  on  a 
young  and  handsorr.e  warrior,  whose  deeds  of 
daring  and  innumerable  virtues  caused  him  to  be 
loved  by  all  the  tribe,  with  the  single  exception 
of  the  'Black  Chief.'  More  than  once  had  his 
protecting  arm  shielded  '  Snow  Bird '  from  the 
wiles  of  the  base-minded  chieftain. 

"  On  a  calm,  lovely  night,  while  the  beautiful  girl 
was  paddling  slowly  up  and  down  the  stream, 
musing  wiih  her  thoughts,  she  was  startled  by 
the  voice  of  her  persecutor  calling  from  the  bank. 
After  vainly  importuning  her  to  row  to  the  shore 
and  take  him  in  the  boat,  the  enraged  chief 
sprang  into  the  water  and  struck  out  for  the  boat. 
The  frightened  maiden  seized  the  oars,  plied  them 
swiftly  and  with  a  skilful  hand;  SAviftly  the  frail 
vessel  darted  over  the  sparkling  waters,  but  not 
less  swiftly  did  the  powerful  chief,  aroused  to 
renewed  strength  by  his  raging  passion,  follow, 
till  the  exhausted  girl,  wearied  with  almost  super 
human  exertions,  was  compelled  to  drop  the  oars. 
With  a  fiendish  smile  he  grasped  the  prow  of  the 
boat  and  climbed  into  it.  Gazing  calmly  on  the 
terrified  girl,  he  complimented  her  rowing,  and 
ordered  her  to  again  take  up  the  oars,  and  bade 
her  row  to  a  spot  still  farther  from  their  encamp 
ment,  still  known  as  the  '  Black  Pool.'  Fearing 
to  refuse,  with  trembling  hand  and  fast-beating 
heart  she  obeyed.  Arriving  at  the  spot  desig 
nated,  the  chief  dema^ied  her  hand  in  marriage. 
After  vainly  pressing  his  suit,  using  entreaties 
and  threats,  the  enraged  villain  then  attempted 
force.  With  strengtti  almost  equal  to  his  own 
did  she  endeavor  to  protect  what  is  dearer  than 
life  to  a  woman  —  her  maiden  virtue.  Drawing 
a  small  dagger  she  had  concealed  on  her  person, 
she  furiously  struck  at  him,  inflicting  a  severe 
wound  on  his  arm,  disabling  it.  The  infuriated 
fiend  now  seized  an  oar  and  struck  the  agonized 
girl  a  furious  blow,  which  threw  her  from  the 
boat.  The  helpless  maiden  seized  the  side  of  the 
boat  to  keep  from  drowning,  and,  with  prayers, 
tears,  and  entreaties,  begged  the  heartless  wretch 
to  spare  her  life;  but  her  only  answer  was 
another  blow  from  the  hands  of  her  enemy.  She 
loosed  her  hold  and  sank,  but  arose  to  the  sur 
face  in  a  moment,  when  the  blood-stained  mur 
derer  again  struck  her,  this  time  with  his  toma 
hawk,  burying  it  in  her  brain.  She  sank,  with  a 
shriek  fearful  to  hear  in  that  lonely  spot,  to  rise 
no  more. 

"On  the  return  of  the  chief  to  their  camp,  he 
met  Owasso,  the  lover  of  Snow  Bird,  who  had 
just  returned  from  a  protracted  hunt.  He  had 
searched  the  entire  encampment,  also,  her  favorite 
haunts,  without  finding  any  trace  of  her,  till  he 
at  last,  becoming  alarmed,  sought  Black  Chief, 
and  demanded  to  know  her  whereabouts.  The 
chief,  with  a  smile  beaming  with  scorn  and  hatred, 
answered :  '  Snow  Bird  sleeps  at  the  bottom  of 
the  Black  Pool.'  '  What !  muriered,  and  by  thy 


be  that  he,  the  Great  Spirit,  is  just,  and  let  you 
live  after  such  a  horrid  deed?  But  I'll  not  be 
so  merciful.'  With  these  words  Owasso  sprang 
upon  him.  The  contest  was  fierce  and  deadly, 
Owasso  at  length,  completely  exhausted  by  the 
superior  strength  of  his  adversary,  gathered  all 
his  strength,  and  succeeded  in  wrenching  the 
knife — having  lost  his  own  in  the  struggle  — 
from  the  grasp  r-f  his  foe,  and  plunged  both  blade 
and  hilt  deep  in  the  throat  of  his  enemy.  As 
soon  as  he  found  his  foe  was  dead,  he,  with  great 
exertion,  drew  the  knife  from  the  chief's  throat, 
and  raising  himself  on  :iis  knees,  lie  raised  the 
dripping  blade  towards  heaven  and  cried  out, 
'  Snow  Bird,  I  have  revenged  thee,  and  will  now 
fc  .low  thee,'  paying  which,  he  rose  to  his  feet  and 
rushed  to  the  cliff  overhanging  the  place  where 
she  had  been  so  cruelly  murdered.  Without  a 
word,  merely  casting  round  his  head,  taking  a 
farewell  glance  at  his  once  happy  home,  he 
plunged  forward  knife  in  hand  —  a  splash,  a 
gurgle,  and  the  brave  Owasso  was  never  seen 
more. 

"Tradition  says  that  Snow  Bird  and  Owasso 
are  often  seen  in  a  spirit  boat  rowing  calmly  and 
silently  along  the  river,  always  disappearing  at 
the  fatal  spot,  the  Black  Pool,  and  that  the  form 
of  Owasso  is  often  seen  flitting  round  the  top  of 
the  cliff  from  which  he  made  the  fatal  leap. 

"  Our  stockade  is  built  on  the  point  of  the  cliff. 
So  you  see  we  are  camped  in  a  romantic  spot. 
It  was  built,  under  the  supervision  of  a  '  regukr  * 
engineer,  during  the  latter  part  of  1862,  aud 
burned  by  the  notorious  horse  thief,  John  H. 
Morgan,  on  the  1st  of  January  last.  It  is  need 
less  to  speak  of  the  glorious  defence  ^f  the  place 
on  the  4th  of  July.  It  will  ever  be  one  of  the 
brightest  jewels  in  the  wreath  of  fame  that  Michi 
gan's  brave  sons  have  'voveii  for  her  since  the 
beginning  of  this  war." 


GENERAL  PORTER'S  RECONNOISSANCE.  —  "The 
exciting  event  of  the  day,"  wrote  a  correspondent 
on  the  llth  of  April,  1862,  "  has  been  a  balloon 
reconnoissance  by  General  Fitz-John  Porter  on 
a  scale  of  rather  larger  magnitude  than  was  in 
tended.  At  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  General 
Porter  took  his  place  in  Professor  Lowe's  balloon. 
He  supposed  the  usual  number  of  ropes  were  at 
tached  to  it,  whereas  there  was  only  one,  and  a 
place  in  this,  as  was  afterwards  ascertained,  had 
been  burned  by  vitriol,  used  in  generating  gas. 
Taking  his  seat  in  the  car,  unaccompanied  by 
any  one,  the  rope  was  let  out  to  nearly  its  full 
length,  —  the  length  is  about  nine  hundred  yards, 
—  when  suddenly  snap  went  the  cord,  and  up 
went  the  balloon.  This  was  an  unexpected  part 
of  the  programme.  The  men  below  looked  up 
with  astonishment,  and  the  General  looked  down 
with  equal  bewilderment. 

"  '  Open  the  valve,'  shouted  one  of  the  men 
below. 

"  '  I'll  manage  it,'  responded  the  General. 

"  Up  went  the  baUc.on,  higher,  higher.     It  rose 


hand?'     'Ay!   by  my  hand.'     'Fiend!   can  it  [with  great  rapidity  j  :r.s  huge  firm  lessened  as  it 


344 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


wildly  mounted  into  the  regions  of  the  upper  air ; 
it  became  a  speck  in  the  sky.  The  wind  was 
taking  it  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy's  territory. 
By  this  time  every  staff  officer  and  hundreds  of 
others  were  looking  at  the  moving  speck.  It  is 
impossible  to  describe  the  anxiety  felt  and  ex 
pressed  for  the  fate  of  him,  the  central  object  of 
thought,  in  that  far  away  moving  speck,  every 
moment  becoming  less  visible.  It  is  seen  to  move 
in  our  direction ;  the  countenances  of  our  men 
brighten  with  hope.  It  passes  over  our  heads. 
Soon  it  begins  to  descend,  but  with  a  rapidity 
that  arouses  renewed  apprehension.  Quickly  a 
squad  of  cavalry,  led  by  Captain  Locke,  Lieu 
tenant  McQuade,  of  the  General's  staff,  plunge 
spurs  into  their  horses,  and  dash  away  in  the' 
direction  of  the  descending  balloon.  The  rest 
of  the  story  is  as  I  received  it  from  the  General's 
own  lips.  While  the  rope  was  being  played  out, 
he  adjusted  his  glass  in  readiness  for  his  proposed 
view  of  the  enemy's  territory.  A  sudden  bound 
of  the  balloon  told  him  in  a  moment  that  the 
rope  had  given  way.  He  dropped  his  glass, 
heard  the  call,  '  Open  the  valve,'  made  the  re 
sponse  given  above,  and  set  about  looking  for 
the  valve.  He  was  sensible  of  being  flighty  (the 
General  loves  a  pun  as  well  as  the  next  one),  but 
was  not  at  all  nervous.  He  saw  the  wind  had 
taken  him  over  the  line  of  the  rebel  intrench- 
ments.  Having  no  wish  to  drop  in  among  them, 
he  let  the  valve  take  care  of  itself,  and  proceeded' 
to  take  advantage  of  his  position  to  note  the  as 
pect  of  rebel  objects  below.  Crowds  of  soldiers 
rushed  from  the  woods,  and  he  heard  their  shouts 
distinctly.  Luckily  he  was  above  the  reach  of 
their  bullets  ;  so  he  was  not  afraid  on  this  score. 
The  map  of  the  country  was  distinctly  discernible. 
He  saw  Yorktown  and  its  works,  York  Iliver  and 
its  windings,  and  Norfolk  and  its  smoking  chim 
neys.  A  counter  current  of  air  struck  the  balloon, 
and  its  course  was  reversed.  Its  retreat  from 
over  Rebeldom  was  rapid.  He  opened  the  valve, 
the  gas  escaped,  and  down  he  came.  He  could 
not  say  how  fast  he  came  down,  but  it  was  with  a 
rapidity  he  would  not  care  to  have  repeated.  The 
car  struck  the  top  of  a  shelter  tent,  —  under 
which,  luckily,  no  one  happened  to  be  at  the  time, 
—  knocked  the  tent  into  pi,  and  left  him  envel 
oped  in  a  mass  of  collapsed  oil  silk.  He  crawled 
out,  and  found  himself  in  the  middle  of  a  camp, 
not  one  hundred  rods  from  General  McClellan's 
headquarters. 

" '  I  came  mounted,  you  see,'  was  his  remark 
to  Geneial  Burns,  who  was  about  the  first  man 
by  his  side,  lie  gave  the  details  of  his  aerial 
voyage  to  General  Burns,  who,  seeing  the  oppor 
tunity  of  getting  off  a  joke,  could  not  lose  the 
opportunity. 

"  *  You  are  a  suspicious  character,'  remarked 
Burns. 

"  '  How  so  ? '  asked  Porter. 

"  '  In  the  space  of  half  an  hour  you  have  been 
taken  up  by  a  balloon,  and  arrested  by  a  shelter 
tent.' 

" '  And  you  have  come  down  safe,  I  see,'  broke 
in  Captain  Locke,  before  the  laughter  at  General 


Burns'  duet  of  puns  ;  '  I  came  with  this  cavalry 
company  to  look  you  up.' 

"  '  You  ought  to  have  sent  flying  artillerj  after 
me,'  rejoined  Porter." 


A  We  MAN'S  SACPIVICE.  —  The  following  el o. 
quent  and  touching  tribute  to  the  memory  of 
Miss  Cutler,  a  volunteer  army  nurse,  who  died 
at  Xewbern,  of  disease  contracted  while  in  the 
performance  of  her  duties,  is  from  a  private  let 
ter  w.  itten  by  T.  H.  Squire,  Surgeon,  Eighty- 
ninth  New  York  volunteers  : 

"The  daughter  of  Dr.  Cutler,  Twer  ty-first 
Massachusetts.  )f  which  I  have  spoken  iu  \  pre 
vious  letter,  dit  .1  a  few  days  ago,  at  Newbern,  of 
typhoid  fever.  Her  remains  were  brought  back 
to  this  island,  and  buried  to-day.  Who  will 
write  her  epitaph  in  befitting  verse?  She  was 
the  friend  of  the  shk  and  wounded  soldiers,  edu 
cated,  accomplished,  young,  beautiful,  affection 
ate,  patriotic,  pious,  and  self-sacrificing.  In  her 
death  in  the  van  of  the  army,  a  woman  pure 
and  lovely  has  been  laid  as  a  victim  upon  the 
altar  of  Liberty.  She  died  away  from  home  :  a 
father,  whom  she  loved,  stood  by  her ;  but  his 
duties  to  the  wounded  prevented  him  from  ac 
companying  her  remains  to  their  temporary  rest 
ing-place  on  this  beautiful  island.  Sacred  be  the 
spot  where  her  remains  now  lie  !  Ye  winds  hat 
whisper  in  the  pines,  breathe  her  a  .vequiem  !  Y« 
grapes  and  mistletoe  that  climb  upon  the  treest 
and  droop  from  overhanging  boughs,  bend  down 
and  kiss  her  lonely  grave !  Bay,  myrtle,  and 
magnolia,  distil  your  fragrance  around  the  tomb ; 
in  life  her  gentle  virtues  breathed  a  like  per 
fume  !  Dear  girl,  I  would  that  I  had  power  to 
hand  thy  name  down  to  all  coming  time  !" 


HARDEE  THROWN  IN  THE  SHADE. — A  well- 
known  Confederate  Major-General  was  stopping 
for  a  while  in  a  Georgia  village,  which  circum 
stance  coming  to  the  knowledge  of  the  "  Home 
Guard"  of  that  vicinity,  the  Captain  resolved  to 
give  the  General  an  opportunity  of  witnessing  the 
"  revolutions  "  of  his  superb  corps.  In  due  time, 

Captain 's  company,  having  "  fell  in,"  were 

discovered  by  the  General  in  front  of  his  quar 
ters,  in  the  execution  of  his  command,  "  In  two 
ranks,  git,"  &c.  During  the  exhibition,  by  some 
dexterous  double-quick  movement  only  known 
among  militia  officers,  the  Captain,  much  to  his 
surprise  and  chagrin,  found  the  company  in  a 
"  fix,"  best  described,  I  reckon,  as  a  "  solid  cir 
cle."  In  stentorophonic  tones  he  called  them 
to  "  halt !  "  The  General  became  interested,  and 
drew  near,  in  order  to  see  in  what  way  things 
Would  be  righted.  The  Captain,  in  his  coniu- 
sion,  turned  his  head  to  one  side,  like  a  duck 
when  she  sees  the  shadow  of  a  hawk  flit  past, 
and  seemed  to  be  in  the  deepest  thought.  At 
last  an  idea  seemed  to  strike  him ;  a  ray  of  in 
telligence  mantled  his  face,  and  straightening 
himself  up,  he  turned  to  the  ompany,  and  cried 
,  out:  "  Company,  Jisenta .ig'e  to  the  fixnt,  march." 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


The  company  was  "  straightened,"  and  the  Gen 
eral  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  it  was  the  best 
command  he  had  ever  heard  given. 


AN  INCIDENT  BY  THE  WAY.  —  When  a  love  for 
the  old  Hag  does  exist  in  Dixie,  it  is  clear,  warm, 
and  earnest.  It  gushes  out  sometimes  in  the 
most  unexpected  places,  like  a  spring  in  a  desert; 
and  many  a  time  have  Federal  prisoners  been 
startled  into  tears  at  finding  a  loyal  heart  beating 
close  beside  them,  when  they  had  only  looked  for 
taunt  and  treason.  A  body  of  Federal  prisoners 
had  reached  Home,  en  route  for  Richmond. 
Wear}-,  famished,  thirsting,  they  were  herded  like 
cattle  in  the  street,  under  the  burning  sun  —  a 
public  show.  It  was  a  gala  day  in  that  modern 
Home.  The  women,  magnificently  arrayed,  came 
out  and  pelted  them  with  balls  of  cotton,  and  with 
such  sneers  and  taunts  as,  "  So  you  have  come  to 
Home — have  you,  you  Yankees?  How  do  you 
like  your  welcome  ?  "  and  then  more  cotton  and 
more  words.  The  crowds  and  the  hours  came 
and  went,  but  the  mockery  did  not  intermit,  and 
our  poor  fellows  were  half  out  of  heart. 

My  informant,  Major  P.,  faint  and  ill,  had 
stepped  back  a  pace  or  two,  and  leaned  against  a 
post,  whe  i  he  was  lightly  touched  upon  the  arm. 
As  he  looked  around,  mentally  nerving  himself 
for  some  more  ingenious  insult,  a  line-looking, 
well-dressed  boy  of  twelve  stood  at  his  elbow,  his 
frank  face  turned  up  to  the  Major's.  "And  he, 
loo?  "  thought  the  officer. 

With  a  furtive  glance  at  a  rebel  guard,  who 
stood  with  his  back  to  them,  the  lad,  pulling  the 
Major's  skirt,  and  catching  his  breath,  boy-fash 
ion,  said,  "Are  you  from  New  England?*"  "I 
was  born,  in  Massachusetts,"  was  the  reply.  "  So 
was  my  mother,"  returned  the  boy,  brightening 
up  ;  "  she  was  a  New  England  girl,  and  she  was 
what  you  call  a  'school-ma'am,'  up  North;  she 
married  my  father,  and  I'm  their  boy ;  but  how 
she  does  love  New  England,  and  the  Yankees,  and 
the  old  United  States"!  and  so  do  I." 

The  Major  was  touched,  as  well  he  might  be ; 
and  his  heart  warmed  to  the  boy  as  to  a  young 
brother ;  and  he  took  out  his  knife,  severed  a 
button  from  his  coat,  and  handed  it  to  him  for  a 
remembrance.  "  O,  I've  got  half  a  dozen  just 
like  it.  See  here !  "  and  he  took  from  his  pocket  a 
little  string  of  them  —  gifts  of  other  boys  in  blue. 

"  My  mother  would  like  to  see  you,"  he  added, 
"  and  I'll  go  and  tell  her." 

"  What  are  you  doing  here  ?  "  growled  the 
guard,  suddenly  wheeling  round  upon  him  ;  and 
the  boy  slipped  away  into  the  crowd,  and  was 
gone.  Not  more  than  half  an  hour  elapsed  before 
a  lovely  lady,  accompanied  by  the  little  patriot, 
passed  slowly  down  the  sidewalk  next  to  the  curb 
stone.  She  did  not  pause,  she  did  not  speak ;  if 
ahe  smiled  at  all,  it  was  faintly ;  but  she  handed 
to  one  and  another  of  the  prisoners  bank  notes 
as  she  went.  As  they  neared  the  Major,  the  boy 
gave  him  a  significant  look,  as  much  as  to  say, 
"  That's  my  New  England  mother."  The  eyes 
of  the  elegant  lady  and  the  poor,  weary  officer 


met  for  an  instant,  and  she  passed  away  like  a 
vision,  out  of  sight.  Who  will  not  join  with  me 
in  fervently  breathing  two  beatitudes  :  God  bless 
the  young  "Georgian,  and  blessed  forever  be  the 
Northern  scv  oolma'am  ?  —  B.  F.  Taylor. 


"Goor  SHOOTING."  —  The  color-bearer  of  the 
Tenth  Tennp' seo  (Irish)  having  been  shot  down 
in  the  battle  f  Chickamauga,  the  Colonel  oulered 
one  of  the  p.ivates  to  take  the  colors.  Pal,  who 
was  loading  at  tin  time,  replied  :  "By  the  holy 
St.  Patrick,  Colonel,  there's  so  much  good 
shooting  here,  I  haven't  a  minute's  time  to 
waste  fooling  with  that  thing." 


GAINING  THE  C  REST  OF  ROCKY  FACE.  —  After 
the  evacuation  of  Tunnel  Hill,  Georgia,  by  the 
rebels,  the  Fourth  corps  (Howard's)  passed  to 
the  right  of  the  place,  confronting  them  on  lloeky- 
face  Kidge. 

On  Sunday,  the  8th  of  May,  1864,  a  detach 
ment  of  llarker's  brigade  was  ordered  on  a  recon- 
noissance  to  the  northern  extremity  of  the  ridge. 
The  balance  of  the  brigade  being  held  in  reserve 
at  the  base,  Colonel  Opdyke,  with  his  five  hundred 
Ohio  (One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth)  Tigers 
was  ordered  forward,  with  a  guide,  to  develop  the 
enemy  on  the  ridge,  and,  if  possible,  gain  a  posi 
tion  there.  Skirmishing  commenced  at  the  base, 
and  increased  in  severity  as  our  men  ascended. 
But  up  they  went,  the  skirmishers  dodging  from 
tree  to  tree,  and  from  rock  to  rock,  to  escape  the 
bullets  that  were  showered  upon  them  from  the 
crest.  The  sides  of  the  ridge  were  so  steep  and 
rocky  that  the  men  were  obliged  to  cling  to  the 
trees  and  jutting  cliffs  to  help  themselves  along. 
Field  officers  were  obliged  to  dismount  and  lead 
their  horses,  and  even  then  could  only  proceed  with 
great  difficulty.  Twice  the  men  were  ordered  to 
lie  down  and  rest,  in  order  to  cool  themselves,  as 
the  day  was  exceedingly  warm,  and  the  exercise 
severe. 

Simultaneously  with  the  second  order  to  halt, 
the  cry  rung  out" from  the  rocks  above  us,  "  We 
have  gained  the  crest!  —  WE  IIAVE  GAINED  THE 
CREST  \  \  "  The  announcement  seemed  to  elec 
trify  the  men,  and  with  a  shout  that  rent  the  air, 
they  sprang  forward  like  tigers,  and  in  a  moment 
the  entire  regiment  rested  on  the  summit  of  the 
ridge.  Stopping  a  moment  to  breathe,  they 
were  again  ordered  to  advance,  which  they  did 
with  a  determined  bravery  that  defied  the  sneak 
ing  enemy  that  skulked  from  rock  to  rock,  im 
proving  every  obstacle  to  embarrass  them.  Hav 
ing  driven  the  enemy  more  than  half  a  mile,  the 
men  were  ordered  to  throw  up  stone-works  for 
temporary  security,  until  further  orders  were 
received  from  the  rear.  The  reply  came  in  these 
words  —  "  You  have  accomplished  all,  and  more 
than  was  expected.  Take  a  strong  position  and 
await  orders." 

The  Sixty-fifth  Ohio  infantry,  and  shortly  after 
wards  the  remainder  of  the  brigade,  came  to  the 
support  of  the  One  Hun  Ired  and  Twenty-fifth. 


348 


ASTECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


eral  guard  on  the  platform  of  the  car.  The  old 
man,  seeing  his  son,  presumed  to  take  more  lib 
erty  than  the  rule  allowed,  and  put  his  head  out 
side  the  door.  His  son  hastily  advanced,  piece 
at  the  shoulder,  with  a  sharp  "  Get  back  there, 
you  old  rebel !  "  

INCIDENTS  OF  THE  PENINSULA.  —  During  the 
first  day's  skirmish  near  Lee's  Mills,  two  soldiers, 
one  from  Maine,  the  other  from  Georgia,  posted 
themselves  each  behind  a  tree,  and  indulged  in 
sundry  shots,  without  effect  on  either  side,  at  the 
same  time  keeping  up  a  lively  chat.  Finally, 
that  getting  a  little  tedious,  Georgia  calls  out  to 
Maine,  "  Give  me  a  show,"  meaning  step  out,  and 
give  an  opportunity  to  hit.  Maine,  in  response, 
pokes  out  his  head  a  few  inches,  and  Georgia 
cracks  away,  and  misses.  "  Too  high,"  says  Maine. 
"  Now  give  me  a  show."  Georgia  pokes  out  her 
head,  and  Maine  blazes  away.  "  Too  low,"  sings 
Georgia.  In  this  way  the  two  alternated  several 
times,  without  hitting.  Finally,  Maine  sends  a  ball 
so  as  to  graze  the  tree  within  an  inch  or  two  of  the 
ear  of  Georgia.  "  Cease  firing,"  shouts  Georgia. 
"  Cease  it  is,"  responds  Maine.  "  Look  here," 
says  one,  "  we  have  carried  on  this  business  long 
enough  for  one  day.  'Spose  we  adjourn  for  ra 
tions  ?  "  "  Agreed,"  says  the  other.  And  so  the 
two  marched  away  in  different  directions,  one 
whistling  "  Yankee  Doodle,"  the  other  "  Dixie." 

"  While  coming  home  from  a  scout,"  says  a 
soldier  at  Yorktown,  "we  called  at  a  house,  and 
found  a  couple  of  ladies,  quite  young,  and  one  as 
handsome  as  a  Hebe.  They  were  secesh  to  the 
4  backbone,'  and  had  each  a  lover  in  the  rebel 
»rmy  ;  one  of  them  was  at  Yorktown,  and  only 
left  the  day  before,  to  pick  his  way  back  along  the 
York  Paver,  and  carry  such  information  as  he 
had  gotten  from  us.  The  young  lady  showed  us 
his  photograph,  a  good-looking  Lieutenant,  and 
hoped  we  should  meet  him  face  to  face,  that  he 
might  leave  us  for  dead.  '  O,'  said  she,  '  if  all 
the  Yankees  were  one  man,  and  I  had  a  sword 
here,  I  should  like  to  cut  his  throat!' 

"  And  she  said  it  with  a  vim,  too.  We  told 
her  we  would  take  good  care  of  young  Lieuten 
ant  White,  and  see  that  Miss  Florill  had  an  op 
portunity  to  change  her  name  after  the  battle  was 
over,  hoping  for  an  invitation  to  the  wedding ;  and 
as  she  had  called  me  the  '  Divine,'  chaplain  of 
the  regiment,  I  proposed  to  marry  them. 

"  '  Never,'  said  she.  « I  hope  he  will  come  home 
dead  before  you  shall  take  Yorktown.  I  would 
wade  in  blood  up  to  my  knees  to  bury  his  bod)'.' 

"  She  spoke  of  poison  in  a  glass  of  water  we 
drank,  but  I  replied  that  '  one  look  of  her  angel 
face,  one  smile  from  her  lovely  features,  would  be 
an  antidote  to  the  rankest  poison.'  *  Yes/  she 
replied,  '  and  to  your  hatred  of  the  South  too  ? ' 

"  The  flirtation  nearly  made  her  in  favor  of 
Union,  and  us  the  more  so.  But  we  had  not 
gone  far  when  we  observed  a  company  of  soldiers 
approaching,  who  brought  with  them  the  lover  a 
corpse  upon  a  litter,  returning  to  his  sweetheart. 
He  had  been  shot,  while  trying  to  avoid  the  quick 
eye  of  our  sharpshooters,  near  a  house  upon  the 


York  River  shore,  where  his  father  had  resided, 
and  where  a  negro  informed  the  soldiers  that  his 
mother  and  sister  were  at  the  house  where  we 
had  been  in  conversation  with  the  ladies,  one  of 
whom  was  his  sifter,  and  our  soldiers  had,  after 
receiving  orders,  carried  him  to  be  buried. 

"  We  did  not  mar  the  sorrow  of  the  relatives 
by  stopping  to  witness  the  reception  of  the 
body."  

"  MILITARY  NECESSITY."  —  A  knot  of  news 
paper  correspondents  in  the  department  c:  the 
Rappahaimock  took  formal  possession  of  cei'jxin 
rebel  premises,  and  adopted  the  following  declara 
tory  resolutions  : 

"  1.  Resolved,  That  the  house  belonged  to  the 
Federal  Government  by  reason  of  its  owner's  se 
cession  and  abandonment,  and  not  to  the  officers 
who  occupied  it.  That  we  were  equally  children 
of  Uncle  Sam,  and  that,  inasmuch  as  Uncle  Sam 
has  repudiated  primogeniture  from  his  first  start 
out  in  life,  all  his  children  were  entitled  to  share 
alike,  at  present  and  in  prospective,  and  that  the 
house  was  ours  to  use,  as  much  as  the  officers* 
That  we,  therefore,  should  take  possession  of  any 
unoccupied  portion  of  it.  That  the  dining-room 
was  unoccupied  for  the  night,  and  that  there  we 
should  take  up  our  lodgings. 

"  2.  Resolved,  Of  all  the  appliances  of  comfort 
that  we  could  find  unappropriated,  ditto.  That 
we  should  take  some  wood,  enough  to  keep  a 
roaring  fire  all  night,  to  warm  our  feet  by. 

"  3.  Resolved,  Of  everything  to  eat,  ditto  ;  pro 
vided  that  we  could  get  cook's  consent,  acknowl 
edging  valid  authority  over  the  matter  in  him, 
derived  from  his  skill  and  labor  in  making  it 
eatable. 

"  4.  Resolved,  That  we  do  all  these  things  as  a 
military  necessity,  and  in  strict  conformity  to,  and 
most  devoted  regard  for,  the  constitution  of  the 
doers."  

A  BRAVE  PENNSYLVANIA?*.  —  At  the  battle 
and  capture  of  Port  Gibson,  Sergeant  Charles 
Bruner,  aPennsylvanian,  of  Northampton  County, 
with  a  squad  of  fifty  men  of  the  Twenty-third 
regiment  Wisconsin  volunteers,  was  the  first  to 
enter  the  fort.  The  flag-sergeant  being  wounded, 
Sergeant  Bruner  seized  the  colors,  and,  amid 
cheers  and  a  rain  of  bullets,  planted  the  Stars 
and  Stripes  upon  the  ramparts. 

Again,  at  Champion  Hill,  the  Twenty-third  was 
about  breaking,  when  Sergeant  Bruner  took  the 
colors  in  his  hand,  and  cried,  "  Boys,  follow ! 
don't  flinch  from  your  duty !  "  and  on  they  went, 
following  their  brave  color-bearer ;  and  the  in- 
trenchment  was  taken. 

Again,  at  the  battle  of  Big  Black,  company  B, 
of  the  Twenty-third  Wisconsin,  got  orders  from 
General  Grant  to  plant  a  cannon,  and  try  to 
silence  a  battery,  which  was  bravely  dc  ne  ;  when 
the  cannon  was  dismantled,  Captain  and  First 
Lieutenant  were  gone  and  wounded.  Sergeant 
Bruner  again  cheered  on  his  men,  and  in  a  hand- 
to-har.d  fight  the  enemy  were  routed.  The  Ser 
geant  was  made  prisoner  twice  ;  but  hia  captors 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


349 


were  soon  put  Jtors  du  combat  by  his  brave  fol 
lowers,  who  would  die  for  their  gallant  Sergeant, 
and  now  Captain.  The  rebels  were  driven  back, 
with  lost  colors. 

Singular  to  say,  Sergeant  Bruner  has  led  on 
his  men  in  more  than  thirteen  battles,  always  in 
front,  yet  he  has  never  been  wounded.  He  cap 
tured  with  his  own  hands  three  rebel  Hags,  which 
he  handed  over  to  General  Grant. 

Sergeant  Bruner,  the  only  Pennsylvanian  in 
that  regiment,  does  the  old  Keystone  State  great 
honor.  

BRAVERY  AT  LEE'S  MILLS.  —  Among  the  in 
cidents  of  the  fight  at  Lee's  Mills,  Virginia,  on 
the  16th  of  April,  1862,  was  the  recovery  from  a 
fever  of  Sergeant  Fletcher,  of  company  E,  Third 
Vermont,  on  the  sick  list,  and  excused  from  duty, 
and  the  use  he  made  of  his  temporary  health.  lie 
crossed  the  stream  and  went  through  the  fight ; 
then,  on  his  return,  was  among  those  who  went  back 
and  rescued  the  wounded.  On  his  return  to  camp, 
he  went  into  hospital  and  resumed  his  fever,  with 
aggravation. 

John  Harrington,  a  beardless  orphan  boy  of 
eeventeen,  unarmed,  went  over  and  rescued  out 
of  the  rifle  pit  a  disabled  comrade. 

Lieutenant  Whittemore  commanded  company 
E,  which  is  without  a  Captain  for  some  reason. 
This  oiiicer,  with  his  revolver,  covered  Harrington 
in  his  hazardous  expedition,  and  killed  several 
rebels  who  aimed  their  pieces  at  the  boy.  His 
most  intimate  friend  in  the  company,  private 
Vance,  had  been  killed  in  the  rifle-pit.  Whitte 
more,  enraged  with  sorrow,  burst  into  tears,  and 
seizing  the  dead  soldier's  musket,  stood  over  him, 
and  threatened  death  to  any  who  should  retreat ; 
and  then  stooping  down,  he  took  cartridge  after 
cartridge  from  his  friend's  box,  and  killed  his  man 
with  every  fire  —  raging  with  a  divine  fury  the 
while. 

Among  the  phenomena  of  the  fight  was  the  con 
dition  of  the  uniform  of  Captain  Bennett,  of  com 
pany  K,  of  the  Third  Vermont.  It  had  eight  bul 
let  holes  in  it  —  one  through  the  collar  of  his  coat, 
one  through  the  right  coat-sleeve,  one  through  his 
pantaloons  below  the  left  knee,  one  through  both 
pantaloons  and  drawers  above  the  right  knee,  and 
four  through  the  skirts  of  his  coat.  There  was 
not  a  scratch  upon  this  man's  skin. 


ROSECRANS  AND  THE  CONFEDERATE   CAPTAIN. 

—  The  following  interview  took  place,  during  the 
progress  of  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  between 
General  Rosecrans  and  a  Captain  Rice,  of  the 
First  Texas  regiment.  The  Captain  was  made 
prisoner  on  Saturday  afternoon,  and  taken  im 
mediately  to  Rosecrans,  who  was  two  hundred  and 
fifty  yards  in  the  rear  of  the  portion  of  his  army 
which  was  engaged  by  Hood's  division.  llose 
crans  appeared,  dressed  in  black  breeches,  white 
vest,  and  plain  blouse,  and  was  surrounded  by  a 
gorgeous  staff.  The  General  is  short  and  thick 
set,  with  smooth  face,  rosy  cheeks  and  lips,  bril 
liant  black  eyes,  and  is  very  handsome.  He  is 


exceedingly  affable  and  pleasant  in  conversation. 
On  the  approach  of  Captfxin  R.»  he  dismounted, 
tapped  him  familiarly  on  the  shoulder,  and  said, 
"  Let  us  step  aside  and  ta^k  a  little."  Seated  on 
a  fallen  tree,  some  thirty  yards  frcm  the  staff',  the 
General,  a  la  genuine  Yankte,  picked  up  a  stick 
and  commenced  whittling  ai  d  the  following  con 
versation  ensued : 

Rosecrans.     Where  are  your  lines  ? 

llice.  General,  it  has  tost  me  a  great  deal  of 
trouble  to  find  your  lines ;  if  you  take  the  same 
amount  of  trouble,  you  w  11  find  ours. 

Rose.  (Wincing  slight _y.)  What  brigade  do 
you  belong  to  ? 

Rice.     Robertson's. 

Hose.     What  division  ? 

Rice.     I  don't  know. 

Rose.     What  corps  ? 

Rice.     I  don't  know. 

Rose.    Do  you  belong  to  Bragg's  army? 

Rice.     O,  yes,  sir. 

Rosecrans  looked  at  him,  and  smiled  at  his  in 
genuous  manner,  so  perfectly  open  and  candid  the 


ptain  seemed,  then  again  commenced,  blandly : 


Eose. 
here  ? 

Rice. 

Rose. 

Rice. 
mand. 

Rose. 


How   many  of 


Longstreet's  men 


got 


About  forty-five  thousand. 

Is  Longstreet  in  command  ? 

O,  no,  sir !     General  Bragg  is  in  corn- 


Captain,  you  don't  seem  to  know  much, 
for  a  man  whose  appearance  seems  to  indicate  so 
much  intelligence. 

Rice.  Well,  General,  if  you  are  not  satisfied 
with  my  information,  I  will  volunteer  some.  We 
are  going  to  whip  you  most  tremendously  in  this' 
fight. 

Rose,     Wrhy? 

Rice,     Because  you  are  not  ready  to  fight. 

Rose.     Were  you  ready  ? 

Rice.     Yes  ;  we  were  ready. 

Rose.     How  do  you  know  we  were  not  ready? 

Rice.  You  sent  a  brigade  to  burn  a  bridge. 
General  Bragg  sent  a  brigade  to  drive  yours  back. 
You  were  forced  to  reenforce  ;  then  General  Bragg 
reenforced,  and  forced  you  into  an  engagement. 

Rose.  I  find  you  know  more  than  1  thought 
you  did.  You  can  go  to  the  rear. — -Southern 
paper. 

How  AN  AMPUTATION  is  PERFORMED.  —  Im 
agine  yourself  in  the  hospital  of  the  Sixth  corps 
after  a  battle.  There  lies  a  soldier,  whose  thigh 
has  been  mangled  by  a  shell ;  and,  although  he 
may  not  know  it,  the  limb  will  have  to  be  ampu 
tated  to  save  his  life.  Two  Surgeons  have  already 
pronounced  this  decision ;  but,  according  to  the 
present  formation  of  a  hospital  in  this  camp,  no 
one  Surgeon,  nor  two,  can  order  an  amputation, 
even  of  a  finger.  The  opinion  of  five,  at  least, 
and  sometimes  more,  including  the  division  Sur 
geon,  always  a  man  of  superior  skill  and  experi 
ence,  must  first  be  consulted,  and  then,  if  there  i,i 
an  agreement,  depend  upon  it,  the  operation  is 
necessary.  This  did  net  use  to  be,  in  the  earlier 
months  of  the  ^vir;  but  it  is  &z  now.  Suppose 


3f>0 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


that  the  amputation  has  been  decided  upon ;  the 
man,  who  is  a  rebel,  and  an  Irishman,  with  strong 
nerve  and  frame,  is  approached  by  one  of  the  Sur 
geons,  and  told  that  he  will  now  be  attended  to, 
and  whatever  is  best  will  be  done  for  him.  They 
cannot  examine  his  wound  thoroughly  where  he 
lies,  so  he  is  tenderly  lifted  on  to  a  rough  table. 
A  rebel  Surgeon  is  among  the  number  present. 
The  man,  as  I  have  said,  has  strong  nerve,  and  is 
not  reduced  by  loss  of  blood.  So,  then,  the  de- 
cisio.i  is  communicated  to  him  that  he  must  lose 
liis  leg.  While  the  operating  Surgeon  is  examin 
ing,  and  they  are  talking  to  the  poor  fellow,  chlo 
roform  is  being  administered  to  him  through  a 
sponge.  The  first  sensations  of  this  sovereign 
balm  are  like  those  pleasant  ones  produced  by  a 
few  glasses  of  whiskey,  and  the  Irishman  begins 
to  think  he  is  on  a  spree,  and  throws  out  his  arms 
and  legs,  and  talks  funnily.  The  inhalation  goes 
on,  and  the  beating  of  the  pulse  is  watched ;  and 
when  it  is  ascertained  that  he  is  totally  oblivious 
to  all  feeling,  the  instruments  are  produced,  and 
the  operation  commences.  Down  goes  the  knife 
into  the  flesh,  but  there  is  no  tremor  or  indication 
of  pain.  The  patient  is  dreaming  of  the  battle 
out  of  which  he  has  just  come.  Hear  him,  for 
he's  got  his  rifle  pointed  over  the  earthworks  at 
our  advancing  line  of  battle :  "  Arrah,  now  they 
come  !  Give  it  to  'em  !  Down  goes  my  man  ! 
Load  up,  load  up  quick!  for  there  they  are  again  I 
Hi !  hi !  hi !  Up  they  come  !  Now  for  another 
shot ! "  Such  are  a  sample  of  the  exclamations 
the  Celt  makes,  in  his  own  brogue,  while  the  Sur 
geons  are  cutting,  and  carving,  and  sawing  away. 
The  leg  is  off,  and  carried  away ;  the  arteries  are 
tied  up,  and  the  skin  is  neatly  sewed  over  the 
.stump.  The  effect  of  the  chloroform  is  relaxed ; 
and  when  the  patient  opens  his  eyes,  a  short  time 
afterwards,  he  sees  a  clean  white  bandage  where 
his  ghastly  wound  had  been,  and  his  lost  limb  is 
removed.  He  feels  much  easier,  and  drinks  an 
ounce  and  a  half  of  good  whiskey  with  gusto. 
This  is  a  real  instance  of  amputation,  and  the 
chief  characteristics  of  the  description  will  answer 
every  one.  

ANECDOTE  OF  GENERAL  SHERMAN.  —  On  the 
arrival  of  General  Sherman  at  Savannah,  he  saw 
a  large  number  of  British  flags  displayed  from 
buildings,  and  had  a  curiosity  to  know  how  many 
British  Consuls  there  were  there.  He  soon  ascer 
tained  that  these  flags  were  on  buildings  where 
cotton  had  been  stored  away,  and  at  once  ordered 
it  to  be  seized.  Soon  after  that,  while  the  Gen 
eral  was  busily  engaged  at  headquarters,  a  pom- 
Eous  gentleman  walked  in,  apparently  in  great 
aste,  and  inquired  if  he  was  General  Sherman. 
Having  received  an  affirmative  reply,  the  pom 
pous  gentleman  remarked,  "  that  when  he  left  his 
residence,  United  States  troops  were  engaged  in 
removing  his  cotton  from  it,  when  it  was  protected 
ly  the  British  flag." 

*  "  Stop,  sir !  "  said  General  Sherman ;  "  not 
your  cotton,  sir,  but  my  cotton,  —  in  the  name 
of  the  United  States  Government,  sir.  I  have 
noticed,"  continued  General  Sherman,  "  a  great 


many  British  flags  all  about  here,  protecting 
cotton.  I  have  seized  it  all,  in  the  name  of  my 
Government." 

"  But,  sir,"  =aid  the  Consul,  indignantly,  "there 
is  scarcely  any  c,.tton  in  Savannah  that  does  not 
be1  cng  to  me." 

"  There  is  not  a  pound  of  cotton  here,  sir,  that 
does  not  belong  to  me,  for  the  United  States," 
responded  Sherman. 

"  WeL,  fir,"  said  the  Consul,  swelling  himself 
up  with  the  dignity  of  his  office,  and  reddening  in 
the  face  ;  "  my  Government  shall  hear  of  this.  I 
shall  report  your  conduct  to  iny  Government, 
sir !  " 

"Ah!  pray,  who  are  you,  sir?"  said  the  Gen 
eral. 

"  Consul  to  Her  British  Majesty,  sir  !  ", 

"O!  indeed!"  responded  the  General.  "I 
hope  you  will  report  me  to  your  Government. 
You  will  please  say  to  your  Government,  for  me, 
that  I  have  been  fighting  the  English  Government 
all  the  way  from  the  Ohio  River  to  Vicksburg, 
and  thence  to  this  point.  At  every  step  I  have 
encountered  British  arms,  British  munitions  of 
war,  and  British  goods  of  every  description  —  at 
every  step  —  sir.  I  hive  met  them,  sir,  in  all 
shapes  ;  and  now,  sir,  I  find  you  claiming  all  the 
cotton,  sir.  I  intend  to  call  upon  my  Govern 
ment  to  order  me  to  Nassau  at  once." 

"  What  do  you  propose  to  do  there  ?  "  asked 
the  Consul,  somewhat  taken  aback. 

"  I  would,"  replied  the  General,  "  take  with  me 
a'quantity  of  picks  and  shovels,  and  throw  that 
cursed  sand-hill  into  the  sea,  sir ;  and  then  I 
would  pay  for  it,  sir  —  if  necessary !  Good  day, 
sir."  

ONE  OF  GOD'S  NOBLEMEN.  —  A  flat-boat  full 
of  soldiers,  a  few  of  whom  were  African,  at 
tempted  to  land  at  Rodman's  Point,  on  the  coast 
of  North  Carolina. 

The  rebels  were  awaiting  their  approach  in 
ambuscade,  and  reserved  their  fire  till  the  end  of 
the  boat  was  resting  on  the  shore,  and  then  opened 
a  deadly  fire.  Life  could  only  be  saved  by  lying 
flat. on  the  boat's  bottom;  and  if  they  remained 
inactive  long,  the  whole  boat-load  would  be  cap 
tured.  One  of  the  negro  soldiers,  who  saw  the 
situation,  and  the  vital  importance  of  getting  the 
boat  off,  as  well  as  the  imminent  danger  of  the 
attempt,  said :  "  Somebody  got  to  die  to  get  us  all 
out  dis  'ere,  and  it  mougld  jus'  as  well  be  me  as 
anybody ! " 

He  then  deliberately  rose  up,  stepped  on  shorCj 
and  pushed  the  boat  oft'.  As  she  swung  clear ; 
and  the  men  crouching  in  the  bottom  were  saved, 
the  body  of  the  noble  African  fell  forward  into 
the  end  of  the  boat,  pierced  by  five  bullets. 


STORIES  OF  WAR.  —  A  Chaplain,  on  the  eve 
of  a  battle,  lade  the  soldiers  of  his  corps  fight 
bravely,  for  those  who  fell  "  would  sup  in  heaven," 
and  thereupon  himself  marched  to  the  rear,  re 
plying,  when  called  to  stop,  "that  for  his  part 
he  never  took  suppers."  A  kindre;l  anecdote  is 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


351 


related  of  a  militia  colonel  in  the  last  war  with 
Great  Britain.  Addressing  his  soldiers,  on  the 
eve  of  an  engagement,  he  told  them  to  "  press 
where  they  saw  his  white  plume  wave,"  adding 
that,  "  if  by  any  accident  the  regiment  was  over 
powered  and  driven  off'  the  field,  and  should  need 
further  orders  after  the  battle,  they  would  find 
him  (the  Colonel)  behind  Simou  Norris'  barn,  in 
tte  town  of  Buxton." 


HALF  AN  HOUR  AMONG  THE  REBELS.  —  The 
sun  was  shining  down  in  a  style  that  would  have 
done  honor  to  the  sweltering  regions  of  the 
tropics.  Beneath  its  torrid  beams  several  hun 
dred  rebels,  who  had  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance 
to  their  native  country,  trudged  their  way  from 
the  Delaware  Wharf'  to  the  depot,  in  *  West 
Philadelphia,  where  they  awaited  transportation. 
Among  the  motley  crowd  were  a  number  possess 
ing  natural  intelligence,  although  uneducated. 
From  the  excessive  heat,  they  might  have  sup 
posed  they  were  already  in  the  "  Sunny  South," 
and  that  under  such  a  high  temperature  it  would 
be  impossible  for  Northerners  to  be  the  cold- 
bearted  barbarians  they  had  been  represented  to 
be.  The  repentants  presented  a  varied  picture 
for  philosophical  contemplation.  Some  of  them 
were  decidedly  sullen,  and  at  times  exhibited  a 
morose  disposition.  Others  seemed  to  regard 
matters  and  things  as  they  found  them,  with  a 
degree  of  philosophy  entirely  creditable.  Num 
bers  were  loquacious,  and  their  speech  indicated 
the  peculiarities  of  various  localities  of  our  coun 
try.  Among  that  crowd  was  a  tall  individual, 
with  grayish-blue  eyes,  sunken  cheek,  sallow 
complexion,  and  long,  yellowish  hair,  dangling 
down  his  neck.  He  seemed  possessed  of  natural 
intelligence,  but  was  deficient  in  point  of  edu 
cation.  In  hia  speech  he  was  remarkably  pro 
fane. 

Among  the  spectators  was  a  gentleman  re 
markable  for  the  emphatic  style  in  which  he 
enforces  argument  on  the  different  topics  of  the 
day.  He  eyed  the  crowd  of  rebels  for  some  time, 
mingled  among  them,  and  finally  singled  out 
the  tall,  yellow-haired  individual,  above  alluded 
to,  for  a  little  especial  conversation. 

"  You're  a  South  Carolinian,  I  suppose  ?  "  said 
the  spectator. 

"  That's  my  native  country,"  replied  the  repent 
ant  rebel. 

"  Your  native  country ;  were  you  born  there  ?  " 

"  Waal,  I  was." 

"  Then  the  whole  country  is  your  native  coun 
try,  and  not  simply  South  Carolina,"  responded 
the  gentleman. 

"  Waal,  I  don't  know  about  that  ar,  stranger  ; 
you  fellows  have  licked  us  like " 

"  Don't  say  that,  sir,  for  you  are  entirely  mis 
taken,"  replied  the  interlocutor. 

"  Waal,  I  don't  know  what  you  call  a  lickin'; 
if  we  didn't  get  it,  then  I  don't  know  what  a  lick- 
id'  is ;  why,  sir,  we're  tore  out,  root  and  branch, 
and  smashed  down  like  Virginny  tobacco  in  a 
press." 


"Now,  let  me  tell  you,"  responded  the  dial- 
ogist,  "  the  North  has  only  brought  you  fellows 
back  into  the  Union;  the  Ncrth  did  not  i  ivade 
the  South  merely  to  thrash  yc'i;  the  North  took 
the  good  old  flag  of  the  Union  there,  and  asked 
you  to  come  under  its  protection;  you  .refused, 
and  the  North  went  at  you,  and,  after  pretty  hard 
fighting,  have  brought  you  under  that  flag  again. 
This  is  all  the  North  has  done.  'I  he  North  said 
that  the  Union  should  not  be  divided,  and  this 
doctrine  is  fully  maintained  by  American  arms 
and  American  valor." 

By  this  time  the  argument  began  to  increase 
in  interest;  other  rebels  gathered  around,  and 
attentively  listened ;  they  looked  upon  the  strange 
gentleman  as  though  a  sort  of  demigod  had  paid 
them  a  visit,  and  felt  that  words  of  wisdom  were 
dropping  from  his  lips. 

"  Guess  that  are  leader  must  be  a  Congress 
man,"  said  one  rebel  to  another,  aside. 

"  He's  one  on  'em,  eny  how,"  said  another ; 
"  but  he  don't  look  like  an  abolitioner." 

"  No,  I  guess  he  arn't  one  on  'em  critters,  no 
how,"  responded  a  third ;  "  but  he  talks  pooty." 

"  I  like  them  ar  sentiments,  and  when  I  get  to 
Red  River  I'll  express  'em  as  me  own,"  said  a 
rough-looking  customer  with  bushy  whiskers. 

"  Well,"  continued  the  gentleman,  "  now  don't 
return  to  your  homes  -with  any  false  notion  about 
the  people  of  the  North.  They  are  your  friends  ; 
they  will  assist  you  if  you  will  only  show  a  dis 
position  to  assist  yourselves  in  industrial  pursuits. 
You  must  go  to  work,  love  the  good  old  flag, 
and,  if  necessary,  you  must  fight  for  it,  and  not 
against  it." 

"  By ,  stranger,  you  speak  like  a  man  j  we 

never  will  fight  against  the  old  flag." 

"  Nor  the  Union  P  " 

"  No,  sir,  never ;  we  are  for  the  Union  against 
all  enemies ;  we've  been  enemies  to  ourselves." 

"  Yrou  have  been  misled  by  false  teachers,  and 
you  must  guard  against  them ;  you  must  think 
for  yourself;  but  never  array  yourself  against 
that  good  old  flag.  [Here  he  pointed  to  one  float 
ing  from  the  staff  on  the  depot]  You  must  put 
all  your  Jeif  Davises  down  under  your  feet,  and 
not  permit  them  to  trample  you  in  the  dust." 

"That's  so,  by  -,"  chimed  in  several. 

"  D Jeff  Duvis ;  if  the  Government  don't 

hang  him,  we  will,  if  we  can  only  get  a  chance." 

It  really  seemed  that  these  men  would  have 
instantly  hung  Jeff  Davis,  or  any  admirers  of  the 
'•  stern  statesman,"  had  an  opportunity  been  given 
them.  By  the  time  the  dialogue  was  concluded 
tlie  rebels  gave  unmistakable  evidence  of  the 
change  that  had  come  over  the  spirit  of  their 
dreams,  by  actually  giving  three  cheers  for  the 
United  States,  and  death  to  Jeff  Davis. 


SPEECH  IN  THE  MISSISSIPPI  CONVENTION  or 
THE  "  GENTLEMAN  FROM  JONES."  —  "I  am.  a 
mossy-back,  sir,  and  I  stand  here  to-day  to  repre 
sent  the  county  of  Jones.  Peop'e  said  that  the 
county  of  Jones  seceded  from  Mississippi.  Yes, 


352 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


sir,  we  did  secede  from  the  Confederacy,  and,  sir, 
•we  fought  them  like  dogs ;  we  killed  them  like 
davils;  we  buried  them  like  asses!  Yea,  like 
asses,  sir.  My  own  people  down  there  in  the 
county  of  Jones  did,  in  their  sovereign  capacity, 
secede,  and  did  become  mossy-backs.  We  did 
fight  them  like  dogs  and  kill  them  like  hellions 
—  like  hellions,  I  say,  sir!  But  I  didn't  come 
here  to  gas,  sir ;  and  I  surrender  my  rights  to 
the  floor,  sir,  expressing  only  the  one  sentiment, 
that  I  stand  up  for  the  county  of  Jones  in  gen 
eral.  Yes,  sir,  I  am  for  Jones  all  the  time.  In 
my  suffering  county  the  wails  of  three  hundred 
and  eighty  widowed  women  and  shirt-tail  chil 
dren  are  ascending  before  the  God  of  right,  and 
appealing  in  tears  to  the  powers  appointed  for 
relief."  

THE  LAWRENCE  MASSACRE.  —  A  survivor  of 
the  terrible  scenes  at  Lawrence  relates  the  fol 
lowing  incidents  :  Early  on  the  morning  of  the 
massacre,  young  Collamore,  son  of  Mayor  Colla- 
more,  a  youth  of  eighteen,  started  from  Law 
rence  for  a  form  which  was  owned  by  his  father, 
to  shoot  some  birds  for  a  sick  brother.  lie  had 
cleared  the  limits  of  the  city  and  come  to  a  cross 
road,  when,  upon  looking  up,  he  saw,  within  a 
dozen  paces,  the  advance  guard  of  Quantrel, 
comprising  about  twenty  or  thirty  men.  He  kept 
on  and  passed  them,  when  they  ordered  him  to 
halt.  He  turned  and  came  towards  them,  scarcely 
suspecting  that  they  were  foes,  when  the  ruffians 
aimed  at  him  and  fired.  Providentially  not  a 
ball  hit  him,  although  several  grazed  his  person, 
one  of  them  actually  cutting  off  one  of  his  eye 
lashes.  Seeing  that  the  young  man  was  un 
scathed,  one  of  the  ruffians,  with  a  blasphemous 
denunciation  of  his  comrades  for  their  inex- 
pertness,  rode  up  to  him,  and,  taking  deliberate 
aim,  fired,  with  the  intention  of  lodging  a  ball  in 
his  abdomen.  Young  Collamore  was  cool  and 
collected  in  this  trying  moment,  and  turning 
himself  so  as  to  disturb  his  assailant's  aim,  just 
as  the  rifle  was  discharged  rolled  from  his  horse, 
exclaiming  —  "I  am  killed!"  The  shot  took 
effect  in  the  fleshy  part  of  the  thigh.  The  young 
man  was  perfectly  conscious,  but  lay  entirely 
still,  feigning  death.  Several  others  of  the  band 
rode  up  and  discharged  their  pistols  or  ritles 
point  blank  at  him,  but  he  never  flinched,  and 
fortunately  was  not  again  hit.  The  advance 
guard  passed  on,  and  Collamore  then  attempted 
to  drag  himself  to  a  house  in  the  neighborhood, 
occupied  by  an  Irishman,  which  had  been  spared 
through  the  intercessions  of  some  Irishmen  who 
were  among  the  guerrillas.  While  doing  this  he 
saw  the  main  body  of  Quantrel's  gang  approach 
ing.  He  hastened  his  steps,  using  his  gun  as  a 
crutch,  and  just  reached  the  house  in  time  to 
throw  himself  into  a  cellar  window,  when  some 
of  the  gang  rode  up  in  full  chase.  They  shot  a 
man  who  showed  himself  at  a  window,  but  did 
not  discover  Collamore,  who  finally  escaped, 
although  he  lay  for  several  hours  in  the  cellar 
before  the  people  in  the  house  could  venture  to 
his  relief.  The  young  man  owes  his  life  to  his 


nerve  and  his  presence  of  mind.  He  is  now  with 
friends  in  this  city.  His  wound  is  a  severe  one, 
and  may  cripple  him  for  life,  as  the  ball  has  not 
yet  been  extracted. 

When  the  band  of  Quantrel  entered  the  town, 
but  few  of  the  inhabitants  had  arisen,  and  their 
work  was  the  more  speedy  and  certain.  Quantrel 
himself  visited  the  house  of  Mayor  Collamore, 
against  whom  the  ruffians  had  a  peculiar  spite 
because  of  his  energy  in  thwarting  their  des:^"0 
of  invasion.  Mrs.  Collamore,  aroused  by  the 
sound  of  fire-arms,  got  up  and  went  to  the  win 
dow,  when  she  saw  some  of  the  ruffians  chasing 
an  unarmed  man  in  the  yard  of  a  house  near  by. 
They  shot  him  repeatedly,  even  after  he  was 
mortally  wounded.  Shocked  at  this  scene,  and 
at  once  comprehending  the  danger,  she  aroused 
her  husband,  whose  first  impulse  was  to  get  his 
pistols  and  resist.  But  Mrs.  Collamore  urged 
her  husband  to  conceal  himself,  and  suggested  a 
hayrick  in  the  r^ar  of  the  house.  But  before  he 
could  get  out  of  the  house  it  was  surrounded, 
and  the  ruffians  were  thundering  at  the  door. 
Mrs.  Collamore  then  suggested  the  well,  and  has 
tened  her  husband  to  the  well-room.  Mr.  Colla 
more  hesitated  before  entering  the  well,  express 
ing  apprehensions  for  his  wife ;  but  she  implored 
him  to  seek  his  own  safety,  assuring  him  that 
there  could  be  no  danger  to  a  defenceless  woman. 
He  went  into. the  well,  and  the  boards  having 
been  replaced,  Mrs.  Collamore  went  to  the  door. 
She  was  confronted  by  Quantrel  himself,  who  in 
quired  for  her  husband.  She  replied,  calmly  and 
composedly  looking  him  in  the  luce,  that  he  had 
gone  east.  With  a  fearful  oath,  the  ruffian 
strode  past  her,  and  went  directly  to  the  chamber 
of  Mr.  Collamore,  being  evident ly  well  acquainted 
with  the  premises.  Disappointed,  he  instituted  a 
search,  though  not  very  thorough,  for  the  cellar 
was  not  visited;  and  not  finding  the  object  of  his 
vengeance,  he  demanded  of  Mrs.  Collamore  the 
money  th.it  was  in  the  house.  She  gave  him 
what  she  had,  but  he  insisted  that  there  was 
more.  Mrs.  Collamore  remembering  that  one  of 
the  children  had  about  five  dollars  in  specie,  gave 
that  to  Quantrel,  which  seemed  to  satisfy  the 
ruffian.  He  rummaged  the  drawers,  but  did  not 
touch  the  silver  belonging  to  Mrs.  Collamore,  or 
Mr.  Collamore's  signet  ring. 

One  of  the  children,  eight  years  old,  held  up  to 
him  a  ten  cent  piece,  and  said,  with  child-like  sim 
plicity,  "  I  will  give  you  that  if  you  won't  kill 
me."  The  ruflian  turned  on  his  heel  with  the 
exclamation,  "Pshaw!  what  do  you  suppose  I 
want  of  that  ?  He  threatened  the  life  of  another 
of  the  children,  a  boy  of  fifteen  ;  but  Mrs.  Col 
lamore  implored  him  to  spare  him.  She  remarked, 
with  a  presentiment  that  her  oldest  boy  was  killed, 
"  He  is  my  all.  You  have  doubtless  killed  his 
brother,  who  went  out  gunning  this  morning,  and 
must  have  met  your  band."  A  smile  of  fearful  ma 
lignity  passed  over  the  countenance  of  the  ruffi:m, 
as  he  signified  his  knowledge  of  the  circumstance, 
and  turned  away. 

After  plundering  the  house,  Quantrel  set  it  on 
fire,  and  when  Mrs.  Collamore  attempted  to  quench 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


353 


the  flames,  threatened  her  life.  When  the  ruffians 
had  left,  and  while  the  house  was  burning,  Mrs. 
Collamore  went  to  the  well  and  called  to  her  hus 
band,  who  answered  "  yes  "  to  the  inquiry  if  he  was 
safe.  But  when  the  danger  was  entirely  passed,  on 
going  to  the  well  he  was  found  to  be  dead.  He  is 
sappoced  to  Lave  been  suffocated  by  the  smoke. 

The  anguish  of  the  wife,  bereft  of  a  tender  and 
affectionate  husband,  and  left  houseless  and  home 
less,  was  yet  to  be  intensified  by  anxiety  for  the 
safety  of  her  children.  She  found  a  temporary 
shelter,  to  which  her  oldest  son  was  conveyed  for 
medical  treatment.  Two  days  subsequent  to  the 
massacre  an  alarm  was  started  at  midnight,  that 
Quantrcl  was  returning  to  complete  the  work  of 
destruction.  The  panic-stricken  inhabitants  fled 
to  the  woo:ls,  deserting  the  city  and  all  of  their 
property,  many  of  them  having  nothing  but  the  f 
night  garments.  Mrs.  Collamore  sent  her  children 
and  their  nurse  to  a  place  of  safety,  but  would  not 
leave  her  wounded  son.  With  the  help  of  a  young 
minister  she  procured  a  buggy,  and  putting  him 
into  it  with  great  difficulty,  dragged  him  with  su 
perhuman  strength  to  the  river  bank. 

It  was  dark  and  rainy  ;  but  the  shelterless  ex 
iles —  mostly  women  and  children — scarcely  dared 
to  speak  above  a  whisper,  lest  the  murderous  ruf 
fians  should  be  upon  them.  The  terrors  of  that 
night  of  fear  and  foreboding  will  never  be  effaced 
from  the  memory  of  the  people  of  Lawrence.  It 
turned  out  that  there  was  no  truth  in  the  reports 
of  the  return  of  Quantrel. 

The  work  of  the  ruffian  band  was  carried  on 
in  the  most  erratic  manner.  Many  buildings  j 
weie  studiously  protected.  Jim  Lane's  house 
was  burned  down ;  but  so  was  the  house  of  Mrs. 
Jisnkins,  whose  husband,  it  will  be  recollected, 
was  murdered  by  Lane.  Many  who  were  known 
to  be  opposed  to  jayhawking  were  murdered. 
Governor  Robinson's  house  was  spared.  It  has 
been  said  that  it  was  protected  by  a  squad  of  sol 
diers  across  the  river.  But  other  houses  were 
burned,  which  were  nearer  to  these  soldiers,  and 
the  ruffians  breakfasted  in  a  house  which  was  be 
tween  Ex-Governor  Robinson's  ami  the  river. 
Ex-Governor  Shannon's  property  was  spared,  and 
at  the  request  of  Mrs.  Shannon  a  guard  was  fur 
nished  for  his  office. 

Some  few  of  the  band  showed  a  merciful  spirit, 
but  most  of  them  seemed  actuated  by  the  most 
fiendish  malice,  and  thirsted  for  blood,  with  which 
they  were  certainly  sated.  They  were  not  con 
tent  with  wounding  unarmed  men,  but  shot  at 
them  until  life  was  extinct.  No  massacre  in  the 
history  of  our  country  has  been  more  fearful,  or 
attended  with  incidents  more  cruel. 

The  people  of  Leavenworth  opened  their  hearts  j 
and  their  houses  to  the  sufferers,  who  speak  in 
the  highest  terms  of  their  generosity.     Mrs.  Col 
lamore,  particularly,  found  there  many  who  re 
membered   and  appreciated   her  noble  husband, 
and  warmly  expresses  her  gratitude  to  them  for 
their  kindness  to  herself  and  her  children.    There  I 
is  much  destitution  and  suffering  among  the  peo- 1 
pie  of  Lawrence,  which  only  the  liberal  benevo 
lence  of  the  rest  can  relieve,  and  we  hope  that  j 
23 


the  appeals  which  have  been  ma  Je  in  their  behalf 
will  meet  with  a  prompt  response. 


THOUGHTS  OF  HOME.  —  "  Let  me  tell  ycu  of  » 
little  incident  that  happened  to  me  this  morning," 
said  a  soldier  in  Louisiana.  "  I  had  been  out  all 
day  on  the  skirmish  line  ;  all  was  still ;  I  had  not 
heard  the  singing  of  a  bullet  for  some  time.  I 
was  sitting  on  the  ground,  with  my  rifle  across 
my  knees,  thinking  of  home  and  friends  far  away 
—  wondering  what  the  future  had  in  store  for 
me,  and  if  I  should  ever  see  that  home  again. 
As  I  sat  thus,  a  little  bird,  called  the  Baltimore 
oriole,  perched  himself  on  a  bush  so  close  to  me 
that  I  might  have  touched  him  with  my  rifle,  and 
commenced  singing.  The  voice  of  this  bird  is 
much  like  that  of  our  robin,  and  he 'is  about  the 
same  size,  though  his  color  is  different,  being  a 
dark  red.  The  poor  little  fellow  had  been  driven 
away  through  the  day  by  the  shower  of  bullets 
that  visited  that  quarter,  but  had  returned  at 
night  to  visit  his  home,  and  seemed  now  to  be 
returning  thanks  to  God  for  his  safe  return.  And 
so,  thought  I,  my  case  may  be  like  the  little  bird. 
After  this  struggle  is  over,  I,  too,  may  return  to 
friends  and  home.  I  accepted  the  omen,  thanked 
God  for  his  \vatchful  care  over  me,  and,  with  re 
newed  courage  and  hope,  pressed  on." 


AN  ADVENTURE. — A  "  Silent  Observer"  of  com 
pany  B,  of  the  Fourth  Pennsylvania  regiment, 
gives  the  following  narrative  of  an  adventure  in 
West  Virginia,  in  the  spring  of  18G4  :  — 

"  The  person  I  am  going  to  write  about  is  a 
regular  harum-scarum  individual,  and  is  never 
with  his  regiment  except  he  is  on  duty;  he  is 
always  travelling  about  the  country  (or  I  should 
say  scouting  around),  and  there  is  little  that  he 
does  not  know,  and  few  places  he  can't  find.  But, 
as  regards  his  duty,  I  am  made  to  understand 
that  he  never  shirks  anything  that  is  right,  though 
sometimes  he  growls  when  he  imagines  he  is  im 
posed  upon,  but  it  is  generally  soon  over :  this 
much  I  can  say,  he  is  a  good  and  I  believe  brave 
soldier.  I  wall  give  you  the  narrative  as  I  got  it 
from  him  at  New  Creek.  He  said  :  '  After  I  got 
out  to  our  pickets,  I  thought  I  would  stay  there 
all  night,  and  in  the  morning  go  on.  I  remained 
there  about  two  hours,  when  the  Fourteenth  Vir 
ginia  infantry  came  along ;  so  I  concluded  to  go 
with  them  as  far  as  they  went.  I  started,  and 
went  with  them  to  Burlington  ;  here  they  stopped 
and  camped.  I  was  told  by  some  of  the  men  of 
another  regiment,  that  our  men  did  no  fighting 
there,  but  had  gone  on  to  Moorsfieid ;  so  I  con 
cluded  to  go  on  after  the  regiment.  The  next 
morning  I  went  on  with  some  wagons  as  far  as 
the  junction  of  the  Romney  and  Moorsfieid  road. 
I  staid  there  until  about  half  past  eleven  o'clock 
A.  M.  While  I  was  there,  an  ambulance  came 
along,  and,  as  I  ascertained  that  it  was  going 
near  my  regiment,  I  concluded  to  go  with  it.  I 
got  in,  and,  on  inquiring,  I  found  it  belonged  to 
the  Secon  1  regiment  Maryland  Home  Brigade^ 


354 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


"  «  We  had  proceeded  along  the  road  towards 
Moorsficld  about  five  miles  when  I  observed  five 
men  come  out  of  the  mountains  about  fifty  yards 
from  the  road,  and,  as  they  drew  near  us,  I  dis 
covered  them  to  be  rebels.  There  was  no  time  to 
jump  out,  and  run  away,  nor  to  use  arms  ;  for 
they  had  us  surrounded  in  a  jiffy,  and  it  would 
have  been  madness  anyhow,  as  'there  was  only 
one  gun  between  us,  and  that  was  not  ready  for 
use.  Let  me  state  here  that  the  regiment  was 
not  more  than  five  or  six  miles  ahead  of  us,  and 
there  were  cavalry  passing  that  road  all  the  time. 
The  rebels  came  on  us  with  pointed  pistols,  and 
ordered  us  to  surrender.  We  had  no  choice  ;  so 
we  gave  up.  They  asked  us  to  give  them  all  the 
arras  from  the  ambulance.  I  gave  them  my  gun 
and  equipments,  and  then  we  were  ordered  to 
drive  up  a  by-road  about  one  hundred  yards  from 
the  main  road  on  the  right  going  to  Moorsfield. 
After  they  had  taken  the  horses  from  the  ambu 
lance,  they  run  it  down  a  hill,  and  cut  some  of 
the  spokes.  They  then  took  the  things  which 
they  could  carry,  and  mounted  us  on  the  horses, 
and  took  us  up  in  the  mountains  to  the  left  of  the 
road  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  After  we  got 
there,  they  searched  us,  and  took  everything  that 
they  thought  dangerous.  My  companion's  pocket 
knife  and  gloves  were  taken  from  him,  and  my 
canteen  and  a  piece  of  emery  paper  I  had  were 
taken  from  me.  And  they  asked  us  if  we  had 
any  money,  but  we  had  nary  red.  They  told  us 
that  they  had  been  sent  there  to  intercept  our 
despatches,  and  pick  up  all  stragglers.  I  made 
very  light  of  being  a  prisoner,  and  told  them  1 
did  not  care,  as  I  was  under  arrest,  and  expected 
to  get  a  court-martial  for  desertion,  and  perhaps 
be  sent  to  a  fort  for  one  or  two  years.  I  laughed, 
and  seemed  so  contented,  that  they  did  not  think 
I  would  try  to  escape  ;  my  companion  was  down 
hearted  and  discontented,  and  all  his  energy  had 
left  him. 

"  '  We  had  been  up  there  about  half  an  hour, 
when  the  lookout  reported  a  cavalryman  coming 
down  the  road,  and  as  they  supposed  him  to  be  a 
despatch-bearer,  a  reb  started  clown  the  moun 
tain  after  him.  I  whispered  to  my  companion  to 
grab  the  rebel  guard,  and  I  would  help  him.  The 
guard  was  a  very  strong  man,  and  I  knew  if  we 
intended  to  do  anything,  we  must  surprise  him, 
and  make  quick  work  of  it.  The  guard  was  very 
anxious  to  see  his  comrades  take  a  Yankee  de 
spatch-bearer,  and  did  not  pay  much  attention  to 
us.  1  suppose  he  thought  it  foolishness  for  us  to 
attempt  to  escape.  He  had  a  short  rifle,  and  no 
revolver,  nor  sabre.  As  my  companion  was  the 
stoutest;  he  was  to  take  his  gun.  The  rebel  guard 
then  immediately  took  us  in  sight  of  the  road,  to 
show  us  the  fun  of  taking  a  Yankee.  The  rebels 
surrounded  the  cavalryman  before  he  knew  it, 
and  soon  disarmed  him.  I  got  behind  the  rebel 
guard,  and  my  companion  on  the  side  his  rifle  was 
on,  and  just  as  the  four  rebels  with  their  prison 
ers  got  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  my  companion 
grasped  the  gun,  and  I  grasped  the  rebel ;  I  put 
my  hand  over  his  mouth,  and  threw  one  arm 
around  his  neck,  at  the  same  time  throwing  his 


head  back ;  my  companion  wrenched  the  gun 
from  him,  and  'then  gave  him  a  punch  in  the 
bread-basket  with  the  muzzle,  which  made  him 
"  holler  "  blue  murder,  and  I  told  him  to  hit  him 
on  the  head.  But  he  was  too  slow,  and  before 
I  could  throw  him  down  he  forced  himself  away 
from  me,  and  went  stumbling  down  the  mountain 
towards  his  comrades,  who  were  then  within  one 
hundred  yards  of  me.  My  companion  had  gone, 
and  was  about  thirty  yards  from  me  ;  and  think 
ing  it  was  time  for  me  to  get  away,  I  darted  off ; 
and  after  running  up  and  down  the  mountain  for 
about  four  miles  with  my  companion,  we  discov 
ered  the  rebels  trying  to  outflank  us.  My  com 
panion  threw  away  the  rifle  which  he  had  carried 
until  then  ;  we  then  separated  ;  he  threw  himself 
down  behind  a  log,  and  I  kept  on  for  about  one 
mile  ;  then  I  started  for  the  road.  At  the  time  1 
separated  from  my  companion  the  rebels  were 
only  about  fifty  yards  from  him,  and  one  hundred 
and  fifty  yards  from  me ;  but  the  fog  prevented 
them  from  seeing  him,  and  the  bushes  them  from 
seeing  .me.  After  I  got  down  in  the  field  I  saw  a 
man  coming  through  it,  and  as  I  knew  he  was  not 
armed,  and  as  I  saw  harness  on  the  horse,  I  de 
termined  to  seek  aid  from  him.  I  went  up  to  him, 
and  hailed  him  with,  "  Hold  on  there,  mister !  " 
When  I  had  got  close  to  him  I  said :  "  Lock 
here,  stranger ;  I  want  you  to  tell  me  the  truth  ; 
are  you  a  Union  man  or  a  secesh  ?  "  He  said  :  "  I 
am  a  Union  man  !  "  "  Well,"  said  I,  "  then  you 
must  help  me."  I  told  him  I  must  ride  on  hif- 
horse  a  little  way ;  he  told  me  to  mount  behind 
him.  After  doing  so  he  took  me  across  the  creek 
and  across  the  fence  about  three  hundred  yards, 
and  then  told  me  which  way  to  go.  I  followed 
his  directions,  and  soon  came  into  our  lines'.' " 


FREEDOM  OF  SPEECH.  —  A  letter- writer  in  Al 
abama  says :  "  Our  minister  nearly  got  himself 
into  a  scrape  the  other  day  ;  and  whether  he  is 
4  a  bit  of  a  wag,'  or  a  very  careless  fellow,  or  an 
'  abolition  traitor,'  is  now  the  topic  of  discussion 
with  us.  At  the  meeting  on  Fast  Day  he  gave 
out  Dr.  Watts'  hymn,  commencing  — 


And  are  we  wretches  yet  alive ; 

And  do  we  yet  rebel  ? 
'Tis  wondrous,  'tis  amazing  grace. 

That  we  are  out  of  heil.'  " 


"  LYMAN  BEECHER  ADAMS."  —  While  the  Thir 
ty-eighth  Ohio  regiment  was  home  on  furlough,  a 
man  hailing  from  Dayton,  but  represented  as  for 
merly  from  Ilhode  Island,  desirous  of  distinguish 
ing  himself  in  the  field,  proposed  to  be  mustered 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States  as  a  volun 
teer  in  that  regiment.  Being  apparently  sound  in 
body  and  mind,  and  responding  to  the  name  of 
Lyman  Beecher  Adams  (which  bespoke,  more 
than  individual  assurances,  a  patriotic  ancestry), 
he  was  promptly  received  into  the  good  faith  and 
fellowship  of  the  veterans  of  the  regiment.  With 
i  such  a  name,  uid  hailing  frcm  the  little  State  of 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND   INCIDENTS. 


355 


Rhode  Island,  so  fruitful  in  loyal  progress,  who 
could  demand  any  further  voucher  or  guarantee 
of  his  genuine  character?  He  underwent  the 
ceremonies  attending  his  initiation  into  the  vol 
unteer  service,  accepted  his  allotted  bounty,  and 
started  for  the  seat  of  war,  sharing,  for  a  season, 
with  his  companions  in  arms  many  of  the  fatigues 
and  exposures  incident  to  army  life,  and,  during 
his  passage  with  us,  continually  repeated  mentally 
the  sentiment  of  the  negro  melody  : 

"I'm  gwine  'long  down  to  Georgia  —  I  hain't  got 
long  to  stay." 

Shortly  after  the  arrival  of  the  regiment  at 
Ringgola,  Georgia,  it  was  Kent  out  upon  picket 
duty,  and  Lyraan  Beecher  Adams  was  expected 
to,  and  did  (willingly,  of  course),  enter  upon  this 
rather  unpleasant  branch  of  the  service  ;  and  being 
a  true  soldier,  did  not  feign  sickness,  or  attempt 
to  shirk  from  any  duties.  Taking  advantage  of 
this,  his  first  experience  on  picket  duty,  he  con 
cluded  to  absent  himself  from  the  next  roll  call, 
and,  with  rifle,  cartridge-box,  and  person,  entered 
into  the  rebel  lines. 

A  few  days  thereafter,  a  party  of  rebel  officers, 
with  a  flag  of  truce,  having  some  communication 
with  General  Grant,  appeared  before  the  Union 
lines,  and  were  met  by  others  from  the  army. 
During  the  interchange  of  civilities  common  to 
such  occasions,  a  rebel  officer  stated  that  he  was 
requested  by  the  late  Lyman  Beeclier  Adams  to 
present  his  compliments  to  the  Thirty-eighth  Ohio 
i  egiment,  and  to  tender  his  grateful  acknowledg 
ments  for  their  kindness  in  delivering  him  from  the 
land  of  his  captivity  to  the  bosom  of  his  friends. 

A  brief  summary  of  this  story  is  this  :  Lyman 
Beecher  Adams  was  a  rebel  Captain  under  John 
Morgan,  and  having  escaped  from  Johnson's 
Island,  was  generously  provided  by  his  enemies 
with  a  dead-head  ticket  to  Dixie.  The  joke  is  — 
To  be  relished  exclusively  by  rebels.  The  moral 
—  New  recruits  should  sometimes,  previous  to 
being  accepted,  furnish  proper  credentials. 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  THE  HOSPITAL.  — "  One  of 
the  patients  was  a  mere  boy,  not  more  than  sev 
enteen  years  old.  I  think  you  would  have  de 
scribed  him  as  a  little  boy,  and  altogether  unfit 
for  military  service.  But  he  was  brave-hearted, 
and  of  a  pleasant  countenance.  He  was  first  sick 
of  the  measles,  and  had  been  exposed  to  the  cold 
and  ruin  during  our  inarch  to  Decatur  Junction  ; 
now  he  suffered  under  an  attack  of  pneumonia ; 
his  mind  wandered,  and  there  was  no  hope  of  his 
recovery.  Our  hospital  steward,  a  noble,  warm 
hearted  man,  whom  all  the  men  love,  came  in, 
and  as  he  passed  along  the  ward  the  little  sufferer 
asked,  in  a  plaintive,  child-like  voice,  to  be  taken 
in  his  lap.  The  steward  tenderly  raised  him  in 
his  arms,  and  began  to  soothe  him  with  loving 
words.  Such  words  and  acts  find  their  way  even 
ta  maddened  brain?. 

"  *  Mayn't  I  kiss  you  ?  I  want  some  one  to 
loyi},'  asked  the  grateful  heart  of  the  patient. 

"  Consent  was  given,  with  a  smothered,  sobbing 


voice;  the  dying  boy  kissed  him  lovingly,  and 
then  grew  tranquil  as  a  bftbe.  No  doubt,  1 
thought,  he  was  again,  in  thought  and  feeling,  at 
home,  enclosed  in  the  arms  that  had  clasped  him 
a  thousand  times.  I  don't  know,  but  I  think  the 
steward  will  treasure  that  kiss  in  his  memory,  as 
worldly  men  do  ancestral  jewels,  and  in  the  end 
find  it  written  '-o  his  credit  in  leaven." 


How  A  CAPTAIN  \v  t  j  CAPTURED.  — 4i  1  was 
officer  of  the  guard,  or.  as  bright  a  July  clay  as 
ever  dawned  on  creation ;  and  though  it  was  op 
pressively  warm,  as  early  as  guard  mounting,  eight 
o'clock,  yet  that  interesting  ceremony  had  passed 
off  magnificently,  and  I  was  preparing  to  go  the 
grand  rounds  immediately  after  the  call  for  the 
second  relief,  when  Lieutenant  II.,  the  old  officer 
of  the  guard,  sent  his  respects,  with  an  earnest 
request  lor  me  to  call  on  him  at  his  marquee  for 
special  consultation.  '  H — 1  .is  brewing  at  post 
number  twelve,'  said  he,  as  he  took  me  by  the 
hand,  '  and  this  fellow  will  tell  you  what  he  saw 
there ;  and  you  may  rely  upon  trouble  there  be 
fore  to-morrow.'  '  An'  I  saw  nothing  at  all,  at  all, 
but  a  ghost,  sure,'  said  the  Irish  soldier ;  ' it  came 
out  of  the  hill  forenent  the  old  graveyard,  shook 
its  fist  at  me  as  it  passed,  and  went  into  the  bush 
towards  the  fort.' 

" ' How  did  it  look  ? '  inquired  II. 

" '  Look  ?  indade,  how  should  it  look,  but  like 
a  woman  draped  in  white,  with  eyes  of  fire  ?  ' 

"  An  hour  after,  I  was  carefully  searching  the 
ground  in  the  vicinity  of  post  number  twelve,  when 
my  ears  were  saluted  with  the  well-known  cry  of, 
'  Buy  any  pies'n'  cakes  ?  —  all  clean  and  new  ; 
twenty-five  cents  for  the  pies,  two  cakes  for  a 
penny.' 

"  *  Where  is  your  pass,  my  good  lady,  if  you  are 
a  camj)  follower ;  and  why  are  you  here  among  the 
rocks  and  bushes,  if  you  wish  to  sell  your  market 
ing  ? '  said  G. 

"  '  I  am  the  honest  wife  of  Pat  Maloney,  of  the 
Fourteenth  Maryland,  and  sthopped  here  to  rest 
me  weary  limbs  ai'ther  coming  five  miles  down  from 
me  home  in  the  hill,  your  honor ! ' 

"  '  Very  likely,'  said  I ;  '  but  you  will  please 
march  down  to  "the  camp,  and  submit  to  a  slight 
inspection  of  your  basket  and  papers,  if  you  have 
any.' 

"  *  I  have  no  papers,  sir ;  and  why  should  you 
put  a  loyal  woman,  and  a  wife  of  a  Union  soldier, 
to  this  trouble,  bad  luck  till  ye  ?  ' 

"  *  You  will  not  be  harmed,  madam.  If  you  are 
a  loyal  woman,  as  you  say,  you  will  see  the  pro 
priety  of  so  doing.' 

"  (Jakes  and  pies,  sure  enough,  but  no  papers ; 
and  I  began  to  believe  that  there  was  no  connec 
tion  between  her  and  Pat's  'ghost;'  but  why 
should  she  wear  a  pair  of  men's  boots? 

"  '  Och,  these  were  the  boots  me  husband  wore 
before  he  'listed,  sure  ! ' 

"  And  so  the  Captain,  somewhat  given  to  gallan 
try,  volunteered  to  accompany  her  to  her  friends, 
two  miles  towards  her '  home  in  the  hill,*  where  she 
wa'-»  to  give  positive  proof  that  ^he  was  'neither  a 


356 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


spy  nor  a  ghost.'  And  away  they  went,  a  single 
soldier  only  accompanying  them,  amid  the  ill- 
suppressed  laughte$*of  the  regiment. 

"  Noon,  one  o'clock,  two  o'clock,  and  no  tidings 
of  the  Captain !  What  was  to  be  done  ?  A  squad 
ron  of  cavalry  was  ordered  to  dash  up  the  hill, 
reconnoitre,  and  report.  And  then  time  wore 
heavily  away  for  an  hour,  when  the  cavalry  charged 
into  camp  and  up  to  headquarters,  when  instantly 
the  long  roll  was  beat,  and  in  five  minutes  the 
regiment  was  under  arms  in  line  of  battle.  A 
perfect  silence  ensued,  and  the  Adjutant  read  the 
following  note : 

"  '  Colonel  D. :  I  am  willing  to  exchange  the 
pies,  cakes,  and  basket  for  the  .soldier  and  the 
d — d  fool  Captain  whom  I  caught  with  crinoline. 
Pedlers  and  ghosts  are  at  a  premium  in  these 
parts  just  now.  Yours,  in  haste, 

"  '  BLAND,  First  Lieutenant  C.  S.  A.' 

"The  soldier's  musket  was  found  four  miles 
from  camp,  with  the  note  from  the  woman  Lieu 
tenant  sticking  on  the  point  of  the  bayonet ;  and 
so  the  Captain  was  captured." 


ANECDOTE  OF  PHILIPPA.  —  Among  the  troops 
in  Western  Virginia,  stories  about  the  Philippa 
affair  formed  a  staple  of  conversation.  Here  is 
one  of  the  best : 

A  certain  Indiana  company,  almost  worn  ou> 
with  marching,  was  straggling  along,  with  very 
little  regard  to  order.  Hurrying  up  to  his  men, 
the  Captain  shouted,  "Close  up,  boys!  D — n 
you,  close  up !  If  the  enemy  were  to  fire  on 
you  when  you're  straggling  along  that  way,  they 
couldn't  hit  a  d — n  one  of  you !  Close  up ! "  And 
1  <!£  boys  closed  up  immediately. 


SHE  REGRETTED  IT.  —  In  the  early  part  of 
the  war,  an  elderly  lady,  who  attended  a  meeting 
of  the  First  Vermont  regiment,  arose,  full  of  en 
thusiasm,  and  said  she  thanked  God  that  she  was 
able  to  do  something  for  her  country ;  her  two 
sons,  all  she  possessed  in  the  world,  were  in  the 
regiment ;  and  the  only  thing  she  had  to  regret 
was,  that  she  could  not  have  known  it  twenty 
years  ago  —  she  would  have  furnished  more. 


"  BROKE  THE  CONNECTION." — In  the  battle  of 
Champion  Hills,  a  Colonel  was  mounted  on  a 
horse  which  did  not  like  the  whistling  of  bullets 
and  bursting  of  shells  which  showered  about  him. 
The  Colonel,  who  was  one  of  those  officers  al 
ways  found  in  advance  of  his  regiment,  held  a 
different  opinion  from  his  horse  ;  so  he  called 
Sam,  the  negro  servant,  to  take  the  animal  back, 
and  bring  the  "  Morgan,"  that  could  stand  fire. 
Sam,  who  was  in  sympathy  with  the  disgraced 
charger,  gladly  obeyed ;  but  on  his  way  back  with 
the  Morgan,  a  shell  dropped  in  the  field  right  be 
fore  him,  and  burst,  sending  the  mud  and  stones 
in  every  direction.  This  was  too  much  for  Sam, 
and  he  broke  for  the  rear,  not  to  be  seen  again 


for  several  days.  One  of  the  officers,  finding 
him  not  wholly  recovered  from  rds  fear,  at  this 
time,  of  his  irate  master,  said :  "  Why  don't  you 
go  back  to  the  Colonel?  He  was  angry,  but  you 
may  return  ;  you  know  he  was  always  friendly  to 
you."  "  Dut  ar  am  all  berrv  true,"  replied  Sam, 
with  an  inimitable  expression  of  countenance, 
and  a  significant  gesture  of  the  hand  ;  "  de  Colo- 
nal  and  1  were  Verry  good  friends,  but  de  fac  is, 
dat  ar  shell  broke  de  connection." 


LVCIDEN  i  s  OF  KNOXVILLE.  —  "  After  thirteen 
days  of  menace  and  siege,"  says  .a  correspond 
ent,  "  the  enemy  gathered  his  forces,  and  struck 
the  mighty  blow  that  was  to  have  broken  our 
lines,  demolished  our  defences,  and  captured 
Knoxville.  It  was  an  utter  and  disastrous  fail 
ure.  In  justice  to  our  enemy,  it  is  conceded  by 
all,  that  more  desperate  valor,  daring  gallantry, 
or  obstinate  courage,  has  not  been  recorded  dur 
ing  the  war.  They  contended  against  the  impos 
sible.  The  men  who  opposed  them  were  as  brave, 
as  well  trained  on  the  same  bloody  fields  of  Vir 
ginia,  as  they,  and,  having  as  large  a  stake,  had 
the  advantages  of  an  impregnable  position.  The 
enterprise  was  a  bold  one,  the  plan  masterly,  and 
the  attempt  vigorous.  Success  would  have  given 
the  enemy  possession  of  the  key  to  all  our  work* 
on  the  west  side  of  the  town,  if  not  the  town  itself. 
But  Fort  Sanders  lost,  our  position  in  Knoxville 
would  be  more  precarious.  But  they  failed.  We 
do  not  know  if  Longstreet  has  done  his  worst  j 
but  it  is  evident  that  he  expected  to  have  ti- 
ploited  a  brilliant  and  decisive  coup  de  guerre. 
He  was  thirteen  days  deciding  upon  it.  He 
waited  until  reen forced  by  the  forces  of  General 
Jones,  Mudwall  Jackson,  Carter,  and  Cerro  Gordo 
Williams.  He  selected  three  brigades  of  picked 
regiments,  and  determined  upon  a  night  attack', 
always  the  most  dangerous  and  bloody,  but  if 
successful,  the  most  decisive.  It  is  evident  that 
he  played  a  tremendous  odds  to  insure  success, 
and  every  man  in  those  doomed  brigades  ad 
vanced  to  the  storming  of  Fort  Sanders  with  that 
confident  courage  that  usually  commands  it.  To 
resist  him  were  part  of  the  Seventy-ninth  New 
York  in  the  front,  four  companies  of  the  One 
Hundredth  Pennsylvania  on  the  right,  and  four 
companies  of  the  Second  Michigan  on  the  left. 
No  part  of  the  fort  is  complete.  One  bastion  on 
the  north-west  angle,  and  a  parapet  on  the  west 
side,  only  are  up.  Temporary  traverses  were 
made  by  cotton  bales,  and  also  two  salients  from 
which  guns  could  sweep  the  ditches  on  the  north 
and  west.  Spirited  skirmishing  commenced  on 
the  right  of  the  position  at  ten  o'clock  P.  M.  on 
Saturday.  The  vigor  and  persistence  of  it  evi 
dently  foreshadowed  something  more  serious  be 
hind,  and  such  became  the  feeling  of  all  the  im 
mense  audience  within  our  lines,  who  listened  to 
the  continuous  and  unceasing  crash  of  musketry, 
hour  after  hour,  to  one,  two,  and  three  o'clock  A. 
M.  Many  an  anxious  heart  that  night  beat  high 
with  hope'and  fear  for  their  r.tbel  friends  with 
out,  arid  many  a  tearful  and  tiit.'d  prayer  went  up 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


357 


to  the  God  of  battles  for  the  safety  of  friends 
within.  All  felt  that  an  eventful  moment  was  at 
hand,  for  weal  or  woe,  in  the  destinies  of  East 
Tennessee  and  her  brave  defenders.  The  ene 
my  dashed  upon  the  left  of  our  position  sev 
eral  times,  as  if  in  confident  bravado,  and  finally 
drove  our  skirmishers  from  the  advanced  riile 
pits,  and  occupied  them  about  daylight  Sunday 
morning.  Our  men  rallied,  and  as  determinedly 
regained  them,  driving  the  rebels  back  in  turn. 
Suddenly  an  avalanche  of  men  was  hurled  upon 
the  disputed  rifle  pits  ;  our  skirmishers  were 
forced  back,  and  covered  by  our  guns  from  the 
fort  by  our  retreating  men.  Two  storming  bri 
gades  were  enabled  to  approach  within  one  hun 
dred  yards  of  the  bastion.  It  was  their  inten 
tion,  probably,  to  draw  out  our  boys,  and  then 
attempt  to  return  with  them  and  enter  the  works. 
In  this  they  were  foiled.  Our  skirmishers  fell  in 
on  the  left,  and  the  rebel  storming  party  ad 
vanced  directly  upon  the  bastion.  Then  ensued 
a  scene  of  carnage  and  horror  which  has  but  few 
parallels  in  the  annals  of  warfare.  Balaklava  was 
scarcely  more  terrible.  Stunned  for  a  moment 
by  the  torrent  of  canister  and  lead  poured  upon 
them  by  Buckley's  First  Rhode  battery  and  our 
line  of  musketry,  on  they  came.  Again  and 
again  the  deadly  missiles  shattered  their  torn  and 
mangled  columns.  Their  march  was  over  dead 
and  wounded  comrades ;  yet  still  they  faltered  not, 
but  onward,  still  onward  :  whole  ranks  stumbled 
over  wires  stretched  from  stump  to  stump,  and 
fell  amid  the  dead  and  dying;  yet  still  over  their 
prostrate  bodies  marched  the  doomed  heroes  of 
that  forlorn  hope. 

"  At  last  the  ditch  was  reached,  and  the  slaugh 
ter  became  butchery,  as  if  on  a  wager  of  death 
against  mortality.  Benjamin's  guns  on  the 
salients  swept  the  ditch  as  the  tornado  would  the 
corn.  The  earth  was  sated  with  blood  —  men 
waded  in  blood,  and  struggled  up  the  scarp,  and 
slipping  in  blood  fell  back  to  join  their  mangled 
predecessors  in  the  gory  mud  below.  The  shouts 
of  the  foiled  and  infuriate  rebels,  the  groans  of 
the  dying  and  shrieks  of  the  wounded,  arose 
above  the  din  of  the  cannon.  Benjamin  lighted 
shell  and  threw  them  over  the  parapet,  and  artil 
lerymen  followed  his  example.  One  rebel  climbed 
the  parapet  and  planted  the  flag  of  the  Thirteenth 
Mississippi  regiment  on  the  summit;  but  the 
rebel  shout  that  greeted  its  appearance  had  scarce 
left  the  lips  that  framed  it  when  man  and  Hag 
were  in  the  ditch  below,  pierced  by  a  dozen  balls. 
Another  rebel  repeated  the  feat,  and  joined  his 
comrade.  A  third  essayed  to  bear  off  the  flag, 
and  was  cloven  with  an  axe.  One  man  entered 
an  embrasure,  and  was  blown  to  fragments  ;  two 
mere  were  cut  down  in  another,  but  not  one  en 
tered  the  fort.  The  three  veteran  regiments  of 
the  Ninth  army  corps  stood  up  to  the  work  be 
fore  them  unflinching  and  glorious  to  a  man. 
The  heroes  of  a  dozen  campaigns  from  the  Poto 
mac  to  Vicksburg,  they  found  themselves  for  the 
third  time  arrayed  for  trial  of  courage  and  endur 
ance  with  the  flower  of  the  Southern  army,  — 
the  picked  men  of  Lo:  gstreet's  boasted  veterans, 


—  and  saw  the  sun  rise,  on  that  chill  Sunday 
morning  in  November,  on  an  entire  brigade  anni 
hilated,  and  two  more  severely  punished.  Even 
the  dead  outnumbered  us,  for  not  more  than 
three  hundred  of  our  force  participated  in  the 
defence  of  "Fort  Sanders.  Benjamin,  of  the  Third 
United  States  artillery,  and  Buckley,  of  the 
First  liiiode  Island  battery,  were  foremost  in  acts 
of  daring  and  gallantry.  General  Ferraro,  who 
has  never  left  the  fort  since  Longstreet's  appear 
ance  before  it,  to  whose  skill  and  foresight  much 
of  the  admirable  dispositions  for  defence  was 
due,  was  in  command,  and  right  nobly  has  he 
earned  his  star.  His  coolness,  energy,  and  skill 
are  subjects  of  universal  encomium. 

**  The  dead  and  wounded  were  left  on  the  field, 
and  the  ghastly  horrors  were  rendered  sickening 
by  the  vain  cries  of  hundreds  for  water  and  help. 
In  full  view  from  the  embrasures  the  ground  was 
covered  with  dead,  wounded,  and  dying.  Forty- 
eight  were  heaped  up  in  the  ditch  before  the  bas 
tion ;  thirteen  in  another  place,  almost  within 
reach  of  those  who,  though  late  their  foes,  would 
have  willingly  heeded  their  anguished  shrieks  for 
water ;  yet  none  dared  go  to  their  assistance.  The 
humanity  of  General  Burnside  was  not  proof 
against  so  direct  an  appeal,  and  he  at  once  sent 
in  a  flag  of  truce,  offering  an  armistice  until  five 
o'clock  P.  M.,  for  the  purpose  of  burying  their 
dead  and  caring  for  their  wounded." 


A  REVIVAL  IN  FORT  SUMTER.  —  Rev.  A.  B. 
Stephens,  chaplain  of  the  Eleventh  South  Caro 
lina  regiment,  wrote  in  September,  1863 :  "  We 
now  constitute  the  garrison  of  Fort  Sumter.  On 
the  last  fast  day  I  began  a  meeting  which  has 
been  going  on  and  increasing  in  interest  all  the 
while,  till  now  God  has  honored  us  with  a  gra 
cious  revival  of  religion  among  the  soldiery  of 
this  command.  A  few  months  ago  but  two  offi 
cers  in  the  regiment  were  members  of  the  church; 
now  but  few  more  than  that  number  are  not  pro 
fessors  of  religion.  About  two  hundred  have 
joined  the  church,  and  a  larger  number  have  been 
converted,  and  are  now  happy  in  the  love  of  God. 
It  would  do  your  soul  good  to  visit  the  old  fort, 
battered  and  scarred  as  it  is,  and  hear  the  sol 
diers  make  the  tattered  walls  ring  with  the  high 
praise  of  the  living  God.  No  camp-meeting  that 
I  have  ever  attended  can  come  near  it." 


ADMIRATION  OF  STONEWALL  JACKSON.  —  "I 
was  much  amused,"  said  a  correspondent,  "at  the 
rebel  prisoners'  account  of  Stonewall  Jackson's 
admission  into  heaven.  They  were  strong  ad 
mirers  of  General  Jackson,  and  especially  of  the 
great  success  of  his  flank  movements.  '  The  day 
after  his  death,'  said  they,  'two  angels  came 
down  from  heaven  to  carry  General  Jackson 
back  with  them.  They  searched  all  through  the 
camp,  but  could  not  find  him.  They  went  to  the 
prayer-meeting,  to  the  hospital,  and  to  every  other 
place  where  they  thought  themselves  likely  to 
find  him,  but  in  vain.  Final  !y  they  were  forced 


358 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


to  return  without  him.  What  was  their  surprise 
to  find  that  he  had  just  executed  a  splendid  flank 
movement,  and  got  into  heaven  before  them  ! ' " 


INCIDENTS  OF  PITTSBURG  LANDING.  —  One 
of  the  soldiers  who  was  in  the  battle  happened 
to  be  inordinately  fond  of  card-playing.  During 
the  fight  he  had  three  of  his  fingers  shot  ofl'. 
Holding  up  his  mangled  member,  he  gazed  at  it 
with  a  look  of  ineffable  sorrow,  and  exclaimed, 
as  a  big  tear  stole  into  the  corner  of  his  eye : 
"  I  shall  never  be  able  to  hold  a  full  hand 
again ! " 

An  incident  somewhat  curio  ;s  occurred  in  Gen 
eral  McClernand's  quarters.  \VMien  the  rebels 
were  driven  back  on  Monday,  and  he  regained 
his  position,  on  entering  his  tent  a  figure  in  rebel 
costume  was  sitting  in  a  chair,  the  head  resting 
on  a  table,  as  if  its  owner  was  dozing,  very  much 
in  the  style  that  sleepy  clerks  do  aftr"  a  hard 
day's  work.  A  slight  shake  to  waken  the  appar 
ent  sleeper,  and  the  body  of  a  corpse  fell  upon 
the  floor.  Wounded  in  a  manner  that  must  have 
caused  him  excruciating  pain  when  lying  down, 
he  had  crawled  into  the  chair  and  died. 

Private  John  Ferguson,  company  K,  Sixty-fifth 
Ohio,  who  was  killed  in  the  second  day's  battle, 
was  accompanied  to  camp  by  a  young  Newfound 
land  dog,  who  had  persistently  followed  him  from 
the  time  of  his  enlistment,  and  from  camp  to  camp, 
to  the  moment  of  his  death.  Two  days  after  the 
battle  the  faithful  dog  was  found  lying  upon  the  in 
animate  breast  of  his  master ;  nor  would  he  consent 
to  leave  the  spot  until  the  remains  were  buried. 


McCLELLAN'S   SOLILOQUY. 

BY   A   DAUGHTER   OF   GEORGIA. 

A  iJ  VANCE,  or  not  advance ;  that  is  the  question  ! 

Whether  'tis  better  in  the  mind  to  suffer 

The  jeers  and  bowlings  of  outrageous  Congressmen, 

Or  to  take  arms  against  a  host  of  rebels, 

And,  by  opposing,  beat  them  ?  —  To  fight  —  to  win  — 

No  more ;  and  by  a  victory,  to  say  we  end 

This  war,  and  all  the  thousand  dreadful  shocks 

The  flesh's  exposed  to  —  'tis  a  consummation 

Devoutly  to  be  wished.     To  fight,  to  win, 

To  beat !  perchance  be  beaten ;  —  ay,  there's  the  rub ; 

After  a  great  defeat,  what  would  ensue ! 

When  we  have  shuffled  off  the  battle-field, 

Must  give  us  pause ;  there's  the  respect 

That  makes  calamity  a  great  defeat. 

But  shall  I  bear  the  scorn  of  all  the  North, 

The  "outward"  pressure,  and  Old  Abe's  reviling, 

The  pangs  of  being  scoffed  at  for  this  long  delay, 

The  turning  out  of  office  (ay,  perchance, 

When  I  myself  might  now  my  greatness  make 

With  a  great  battle)  ?     I'd  not  longer  bear 

To  drill  and  practise  troops  behind  intrenchments, 

But  that  the  fear  of  meeting  with  the  foe 

On  dread  Manassas,  from  whose  plains 

Few  of  us  would  return  —  puzzles  my  will, 

And  makes  me  rather  bear  the  evils  I  have, 

Than  fly  to  others  which  are  greater  far. 

These  Southerners  make  cowards  of  us  all. 


SCENES  ON  THE  HOSPITAL  BOAT.  —  •«  The 
steamer  arrived  at  our  wharf  from  Pittsburg 
Landing,"  says  a  correspondent,  "  with  hundreds 
of  the  sick  and  wounded. 

"  As  we  first  entered  the  cabin,  we  were  struck 
by  the  pallid  and  ghastly  face  of  one  of  the  poor 
fellows  stretch  id  upon  the  floor  at  our  feet.  As 
we  passed  him,  he  faintly  begged  for  water.  He 
breathed  with  great  labor,  and  was  suffering,  as 
the  doctor  told  us,  with  some  internal  injury. 
Half  an  hour  later  we  saw  him  again,  the  doctor 
bending  o"er  him,  and  trying  to  get  him  to  teL 
his  nanx,.  It  was  with  great  difficulty  he  articu 
lated. 

'"Tell  me  new,  quietly  and  slowly;  don't  be 
in  a  hurry  '  said  the  doctor,  in  the  kindest  tones. 

"  '  Com  >any  — ,  First  Ohio  cavalry/  he  strug 
gled  out. 

"  '  And  what  is  your  name  ?  ' 

"  '  H-i-r-a-m  H-e-n-k-e-f-e-r ! ' 

"  The  doctor  hurried  back  to'  record  his  name, 
and  as  we  returned,  we  were  startled  to  find  him 
dead !  his  body  straightened  by  the  last  throe, 
and  his  fixed  eyes  staling  coldly  and  vacantly  up 
ward. 

"  '  Poor  boy !  *  murmured  the  doctor,  as  he 
reached  down,  and  gathering  up  his  blanket,  caat 
it  over  his  body  and  face. 


"Limbs  are  being  amputated,  and  the  still 
ness  of  the  hour  is  disturbed  by  the  groans 
of  the  suffering  victims.  Sounds  of  distress 
are  heard  from  the  upper  cabin  and  from  be- 
low.  Estes,  of  Utica,  has  had  his  leg  ampu 
tated  ;  he  cannot  live.  Another  undtig^es  the 
same  operation.  Two  men  are  being  trepanned, 
and  instances  almost  innumerable  occur  where 
men  are  having  bullets  extracted,  and  their 
wounds  dressed.  The  rebel  wounded  are  being 
as  well  taken  care  of  as  our  own.  Caseaux,  of 
the  Orleans  Guard,  of  Louisiana,  has  a  painful 
wound  in  the  groin  ;  he  is  being  cared  for  by  an 
Ohioan  of  venerable  appearance,  named  Dodd. 
The  Oceanian's  appetite,  it  seems,  is  not  lost,  for 
he  enjoys  his  wholesome  repast  with  apparent 
relish.  'Next  to  him  is  a  Mobilian,  formerly 
from  Philadelphia,  named  Davis ;  he  is  badly 
wounded  in  two  places,  but  keeps  his  spirits  up 
remarkably  well.  The  philanthropic  Dodd  next 
turns  his  attention  to  him.  Davis  is  unable  to 
feed  himself;  but  Dodd  helps  him  by  tablespoon- 
fuls  from  a  tin  can  filled  with  wholesome  beef 
soup.  Dodd  has  evidently  said  something  to 
Davis  that  is  understood  by  Caseaux,  who  says 
he  understands  '  very  little  English,'  although  a 
member  of  the  wealthy  and  highly  educated 
family  of  Caseaux,  of  New  Orleans,  which  has 
already  borne  a  somewhat  conspicuous  place  in 
the  annals  of  the  present  war.  Caseaux  actually 
laughs.  Dodd  has  said  that '  he  wished  they  were 
feeding  beef  soup  to  one1  another  all  over  the 
Union.'  In  a  state-room  near  by  lies  young  Walk 
er,  of  Mobile,  —  not  he  of  Nicaragua,  —  but  he  who 
was  of  the  rebel  army,  who  says  that  his  side  was 
;onfident  of  victory  at  the  last  battle  ;  that  '  the 
federal  wounded  are  well  tak(  n  cart  of  by  the 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


359 


Confederates  ;  and  that  in  Mobile  the  ladies  even 
extended  to  them  hospitalities,  furnishing  them 
with  hats,  shoes,  and  other  clothing.' 

"  When  one  of  the  wounded  rebels,  a  French 
Creole,  was  brought  on  board,  in  answer  to  all 
questions  about  his  position,  the  battle,  the 
Southern  situation,  £c.,  his  invariable  .answer 
was:  l Non  comprends  vous,  Monsieur.  Me  no 
understand  Anglaise.' 

"  After  a  few  hours  had  elapsed,  and  the  nurse 
had  been  busily  engaged  ir  serving  hot  soup  to 
other  wounded  soldiers,  oiir  )f  them  approached 
our  Frenchman  and  said,  in  jure  Western  patois, 
'Hello,  mister,  won't  you  have  some  soup?' 
'  Yes,  sir-ee  !  by  damn  ! '  There  was  no  difficulty 
in  making  him  understand  after  that.'* 


HARDEE  OUTDONE.  —  A  militia  captain  in 
North  Carolina  was  marching  his  company  "  by 
the  front,"  when  he  found  himself  in  front  of  a 
gate  through  which  he  desired  to  go.  Here  was 
a  dilemma.  The  front  of  the  company  was  much 
wider  than  the  opening  of  the  gate,  and  unless 
some  change  should  be  made  in  the  order  of 
march,  part  of  his  men  would  go  full  tilt  against 
the  fence.  Our  hero  belabored  his  brain  for  the 
proper  command ;  but  the  words,  "  By  the  right 
Dank  —  file  left  —  march,"  obstinately  refused  to 
come  to  his  help.  He  extricated  himself  from 
tlie  difficulty  in  a  way  which  showed  his  po^ses- 
fcion  of  the  ready  wit  of  an  accomplished  guerrilla. 
With  a  bold  voice  he  shouted,  "  Company,  halt — 
break  ranks  —  march ;  form  on  the  other  side 
of  the  fence  !  " 

GOVERNOR  SMITH'S  TACTICS.  —  A  Confederate 
correspondent  relates  the  following  at  the  expense 
of  Governor  Smith,  of  Virginia:  "At  the  first 
battle  of  Manassas  he  rode  up  to  his  regiment 
(he  was  then  a  Colonel)  at  a  critical  point  of  the 
conflict,  and,  rising  in  his  stirrups,  shouted  — 
"  Boys,  I  don't  know  what  orders  to  give  you,  but 
String  'em  !  String  'em  ! " 


PLEASANT  DREAMS.  —  A  soldier  of  the  Six 
teenth^  New  York  artillery  tells  the  following : 
Sometimes  the  boat  does  not  bring  our  bread 
from  Yovktown.  and  some  laughable  scenes  ensue 
among  the  men  for  the  want  of  it.  In  the  next 
tent  to  us  the  following  funny  scene  occurred  the 
other  morning.  One  of  the  men  went  to  his 
haversack  for  a  piece  of  bread  he  had  left  there 
the  night  before,  and  found  it  was  missing,  and 
accused  the  others  of  stealing  it ;  but  they  all 
stoutly  denied  it  except  one.  "  Arrah,  drink  yer 
coffee,"  said  he,  "  and  I'll  tell  ye  about  a  dhream 
I  had  last  night."  "  An'  what  has  your  dhrame 
to  do  with  my  loaf?  "  said  the  loser  of  the  bread. 
"  Hould  on,  bedad,  till  you  hear  it,"  cried  the 
other. 

"  You  see,  I  dhramed  Captain  Sheibner  bucked 
and  gagged  me ;  an'  put  me  in  the  guard-house, 
the  spalpeen,  for  twentv-four  hours.  An'  I  was 
very  hungry.  Well !  a  beautiful  lady  came  to  me, 


and  relased  me,  an'  sint  me  to  my  tint.  'You'll 
find  bread  in  the  haversack,'  says  she. 

"  Well  ?  "  said  the  loser  of  the  bread.  "  Well," 
said  Pat,  "  I  got  up  in  my  sleep  an*  ate  your 
loaf."  The  roar  of  laughter  that  followed 
drowned  the  complaint  of  the  loser,  who,  to  use 
his  own  words,  "  had  to  dhrink  dhry  coffee  that 
morning."  

BRAVERY  AT  OIUSTEE.  —  Color-Sergeant  James 
Cox,  of  the  Forty-seventh  New  York  regiment,  at 
the  battle  of  Olustee,  Fla.,  although  he  had 
received  a  ball  in  the  body  (hardly  an  inch  from 
the  heart,  as  it  was  ascertained),  and  another  in 
his  thigh,  never  let  the  fact  be  known,  but  re 
mained  bare-headed,  facing  the  enemy,  advancing 
and  then  slowly  falling  back  with  the  colors,  as 
ordered  from  time  to  time.  Once,  when  struck, 
he  fell ;  but  the  colors  were  instantly  grasped  by 
Orderly  Sergeant  Michael  Iloden,  of  company  B", 
who  likewise  conducted  himself  nobly  all  through. 
The  enemy  never  saw  Sergeant  Cox's  back,  and 
he  stuck  by  his  flag  until  we  left  the  field,  when 
Sergeant  Koden  had  the  honor  of  carrying  it 
home.  

A  THRILLING  SCENE.  —  During  the  passage 
of  the  fleet  conveying  the  Sixteenth  army  corps 
to  Vicksburg  in  the  winter  of  1864,  the  following 
scene  occurred :  "  Our  transport  being  in  the 
advance,"  said  a  correspondent,  "  we  backed  ont 
from  Memphis  this  morning,  and  steamed  south 
ward.  One  after  another  followed,  with  their 
hurricane  and  boiler  decks  covered,  yea,  black 
ened  with  their  patriotic  human  life.  Banners 
were  flying,  and  the  air  was  rent,  as  cheer  after 
cheer  went  up,  mingled  with  the  always  inspiring 
fife  and  drum.  Countenances  indicated  cheerful, 
hearty,  but  solemn  earnestness.  The  martial 
music  ceased.  I  jumped  upon  the  wheel-house, 
and  at  the  top  of  my  voice  called  for  the  '  Battle 
Cry  of  Freedom.-'  Souls  and  voices  unused  to 
song  sung  this  morning.  We  dropped  past  Foi  t 
Pickering ;  the  high  bluffs  were  lined  with  colored 
troops.  How  they  cheered,  how  they  shouted, 
and  waved  hats  and  handkerchiefs !  In  the  song 
we  poured  forth 

« And  although  he  may  be  poor,   he  shall   never 

be  a  slave, 
Shouting  the  battle  cry  of  Freedom : ' 

the  winds  wafted  it  on  shore,  and  again  and  again 
went  up  the  glad  acclaim.  '  Coronation '  was  called 
for. 

*  All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name ' 

was  never  more  appropriately  sung.  The  excel 
lent  Christian  Colonel  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Seventeenth  was  urged  to  speak.  He  declined, 
saying  to  me, '  Your  lungs  are  adapted  to  the  open 
air.'  I  could  not  help  add  a  few  words  as  the 
historic  moments  were  passing.  At  the  close, 
with  hat  in  hand,  and  loading  a  hatless  auditory, 
we  reverently  approached  into  the  King  of  kings' 
audience  chamber.  We  thanked  and  praised 
Him,  and  begged  of  Him  to  be  with  our  trans 
port,  the  fleet,  and  expedition." 


860 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


"  GOD  SAVE  THE  SOUTH."  —  This  is  the  title 
of  a  national  Confederate  anthem,  composed  by 
Professor  C.  G.  De  Cornel,  of  Richmond ;  words 
by  Captain  Ernest  Halpin,  of  the  C.  S.  A.  The 
great  prolificness  of  the  Southern  press  in  the 
production  of  music  is  one  of  the  best  indications 
that,  amidst  all  the  horrors  and  devastations  of 
this  cruel  war,  the  people  of  the  South  have  re 
mained  uncontaminated  by  its  demoralizing  influ 
ence,  and  still  preserve,  in  all  its  former  purity, 
their  love  for  "  the  true,  the  beautiful,  the 
good."  As  a  means  of  civilization,  —  an  element 
of  spiritual  life,  —  it  would  be  difficult  to  overrate 
the  importance  and  interest  which  attach  to 
music.  It  is  the  language  of  the  soul ;  and  its 
peculiar  function  is  to  facilitate  the  development 
of  the  emotional  language  of  our  nature,  and  to 
call  into  exercise  those  sympathies  which  prepare 
us  for  the  enjoyment  of  the  higher  sphere  of  hap 
piness  which  our  Creator  has  allotted  to  us.  The 
vague  feelings  of  inexpressible  felicity  which  music 
arouses,  the  indefinite  impressions  of  an  un 
known  ideal  life  which  it  calls  up,  may  be  con 
sidered  as  prophetic  of  our  future  state.  The 
strange  capacity  which  all  have  for  being  affected 
by  melody  and  harmony,  may  be  taken  to  imply 
both  that  it  is  within  the  possibilities  of  our  na- 
lure  to  realize  those  intenser  delights  they  dimly 
suggest,  and  that  they  are  in  some  way  concerned 
in  the  realization  of  them. 

"  'Tis  the  golden  key 
That  opes  the  palace  of  eternity." 

It  has  long  been  conceded  that  a  martial  strain 
will  urge  a  man  into  the  front  ranks  of  battle 
sooner  than  an  argument,  and  a  fine  anthem  ex 
cite  his  devotion  more  certainly  than  a  logical 
discourse.  As  has  been  truly  said,  the  sentiment 
of  the  age  has  written  itself  in  music.  Its  wild 
intelligence,  its  keen  analysis,  its  revolutionary 
spirit,  its  restlessness,  and  its  humanity,  may  be 
traced  in  the  rich  combinations  of  Rossini,  in  the 
grand  symphonies  of  Beethoven,  in  the  pleading 
tenderness  of  Bellini,  and  in  the  mingled  war- 
notes  and  sentiment  of  Verdi.  "VVe  should,  there 
fore,  hail  with  delight  the  active  life  which  seems 
to  animate  the  composers  and  singers  of  our 
country.  It  is  a  clear  demonstration  that  the 
spirit  of  the  people  is  not  broken,  notwithstand 
ing  all  the  outrages  and  horrors  to  which  they 
have  been  subjected  by  the  remorseless  foe.  As 
long  as  they  can  tune  their  voices  to  the  rich  mel 
ody  of  song,  so  long  will  the  spirit  of  patriotism 
remain  unsubdued  in  their  hearts. 

Among  the  many  good  pieces  that  have  been 
published,  we  know  of  none  superior,  if  equal,  to  the 
one  under  consideration,  by  Professor  De  Coniol. 
It  is  what  we  have  long  wished  for  —  a  national 
anthem,  breathing  a  spirit  of  patriotism  and  devo 
tion  suited  to  our  troublous  times.  The  pure  and 
simple  religious  feeling  which  pervades  the  poetry 
of  this  piece  is  beautifully  interpreted  by,  and  car 
ried  home  to,  the  heart,  in  the  deep  pathos  and  ma 
jestic  tones  of  the  music.  The  sentiments  of  the 
anthem  are  perfectly  in  accordance  with  the  reli- 
ling  and  faith  of  our  people.  Our  hope  of 


success,  in  this  dreadful  struggle,  has  not  been  in 
our  own  strength,  but  in  the  mighty  arm  of  Him 
"  who  weigheth  the  earth  in  a  balance,"  and  "  be 
fore  whom  all  nations  are  as  nothing."  As  a  na 
tional  anthem,  we  know  nothing  to  compare  with 
this  in  sublimity.  The  opening  stanza  is  peculiarly 
g~i;tid  j  while  the  minor  key  of  the  words, 

"  God  be  our  ?hield. 
At  hove,  or  on  tl:e  field  ; 
Stretrh  thine  arm  over  us, 

Strer  gthen  and  save," 

m'.ist.  r/e  think,  s«nd  a  thrill  of  deep  emotion,  and 
find  a  responsive  ohord  in  the  heart  of  every  one 
not  dead  to  "  tie  concord  of  sweet  sounds." 
There  are  several  very  fine  passages  in  the  last 
two  stanzas ;  but  we  do  not  deem  it  proper  here 
to  enter  into  a  critical  review  of  the  pieces,  as  all 
who  delight  in  song  will  examine  and  judge  for 
themselves.  We  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  the 
anthem  sung,  the  other  evening,  by  a  fair  friend, 
whose  soul  seemed  to  enter  into  and  realize  the 
beauty  and  spirit  of  the  music,  and  can  truly  say, 
with  the  poet,  — 

"  And  when  the  stream  of  sound 
Which  overflowed  the  soul  had  passed  away, 
A  consciousness  survived  those  it  had  left 
Dispirited  upon  the  silent  shore 
Of  memory,  images  and  gentle  thoughts, 
Which  cannot  die,  and  will  not  be  destic/ecl," 

To  sing  this  anthem  properly,  requires  a  voice 
of  great  depth,  compass,  flexibility,  arid  tone ; 
and  those  who  may  have  heard  it  rendered  by 
amateurs  deficient  in  these,  were,  no  doubt,  dis 
appointed  in  their  expectations  as  to  its  merits. 
One  of  the  most  interesting  and  profitable  exer 
cises  our  "  fair  daughters  of  song  "  can  engage 
in,  will  be  the  mastery  of  this  anthem.  In  it 
they  will  find  ample  scope  for  all  of  their  vocal 
and  artistic  talents  ;  and  we  confidently  believe 
that  when  it  shall  be  fully  known,  it  will  rival 
in  popularity  the  celebrated  naticnal  anthems  of 
France  and  England.  —  Southern  paper. 


FIRST  AMERICAN  FLAG  OVER  RICHMOND. — 
The  crowning  event  of  the  rebellion  was  undoubt 
edly  the  capture  of  Richmond  by  the  loyal  or  Fed 
eral  forces.  The  most  striking  incident  of  this 
achievement  was  the  reestablishment  of  the  United 
States  or  American  flag  in  the  rebel  capital,  over 
the  rebel  capitol,  in  which  the  rebel  Congress 
met  and  deliberated,  and  a  traitor  convention 
passed  the  ordinance  of  secession,  which  they 
vainly  hoped  would  carry  Virginia  forever  out  of 
the  Union.  The  details  of  this  interesting  event 
are  as  follows : 

The  one  division  of  the  Twenty-fifth  and  one 
of  the  Twenty-fourth  corps  composing  that  por 
tion  of  the  army  of  the  James  which  lay  on  thg 
extreme  right  of  Grant's  army  of  investment,  oc 
cupied  positions  within  seven  miles  of  the  be 
leaguered  rebel  stronghold.  From  an  adjacent 
hill  Richmond  was  as  plainly  to  be  discerned  as 
Port  Ewing  from  tic  ml  s  Lbove  Barrytown. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


361 


This  corps  was  commanded  by  Major-General 
Godfrey  Weitzel.  His  chief  of  the  statf  was  Brig 
adier-General  George  F.  Shepley,  formerly  mili 
tary  Governor  of  New  Orleans,  and  lately  of  Nor 
folk.  His  Aid-de-camp,  Lieutenant  Johnston  L. 
de  Peyster,  had  been  transferred  with  his  chief 
to  the  staff  of  General  Weitzel,  and  thus  became 
Aid-de-camp  to  the  latter.  Lieutenant  de  Peys 
ter  belonged  to  the  loth  New  York  artillery,  and 
was,  as  is  well  known,  from  Tivoli,  Red  Hook, 
Dutchess  County,  New  York. 

The  night  of  the  2d  and  3d  April  was  one  of 
intense  anxiety  and  expectation  in  the  army  of 
the  James.  Throughout  the  previous  day  they 
could  hear  the  tremendous  roar  of  the  terrible 
battle  in  which  their  comrades  were  engaged,  far 
away  across  the  river  upon  the  extreme  left  and 
around  Petersburg,  and  they  knew  that  the  next 
morning,  early,  they  were  to  play  their  dangerous 
part  by  assaulting  the  rebel  works  in  their  front 
in  order  to  capture  Richmond  itself. 

About  two  A.  M.,  April  3,  Lieutenant  de  Peys 
ter,  hearing  tremendous  explosions,  and  seeing  a 
vast  blaze  in  the  direction  of  llichmond,  'mounted 
the  wooden  signal  tower,  about  seventy  feet  high, 
at  General  Weitzel's  headquarters,  and  reported 
that  he  could  discern  a  great  fire  towards  Rich 
mond.  He  could  not  decide,  however,  that  the 
city  was  burning.  Efforts  were  at  once  made  to 
capture  a  rebel  picket.  About  three  A.  M.  they 
were  successful.  A  prisoner,  of  the  Thirty-seventh 
Vii  ginia  artillery,  reported  that  he  neither  knew 
where  his  general  nor  his  command  were.  This 
led  General  Shepley  to  believe  the  rebels  were 
evacuating  Richmond.  About  half  past  three 
A.  M.,  a  deserter  came  in  and  announced  that  the 
city  was  being  abandoned.  At  four  A.  M.  a  ne 
gro  drove  iuio  the  Federal  lines  in  a  buggy,  and 
confirmed  the  glorious  news.  Joy  and  exultation 
at  once  absorbed  every  other  feeling,  and  orders 
were  immediately  given  for  the  troops  to  move. 
This  was  about  six  A.  M.  Brevet  Brigadier-Gen 
eral  Draper's  colored  brigade  led  the  advance 
along  a  road  strewn  with  all  kinds  of  abandoned 
munitions  of  war,  and  amid  the  roar  of  bursting 
shells,  which  was  terrific.  On  either  side  small 
red  flags  indicated  the  position  of  buried  torpe 
does  between  the  two  lines  of  abatis  in  Weitzel's 
immediate  front.  These  warning  indications  the 
rebels  had  not  had  time  to  remove.  This  fortunate 
incident  preserved  many  lives,  as  the  space  was 
very  narrow  between  the  explosives. 

The  rebel  defences  seemed  almost  impregnable. 
Every  elevation  along  the  road  was  defended  by 
fieldworks,  and  very  strong  forts.  Two  lines  of 
abatis  and  three  lines  of  rifle  pits  and  earth 
works,  one  within  the  other,  defended  every  av 
enue  of  attack  and  point  of  advantage.  The  first 
and  second  lines  wsre  connected  by  regular  lines 
of  redans  and  works  —  the  third,  near  the  city 
and  commanding  it,  disconnected.  If  our  troops 
should  have  had  to  carry  the  defences  by  storm, 
the  los-s  would  have  been  fearful,  since  the  contest 
would  have  been  constantly  renewed,  because  the 
rebels,  as  fast  as  one  line  of  defences  was  occu 
pied,  would  only  have  had  to  fall  back  into  an 


other  to  recommence  the  butchery  of  the  assail 
ants  under  every  advantage  to  themselves. 

Brigadier-General  S  lepley  had  brought  with 
him,  from  Norfolk,  a  storm  flag,  which  had  for 
merly  belonged  to  the  Twelfth  Maine  volunteers. 
Of  this  regiment  he  had  been  originally  Colonel. 
This  flag  had  floated  triumphantly  over  the  St. 
Charles  Hotel  at  New  Orleans.  This  latter  build 
ing  was  the  headquarters  of  General  Butler,  to 
whom  G  mervil  Shepley  had  acted  as  chief  of  staff. 
Shepley  had  previously,  in  sport,  made  the  re 
mark  that  the  flag  referred  to  would  do  to  float 
over  Richmond,  and  that  he  hoped  to  see  it  there. 
Lieutenant  de  Peyster,  who  heard  this,  asked  the 
General  "  if  he  would  allow  him  to  raise  it  for 
him."  Shepley  said,  "  Yes,  if  you  bring  it  with 
you,  and  take  care  of  it,  you  shall  raise  it  in  Rich 
mond."  As  the  Twenty-fifth  corps  left  their  lines 
to  advance  towards  Richmond,  the  aid  asked  his 
General  if  he  recollected  his  promise  about  the 
flag.  "  Yes,  go  to  my  tent  and  get  the  flag,  and 
carry  it. on  your  saddle;  I  will  send  you  to  raise 
it  if  we  get  in." 

April  3,  six  A.  M.,  General  Weitzel  and  his 
staff,  together  more  than  thircy  officers,  each  hav 
ing  an  orderly  following  in  the  rear,  galloped  on 
through  the  wrecks  of  the  retreating  rebels  and 
the  columns  of  the  advancing  Federals.  As  soon 
as  they  entered  the  suburbs  of  the  rebel  capital, 
the  shouts  of  welcome  broke  forth.  Meanwhile, 
several  arsenals,  stored  with  shells,  were  burning. 
The  explosions  of  the  missiles  mingled  into  one 
continuous  roar.  Even  as  they  drew  near  the 
capitol  itself,  the  populace  rushed  into  the  streets 
to  hail  their  deliverers,  or  shake  hands  with  them. 
In  fact,  their  whole  line  of  march  within  the  sub 
urbs  was  thronged  with  men,  women,  and  boys, 
colored  and  white,  all  shouting  welcome.  The 
excitement  was  intense.  Old  men,  gray,  and 
scarred  with  many  battles,  acted  the  part  of  boys, 
hurrahing  and  yelling  at  the  top  of  their  voices. 
Meanwhile,  the  male  negroes  were  bowing  down 
to  the  ground,  and  the  sable  matrons  chorusing 
with  all  their  strength  of  lungs,  "  Bress  de  Lord ! 
de  year  ob  jubilee  hab  come  !  " 

When  near  the  foot  of  Shockoe  Hill,  the  high, 
abrupt  elevation,  whose  front,  is  crowned  by  the 
capitol,  Lieutenant  de  Peyster  spurred  on  through 
the  promiscuous  throng  up  to  the  capitol  itself. 
This  building,  the  most  conspicuous  object  in 
Richmond,  owes  everything  to  its  size  and  posi 
tion,  since  neither  the  architecture  nor  the  mate 
rial  corresponds  with  the  site  and  proportions. 
The  front,  with  its  Ionic  colonnade,  looked  down 
upon  the  business  part  of  the  city,  which  was  all 
ablaze.  The  rear  faced  the  fashionable  quarter 
of  Richmond,  an  elevated  plain,  considered  the 
most  eligible  locality  for  private  residences.  The 
capitol  had  two  flag-staffs,  one  at  either  end  of 
the  roof.  Upon  the  front  one  an  enormous  rebel 
flag  had  been  displayed,  which,  when  not  extended 
by  the  wind,  trailed  down  to  the  steps  below. 
This  had  been  torn  down,  and  had  leen  partially 
rent  into  thousands  of  pieces,  to  be  preserved  as 
mementoes  of  tlie  occasion.  Upon  the  staff  in 
the  reai1,  in  full  sight  of  the  domiciles  of  the  rebel 


362 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND   INCIDENTS. 


magnates  and  sympathizers,  "  the  first  real  Amer 
ican  flag  "  was  raised  by  Lieutenant  de  Peyster. 

That  flag,  which  had  been  consigned  to  his 
care  for  that  very  purpose,  which  he  had  carried 
into  the  city  buckled  to  his  saddle,  which  had 
floated  in  like  triumph  over  the  Crescent  City  of 
the  South,  the  first  real  American  Hag  hoisted 
over  the  rebel  capitol,  was  raised  by  a  Dutchess 
County  officer,  aged  eighteen,  in  the  presence  of 
Captain  Langdon,  chief  of  artillery  to  the  staff 
of  Major-General  Weitzel.  As  it  rose  aloft,  dis 
played  itself,  and  steadily  streamed  out  in  the 
strong  gale,  which  was  filling  the  air  with  fiery 
flakes  from  the  adjacent  conflagration,  it  was 
hailed  with  deafening  shouts  by  the  redeemed 
populace,  who  swarmed  the  open  space  below  and 
around. 

A  short  time  before  this  real  flag-raising,  Major 
Atherton  II.  Stevens,  of  the  Fourth  Massachu 
setts  cavalry,  and  Major  E.  Graves,  of  General 
Weitzel's  staff,  had  elevated,  or  hoisted,  two  cav 
alry  guidons,  small  swallow-tailed  flags,  with  the 
staffs  to  which  they  were  attached.  These  were 
so  small  that  they  were  scarcely  visible,  if  visible 
at  all,  from  the  streets  below.  Moreover,  it 
should  be  remembered  that  there  is  a  vast  differ 
ence,  as  to  honor  and  possession,  between  plant-, 
ing  these,  and  hoisting  a  United  States  flag,  the 
true  emblem  and  act  of  occupation  and  triumph. 
Therefore,  as  conceded,  to  Lieutenant  de  Peyster 
belongs  the  historic  glory  of  being  the  first  to 
run  up  "  the  first  real  American  flag,"  selected  and 
carried  in  by  him  for  that  very  purpose,  over  the 
chief  building  of  a  city  preeminently  the  strong 
hold  and  seat  of  life  of  the  rebellion. 

That  this  hoisting  the  flag  was  not  attended 
with  great  peril,  detracts  in  no  manner  whatever 
from  the  merit  of  the  achievement,  inasmuch  as, 
when  it  occurred,  a  letter  dated  "March  28,  in 
the  Field,"  had  already  been  received  in  New  York, 
si utlng  that  Lieutenant  de  Peyster  was  pledged 
to  his  General,  if  Richmond  were  taken,  "  to  put  a 
ceitain  flag  on  the  house  of  Jefferson  Davis,  or 
on  the  rebel  capitol,  or  perish  in  the  attempt," 
Everything  was  perfectly  prepared  for  an  intended 
assault  when  General  Shepley  and  his  Aid  dis 
covered  that  the  works  which  they  were  ready  to 
storm  had  been  abandoned. 

Having,  amid  gale,  tumult,  and  triumph,  drank 
upon  the  roof  to  the  success  of  our  arms,  the 
young  Aid-de-camp  went  down  into  the  private 
room  of  Jefferson  Davis  in  the  custom-house,  at 
the  foot  of  the  hill,  and  thence  wrote  a  letter 
describing  the  entrance  of  the  loyal  army,  which 
reached  New  York  the  same  day  (April  6)  on 
which  the  Commercial  Advertiser  published  a 
telegram  from  its  own  correspondent,  stating 
that  "  to  Lieutenant  G.  [should  be  J.]  L.  Dupey- 
ster  and  to  General  Shepley  belongs  the  honor  of 
hoisting  our  flag  on  the  capitol "  of  Richmond. 
This  was  corroborated  by  the  correspondent  of 
ths  New  York  Herald,  dated  "  Herald  Rooms, 
Richmond,  Virginia,  April  11,  three  P.  M."  Pub 
lished  13,  A.  M. 

Lieutenant  de  Peyster  was  subsequently  quar 
tered  in  the  residence  of  Jefferson  Davis.  He 


describes  the  house  as  a  perfect  gem,  as  to  inte 
rior  Arrangements,  although  the  exteiior  \\aa 
altogether  unattract  .ve.  The  furniture  was  mag 
nificent —  rosewood  the  predominant  material. 
Large  pier  glassev  were  to  be  found  in  every 
room.  Some  of  the  mirrors  were  enormous. 
The  floors  were  covered  with  splendid  carpets, 
so  thick  that  the  foot,  actually  sunk  into  their 
rich  material.  All  tka  lavish' expenditure  was 
made  in  accordance  with  the  acts  of  the  Rebel  cr 
Confederate  Congress,  while  the  people  were  naked 
and  starving,  and  their  army  in  want  of  shoes. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen,  Lieutenant  do  Peyster 
greatly  assisted  in  raising  a  company  for  the  regi 
ment  of  Colonel  Cowles.  Almost  all  the  recruits 
from  the  northern  district  of  the  town  of  lied 
Hook  and  adjacent,  were  due  to  his  exertions  and 
the  contributions  of  his  relations  and  connections. 

Although  he  was  actually  in  command  for  a 
few  clays,  it  was  by  some  trickery  he  lost  the  fruit 
of  his  labors.  Colonel  Cowles  expressed  a  very 
high  opinion  of  him  as  an  officer,  and  regretted 
that  he  could  not  retain  him.  In  the  spring  of 
1864  he  was  mustered  into  the  Thirteenth  New 
York  artillery,  and  appointed  Post  Adjutant  to 
Major  Hassler's  Battalion.  Thence  he  was  trans 
ferred  to  the  staff  of  Brigadier-General  Shfipley, 
Military  Governor  of  Norfolk,  afterwards  chief 
of  staff  to  General  Weitzel  before  Richmond, 
and  first  loyal  Military  Governor  of  the  .rebel 
capital. 

On  the  28th  of  June,  Lieutenant  de  Peyster 
received  official  notice  that  His  Excellency,  Gov 
ernor  Fenton,  in  pursuance  of  the  extraordinary 
power  vested  in  him  by  the  Legislature  the  last 
winter,  had  breveted  him  a  "  Lieutenant-Colonel 
for  his  meritorious  conduct  as  a  New  York  volun 
teer  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  and  for 
raising  the  first  national  ensign  over  the  capitol 
in  Richmond,  Virginia,  after  the  insurgents  were 
driven  therefrom."  

WOMEN  OF  THE  SOUTH.  —  A  letter  from  Lin 
coln  County,  Tennessee,  written  in  July,  1861, 
says : 

"  I  witnessed  many  a  scene  in  this  rural  district, 
which  the  gay  ladies  of  our  fashionable  cities  may 
well  ponder  on,  with  the  reflection  of  surprise,  of 
how  little  they  know  of  the  hardships  which  their 
sex  are  forced  to  undergo  to  sustain  and  support 
their  families,  while  their  husbands  and  brothers 
are  absent  fighting  the  battles  of  our  country. 
On  the  small  farms  throughout  this  section  all  is 
life,  activity,  and  industry.  Many  a  woman,  who 
never  before  held  a  plough,  is  now  seen  in  the 
cornfield  ;  many  a  young  girl,  who  would  have 
blushed  at  the  thought  of  handling  a  plough-line, 
now  naturally  and  unconsciously  cries,  «  Gee  up ! ' 
to  Dobbin,  to  the  silvery  tones  of  which  the  good 
brute  readily  responds,  as  if  a  pleasure  to  comply 
with  so  gentle  a  command.  Many  a  Ruth,  as  or 
old,  is  seen  to-day  binding  and  gleaning  in  the 
wheat-fields  ;  but,  alas  !  no  Boaz  is  there  to  con 
sole  or  to  comfort.  The  picture  of  the  rural  sol 
dier's  home  is  at  this  time  but  a  picture  of  primi 
tive  life.  Throughout  the  country,  at  e~\  ery  farm- 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


363 


house  and  cottage,  the  regular  sound  of  the  loom, 
as  the  shuttle  flies  to  and  fro,  with  the  whirl  of 
the  spinning-wheel,  is  heard,  telling  of  home  in 
dustry.  Cotton  fabrics,  of  neat,  pretty  figures. 

the  production  of  home  manufactory,  are  now  al-  just  where  it  had  left  them, 
most  wholly  worn  in  Tennessee,  instead  of  cali-  '•  Mr.  Scvvard's  mental  experience  during 
coes.  But  it  is  a  sad  thought,  that  while  these 
exertions  of  thriving  industry  are  being  made  for 
the  support  of  the  soldier's  family,  his  little  cottage 
home,  of  which  he  nightly  dreams,  is  to  be  aban 
doned  and  left  unprotected  by  the  felling  ba  \  of 
our  troops,  and  subject  to  the  pillage  and  plunder 
of  the  vandal  infidels.  Such,  at  least,  I  fear  will 
be  the  case  in  the  Counties  of  Bedford  and  Coffee, 
from  which  we  have  fallen  back." 


THE  ATTACK  ON  THE  SEWARDS. —  The  follow 
ing  account  of  the  sensations  experienced  at  the 
time  of  their  attempted  assassination  by  Payne, 
was  given  by  Mr.  Secretary  Seward  and  his  son 
Frederick  : 

"  Mr.  Frederick  Seward  said,  that  on  stepping 
from  his  bed-room  into  the  passage,  and  seeing 
the  assassin,  he  merely  wondered  what  he  was 
doing  there,  and  called  him  to  account.  On  his 
resisting  the  fellow's  endeavor  to  pass  into  Mr. 
Reward's  room,  the  assassin  drew  a  revolver,  which 
he  presented  at  Mr.  Frederick  Seward's  head. 
What  followed,  it  must  be  remembered,  took  place 
in  a  few  seconds.  Mr.  Frederick  Seward's  first 
thought  was,  *  That's  a  navy  revolver.' 

"  The  man  pulled  the  trigger,  but  it  only  snapped; 
and  his  intended  victim  thought, '  That  cap  missed 
fire.' 

"  His  next  sensation  was  that  of  confusion  ;  and 
being  upon  the  floor,  resting  upon  his  arm,  which, 
like  his  father's  jaw,  was  barely  recovered  from  a 
bad  fracture,  —  the  assassin  had  felled  him  to  the 
floor  with  the  butt  of  the  pistol,  —  he  put  his  hand 
to  his  head,  and  finding  a  hole  there,  he  thought, 
'  That  cap  did  not  miss  lire  after  all.' 

"  Then  he  became  insensible,  and  remained  so 
for  two  days  or  more.  His  first  indication  of  re 
turning  consciousness  was  the  question,  'Have 
you  not  got  the  ball  out  ?  '  after  which  he  fell  off 
again  into  a  comatose  condition,  which  was  of  long 
continuance. 

"  On  the  very  afternoon  of  the  day  when  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  assassinated,  Mr.  Frederick  Seward, 
who  was  Assistant  Secretary  of  State,  had  asked 
his  father  what  preparation  should  be  made  for  the 
presentation  of  Sir  Frederick  Bruce,  which  was  to 
take  place  the  next  day.  Mr.  Seward  gave  him 
the  points  of  a  reply  to  be  made  to  Sir  Fred 
erick,  anc\  he  laid  the  outline  of  the  speech  upon 
the  President's  table,  and,  as  I  have  previously 
informed  my  renders,  Mr.  Lincoln  that  afternoon 


after  the  assassination,  was,  « Has  Sir  Frederick 
Bruce  been  presented  ? '  He  thought  that  only 
one  night  had  passed,  since  he  knew  not  what  nad 
happened  to  him,  and  his  mind  tcok  up  matte? s 


supposed  assassination  \vas  ia  its  nature  so  like 
that  of  his  son,  that  it  raise*  *he  question  whether 
this  absence  of  consternation  and  observation  of 
minute  particulars  is  not  common  in  circumstances 
Df  unexpected  and  not  fully  apprehended  peril. 
Mr.  Seward  was  lying  upon  his  side,  close  to  the 
edge  of  the  bed,  jrith  his  head  resting  in  a  frame, 


which  had  been  made  to  give  him  ease  and  pro 
tect  his  bioken  jaw  from  pressure. 

"  He  was  trying  to  keep  awake,  having  been 
seized  upon  by  a  sick  man's  fancy  —  it  was,  if  he 
slept  he  would  w:;ke  up  with  lockjaw.  He 
was  brought  to  full  consciousness  by  the  scuffle 
in  the  passage-way,  followed  by  the  entrance  of 
the  assassin,  and  the  cry  of  Miss  Seward,  *  O,  he 
will  kill  my  father  ! '  But  he  saw  nothing  of  his 
assailant  until  a  hand  appeared  above  his  face, 
and  then  his  thought  was, '  What  handsome  cloth 
that  overcoat  is  made  of ! '  The  assassin's  face  then 
appeared,  and  the  helpless  statesman  only  thought, 
'  What  a  handsome  man ! '  (Payne  was  a  fine- 
looking  fellow.) 

"  Then  came  a  sensation  as  of  rain  striking  him 
smartly  upon  one  side  of  his  face  and  neck,  then 
quickly  the  same  upon  the  other  side,  but  he  felt 
no  severe  pain.  This  was  the  assassin's  knife,. 
The  blood  spouted ;  he  thought, '  My  time  has 
come,'  and  falling  from  the  bed  to  the  floor,  fainted. 
His  first  sensation  of  returning  consciousness  was, 
that  he  was  drinking  tea,  and  that  it '  tasted  good.' 
Mrs.  Seward  was  giving  him  tea  with  a  spoon, 
He  heard  low  voices  around  him,  asking  and  re 
plying  as  to  whether  it  would  be  possible  for  him 
to  recover.  He  could  not  speak,  but  his  eyes 
showed  his  consciousness,  and  that  he  desired  to 
speak.  They  brought  him  a  porcelain  tablet,  on 
which  he  managed  to  write,  *  Give  me  some  te^  ; 
I  shall  get  well.'  And  from  that  moment  he 
has  slowly  but  steadily  recovered  his  health  and 
strength." 


HISTORY  OF  A  TORPEDO  BOAT.  —  General 
Dabney  H.  Maury,  in  his  report  of  the  defence 
of  Mobile,  narrates  the  following  eventful  history 
of  a  torpedo  boat : 

It  was  built  of  boiler  iron,  was  about  thirty- 
five  feet  long,  and  was  manned  by  a  crew  of  nine 
eight  of  whom  worked  the  propeller  by 
hand.  The  ninth  steered  the  boat  and  regulated 
her  movements  below  the  surface  of  the  water. 
She  could  be  submerged  at  pleasure  to  any  de- 


uu.<ji LUCU   my  i caucus,  HAI.  J_IIHCLUU  LIJUU  tuiei iiuuii     taut;  uuuiu  uc    buuiijcj^uu    au   piearju.it;    iu   aiiy    ut;- 

wrote  out  the  reply,  adopting  Mr.  Seward's  sug-  |  sired  depth,  or  could  be  propelled  upon  the  sur- 
gestions,  and  thus  preparing  the  reception  of  the    face.    In  smooth,  still  water  her  movements  were 


British  Minister  by  President  Johnson,  which  was 
regarded  at  the  time  by  the  people  to  whose  rep 
resentative  it  was  addressed  as  so  friendly,  and 
fair,  and  dignified. 

Mr.  Frederick  Seward's  first  inquiry,  after  he 


came  fully  to  his  senses,  which  was  a  long  time  [  tacked. 


exactly  controlled,  and  her  speed  was  about  four 
knots.  It  was  intended  that  she  should  approach 
any  vessel  lying  at  anchor,  pass  under  her  keel, 
and  drag  a  floating  torpedo,  which  would  explode 
on  striking  the  side  or  bottom  of  the  ship  at- 


3C4 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


"  She  could  remain  submerged  more  than  half 
an  1]  mr  without  inconvenience  to  her  crew. 

"  ijoon  after  her  arrival  in  Charleston,  Lieuten 
ant  Payne,  of  the  Confederate  navy,  with  eight 
others,  volunteered  to  attack  the  Federal  fleet 
with  hur.  While  preparing  for  their  expedition, 
ihe  swell  of  a  passing  steamer  caused  the  boat 
lo  sink  suddenly,  and  all  hands,  except  Lieutenant 
Payne,  who  was  standing  in  the  open  hatchway, 
perished.  She  was  soon  raised  and  again  made 
ready  for  service.  Lieutenant  Payne  again  vol 
unteered  to  command  her.  While  lying  near 
Fort  Sumter  she  capsized,  and  again  sunk  in  deep 
water,  drowning  all  hands,  except  her  commander 
and  two  others. 

"Being  again  raised  and  prepared  for  action, 
Mr.  Aunley,  one  of  the  constructors,  made  an 
experimental  cruise  in  her  in  Cooper  lliver. 
While  submerged  at  great  depth,  from  some  un 
known  cause,  she  became  unmanageable,  and  re 
mained  for  many  days  on  the  bottom  of  the  river 
with  her  crew  of  nine  dead  men. 

<:  A  fourth  time  was  the  boat  raised,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Dixon,  of  Mobile,  of  the  Twenty-first 
volunteers,  with  eight  others,  went  out  of  Charles 
ton  harbor  in  her,  and  attacked  and  sunk  the 
Federal  steamer  Housatonic. 

"  Her  mission  at  last  accomplished,  she  disap 
peared  forever  with  her  crew.  Nothing  is  known 
of  their  fate,  but  it  is  believed  they  went  down 
with  the  enemy."  

How  I  ENLISTED.  —  A  soldier  of  the  Second 
regiment  of  Ohio  cavalry  writes:  "On  New 
Year's  day,  1864,  as  our  regiment  was  lying  in 
Hac  of  battle  beyond  Mossy  Creek,  in  East  Ten 
nessee,  the  proposition  to  reenlist  as  veteran  vol 
unteers  was  submitted  to  that  grim  organization. 
Peter  Longstreet's  ragged  but  plucky  skirmish 
line  was  a  stone's  throw  in  front,  with  a  forward 
tendency ;  snow  was  on  the  hills ;  the  Second 
Ohio  cavaliers  had  drawn  no  rations  from  Uncle 
Sam  in  fifteen  days,  and  not  an  average  of 
one  eighth  ration  during  the  preceding  four 
months ;  their  diaphragms  were  devoid  of  bur 
den  ;  they  had  not  '  lived  in  tents '  for  an  eighth- 
month  ;  the  supply  of  pone  and  cerulean  hog 
was  failing  in  that  land,  and  zero  was  biting  at  the 
noses  of  the  cavaliers.  Amid  all  these  favorable 
surroundings  the  cavaliers  said,  '  Go  to,  let  us 
have  more  of  this  good  thing ;  give  unto  us  yet 
thirty  and  six  moons  of  this  goodly  service.' 
Thus  the  thing  was  done.  Under  such  circum 
stances  our  veteran  volunteers  enlisted. 

"  While  the  cavaliers  were  signing  their  names 
to  the  enlistment  roll,  at  the  rate  of  a  hundred 
per  hour,  a  ludicrous  memory  of  a  former  enlist 
ment  came  to  us.  Two  days  after  Sumter  fell, 
en  a  bright  April  morning,  big  church  full  of 
Indignant  sovereigns  and  enthusiastic  women  ; 
organ  thundered,  band  crashed  out  '  Hail  Colum 
bia;'  impromptu  banners  wagged  briskly,  and 
the  air  was  redolent  of  patriotism.  Music  ceased. 
Speeches  followed.  Roll  was  opened,  and  vol 
unteers  called  for.  Five  hundred  pairs  of  starry 
eyes  waited  to  illume  the  path  of  the  first  vol 


unteer.  Five  hundred  pairs  of  little  white  hands 
were  nervous  to  begin  clapping  at  the  advent  of 
•.he  first  masculine  sacrifice.  He  came,  and  Em- 
percrs  have  had  poorer  receptions.  He  was 
apotheosized.  More  followed.  The  pressure  in 
creased.  I  cowered  in  my  pew,  imagining  that 
every  woman  of  sense,  and  every  girl  of  beauty, 
was  saying  to  herself,  'Why  don't  he  go?'  I 
reasoned  with  myself,  but  the  clapping  and  wav 
ing  of  white  kerchiefs  made  me  dizzy.  With  a 
mighty  effort,  I  made  a  resolution.  I  mentally 
bade  adieu  to  all  terrestrial  matters.  I  buried 
from  view  all  relatives  nearer  than  second  cous 
ins,  drew  the  veil  of  forgetfulness  over  the  dear 
form  of.  Julia,  and  most  of  my  outstanding  debts, 
made  up  my  mind  to  be  shot  for  my  country,  and 
began  to  stride  up  the  aisle.  What  a  path  to  a 
graveyard !  The  male  audience  yelled  —  the  fe 
male  audience  waved  kerchiefs  with  unexampled 
energy,  and  they  were  perfumed  with  divine 
odors.  I  saw  nothing  but  a  dancing  sea  of  snow- 
white  foam,  interspersed  with  smiling  stars.  I 
heard  nothing  but  an  undefined  roar  —  to  me  an 
echo  from  eternity,  to  which  I  regarded  myself 
as  rapidly  going.  I  scrawled  my  name  on  the 
elongated  foolscap,  and  thus  added  my  two  hun 
dred  pounds  to  the  growing  hecatomb.  I  was  a 
volunteer!  That  night  1  dreamed  of  battles. 
Next  day,  twenty-seven  Testaments,  thirteen 
'  housewii'es,'  eleven  pin-cushions,  ami  thirty* 
eight  rolls  of  bandages,  were  left  at  my  board« 
ing-house,  each  with  a  touching  note  fro  in  the 
fair  donors.  Such  was  three  months'  soldiering 
*  in  the  brave  days  of  old.'  Then  we  were  green 
—  how  sadly  veteran  we  are  now  ! " 


THE  RIDE  OF  THE  WOUNDED  BRIGADE.  —  B. 
F.  Taylor,  the  army  correspondent  of  the  Chicago 
Journal,  wrote  thus,  from  the  army  of  the  Cum 
berland,  of  a  night's  ride  of  the  wounded  bri 
gade,  after  the  battle  of  Chickamauga :  "  They 
were  loaded  upon  the  train ;  two  platform  cars 
were  paved  with  them,  forty  on  a  car.  Seven 
boxes  were  so  packed  you  could  not  set  your 
foot  down  among  them  as  they  lay.  The  roofs 
of  the  cars  were  tiled  with  them  ;  and  away  we 
pounded,  all  day,  all  night,  into  the  next  morn 
ing,  and  then  Nashville.  Half  of  the  boys  had 
not  a  shred  of  a  blanket,  and  it  rained  steadily, 
pitilessly.  What  do  you  think  of  platform  cara 
for  a  triumphal  procession  wherein  to  bear  wound 
ed  heroes  to  the  tune  of  *  The  soldier's  return 
from  the  war  ?  '  Well,  what  I  would  come  at  is 
this :  the  stores  of  the  Sanitary  Commission,  and 
the  gifts  of  such  ladies  as  are  now,  I  believe, 
making  your  city  a  Bethel  —  a  place  of  angels  — 
kept  the*  boys'  hearts  up  through  all  those  weary, 
drizzling  hours.  It  is  midnight,  and  the  attend 
ants  are  going  through  the  train  with  ccflee, 
graced  with  milk  and  sugar  —  think  of  that!  — 
two  fresh,  white,  crisp  crackers  apiece,  and  a  lit 
tle  taste  of  fruit.  L)id  your  hands  prepare  it, 
dear  lady  ?  I  hope  so,  for  the  little  balance  in 
your  favor  is  set  down  in  the  ledger  of  God. 

"  BL-;  here  they  come  with  a  canteen ;  will  you 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


365 


go  with  them  ?  Climb  through  that  window  into 
a  car  black  as  the  Hole  of  Calcutta.  But  mind 
where  you  step  ;  the  floor  is  one  layer  deep  with 
wounded  soldiers.  As  you  swing  the  lantern 
round,  bandages  show  white  and  ghastly  every 
where  ;  bandages,  bandages,  and  now  and  then 
a  rusty  spot  of  blood.  What  worn-out,  faded 
faces  look  up  at  you  !  They  rouse  like  wounded 
creatures  hunted  down  to  their  lairs  as  you  come. 
The  tin  cups  extended  in  all  sorts  of  hands  but 
plump,  strong  ones,  tinkle  all  around  you.  You 
are  fairly  girdled  with  a  tin-cup  horizon.  How 
the  dull,  faint  faces  brighten  as  those  cups  are 
filled  !  On  we  go,  out  at  one  window,  in  at 
another,  stepping  gingerly  among  mangled  limbs. 
We  reach  the  platform  cars,  creaking  with  their 
drenched,  chilled,  bruised  burdens  ;"  and  I  must 
tell  you  —  it's  a  shame,  though  —  that  one  poor 
fellow  among  them  lay  with  a  tattered  blanket 
pinned  around  him  ;  he  was  literally  sans  cu- 
lotte  !  '  How  is  this  ?  '  I  said.  «  Haven't  got  my 
descriptive  list  —  that's  what's  the  matter/  was 
the  reply. 

"  Double  allowance  all  around  to  the  occupants 
of  the  platforms,  and  we  retrace  our  steps  to  the 
rear  of  the  train.  You  should  have  heard  the 
ghost  of  a  cheer  that  ro.se  and  fluttered  like,  a 
ieeble  bird,  as  we  went  back.  It  was  the  most 
touching  vote  of  thanks  ever  offered  ;  there  was 
a  little  flash  up  of  talk  for  a  minute,  and  all  sub 
sided  into  silence  and  darkness  again.  Wearily 
wore  the  hours,  and  heavily  hammered  the  train. 
At  intervals  the  guard  traversed  the  rools  of  the 
cars,  and  pulled  in  the  worn-out  boys  that  had 
jarred  down  to  the  edges  —  pulled  them  in  to  the 
middle  of  the  cars  without  waking  them  !  Occa 
sionally  one  slips  over  the  eaves,  I  am  told,  and 
is  miserably  crushed.  What  a  homeward  march 
is  all  this  to  set  a  tune  to. 

"  By  some  error  in  apportionment  there  was  not 
quite  coffee  enough  for  all  on  deck,  and  two  slips 
of  boys  on  the  roof  of  the  car  where  I  occupied 
a  corner  were  left  without  a  drop.  Whenever  we 
stopped  —  and  that  was  two  hours  there  and 
three  hours  here,  waiting  for  this  and  for  that  ; 
there  was  no  hurry,  you  know,  and  the  side-door 
was  slid  back  in  its  groove  —  I  saw  two  hungry 
faces  stretched  down  over  the  car's  ede  and 


heard  two  feeble 


voces  cryn 


We  have  had 


nothing  up  here  since  yesterday  noon,  we  two  — 
there  are  only  us  two  boys  —  please  give  us  some 
thing.  Haven't  you  got  any  hard  tack  ?  '  I  heard 
that  pitiful  appeal  to  the  officers  in  charge,  and 
enw  those  faces  till  they  haunted  me,  and  to-day 
I  remember  those  plaintive  tones  as  if  I  were 
bearing  a  dirge. 

"  I  felt  in  my  pockets  and  haversack  for  a 
cracker,  but  found  nothing.  I  really  hated  my 
self  for  having  eaten  my  dinner,  and  not  saved  it 
for  them.  A  further  search  was  rewarded  with 
six  crackers  from  the  Chicago  Mechanical  Bakers'. 
and  watching  my  chance  when  Pete's  back  was 
turned,  —  the  cook,  and  a  smutty  autocrat  was 
Pete  in  his  way,  —  I  took  a  sly  dip  with  a  basin 
into  the  coffee-boiler.  As  the  car  gave  a  lurch  in 
the  right  direction  I  called  from  the  window, 


'  Boys  ! '  I  heard  them  crawling  to  the  edge,  and 
handed  up  the  midnight  supper.  '  Bully  for 
you  ! '  they  said,  and  I  saw  them  no  more.  U  hen 
the  train  reached  N  ,shville,  and  I  clambered 
down  to  solid  gnund  again,  I  looked  up  a*  the 
roof;  it  was  bare.  God  grant  the  boys  are  with 
their  motKrs  to-night.  And  how  do  you  like 
the  Hide  of  tie  Wounded  Brigade?" 


OHIO  AT  ST  )NE  RIVER.  —  On  the  memorable 
31st  c.f  December,  at  Stone  Itiver,  after  the  right 
right  wing  was  broken,  the  centre  driven  back, 
and  destruction  was  holding  wide  its  jaws  to 
crush  the  Union  army,  to  a  few  regiments  of  the 
gallant  Crittenden's  left  wing  was  reserved  the 
distinguished  honor  of  turning  back  the  tide  of 
adverse  battle.  For  three  horrible  hours,  while 
Bragg  was  massing  his  victorious  and  exultant 
columns,  and  hurling  them  successively  upon 
Crittenden's  position  with  reckless  desperation, 
that  in  the  moment  of  expected  triumph  lavishes 
oceans  of  blood  and  ages  of  life  to  make  the 
final  victory,  the  26th  Ohio,  under  Major  Squires, 
held  its  ground  from  first  to  last,  and  amid  the 
tempest  of  confusion  around,  and  the  deluge  of 
death  pouring  upon  it,  completely  run  over  by 
more  than  one  entire  regiment,  that  had  been 
shivered  by  the  shock  on  its  right  and  front,  itself 
still  firm  as  a  rock,  a  very  breakwater  against  the 
tide  of  ruin,  three  times  saw  the  solid  masses 
of  the  enemy  stagger,  recoil,  and  break  up  within 
short  pistol  range  of  its  bayonets,  and  flee  from 
the  horrible  slaughter.  On  this  field  tf.c  26th 
Ohio  was  baptized  in  blood.  When  the  s'Ji  iggle 
was  over,  one  third  of  the  command  lay  dead  and 
bleeding  on  the  ground  they  fought  o\er," 


"OUT  RAKING  OYSTERS."  —  A  correspondent 
at  Brandy  Station,  Va.,  records  the  following: 
"  On  our  late  reconnoissance,  a  new  recruit,  be 
longing  to  the  Third  Michigan  regiment,  and 
who  had  not  been  in  any  '  forward  movement ' 
before,  asked  an  old  soldier,  one  of  his  comrades, 
'Where  are  we  going?'  'Out  reconnoitring,' 
replied  the  vet.  '  Out  raking  oysters  ?  '  exclaimed 
the  recruit,  with  astonishment.  '  Good  heav 
ens!  what  does  the  General  want  to  take  the 
whole  corps  out  to  rake  oysters  for?  I  should 
think  a  brigade  could  rake  all  the  oysters  he 
wanted  to  eat!'  I  rather  guessed  at  the  time 
that  he  thought  it  an  awful  long  distance  to  where 
the  oysters  were.  We  did  not  get  quite  to  the 
spot  where  the  raking  was  taking  place,  and 
believe  there  were  not  many  found ;  but  the 
'  shells'  were  around  us  at  one  time  pretty  thick, 
and  our  recruit  had  a  taste  of  them  for  the  first 
time."  

ANECDOTE  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.  —  The 
President's  stones  grew  better  and  better  as  he 
grew  older.  One  of  the  be«t  was  told  to  a  visitor 
who  congratulated  him  on  the  almost  certain  pur 
pose  on  the  part  of  the  p  jopl  3  to  reiileet  him  for 
another  term  of  four  yej.o.  Mr.  Lincoln  replied 


566 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


that  lie  had  been  told  this  frequently  before,  and 
thv.  ivhen  it  was  first  mentioned  to  him  he  was 
i  ominded  of  a  farmer  in  Illinois  who  determined 
ti>  try  his  own  hand  at  blasting.  After  success 
fully  boring  and  filling  in  with  powder,  he  failed 
in  his  effort  to  make  the  powder  go  off;  and  after 
discussing  with  a  looker-on  the  cause  for  this, 
and  failing  to  detect  anything  wrong  in  the  pow 
der,  th2  farmer  suddenly  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  it  would  not  go  off  because  it  had  been  shot 
before.  

SONG  OF  THE  SOLDIERS. 

BY    CHAIILES    G.    HALPINB. 

AIR  :   "Jamie  's  on  the  Stormy  Sea." 

COMRADES  known  in  marches  many, 
Comrades* tried  in  dangers  many, 
Comrades  bound  by  memories  many, 

Brothers  ever  let  us  he. 
Wounds  or  sickness  may  divide  us, 
Marching  orders  may  divide  us, 
But  whatever  fate  betide  us, 

Brothers  of  the  heart  are  we. 

Comrades  known  by  faith  the  clearest, 
Tried  when  death  was  near  and  nearest, 
Bound  we  are  by  ties  the  dearest, 

Brothers  evermore  to  be  : 
And,  if  spared,  and  growing  older, 
Shoulder  still  in  line  with  shoulder, 
And  with  hearts  no  thrill  the  colder, 

Brothers  ever  we  shall  be. 

By  communion  of  the  banner, 
Crimson,  white  and  starry  banner, 
L  y  the  baptism  of  the  banner 

Children  of  one  church  are  we. 
Creed  nor  faction  can  divide  us, 
Race  nor  language  can  divide  us, 
Still,  whatever  fate  betide  us, 

Children  of  the  rlag  are  we  ! 


A  HERO  AT  GETTYSBURG.  —  First  Lieutenant 
Bayard  Wilkeson,  son  of  Samuel  Wilkeson  of 
the  New  York  Tribune,*  commanding  Battery  G, 
Fourth  United  States  artillery,  was  killed  in  the 
extreme  front  of  the  first  day's  battle,  while  pour 
ing  grape  and  canister  into  E  well's  advancing  col 
umns,  lie  was  but  nineteen  years  old.  Before 
he  was  eighteen  he  was  recommended  for  promo 
tion  as  Captain,  by  General  Peck,  for  gallantry  in 
the  battle  of  the  "  Deserted  House,"  on  the  Black- 
water.  His  battery  was  considered  the  model 
one  of  the  Eleventh  corps,  and  was  assigned  the 
advance  in  the  order  of  inarch.  He  actually 
fought  his  battery  after  his  leg  was  shot  oft'.  In 
his  devotion  to  his  command,  which  was  proverb 
ial  in  the  army,  he  ordered  the  four  men  who  car 
ried  him  a  short  distance  off  the  field,  to  leave 
him  and  go  back  to  their  pieces.  This  generous 
heroism  insured  his  'oss.  Immediately  after,  the 
advance  was  routed  and  diiven  in  disorder  into 
nnd  through  Gettysburg,  and  the  brave  artillery 

*  See  account  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  by  Mr. 
Wilkeson,  ante. 


officer  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels  and  died 
for  want  of  amputation. 


THE  COMMISSIONS,  — -  A  soldier  correspondent 
at  Stevenson,  Alabama  writes :  "  The  Sanitary 
and  Christian  Commiss.  ons  are  the  means,  in 
God's  hand,  of  accornj.  ishing  an  infinite  amount 
of  g-^od.  I  know  the  soldiers  are  directly  bene 
fited  by  the  essentials  and  '  goodies '  prepared 
by  the  devoted  mothers  and  loving  sisters  of  our 
dear  '  dear  men  in  blue.'  The  trouble  is,  too 
many  of  them  want  the  identical  cookie  his  mother 
made."  

BRAVERY  AT  CIIICKAMATJGA.  —  A  writer  re 
lates  the  following  instances  of  heroic  conduct  at 
the  battle  of  Chickamauga :  "  Commendatory  ar 
ticles,  touching  the  acts  and  bearing  of  different 
persons  and  officers  in  the  late  battle  of  Chicka 
mauga,  appearing,  have  led  me,  for  the  first  time 
in  my  life,  to  volunteer  an  item  or  two  for  the 
public  eye.  My  notices  here  are  unsolicited  and 
gratuitous,  without  the  knowledge  or  consent  of 
either  of  those  cf  whom  I  design  to  speak.  Dis 
interested  spectators  are  generally  allowed  to  be 
unbiassed.  Thus  situated,  I  shall  write  freely,  and 
leave  the  consequences  to  take  care  of  themselves ; 
naming  some  three  or  four,  who,  occupying  subal 
tern  positions,  are  almost  wholly  unnoticed  by 
the  paid  contributors  of  the  press.  Let  the  rec 
ord  be  made  with  fidelity,  and  an  enlightened 
public  will  give  a  just  verdict.  First,  I  would 
name  the  noble  Harrison,  Colonel  of  the  Thirty- 
ninth  mounted  infantry,  an  Achilles,  baptized  in 
blood  at  Shiloh,  and  Stone  liiver,  with  his  full 
regiment  of  veterans,  with  a  Vulcan's  armor  (the 
dreaded  sight-shotted  Spencer  rifles),  the  only  gun 
known  worthy  to  grace  the  hands  of  such  sol 
diers.  Henceforth  may  our  Government  give 
her  brave  boys  no  other  small  arm  for  the  field. 
Late  in  the  afternoon  of  Sunday,  when  the  mighty 
numbers  of  the  enemy  were  carrying  everything 
before  them,  and  sweeping  round  to  the  road 
leading  to  Chattanooga,  the  only  outlet  to  a  large 
portion  of  our  beleaguered  army,  he  met  them 
there.  Enthusiastic  with  success,  and  confident 
through  superiority  of  numbers,  the  foe  c>arged 
desperately  on  his  steady  lines  ;  a  continued  ^heet 
of-tlame  burst  upon  them.  Unaccustomed  to  such 
swift  and  fatal  volleys,  they  calculate  on  a  cessa 
tion  to  load,  and  rush  on,  only  to  see  their  front 
ranks  fall  almost  to  the  last  man,  and  still  the 
livid  lightning  was  unabated.  Mortal  man  can 
not  face  such  sweeping  fires.  Backward  they 
rush,  impetuously,  and  the  ground  is  held  ;  the 
way  remains  open  ;  the  flanking  columns  were 
here  hurled  back  upon  their  centre,  resulting  in 
I  safety  to  many  teams  and  thousands  of  our  disor- 
!  ganized  troops.  Such  was  the  worth  of  Thomas 
J.  Harrison,  the  quiet  and  noble  American  officer. 
"  Next  in  order  stands  the  energetic  German, 
General  Turchin,  whose  decisive  will  saved  Gen 
eral  Reynolds',  General  Brannan'a,  and  a  part  of 
General  Palmer's  divisions  from  almost  certain 
j  cap: ire.  Late  or.  Sunday  afternoon,  when  some 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


367 


were  talking  of  a  surrender,  being  almost  sur 
rounded,  General  Turchiii  was  called  upon  to  give 
an  opinion  as  to  the  best  plan  of  action.  '  What, 
surrender?'  said  he,  '  No,  sir ;  never!  I  shoost 
tales  my  prigade,  and  cuts  my  way  right  out. 
ttV.en  I  "tells  my  men  to  sharge,  dey  sharges  right 
trough.  I  tells,  sir,  we  never  surrender ! ' 
Speaking  and  acting  with  increasing  vehemence, 
and  a  determination  as  irresistible  as  it  was 
prompt,  silencing  all  opposition,  which  was,  in 
deed,  useless,  and  seemed  out  of  the  question, 
and,  true  to  his  promise,  he  did  take  his  '  pri 
gade  "  and  burst  through  the  closing  lines  of  the 
enemy,  with  an  irresistibility  equalled  only  by 
his  energy  and  indomitable  will,  amid  one  of  the 
most  terrific  storms  of  shot  and  shell,  and  whistling 
bullets,  that  has,  perhaps,  ever  burst  upon  a  mov 
ing  column  of  men  without  checking  them.  Such 
was,  and  is,  General  Turchin.  Though  possibly 
he  be  not  a  Ulysses  in  the  council,  he  is  an  Ajax 
in  the  '  sharge.''  When  our  columns  were  just 
put  in  motion  for  this  desperate  charge,  the  ready 
thought  of  a  Provost  Marshal  was  most  oppor 
tune,  and  its  effects  perfectly  electrical.  It  was 
Lieutenant  S.  Fortner,  who,  taking  off  his  hat, 
and  waving  it,  as  for  a  triumph,  shouted:  'A 
cheer,  boys,  as  we  take  on  the  double-quick. 
Huzza  for  General  Thomas  and  victory!'  One 
long  and  deafening  shout  rose  above  the  thunder 
of  the  battle,  along  those  dusty  lines.  How  tame 
is  language !  how  utterly  futile  the  attempt  to 
tell  the  thrilling  interests  of  such  a  scene  at  such 
a  moment !  There  I  saw  Assistant  Dewey,  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  First  Indiana,  on  foot,  and 
still  with  his  regiment,  the  only  surgeon  of  the 
divisions,  then,  who  remained  unflinchingly  with 
his  command  through  every  storm  of  those  two 
bloody  days,  and  through  the  chilly  night,  where 
they  rested  in  line  of  battle,  and  where  he  found 
and  relieved,  as  far  as  possible,  the  suffering  of 
some  seventeen  or  eighteen  wounded  left  in  an 
old  house,  and  lost  sight  of  by  their  commands. 
The  Twenty-fourth  and  Thirty-sixth  Ohio  and 
Thirty-sixth  Indiana  were  represented  in  this  dis 
mal  hut,  moaning  and  asking  for  water.  Assist 
ance  is  ordered,  water  procured;  a  lonely  ride 
of  miles  is  at  once  taken  to  order  ambulances  for 
their  removal,  a  promise  extorted  for  their  early 
appearance  on  the  ground;  returns' to  the  lines  ; 
a  sleepless,  lingering,  frosty  night  slowly  wears 
away ;  ambulances  have  not  come.  As  daylight 
approaches,  coffee  is  procured,  and  the  sufferers 
eagerly  partake,  while  cheering  hopes  are  given 
that  the  conveyances  will  soon  come ;  all  is  made 
safe.  The  ambulances  do  come  just  in  time  to 
get  off  before  battle  opens  —  a  terrible  carnage 
sweeps  that  spot  —  the  house  is  burned  away. 
Who  can  appreciate  services  like  these,  unless  they, 
too,  have  suffered  such  necessities  P  Some  have 
gone  to  their  long  rest,  here  in  the  hospital. 
But  to  our  subject.  Quietly  he  passes  through 
(bo  terrific  storm,  halting  briefly  to  bandage  a 
bhedirig  arm  for  a  comrade,  and  to  give  a  little 
water  from  his  canteen  to  even  a  pleading  enemy, 
wounded  and  helpless.  On  seamless  he  passes, 
protected  by  unseen  hands.  A  Confucius  on  the 


billows  of  Mars — a  blending  of  patriotism  and 
philanthropy.  The  blood-stained  lar.reU  of  con 
quering  heroes  pale  before  those  which  Leaven- 
born  charity  wreathes.  Such  are  a  few  incidents 
among  many  as  brave  and  noble,  no  doubt ;  and, 
in  recalling  and  recording,  we  do  not  forget  those 
not  here  cited,  least  of  all,  we  do  not  —  we  could 
not  —  forget  the  great  Agamemnon  of  the  army, 
our  noble  commander,  General  Thomas,  the  angel 
of  our  safety."  —  Nashville  Press. 


A  NIGHT  SCENE  AT  FIIEDERICKSEURG.  — The 
following  graphic  story  wa.s  told  by  "  Carleton," 
the  accomplished  correspondent : 

"  FREDERICKSBURG,  May  17,  18(H. 

"  The  day  is  past.  The  cool  night  has  come, 
refreshing  the  levered  cheek,  cooling  the  throb 
bing  pulse,  and  soothing  the  aching  wounds  of 
the  thousands  congregated  in  this  city.  I  have 
made  it  in  part  a  day  of  observation,  visiting  the 
hospitals,  and  con  versing  with  patients  and  nurses; 
and  now,  wearied,  worn,  with  nerves  unstrung  by 
sickening  sights,  I  make  an  attempt  to  sketch  the 
scenes  of  the  day. 

"  The  city  is  a  vast  hospital ;  churches,  all  pub 
lic  buildings,  private  dwellings,  stores,  chambers, 
attics,  basements,  —  all  are  occupied  by  patients, 
or  are  attended  by  medical  officers,  or  by  those 
who  have  come  to  take  care  of  the  wounded.  All 
day  long  the  trains  of  ambulances  have  been  ar 
riving  from  the  field  hospitals.  There  are  but 
few  wounded  left  at  the  front,  —  those  only  whom 
to  move  would  be  certain  death.  Those  able  to 
bear  removal  have  been  sent  in,  that  the  army 
may  move  on  to  finish  its  appointed  work. 

"  A  red  flag  is  flung  out  at  the  Sanitary  Com 
mission  rooms  —  a  white  one  at  the  rooms  of 
the  Christian  Commission.  There  are  three  hun 
dred  volunteer  nurses  in  attendance.  The  Sani 
tary  Commission  have  fourteen  wagons  bringing 
supplies  from  Belle  Plain.  The  Christian  Com 
mission  has  less  transportation  facilities,  but  in 
devotion,  in  hard  work,  in  patient  effort,  it  is  the 
compeer  of  its  more  bountifully  supplied  neigh 
bor.  The  nurses  are  divided  into  details,  —  some 
for  day  service,  some  for  night  work.  Each  State 
has  its  relief  committee. 

"  Governor  Smith,  of  Vermont,  is  here  ;  Sena 
tor  Sprague,  of  Rhode  Island;  Senator  Sherman, 
of  Ohio  ;  "Senator  Pomeroy,  of  Kansas  ;  Ex-Mayors 
Bunton  and  Smyth,  of  Manchester,  N.  II.  ;  Ex- 
Mayor  Fay,  of  Chelsea  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Means,  of 
Roxbury ;  and  scores  of  men,  aside  from  the 
Commissions'  nurses,  doing  what  they  can  to 
relieve  the  necessities,  and  alleviate  the  suffer 
ings,  of  the  wounded. 

"  How  patient  the  brave  fellows  are !  Not  a 
word  of  complaint,  but  thanks  for  the  slightest 
favor.  There  has  been  a  lack  of  crutches.  This 
morning  I  saw  a  soldier  of  a  California  regiment, 
an  old  soldier  who  fought  with  the  lamented 
Baker  at  Ball's  Bluff,  and  who  has  been  in  more 
than  twenty  battles,  and  who,  till  Thursday  last, 
has  escaped  unharmed,  hobbling  about  with  the 


368 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


arms  of  a  settee  nailed  to  strips  of  board.  His 
regime:  t  went  home  to-day,  its  three  years  of 
service  Laving  expired.  It  was  but  a  score  or 
two  of  weather-beaten,  battle-scarred  veterans. 
The  disabled  comrade  could  hardly  keep  back  the 
tear  as  he  saw  them  pass  down  the  street.  '  Few 
of  us  left.  The  bones  of  the  boy&  are  on  every 
battle-field  where  the  army  of  the  Potomac  has 
fought,'  said  he. 

"  There  was  a  sound  of  the  pick  and  spade  in 
the  churchyard,  a  heaving  up  of  new  earth  —  a 
digging  of  trenches,  not  for  defence  against  the 
enemy,  but  the  preparation  of  the  last  resting- 
place  of  departed  heroes.  There  they  lie  —  a 
do/en  of  them  —  each  wrapped  in  his  blanket  — 
the  last  bivouac !  For  them  there  is  no  more 
war  —  no  charges  into  the  thick,  leaden  rain 
drops  —  no  more  hurrahs  —  no  more  cheering 
of  the  dear  old  flag,  bearing  it  onward  to  victory. 
They  have  fallen,  but  the  victory  is  theirs,  theirs 
the  roll  of  eternal  honor.  One  by  one  —  side  by 
side  —  men  from  Massachusetts,  and  from  Penn 
sylvania,  and  from  Wisconsin  —  from  all  the 
States,  resting  in  one  common  grave.  Peace  to 
them  —  blessings  on  those  whom  they  have  left 
behind  ! 

"  Go  into  the  hospitals,  —  armless,  legless  men, 
wounds  of  every  description.  Men  on  the  hard 
tiooi-,  on  the  hard  seats  of  church  pews,  lying  in 
one  r  isition  all  day,  unable  to  stir  till  the  nurse 
gM  ;g  the  rounds  comes  to  their  aid.  They  must 
wait  till  their  food  comes.  Some  must  be  fed 
with  a  spoon,  as  if  they  were  little  children. 

"  '  O  that  we  could  get  some  straw  for  the 
brave  fellows,'  said  Rev.  Mr.  Kimball,  of  the 
Christian  Commission.  He  had  wandered  about 
town,  searching  for  the  article.  *  There  is  none 
to  be  had.  We  shall  have  to  send  to  Washing 
ton  for  it.' 

"  '  Straw  !  I  remember  two  stacks,  four  miles 
out  on  the  Spottsylvania  road.  1  saw  them  last 
night  as  I  galloped  in  from  the  front.' 

"  Armed  with  a  requisition  from  the  Provost 
Marshal  to  seize  two  stacks  of  straw,  with  two 
wagons  driven  by  intelligent  contrabands,  foul- 
Christian  Commission  delegates,  and  away  we 
went  across  the  battle-field  of  December  —  ford 
ing  Hazel  Run — gained  the  heights,  and  reached 
the  straw  stacks,  owned  by  Rev.  Mr.  Owen. 

"  '  By  whose  authority  do  you  take  my  prop 
erty  ?  ' 

"  '  The  Provost  Marshal's,  sir/ 

.'*  Rev.  Mr.  Kimball  was  on  the  stack  pitching  it 
down.  I  was  pitching  it  in,  and  the  young  men 
were  stowing  it  away. 

"  '  Are  you  going  to  pay  me  for  it  ? ' 

"  '  You  must  see  the  Provost  Marshal,  sir.  If 
you  are  a  loyal  man,  and  will  take  the  oath  of 
allegiance,  doubtless  you  will  get  your  pay.' 

"  '  It  is  pretty  hard.  My  children  are  just  ready 
to  starve.  I  have  nothing  for  them  to  eat,  and 
you  come  to  take  my  property  without  paying 
for  it.' 

"  '  Yes,  sir  ;  war  is  hard.  You  must  remember, 
sir,  that  there  are  thousands  of  wounded  men  — 
your  wounded  as  well  as  ours.  If  your  children 


are  on  the  point  of  starving,  those  men  are  on 
the  point  of  dying.  We  must  have  the  straw  foi 
them.  What  we  don't  take  to-night  we  will  get 
in  the  morning.  Meanwhile,  sir,  if  anybody  at 
tempts  to  take  it,  please  say  to  them  that  it  is 
for  the  hospital,  and  they  can't  have  it.' 

"  Thus  with  wagons  stuffed  we  leave  Rev.  Mr. 
Owen,  and  return  to  make  glad  the  hearts  of 
several  thousand  men.  O,  how  they  thank  us  ! 

."  '  Did  you  get  it  for  me  ?    God  bless  you,  sir ! ' 

"  It  is  evening.  Thousands  of  soldiers,  just  ar 
rived  from  Washington,  have  passed  through  the 
town  to  take  their  places  in  the  front.  The  hills 
all  around  are  white  with  innumerable  tents  and 
thousands  of  wagons. 

"  A  band  is  playing  lively  airs  to  cheer  the 
wounded  in  the  hospitals.  I  have  been  looking 
in  to  see  the  sufferers.  Two  or  three  have  gone. 
They  will  need  no  more  attention.  A  surgeon  is 
at  work  upon  a  ghastly  wound,  taking  up  the  ar 
teries.  An  attendant  is  pouring  cold  water  upon 
a  swollen  limb.  In  the  Episcopal  Church  a  nurse 
is  bolstering  up  a  wounded  officer  in  the  area 
behind  the  altar.  Men  are  lying  in  the  pews,  on 
the  seats,  on  the  floor,  on  boards  on  the  top  of 
the  pews. 

"  Two  candles  in  the  spacious  building  throw 
their  feeble  rays  into  the  dark  recesses,  faintly 
disclosing  the  recumbent  forms.  There  is  heavy, 
stifled  breathing,  as  of  constant  effort  to  sup- 
•press  involuntary  cries  extorted  by  acutest  pain. 
Hard  it  is  to  see  them  suffer  and  not  be  able  to 
relieve  them. 

"  Passing  into  the  street,  you  see  a  group  of 
women,  talking  about  our  wounded  —  rebel 
wounded,  who  are  receiving  their  especial  atten 
tion.  The  Provost  Marshal's  patrol  is  going  its 
rounds  to  preserve  order. 

"  Starting  down  the  street,  you  reach  the  rooms 
of  the  Christian  Commission.  Some  of  the  men 
are  writing,  some  eating  their  rations,  some  dis 
pensing  supplies.  Passing  through  their  rooms, 
you  gain  the  grounds  in  the  rear  —  a  beautiful 
garden  once  —  not  unattractive  now.  The  air  is 
redolent  with  honeysuckle  and  locust  blossoms. 
The  pennilbliu  is  unfolding  its  delicate  milk-white 
petals  — roses  are  opening  their  tinted  leaves. 

"  Fifty  men  are  gathered  round  a  summer-house 
—  warm-hearted  men  —  who  have  been  all  day 
in  the  hospitals.  Their  hearts  have  been  wrung 
by  the  scenes  of  suffering,  in  the  exercise  of 
Christian  charity  imitating  the  example  of  the 
Redeemer  of  men.  They  have  given  bread  for 
the  body  and  food  for  the  soul.  They  have  given 
cups  of  cold  water  in  the  name  of  Jesus,  and 
prayed  with  those  departing  to  the  silent  land. 
The  moonlight  shimmers  through  the  leaves  of 
the  locust. 

"  The  little  congregation  breaks  into  singing  — 

«  Come,  thou  fount  of  every  blessing.' 

"  After  the  hymn,  a  chaplain  says  :  '  Brethren, 

I  had  service  this  afternoon  in  the  First  division 

hospital  of  the  Second  corps.     The  surgeon  in 

charge,  before  prayer,  asked  all  who  desired  to 

;  be  prayed  for  to  raise  their  hands  ;  and  nearly 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


369 


every  man  who  had  a  hand  raised  it.  Let  us 
rememler  them  in  our  prayers  to-night.' 

"  A  man  in  the  summer-house  —  so  far  off  that 
I  cannot  distinguish  him  in  the  shadow  —  says  : 
'There  is  manifestly  a  spirit  of  prayer  among 
the  soldiers  of  the  Second  division  of  the  Sixth 
corps  hospital.  Every  man  there  raised  his  hand 
for  prayers  ! ' 

"  Similar  remarks  are  made  by  others,  and  then 
there  are  earnest  prayers  offered  that  God  will 
bless  them,  relieve  their  sufferings,  give  them 
patience,  restore  them  to  health;  that  He  will 
remember  the  widow  and  fatherless  far  away  — 
that  Jesus  may  be  their  Friend. 

"  Ah !  this  night  scene !  There  was  an  allusion, 
by  one  who  prayed,  to  the  garden  scene  of  Geth- 
semane  —  the  blood  of  the  Son  of  God,  and  in 
connection  to  the  blood  shed  for  our  country. 
You  who  are  far  away  can  understand  but  little 
of  the  reality  of  these  scenes.  Friends,  every 
where,  you  have  given  again  and  again,  but  con 
tinue  to  give  —  you  cannot  repay  these  brave  de 
fenders  of  our  country.  Give  as  God  has  pros 
pered  you,  and  great  shall  be  your  reward.  — 
Faint,  feeble,  tame,  lifeless  is  this  attempt  to 
portray  the  scenes  of  a  day  at  Fredericksburg. 
Picture  it  as  you  may,  and  you  will  fall  short  of 
'  the  reality."  

THE   EAGLE   OF   CORINTH.* 

DID  you  hear  of  the  fight  at  Corinth, 

How  we  whipped  out  Price  and  Yan  Dorn  ? 

Ah  !  that  day  \\  e  earned  our  rations 

(Our  cause  was  God's  and  the^Nation's, 
Or  we'd  have  come  out  forlorn ! )  — 

A  long  and  a  terrible  clay ! 

And,  at  last,  when  night  grew  gray, 

By  the  hundred  there  they  lay 

(Heavy  sleepers,  you'd  say)  — 
That  wouldn't  wake  on  the  morn. 

Our  staff  was  bare  of  a  flag ; 
We  didn't  carry  a  rag 

In  those  brave  marching  days  : 
Ah  !  no  ;  but  a  finer  thing ! 
With  never  a  cord  or  string,  — 
An  eagle,  of  ruffled  wing, 

And  an  eye  of  awful  gaze ! 

The  grape,  it  rattled  like  hail ; 
The  minies  were  dropping  like  rain, 
The  first  of  a  thunder-shower  — 

The  wads  were  blowing  like  chaff 
(There  was  pounding,  like  floor  and  flail, 

All  the  front  of  our  line  ! ) 
So  we  stood  it,  hour  after  hour  — 
But  our  eagle,  he  felt  fine ! 

'Twould  have  made  you  cheer  and  laugh, 
To  see,  through  that  iron  gale, 
How  the  old  fellow'd  swoop  and  sail 
Above  the  racket  and  roar  — 
To  right  and  to  left  he'd  soar, 
But  ever  came  back,  without  fail, 

And  perched  on  his  standard  staff. 

*  "  The  finest  thing  I  ever  saw  was  a  live  American 

eagle,  carried  by  the  Eighth  Iowa  in  the  place  of  a  flag. 

He  would  fly  off  over  the  enemy  during  the  hottest  of 

*he  fight,  then  would  return  and  seat  himself  upon  his 

24 


All  that  day,  I  tell  you  true, 

They  had  pressed  us,  stsady  and  fair, 
Till  we  fought  in  street  and  square 

(The  affair,  you  might  think,  looked  blue)  ~- 
But  we  knew  we  had  them  there ! 

Our  works  and  batteries  were  few  ; 

Every  gun,  they'd  have  sworn,  they  knew  — 

But,  you  see,  there  was  one  or  two 
We  had  fixed  fjr  them,  unaware. 

They  reckon  t.iey'  re  got  us  now  ! 

For  the  next  half  .iour  'twill  be  warm  — 
Ay,  ay,  look  yonder  !  —  I  vow, 
If  they  v;eren't  secesh,  how  I'd  love  them  ! 

Only  feoe  how  grandly  they  form 
(Our  eagle  whirling  above  them), 

To  take  Roomette  by  storm ! 
They're  timing !  —  it  can't  be  long  — 
Now  for  the  nub  of  the  fight ! 

(You  may  guess  that  we  held  our  breath). 
By  the  Lord,  'tis  a  splendid  sight ! 
A  column,  two  thousand  strong, 
Marching  square  to  the  death  1 

On  they  came,  in  solid  column  ; 

For  once,  no  whooping  nor  yell 
(Ah  !  I  dare  say  they  felt  solemn)  — 
Front  and  flank  —  grape  and  shell 

Our  batteries  pounded  away  ! 
And  the  minies  hummed  to  remind  'em 

They  had  started  on  no  child's  play  f 
Steady  they  kept  a  going, 
But  a  grim  wake  settled  behind  'em  — 
From  the  edge  of  the  abatis 

(Where  our  dead  and  dying  lay, 
Under  fence  and  fallen  tree), 

Up  to  Robinette,  all  the  way 
The  dreadful  swath  kept  growing  ! 
Twas  butternut,  flecked  with  gray. 

Now  for  it,  at  Robinette  ! 
Muzzle  to  muzzle  we  met 

(Not  a  breath  of  bluster  or  brag, 

Not  a  lisp  for  quarter  or  favor)  — 
Three  times,  there,  by  Robinette, 
With  a  rush,  their  feet  they  Bet 
On  the  logs  of  our  parapet, 
And  waved  their  bit  of  a  flag  — 
What  could  be  finer  or  braver ! 

But  our  cross-fire  stunned  them  in  flank ; 
They  melted,  rank  after  rank  — 
(O'er  them,  with  terrible  poise, 

Our  bird  did  circle  and  wheel ! ) 

Their  whole  line  began  to  waver  — 
Now  for  the  bayonet,  boys  ! 

On  them  with  the  cold  steel  I 

Ah  !  well  —  you  know  how  it  ended  — 

We  did  for  them,  there  and  then  ; 
But  their  pluck  throughout  was  splendid. 

pole,  clap  his  pinions,  shake  his  head,  and  start  again. 
Many  and  hearty  were  the  cheers  that  arood  from  our 
lines  as  the  old  fellow  would  sail  around,  first  to  the 
right,  then  to  the  left,  and  always  return  to  his  post, 
regardless  of  the  storm  of  lenden  hail  that  was  around 
him.  Something  seemed  to  tell  us  that  that  battle  was 
to  result  in  our  favor ;  and  when  the  order  was  given 
to  charge,  every  man  went  at  them  with  fixed  bayonets, 
and  the  enemy  scattered  in  all  directions,  leaving  us  in 
possession  of  the  battle-field.'  —  Letter  from  Chetter 
D.  Howe,  company  E,  Twelfth  Illinoia  tolurteert. 


S70 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


(As  I  said  before,  I  could  love  them  ! ) 
They  stood,  to  the  last,  like  men  — 
Only  a  handful  of  them 

Found  the  way  back  again. 

Red  as  blood  o'er  the  town, 
The  angry  sun  went  down, 

Firing  flag-staff  and  vane  — 
And  our  eagle  —  as  for  him, 
There,  all  ruffled  and  grim, 

He  sat,  o'erlooking  the  slain  I 

Next  morning  you'd  have  wondered 

How  we  had  to  drive  the  spade ! 
There,  in  great  trenches  and  holes 
(Ah  !  God  rest  their  poor  souls  ! ) 
"We  piled  some  fifteen  hundred, 

Where  that  last  charge  was  made ! 

Sad  enough,  I  must  say ! 

No  mother  to  mourn  and  search, 
No  priest  to  bless  or  to  pray  — 
We  buried  them  where  they  lay, 

Without  a  rite  of  the  church  — 
But  our  eagle  all  that  day 

Stood  solemn  and  still  on  his  perch. 

Tis  many  a  stormy  day 

Since,  out  of  the  cold,  bleak  North, 
Our  great  war  eagle  sailed  forth 
To  swoop  o'er  battle  and  fray. 
Many  and  many  a  day 

O'er  charge  and  storm  hath  he  wheeled  — 
Foray  and  foughten-field  — 

Tramp,  and  volley,  and  rattle  !  — 
Over  crimson  trench  and  turf, 
Over  climbing  clouds  of  surf, 
Through  tempest  and  cannon-rack, 
Have  his  terrible  pinions  whirled  — 
(A  thousand  fields  of  battle  ! 
A  million  leagues  of  foam  !  ) 
But  our  bird  shall  yet  come  back, 

He  shall  soar  to  his  eyrie  home  — 
d  his  thunderous  wings  be  furled, 
'he  gaze  of  a  gladdened  world, 
On  the  nation's  loftiest  dome. 

H.  H.  B. 


A  HEROIC  CHAPLAIN.  —  Rev.  F.  Denison,  the 
Chaplain  of  the  Third  Rhode  Island  heavy  artil 
lery,  is  the  hero  of  the  following  incident : 

Acting  as  aid  to  a  commander  of  cavalry,  who 
was  out  on  a  scouting  or  reconnoitring  expedi 
tion  from  Port  Royal,  the  Chaplain,  with  only  his 
unarmed  colored  servant,  became  separated,  in  the 
darkness,  from  his  companions,  when  coming  sud 
denly  upon  a  body  of  six  armed  rebels,  and  find 
ing  escape  impossible,  with  wonderful  presence  of 
mind  he  instantly  leaped  from  his  horse  directly 
among  them,  drew  his  sword,  and  ordered  them 
to  surrender,  threatening  them  with  instant  death 
unless  they  fired  off  their  guns  and  submitted  un 
conditionally  to  his  demand,  which,  in  their  mo 
ment  of  surprise,  they  concluded  to  do,  and  were 
at  once  marched  in  triumph  to  the  Union  camp, 
a  distance  of  two  miles,  by  the  redoubtable  Chap 
lain  and  his  colored  servant. 


A  RAID  FROM  PETERSBURG.  —  Martin  Rei- 
chenbacher,  a  Sergeant  in  the  Second  artillery, 
regular  troops,  in  a  letter  to  a  friend,  relates  the 
following:  "Yesterday  (December  2,  1804)  we 
returned  from  one  of  the  most  successful  raidr 
the  cavalry  ever  made.  It  was  as  follows  :  Or 
the  30th  of  November,  we  received  orders  to 
be  in  full  marching  order,  which  were  most 
promptly  obeyed.  On  the  morning  of  the  1st 
of  December,  about  four  o'clock,  we  Vroke  camp, 
taking  what  is  known  a  a  the  Lee's  Mill  road,  run 
ning  in  a  south-westerly  direction  from  a  point 
on  the  Norfolk  Railroad,  where  our  camp  is. 
The  same  day,  about  eleven  o'clock,  we  suddenly 
found  ourselves  near  the  Stony  Creek  Station, 
on  the  Weldon  Railroad,  where  the  rebels  were 
known  to  have  large  quantities  of  stores,  and 
much  valuable  lumber,  guarded,  as  they  ima 
gined,  very  well  indeed  by  fortifications  and  earth 
works  of  various  descriptions,  with  a  considera 
ble  garrison  and  some  heavy  guns,  they  not  in 
the  least  thinking  that  we  would  be  so  bold  as 
to  go  twenty-five  miles,  that  being  the  distance, 
with  cavalry,  and  attack,  whip  them  handsomely, 
and  carry  off  and  destroy  all  the  property  in  that 
vicinity,  besides  demolishing  the  depot  and  saw 
mills  which  were  close  by.  When  the  harm  was 
done,  they  must  have  felt  very  much  ashamed,* 
for,  in  addition  to  all  I  have  mentioned,  we  cap 
tured  a  great  number  of  prisoners  —  say  over 
two  hundred.  This,  it  will  be  remembered,  was 
the  cavalry  force  that  accomplished  this,  the  bat 
tery  which  I  belong  to  being  included,  as  we  took 
part  in  the  fight.  When  the  rebels  saw  all  their 
buildings  in  names,  they  formed  and  made  a  most 
desperate  charge  on  our  line  of  battle,  our  battery 
occupying  a  position  in  the  centre.  We  received 
them  very  warmly,  in  every  sense  of  the  word, 
with  fire,  shot,  and  shell,  as  the  cavalrymen 
say.  WThen  asked  how  the  battery  fire  acts, 
the  reply  is  generally,  '  The  ten-pound  checks  the 
rebels  do  not  appreciate  that  you  fire  from  those 
bull-dogs  ; "  and  true,  on  most  every  occasion,  a 
charge  is  successfully  checked  by  our  battery,  as 
it  was  this  time.  When  the  rebels  found  us  pre 
pared,  and  they  handsomely  repulsed,  our  men 
rent  the  air  with  cheers,  and  our  battery  received 
considerable  of  a  large  share  of  them.  I  again 
commanded  a  section  of  ten-pounder  rifle  guns. 
Finally,  we  fell  back  in  good  order,  and  safely 
arrived  in  camp  with  our  prisoners,  and  trophies 
of  the  ba':tle-field,  consisting  of  wagons,  horses, 
mules,  an  i  many  useful  articles,  too  numerous  to 
mention.  It  is,  in  our  military  circles,  pronounced 
a  most  brilliant  success." 


How  THE  OFFICERS  LOST  THEIR  BOOTS.  — 
During  the  winter  of  1863-4  a  division  of  Fed 
eral  cavalry  encamped  in  the  vicinity  of  Hunts- 
ville,  Ala.,  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  down 
guerrillas  and  encouraging  whatever  Union  senti 
ment  might  happen  to  generate  there  under  the 
humane  system  of  General  George  Crook,  who 
was  commander  of  the  division.  The  railroad 
was  not  in  rur  nil  g  order,  an  1  the  nearest  point 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


371 


from  which  to  procure  supplies  was  nearly  a  hun 
dred  miles  distant.  In  consequence  of  the  limited 
transportation  a  sufficient  quantity  of  Government 
stores  could  not  be  obtained,  and  the  exigencies 
of  the  situation  compelled  the  men  to  resort  to 
illegitimate  means  to  supply  the  demand.  Among 
other  ai-ticles,  boots  and  shoes  were  decidedly 
scarce,  and  when  a  soldier  lay  down  at  night  he 
would  sleep  with  his  boots  on,  if  he  had  any ;  for 
it  required  a  hard  exercise  of  faith  to  believe  that 
he  would  find  them  in  the  morning  if  left  in  a 
place  less  secure.  Every  dwelling  and  out-house 
in  the  town  and  surrounding  country  was  ran 
sacked  and  compelled  to  pay  tribute  to  the  feet  of 
the  Yankee  invaders,  and  even  then  the  supply 
did  not  begin  to  equal  the  demand.  The  contra 
bands,  as  they  came  into  our  lines,  would  involun 
tarily  swap  their  boots  and  shoes  with  our  men, 
and  as  a  general  thing  would  get  the  worst  of  the 
bargain.  Picket  duty  in  general  is  not  pleasant, ' 
but  at  that  time  was  very  desirable,  for  the  men 
invariably  came  into  camp  better  shod  than  when 
they  went  out,  though  in  most  cases  they  had 
great  difficulty  in  getting  their  feet  into  the  stir 
rups,  from  the' largeness  of  the  brogans  lately  worn 
by  the  negroes.  It  was  not  an  uncommon  occur 
rence  to  see  the  adopted  Union  citizens  of  the 
place  in  their  stocking  feet  when  they  ventured 
out  at  night,  exchanging  their  boots  for  the  well- 
ventilated  ones  of  the  Federal  troopers. 

On  the  occasion  of  a  review  it  was  noticed  by 
some  of  the  men  of  the  4th  U.  S.  cavalry  that 
General  Crook  and  staff  had  little  reason  to  com 
plain  of  the  article  which  they  so  much  needed. 
On  returning  to  camp  a  plan  was  devised  to  re 
lieve  the  General  and  his  officers  of  their  boots. 
A  young  man  named  Adams  procured  some  fe 
male  apparel  in  a  negro  shanty,  and  having  rub 
bed  his  face  slightly  with  burnt  cork,  proceeded 
at  night  to  the  hotel  where  the  General  and  his 
staff  were  quartered.  Adams,  besides  his  wild 
and  frolicsome  disposition,  was  young,  well  for 
med,  and  a  little  under  the  medium  height.  It 
was  not  his  first  adventure  of  the  kind ;  and  in 
his  new  guise,  he  presented  the  appearance  of  a 
tall  finely-formed  mulatto  girl  of  interesting  at 
tractions.  Proceeding  to  the  officer's  room,  he 
inquired  if  they  wanted  their  boots  blacked. 
Whether  they  required  blacking  or  not,  he  had  lit 
tle  difficulty  m  getting  all  the  boots  he  could  stuff 
in  a  corn  sack,  very  considerately  numbering  each 
pair  to  prevent  mistakes.  He  received  injunction 
to  hurry  up,  and  in  some  cases  got  paid  in  ad 
vance.  About  the  time  Adams  had  returned  to 
camp  and  divided  the  spoils  among  his  friends 
the  officers  began  to  suspect  that  the  female  boot 
black  was  bestowing  unusual  pains  on  their  boots, 
and  had  they  not  been  confined  to  their  stocking 
feet,  would  no  doubt  have  ventured  down  stairs 
to  look  her  up.  As  each  officer  was  unaware  of 
the  visit  of  the  fair  mulatto  to  any  one  else  but 
himsolf,  they  individually  consoled  themselves 
with  the  assurance  that  their  boots  would  be  found 
at  the  door  in  the  morning.  How  each  one  sup 
plied  himself  with  another  pair  is  probably  un 
known  to  any  but  himself  and  the  sutlers.  But 


Adams  and  his  friends  wore  their  boots  quietly, 
none  being  suspected  of  the  theft  but  the  vagrant 
negroes  about  town,  in  whose  employ  the  wench 
was  supposed  to  be  engaged.  —  Tke  Citizen. 


THE   MEN    OF   THE  CUMBERLAND. 

BY   THE   AUTHOR   OF    "THE   NEW   PRIEST." 

This  Eh'f  went  dov;n  on  the  9th  of  March,  under 
Lieutenant  George  M.  Mor?is,  with  her  flag  flying,  and 
her  guns  filing  (while  the  water  was  closing  over  them) 
at  the  iron  monster,  Virginia,  which  had  cut  two  yawning 
holes  u>  her  side. 

OHEER  !  cheer  !  for  our  noble  Yankee  tars, 

That  fought  the  sh;p  Cumberland  ! 
Not  a  sigh  for  these,  with  their  maims  and  scars, 

Or  their  dead  that  lie  off  the  strand ! 

Who  whines  of  the  ghastly  gash  and  wound, 

Or  the  honible  deaths  of  war  ? 
Where,  where  should  a  brave  man's  death  be  found, 

And  what  is  a  true  heart  for  ? 

Cheer  !    cheer  !    for  these  men  !     Ah  !  they  knew 

when 

Was  the  time  for  true  hearts  to  die ! 
How  their  flag  sank,  apeak,  will  flush  the  brave 

cheek, 
While  this  earth  shall  hang  in  the  sky  ! 

In  the  bubbling  waves  they  fired  their  last, 

Where  sputtered  the  burning  wad; 
And  fast  at  their  post,  as  their  guns  were  fast, 

Went  a  Hundred  and  more  before  God  ! 

Not  a  man  of  all  but  had  stood  to  be  shot 
(So  the  flag  might  fly),  or  to  drown  ; 

The  sea  saved  some,  for  it  came  to  their  lot, 
And  some  with  their  ship  went  down ! 

Then  cheer  for  these  men  !  they  want  not  gold ; 

But  give  them  their  ship  once  more, 
And  the  flag  that  yet  hangs  in  wet  and  col 

O'er  their  dead  by  that  faithless  shore. 

.J  -il 

Our  sunken  ship  we'll  yet  weigh  up, 

And  we'll  raise  our  deep- drowned  bra^   , 

Or  we'll  drain  those  Roads  till  a  baby's  cup 
May  puddle  their  last  shoal  wave. 

And  we'll  tell  in  tale,  and  sing  in  song, 

How  the  Cumberland  was  fought 
By  men  who  knew  that  all  else  was  wrong 

But  to  die  when  a  sailor  ought. 


PASSING  TO  THE  FRONT.  —  It  so  happened  in 
the  course  of  human  events,  that  a  goodly  num 
ber  of  delegates  to  the  Christian  Commission  at 
Chattanooga  found  themselves  landed  at  Bridge 
port  without  any  visible  means  of  further  con 
veyance.  Anxious  to  make  their  way  through  to 
Chattanooga  immediately,  they  tried  all  round 
the  tented  village  for  something  —  anything  that 
would  carry  them  over  the  mountain,  and  finally, 
through  the  intervention  of  Providence,  succeeded 
in  securing  one  very  diminutive  female  specimen 
of  the  asinine  species.  Here  then  was  a  quan 
dary.  Who,  and  how  many,  sh  ould  ride  ?  After 
some  miscellai.eoua  discussion  on  this  point,  it 


372 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


was  finally  agreed  that  the  distinguished  honor 
should  be  conferred  on  a  Bostonian  brother  alone, 
the  fit  of  whose  boots  and  quality  of  whose  cloth 
being,  no  doubt,  taken  into  consideration  ;  for  be 
it  known  that  a  walk  of  forty  miles  on  the  roads 
of  that  country,  and  sleeping  out  by  the  wayside, 
were  calculated  to  take  the  nap  off  of  French 
goods. 

Well,  they  started,  the  "  hub  "  man  astride  of 
the  little  personification  of  injured  innocence,  and 
the  rest  with  a  Government  train.  Their  journey 
was  without  accident  or  incident  worthy  of  men 
tion  until  they  had  rounded  the  top  of  Wallen's 
liidge  and  were  coming  down  the  side  —  which, 
by  the  way,  is  very  declivous  —  when,  all  of  a 
sudden,  the  thing  the  Eastern  delegate  was  riding 
got  mulish,  stopped,  and  the  parson  went  on  — 
tilted  square  over  its  head,  his  feet  unfortunately 
held  tight  by  the  stirrups.  As  soon  as  his  breth 
ren,  who  were  a  little  way  behind,  heard  of  the 
disaster,  they  rushed  to  his  relief,  and  found  the 
position  thus  :  The  quadruped  was  standing  stock 
still,  and  so  was  brother  A.,  varying,  however, 
from  tne  usual  manner  in  this,  that  the  end  which 
custom  has  established  as  proper  for  men  to  have 
up,  when  appearing  in  company,  was  in  his  case 
just  the  opposite.  He  was,  in  fact,  standing  on 
his  hands  — a  slight  improvement  on  the  Neb 
uchadnezzar  style  —  his  feet  yet  fast  in  the 
stirrups,  and  sticking  up  either  side  of  the  beast's 
neck,  very  much  after  the  fashion  of  a  gdose 
yoke ;  meanwhile  he  was  earnestly  calling  for 
Lelp,  but  holding  still  for  life.  From  this  undig 
nified  and  no  less  unpleasant  situation  his  breth 
ren  very  soon  relieved  him,  and  all  were  rejoiced 
to  learn  that,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  scratches 
on  his  hands  and  a  few  specks  of  mud  —  each 
the  size  of  a  man's  hat  —  on  his  clothes,  he  was 
uninjured. 

But,  favorable  as  it  turned  out,  the  mishap  did 
not  pass  so  easily  from  the  mind  of  the  Puritan 
brother.  He  went  on  to  Chattanooga,  but  an  un 
broken  cloud  seemed  to  rest  on  his  countenance, 
and  after  a  few  days,  no  doubt  full  of  trouble, 
he  bent  his  steps  towards  the  Monumental  City; 
where  desperate  adventures  and  hair-breadth  es 
capes  are  not  looked  upon  as  mere  matters  of 
amusement  or  subjects  for  joke. 


AMONG  the  curiosities  of  army  life  is  this  : 
Dress  eighty  or  a  hundred  thousand  men  pretty 
nearly  alike,  and  .everybody  resembles  his  neigh 
bor,  and  nobody  looks  like  himself.  Take  those 
men  and  sprinkle  "  a  half  section,"  as  they  say 
in  Illinois,  pretty  thickly  with  them,  put  them 
under  the  big  umbrellas  of  the  camps,  chink  a 
little  town  full  of  them  till  every  house  swarms 
like  a  hive  in  June,  set  them  all  in  the  usual  mo 
tion  of  army  life,  and  then  begin  to  look  for  your 
"  next  best  friend,"  and  I  wish  you  joy  of  your 
journey  ;  you  might  better  be  "  Japhet  in  search 
r»f  his  father."  Perhaps  you  may  remember  hav 
ing  passed  a  familiar  friend  who  was  reclining  in 
the  chair  with  his  face  upturned,  as  is  the  fashion 
of  those  who  come  under  the  barber's  L  ands  — 


passed  without  recognizing  him.  Of  course  5t 
was  the  unwonted  position  that  gave  him  the  look 
of  a  stranger ;  the  shadows  fell  in  new  places, 
and  the  effect  was  a  new  impression.  You  woiu'd 
be  struck  with  this  in  looking  down  upon  the 
faces  turned  towards  heaven  after  a  battle,  either 
on  the  field  or  in  the  hospital;  the  light  falh 
squarely  down  ;  no  shadows  under  the  brow,  no 
shading  beneath  the  chin,  and  the  whole  face  so 
clears  up,  softens  and  grows  delicate,  that  you 
may  be  lot  king  upon  a  friend  and  not  know  it. 
Death  generally  impairs  the  beauty  of  women, 
but  it  sometime0  nakes  homely  men  wonderfully 
handsome.  

A  SOUTHERN  MARTYR.  —  When  the  secret 
history  of  current  events  at  the  South  is  brought 
to  light,  there  will  be  revelations  of  sacrifice  and 
suffering  for  loyalty  to  the  Union  that  will  show 
that  the  age  of  heroism  has  not  wholly  gone  by. 
A  letter  from  a  lady  in  Charleston,  of  undoubted 
authenticity,  gives  an  account  of  a  martyr  to  loy 
alty  whose  name  will  be  honored  in  the  hi*  lory 
that  is  to  be  written  of  the  great  events  of  this 
age,  though  now  concealed  from  motives  of  pru 
dence  : 

"  Poor  F is  dead ;  before  the  fall  of  ' ?>um- 

ter  he  exerted  all  his  influence,  using  both  pen 
and  voice  against  the  rebellion,  until  he  was 
thrown  into  prison.  At  first  he  was  treated  as 
an  ordinary  criminal  awaiting  trial ;  but  aftei  the 
battle  of  Manassas,  the  Confederates  smned 
drunk  with  triumph  at  their  victory,  and  mad 
with  rage  over  the  vast  number  of  victims  who 
fell  in  their  ranks.  I  wrote  you  with  what  pomp 
this  city  mourned  her  dead  ;  amid  it  all,  \v  her  the 

Confederate  host  seemed  like  to  win,  F was 

offered  freedom  and  promotion  if  he  would  es 
pouse  the  Confederate  cause.  His  military  and 
scientific  attainments  were  considerable,  which 
made  them  anxious  for  his  services.  '  I  have 
sworn  allegiance  to  the  Union,'  said  he,  *  and  am 
not  one  to  break  my  pledge.'  When  tempted 
with  promotion  if  he  could  be  prevailed  upon  to 
enlist  beneath  their  banner,  he  said,  '  You  cannot 
buy  my  loyalty.  I  love  Carolina  and  the  South  ; 
but  I  love  my  country  better.'  Finding  him  faith 
ful  to  the  flag  he  loved,  he  was  made  to  feel  the 
power  of  his  enemies.  He  was  cast  Into  a  mis 
erable,  damp,  ill-ventilated  cell,  and  fed  on  coarse 
fare  ;  half  the  time,  neglected  by  his  drunken 
keeper.  His  property  "was  confiscated,  and  his 
-wife  and  children  beggared.  Poor  fellow  !  he 
sank  beneath  his  troubles,  and  was  soon  removed 
from  the  persecution  of  his  oppressors.  The  day 
before  his  death  he  said  to  his  wife  :  '  Mary,  you 
are  beggared  because  I  would  not  prove  disloyal.' 
'  God  be  thanked  for  your  fidelity ! '  replied  the 
wife.  '  They  have  taken  your  wealth  and  life, 
but  could  not  stain  your  honor,  and  our  children 
shall  boast  of  an  unspotted  name.  My  husband* 
rejoice  in  your  truth.'  She  returned  to  her  friends 
after  his  death,  openly  declaring  her  proudest 
boast  should  be,  her  husband  died  a  martyr  to 
his  patriotism.  Who  shal  say  the  day  of  hero 
ism  has  passed  ?  " 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


373 


PETS  IN  THE  ARMY.  —  They  have  the  strang 
est  pots  in  the  army,  that  nobody  would  dream 
of  "  taking  to  "  at  home,  and  yet*  they  are  little 
touches  of  the  gentler  nature  that  give  you  so 
much  cordial  feeling  when  you  see  them.  One  of 
the  boys  has  carried  a  red  squirrel  through  "  thick 
and  thin"  over  a  thousand  miles.  "Bun"  eats 
hard  tack  like  a  veteran,  and  has  the  freedom  of 
the  tent.  Another's  affections  overflow  upon  a 
slow-winking,  unspeculative  little  owl,  captured 
in  Arkansas,  and  bearing  a  name  with  a  classical 
smack  to  it  — Minerva.  A  third  gives  his  heart 
to  a  young  Cumberland  Mountain  bear ;  but  chief 
among  camp  pets  are  dogs.  Hiding  on  the  sad 
dle-bow,  tucked  into  a  baggage  wagon,  mounted 
on  a  knapsack,  growling  under  a  gun,  are  dogs 
brought  to  a  premature  end  as  to  ears  and  tails, 
and  yellow  at  that;  pug-nosed,  square-headed 
brutes,  sleek  terriers,  delicate  morsels  of  spaniels, 
"  Tray,  Blanche,  Sweetheart,  little  dogs  and  all." 
A  dog,  like  a  horse,  comes  to  love  the  rattle  and 
crash  of  musket  and  cannon.  There  was  one  in 
an  Illinois  regiment,  and  regarded  as  belonging 
to  it,  though  his  name  might  not  be  on  the  mus 
ter-roll,  that  chases  half-spent  shot  as  a  kitten 
frolics  with  a  ball  of  worsted.  He  has  been  under 
fire  and  twice  wounded,  and  left  the  tip  of  his 
tail  at  tho  battle  of  Stone  River.  Woe  to  the 
man  that  shall  wantonly  kill  him.  But  I  was 
especially  interested  in  the  fortunes  of  a  little 
white  spaniel  that  messed  with  a  battery  and  de- 
ligh'.ed  in  the  name  of  "Dot."  No  matter  what 
was  up,  that  fellow's  silken  coat  must  be  washed 
every  day ;  and  there  was  need  of  it,  for  when  the 
battery  was  on  the  march,  they  just  plunged  him 
into  1  he  sponge-bucket  —  not  the  tidiest  chamber 
imaginable — that  swings  like  its  more  peaceful 
cousin,  the  tar-bucket,  under  the  rear  axle  of  the 
gun-carriage  —  plumped  him  into  that,  clapped 
on  the  cover,  and  Dot  was  good  for  an  inside 
passage,  One  day  the  battery  crossed  a  stream 
and  the  water  came  well  up  to'the  guns.  Nobody 
thought  of  Dot,  and  when  all  across,  a  gunner 
looked  into  the  bucket ;  it  was  full  of  water,  and 
Dot  was  as  dead  as  a  little  dirty  door  mat.  —  B.  F. 
Taylor.  

A  CURIOUS  STORY.  —  The  Southern  papers 
told  a  curious  story  about  a  ghostly  army  that 
was  seen  down  there.  Nobody  has  pretended  to 
give  a  solution  of  the  mystery ;  but  it  was  wisely 
suggested  that  it  was  an  optical  illusion.  Here  is 
the  story : 

"Aremakable  phenomenon  was  witnessed  a 
few  miles  west  of  Lewisburg,  Greenbrier  County, 
Va.,  on  the  1st  of  October,  1863,  about  three 
o'clock  P.  M.,  by  Mr.  Moses  Dwyer,  who  hap 
pened  to  be  seated  in  his  porch  at  the  time,  as 
well  as  by  others  at  or  near  the  house. 

"  The  weather  was  quite  hot  and  dry ;  not  a 
cloud  could  be  seen ;  no  wind  even  ruifled  the 
foliage  on  the  surrounding  trees.  All  things  be 
ing  propitious,  the  grand  panorama  began  to 
move.  Just  over  and  through  tks  tops  of  the 
trees  on  the  adjacent  hills,  to  the  south,  immense 
numbers  of  rolls,  resembling  cottcn  or  smoke,  ap 


parently  of  the  size  and  shape  of  doors,  seemed 
to  be  passing  rapidly  through  the  air,  yet  in  beau 
tiful  order  and  regularity.  The  rolls  seemed  to 
be  tinged  on  the  edge  with  light  green,  so  as  to 
resemble  a  border  of  deep  fringe.  There  were  ap 
parently  thousan  Is  of  them  ;  they  were  perhaps  an 
hour  in  getting  ly.  Alter  they  had  passed  over 
and  ont  of  sight,  the  scene  was  changed  from  the 
air  above  to  tho  earth  beneath,  and  became  more 
intensely  interesting  to  the  spectators  who  were 
witnessing  the  panorama  from  different  stand 
points. 

"  In  the  deep  valley  beneath,  thousands  upon 
•  thousands  of  (apparently)  human  beings  (men) 
'  came  in  view,  travelling  in  the  same  direction  as 
|  the  rolls,  marching  in  good  order,  some  thirty  or 
forty  in  depth,  moving  rapidly  — '  double-quick  ' 
—  and  commenced  ascending  the  almost  insur 
mountable  hills  opposite,  and  had  the  stoop  pecu 
liar  to  men  ascending  a  steep  mountain.  There 
seemed  to  be  a  great  variety  in  the  size  of  the 
men ;  some  were  very  large,  whilst  others  were 
quite  small.  Their  arms,  legs,  and  heads  could 
be  distinctly  seen  in  motion.  They  seemed  to  ob 
serve  strict  military  discipline,  and  there  were  no 
stragglers. 

"  There  was  uniformity  of  dress ;  white  blouses 
or  shirts,  with  white  pants ;  they  were  without  guns, 
swords,  or  anything  that  indicated  '  men  of  war.' 
On  they  came  through  the  valley  and  over  the 
steep  road,  crossing  the  road,  and  finally  passing 
out  of  sight,  in  a  direction  due  north  from  those 
who  were  looking  on. 

"  The  gentleman  who  witnessed  this  is  a  man 
with  whom  you  were  once  acquainted,  Mr.  Editor, 
and  as  truthful  a  man  as  we  have  in  this  country, 
as  little  liable  to  be  carried  away  by  'fanciful  spec 
ulations  '  as  any  man  living.  Four  others  (re 
spectable  ladies)  and  a  servant  girl  witnessed  this 
strange  phenomenon. 

"  On  the  14th  instant  the  same  scene,  almost 
identical,  was  seen  by  eight  or  ten  of  the  Confed 
erate  pickets  at  Hunger's  Mill,  and  by  many  of  the 
citizens  in  that  neighborhood  ;  this  is  about  four 
miles  east  of  Percy's.  It  was  about  an  hour 
passing."  

THE  CIIICKAMAUGA  BATTLE-FIELD. — A  South 
ern  writer  gives  the  following  description  : 

"  As  it  grows  darker,  we  observe  a  bright  light 
about  one  mile  in  front  of  us ;  which  our  guide 
informs  us  is  the  burning  of  their  second  line  of 
works,  which  the  Yankees  fired  before  leaving. 
1  You  will  see  some  awful  sights  if  you  go  there,' 
remarked  he.  Ere  long, 

'The  pale  moon  rose  up  slowly,  and  calmly  she 

looked  down 
On  the  red  sands  of  the  battle-field  with  bloody 

corses  strewn.' 

"  And  wending  our  way  among  the  grand  old 
oaks  of  the  forest,  now  scarred  and  withered  by 
the  strife  enacted  beneath  them,  and  picking  our 
way  among  the  dead  bodies  of  men  and  horses, 
we  at  length  reached  the  works  constructed  by 
the  enemy  on  Saturday  night,  and  defended  with 


374 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


such  obstinacy  on  Sunday.  Notwithstanding  I 
have  seen  some  dozen  battle-fields  during  the 
war,  I  have  never  seen  anything  to  compare  with 
the  horrors  of  the  scene  presented  here.  As  I 
stated  before,  the  enemy  had  set  fire  to  their 
works  when  forced  to  leave  them,  and  the  fire  had 
communicated  to  the  forests  and  lit  up  the  scene 
far  and  wide.  The  dead  and  wounded  lay  in 
heaps,  literally  piled  upon  each  other,  and  in 
many  instances  the  fire  had  burned  them  to  a 
cinder,  and  many  of  the  wounded  had  their  clothes 
burned  off,  and  their  bodies  were  a  periect  blister. 
The  cries  of  thr  se  poor,  wretched  creatures  were 
awful  to  hear,  and  many  implored  us  to  kill 
them  and  put  them  out  of  their  misery. 

"  Upon  examining  their  haversacks,  nothing  was 
found  but  corn  bread,  and  several  told  me  that 
they  had  been  eating  that  for  five  days  without 
food  or  water,  and  that  their  leaders  did  not  care 
for  them  after  they  had  received  a  wound.  It 
was  a  scene  long  to  be  remembered  —  the  groups 
of  dead  men  and  horses,  and  writhing  forms  of 
the  wounded  there  in  that  dreary  forest,  only  seen 
by  the  scattered  moonbeams  as  they  stole  through 
the  branches,  and  the  flickering  fire  light,  as  it 
crept  slowly  but  steadily  up  to  where  they  lay, 
and  the  fearful  cries  of  those  who  watched  its  ad 
vance,  unable  to  drag  their  broken  limbs  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  destroyer:  and  then  the  dis 
torted  and  upturned  faces  of  those  whose  bodies 
were  lying  amidst  the  grim  shadows  which  fell 
around,  conspicuous  among  which  was  the  shadow 
of  death.  All  the  pompous  pageantry  of  the 
scene  was  gone,  and  nought  remained  of  all  the 
glory  lost  and  won  upon  that  bloody  field  save 
the  wretched  forms  of  those  who  no  more  will 
spring  forward  at  the  call  to  arms." 


THE  BATTLE  OF  FIIEDERICKTON.  —  The  vic 
tory  of  the  national  troops  at  Frederickton,  next 
to  their  own  bravery  and  daring,  may  be  ascribed 
to  the  agency  of  an  old  negro,  who  informed 
them  of  the  ambuscade  by  Jeff  Thompson,  into 
which,  if  they  had  fallen,  a  terrible  slaughter 
would  have  followed.  The  agency  of  this  negro 
is  described  as  follows  : 

"  I  saw  but  two  white  men  in  the  town  as  we 
marched  through.  No  one  came  out  to  meet  our 
advance.  This  was  a  little  mysterious  and  omi 
nous.  The  negroes  told  us  that  the  troops  had 
left  by  the  south  road,  indicating  the  direction  by 
pointing.  While  we  were  sleeping,  a  Lieutenant 
was  walking  a  little  south  of  the  town,  accompa 
nied  by  an  old  darky,  who  said,  '  Heap  of  men, 
massa,  out  souf  in  de  timber  dar.'  *  Guess  not ; 
you  are  mistaken.'  « No  mistake,  massa.*  The 
Lieutenant  thought  enough  of  the  remark  to 
mention  it  to  a  Major  near  by,  who  also  remarked, 


the  town,  and  skirts  both  sid«s  of  the  road  by 
which  the  enemy  were  said  to  have  left.  The 
scout  found  the  timber  all  alive  with  armed  men 
—  infantry  and  cavalry.  The  old  darky  had  be 
trayed  them,  and  their  trick  was  all  revealed,  viz., 
to  get  us  into  an  ambush  while  following  them. 

"  The  man  galloped  back  with  the  information. 
The  soldiers  were  roused  up,  ordered  into  line, 
and  in  less  than  ten  minul  ;s  our  whole  brigade 
was  ready  to  march,  a  id  most  of  the  regiments 
were  in  motion.  Tho  artillerymen  had  got  a 
twenty-four-poundt  f  out  ready  to  shell  the  tim 
ber  ;  also  a  six-pounder  was  placed.  The  enemy, 
seeing  himself  found  out,  prepared  to  make  the 
most  of  it.  He  had  judged  well  where  our 
cannon  would  be  placed,  and  had  artillery  bearing 
directly  on  those  points.  When  I  first  waked  up, 
I  heard  the  report  of  a  six-pounder.  'Hallo! 
guess  they're  cleaning  out  their  guns.'  This 
roused  all*  and,  before  we-  had  got  our  traps  on, 
several  guns  had  sounded,  and  now  they  bellowed 
thick  and  fast.  '  A  fight,  boys  !  They're  at  it ! ' 
rung  along  the  line. 

"  The  enemy  had  begun  the  firing,  and  per 
formed  well,  their  second  shot  having  smashed  a 
wheel  on  our  six-pounder.  Thus  the  battle  began. 
Not  ten  minutes  had  yet  elapsed  since  the  time 
the  scout  had  returned." 


COLONEL  MOSBY  OUTWITTED.  —  On  the  25th 
of  March,  1864,  Captain  E.  B.  Gere,  of  the  Gris- 
wold  Light  Cavalry,  was  sent  out  from  the  Union 
camp,  with  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  men,  to 
the  neighborhoods  of  Berryville  and  Winches 
ter,  Va.,  on  a  scout,  and  encamped  at  Millwood, 
some  six  or  eight  miles  from  the  former  place. 
After  the  men  had  got  their  fires  built,  Sergeant 
Weatherbee,  of  company  B,  Corporal  Simpson, 
of  company  II,  and  a  private,  went  some  two 
miles  from  camp  to  get  supper  at  a  farm-house, 
and  while  waiting  for  the  long-delayed  tea,  were 
surprised  to  find  several  revolvers  suddenly  ad 
vance  into  the  room,  behind  each  pair  of  which 
was  either  Colonel  Mosby,  a  rebel  Captain,  or  a 
Lieutenant,  all  rather  determined  men,  with 
"  shoot  in  their  eyes,"  who  demanded  the  imme 
diate  surrender  of  the  aforesaid  Yankees.  The 
aim  being  wicked,  the  three  Twenty-firsters  saw 
they  were  "  under  a  cloud,"  and  so  quietly  gave 
up  the  contest. 

Colonel  Mosby  was  much  elated  with  his  good 
fortune,  and  required  his  prisoners  to  follow  him 
supperless  on  his  rounds  to  his  headquarters  at 
Paris ;  the  private,  however,  while  pretending  to 
get  his  horse,  hid  himself  in  the  hay  and  escaped, 
Mosby  not  daring  to  wait  and  hunt  him  up. 

On  the  way  to  Paris  the  Colonel  amused  him 
self  by  constantly  taunting  his  prisoners  with 


,t  mistake.'  The  old  darky  !  questions.  "  Were  they  with  Major  Cole  when  he 
nd,  hearing  the  reply,  said,  I  thrashed  him  at  Upperville?  "  "  Were  they  with 
istake.'  The  Major  thought '  Major  Sullivan,  of  the  First  Veterans,  when  his 


It  must  be  a  great  mistake.' 
had  followed  up,  and, 

1  No  mistake,  no  mistake.'     The  Major  thought  <  Mujor 

he  would  go  with  the  news  to  Colonel  Carlin,  who  \  men  ran  away  and  left  him  ?  "  "  How  did  they 
also  thought  it  a  mistake;  but,  concluding  it  best !  fancy  his  gray  nag?  —  he  took  that  from  a  Van- 
not  to  be  fooled,  he  sent  a  man  to  reconnoitre.  ]  kee  Lieutenar  t."  "  Didn't  the  Vanks  dread  him 
The  timber  referred  to  lies  about  a  mile  south  of  j  and  his  men  mere  than  Uiey  did  tlie  regular 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


375 


rebel  cavalry  ?  "  "  How  did  they  "  (the  prison 
ers)  "  like  his  style  of  fighting  ?  "  and  a  hundred 
such  remarks,  that  indicated  the  man  as  being 
more  of  a  vain  braggart  than  a  hero. 

He  was,  in  the  mean  time,  engaged  in  gather 
ing  his  men  with  the  avowed  intention  of  attack 
ing  Capt.  Gere's  force  at  daylight,  and,  if  possi 
ble,  of  cutting  it  to  pieces.  His  followers  live  in 
the  farm-houses  of  Loudon,  Clarke,  and  Jeffer 
son  'Counties,  and  are  either  rebel  soldiers  or 
Union  citizens,  as  the  case  may  require.  He 
would  ride  up  to  a  house,  call  Joe  or  Jake,  and 
tell  them  that  he  wanted  them  at  such  an  hour  at 
the  usual  place  —  to  go  and  tell  Jim  or  Mose. 
Almost  every  farm  turned  out  somebody  in  answer 
to  his  call,  proving  that  these  men,  with  the  cer 
tified  oath  of  allegiance  in  their  pockets,  and  with 
passes  allowing  them  to  come  in  and  go  out  of 
our  lines  at  will,  are  not  only  in  sympathy  with 
the  enemy,  but  are  themselves  perjured  rebels. 

When  'they  arrived  at  Paris,  Colonel  Mosby 
dismounted  and  stepped  into  the  house  where  he 
had  his  headquarters,  leaving  his  pistols  in  the 
holsters.  The  Lieutenant,  with  drawn  revolver, 
watched  the  prisoners,  while  the  Captain  endeav 
ored  to  find  an  orderly  to  take  the  horses.  Cor 
poral  Simpson,  who  had  been  marking  the  road 
for  future  use,  and  had  been  long  looking  for  it, 
saw  his  chance,  and  pretended  to"  tie  his  horse, 
but  really  putting  his  foot  into  the  stirrup  of 
Mosby's  saddle,  and  laying  hold  of  one  of  the 
overlooked  pistols.  The  Lieutenant,  detecting  the 
move,  fired  at  him,  when  S.  shot  him  through  the 
1  eart  with  the  weapon  he  had  secured.  The 
Captain  turned  round  and  fired,  and  Colonel 
Mosby  came  to  the  door  to  see  "  what  all  that 

row  was  about,"  just  in  time  to  hear  a  bullet 

whiz  unpleasantly  close  to  his  head,  that  S.  fired 
at  him,  "just  for  luck,"  as  he  and  his  comrade 
left  —  yelling  back  :  "  Colonel  Mosby,  how  do  you 
like  our  style  of  fighting6!  We  belong  to  the 
Twenty-first  New  York."  And  away  they  went, 
leaving  Colonel  Mosby  dismounted,  and  outwit 
ted  of  his  best  horse,  saddle,  pistols,  and  over 
coat,  two  Yankee  prisoners,  and  with  at  least  one 
vacancy  among  his  commissioned  officers.  Cor 
poral  Simpson  rode  twelve  miles  to  the  camp, 
closely  followed  by  the  Sergeant,  and  gave  Cap 
tain  Gere  such  notice  of  the  enemy's  intentions 
that  they  thought  best  not  to  pitch  in  at  the  ap 
pointed  time.  .  

OBEDIENCE  TO  ORDERS.  —  When  Stonewall 
Jackson  was  ordered  from  the  valley  of  Western 
Virginia  to  take  part  in  the  operations  of  General 
Lee  against  the  national  troops  threatening  Rich 
mond,  General  Whiting's  division  was  sent  to 
join  him.  In  this  division  was  the  celebrated 
Texas  brigade  of  General  Hood.  These  men  had 
never  seen  Jackson,  and  knew  him  only  by  repu 
tation.  As  the  movement  was  of  the  highest  im 
portance,  it  was  necessary  to  keep  it  as  secret  as 
possible.  Orders  were  accordingly  issued  to  the 
men  to  refuse  to  give  information  of  any  kind  to 
civilians  on  the  route,  and  to  answer  all  questions 
with,  "  I  don't  know." 

On  the  second  day  of  the  march,  General  Jack- , 


son  saw  two  of  Hood's  men  leave  the  ranks  and 
start  for  a  cherry  tree  in  the  neighboring  field. 
Riding  up  to  them,  he  demanded,  sternly,  — 

"  Where  are  you  going  P  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  replied  one  of  the  men,  coolly, 
not  knowing  to  whom  he  was  speaking. 

"  What  is  your  name  ?  " 

"  I  don  t  know." 

"  What  regiment  do  you  belong  to  ?  " 

"  1  don't  know." 

"  What  does  this  mean  ?  "  asked  the  General, 
turning  to  the  other  man,  who  stood  by  silently. 

"  \Vhy,  you  see,"  replied  the  soldier,  "  Old 
Stonewall  gave  orders  yesterday  that  we  are  not 
to  know  anything  until  after  the  next  fight,  and 
we  mean  to  obey  him." 

The  General  smiled  —  he  rarely  laughed  —  and 
sent  the  men  back  to  their  regiment. 


AFTER  THE  FIGHT. 

ONE  of  the  boys  lies  dead  in  his  tent, 

All  alone. 

Soldier,  go  in,  go  in, 
And  smooth  back}  his  hair, 
And  close  the  dead  eyes, 
So  dreamily  blue, 
That  are  staring  straight  through 
The  night,  towards  the  skies, 

Where  his  soul  has  gone  1 

Ay,  and  we  made  a  desperate  charge 

Through  the  smoke, 
And  the  terrible  roar,  for  the  guns 
That  had  growled  all  day 
From  the  rebel  right  — 
Rank  after  rank, 
On  our  wearied  flank, 
Had  gone  down  in  the  fight, 

When  those  cannons  spoke. 

Scorchir  g  hot,  from  their  grinning  jawo, 

With  a  shout, 
Came  tl.e  whirling  shot 
And  the  bursting  shell, 
And  the  air  grew  gray 

With  the  drifting  smoke, 
That  quivered  and  broke 
And  heaved  and  fell, 

When  the  roar  burst  out. 

And  Death  rode  over  the  battle-field, 

Through  the  storm, 
Like  the  withering  breath  of  a  curse  { 
And  his  voice  rang  out, 
With  a  shrill  report, 

When  the  rifles  flashed 
And  the  bayonet  gashed 
The  quivering  heart, 

And  the  knife  struck  home. 

Up  through  the  smoke  and  the  driving  ah  at, 

And  the  strife, 

Ring  the  bugle-notes  sounding  a.  charge  j 
And  the  spurs  strike  deep, 
And  away  we  plunge, 

With  a  deafening  shout, 
And  our  swords  are  out, 
For  the  ghastly  lunge 

At  the  foeman^  life. 


376 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Still  are  the  guns  for  a  space,  as  though 

Without  breath  ; 
And  our  men  go  gallantly  down, 
With  unbroken  ranks, 
And  a  shout  for  the  "  Stars." 
There's  a  swift,  bright  flash 
From  the  guns,  and  a  crash, 
And  the  red  earth  jars 

'Neath  the  thunder  of  death. 

And  many  a  brave  boy  fell  when  that  fire 

Burst  out. 

let  we  hurled  the  foe  heavily  back, 
In  the  fierce,  wild  fight, 
And  the  victory  was  won  ; 
But  the  dead  lay  white 
In  the  ghastly  light, 
As  the  sinking  sun 

Looked  in  on  the  rout. 

This  one  came  from  the  fight  with  &  ball 

In  his  side ; 

And  he  sleeps  so  peacefully  now 
That  we'll  leave  him  to  rest 
By  our  camp  on  the  hill. 
Yet  never  will  come, 
To  the  loved  ones  at  home, 
Who  watch  for  him  still, 

The  Soldier  who  died. 


THOMAS'  GREAT  FIGHT.  —  The  foil 
graphic  description  of  the  contest  at  Chicka- 
mauga  was  written  by  a  correspondent  of  the  Cin 
cinnati  Gazette,  on  Monday,  September  21,  1863, 
the  day  after  the  second  day's  operations. 

"  As  soon  as  the  sun  was  fairly  risen,  I  mounted 
my  horse,  intending  to  ride  to  the  extreme  left  of 
our  line,  and  thence  proceed  from  left  to  right,  so 
as  to  get  as  accurate  an  idea  of  it  as  possible  be 
fore  the  real  work  of  the  day  should  commence. 
Riding  about  a  mile,  I  saw  troops  coming  into 
the  road  from  the  woods  to  the  east  of  it,  and  had 
I  not  perceived  through  my  glass  that  they  were 
habited  in  blue,  should  have  judged  from  the  di 
rection  whence  they  canie,  that  they  were  a  por 
tion  of  the  rebel  army.  Suddenly  I  saw  a  courier 
shoot  out  from  the  crowd,  and  coming  towards  me 
hatless  and  with  frantic  speed. 

"  As  he  came,  a  dozen  rifle  cracks  from  the 
woods  skirting  a  cornfield  along  which  he  was 
riding,  informed  me  that  hostile  demonstrations 
of  some  kind  were  being  made  in  our  immediate 
vicinity.  I  halted  until  the  courier  came  up.  He 
delivered  his  despatches  to  another  horseman,  who 
immediately  started  with  them  towards  the  head 
quarters  of  General  Thomas.  I  then  asked  the 
hatless  courier  what  troops  those  were  ahead. 
He  informed  me  they  were  two  brigades  (Colonel 
Mitchell's  and  Colonel  McCook's)  of  General 
Gordon's  corps,  who  had  been  skirmishing  the  day 
before  in  the  neighborhood  of  Roid's  Bridge  and 
of  Ringgold,  as  I  have  already  described.  They 
bad  come  to  form  a  junction  with  the  main  army, 
had  halted,  and  were  waiting  for  orders. 

" '  Are  you  going  back  to  them  now  ?  '  I  in 
quired  of  the  courier. 

" '  I  am,'  he  replied,  '  but  it  is  hazardous  busi 


ness  ;  for  the  woods  just  on  the  other  Bid 3  of  that 
cornfield  are  lined  with  rf)el  sharpshooters,  who 
fire  at  any  one  passing  along  the  road ;  just  now 
they  fired  quite  a  volley  at  me  as  I  came  through.' 

"  As  I  wished  to  reach  these  troops  of  Genera) 
Granger's  in  order  to  learn  from  them  what  they 
had  been  doing  the  day  before,  this  answer  was  a 
litt.e  discouraging.  Nevertheless,  my  curiosity 
finally  prevailed  over  my  apprehensions,  and  my 
self  and  the  courier  started  back  upon  a  full  gallop. 
Of  course  the  sharpshooters  paid  us  their  re 
spects,  ant.  mo-  than  one  bullet  whistled  uncom 
fortably  close  tc  our  ears  while  we  were  running 
this  dangerous  gantlet.  But  fortunately  none  of 
them  hit  either  of  us,  although  one  cut  the  hair 
from  my  horse's  inane. 

"  Scarcely  had  I  reached  our  troops  in  safety 
when  an  order  from  General  Rosecrans,  which 
had  reached  General  Granger  by  another  route, 
directed  the  two  brigades  to  fall  back  at  once  to 
Rossville,  get  a  supply  of  rations  for  the  three 
days,  and  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  march 
at  a  moment's  notice.  As  the  close  proximity  of 
the  rebels  rendered  it  somewhat  difficult  just  then 
to  reach  General  Bird's  men,  who  were  nearest 
to  me  on  the  right,  I  *  fell  back '  with  General 
Granger's  troops,  and  remained  in  the  vicinity  of 
Rossville  until  the  sound  of  battle  in  the  direction 
whence  I  had  come  attracted  my  attention.  A 
wild  gallop  back  to  the  left  immediately  ensu«.d. 
I  was  accompanied  in  the  ride  by  a,  member  of 
the  Corps  of  Topographical  Engineers,  attached 
to  General  Rosecrans'  headquarters,  and  a  citizen 
who  had  accompanied  him  in  the  morning  on  an 
excursion  undertaken  for  tho  purpose  of  gaming 
knowledge  of  the  surrounding  country. 

"  All  three  of  us  agreed  that  it  was  a  hazardous 
experiment  to  attempt  making  our  way  back  to 
the  army,  the  nearest  portion  of  which  was  distant 
half  a  dt  zen  •  mibs.  But  the  citizen  wanted  to 
get  back,  the  engineer  said  he  ought  to  be  back, 
and  my  own  duties  in  that  direction  were  ab 
solutely  imperative.  So  off  we  started. 

"  Here  comes  a  single  soldier,  covered  with  dust 
and  sweat.  Let  us  question  him. 

"  '  Where  do  you  belong  ? '  '  To  the  regular 
brigade.' 

"  *  Has  it  been  engaged  this  morning  ?  '  'I 
should  think  it  had.' 

" ' With  what  result ?  '  'It  was  nearly  all  cut 
to  pieces.' 

"  '  What  regiment  is  yours  ? '  '  The  Sixteenth 
United  States  infantry.' 

"  « Did  it  suffer  much  ? '  '  Only  thirty  or  forty 
of  its  members  are  left.' 

"  Here  is  a  man  with  an  arm  roughly  bandaged 
and  very  blood)'.  The  blood  has  dried  upon  it, 
and  hangs  to  it  in  great  black  clots.  '  Who  are 
you  ?  '  '  Private ,  of  the  Thirty-eighth  In 
diana.'  '  What  news  have  you  ?  '  '  Bad  news 
enough.'  '  Has  your  regiment  been  in  the 
fight  ?  '  'If  it  has  not,  no  one  has.'  '  With 
what  result  ? '  '  One  third  of  its  number  are 
killed  and  wounded.'  '  Were  you  whipped  ? ' 
'  Our  brigade  was  left  unsupported,  overpowered 
by  numbers,  and  compelled  for  a  time  to  give 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


877 


way.'  *  Is  Colonel  Scribner  safe  ? '  '  So  far  as 
1  know,  he  is.' 

"  Another  with  a  ghastly  wound  in  the  head  has 
upon  his  jacket  the  red  stripes  which  show  him 
to  be  an  artilleryman.  'Whose  battery  do  you 
belong  to?'  *  Gunither's.'  '  Why,  that  is  the 
regular  battery  belonging  to  General  King's  bri 
gade  ;  what  lias  it  been  doing ?  '  'It  has  been 
taken  by  the  enemy.'  'Can  it  be  possible?' 
'  It  is,  but  I  have  heard  since  that  it  was  reta 
ken.'  '  How  came  it  lost?  '  •  The  infantry  sup 
ports  gave  way,  and  the  horses  being  nearly  all 
killed,  of  course,  the  guns  were  captured.' 

"  The  stream  grew  stronger  and  stronger.  Strag 
glers  were  run  over  by  wagons  dashing  back 
towards  the  rear.  Ambulances,  filled  with  wound 
ed,  came  in  long  procession  from  towards  where 
the  battle  was  raging.  Men  with  wounds  of 
every  imaginable  description,  not  affecting  their 
locomoiion,  came  staggering  by  on  foot,  and 
scores  even  of  those  who  had  been  shot  in  their 
lower  limbs,  hobbled  slowly  on  through  blinding 
masses  of  dust,  which  at  times  concealed  every 
thing  from  view. 

"  The  brigade  commanded  by  Colonel  B.  F. 
Scribner,  Thirty-eighth  Indiana,  one  of  the  very 
first  in  the  army,  was  left  particularly  exposed,  as 
its  right  flank  had  been  somewhat  too  far  ad 
vanced  where  it  had  taken  position  in  the  morn 
ing.  Almost  before  its  pickets  were  driven  in, 
if;  found  itself  literally  surrounded  by  thrice  its 
numbers,  who  came  on  with  their  infernal  yells, 
pouring  volley  after  volley  of  deadly  bullets  into 
the  very  bosom  of  this  gallant  brigade.  For  a 
moment  it  was  thrown  into  confusion,  and  that 
moment  sufficed  to  place  the  rebels  upon  its 
front,  flanks,  and  rear.  But  it  was  not  destined 
to  surrender.  The  Second,  Thirty-third,  and  Nine 
ty-fourth  Ohio,  the  Thirty-eighth  Indiana,  the 
Tenth  Wisconsin,  and  Loomis'  battery  are  com 
posed  of  the  best  material  in  their  respective  States, 
and  their  commander,  Scribner,  had  succeeded  in 
infusing  into  them  his  own  magnanimous  and 
gallant  spirit.  Gathering  together  their  broken 
ranks  under  the  infernal  fire  which  every  instant 
mowed  them  down,  and  following  their  heroic 
leader,  they  charged  the  dense  legions  surround 
ing  them,  and  like  a  whirlwind  in  a  forest,  tore 
their  way  through. 

"  But,  alas !  the  guns  of  the  immortal  First 
Michigan  battery  were  left  behind  —  those  black, 
stern-looking  rifle  cannon,  each  one  of  which  I 
had  come  to  regard  with  a  feeling  of  almost  rev 
erential  awe,  because  upon  a  dozen  battle-fields  I 
had  seen  them  flinging  destruction  into  the  ranks 
of  traitors,  and  never  knew  them  once  turned 
against  a  legion  of  my  country's  enemies  which 
they  did  not  scatter  like  leaves  before  the  blast. 
Even  in  the  opinion  of  the  rebels  themselves, 
Loomis  had  made  these  guns  invincible.  They 
were  commanded  now  by  a  young  man  who,  pos 
sessing  naturally  the  noblest  qualities,  had  thor 
oughly  learned  the  lessons  of  his  teacher,  and 
promised  to  prove  a  most  worthy  successor,  even 
to  Loomis  himself — Lieutenant  Van  Pelt.  Van 
Pelt  loved  his  pieces  with  the  same  unselfish 


devotion  which  he  manifested  for  his  life.  In  the 
desperate  conflict  which  broke  around  Scribner's 
brigade,  he  managed  the  battery  with  much  dex 
terity  and  coolness,  and  for  some  moments  rocked 
the  very  trees  over  the  heads  of  the  rebels  by  the 
f  ery  blasts  from  his  guns.  But  his  horses  were 
*hot  down.  Ma  ly  of  his  artillerists  'were  killed 
31-  wounded.  The  infantry  supporting  him  had 
been  compelled  to  turn  pnd  c  ^t  their  way  through 
the  enemy,  and  a  hord  -\  of  traitors  rushed  to  the 
muzzles  of  the  IK  »v  harmless  pieces.  Van  Pelt, 
almost  alone,  stationed  himself  in  front  of  them, 
and  drew  his  sword.  '  Scoundrels,'  said  he,  '  dare 
not  touch  these  guns ! '  The  miserable  barba 
rians,  unable  to  appreciate  true  heroism,  brutally 
murdered  him  where  he  stood.  The  history  of 
the  war  furnishes  not  an  incident  more  touching, 
more  sublime,  than  the  death  of  Lieutenant  Van 
Pelt. 

"  All  the  guns  of  the  battery,  save  one,  fell 
into  the  enemy's  hands. 

"  Along  the  entire  line  of  the  left  and  centre 
there  were  similar  instances  of  heroism,  only  two 
or  three  of  which  I  have  time  to  mention. 

"  At  one  time  the  guns  of  the  Fourth  Indiana 
battery  (Captain  Bush)  were  all  in  the  hands  of 
the  enemy,  but  were  retaken  subsequently,  by  a 
simultaneous  charge  of  the  infantry  and  artillery 
men.  This  battery  is  attached  to  General  Stark 
weather's  brigade. 

"  During  the  fierce  assault  upon  the  First  di 
vision,  the  Second  Ohio,  being  in  confusion,  was 
rallied  by  General  Baird  in  person,  and  led  back 
to  a  most  effective  charge. 

"  Major-General  J.  J.  Reynolds,  who  combines 
the  chivalrous  courage  of  an  olden  knight  with 
the  cool,  calm  ability  of  a  Turenne,  had  time,  not 
only  to  keep  his  own  division  in  effective  order, 
but  to  give  his  generous  assistance  to  the  forces 
around  him.  A  tremendous  onslaught  of  the 
enemy  broke  General  Palmer's  lines,  and  scat 
tered  several  of  his  regiments  in  wild  dismay 
towards  the  rear.  Amongst  these  was  the  Sixtn 
Ohio,  which,  in  charge  of  the  fine-spirited  Ander 
son,  had,  up  to  that  moment,  nobly  maintained 
its  ground.  General  Reynolds,  perceiving  the 
danger,  quick  as  lightning  threw  himself  amongst 
the  brave  but  broken  Guthries. 

"  '  Boys,'  he  shouted,  '  are  you  the  soldiers  of 
the  Sixth  Ohio  who  fought  with  me  at  Cheat 
Mountain?  You  never  turned  your  bicks  upon 
traitors  in  Virginia  ;  will  you  do  it  here  ? ' 

"  *  No,  no,'  they  screamed  almost  frantically ; 
'  lead  us  back,  lead  us  back ! ' 

"  From  every  quarter  came  rushing  up  the  scat 
tered  fragments  of  the  regiment  ;  with  magic 
swiftness  they  re-formed  the  ranks ;  with  General 
Reynolds  at  their  head,  they  charged  the  insolent 
enemy,  and,  after  a  moment's  struggle,  every 
rebel  in  front  of  them,  not  killed  or  wounded, 
was  in  confused  retreat. 

"  The  rebels  had  been  manoeuvring  all  day  on 
Friday  about  the  position  at  Gordon's  Mill,  and 
seeing  its  great  strength,  had  menaced  our  left 
flank,  doubtless  with  the  express  purpose  of  com 
pelling  General  Rosecrans  to  abandon  it.  As  the 


378 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


left  must  be  protected  at  all  hazards,  their  plan 
partially  succeeded,  and  the  immense  transfer  of 
Thomas  from  ri^ght  to  left  on  Friday  night,  so  far 
suited  their  designs.  But  it  rendered  our  own  left 
so  strong  that  it  became  impossible  for  the  rebels 
to  turn  it,  as  they  had  all  along  hoped  and  intended 
to  do.  The  attempt,  on  our  part,  to  hold  Gor 
don's  Mill  after  this  transfer,  perhaps,  occasioned 
too  great  a  lengthening  of  our  lines,  and  conse 
quently  too  little  solidity.  True,  it  seemed  every 
way  adapted  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  flanking 
us  upon  the  right ;  but  the  simple  withdrawal  of 
our  right  wing  to  Mission  Ridge,  allowing  it  to 
rest  there,  would  have  fully  secured  that  flank, 
enabled  us  to  bid  defiance  to 'the  rebels  in  that 
direction,  greatly  contracted  our  front,  and  re 
leased,  for  immediate  service  on  Saturday,  the 
splendid  divisions  of  Negley  and  Wood.  The 
entire  distance  over  which  the  line  extended  was 
little  short  of  three  and  a  half  miles. 

"  It  was  between  ten  and  eleven  when  Croton's 
brigade,  of  Brannan's  division,  going  down  to  ford 
the  creek,  just  opposite  their  position,  encountered 
the  enemy,  who  was  advancing  in  force,  and,  after 
a  gallant  combat,  was  driven  back.  Reenforce- 
ments  immediately  coming  up  from  the  remainder 
of  Brannan's  division,  the  rebels  were,  in  turn, 
driven  pell-mell  towards  the  ford.  Another  fierce 
charge,  by  a  largely  increased  force  of  the  enemy, 
pushed  back  the  whole  of  Brannan's  division,  in 
volving  General  Baird,  who  at  once  became* 
fiercely  engaged.  The  regulars,  outflanked,  after 
the  withdrawal  of  Brannairs  men,  fought  like 
tigers,  but  rolled  back  and  over  Scribner's  bri 
gade  ^the  right  of  which,  being  rather  too  far 
advanced,  was  crumpled  up,  and  the  brigade  liter 
ally  surrounded),  until,  by  unparalleled  gallantry, 
it  cut  its  way  through.  The  storm,  rolling  from 
left  to  right,  fell  next  upon  Johnston,  and  almost 
simultaneously  upon  Reynolds,  who  both  fought 
with  desperate  valor,  wavering  at  times,  but 
again  regaining  their  firmness,  —  giving  back  a 
little,  but  again  advancing,  —  until  the  troops  of 
Brannan  and  Baird,  rallied  by  their  able  leaders, 
and  by  the  personal  exertions  of  Thomas  him 
self,  whose  courage  was  as  conspicuous  as  his 
coolness,  came  up  once  more  to  the  work. 

"  Then  the  order  was  issued  for  the  entire  line 
to  advance;  and  nothing  in  history  exceeds  in 
grandeur  the  charge  of  that  powerful  corps. 
Longstreet's  men  from  Virginia  were  directly  op 
posed  to  the  troops  of  Thomas ;  and  although 
they  fought  with  stubborn  determination,  they 
could  not  for  an  instant  check  the  slow  and  state 
ly  march  of  our  battalions.  In  vain  they  rallied 
and  re-rallied  ;  in  vain  they  formed  double  lines, 
which  fired  simultaneously ;  in  vain  they  wheeled 
their  cannons  into  a  score  of  new  positions. 
Thomas  moved  resistlessly  on.  Much  of  our  ar 
tillery  lost  in  the  morning  was  recaptured.  Seven 
pieces  were  taken  from  the  enemy.  They  had  been 
pushed  already  three  quarters  of  a  mile,  and 
Longstreet  was  threatened  with  actual  annihila 
tion,  wh.jn  a  new  danger  caused  Thomas  to  halt. 

"  While  our  left  was  so  remorselessly  driving 
the  rebels,  Polk  and  Hill,  collecting  their  chosen 


legions,  threw  them,  with  great  impetuosity,  upon 
Palmer  and  Van  Cleve,  in  order  to  effect  a  diver 
sion  in  favor  of  Longstreet.  An  obstinate  con 
test  ensued,  but  the  overpowering  numbers  of  the 
enemy  speedily  broke  to  pieces  large  portions  of 
our  two  divisions,  especially  Van  Cleve's.  In  fact , 
the  rout  of  this  part  of  our  line  was  becoming  f.s 
complete  as  that  of  fhe  enemy's  right,  when  Davis, 
who  had  seen  marc  ling  up  as  rapidly  as  possible 
to  intersect  with  \  an  Cleve's  left,  arrived  upon 
the  ground,  went  in  most  gallantly,  and,  for  a 
time,  restore  I  in  that  locality  the  fortunes  of  the 
day.  But  the  enemy,  knowing  that  all  depended 
upon  his  effecting  a  diversion  in  favor  of  the  de 
feated  Longstreet,  massed  nearly  the  whole  of  his 
available  force,  hurled  it  upon  Van  Cleve,  and 
Davis  drove  the  former  to  the  left  and  the  latter 
to  the  right,  arid  entered  boldly  the  opening  thus 
made.  It  was  just  at  this  juncture  that  Thomas' 
troops,  whose  attention  had  been  called  to  the  ex 
treme  danger  of  our  centre,  began  to  return. 
Reynolds  immediately  sent  the  heroic  Wilder  to 
the  assistance  of  Davis,  and  the  celebrated  ari- 
gade  of  mounted  infantry  at  first  scattered  the 
enemy  in  terror  before  them.  But  the  persever 
ing  rebels  rallying  again,  and  charging  in  fresh 
numbers,  even  Wilder  began  to  fall  slowly  back. 
General  Sheridan,  who  had  been  following  after 
Davis,  now  came  up,  and  led  Colonel  Bradley's 
brigade  into  the  fight.  It  held  its  own  nobly, 
until  the  rebels,  in  large  force,  getting  possession 
of  a  piece  of  timber  near  its  flank,  opened  upon 
it  an  enfilading  fire,  which  compelled  it  to  give 
way. 

"  But  now  hew  actors  appeared  upon  the  scene. 
Wood  and  Negley,  who  had  gallantly  repelled  the 
assaults  of  the  enemy  at  Owen's  Ford  (assaults 
intended  as  a  feint  to  conceal  the  design  of  the 
rebels  against  our  left),  came  up  to  the  rescue. 
Their  troops  went  to  work  with  a  will.  The  prog 
ress  of  the  enemy  against  Davis,  Van  Cleve,  and 
Sheridan  was  speedily  checked.  Reynolds,  re 
turning  from  •  the  pursuit  of  Longstreet,  assisted 
in  rallying  the  broken  battalions  of  Palmer. 
Thousands  of  our  scattered  troops  reorganized 
almost  of  their  own  accord.  Baird,  Brannan,  and 
Johnston  resumed  their  places.  A  consuming  fire 
swept  all  along  our  front.  The  rebels  retired  ev 
erywhere  before  it ;  and  before  sunset  our  line  was 
again  in  battle  array  upon  almost  precisely  the 
ground  held  that  morning. 

"  The  morrow  came.  No  sound  of  crackling 
musketry,  or  roaring  cannon,  or  bursting  shell  dis 
turbed  the  peacefulness  of  that  Sabbath  morning. 
The  Sabbath  !  Yes,  it  was  the  blessed  day  of  rest 
—  rest  given  in  mercy  by  kind  Heaven  to  ungrate 
ful  main  Will  the  battle  be  renewed  to-day? 
If  so,  it  will  be  by  the  action  of  the  enemy,  for 
General  Rosecrans  does  not  willingly  fight  on  the 
Sabbath.  The  first  hour -after  sunrise  passed. 
'  Surely,'  said  our  officers  and  soldiers, '  there  will 
be  no  fight,  for  if  the  enemy  had  intended  to  at 
tack  us,  he  would,  following  his  usual  tactics,  have 
fallen  upon  us  at  daybreak.' 

" Two  hours  more  hr»d  gone  by,  ar  d  some  drop 
ping  musketry  began  tc  be  1. 3ard  aio  jg  the  various 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


379 


parts  of  our  lines.  Finally,  at  about  ten  o'clock 
there  were  several  fierce  volleys,  and  the  loud 
booming  of  half  a  dozen  pieces  of  artillery  an 
nouncing  that  the  enemy  had  again,  as  on  the  day 
before,  assaulted  our  left. 

"And  now  that  the  battle  has  begun,  let  us 
glance  one  moment  at  the  contending  forces.  On 
one  side  is  our  old  army  which  fought  at  Stone 
Iliver,  reenforced  by  two  divisions  (Brannan's 
and  Reynolds'  corps,)  and  Starkweather's  brigade 
of  Baird's  division.  But  counterbalancing  these 
to  some  extent,  Post's  brigade  of  Davis'  division, 
and  Wagner's  of  Wood's,  were  both  absent.  We 
might  or  might  not  also  rely  for  assistance  upon 
Steadman's  division  of  General  Granger's  corps. 

"  Opposed  to  these  was  the  old  army  of  the 
Tennessee,  which  Bragg  had  so  long  commanded, 
Longstreet's  formidable  corps  from  Virginia,  one 
half  of  Johnston's  army  from  Mississippi,  Buck- 
ner's  division  from  East  Tennessee,  Dabney  Mau- 
ry's  division  from  Mobile,  Brigadier-General  Lee's 
command  from  Atlanta,  and  from  tAvelve  to  fifteen 
thousand  fresh  troops  in  the  service  of  the  State 
of  Georgia  —  in  all,  amounting  to  at  least  seventy- 
five  thousand  men.  The  Union  army  confronting 
them  was  certainly  not  more  than  fifty-five  thou 
sand  strong. 

"  The  fight  upon  the  extreme  left  commenced 
by  a  desperate  assault  of  the  enemy  upon  General 
John  Beatty's  brigade  of  Negley's  division.  The 
brigade,  as  well  as  its  famous  leader,  stood  their 
ground  nobly,  but  being  somewhat  isolated 
from  the  remainder  of  the  line,  finally  retired. 
It  will  be  remembered  that  the  other  brigades  of 
Negley's  division  were  posted  much  farther  to 
the  right.  A  desire  to  reunite  the  two  portions 
of  his  command  induced  General  Rosecrans  to 
send  General  Wood  to  take  General  Negley's 
place  in  line  until  the  latter  should  effect  the  re 
union  of  his  brigades.  Wood  proceeded  imme 
diately  to  execute  the  order,  filling  up  the  gap 
as  Negley  retired.  The  rebels,  understanding  the 
movement  of  Negley's  to  be  a  retreat,  immediately 
advanced  their  skirmishers,  not  only  here,  but  all 
along  the  left,  and  the  fighting  at  once  became 
terrific,  as  I  have  described.  The  rebels,  howev 
er,  soon  ceased  to  attack  General  Wood's  front, 
and  for  a  time  appeared  to  devote  their  entire 
attention  to  General  Thomas.  I  went  down  to 
the  extreme  left  of  General  Wood's  position 
about  this  time,  and  looking  thence  into  some 
cornfields,  could  see  the  desperate  efforts  of  the 
enemy  to  break  the  lines  of  Brannan  and  Rey 
nolds.  The  soldiers  of  these  two  noble  divisions 
were  lying  behind  rude  breastworks  of  logs  and 
rails  constructed  the  night  before.  Their  artillery 
in  the  rear  fired  over  their  heads,  and  it  really 
seemed  as  if  that  long  line  of  defence  was  some 
immense  serpent,  instinct  with  hideous  life,  and 
breathing  continually  from  his  huge,  rough  sides 
volumes  of  smoke  and  flame.  Colonel  Vander- 
veer,  Thirty-fifth  Ohio,  of  Brannan's  division, 
was  fighting  here  with  a  brigade  second  to  but 
few  in  the  service.  The  Colonel  himself  is  a  true 
hero,  and  the  command  and  the  commander  are 


and  able  Turchin,  with  a  brigade  composed  prin 
cipally  of  Ohio  troops,  who  won  for  themielvo? 
and  the  State  that  sent  them  forth  immortal 
honor  during  the  conflicts  of  that  day. 

"Again  and  again  the  rebel  lines,  advancing 
fjom  the  cover  of  the  woods  into  the  open  corn 
fields,  charged  with  impetuous  fury  and  terrific 
yells  towards  ne  breastworks  of  logs  and  rails  ; 
but  eacl.  time  the  fiery  blasts  from  our  batteries 
and  battalions  swept  over  and  around  them,  and 
their  ranks  were  crumbled  and  swept  away  as  a 
bank  of  loose  clay  washed  by  a  rushing  flood. 
But  as  fast  as  one  line  fell  off  another  appeared, 
rushing  sternly  on  over  the  dead  and  bleeding 
bodies  of  their  fallen  comrades.  Longstreet's 
corps  was  seeking  to  regain  its  lost  laurels  of  yes 
terday.  D.  1-1.  Hil),  at  the  head  of  Hardee's  old 
corps,  was  lending  them  the  assistance  of  a  di 
vision,  and  Buckner's  troops  were  throwing  their 
weight  into  the  scale.  Thomas  fought  only  with 
his  forces  of  Saturday  weakened  by  Saturday's 
heavy  losses.  It  was  an  unequal  contest,  and  a 
pang  of  agony  shot  through  my  heart  as  I  saw 
our  exhausted  veterans  begin  to  waver.  To  waver 
in  the  face  of  the  charging,  shouting,  thundering 
host  which  confronted  them,  was  to  lose  all ;  and 
the  next  moment' wave  after  wave  of  the  rebel 
sea  came  surging  down  towards  the  breastworks, 
dashing  madly  against  and  over  the  barrier,  and 
greedily  swallowing  up  its  defenders,  with  all 
their  materiel.  Never  was  resistance  more  stub 
born  and  determined,  but  never  was  attack  proa* 
ecuted  with  more  devilish  pertinacity. 

"  Meantime,  as  General  Reynolds  was  so  scr^lj 
pressed,  General  Wood  was  ordered  to  march  in 
stantly  by  the  left  flank,  pass  Brannan,  and  go  to 
his  relief.  Davis  and  Sheridan  were  to  shift  over 
to  the  left,  and  thus  close  up  the  line.  As  the 
occasion  was  urgent,  General  Wood  drew  in  his 
skirmishers  with  considerable  haste,  and  the  reb 
els,  for  the  second  time  mistaking  a  withdrawal 
for  a  flight,  pressed  forward  like  a  torrent,  and 
poured  into  the  ranks  of  General  Wood  a  storm 
of  musket  balls,  canister,  and  grape.  Moving 
upon  the  double-quick,  the  men  endeavored  for 
a  time  to  keep  their  files  in  order,  but  as  that  pit 
iless  storm  of  lead  and  iron  continued  to  be 
hurled  against  them,  the  regiments  began  to 
spread  out  like  a  fan,  wider  and  wider,  until  final 
ly  they  were  torn  to  flinters.  This  was  espe 
cially  the  case  with  the  brigade  commanded  by 
Colonel  Buell.  The  undaunted  Wood,  with  Ilar- 
ker's  brigade,  comparatively  intact,  passed  on  to 
his  destination. 

"  Here  was  the  great  turning-point  in  the  bat 
tle.  Here,  indeed,  the  battle  was  lost. 

"  Davis,  coming  up  to  fill  the  vacancy  occa 
sioned  by  Wood's  withdrawal,  was  caught  upon 
the  left  flank  by  the  fiery  rebel  torrent  now  pouring 
through  the  opening  and  pushed  off  towards  tht 
right  in  utter  disorder,  like  a  door  which  is  swung 
back  upon  its  hinges,  and  shattered  by  the  same 
blow.  Van  Cleve  and  what  remained  of  Palmer 
were  struck  upon  the  other  side,  and  shivered  as 
a  sapling  b}  a  thunderbr It.  Even  the  personal 


worthy  of  eacli  other.     Here  also  was  the  brave  [exertions  of  Rose'.'rans  himself,  wh<  ,  with  drawn 


380 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND   INCIDENTS 


is  word,  and  at  the  head  of  his  devoted  staff,  en 
deavored  to  check  the  rout,  were  ineffectual. 


"  Captain  Johnson,  of  General  Negley's  stai?, 
who,  on  being  severed  from  his  own  division,  had 


"  After  that  fatal  break  our  line  of  battle  was   immediately   reported   to    General   Thomas   for 
not  again  re-formed  during  the  day.  |  duty,  hai  already,  at  great  personal  risk,  ascer- 

rincr  i  tained  that  the  advancing  be 


"  It  was  about  half  past  twelve,  when,  hearing  j 
a  heavy  cannonade  open  upon  the  right,  I  galloped  j 
over  in  that  direction  to  see  what  it  might  mean. 
A.  longitudinal  gap  in  Mission  Ridge  admits  the 
Rossville  road  into  Chattanooga  valley,  and  skirts 
along  a  large  cornfield  at  the  mouth  of  the  gap. 
Looking  across  the  cornfield  from  the  gap,  you  see 


,-ancing  battalions  were  infan 
try  ;  and  now  the  question  arose,  was  it  our  own 
or  the  enemy's.  Hope  and  fear  alternately  agi 
tated  our  bosoms,  mtil  it,  last,  looking  through 
our  glasses,  we  coi.ld  cl  arly  distinguish  the  red 
and  blue,  with  the  white  crescent !  It  was  the 
battle  flag  of  General  Granger,  and  the  troops  we 


thick  woods  upon  the  other  side.     The  cornfield  j  saw  were  two  brigades,  Mitchell's  and  Whitaker's, 


itself  is  a  sort  of  «  cove '  in  the  ridge  ;  and  here 
were  numbers  of  all  sorts  of  army  vehicles  min 
gled  with  the  debris  of  dismantled  and  discom 
fited  batteries.  Fragments  of  Davis'  flying  squad 
rons  had  also  lodged  in  this  field. 

"  While  I  stood  gazing  upon  this  scene  from 
the  summit  of  the  ridge,  some  rebel  skirmishers 
appeared  in  the  skirts  of  the  woods  opposite  the 


gap  I  h-tve  mentioned,  and  flung  perhaps  a  dozen  sued.  It  was  now  that  the  brilliant  courage  of 
musket  balls  into  the  field.  Instantly  men,  ani 
mals,  vehicles,  became  a  mass  of  struggling,  curs 
ing,  shouting,  frightened  life.  Everything  and 
everybody  appeared  to  dash  headlong  for  the  nar 
row  "gap,  and  men,  horses,  mules,  ambulances, 
baggage  wagons,  ammunition  wagons,  artillery 
carriages,  and  caissons  were  rolled  and  tumbled 


together  in  a  confused,  inextricable,  and  finally 
motionless  mass,  completely  blocking  up  the 
mouth  of  the  gaps.  Nearly  all  this-  booty  sub 
sequently  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Sick- 
er.od  and  disgusted  by  the  spectacle,  I  turned 
away  to  watch  the  operations  of  General  Thom- 


of  Steadman's  strong  division. 

"  As  soon  as  General  Granger  had  reported  to 
General  Thomas  for  duty,  he  was  sent  by  the 
latter  to  bring  over  an  ammunition  train  from 
the  Rossville  road.  The  train  had  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy ;  but  the  march  in  search  of 
it  brought  Steadman  at  once  into  contact  with  the 
rebels,  and  a  desperate  conflict  immediately  en- 


Colonel  John  G.  Mitchell,  commanding  one 
of  General  Steadman's  brigades,  became  con 
spicuous.  NOAV  General  Whitaker  had  an  oppor 
tunity  of  baptizing  in  glory  the  star  recently  placed 
upon  his  shoulder;  and  now  the  troops  of  the 
reserve  corps,  comparatively  unused  to  battle, 
had  an  opportunity  of  testing  their  mettle. 
Nobly  did  ail  pass  through  the  ordeal ;  and  al 
though  once  thrown  into  confusion  by  the  con 
centrated  fire  from  a  score  of  rebel  regiments 
and  half  as  many  batteries,  they  rallied  under 
thejire,  and  drove  the  enemy  from,  a  hill  almost 
as  formidable  as  that  which  formed  the  key  of 

RS'  corps,  upon  which  alone  depended  the  safety  j  General  Thomas'  position.     The    rebels   made 
of  the  army.  One  desperate  endeavor  to  retake  this  position, 

"  General  Thomas  had  withdrawn  his  men  al-   but  were  bloodily  repulsed ;   and  almost  for  the 


first  time  since  the  fight  began  there  was  a  lull  in 
the  fearful  storm. 

"An  hour  passed  by,  and  it  became  evident 
that  Bragg  would  not  be  foiled  in  his  attempt  to 
annihilate  our  gallant  army  without  another 
effort.  Folk's  corps,  assisted '  by  the  Georgia 


most  entirely  from  the  valley,  and  taken  up  a  po 
sition  on  the  side  of  Mission  Ridge.  His  left  still 
rested  upon  the  Lafayette  road,  and  his  right  upon 
the  ridge  near  the  gap  I  have  already  spoken  of. 
Here  were  collected  the  shattered  remains  of 
the  powerful  corps  which  had  so  long  breasted 
the  fierce  assaults  of  the  enemy  in  the  forenoon.  State  troops,  by  Dabney  Maury's  division,  and  by 

"  Not  long  was  the  new  line  of  battle  permitted  various  detached  fragments  of  the  rebel  army, 
to  remain  idle.  Cannon  bellowed  against  it ;  were  to  try  their  hands  upon  the  heroic  band,  who, 
missiles  of  every  kind  were  hurled  against  it ;  i  as  the  forlorn  hope  of  the  army,  still  held  the 
shells  burst  above  it ;  rifle  balls  went  tearing  i  hill.  Our  feeble  ranks  were  gathered  up.  The 
through  it;  but  still  it  remained  firm.  j  thinned  battalions  were  brought  closer,  together. 

"  It  was  certain,  however,  as  truth  itself,  that  j  The  dozen  pieces  of  artillery  were  planted  to 
unless  assistance  should  reach  it  from  some  quar-  j  sween  all  approaches  to  the  hill ;  and  each  man, 
ter,  and  that  righ*  '"  "  '  '  '  •*<*-' 


,r,  it  must  at  length  '  looking  at  his  neighbor,  vowed,  some   mentally 

succumb,  for  the  rebel  leaders,  emboldened  by   and  others  audibly,  to  die  right  there,  if  it  were 
the  rout  of  McCook  and  Crittenden,  were  gather 
ing  their  hosts  to  hurl  them  in  a  last  mighty  ef 
fort  against  the  feeble  band  that  confronted  them. 
Whence  should  that  succor  come  ? 

"  Suddenly  a  vast  cloud  of  dust  was  seen  to  hollows  and  ravines  to  the  right,  and  away  to  the 
rise  above  the  trees  away  to  the  left,  and  a  few  j  left,  upon  and  beyond  the  Lafayette  road,  the 
minutes  afterwards  Ions  lines  of  men  emerged  rebel  legions  were  seen  gathering  ibr  the  onset. 


necessary,  for  they:  country,  for  fieedom,  and  for 
mankind ! 

"  All   along   the   woods    skirting  the   cleared 
fields  at  the  south-eastern  foot  of  the  hill,  in  the 


from  the  woods,  crossed  the  Lafayette  road,  and 
began  advancing  towards  us  over  the  fields.  Their 
discipline  seemed  very  perfect,  and  it  was  an  im 
posing  pageant  when,  as  they  came,  their  banners 
fluttered  above  their  heads,  and  their  glittering 


"  Just  before  the  storm  broke,  the  brave  and 
high-sonled  Garfield  was  perceived  making  his 
way  to  the  headquarters  of  Ger  eral  Thomas.  He 
had  come  to  be  present  at  the  Snal  contest ;  and 
in  order  to  do  so  had  ridden  all  the  way  from 


arms  flashed  back  the  sunlight  through  the  thick  j  Chattanooga,  passing  through  a  fiery  ordeal  upon 
clouds  of  dust.  jthe  road.     His  hcrse  was  shot  under  him,  and 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


381 


his  orderly  was  killed  by  his  side.  Still  he  had 
come  through,  he  scarcely  knew  how ;  and  here 
he  was,  to  inspire  fresh  courage  into  the  hearts  of 
the  brave  soldiers  who  were  holding  the  enemy 
at  bay,  to  bring  them  words  of  greeting  from 
General  Rosecrans,  and  to  inform  them  that  the 
latter  was  reorganizing  the  scattered  troops,  and 
as  fast  as  possible  would  hurry  them  forward  to 
their  relief. 

"  The  fight  around  the  hill  now  raged  with 
terror  inexperienced  before,  even  upon  this  terri 
ble  clay.  Our  soldiers  were  formed  in  two  lines, 
and  as  each  marched  up  to  the  crest  and  fired  a 
deadly  volley  at  the  advancing  foe,  it  fell  back  a 
little  way,  the  men  lay  down  upon  the  ground  to 
load  their  guns,  and  the  second  line  advanced  to 
take  their  place.  These,  too,  in  their  turn, 
retired;  and  thus  the  line  kept  marching  back 
and  forth,  and  delivering  their  withering  volleys 
till  the  very  brain  grew  dizzy  as  it  watched  them. 
And  all  the  time  not  a  man  wavered.  Every 
motion  was  executed  with  as  much  precision  as 
though  the  troops  were  on  a  holiday  parade,  not 
withstanding  the  flower  of  the  rebel  army  was 
swarming  around  the  foot  of  the  hill,  and  a  score 
of  cannon  was  thundering  from  three  sides  upon 
it.  Every  attempt  of  the  enemy  to  scale  it  was 
repulsed ;  and  the  gallant  Harker  looked  with 
pride  upon  his  lines,  standing  or  lying  just  where 
they  were  when  the  fight  began. 

"  But  our  troops  are  no  longer  satisfied  with 
the  defensive.  General  Turchin,  at  the  head  of 
his  brigade,  charged  into  the  rebel  lines,  and  cut 
his  way  out  again,  bringing  with  him  three  hun 
dred  prisoners.  Other  portions  of  this  brave 
band  followed  Turchin's  example,  until  the  legions 
of  the  enemy  were  fairly  driven  back  to  the 
ground  they  occupied  previous  to  commencing 
the  last  fight.  Thus  did  twelve  or  fifteen  thou 
sand  men,  animated  by  heroic  impulses  and  in 
spired  by  worthy  leaders,  save  from  destruction 
the  army  of  the  Cumberland.  Let  the  nation 
honor  them  as  they  deserve ! 

"  At  night  General  Thomas  fell  back  to  Iloss- 
ville,  four  miles  from  Chattanooga,  around  and 
n  which  city  the  army  lies  to-night. 

"  Our  losses  have  been  most  severe,  and  can 
scarcely  fall  short  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
killed,  and  eight  thousand  wounded.  Colonel 
Barnett  tells  me  that  our  loss  in  artillery  will  not 
fall  short  of  fifty  pieces.  Our  deficiency  in  trans 
portation  arid  baggage  cannot  now  be  estimated." 


THE    BRIER-WOOD   PIPE. 

BY  CHARLES  DAWSON  8HANLY. 

HA.  !  Bully  for  me,  again,  when  my  turn  for  picket 
is  over ; 

And  now  for  a  smoke,  as  I  lie,  with  the  moonlight, 
out  in  the  clover. 

My  pipe,  it's  only  a  knot  from  the  root  of  the  brier- 
wood  tree ; 

But  it  turns  my  heart  to  the  northward — Harry 
gave  it  to  me. 


And  I'm  but  a  rough,  at  best  —  bred  up  to  the  row 
and  the  riot ; 

But  a  softness  comes  over  nay  heart  when  all  are 
asleep  and  quiet. 

For  many  a  time  in  the  nigl ;  strange  things  appear 
to  ray  eye, 

As  the  breath  from  my  bi  er-wood  pipe  sails  up  be 
tween  me  and  the  sky. 

Last  night  a  beautiful  spirit  arose  with  the  wisping 
smoke ; 

0,  I  shook,  but  my  heart  felt  good  as  it  spread  out 

its  hands  and  spoke, 

Saying,  «•  I  am  the  sr  il  of  the  brier ;  we  grow  at  the 
root  of  a  tree 

Where  lovers  would  come  in  the  twilight,  two  ever, 
for  company  ; 

Where  lovers  would  come  in  the  morning,  ever  but 
two,  together, 

When  the  flowers  were  full  in  their  blow,  the  birds 
in  their  song  and  feather ; 

Where  lovers  would  come  in  the  noon-time,  loiter 
ing,  never  but  two, 

Looking  in  each  other's  eyes,  like  the  pigeons  that 
kiss  and  coo. 

And  O,  the  honeyed  words  that  came  when  the  lips 
were  parted, 

And  the  passion  that  glowed  in  eyes,  and  the  light 
ning  looks  that  darted. 

Enough :  love  dwells  in  the  pipe,  so  ever  it  glows 
with  fire  ! 

I  am  the  soul  of  the  bush,  and  spirits  call  me  «  sweet- 
brier.'  " 

That's  what  the  brier-wood  said,  as  nigh  as  my 
tongue  can  tell ; 

And  the  words  went  straight  to  my  heart,  like  the 
stroke  of  the  fire  bell ! 

To-night  I  lie  in  the  clover  watching  the  blossomy 
smoke ; 

I'm  glad  the  boys  are  asleep,  for  I  ain't  in  the  hu 
mor  to  joke. 

I  lie  in  the  hefty  clover :  between  me  and  the  moon 

The  smoke  from  my  pipe  arises  :  my  heart  will  be 
quiet  soon. 

My  thoughts  are  back  in  the  city.  I'm  everything 
I've  been. 

1.  hear  the  bell  from  the  tower,  I  run  with  the  swift 

machine. 

I  see  the  red  shirts  crowding  around  the  engine- 
house  door ; 
The  foreman's  hail  through  the  trumpet  comes  with 

a  sullen  roar. 
The  reel  in  the  Bowery  dance-house,  the  row  in  the 

beer  saloon, 
Where  I  put  in  my  licks  at  Big  Paul,  come  between 

me  and  the  moon. 
I  hear  the  drum  and  the  bugle,  the  tramp  of  the 

cowskin  boots ; 
We  are  marching  to  the  capital,  the  Fire  Zouave  re 
cruits! 
White  handkerchiefs  move  before  me :     O,  but  the 

sight  is  pretty ! 
On  the  white  marble  steps,  as  we  march  through 

the  heart  of  the  city. 
Bright  eyes  and  clasping  arms,  and  lips  that  bid  UP 

good  hap, 
And  the  splendid  lady  who  gave  me  the  llaveloci 

for  my  cap. 
0,  up  from  my  pipe-cloud  rises,  between  me  and 

the  moon, 
A  beautiful  white-robed  lady:  my  heart  will  be 

quiet  soon. 


882 


ANECDOTES,    rOETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


The  lovely  golden-haired  lady  ever  in  dreams  I  see 
Who  gave  me  the  snow-white  Havelock  —  but  whai 

does  she  care  for  me  ? 
Look  at  my  grimy  features:  mountains  between  us 

stand  — 
I  with  my  sledge-hammer  knuckles,  she  with  her 

jewelled  hand ! 
What  care  I  ?     The  day  that's  dawning  may  see  me, 

when  all  is  over, 
With  the  red  stream  of  my  life-blood  staining  the 

hefty  clover. 
Hark !  the  reveille  sounding  out  on  the  morning 

air! 
Devils  are  we  for  the  battle  —  will  there  be  angels 

there  ? 
Kiss  me  again,  sweet-brier !     The  touch  of  your  lips 

to  mine 
Brings  back  the  white-robed  lady,  with  hair  likethe 

golden  wine ! 


PRESIDENT  LINCOLN'S  INAUGURATION,  MARCH 
4,  1865.  —  The  days  of  omens  and  presages  are 
past.  The  Roman  warriors  and  sages  were  fre 
quently  influenced,  in  the  most  important  acts,  by 
the  feeding  of  the  sacred  chickens,  the  flight  of 
a  flock  of  birds,  or  the  quivering  of  the  flesh  of  a 
victim. 

The  appearances  of  nature  which  take  place  at 
the  time  of  great  historical  events  are  often  long 
remembered,  and  subsequent  occurrences  reflect 
upon  them  a  striking  and  painful  emphasis. 

This  is  true  of  the  following  incident,  which 
was  witnessed,  at  the  second  inauguration  of 
President  Lincoln,  by  the  editor  of  this  volume. 
The  4th  of  March,  1865,  as  commonly  happens 
in  the  latitude  of  Washington,  was  one  of  those 
fitful  March  days  when  cloud  and  sunshine  chase 
each  other,  in  vivid  alternation,  across  the  land 
scape.  The  editor  was  standing,  with  Hon.  S.  B. 
Colby,  Register  of  the  Treasury,  on  the  Senate 
portico  of  the  Capitol,  in  the  midst  of  the  vast 
and  expectant  throng,  who  were  awaiting,  with 
suppressed  enthusiasm,  the  stepping  out  of  that 
tall,  familiar  figure  that  had  for  four  years  moved 
at  the  head  of  our  public  affairs.  He  who  now 
sits  in  the  Executive  chair  had  just  made  that 
famous  speech  in  which  the  plebeian  extraction 
of  a  great  number  of  the  prominent  men  of 
Americ0  v'as  so  distinctly  brought  forward.  All 
eyes  were  ubw  turned  in  one  direction ;  and  at 
this  instant  the  gaunt  figure,  surmounted  by  the 
kindly  face,  was  seen  moving  forward  to  the 
place  where  the  Chief  Justice  of  the  United 
States  was  waiting  to  administer  the  sacred  oath 
of  office. 

At  this  moment  a  bar  of  bright  sunlight,  burst 
ing  through  the  rifts  of  a  flying  cloud,  rested  for 
a  moment  upon  the  head  of  Lincoln,  and  sur 
rounded  it  as  with  a  halo,  which  was  greeted  with 
murmurs  of  admiration,  and  exclamations  of  de- 
Kght,  from  thousands  of  lips.  It  lasted  but  an 
Distant.  The  deep  shadow  of  a  storm-cloud 
swept  across  the  Capitol,  and  the  vast  crowd  by 
which  it  was  surrounded ;  and  that  head,  which 
a  moment  before  had  been  bright  with  an  un 
natural  lustre,  was  shrouded  now  in  gloom. 


A  month  had  hardly  passed  before  hundred* 
who  saw  the  phei  omenon  were  wondering  whether 
the  tragedy  of  April  had  not  been  dimly  pre 
figured  in  the  flying  clouds  of  that  fitful  day  in 
March. 


INCIDENT  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  SERVICE. — Von 
Borcke,  chic;  of  st<iff  to  General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart, 
in  his  reminiscences  of  the  war,  relates  the  follow 
ing  incident : 

"  During  the  night,  there  came  a  telegram  for 
General  Stuart,  which  I  opened,  with  his  other 
despatches,  and  found  to  contain  the  most  pain 
ful  intelligence.  It  announced  the  death  of  little 
Flora,  our  chiefs  lovely  and  dearly-loved  daugh 
ter,  five  years  of  age  —  the  favorite  of  her  father 
and  of  his  military  family.  This  sweet  child  had 
been  dangerously  ill  for  some  time,  and  more 
than  once  had  Mrs.  Stuart  summoned  her  husband 
to  Flora's  bedside ;  but  she  received  only  the  re 
sponse  of  the  true  soldier:  'My  duty  to  my 
country  must  be  performed  before  I  can  give  way 
to  the  feelings  of  a  father.'  I  went  at  once  to 
acquaint  my  General  with  the  terrible  tidings; 
and  when  I  had  awakened  him,  perceiving,  from 
the  grave  expression  of  my  features,  that  some 
thing  had  gone  wrong,  he  said,  4  What  is  it,  Ma 
jor  ?  Are  the  Yankees  advancing  ? '  I  handed 
him  the  telegram  without  a  word.  He  read  it, 
and,  the  tenderness  of  the  father's  heart  over 
coming  the  firmness  of  the  warrior,  he  threw  his 
arms  around  my  neck,  and  wept  bitter  tears  upon 
my  breast.  My  dear  General  never  recovered 
from  this  cruel  blow.  'Many  a  time  afterwards, 
during  our  rides  together,  he  would  speak  to  me 
of  his  lost  child.  Light  blue  flowers  recalled  her 
to  him.  In  the  glancing  sunbeams  he  caught  the 
golden  tinge  of  her  hair ;  and  whenever  he  saw  a 
child  with  such  eyes  and  hair,  he  could  not  help 
tenderly  embracing  it.  He  thought  of  her  even 
on  his  death-bed,  when,  drawing  me  towards  him, 
le  whispered,  '  My  dear  friend,  I  shall  soon  be 
with  little  Flora  again  ! ' " 


INCIDENTS  c/  GETTYSBURG. — A  soldier  who 
participated  in  the  battle  relates  the  following : 
'  Let  me  mention  something  which  is,  after  all, 
;he  real  occasion  for  the  writing  of  this  letter. 
[  have  a  Bible  taken  from  the  knapsack  of  a  dead 
rebel  which  has  a  history.  On  the  first  cover  of 
the  Bible  (which  fastens  with  a  clasp)  is  the  name 
of  'Miss  Almira  Alice  Wilson,  Presqu'Isle,  Au 
gust  18,  '52  or  '62 '  —  I  cannot  clearly  see  which, 
the  first  leaf  is  the  name  of  '  Moses  C.  Amea, 
or  Amors.'  Upon  the  opposite  page  is  the  name 
of  *  Win.  M.  Nichols,  company  F,  21st  regiment, 
jeorgia  V.  I.,  May  27,  1863.'  Upon  the  last  leaf 
ind  cover  is  written,  '  William  Martin  Nichols' 
Book  ;  picked  up  on  the  battle-field  near  Chan- 
cellorsville,  May  31,  1863.'  To  which  I  have 
added,  '  Taken  from  the  knapsack  of  a  dead  rebel 
at  Warehouse  Hospital,  Gettysburg,  July,  1863.' 
My  theory  is  this  :  Miss  Wilson  gave  the  Bible  to 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


333 


Moses  Ames  ;  Ames,  like  a  loyal  son  of  Maine, 
eniiHted  and  fought  at  Chancellors ville.  Either 
killed,  wounded,  or  a  prisoner,  his  knapsack  was 
Titled  by  a  Georgian  named  Nichols.  Nichols  in 
turc  wa.  wounded  and  captured  at  Gettysburg, 
where  he  dies,  and  the  Bible  falls  into  the  hands 
of  a  nurse  from  Maine,  who  is  anxious  to  restore 
it  10  the  original  owner. 

"  Among  the  wounded  in  the  battle  were  sev 
eral  Germans,  from  a  German  regiment,  and  when 
one  of  them  died  the  boys  proposed  the  German 
chaplain  should  officiate  at  the  funeral.  Accord 
ingly  a  grave  was  dug,  and  the  body,  attended 
by  many  comrades,  was  borne  to  its  last  resting- 
place.  Arriving  there  the  German  chaplain  be 
gan  : 

"  '  Mine  frens,  dis  ish  de  first  time  dis  man 
has  died.9  Observing  a  titter  among  his  au 
dience,  he  began  again  in  a  tone  of  Christian 
severity : 

"  '  Mine  frens,  I  say,  dis  ish  de  first  time  dis 
man  has  died.'  Human  nature  could  bear  no 
more,  and  the  boys  shouted.  Indignant  at  the 
disrespect  shown  him  as  a  minister,  the  chaplain 
turned  round,  pointed  to  the  open  grave,  and 
simply  saying,  *  Stick  him  in,'  marched  away. 
Bemernber  I  do  not  vouch  for  the  story,  but  I 
laughed  over  it  till  I  cried  when  I  heard  it  told." 


A  MARCH  IN  TENNESSEE. — J.  P.  Glezen,  in 
the  story  of  a  march  from  Montgomery  to  Lon 
don,  Tennessee,  relates  the  following  incidents  : 
"  A  tramp  in  these  mountains  at  this  time  (Octo 
ber,  1863)  affords  few  things  calculated  to  cheer 
the  hearts  of  soldiers.  The  ravages  of  war  have 
made  desolation  more  desolate,  and  rendered  the 
poor  inhabitants  more  destitute.  In  some  neigh 
borhoods  we  occasionally  passed  houses  that  were 
tenanted  and  fields  that  were  cultivated.  Some 
times,  however,  we  would  march  all  day  without 
seeing  a  field  or  even  a  garden,  in  cultivation,  or 
a  house  that  was  occupied.  Unoccupied  cabins 
and  uncultivated  fields  are  the  unmistakable  evi 
dences  of  the  fidelity  and  patriotism  of  their  for 
mer  occupants  and  owners.  The  doors  and  win 
dows  of  dwellings  have  been  broken  in,  fences 
have  been  burned,  and  ragweeds  and  briers  have 
taken  the  place  of  corn  and  grain.  Now  and  then 
the  stacks  of  chimneys  and  the  charred  ruins  of 
some  dwelling  mark  the  spot  where  there  once 
lived  a  man  who  revered  the  flag  of  the  Union, 
and  honored  the  government  of  our  fathers ;  and 
for  this  his  dwelling  has  been  consumed  by  the 
torch  of  some  merciless  incendiary,  and  his  fam 
ily  have  been  driven  from  a  comfortable  home,  to 
soek  refuge  in  a  lonely  cavern  among  the  rocks. 
The  inhabitants  themselves,  who  ventured  out  to 
the  road  from  the  different  by-paths  to  see  us 
pass,  looked  as  poor  as  the  country  they  live  in, 
and  a  majority  of  them  appeared  nearly  as  desti 
tute  of  intelligence  as  their  country  is  of  forage. 
At  one  place  three  women  came  to  the  road  to 
get  a  peep  at  the  *  Yanks.'  They  were  all  bare 
footed,  and  each  had  a  pipe  in  her  mouth,  a  baby 


in  her  arms,  and  a  sharp-nosed  dog  following  her. 
But  they  generally  appear  to  be  clever  people, 
and  they  will,  no  doubt,  feel  s  >rry  when  they  re 
ceive  the  painful  intelligence  of  the  death  of  An 
drew  Jackson.  We  occasionally  fell  in  with  brave 
mountaineers,  armed  and  mounted,  who,  being 
animated  with  the  love  of  liberty  that  character 
ized  the  early  inhabitants  of  the  mountains  of 
Switzerland  and  the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  have 
formed  confederate  bands  to  punish  their  tormen 
tors  and  strike  down  their  cruel  invaders. 

"  Near  the  town  of  Montgomery  is  an  extensive 
cave  in  the  mountains,  called  Beatty's  Cave.  In 
that  rich  valley,  Beatty,  the  leader  of  those  moun 
tain  patriots,  is  intrenched  and  fortified,  and 
thousands  of  acres  are  there  cultivated  in  corn 
and  other  grain  for  their  subsistence. 

"  Before  the  late  advance  of  our  army,  Beatty 
kept  pickets  constantly  posted  to  warn  him  of 
the  approach  of  the  enemy,  and  whenever  a  rebel 
force  was  discovered  in  the  vicinity,  the  sound  of 
Beatty's  horn,  the  signal  of  alarm,  was  simulta 
neously  responded  to  by  a  hundred  other  horns 
amongst  the  neighboring  hills,  when  the  mem 
bers  of  the  Union  League  would  start  for  Beatty'a 
cave  for  safety  and  defence.  At  one  time  the 
rebel  cavalry,  fifteen  hundred  strong,  made  an 
assault  on  Beatty  at  this  cave,  whom  he  repulsed 
with  desperate  slaughter.  When  the  pen  of  the 
historian  shall  have  faithfully  recorded  the  chiv 
alrous  deeds  of  '  Tinker  Beatty,'  he  will  be  re 
garded  by  his  countrymen  as  the  '  William  Tell ' 
of  the  Cumberland  Mountains." 


RIP  VAN  WINKLE  IN  VIRGINIA.  —  When  the 
Union  troops  under  McClellan  and  Rosecrans,  in 
the  summer  of  1861,  were  penetrating  the  moun 
tain  region  of  West  Virginia,  as  they  marched 
through  a  quiet  nook  on  the  side  of  Laurel  Ridge, 
they  saw  a  venerable  matron  standing  in  the  door 
of  a  log  cabin. 

One  of  the  men  fell  into  conversation  with  her, 
and  found  her  views  on  the  issues  of  the  day  were 
not  very  well  defined.  At  length  he  said  : 

"  You'/l  not  refuse  to  hurrah  for  Old  Abe,  will 
you,  old  lady  ?  " 

"  Who's  Old  Abe  ?  "  asked  the  dame,  growing 
more  astonished  every  minute. 

"  Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of  the  United 
States." 

«  Why,  hain't  Genrul  Washington  President? " 

"No!  he's  been  dead  for  more  than  sixty 
years." 

"  Genrul  Washington  dead  ?  "  she  repeated  in 
blank  amazement. 

Then,  rushing  into  the  cabin,  she  called,  "  Yeou, 
Sam  !  —  " 

"Well,  what  is  it,  mother ? "  said  a  voice  within. 

In  a  moment  she  reappeared  with  a  boy  of 
fifty,  whom  the  men  afterwards  learned  waa 
her  son. 

"Only  to  think,  Sam,"  she  cried  excitedly, 
"  Genrul  Washington's  dead.  Sakes  alive !  I 
wonder  what's  going  to  happen  next." 


884 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


THE   SLEEPING    SENTINEL. 

BY   FRANCIS    DE    HAE8    JANVIER. 

[The  incidents  woven  into  the  following  beautiful 
verses  relate  to  William  Scott,  a  young  soldier  from 
Vermont,  who,  while  on  duty  as  a  sentinel  at  night,  fell 
asleep,  and,  having  been  condemned  to  die,  was  pardoned 
by  the  President.  They  form  a  brief  record  of  hia  life  at 
home  and  in  the  field,  and  of  his  glorious  death  in  de 
fence  of  the  Union.] 

'TWAS  in  the  sultry  summer-time,  as  war's  red  rec 
ords  show, 

When  patriot  armies  rose  to  meet  a  fratricidal 
foe; 

When  from  the  North,  and  East,  and  West,  like 
the  upheaving  sea, 

Swept  forth  Columbia's  sons,  to  make  our  country 
truly  free. 

Within   a  prison's  dismal  walls,  where   shadows 

veiled  decay, 
In  fetters,  on  a  heap  of  straw,  a  youthful  soldier 

lay; 
Heart-broken,  hopeless,  and  forlorn,  with  short  and 

feverish  breath, 
He  waited  but  th'  appointed  hour  to  die  a  culprit's 

death. 

Yet,  but  a  few  brief  weeks  before,  untroubled  with 
a  care, 

He  roamed  at  will,  and  freely  drew  his  native  moun 
tain  air  — 

Where  sparkling  streams  leap  mossy  rocks,  from 
many  a  woodland  font, 

And  waving  elms  and  grassy  slopes  give  beauty 
to  Vermont;  — 

Where,  dwelling  in  a  humble  cot,  a  tiller  of  the 

soil, 
Encircled  by  a  mother's  love,  he  shared  a  father's 

toil  — 
Till,  borne  upon  the  wailing  winds,  his  suffering 

country's  cry 
Fired  his  young  heart  with  fervent  zeal,  for  her  to 

live  or  die. 

Then  left  he  all :  —  a  few  fond  tears,  by  firmness 
half  concealed, 

A  blessing,  and  a  parting  prayer,  and  he  was  in  the 
field  — - 

The  field  of  strife,  whose  dews  are  blood,  whose 
breezes  war's  hot  breath, 

Whose  fruits  are  garnered  in  the  grave,  whose  hus 
bandman  is  death ! 

Without  a  murmur  he  endured  a  service  new  and 
hard ; 

But,  wearied  with  a  toilsome  march,  it  chanced  one 
night,  on  guard, 

He  sank,  exhausted,  at  his  post,  and  the  gray  morn 
ing  found 

His  prostrate  form  —  a  sentinel  asleep  upon  the 
ground ! 

So,  in  the  silence  of  the  night,  aweary  on  the  sod, 

Sank  the  disciples,  watching  near  the  suffering  Son 
of  God ; 

Yet  Jesus,  with  compassion  moved,  beheld  then- 
heavy  eyes, 

And,  though  betrayed  to  ruthless  foes,  forgiving, 
bade  them  rise  I 


But  God  is  love  —  and  finite  minds  can  faintly1  com 

prehend 
How  gentle  Mercy, 'in  Hid  rule,  may  with  stern 

Justice  blend ; 
And  this  poor  soldiei,  seized  and  bound,  fountf 

none  to  justify, 
While  war's  inexorable  law  decreed  that  he  must 

die. 


'Twas  night.  — In  a  secluded  room,  with  measured 

tread  and  slow, 
A  statesman  of  commanding  mien  paced  gravely 

to  and  fro. 
Oppressed,  he  pondered  on  a  land  by  civil  discord 

rent; 
On  brothers  armed  in  deadly  strife  :  —  it  was  the 

President ! 

The  woes  of  thirty  millions  filled  his  burdened 
heart  with  grief; 

Embattled  hosts,  on  land  and  sea,  acknowledged 
him  their  chief; 

And  yet,  amid  the  din  of  war,  he  heard  the  plain 
tive  cry 

Of  that  poor  soldier,  as  he  lay  in  prison,  doomed 
to  die! 


'Twas  morning.  —  On  a  tented  field,  and  through 
the  heated  haze, 

Flashed  back,  from  lines  of  burnished  arms,  tha 
sun's  effulgent  blaze ; 

While,  from  a  sombre  prison-house,  seen  slowly  to 
emerge, 

A  sad  procession,  o'er  the  sward,  moved  to  a  muf 
fled  dirge. 

And  in  the  midst,  with  /altering  step,  and  pale  and 

anxious  face, 
In  manacles,  between  two  guards,  a  soldier  had  his 

place. 
A  youth  —  led  out  to  die ;  —  and  yet  it  was  not 

death,  but  shame, 
That  smote  his  gallant  hsart  with  dread,  and  shook 

his  manly  frame ! 

Still  on,  before  the  marshalled  ranks,  the  train  pur 
sued  its  way 

Up  to  the  designated  spot,  whereon  a  coffin  lay  — 

His  coffin !  And,  with  reeling  brain,  despairing, 
desolate  — 

He  took  his  station  by  its  side,  abandoned  to  his 
fate  I 

Then  came  across  his  wavering  sight  strange  pic 
tures  in  the  air : 

He  saw  his  distant  mountain  home;  he  saw  his 
parents  there ; 

He  saw  them  bowed  with  hopeless  gr?ef,  through 
fast  declining  years ; 

He  saw  a  nameless  grave;  and  then,  the  vision 
closed  —  in  tears  ! 

Yet  once  again.    In  double  file,  advancing,  then, 

he  saw 
Twelve  comrades,  sternly  set  apart  to  execute  the 

law  — 
But  saw  no  more: — his  senses  swam  —  deep  dark- 

ness  settled  round  — 
And,  shuddering,  he  awaited  now  the  fatal  volley's 

sound  I 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


385 


Then  suddenly  was  heard  the  noise  of  steeds  and 

wheels  approach, — 
And,  rolling  through  a  cloud  of  dust,  appeared  a 

stately  coach. 
On,  past  the  guards,  and  through  the  field,  its  rapid 

cour.-e  was  b.nt, 
Till,  halting,  'mid  the  lines  was  seen  the  nation's 

President ! 

Hv  rame  to  save  that  stricken  soul,  now  waking 
from  despair; 

And  from  a  thousand  voices  rose  a  shout  which 
rent  the  air ! 

The  pardoned  soldier  understood  the  tones  of  ju 
bilee, 

And,  bounding  from  his  fetters,  blessed  the  hand 
that  made  him  free ! 


Twas  Spring.  —  Within  a  verdant  vale,  where 
Warwick's  crystal  tide 

Reflected,  o'er  its  peaceful  breast,  fair  fields  on 
either  side : 

Where  birds  and  flowers  combined  to  cheer  a  syl 
van  solitude, 

Two  threatening  armies,  face  to  face,  in  fierce  defi 
ance  stood! 

Two  threatening  armies !  One  invoked  by  injured 
Liberty  — 

Which  bore  above  its  patriot  ranks  the  symbol  of 
the  Free ; 

A  n  i  one,  a  rebel  horde,  beneath  a  flaunting  flag  of 
bars, 

A  fragment,  torn  by  traitorous  hands  from  Free 
dom's  Stripes  and  Stars ! 

A  sudden  burst  of  smoke  and  flame,  from  many  a 
thundering  gun, 

Proclaimed,  along  the  echoing  hills,  the  conflict  had 
begun ; 

While  shot  and  shell  athwart  the  stream  with  fiend 
ish  fury  sped, 

To  strew  among  the  living  lines  the  dying  and  the 
dead  ! 

Then,  louder  than  the  roaring  stTm,  pealed  forth 
the  stern  command, 

"  Charge  !  soldiers,  charge  ! "  anJ,  at  the  word, 
with  shouts,  a  fearless  band, 

Two  hundred  heroes  from  Vermont,  rushed  on 
ward,  through  the  flood, 

And  upward,  o'er  the  rising  ground,  they  marked 
their  way  in  blood! 

The  smitten  foe  before  them  fled,  in  terror,  from 
his  post  — 

While,  uiisustaincd,  two  hundred  stood,  to  battle 
with  a  host ! 

Then,  turning,  as  the  rallying  ranks,  with  murder 
ous  fire  replied, 

They  bore  the  fallen  o'er  the  field,  and  through 
the  purple  tide ! 

The  fallen  !  And  the  first  who  fell  in  that  unequal 
strife 

Was  he  whom  Mercy  sped  to  save  when  Justice 
claimed  his  life  — 

The  pardoned  soldier !  And,  while  yet  the  con 
flict  raged  around  — 

While  yet  his  life-blood  ebbed  away  through  every 
gaping  wound  — 

25 


While  yet  his  voice  grew  tremulous,  and  death  be- 

dimmed  his  eye  — 
He  called  his  comrades  to  attest  he  had  not  feared 

to  die  ! 
And,  in  his  last  expiring  breath,  a  prayer  to  heaven 

was  sent, 
That  God,  with  his  unfailing  grace,   would  bless 

our  President ! 


ON  TIIE  BATTLEFIELD.  —  A  correspondent 
of  a  Southern  paper  gives  the  following  descrip 
tion  of  the  feelings  of  a  soldier  for  the  first  time 
on  a  battle-field  : 

"  No  person  w;  o  was  not  upon  the  ground, 
and  an  eye-wiV.iess  of  the  stirring  scenes  which 
there  transpired,  can  begin  to  comprehend  from 
a  description  the  terrible  realities  of  a  battle ; 
and  even  those  who  participated  are  competent 
to  speak  only  of  their  own  personal  experience. 
Where  friends  and  foes  are  falling  by  scores,  and 
every  species  of  missile  is  flying  through  the  air, 
threatening  each  instant  to  send  one  into  eterni 
ty,  little  time  is  afforded  for  more  observation  or 
reflection  than  is  required  for  personal  safety. 

"  The  scene  is  one  of  the  most  exciting  and 
exhilarating  that  can  be  conceived.  Imagine  a 
regiment  passing  you  at  *  double-quick,'  the  men 
cheering  with  enthusiasm,  their  teeth  set,  their  eyes 
flashing,  and  the  whole  in  a  frenzy  of  resolution. 
You  accompany  them  to  the  field.  They  halt. 
And  aid-de-cam])  passes  to  or  from  the  command 
ing  General.  The  clear  voices  of  officers  ring 
along  the  line  in  tones  of  passionate  eloquence, 
their  words  hot,  thrilling,  and  elastic.  The  word 
is  given  to  march,  and  the  body  moves  into 
action.  For  the  first  time  in  your  life  you  listen 
to  the  whizzing  of  iron.  Grape  and  canister  fly 
into  the  ranks,  bombshells  .burst  overhead,  arid 
the  fragments  fly  all  around  you.  A  friend  falls; 
perhaps  a  dozen  or  twenty  of  your  comrades  lie 
wounded  or  dying  at  your  feet ;  a  .strange,  invol 
untary  shrinking  steals  over  you,  which  it  is  im 
possible  to  resist.  You  feel  inclined  neither  to 
advance  nor  recede,  but  are  spell-bound  by  the 
contending  emotions  of  the  moral  and  physical 
man.  The  check  blanches,  the  lip  quivers,  and 
the  eye  almost  hesitates  to  look  upon  the  scene. 

*•  In  this  attitude  you  may,  perhaps,  be  ordered 
to  stand  an  hour  inactive,  havoc  meanwhile  mark 
ing  its  footsteps  with  blood  on  every  side.  Finally 
the  order  is  given  to  advance,  to  fire,  or  to  charge. 
And  now,  what  a  metamorphosis !  With  your 
first  shot  you  become  a  new  man.  Personal 
safety  is  your  least  concern.  Fear  hiyi  no  exist 
ence  in  your  bosom.  Hesitation  gives  way  to  an 
uncontrollable  desire  to  rush  into  the  thickest 
of  the  fight.  The  dead  and  dying  around  you4 
if  they  receive  a  passing  thought,  only  serve  to 
stimulate  you  to  revenge.  You  become  cool  and 
deliberate,  and  watch  the  effect  of  bullets,  the 
shower  of  bursting  shells,  the  passage  of  cannon- 
balls  as  they  rake  their  murderous  channels 
through  your  ranks,  the  plunging  of  wounded 
horses,  the  agonies  of  the  dying,  and  the  clash 
of  contending  arms,  which  follows  the  dashing; 


386 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


charge  with  a  feeling  so  calloused  by  surrounding 
circumstances  that  your  soul  seems  dead  to  every 
sympathizing  and  selfish  thought. 

"  Such  is  the  spirit  which  carries  the  soldier 
through  the  field  of  battle.  But  when  the  excite 
ment  has  passed,  when  the  roll  of  musketry  has 
ceased,  the  noisy  voices  of  the  cannons  are  stilled, 
the  dusky  pall  of  sulphurous  smoke  has  risen 
fiom  the  field,  and  you  stroll  over  the  theatre  of 
carnage,  hearing  the  groans  of  the  wounded,  dis 
covering  here,  shattered  almost  beyond  recogni 
tion,  the  form  of  some  dear  friend  whom  only  an 
hour  before  you  met  in  the  full  flush  of  life  and 
happiness,  there  another  perforated  by  a  bullet, 
a  third  with  a  limb  shot  &way,  a  fourth  with  his 
face  disfigured,  a  fifth  almost  torn  to  fragments, 
a  sixth  a  headless  corpse,  the  ground  ploughed 
up  and  stained  with  blood,  human  brains  splayed 
around,  limbs  without  bodies  and  bodies  without 
limbs  scattered  here  and  there,  and  the  same  pic 
ture  duplicated  scores  of  times,  —  then  you  begin 
to  realize  the  horrors  of  war,  and  experience  a 
reaction  of  nature.  The  heart  opens  its  flood 
gates,  humanity  asserts  herself  again,  arid  you 
begin  to  feel. 

"  Friend  arid  foe  alike  now  receive  your  kindest 
ministerings.  The  enemy,  whom,  but  a  short  time 
before,  full  of  hate,  you  were  doing  all  in  your 
power  to  kill,  you  now  endeavor  to  save.  You 
supply  him  with  water  to  quench  his  thirst,  with 
food  to  sustain  his  strength,  and  with  sympathiz 
ing  words  to  soothe  his  troubled  mind.  All  that 
is  human  or  charitable  in  your  nature  now  rises 
to  the  surface,  and  you  are  animated  by  that 
spirit  of  mercy  '  which  blesseth  him  that  gives 
and  him  that  takes.'  A  battle-field  is  eminently 
a  place  that  tries  men's  souls." 


THE  FIGHT  AT  KELLEY'S  ISLAND.  —  Colonel 
Wallace  had  been  accustomed  to  send  his  mount 
ed  scouts  to  different  posts  along  the  several 
approaches  to  Cumberland.  There  were  only 
thirteen  of  the  scouts  ;  but  they  were  picked  men, 
who,  from  such  practice,  had  become  accustomed 
to  their  peculiar  duty.  The  following  are  their 
names  and  companies: 

Company  A  —  I).  B.  Hay,  E.  H.  Backer.  Com 
pany  B  —  Ed.  Burkett,  J.  C.  Hollenback.  Compa 
ny  C — Tim.  Grover,  James  Hollowell.  Company 
D  —  Thos.  Brazier.  Company  E —  Geo.  W.  Hue- 
bargar.  Company  F  —  Lewis  Farley.  Company 
H  —  Frank  Harrison.  Company  I  —  P.  M.  Dun- 
lap.  Company  K  —  Robt.  Dunlap,  E.  P.  Thomas. 

On  the  27th  of  June,  1861,  the  Colonel 
found  it  impossible  to  get  reliable  information 
of  the  enemy.  Uniting  the  scouts  in  a  body,  he 
gave  them  in  charge  of  Corporal  D.  B.  Hay,  with 
directions  to  proceed  to  a  little  town  on  the  pike 
from  Cumberland  to  Romney,  named  Frankfort, 
and  ascertain  if  rebel  troops  were  there. 

Hay  was  sharp,  cunning,  and  bold  —  the  very 
man  for  the  business.  Filling  their  canteens  and 
haversacks,  the  brave  men  strapped  their  rifles 
on  their  backs,  and  started  on  their  mission. 
Their  horses  were  of  the  class  now  knowr.  as 


condemned.  Hay's  was  the  only  good  one.  Ho 
had  some  reputation  as  a  racer,  and  went  by  the 
name  of  "  Silverheels.  "  His  rider  had  captured 
him  in  a  scuffle  a  few  days  before,  and  prized 
him  highly  as  a  trophy.  All  the  rest  had  been 
impressed  into  the  service,  and  now  made  sai 
profert  of  their  ribs  by  way  of  protest  agiiinst 
their  usage. 

A  rumor  passed  tl  rough  the  camp  that  morn 
ing  that  Hay  was  going  to  fight  before  he  re 
turned.  His  procedure  was  certainly  that  of  a 
man  in  search  of  one.  He  took  the  turnpike  to 
Romney,  and  never  drew  rein,  until,  from  a  little 
eminence,  he  looked  down  into  the  straggling 
village  of  Frankfort.  The  street  was  full  of  in 
fantry.  The  horses  picketed  about  indicated  a 
large  body  of  cavalry.  Most  men  would  have 
been  anxious,  after  that  sight,  to  return  to  camp 
as  quickly  as  possible.  Not  so  Hay  and  his  com 
rades.  Sitting  on  their  horses,  they  coolly  made 
up  their  estimate  of  the  enemy's  number,  and 
when  they  were  perfectly  agreed  on  the  point, 
turned  about,  and  rode  leisurely  away.  On  the 
return,  they  took  another  road  very  much  broken, 
and  which,  threading  among  the  hills,  after  many 
devious  windings,  finally  brought  up  to  the  track 
of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad.  The  taking 
of  this  road  was  a  mere  freak  of  fancy.  It  wts 
by  no  means  the  shortest  to  camp,  nor  was  ita 
exploration  of  any  probable  use ;  yet  it  led  to  a 
fight;  and  if  the  scouts  had  known  that  before 
hand,  it  is  not  likely  they  would  have  changed 
their  course.  Three 'or  four  miles  from  Frank 
fort,  while  descending  a  mountain  side,  after  turn 
ing  a  sharp  elbow  in  the  road,  the  men  came 
suddenly  upon  a  party  of  rebel  cavalry.  Each 
instinctively  drew  his  bridle  rein,  and  for  an 
instant  halted.  Rapidly  they  commenced  count 
ing. 

"  Forty-one  of  them,  boys  ! "  cried  Hay,  turn 
ing  in  his  saddle.  "What  do  you  say?  Will 
you  stand  by  me  ?  " 

"  Go  in,  Dave,"  was  the  unanimous  vote. 

It  took  but  a  moment  to  unsling  their  rifles. 

"Are  you  ready?"  asked  Hay. 

"  All  ready,"  they  replied. 

"  Come  on,  then,''  shouted  the  leader.  4<  The 
best  horse  gets  the  first  man  !  " 

With  the  last  word  they  were  off. 

It  happened  the  rebels  themselves  wepe  going 
in  the  same  direction.  They  were  also  somewhat 
below  them  in  the  descent  of  the  road.  With  his 
usual  shrewdness,  and  quick  as  thought,  Hay 
grasped  his  advantage  of  position.  An  abrupt 
declivity  on  the  left  of  the  narrow  road  made  it 
impossible  for  the  enemy  to  form  line.  Neither 
could  the  rebels  turn  and  charge  up  hill.  They 
must  go  on  to  escape.  If  they  stopped,  "  Silver- 
heels  "  would  go  through  like  a  thunderbolt. 

The  rebels  heard  the  shout,  and,  in  surprise, 
halted  and  took  a  look.  The  sight,  under  or 
dinary  circumstances,  would  ha-\  e  been  interest 
ing  to  them.  Not  seventy-five  yards  behind, 
they  saw  Hay  and  his  party  galloping  down  the 
decline  at  break-neck  speed  ;  their  glance  rested 
briefly  ca  the  little  jackets,  and  big  gray  breeches, 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


387 


on  the  short,  brown  rifles  shaken  menacingly 
over  the  scarlet-tipped  caps,  and  on  the  straining 
horr.es  ;  their  ears  recognized  the  yell  of  pursuit ; 
and  then  they  staid  not  on  their  order  of  going. 
What  they  said,  and  whether  they  counted  the 
assailants,  we  know  not ;  but  they  began  a  retreat 
that  soon  took  the  form  of  a  promiscuous  fox 
chase,  except  that  the  shouts,  which  momentarily 
neared  them,  had  little  likeness  to  the  joyous 
halloo  of  hunters. 

Hay  led  the  pursuit ;  Farley  was  next ;  the 
others  followed  as  best  they  could ;  not  one  hung 
back.  It  is  to  be  doubted  whether  in  his  best 
days  "  Silverheels  "  had  made  better  t!  ne.  A 
short  distance  from  the  foot  of  the  hill  he  over 
took  the  rebels.  Just  before  the  collision,  Hay 
rose  in  his  stirrups,  and  fired  his  rifle  into  the 
party.  He  was  so  close  that  to  miss  would  have 
been  an  accident.  Swinging  the  weapon  round 
his  head,  he  hurled  it  at  the  nearest  man,  and  the 
next  moment,  with  drawn  pistol,  plunged  furi 
ously  amidst  them.  They  closed  around  him. 
The  pistol  shooting  became  sharp  and  quick. 
Hay  received  one  wound,  and  then  another,  but 
for  each  one  he  killed  a  man.  When  his  revolver 
was  empty,  he  drew  his  sabre  bayonet.  The  rebel 
Captain  gave  him  from  behind  a  heavy  cut  on  the 
head.  Still  he  sat  on  his  horse,  and,  though 
weakened  by  the  blow,  and  half  blind  with  blood, 
he  laid  out  right  and  left.  He  fared  illy  enough, 
but  it  would  have  been  worse,  had  not  Farley 
then  come  up,  ana  pitched  loyally  into  the  mtl&e. 
Close  at  his  heels,  but  singly  or  doubly,  according 
to  the  speed  of  their  horses,  rode  all  the  rest. 
The  rebel  Captain  was  shot  before  he  could  re 
peat  his  sabre  blow.  Farley  was  dismounted  by 
the  shock  of  the  collision.  He  clinched  a  foe- 
man  in  like  situation ;  a  struggle  ensued ;  he 
was  thrown,  but  his  antagonist  was  knocked 
down  by  young  Hollowell  before  he  could  use 
his  victory.  Farley  caught  another  horse.  The 
eager  onset  relieved  Hay,  and  again  started  the 
rebels,  who,  in  their  flight,  took  to  the  railroad. 
Not  a  moment  was  allowed  them  to  turn  upon 
their  pursuers.  Over  the  track  helter-skelter 
they  went.  Suddenly  they  came  to  a  burnt  cul 
vert.  It  was  too  late  to  dodge  it :  over  or  into 
it  they  had  to  go.  Eight  men  were  killed  in  the 
attempt  to  cross  it.  Hay,  in  close  pursuit,  saw 
the  leap  just  as  it  was  unavoidable.  "  Silver- 
heels  "  in  his  turn  cleared  the  culvert,  but  fell 
dead  a  few  yards  beyond.  The  chase  ended  there. 
When  his  comrades  crossed  over,  they  found  Hay 
sitting  by  his  horse  crying  like  a  child,  on  ac 
count  of  his  death. 

The  scouts  then  proceeded  to  collect  the  spoils. 
When  they  were  all  in,  the  net  proceeds  of  the 
victory  were  seventeen  horses,  with  their  equip 
ments,  and  eleven  dead  rebels  —  three  on  the 
hill-side  and  eight  in  the  culvert.  Hay  remounted 
himself,  and  started  with  the  party  for  Cumber 
land.  It  may  be  imagined  with  what  satisfaction 
the  brave  victors  pictured  to  each  other  their 
triumphal  entry  into  camp.  After  going  a  few 
miles  Hay  became  so  faint  from  loss  of  blood  that 
he  had  to  be  taken  out  of  his  saddle.  The  dilem 


ma  in  which  they  found  themselves  was  settled 
by  sending  two  of  their  number  to  a  farm-house 
for  a  wagon ;  meantime  they  laid  their  leader  in  the 
shade,  and  brought  water  for  him  from  the  river. 
While  they  were  thus  nursing  him  back  lo 
strength,  a  fire  was  suddenly  opened  upon  them 
from  a  hill  on  the  left.  This  was  a  surprise,  bur 
their  coolness  did  not  desert  them.  Hay  bade 
them  put  him  on  a  Lorse,  and  leave  him  to  take  cai  e 
of  himself.  They  complied :  clinging  painfully  to 
the  saddle,  he  forded  the  Potomac  and  was  safe. 
The  others  could  probably  have  saved  themselves, 
but  in  a  f^o.ish  effort  to  save  their  horses,  they 
lost  the  opportunity.  Farley  then  became  leader. 

"  Let  the  horses  go,  and  give  the  rebels  thun 
der,"  was  his  simple,  emphatic  order. 

The  fire  thickening  on  them  was  then  returned. 
Years  before  Farley  had  lost  one  of  his  eyes ; 
the  sound  one,  however,  was  now  admirably  used. 
He  saw  the  rebels  were  trying  to  surround  the 
party,  and  would  succeed  if  better  cover  was  not 
soon  found.  Behind  them  ran  Patterson's  Creek. 
The  ground  on  its  opposite  shore  was  scarcely 
higher  than  that  which  they  occupied,  but  it  was 
covered  with  rocks  washed  naked  by  the  flowing 
stream.  Farley  saw  that  to  get  there  would  be  a 
good  exchange. 

"  It's  a  pretty  slim  chance,  boys,"  he  coolly  said, 
"  but  it  won't  do  to  give  in  or  stay  here.  Let's 
make  a  rush  for  the  big  rocks  yonder,  and  get 
the  creek  between  them  and  us." 

The  rush  was  made ;  under  a  sharp  fire  they 
crossed  the  creek,  and  took  shelter  behind  the 
boulders.  Ten  of  them  were  there,  but,  to  use 
their  own  language,  they  were  all  "  sound  as  new 
fifty-cent  pieces,  and  not  whipped  by  a  long 
sight."  ^ 

Peeping  over  the  rocks,  they  counted  over  sev 
enty  rebels  on  foot  making  at  full  speed  for  the 
creek,  evidently  with  the  intention  of  crossing  it. 
Each  one  felt  that  the  trial  had  come. 

"  Look  out  now,  and  don't  waste  a  cartridge. 
Recollect  they  are  scarce,"  said  Thomas. 

"  Yes,  and  recollect  I?uena  Vista,"  said  Hol 
lowell. 

The  first  rebel  entered  the  creek  before  a  gun 
was  fired,  so  perfectly  culm  were  those  ten  men. 
Then  crack,  crack,  in  quick  succession,  went  the 
rifles,  scarcely  a  bullet  failing  in  its  mark.  The 
assailants  recoiled,  ran  back,  and  finding  cover  as 
best  they  could,  began  the  exciting  play  of  sharp 
shooters.  This  practice  continued  for  more  than 
an  hour.  The  sun  went  down  on  it.  About  that 
time,  a  small  party  of  horsemen  galloped  down 
the  road,  and  hitching  their  horses,  joined  the 
enemy.  One  of  the  new  comers  made  himself 
conspicuous  by  refusing  to  take  to  the  ground. 
Walking  about,  as  if  in  contempt  of  the  iniriiea 
which  were  sent  whistling  round  him,  he  gave 
directions  which  resulted  in  another  sudden  (Irish 
for  the  creek.  Again  the  rifls  went  crack,  crack, 
in  quick  succession,  and  with  the  same  fatal  con 
sequence  :  but  this  time  the  rebels  had  a  leader  ; 
men  were  seen  to  fall  in  the  water,  but  there  was 
no  second  recoil ;  the  obstncti  »ns  were  cleared  in 
tLe  face  of  the  rifles,  and  vith  much  cursing  and 


388 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


shouting  the  attacking  party  closed  in  upon  the 
Zouaves. 

The  fight  was  hand-to-hand.  No  amount  of 
courage  could  be  effective  against  the  great  odds 
at  Buch  close  quarters.  Nevertheless,  all  that 
vras  possible  was  done.  Night  was  rapidly  closing 
a]; on  the  scene;  over  the  rocks,  and  through  the 
tangled  thicket,  and  in  the  fading  twilight,  the 
struggle  for  revenge  and  life  went  on.  There 
was  heroism  on  both  sides  ;  that  of  the  Zouaves 
was  matchless,  because  it  was  in  no  small  degree 
the  prompting  of  despair. 

Farley  found  himself  again  engaged  with  the 
leader  of  the  rebels,  a  man  of  as  much  strength 
as  courage.  Hollowell  saved  his  life  at  the  cost 
of  his  riile,  but  snatching  the  dead  man's  pistols, 
he  resumed  the  fight.  The  pistols  were  brought 
in+o  camp,  and  next  morning  presented  to  the 
young  hero  by  the  Colonel. 

Thomas  killed  two  by  rifle  shots  ;  while  loading 
a  third  time,  he  was  struck  by  a  pistol  ball  on 
the  side  of  the  temple,  and  fell  senseless.  A  man 
in  the  act  of  striking  him  with  a  sabre  was  shot 
through  by  Grover,  and  died  on  Thomas.  It  was 
dark  when  Thomas  recovered.  Hearing  no- sound 
of  fighting,  he  pushed  the  dead  body  from  him, 
secured  his  rifle,  and  hid  himself  in  vines  and 
bushes.  In  a  little  while  the  rebels  came  to  re 
move  the  dead.  He  saw  them  carry  thirteen 
bodies  across  the  creek.  In  searching  'the  island 
they  found  Hollenback,  who  had  been  shot 
through  the  body.  Thomas  heard  the  exclama 
tion  announcing  the  discovery. 

"  Here's  a  Yankee ! "  was  the  shout. 

v<  Kill  him,  kill  him  ! "  arose  on  all  sides. 

"  Come,  get  out  of  this  ! "  said  a  strong  voice. 

"  I  can't,  I'm  shot,"  feebly  protested  Hollen 
back. 

Yet  they  made  him  rise,  and  wade  the  creek. 
When  all  was  still,  Thomas  escaped  by  wading 
and  swimming  the  Potomac. 

Baker  and  Dunlap,  of  company  I,  the  men 
sent  for  the  wagon,  hearing  the  second  engage 
ment,  galloped  with  ail  speed  to  camp,  and  re 
ported.  The  regiment  was  on  drill  when  they 
arrived.  Fifty  men,  under  Major  Robinson,  were 
instantly  detailed  to  go  to  the  rescue.  When 
the  detachment  reached  the  edge  of  the  town  it 
was  swelled  to  two  hundred  :  the  guards  found  it 
impossible  to  keep  the  Zouaves  in  the  lines.  The 
relief  travelled  fast,  but  arrived  too  late.  The 
island  was  deserted.  Pistols,  broken  guns,  dead 
horses,  and  rocks  stained  with  blood,  told  the 
story. 

The  detail  returned  late  in  the  night.  Early 
next  morning,  two  companies,  under  Major  Rob 
inson,  were  sent  down  to  search  for  .some  of  the 
missing  men  and  property,  and  bury  such  dead 
as  they  might  find.  In  the  afternoon  the  Major 
came  back  with  some  trophies,  eight  horses,  and 
poor  Hollenback.  He  had  found  Hollenback  ly 
ing  on  a  farmer's  porch,  dead,  but  warm  and 
bleeding,  with  a  bullet  hole  and  a  bayonet  thrust 
through  his  body.  The  woman  of  the  house 
told  Major  Robinson  how  he  died. 

"  The  man  wasn't  dead  when  they  brought  him 


here,"  she  said  ;  "  but  a  little  while  ago,  when 
they  heard  you  coming,  they  set  him  on  a  horse 
to  take  him  off  with  them  ;  but  he  fainted :  he 
couldn't  stand  it.  A  man  then  stuck  a  bayonet 
into  his  back." 

The  Major  glanced  at  tr.e  porch,  and  observed 
blood  on  the  floor. 

"  Did  they  bring  anybody  else  here,  madam  ?  " 
he  asked. 

"  O,  yes !  I  reckon  tiey  did.  Me  and  my  man 
came  out  while  they  were  at  work,  and  we  count 
ed  twenty-three  men  laid  out,  side  by  sido,  on 
the  porch  there.  Two  cr  three  of  them  were 
wounded.  I  heard  some  one  say  that  they  had 
brought  some  of  the  dead  men  down  the  railroad. 
Ashby  was  one  of  the  wounded." 

The  Ashby  alluded  to  was  a  brother  of  the 
Colonel  Ashby  of  Black  Horse  Cavalry  renown. 
He  afterwards  died  of  his  wounds. 

By  five  o'clock  the  day  after  the  fight  the  scouts 
were  all  in  camp.  They  straggled  in  one  by  one. 
Citizens  and  soldiers  turned  out  to  receive  them. 
Never  did  returning  heroes  have  more  sympa 
thizing  and  admiring  audiences.  Thomas  showed 
the  kiss  of  the  bullet  on  his  temple.  Baker  wore 
the  cap  of  a  rebel  —  his  own  had  been  shot  off 
his  head.  Dunlop  had  three  bullet  holes  through 
his  shirt.  Hollowell  exhibited  his  captured  pis 
tols  and  broken  rifle.  Farley  yet  retained  the 
handle  of  his  sabre  bayonet,  shivered  in  the  fray. 
Several  of  the  men  testified  to  his  killing  sis 
enemies  with  his  own  hand.  Not  a  man  but  had 
some  proofs  of  the  engagement,  such  as  torn 
clothes  and  bruised  body.  But  Hay  was  the 
hero.  Three  ghastly  wounds  entitled  him  to  the 
honor. 

The  final  escape  of  each  had  beon  in  the  same 
manner.  Finding  themselves  overpowered  and 
separated,  each  one,  at  the  first  opportunity,  had 
abandoned  the  battle  ground,  which  proved  to  be 
Kelley's  Island,  at  the  mouth  of  Patterson's 
Creek,  and  plunging  into  the  river,  succeeded  in 
crossing  it.  The  enemy  followed  to  the  canal,  on 
the  northern  side. 

Hollenback  was  buried  in  the  cemetery.  A 
more  solemn  funeral  never  took  place  in  the  old 
town.  The  sorrow  was  universal.  Loyal  men 
thought : 

"  To  every  man  upon  this  earth 
Death  cometh  soon  or  late  ; 
And  where  can  man  die  better 
Than  facing  fearful  odds, 
For  the  ashes  of  his  fathers, 
And  the  temples  of  his  Gods  ! " 

Indiana's  Roll  of  Honor. 


INCIDENT  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  —  On  the  first 
day  of  the  engagement,  Captain  Ogan,  of  com 
pany  K,  Fourteenth  Ohio  regiment,  was  taken 
prisoner  by  the  rebels.  As  they  were  approach 
ing  their  lines,  the  idea  of  practising  a  little 
finesse,  or  military  stratagem,  suggested  itself; 
so,  pretending  to  be  highly  gratified  with  the 
idea  of  being  a  prisoner,  he  told  his  captors  that 
this  was  what  he  wanted  —  that  he  had  long  be«n 


The  wounded  as  he  passed  them  looked  up  and  gave  a  cheer. — Page  389. 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


389 


anxious  to  get  out  of  the  war,  and  was  well  sat 
isfied  with  that  mode  of  getting  out.  "  But/" 
said  he,  "  you  are  taking  me  right  back  into  the 
Federal  lines."  They,  supposing  they  had  be 
come  confused  in  the  heat  and  hurry  of  the 
movement,  turned  around,  and  carried  him  back 
within  the  Federal  lines,  when  it  became  his  turn 
to  reciprocate  by  capturing  his  captors,  and  com 
manding  them  to  deliver  up  their  arms,  which 
they  did  in  a  very  gracious  manner,  taking  their 
places  among  the  rebel  prisoners. 

General  Steedman  won  great  praise  for  his  gal 
lantry  on  the  field.  His  horse  was  shot  from  un 
der  him,  and  in  the  fall  his  hand  became  seri 
ously  injured.  Upon  rising,  he  discovered  some 
of  his  men  straggling  from  his  division,  when  he 
commenced  pelting  them  with  stones,  driving 
them  back  to  their  work  —  concluding  that  if 
words  would  not  do,  he  would  try  the  virtues  of 
harder  material.  For  a  long  time  he  held  the 
Union  colors  in  his  own  hand,  in  the  heat  of  the 
conflict. 

Colonel  P.  P.  Baldwin,  of  the  Sixth  Indiana, 
commanding  a  brigade,  fell  from  his  horse 
in  the  earlier  part  of  the  engagement,  badly 
wounded.  He  had  seized  a  flag,  which  had  fallen 
from  the  hands  of  one  of  his  slain  Color-Ser 
geants,  and,  waving  it  aloft,  amid  the  confusion, 
shot,  and  shell  of  the  enemy,  was  gallantly  lead 
ing  his  brigade  to  meet  a  charge  of  the  enemy, 
when  he  fell,  wounded,  between  the  two  lines. 


THE  LITTLE  DRUMMER. 
A  SOLDIER'S  STORY. 

BY   R.    H.    8TODDAB.D. 
I. 

Tis  of  a  little  drummer, 

The  story  I  shall  tell, 
Of  how  he  marched  to  battle, 

And  all  that  there  befell, 
Out  in  the  West  with  Lyon 

(For  once  the  name  was  true). 
For  whom  the  little  drummer  beat 

His  rat-tat-too. 


Our  army  rose  at  midnight, 

Ten  thousand  men  as  one, 
Each  slinging  on  his  knapsack, 

And  snatching  up  his  gun  : 
«« Forward  !  "  and  off  they  started. 

As  all  good  soldiers  do, 
When  the  little  drummer  beats  for  them 

The  rat-tat-too. 

in. 

Across  a  rolling  country, 

Where  the  mist  began  to  rise, 
Past  many  a  blackened  farm-house, 

Till  the  sun  was  in  the  skies, 
Then  we  met  the  rebel  pickets, 

Who  skirmished  and  withdrew, 
While  the  little  drummer  beat  and  beat 

The  rat-tat-too. 


Along  the  wooded  hollows 

The  line  of  battle  ran  ; 
Our  centre  poured  a  volley, 

And  the  fight  at  once  began  ; 
For  the  rebels  answered  shouting, 

And  a  shower  of  bullets  flew ; 
But  still  the  little  drummer  beat 

His  rat-tat  too. 


He  stood  airing  his  comrades, 

As  they  quickly  formed  the  line, 
And  when  they  raised  their  musketi 

He  watched  the  barrels  shine ! 
When  the  volley  rang,  he  started  ! 

For  war  to  him  was  new  ; 
But  still  the  little  drummer  beat 

His  rat-tat-too. 


It  was  a  sight  to  see  them, 

That  early  autumn  day, 
Our  soldiers  in  their  blue  coats, 

And  the  rebel  ranks  in  gray : 
The  smoke  that  rolled  between  thecr 

The  balls  that  whistled  through, 
And  the  little  drummer  as  he  beat 

His  rat-tat-too  ! 


His  comrades  dropped  around  him  — 

By  fives  and  tens  they  fell, 
Some  pierced  by  minie  bullets, 

Some  torn  by  shot  and  shell ; 
They  played  against  our  cannon, 

And  a  caisson's  splinters  flew  ; 
But  still  the  little  drummer  beat 

His  rat-tat-too  ! 


The  right,  tne  left,  the  centre  — 

The  fight  was  everywhere  : 
They  pushed  us  here  —  we  wavered 

We  drove  and  broke  them  there. 
The  gray-backs  fixed  their  bayonets, 

And  charged  the  coats  of  blue, 
But  still  the  little  drummer  beat 

His  rat-tat-too  ! 

IX. 

"  Where  is  our  little  drumir  er  ?  " 

His  nearest  comrades  say, 
When  the  dreadful  fight  is  over, 

And  the  smoke  has  cleared  away 
As  the  rebel  corps  was  scattering 

He  urged  them  to  pursue, 
So  furiously  he  beat  and  beat 

The  rat-tat-too  I 

x. 

He  stood  no  more  among  them, 

For  a  bullet,  as  it  sped, 
Had  glanced  and  struck  his  ankle, 

And  stretched  him  with  the  dead) 
He  crawled  behind  a  cannon, 

And  pale  and  paler  grew  : 
But  still  the  little  drummer  beat 

His  rat-tat-too  ? 


390 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


They  bore  him  to  the  surgeon ; 

A  busy  man  was  he  : 
«« A  drummer  boy  —  what  ails  him  ? " 

His  comrades  answered,  "  See  !  " 
As  they  took  him  from  the  stretcher, 

A  heavy  breath  he  drew, 
And  his  little  fingers  strove  to  beat 

The  rat-tat-too  ! 


The  ball  had  ppent  its  fury : 

««  A  scratch,"  the  surgeon  said, 
As  he  wound  the  snowy  bandage 

Which  the  lint  was  staining  red  i 
«« I  must  leave  ycu  now,  old  fellow." 

"  O,  take  me  back  with  you, 
For  I  know  the  men  are  missing  me, 

And  the  rat-tat-too!  " 


Upon  his  comrade's  shoulder 

They  lifted  him  so  grand, 
With  his  dusty  drum  before  him, 

And  his  drumsticks  in  his  hand ! 
To  the  fiery  front  of  battle, 

That  nearrr,  nearer  drew  — 
And  evermore  he  beat  and  beat 

His  fat- tat-too! 

XIV. 

The  wounded  as  he  passed  them 

Looked  up  and  gave  a  cheer  : 
And  one  in  dying  blessed  him, 

Between  a  smile  and  tear  ! 
And  the  gray-backs  —  they  are  flying 

Before  the  coats  of  blue, 
For  whom  the  little  drummer  beats 

His  rat-tat-too  ! 

xv. 

When  the  west  was  red  with  sunset, 

The  last  pursuit  was  o'er, 
Brave  Lyon  rode  the  foremost, 

And  looked  the  name  he  bore ! 
And  before  him  on  his  saddle, 

As  a  weary  child  would  do, 
Sat  the  little  drummer  fast  asleep, 

With  his  rat-tat-too. 


SOUTHERN  SNOWBALLING.  —  The  author  of 
<;  Memoirs  of  the  Confederate  War,"  Van  Borcke, 
gives  the  following  account  of  a  snowball  en 
gagement  in  General  Lee's  army :  "  We  were 
enlivened  by  snowball  fights,  which  commenced 
as  skirmishes  near  our  headquarters,  but  extend 
ed  over  the  neighboring  camps,  and  assumed  the 
aspect  of  general  engagements.  In  front  of  our 
headquarters,  beyond  an  open  field  of  about  half  a 
mile  square,  Hood's  division  lay  encamped  in  a 
piece  of  wood ;  in  our  immediate  rear  stretched 
the  tents  and  huts  of  a  part  of  M'Law's  division. 
Betweeen  these  two  bodies  of  troops  animated 
little  skirmishes  frequently  occurred  whenever 
there  was  snow  enough  on  the  ground  to  furnish 
the  ammunition ;  but  on  the  morning  of  the  4th,  an 
extensive  expedition  having  been  undertaken  by 


several  hundred  of  M'Law's  men  against  Hood's 
encampments,  and  the  occupants  of  those  finding 
themselves  considerably  disturbed  thereby,  sud 
denly  the  whole  of  the  division  advanced  in  line 
of  battle,  with  flying  colors,  the  officers  leading 
the  men,  as  if  in  real  action,  to  avenge  the  insult. 
The  assailants  tell  back  rapidly  before  this  over- 
\vhelming  host,  but  only  to  secure  a  strong  posi 
tion,  from  which,  with  reinforcements,  they  might 
resume  the  offensive.  The  alarm  of  their  first 
repulse  having  been  borne  with  the  swiftness  of 
the  wind  to  their  comrades,  sharpshooters  in 
large  numbers  were  posted  behind  the  cedar 
bushes  that  skirt  the  Telegraph  lioad,  and  hun 
dreds  of  hands  were  actively  employed  in  erect 
ing  a  long  and  high  snow  wall  in  front  of  their 
extended  lines.  The  struggle  had  now  the  ap 
pearance  of  a  regular  battle,  with  its  charges 
and  counter-charges  ;  the  wild  enthusiasm  of  the 
men  and  the  noble  emulation  of  the  officers  find 
ing  expression  in  loud  commands  and  yet  louder 
cheering,  while  the  air  was  darkened  with  the 
snowballs  as  the  current  of  the  fight  moved  to 
and  fro  over  the  well-contested  field.  Nearer  and 
nearer  it  came  towards  our  headquarters,  and  it  was 
soon  evident  to  us  that  the  hottest  part  of  the  en 
gagement  would  take  place  on  our  neutral  terri 
tory.  Fruitless  were  the  efforts  of  Stuart  and 
myself  to  assert  and  maintain  the  neutrality  of 
our  camp,  utterly  idle  the  hoisting  of  a  white 
flag :  the  advancing  columns  pressed  forward  in 
complete  disregard  of  our  signs  and  our  outspo 
ken  remonstrances.  Clouds  of  snowballs  passed 
across  the  face  of  the  sun,  and  ere  long  the  over 
whelming  wave  of  the  conflict  rolled  pitilessly 
over  us.  Yielding  to  the  unavoidable  necessity 
which  forbade  our  keeping  aloof  from  the  con 
test,  Stuart  and  I  had  taken  position,  in  order  to 
obtain  a  view  over  the  field  of  battle,  on  a  big 
box,  containing  crdnance  stores,  in  frout  of  the 
General's  tent,  where  we  soon  became  so  much 
interested  in  the  result,  and  so  carried  away  by 
the  excitement  of  the  moment,  that  we  found 
ourselves  calling  out  to  the  men  to  hold  their 
ground,  and  urging  them  again  and  again  to 
the  attack,  while  many  a  stray  snowball,  and 
many  a  well-directed  one,  took  effect  upon  our 
exposed  -persons.  But  all  the  gallant  resis 
tance  of  M'Law's  men  was  unavailing.  Hood's 
lines  pressed  resistlessly  forward,  carrying  every 
thing  before  them,  taking  the  formidable  fortifi 
cations,  and  driving  M'Law's  division  out  of  the 
encampments.  Suddenly,  at  this  juncture,  we 
heard  loud  shouting  on  the  right,  where  two  of 
Anderson's  brigades  had  come  up  as  reenforce- 
ments.  The  men  of  M'Law's  division,  acquiring 
new  confidence  from  this  support,  rallied,  and  in 
turn  drove,  by  a  united  charge,  the  victorious  foe 
in  headlong  flight  back  to  their  own  camps  and 
woods.  Thus  ended  the  battle  for  the  day,  un 
happily  with  serious  results  to  some  of  the  com 
batants,  for  one  of  Hood's  men  had  his  leg  bro 
ken,  one  of  M'Law's  men  lost  an  eye,  and  there 
were  other  chance  wounds  on.  both  sides.  This 
sham-fight  gave  ample  proof  of  the  excellent 
spirits  of  our  tioops,  who,  in  the  wet,  wintry 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


391 


weather,  many  of  them  without  blankets,  some 
without  shoes,  regardless  of  their  exposure  and 
of  the  scarcity  of  provisions,  still  maintained 
their  good  humor,  and  were  ever  ready  for  any 
sort  of  sport  or  fun  that  offered  itself  to  them." 


"  THE  GALLANT  SIXTY-NINTH."  —  Two  gallant 
sons  of  Erin,  being  just  discharged  from  the  ser- 
Tiice,  were  rejoicing  over  the  event  with  a  "wee 
taste  of  the  cratur',"  when  one,  who  felt  all  the 
glory  of  his  own  noble  race,  suddenly  raised  his 
glass  above,  and  said,  "  Arrah,  Mike,  here's  to  the 
gallant  ould  Sixty-ninth :  The  last  in  the  field  and 
the  first  to  leave !  "  "  Tut,  tut,  man,"  said  Mike, 
"  you  don't  marie  that."  "  Don't  mane  it,  is  it  ? 
Then  what  do  I  mane  ?  "  "  You  mane,"  said  Mike, 
and  he  raised  his  glass  high,  and  looked  lovingly 
at  it,  "Here's  to  the  gallant  ould  Sixty-ninth  — 
equal  to  none ! "  And  so  they  drank. 


THE  DEATH  OF  COLONEL  ELLSWORTH.  —  On 
the  evening  of  the  23d  of  May,  1861,  there  was 
a  feverish  Hush  and  ill-suppressed  anxiety  among 
the  political  and  military  circles  of  the  Federal 
capital.  It  was  generally  understood,  though  not 
announced,  that  some  very  important  military 
movement  was  on  foot,  and  that  an  "  enterprise  " 
of  great  pith  and  moment  would  in  a  few  hours, 
perhaps,  agitate  the  whole  American  people. 

Yet,  as  the  night  advanced,  the  excitement  wore 
away,  and  the  city  of  magnificent  distances  fell 
info  its  usual  tranquillity. 

Not  so,  however,  at  the  camp  along  the  Po 
tomac,  and  especially  at  the  quarters  of  the  Fire 
Zouaves. 

This  splendid  arid  dashing  regiment  had  come 
out  from  New  York  a  month  before,  and  had 
electrified  that  city  and  the  less  excitable  citizens 
of  Washington  by  the  splendor  of  their  costume, 
the  perfection  of  their  drill,  and  the  fine  figure  and 
well-known  martial  qualities  of  their  leader,  Col 
onel  Ellsworth.  Their  brethren  of  the  fire  com 
panies  in  New  York  had  turned  out  en  masse  to 
escort  them  to  the  steamer,  and  after  t\venty  days 
in  Washington,  they  had  now  received  marching 
orders,  and  their  quiet  camp  wras  to-night  to  real 
ize  all  that  poets  ever  wrote  of  the  wild  and  ro 
mantic  scenery  of  war. 

The  night  was  uncommonly  still  and  clear,  and 
the  moon  was  so  bright  that  the  line  of  white 
cones  marking  their  camp  could  be  distinctly  seen 
from  the  other  side  of  the  broad  Potomac. 

As  the  visitor  approached,  sounds  of  bustle 
filled  the  air,  and  the  rustle  of  arms  and  the  tramp 
of  the  men  on  drill  were  now  and  then  drowned 
in  the  powerful  chorus  of  manly  voices  rolling  out 
upon  the  night  air  the  great  national  songs  of  Co 
lumbia. 

It  was  felt  by  all  that  the  hour  of  bloodshed 
\va«  now  come.  Aside  from  the  four  men  killed 
by  the  explosion  of  a  gun  at  Sumter,  and  the  kill 
ing  of  Ladd  and  Whitney  by  the  Baltimore  mob, 
no  lives  had  as  yet  been  offered  up  j  the  crimson 
current  had  uot  begun  to  flow. 


Yet  all  felt  that  some  one  must  be  the  first  vic 
tim  —  that  ere  many  days,  or  hours  perhaps,  the 
sacred  soil  of  Virginia  would  be  wet  with  the 
blood  of  the  first  contestants  in  the  .nighty  strug 
gle.  Yet  who  could  have  foreseen  that  the  fine, 
youthful,  vigorous,  manly  figure  of  the  Colonel, 
whom  we  now  see  moving  about  among  the  men 
that  idolized  him,  i'ould  be  the  first  to  be  pierced 
by  rebel  balls  —  that  he  was  to  be  the  proto- 
martyr  of  the  holy  cause. 

i  It  is  midnight  now,  and  the  men  that  were  a 
little  while  ago  singing  "  Columbia,  the  gem  of 
the  ocean."  with  all  the  fervor  they  could  bring  to 
it,  are  still  in  their  tents.  The  knapsacks  are 
packed.  The  guns  are  oiled  and  polished.  Am 
munition  is  in  the  cartridge  boxes  and  cooked 
rations  in  the  haversacks.  They  are  ready  to  start 
at  a  drum  tap. 

Though  it  i-:  past  midnight,  Colonel  Ellsworth 
is  still  at  his  table,  in  his  tent,  completing  the 
official  arrangements  that  remained,  and  carefully 
instructing  his  subordinates  as  to  the  line  of  con 
duct  proper  in  this  or  that  emergency. 

An  hour  later,  and  he  is  done,  and  not  now 
occupied  with  the  rough  plans  of  brave  exploits. 
A  sadder  and  a  tenderer  task  occupies  the  young 
soldier's  pen.  He  writes  those  last  words  to  his 
parents  :  "  To-night,  thinking  over  the  probabil 
ities  of  the  morrow,  and  the  occurrences  of  the 
past,  I  am  perfectly  content  to  accept  whatever 
my  fortune  may  be,  confident  that  He  Mho  noteth 
even  the  fall  of  a  sparrow  will  have  some  pur 
pose  even  in  the  fate  of  one  like  me.  My  dar 
ling  and  ever-loved  parents,  good  by  !  "  Other, 
and  perhaps  still  more  tender  and  touching  adieus 
are  dashed  off  with  rapid  pen  and  full  heart  ere  the 
young  figure  leaves  the  table,  and  wraps  his  army 
blanket  around  him  for  an  hour  of  sleep. 

A  little  after  two  o'clock,  the  encampment  be 
gan  to  show  signs  of  activity  again.  Captain 
Dahlgren,  the  commander  of  the  navy  yard,  came 
to  announce  that  all  was  ready  for  transportation. 
The  men  marched  forward  in  line,  and  were  drawn 
up  by  companies  along  the  beach. 

The  night  air  along  the  water  side  is  chill,  and 
some  of  the  men  were  wrapped  from  head  to  foot 
in  great  red  blankets.  Most  were  clad  in  their 
gray  jackets  and  trowsers,  and  embroidered  caps. 
These  vivid  costumes  of  the  men  —  the  lines  of 
tents,  glowing  from  the  lights  within  like  huge 
lanterns  —  the  glittering  rows  of  bayonets  and 
gun-barrels  —  the  woods  and  hills  in  the  dis 
tance —  the  placid  river  in  front — and,  to  add 
historic  significance,  the  dome  of  the  Capitol 
towering  sublime  and  calm  in  the  still  moonlight, 
—  all  these  combined  to  form  a  picture  which  was 
not  effaced  from  the  memory  of  those  who  saw  it 
by  the  long  succession  of  darker  and  bloodier 
scenes  which  followed. 

The  embarkation  was  rapidly  conducted,  and, 
just  as  dawn  light  began  to  break  over  hill  and 
river,  the  last  of  the  regiment  was  aboard,  and 
the  boats  steamed  slowly  down  the  river. 

Armed  resistance  to  any  invasion  of  the  "  sa 
cred  soil "  of  Virginia  was  confidently  expected. 
So  much  ferocio  is  talk  had  poured  from  the  Jlich- 


392 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


mond  press  that  it  was  fair  to  suppose  that  every 
wharf  would  have  its  Leonidas,  and  every  street- 
crossing  be  defended  by  a  Horatius  Codes. 

But  the  rebel  strategy  was  different.  John 
son's  head  was  cool,  and  his  judgment  sound. 
He  saw  that  Alexandria  was  no  point  for  serious 
resistance,  and  when  the  Pawnee  sent  a  yawl 
filled  with  armed  marines,  and  proposed  terms 
of  submission,  the  Confederates  had  consented 
to  vacate  within  a  specified  time. 

About  five  o'clock  the  Zouaves  landed,  and 
Colonel  Ellsworth  gave  rapid  directions  for  tear 
ing  up  some  of  the  rails  at  the  railroad  station, 
and  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  means  of 
destroying  all  communication  southward  by  the 
telegraph — a  step  which  he  regarded  as  very 
important. 

As  he  started  away  to  execute  this  duty  in  per 
son,  with  the  dash  and  enthusiasm  peculiar  to  his 
youth  and  his  ardent  nature,  he  took  as  his 
guard  but  a  small  squad  of  men  from  the  first 
company,  with  Sergeant  Brownell  at  their  head, 
Mr.  Wisner,  the  Military  Secretary  of  the  regi 
ment,  Mr.  l3odge,the  Chaplain,  and  a  journalist 
of  the  Nevt  York  Tribune,  went  with  him. 

The  little  group,  amounting  to  about  ten  men 
in  all,  walked  rapidly  through  the  quiet  streets, 
and  were  about  turning  a  corner  to  go  in  the  di 
rection  of  the  telegraph  office,  when  the  Colonel 
KUW  flaunting  from  the  top  of  a  hotel  a  rebel  flag, 
which  had  long  been  visible  from  the  balconies 
of  the  President's  house  in  Washington. 

lie  immediately  sent  back  the  Sergeant  with 
an  order  for  the  first  company  of  the  regiment 
to  advance  and  join  him. 

Here  was  the  first  instance  of  the  rashness  of 
youthful  enthusiasm  on  the  part  of  Colonel  Ells 
worth.  He  did  not  wait  for  the  arrival  of  the 
company,  but  passed  rapidly  on  to  the  tavern, 
which  he  entered,  and  accosted  the  first  man  he 
saw  with  the  question  —  "  What  sort  of  a  flag  is 
that  hanging  over  the  roof  of  this  house  ?"  The 
man  seemed  a  good  deal  alarmed,  and  said  he 
knew  nothing  about  it,  as  he  was  only  a  boarder 
thfre.  Without  calling  for  the  proprietor  of  the 
house,  or  making  any  demand  for  the  removal  of 
the  obnoxious  emblem,  Colonel  Ellsworth  ran  up 
stairs,  and  reached  the  topmost  story,  where  by 
means  of  a  ladder  he  clambered  to  the  roof,  and 
borrowing  Mr.  Wisner's  knife,  cut  the  small  rope, 
and  pulled  the  nag  away  from  the  mast  from 
which  it  floated. 

This  was  the  work  of  but  a  few  moments,  and 
the  party  now  turned  to  descend  from  the  roof. 
Brownell  went  first,  and  Colonel  Ellsworth  close  be 
hind  him  carrying  the  flag.  As  Brownell  reached 
the  first  landing-place  or  entry  after  a  descent 
of  a  dozen  or  more  steps,  a  man  stepped  quickly 
out  from  a  dimly-lighted  passage,  and  without 
noticing  the  private  levelled  a  double-barelled 
shot-gun  full  at  Colonel  Ellsworth's  breast.  Brow 
nell  made  a  quick  pass  to  throw  up  the  muzzle 
of  the  piece,  but  the  fellow's  hand  was  firm,  and 
his  aim  was  not  diverted. 

Another  second  and  the  load  of  one  barrel, 
either  slugs  or  buckshot,  went  crashing  through 


the  vitals  of  Colonel  Ellsworth,  and  killed  him 
instantly.  He  was  on  the  third  step  from  the 
bottom  when  he  received  the  shot,  and  fell  for 
ward  with  that  horrible,  headlong  weight  and 
heavy  thud  upon  the  floor  of  the  passage  which 
might  have  been  expected  from  death  so  sudden. 

The  assailant  now  turned  like  a  flash,  arid 
brought  the  other  barrel  to  bear  on  Brownell. 
But  the  Ztuave  was  this  time  too  quick  for  him, 
and  struck  the  piece  so  the  load  passed  over  his 
head  and  through  a  door  behind  him.  The  next 
instant  the  contents  of  his  own  rifle  were  dis 
charged  full  in  Jackson's  face,  and  following  up 
the  ball  with  the  bayonet,  he  lunged  it  through 
his  body,  and  pushed  it  down  the  second  flight  of 
steps. 

The  three  reports  followed  each  other  with  as 
much  rapidity  as  the  successive  loads  of  a  revol 
ver  can  be  disci  arged,  and  the  frightful  conse 
quences  were  seen  in  the  bodies  of  two  men, 
Ellsworth  and  Jackson,  who  lay  each  at  the  foot 
of  a  flight  of  stairs,  dead  and  weltering  in  a  pool 
of  blood. 

The  body  of  Colonel  Ellsworth  was  taken  up 
and  laid  on  a  bed  in  an  adjoining  room.  The 
blood  was  wiped  from  his  clammy  and  marble  but 
manly  features,  and  the  rebel  flag,  on  account  of 
which  two  men  had  so  suddenly  passed  into  eter 
nity,  lay  soiled  with  blood  across  his  feet. 

In  a  few  moments  Jackson's  wife  came  out 
from  a  room  on  the  second  floor,  and  saw  tka 
body  of  her  husband  lying  dead  in  the  passage 
in  a  pool  of  blood.  She  flung  her  arms  into  the 
air,  cried  wildly,  and  seemed  utterly  abandoned 
to  desolation  and  agony.  She  offered  no  re 
proaches,  nor  seemed  conscious  of  the  crowd  of 
strange  soldiers  around.  No  one  could  witness 
such  agonizing  grief  and  horror  without  emotion. 

The  only  remark  which  seemed  for  a  moment 
to  arrest  her  attention'  \vas  an  assurance  on  the 
part  of  some  of  the  Union  soldiers  that  her  chil 
dren  should  not  be  molested. 

The  dead  body  of  the  Colonel  of  the  Zouaves 
was  now  carried  sadly  away  on  a  litter  of  muskets, 
and  the  thrilling  story  of  that  morning's  bloody 
work  went  over  the  wires  in  all  directions.  Col 
onel  Ellsworth  throughout  one  section,  being  la 
mented  as  the  first  costly  sacrifice  laid  on  the 
altar  of  loyalty,  and  Jackson  as  much  praised 
throughout  the  South  for  the  prompt  audacity 
with  which  he  had  avenged  the  first  insult  to 
rebel  bunting. 

HEROISM  OF  THE  "M.  D's."  —  The  mule  dri 
ver  of  the  army  abolishes  the  step  between  the 
sublime  and  ridiculous  bv  making  the  ridiculous 
sublime.  There,  for  instance,  emerging  from  the 
leafy  curtain  of  woods  on  the  thither  side  of 
the  creek,  comes  mule  team  No.  1,  thundering 
with  locked  wheels  —  "  quadrupedante  sonitu"  — 
down  the  abrupt  declivity.  The  treacherous  cause 
ways  of  brush  and  mud  give  way  under  the 
weight  ;  the  ponderous  wagon,  blocked  by  the 
log  corduroy,  careens  on  the  sinking  wheels,  and 
topples  quivering  on  the  brink  of  a  disastrous  up 
set  into  the  Stygian  creek,  wLere  the  water  is  deep 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


803 


and  the  mud  fathomless.  Not  Hercules  could 
lift  the  embedded  wain  from  the  engorging  rut. 
The  spectators,  gathered  in  the  leafy  galleries  of 
the  surrounding  bluffs,  and  in  the  muddy  pit  of 
the  river  hank,  shriek  at  the  imminent  catastrophe. 
All  hut  the  imperturbable  M.  1).  are  appalled 
at  the  impending  overthrow.  For  M.  D.,  seated 
on  his  stalwart  wheeler,  like  a  king  upon  his 
throne,  a  quiet  glance  behind  and  before  suffices 
to  reveal  the  nature  of  the  exigency.  There  is  a 
majestic  repose  in  his  features,  and  a  placid  con 
fidence  in  his  own  powers,  as  he  urgently  waves 
away  the  proffered  help,  which  stamps  him  the 
master  of  the  situation.  In  that  moment,  grim 
and  dingy  though  he  be,  the  M.  D.  is  sublime ; 
he  rises  to  the  classic  grandeur  of  the  calm  he 
roic,  like  the  famous  "  statue  on  the  gates  of 
Altorf." 

A  hush  of  thrilled  and  awful  expectation 
falls  upon  the  audience.  The  M.  I),  speaks  one 
low  cabalistic  word.  The  single  guiding  line  in 
his  left  hand  throbs  like  a  nerve  with  the  electric 
quiver  of  his  potent  will,  and  flaps  the  flanks  of 
his  leaders.  In  that  single  word  and  motion  of 
the  guiding  rein  he  has  organized  and  concen 
trated  the  sextuple  power  of  his  muscular  mo 
tives  in  one  simultaneous  impulse.  There  is  a 
zigzag  tug  and  twist  to  the  right  and  left,  and  al 
most  before  you  know  it  the  enormous  wagon  is 
lifted  from  the  abysmal  mud,  arid  is  rolling  tri 
umphantly  over  the  shaking  bridge.  Already  the 
mighty  hybrids  are  clambering  and  straining  up 
the  steep  ascent. 

This  is  the  real  crisis  of  the  play.  To  go  back 
is  to  go  to  the  devil ;  but  the  M.  1).,  rising  to  the 
magnitude  of  the  emergency,  unfolds  new  and 
awful  powers.  The  hero  becomes  a  fury.  His 
placid  eye  flashes  with  a  fierce  and  wrathful  fire. 
From  the  statuesque  calm  of  his  severe  but  dirty 
visage  bursts  a  terrific  storm  of  stunning  curses. 
His  huge  whip,  till  now  unused,  writhes  and  cracks 
like  a  thunderbolt  over  the  backs  of  his  imper 
turbable  mules.  They  go  on.  They  falter  and 
pause  half  way  up  the  steep  ascent.  The  wheels 
go  back,  and  all  seems  lost.  Ajax  and  Tela- 
mon,  and  all  the  Titans,  spring  to  the  wheels, 
to  avert  the  threatened  retrogression  down  to 
Styx. 

But  ordinary  human  agencies  avail  nothing,  till 
the  deus  ex  machina  appears  on  the  off  side,  in  the 
person  of  the  wagon  master,  with  a  monstrous  and 
hoi  rifle  thong.  There  is  another,  wilder,  louder, 
fiercer  tempest  of  imprecations  on  the  heads, 
eyes,  hearts  of  the  dumb  beasts,  and  a  double 
crash  of  lashing  thunderbolts  from  front  to  rear. 
Onward  and  upward  rolls  the  wagon  up  and  over 
the  hills  ;  the  miracle  is  achieved,  and  the  mules 
are  browsing  on  the  level  plain  above  as  if  noth 
ing  uncommon  had  happened.  This,  a  hundred 
tinien  repeated  with  a  hundred  variations,  such  as 
the  idiosyncrasy  of  the  actor  or  the  circumstances 
inspire,  with  an  occasional  breakdown  and  upset, 
and  all  the  comic  by-play  of  comment  and  jest, 
stands,  for  the  day,  in  place  of  politics  and  war 
—  of  Charleston  and  Chattanooga.  —  St.  Paul 
Press. 


THE    MAUL. 

BY    MARY    E.    NEALY. 

1  SAW  a  boy  in  a  black-jack  M'ood, 

With  a  tall,  lank,  awkward  "  figger," 
Striking  away  with  his  1  ,;javy  maul, 

By  the  side  of  a  young  slave  "  nigger." 
And  he  said  t  j  himself,   "  I'll  maul  away, 

And  cleave  a  path  before  me ; 
I'll  hew  all «  black-jacks'  out  of  my  way, 

'Till  the  Star  of  Fame  shines  e'er  me." 

.  saw  him  again  on  a  broad  swift  stream ; 

But  the  maul  this  time  was  a  paddle, 
And  I  watched  the  tiny  rainbow's  gleam, 

As  he  made  the  .vaves  skedaddle. 
And  he  said,   "I'a.  paddle  away,  away, 

Till  space  shall  flee  before  me  ; 
Ai.d  I  yet  shall  live  to  see  the  day 

'When  the  Star  of  Fame  shines  o'er  me," 

I  saw  him  again,  with  his  musty  books, 

A- pondering  Coke  and  Story  ; 
And  little  there  was  in  his  homely  looks 

To  tell  of  his  future  glory. 
But  he  said,   "  I'll  master,  I  know  I  will, 

The  difficult  task  before  me  ; 
I'll  maul  my  way  through  the  hard  world  EtUl, 

Till  the  Star  of  Fame  shines  o'er  me." 

I  saw  him  again,  when  he  rose  to  cope, 

Hand  to  hand,  with  the  "  Western  Giant ;" 
His  eye  lit  up  with  a  beam  of  hope, 

On  his  sinewy  strength  reliant. 
*«  I'll  right  him,"  he  said,  "  with  the  maul cf  Tiuth» 

Till  he  shrink  and  quail  before  me, 
Till  he  stand  abashed  in  astonished  ruth, 

While  the  Star  of  Fame  shines  o'er  me.1* 

I  saw  him  again  in  the  White  House  chair, 

A- writing  the  Proclamation  ; 
And  the  pen  he  used  was  the  heaviest  maul 

In  this  rail-mauling  nation. 
And  he  said,   "  'Tis  the  only  way  to  make 

The  traitors  flee  before  us  ; 
While  the  light  it  sheds  will  leave  a  wake 

That  will  shine  when  the  sod  grows  o'er  us,** 

I  saw  him  again  but  the  other  night, 

And  he  shook  my  hand  in  greeting ; 
And  little  he  thought  how  soon  I'd  write, 

And  tell  the  world  cf  our  meeting. 
The  hand  I  clasped  has  swung  the  mat  I, 

And  my  own  has  written  its  story. 
But  never,  I  ween,  could  any  hand 

Write  half  of  its  toil  and  glory. 


DRAKE  DE  KAY'S  EXPLOIT.  —  This  dashing 
soldier  was  one  day  out  on  James  River,  doing 
some  corsair  work  in  one  of  the  Cumberland's 
launches. 

Some  distance  to  leeward  he  saw  his  persistent 
foe,  the  Teaser,  but  kept  on  his  course  with  "  a 
wet  sheet  and  a  flowing  sea."  But  all  at  once 
she  whirled,  and  getting  into  the  blaze  of  the  af 
ternoon  sui^,  steamed  down  on  Drake. 

As  quickly  Drake  had  his  helm  hard  up,  and 
soon  his  five  Dars  were  out,  at  d  the  launch  head 
on  for  shore.  Bang  I  went  the  Tcaser'a  bow  rifled 


394 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    ESTCIDENTS. 


gun.  Be  Kay  shouted  back  in  derision,  and 
fired  his  revolver.  The  chase  now  assumed  a 
desperate  interest.  At  every  puff  of  smoke  from 
the  Teaser's  bow,  De  Kay  put  down  his  helm  a 
little,  and  threw  the  launch  out  of  range.  Nice 
seamanship,  a  quick  eye,  and  a  cool  head,  car 
ried  him  through,  though  shot  and  shell  from  the 
Teaser  were  screaming  and  splashing  all  around 
liim.  But  Drake  was  irrepressible,  and  kept  up 
an  audacious  pantomime  of  defiance,  till  his 
launch  touched  the  river  bank. 

He  was  not  many  seconds  in  pulling  out  the 
plug  from  the  boat's  bottom,  tumbling  out  his 
five  men,  the  oars,  mast,  and  sail,  and  ordering 
them  to  run  for  the  bluff.  Nor  was  the  Teaser 
any  longer  in  dropping  a  launch,  getting  a  dozen 
men  and  as  many  muskets  into  her,  and  pushing 
off  in  pursuit. 

Drake  saw  the  approaching  danger,  and  planned 
his  defence. 

Running  to  a  picket  fence  close  by,  he  tore  off 
six  pickets,  and  gave  one  to  each  of  the  men, 
who  drew  up  in  formidable  order  on  the  edge  of 
the  bluff,  and  had  their  launch  apparently  cov 
ered  by  an  array  of  six  deadly  gun-barrels. 

The  launch  of  the  Teaser"  passed,  viewed  the 
situation  through  a  double-barrelled  sea-glass, 
and,  thinking  discretion  the  better  part  of  valor, 
turned,  and  De  Kay's  launch  was  saved  by  the 
formidable  bristle  of  the  pickets'  battery. 


SHELLING,  AND  now  SHELLS  AKE  DODGED. 
—  •  A  correspondent,  writing  from  Morris  Island, 
env^  :  "  At  night  we  can  see  the  path  of  a  shell 
through  its  journey,  lighted  as  it  is  by  a  burn 
ing  fuse.  When  the  range  is  two  miles,  the 
track  of  a  shell  from  a  mortar  describes  very  near 
half  the  arc  of  a  circle.  On  leaving  the  mortar, 
it  gracefully  moves  on,  climbing  up  and  up  into 
the  heavens  till  it  is  nearly  or  quite  a  mile  above 
the  earth,  and  then  it  glides  along  for  a  moment, 
apparently  in  a  horizontal  line  ;  but  quickly  you 
see  that  the  little  fiery  orb  is  on  the  home  stretch, 
describing  the  other  segment  of  the  circle. 

"A  shell  from  a  Parrott  rifle-gun,  in  going 
two  and  a  half  miles,  deviates  from  a  straight 
line  not  quite  as  much  as  a  shell  from  a  mor 
tar.  But  in  passing  over  this  space,  considerable 
time  is  required.  The  report  travels  much  faster 
than  the  shot.  A  shell  from  a  mortar  makes  the 
distance  of  two  miles  in  about  thirty  seconds, 
and  from  a  Parrott  gun  in  about  half  that  time. 
The  flash  of  a  gun  at  night,  and  the  white  smoke 
by  day,  indicate  the  moment  of  discharge,  and 
fifteen  or  twenty  seconds  give  an  abundance  of 
time  to  find  a  cover  in  a  splinter  proof,  behind 
a  trench,  or  something  else.  It  is  wise  and  sol 
dierly  to  do  so,  but  many  pay  no  attention  to 
those  hissing,  screaming,  flying,  in  the  day-time 
invisible  devils,  except  to  crack  jokes  at  their  ex 
pense  ;  and  occasionally  one  pays  with  his  life  for 
this  foolhardiness."  

A  SCENE  IN  WAR.  —  Chaplain  Quint  relates  the 
following  painful  episode  in  war : 


"  It  was  a  military  execution.  The  person  thus 
punishet^belonged  to  the  Third  Maryland.  His 
crime  was  desertion.  It  was  his  second  offence. 
For  the  first  he  had  been  sentenced  only  to  three 
months'  labor  and  lots  of  pay ;  for  the  second, 
death ! 

"While  the  army  was  passing  through  Fred 
erick,  Maryland,  he  had  got  out  of  camp.  Ilia 
regiment  passed  on.  and  he  went  to  Baltimore. 
Arrested  there,  he  was  returned  to  the  army,  was 
convicted,  and  was  sentenced. 

"  On  Tuesday  his  sentence  was  formally  read  to 
him.  He  was  to  be  shot  to  death  with  musketry 
on  the  next  Friday,  betwpen  the  hours  of  noon 
and  four  P.  M.  But  he  had  learned  the  decision 
on  the  Sunday  before. 

"  There  is  no  Chaplain  to  the  Third  Maryland 
regiment.  But  Chaplain  Welsh,  of  the  Fifth  "Con 
necticut,  in  the  same  brigade,  ministered  to  him 
in  spiritual  matters  faithfully,  and  like  himself, 
day  by  day.  At  last  it  fell  to  me  to  see  him,  and 
to  be  with  him  during  most  of  his  remaining 
hours.  But  what  could  be  done,  in  the  way  of 
instruction,  had  been  done  by  Mr.  Welsh,  and  for 
it  the  man  was  grateful. 

"  The  day  of  his  execution  was  wet  and  gloomy. 
I  found  him  in  the  morning  in  the  midst  of  the 
provost  guard.  He  was  sitting  on  a  bag  of  grain, 
leaning  against  a  tree,  while  a  sentry,  with  fixed 
bayonet,  stood  behind,  never  turning  away  from 
him,  and  never  to  turn  away,  save  as  another  took 
his  place,  until  the  end.  Useless  seemed  the  watch, 
for  arms  and  feet  had  been  secured,  though  not 
painfully,  since  the  sentence  was  read. 

"  The  captain  of  the  guard  had  humanely  done 
all  he  could,  and  it  was  partly  by  his  request  that 
I  was  there.  A  Chaplain  could  minister  where 
others  could  not  be  allowed. 

"  The  rain  fell  silently  on  him.  The  hours  of 
his  life  were  numbered  —  even  the  minutes.  He 
was  to  meet  death,  not  in  the  shock  and  excite 
ment  of  battle ;  not  as  a  martyr  for  his  country ; 
not  in  disease  j  but  in  full  health,  and  as  a 
criminal. 

"  I  have  seen  many  a  man  die,  and  have  tried 
to  perform  the  sacred  duties  of  my  station.  I 
have  never  had  so  painful  a  task  as  that,  because 
of  these  circumstances.  Willingly,  gladly,  he  con 
versed,  heard,  and  answered.  What  he  said  is, 
of  course,  not  a  matter  for  publicity  ;  for  the  in 
terviews  of  a  minister  with  the  one  with  whom  he 
has  official  relations  are  sacred  everywhere.  Yet, 
while  painful  is  such  a  work,  it  has  its  bright  side, 
because  of  the  '  exceeding  great  and  precious 
promises '  it  is  one's  privilege  to  tell. 

"  When  the  time  came  for  removal  to  the  place 
of  execution,  he  entered  an  ambulance,  a  Chap 
lain  accompanying  him.  Next,  in  another  ambu 
lance,  was  the  coffin.  Before,  behind,  and  on 
either  side,  a  guard.  Half  a  mile  of  this  sad 
journey  brought  him  to  within  a  short  distance 
of  the  spot.  Then  leaving  the  ambulance,  he 
walked  to  the  place  selected.  The  rain  had 
stopped.  The  sun  was  shining  on  the  dark  lines 
of  the  whole  divis'on  drawn  up  on  three  sides  of 
a  hollow  square.  With  guard  in  fi  ont  and  rear, 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


895 


he  passed  with  steady  step  through  an  opening 
left  in  the  head  of  the  square,  still  with  the  Chap 
lain,  and  to  the  open  side.  There  was  a  grave 
just  dug,  and  in  front  of  it  was  his  coffin  placed. 
He  sat  upon  his  coffin ;  his  feet  were  re-confined, 
to  allow  of  which  he  lifted  them  voluntarily,  and 
his  eyes  were  bandaged. 

"  In  front  of  him,  the  firing  party,  -J  two  from 
each  regiment,  were  then  drawn  up,  —  half  held 
as  reserve,  —  during  which  there  was  still  a  little 
time  for  words  with  his  Chaplain.  The  General 
stood  by,  and  the  Provost  Marshal  read  the  sen 
tence,  and  shook  hands  with  the  condemned. 
Then  a  prayer  was  offered,  amid  uncovered  heads 
and  solemn  faces.  A  last  hand-shake  with  the 
Chaplain,  which  he  had  twice  requested  ;  a  few 
words  from  him  to  the  Chaplain, ;  a  lingering 
pressure  by  the  hand  of  the  condemned  ;  his  lips 
moving  with  a  prayer-sentence  which  he  had  been 
taught,  and  on  which  his  thoughts  had  dwelt  be 
fore,  and  he  was  left  alone. 

"  The  word  of  command  was  immediately  given. 
He  fell  over  instantly,  unconscious.  A  record  of 
wounds  was  made  by  the  Surgeons/  The  troops 
filed  by  his  grave  on  the  banks  of  the  swollen 
stream,  and  then  passed  off,  under  cover  of  the 
woods,  as  they  had  come,  to  avoid  being  seen  by 
the  enemy.  And  so,  twenty  years  old,  and  with 
only  a  mother  and  sister,  he  was  left  there.  The 
sun  was  soon  covered  with  clouds,  and  the  rain 
poured  down  on  his  solitary  grave." 


INCIDENTS  IN  TENNESSEE.  —  The  scenes  during 
the  march  of  General  Buraside  into  Tennessee 
were  myriad  and  peculiarly  affecting.  "  We  had 
not  extended  our  march  far  into  the  State,"  wrote 
a  soldier,  "  before  we  had  evidence  of  the  preva 
lence  of  the  most  intense  loyalty,  and,  in  conse 
quence,  the  most  severe  suffering.  We  had  pre 
viously  seen  nothing  like  it.  It  is  unconditional, 
and  without  regard  to  any  of  those  questions  of 
policy  which  have  been  so  damaging  to  the  unity 
of  the  Union  men  in  Kentucky,  and  of  which  the 
masses  here  are  blissfully  ignorant.  They  kindle 
into  rapture  at  the  sight  of  our  advancing  col 
umns,  and  are  moved  to  tears  at  the  sight  of  the 
Stars  and  Stripes,  that  '  banner  of  beauty  and 
glory,'  which  symbolizes  the  institutions  of  our 
country.  We  were  hailed  with  tears  of  joy  and 
with  shouts  of  rapture  as  their  deliverers  and 
defenders.  Notwithstanding  the  many  vacant,  de 
serted  houses,  the  many  exiles  from  their  homes, 
which  have  resulted  in  so  extensive  a  depletion  of 
population,  there  were  groups  of  men,  women, 
and  children  at  every  turn  to  greet  us  with  ex 
pressions  of  joy  and  gratitude,  and  to  tell  of 
wrongs  and  sufferings  which  were  calculate'/  to 
touch  the  hardest  heart  and  to  make  the  ear  to 
tingle. 

"  Never,  perhaps,  have  patriotism  and  wrath 
been  so  combined,  gratitude  and  vengeance  so 
commingled  in  expression,  as  by  this  loyal,  down 
trodden,  and  long-suffering  people.  It  would 
be  impossible  to  narrate  the  numerous  incidents 
of  interest  in  this  connection  of  which  we  were 


witnesses.  One  or  two  may  serve  as  illustrations 
of  their  unrestrained  and  rustic  manner  in  the 
expression  of  their  feelings. 

"  On  the  day  we  left  M  mtgomery,  the  head  of 
our  column  was  startled  by  the  voice  of  an  aged 
woman,  shouting  '  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest ! ' 
whilst,  with  streaming  eyes,  she  expressed  her 
gratitude  that  she  had  lived  to  see  the  deliverers 
of  her  State,  and,  with  clasped  hands,  as  she 
pursued  our  advancing  commands,  she  prayed 
nost  fervently  that  the  God  of  battles  would  be 
with  us,  to  prosper,  and  defend,  and  preserve  us. 
Her  petitions  were  ever  and  anon  interrupted  by 
the  narration  of  her  suffering,  which  was  made 
only  the  more  telling  by  the  presence  of  her  hus 
band,  who  limped  behind  her,  as  he  leaned  with 
one  hand  upon  a  staff,  whilst  the  other  rested  upon 
the  thigh  of  his  wounded  leg,  which  was  made  to 
support  more  than  its  wonted  share  of  his  body, 
he  having  been  severely  wounded  in  the  other 
leg  by  some  dastardly,  prowling  rebel,  by  which 
he  was  made  a  cripple  for  life.  She  would  appeal 
to  him  for  the  confirmation  of  the  truth  of  her 
Statements  in  regard  to  their  sufferings,  and  then 
point  him  to  our  soldiery  as  those  who  would 
avenge  his  wrongs  and  be  his  future  security  and 
defence.  At  one  time,  being  near  Major-General 
Hartsuff,  whom  she  readily  recognized  as  chief 
in  command,  she  made  him  the  subject  of  her 
petition,  which  he  acknowledged  by  respectfully 
lifting  his  hat  from  his  head  and  holding  it  in  his 
hand  the  while.  Taking  the  scene  altogether,  it 
was  an  interesting  and  moving  exhibition  of  pa 
triotism,  gratitude,  and  keen  sense  of  wronga 
endured,  which,  in  her  esteem,  called  for  ven 
geance. 

"  A  scene  somewhat  similar  occurred  the  same 
day,  by  another  family  and  group  of  friends,  who, 
amid  shouts  of  welcome  to  the  '  Yankees,'  ex 
tended  the  warm  hand  of  friendly  greeting  to  the 
soldiers,  as  they  passed,  until  the  eyes  of  an  old 
lady  rested  upon  a  prisoner  in  our  custody,  whom 
she  recognized  as  the  despoiler  of  her  peace  and 
home.  She  told  him  of  the  wrongs  she  and  hers 
had  suffered  at  his  hands ;  how  he  had  driven 
her  husband  and  herself  from  their  home ;  how 
he  had  hunted  her  son  like  a  wild  animal  through 
the  mountains,  until  he  was  driven  from  the 
State.  She  upbraided  him  with  his  thefts  aad 
murders,  imploring  us  in  the  name  of  everything 
sacred  not  to  release  him. 

"  Our  entree,  into  Knoxville  was  a  grand  ova 
tion.  The  people  of  the  surrounding  country 
flocked  in  crowds  to  welcome  us,  and  the  city 
presented  very  much  the  appearance  of  an  Inde 
pendence  Day.  No  pen  can  do  justice  to  the 
scene,  and  my  heart  rnelts  as  I  call  it  to  mind. 
Old,  gray-haired  men  and  women,  the  middle- 
aged,  and  even  little  prattling  children  were  per 
fectly  frantic  with  joy.  We  had  a  large  number 
of  men  from  this  section  in  our  army,  who  had 
been  away  from  their  homes  for  two  years ;  and 
to  see  the  re-union  of  these  brave  fellows  with 
those  they  love  better  than  life  would  melt  the 
hardest  heart. 


396 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


"  I  saw  one  woman,  with  two  little  girls,  stand 
ing  on  the  sidewalk,  and  watching  intently  as  the 
column  passed.  Presently  a  browned  and  weath 
er-beaten  soldier  rode  out  from  the  ranks,  and 
tae  scene  that  followed  more  than  paid  me  for  the 
iwo  years  of  toil  and  hardship  that  I  have  passed 
in  the  army.  It  was  his  wife  and  little  ones, 
whom  he  had  not  seen,  and  from  whom  he  had 
not  heard  but  once,  for  twenty-eight  months. 
This  was  but  one  of  many  similar  instances.  It 
was  a  common  thing,  after  we  got  into  this  vicinity, 
to  see  numbers  of  soldiers  riding  along  in  the 
ranks  with  one,  two,  and  sometimes  three  little 
boys  and  girls  on  the  horse  with  them. 

"  One  of  the  most  thrilling  scenes  I  ever  had 
the  pleasure  to  witness  occurred  on  our  arrival 
here.  Generals  Burnside,  Carter,  and  Shackle- 
ford  took  up  their  quarters  at  the  fine  house  of 
a  noted  rebel  who  had  left  the  place,  and  were 
followed  there  bv  an  immense  concourse  of  citi- 


oy  an 
fur  a 


zens  clamorous  fur  a  s'eech.  General  Carter  was 
lirst  called  out,  he  being  an  East  Tennesseean. 
lie  was  followed  by  Generals  Burnside  and 
Shackleford,  and  the  excitement  and  enthusiasm 
of  the  crowd  gained  with  every  word.  Mean 
while  I  had  taken  my  way  around  to  the  rear  of 
the  house,  and  had  got  upon  the  roof  of  the  bal 
cony,  and  as  General  Shackleford  finished  his 
speech  I  unfurled  our.  large  garrison  flag,  and 
threw  it  over  the  balcony.  It  was  caught  by  tlie 
breeze,  and  as  its  beautiful  folds  streamed  out 
upon  the  air,  the  people  could  no  longer  contain 
themselves.  Shout  after  shout  rent  the  air.  Old 
men  and  gray-haired  matrons  took. each  other  by 
i\ie  hand,  and  laughed,  shook,  and  cried,  all  at 
the  same  time.  Young  men  and  maidens  were 
uproaiious,  and  little  children  were  '  clean  gone 
crazy.'  I  looked  into  the  house  and  saw  Generals 
Burnside,  Carter,  and  Shackleford  shaking  hands, 
while  tears  rolled  down  their  cheeks  as  if  they 
*  couldn't  help  it.'  Some  one  sang  out  —  *  Get 
under  it,  get  under  it'  —  and  it  seemed  as  if 
the  crowd  would  trample  each  other  under  foot 
in  their  wild  endeavors  to  do  so.  I  never  saw 
anything  like  it  in  my  life,  and  felt  some  as  I 
imagine  the  old  Patriarch  must  have  felt  when  he 
wanted  to  '  depart  in  peace.'  You  may  think 
from  the  way  I  write  there  are  no  rebels  here. 
There  are  a  few,  probably  one  tenth  of  the  pop 
ulation,  but  they  look  as  if  they  *  enjoyed  very 
poor  health.' "  

How  BRECKINRIDGE  ESCAPED.  —  After  John 
ston's  surrender,  the  rebel  Secretary  of  War  and 
Ex- Vice-President  of  the  United  States  made  his 
way  to  Florida,  and  with  a  few  companions  se 
cured  a  little  launch,  in  which  they  coasted  down 
towards  the  Cedar  Keys,  and  eventually  got  across 
to  Cuba. 

From  the  mouth  of  Indian  Inlet  they  had 
worked  down  the  coast  some  fifty  or  sixty  miles, 
when  they  beached  their  boat  to  hunt  for  turtle 
eggs  and  other  provisions. 

At  this  time  a  United  States  war  vessel  was 
(running  down  south  between  the  shore  and  the 


party,  and  despatched  a  boat  to  ascertain  who  they 
were  and  what  they  were  doing  there. 

The  approach  of  the  boat,  filled  with  the  boys 
in  blue,  made  some  stir  among  the  egg-hunters ; 
but  "  Breck,"  as  the  papers  familiarly  called  him 
in  1856,  is  quite  a  strategist  in  his  way,  and  de 
cided  to  put  a  bold  front  on  the  affair  and  play 
a  bluff'  game.  Taylor  Wood,  a  grandson  of  old 
"  Rough  and  Ready,"  took  two  men,  and,  the 
others  having  retired  to  the  cover  of  the  palmet- 
toes,  launched  the  boat,  and  went  out  to  meet  the 
advancing  party.  As  he  approached,  an  officer  in 
the  stern  seat  of  the  gig,  revolver  in  hand,  chal 
lenged  him,  and  put  the  usual  marine  questions. 

Taylor  was  at  once  the  roughest  long-shore 
wrecker  and  fisherman  that  ever  lived  in  Florida. 
"  His  men  were  all  paroled  soldiers  ;  they  had  to 
live  somehow,  and  till  they  could  find  something 
better,  were  glad  to  get  turtle's  eggs,  and  shell-fish 
driven  on  shore ;  they  thought  they  might  get 
down  to  Indian  Key  or  Key  West ;  had  a  boat 
load  of  papers,  if  he  wanted  to  see  them." 

The  ready  boys  pulled  out  their  parole  papers, 
which  were  found  all  right.  "The  folks  on  shore 
were  all  of  the  same  sort,  had  the  same  papers, 
and  were  trying  to  cook  dinner  if  they  could  find 
some  eggs  or  clams.  Pr'aps  the  cap'n  would  like 
to  go  ashore  ;  he  would  be  perfectly  welcome  to 
the  best  they  had,  and  their  papers  too."  After 
a  little  more  good-natured  talk,  the  officer  pro 
nounced  that  satisfactory  dictum  "  all  right,"  told 
his  oarsmen  to  "  give  to,"  and  away  shot  the  gig 
to  the  steamer,  greatly  to  the  relief  of  the  distin 
guished  fugitive,  who  was  anxiously  watching  the 
interview  from  behind  a  shellbark. 

That  evening  the  party  left  the  shore  with  a 
few  dozen  eggs,  a  little  bread,  and  a  few  small 
clams.  In  thirty-six  hours  they  reached  the  banks, 
having  spoken  one  ship  and  obtained  a  supply  of 
fresh  water.  On  the  morning  of  the  ninth  day, 
after  leaving  the  coast  of  Florida,  they  reached 
Cardenas,  where  they  were  received  by  the  people 
and  the  authorities  with  great  kindness. 


THE  ZOUAVE  AND  THE  MULE.  —  A  soldier  in 
the  army  of  the  Potomac  relates  the  following : 
I  was  riding  from  Brandy  Station  to  Stevens- 
burg  in  company  with  Colonel  A.,  of  the  Michi 
gan  regiment,  and  had  reached  a  point 

opposite  General  P.'s  headquarters,  when  we 
were  overtaken  by  a  couple  of  soldiers  mounted 
on  two  decidedly  un-Rarey-fied  mules.  The  boys 
had  evidently  been  up  to  the  sutler's,  for  thsy 
were  a  trifle  topheavy.  The  road  crosses  a  con 
siderable  creek,  which  the  mules  seemed  to  hold 
in  strong  aversion.  Nevertheless,  through  the 
persuasive  eloquence  of  two  heavy  sticks,  they 
were  urged  on  to  the  middle  of  the  stream,  and 
then  they  flatly  refuse  d  to  advance.  The  boys 
tried  all  the  expedients  at  hand,  but  it  was  "  no 
go ;  "  and  when,  at  length,  one  of  them  caught 
the  tail  of  the  other's  mule  in  his  hand,  and  at 
tempted  to  twist 'a  forward  movement  out  of  him, 
the  refractory  animal  reared,  whirled  to  one  side, 


Florida  lleef,  when  the  commander  observed  the  J  kicked  and  snorted,  and  depositing  his  rider  in 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


S97 


the  dirty  drink,  he  started  on  a  keen  run  back 
towards  the  corral.  Zouave  gathered  himself  up, 
and  seeing  that  he  could  net  overtake  his  Bright 
ened  steed,  he  only  followed  with  sundry  >xple- 
tives  and  imprecations  not  found  in  the  *Vest- 
niinster  Catechism.  Colonel  A.,  by  the  way,  is 
a  very  pious  man,  and  he  took  it  upon  himself 
tc  chide  the  exasperated  and  unfortunate  "  vet " 
for  using  such  unchristian-like  language  ;  but  the 
soldier  would  have  his  joke :  so,  shaking  what 
water  he  could  out  of  his  red  pants,  he  waded  to 
a  dry  spot  on  shore,  and  muttered  that  it  was 
"  damned  hard  if  a  feller  couldn't  cuss  a  mule." 
But  soon  appreciating  the  ludicrousness  of  his 
condition,  he  turned  to  the  Colonel,  and  offered  to 
lay  a  bet  that  that  was  the  first  time  he  ever  saw 
a  mule  tear  (muleteer)  shed.  It  was  some  time 
before  either  the  Colonel  or  myself  was  able  to 
see  the  pungency  of  the  joke  ;  but  it  came  to  us 
after  a  while,  and  it  helped  amazingly  to  dry  iir> 
the  mud  between  there  and  Strasburg." 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  THE  GREAT  BETHEL  FIGHT. 
—-Orderly  Sergeant  Goodfellow,  of  Colonel  Al 
len's  regiment,  was  mortally  wounded  in  the 
breast.  He  handed  his  musket  to  a  comrade, 
and  several  nocked  around  him.  "  O,"  said  he, 
"  I  guess  I've  got  to  go ; "  and  he  placed  his  hand 
upon  the  wound.  "  O,  don't  mind  me,  boys," 
he  continued  ;  "  go  on  with  the  fight ;  don't  stop 
for  me  !  "  and  pressing  away  those  who  attempted 
to  support  him,  he  sank  down  upon  the  gronnd. 
Just  at  that  instant  his  Colonel  passed  ;  and  look 
ing  up  to  him,  he  gasped,  "Good  by,  Colonel!  " 
Colonel  Allen  turned  ghastly  white  as  he  observed 
it.  He  bit  his  lips,  too  much  moved  to  speak, 
and  rushed  on  to  avenge  his  death. 


INCIDENTS  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  —  A  division 
Surgeon  relates  the  following:  He  was  riding 
across  a  field  where  the  battle  had  raged  fiercelv, 
but  just  swept  on,  and  was  making  his  way  slowly 
among  the  drifts  of  friends  and  foes,  —  the  blue 
and  the  gray  together.  —  when  a  wounded  Fed 
eral  soldier  asked  for  water.  The  Surgeon  gave  him 
the  draught,  when  a  voice  from  a  gray  heap  near 
by  said,  "  Won't  you  give  me  one  too,  Doctor  ?  " 
"  Certainly  I  will ; "  and  he  was  just  raising  the 
rebel,  and  bringing  round  the  canteen  slung  under 
his  arm  to  put  it  to  his  lips,  when  a  cannon  shot 
from  a  rebel  battery  struck  the  earth  on  one  side  ; 
a  second  bounded  by  on  the  other.  The  man 
looked  up  in  the  Surgeon's  face  with  a  smile,  "  I'm 
afraid  they  mean  us,  Doctor."  At  that  instant,  a 
third  shot  kit  the  target,  and  a  headless  trunk  fell 
from  the  supporting  arm.  There  was  another 
dead  rebel.  Of  truth  they  did  "  mean  us,"  and 
the  Surgeon  hastened  away. 
.  Shells  are  queerly  behaved  things,  often  harm 
less  against  all  probabilities,  and  when  you  think 
they  must  be  deadly,  only  patching  thunder.  If 
a  shell  passes  you  by  only  a  few  feet  before  it 
bursts,  you  are  pretty  sure  to  be  good  for  the 
next  one  that  comes,  since  each  fragment  takes 


away  its  share  of  the  motion  and  flies  on.  If  a 
shell  shows  symptoms  of  "  making  a  landing"  just 
in  front  of  you,  your  best  route  would  sewn  to  be 
towards  and  past  the  shell ;  but  how  rapidly  one 
could  run  in  that  direction  I  have  no  means  of 
knowing,  having  never  seer  the  man  that  tried 
it.  A  solid  shot  is  the  mo&:  deceptive  of  projec 
tiles.  It  may  seem  to  move  lazily,  to  be  almost 
dead ;  but  so  long  as  it  moves  at  all,  beware  of 
it.  Just  before  the  battle  an  artilleryman  re 
ceived  his  discharge  for  disability ;  but  delaying 
for  some  reason  his  northward  journey,  he  was 
yet  with  his  battery  on  the  eve  of  the  engage 
ment,  and  true  to  his  instincts,  took  his  old  place 
beside  his  horse,  and  was  just  preparing  to  mount, 
when  a  solid  shot  came  ricocheting  across  the 
field,  bounded  up  and  struck  him  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  body.  Crying  out,  "  IVe  got  the  first 
ticket,  boys !  "  he  sank  down,  and  only  added, 
with  that  strange  dread  of  a  liltle  hurt  a  terribly 
wounded  man  almost  always  seems  t«  feel,  "  lay 
me  down  by  a  tree  where  they  won't  run  over  me." 
They  complied  with  his  request,  hastened  into 
position,  and  saw  him  no  more.  The  poor  fellow's 
discharge  was  confirmed  by  Heaven.  Now,  that 
fatal  ball,  having  finished  its  work  there,  leaped 
lazily  on,  and  pushed  out  the  skirt  .of  the  ar 
tillerist's  coat,  as  a  hand  would  move  a  curtain, 
without  rending  it ! 


THE  SOUTHERN  WAGON. 

COME,  all  ye  sons  of  freedom,  and  join  our  Southern 

band ; 
We're  going  to  fight  the  enemy,  and  drive  them 

from  our  land. 

Justice  is  our  motto,  Providence  our  guide  ; 
So  jump  in  the  wagon,  and  we'll  all  take  a  ride. 

Chorus. 

O,  wait  for  the  wagon, 

The  dissolution  ; 
The  South  is  our  wagon, 

And  we'll  all  take  a  ride. 

Secession  is  our  watchword  ;  our  rights  we  all  de 
mand  ; 

And  to  defend  our  firesides  we  pledge  our  hearts 
and  hand. 

Jeff  Davis  is  our  President,  with  Stephens  by  hia 
side  ; 

Brave  Bcauregard,  our  General,  will  join  us  in  the 
ride. 

Our  wagon  is  plenty  big  enough,  the  running-gesi 
is  good ; 

It's  stuffed  around  with  cotton,  and  made  of  South 
ern  wood ; 

Carolina  is  our  driver,  with  Georgia  by  her  side ; 

Virginia  will  hold  her  dag  up,  and  we'll  all  take  a 
ride. 

There  are  Tennessee  and  Texas  also  in  the  ring ; 
They  wouldn't  have  a  government  where  cotton 

wasn't  king. 

Alabama  and  Florida  have  long  ago  replied ; 
Mississippi  and  Louisiana  are  anxious  foi  the  ride* 


898 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Missouri,  North  Carolina,  and  Arkansas  are  slow ; 
They  must  hurry,  or  we'll  leave  them,  and  then 

what  will  they  do  ? 
There's  Old  Kentucky  and  Maryland  won't  make 

rip  their  mind  ; 
Sc  I  reckon,  after  all,  we'll  take  them  up  behind. 

The  Tennessee  boys  are  in  the  field,  eager  for  the 

fray  ; 
They  can  whip  the  Yankee  boys  three  to  one,  they 

say  ; 
And  when  they  get  in  conflict,  with  Davis  by  their 

side, 
They'll  pitch  into  the  Yankee  boys,  and  then  you'll 

see  them  slide. 

Our  cause  is  just  and  holy,  our  men  are  brave  and 

true ; 
We'll  whip  the  Lincoln  cutthroats,  is  all  we  have 

to  do. 

God  bless  our  noble  army  ;  in  him  we  all  confide  ; 
So  jump  into  the  wagon,  and  we'll  all  take  a  ride. 


THE  FIRST  UNION  VOLUNTEER.  —  Two  days 
after  the  fall  cf  Sumter,  the  Governor  of  Penn 
sylvania  called  for  three  companies  of  militia  from 
the  Counties  of  Mifflin,  Schuylkill,  and  Berks. 
On  the  16th  April,  John  T.  Hunter,  of  Philadel 
phia,  telegraphed  his  application,  and  was  enlisted 
f-^r  three  months  with  the  Logan  Guard,  of  Lew- 
,«ton,  Mifflin  County,  and  was  afterwards  a  mem- 
oer  of  the  Nineteenth  Pennsylvania  volunteers. 


ADVENTURES  OF  A  SPY.  —  Dan.  R.  Cole,  a  Ser 
geant  in  company  D,  Third  Indiana  cavalry,  was 
sent  by  General  Hooker,  on  the  1st  of  March, 
1863,  to  Fredericksburg,  as  a  spy. 

He  crossed  the  Rappahannock  below  the  Fed 
eral  lines,  and  went  into  Fredericksburg,  looking 
for  work,  as  a  mechanic,  in  the  shops.  He  found 
them  mostly  closed,  and  obtained  from  General 
Lee  a  pass  to  go  to  Richmond,  where  he  went  in 
company  with  some  rebel  citizens,  and  remained 
several  days,  obtaining  much  important  informa 
tion. 

But  when  he  wished  to  leave,  he  met  with  diffi 
culty  in  getting  a  pass,  but  fell  in  with  a  company 
of  political  prisoners,  who  were  leaving  at  night, 
and  passing  as  one  of  them,  was  conducted  to 
Washington  under  guard.  Here  he  ran  from  the 
guards,  and  reported  at  the  war  office  with  his 
information.  

A  YANKEE  SAILOR  RESORTS  TO  STRATEGY.  — 
The  United  States  brig  "  Bohio  "  was  cruising  in 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico  in  the-  spring  of  1862,  when 
the  crew  saw  a  schooner  in  the  horizon,  and  hoisted 
the  Spanish  ensign.  But  when  she  changed  it  for 
the  Stars  and  Stripes,  the  schooner  took  alarm 
and  stood  oft'.  The  brig  put  on  sail  and  chased 
her,  but  she  was  a  smart  sailer,  and  kept  out  of 
the  way.  The  Bohio  then  run  out  her  guns  and 
fired  two  shots  at  the  schooner,  of  which  she  took 
no  notice. 

The  captain  then  ordered  the  sails  to  be  wet 


down,  and  then  began  to  come  ap  with  her.  At 
last  he  resorted  to  strucegy,  and  rigged  a  "  smoke- 
stack  "  amidshipa,  and  built  a  fire,  and  had  "  steam 
on." 

As  soon  as  the  schooner  saw  this  she  gave  it 
uy,  thinking  she  was  chased  by  a  steamer,  and 
must  be  overtaken.  The  captain  of  the  Bohio 
now  boarded  her,  and  found  her  a  blockade-run 
ner,  with  a  cargo  of  coffee  and  soap  worth  fifty 
thousand  dollars.  He  took  her  in  at  the  South 
west  Pass,  and  she  became  a  prize,  her  officers 
having  learned,  by  a  forcible  example,  that  ap 
pearances  are  sometimes  deceptive. 


THE  FIRST  FATAL  SHOT.  —  However  indiffer 
ent  men  become  to  human  life,  they  have  the  most 
vivid  and  minute  remembrance  of  the  first  man 
they  brought  down  with  a  deliberate  aim. 

In  the  instant  of  time  preceding  the  fatal  shot, 
the  fashion  of  features,  color  of  eyes  and  hair,  and 
even  the  expression  of  face,  are  all  painted,  by  the 
vivid  sympathies  of  the  instant,  in  a  picture  that 
remains  forever  photographed  on  the  brain. 

"  My  first  man,"  said  an  artilleryman,  "  I  saw 
but  twenty  seconds ;  but  I  shall  remember  him 
forever.  I  was  standing  by  my  gun,  when  a  rebel 
infantry  soldier  rushed  up  and  made  a  lunge  with 
his  bayonet  at  one  of  the  horses.  I  whipped  out 
my  revolver,  and  took  him  through  the  breast. 
He  tossed  up  his  arms,  gave  me  the  strangest 
look  in  the  world,  and  fell  forward  upon  his  face. 
He  had  blue  eyes,  brown,  curling  hair,  a  dark' 
mustache,  and  a  handsome  face.  I  thought,  the 
instant  I  shot,  that  I  should  have  loved  that  man 
if  I  had  known  him.  I  tell  you  what,  this  war 
is  terrible  business  ! "  > 


SOUTH  CAROLINA  vs.  NORTH  CAROLINA. — 
Sisterly  affection  between  these  two  adjacent 
sovereignties  does  not  appear, to  be  very  warm, 
nor  have  the  events  of  the  civil  war  done  much  to 
draw  them  together,  judging  from  the  following 
journal  of  a  North  Carolina  traveller,  written  in 
the  fall  of  1863  : 

"  After  spending  a  day  or  two  in  the  neat  and 
quiet  village  of  Franklin,  I  went  directly  to  Wal- 
halla,  South  Carolina,  through  Rayburn  County, 
Georgia.  At  Walhalla  I  took  the  train  to  Co 
lumbia,  South  Carolina,  where  I  arrived  at  six 
o'clock  P.  M.  I  procured  an  omnibus  to  carry 
me  to  the  Congaree  House  ;  on  arriving  at  which, 
I  said  to  the  negro  who  carried  me  up  from  the 
depot,  *  What's  the  fare,  boy  ?  '  *  One  dollar,  sah.' 
I  pulled  out  a  one  dollar  North  Carolina  treasury 
note,  and  presented  it  to  the  negro;  on  taking 
which,  he  exclaimed,  *  O,  dis  no  good  —  no  good, 
sah ;  dis  is  North  Ca'liner  money  ;  North  Calmer 
money  no  good  here,  sah!'  I  paid  the  negro  in 
other  money. 

"  I  thought  but  little  of  the  circumstance,  until 
I  saw,  the  same  evening,  a  North  Carolina  soldier 
attempt  to  purchase  some  bread  with  North  Car 
olina  money,  which  he  could  not  do.  This  was 
the  first  time  I  learned  that  North  Carolina  soi- 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


809 


diers  could  not  buy  something  to  eat  with  North 
Carolina  money,  however  hungry  they  may  be, 
•while  passing  through  the  State  of  South  Caro 
lina.  I  do  not  know  whether  this  disposition  to 
receive  North  Carolina  in  this  dashing  State  is 
general,  or  not.  If  it  is,  it  is  the  duty  of  the 
people  of  North  Carolina  to  refuse  South  Caro 
lina  treasury  notes — keep  their  shins  out  of  our 
State. 

"  After  spending  one  night  in  Columbia,  I  left 
for  Augusta.  On  the  way  down,  three  South 
Carolina  gentlemen  occupied  the  seats  immedi 
ately  opposite  me.  I  overheard^  one  of  them, 
whom  the  other  gentleman  called  Major :  '  I 
really  think  North  Carolina  is  the  tail  end  of  the 
Cord'ederacy,  and  Tennessee  is  but  little  behind 
her  —  both  these  States  are  rotten  to  the  core  — 
neither  of  them  is  possessed  of  any  national 
pride."  The  other  two  South  Carolina  gentle 
men  concurred  in  the  opinion.  I  felt  indignant 
at  the  remark,  and  as  the  gentlemen  presented 
the  appearance  if  respectability,  I  felt  inclined 
to  resent  the  insult  offered  to  my  native  State  — 
so,  alter  apologizing  to  the  gentlemen  for  inter 
rupting  their  conversation,  I  answered  their  maj 
esties  : 

"  '  Sir,  what  are  your  reasons  for  making  such 
a  remark  about  North  Carolina  ? ' 

" '  Well,  I  have  a  reason  for  thinking  so.' 

"  '  Sir,  I  claim  at  least  the  privilege  of  asking 
what  that  reason  is.' 

"  '  Why  do  you  claim  such  a  right  ?  ' 

"  '  Because,  sir,  I  am  a  North  Carolinian,  to  the 
manor  born,  and  feel  insulted  at  your  opprobrious 
remark.' 

"  The  South  Carolina  Major  coughed,  spit, 
cleared  his  throat,  and  repeated  the  operation; 
and,  after  a  rather  lengthy  pause,  during  which  his 
accomplices  seemed  not  a  little  confused,  at  length 
said : 

" '  Your  State  is  for  reconstruction ! ' 

"  I  felt  still  more  indignant,  and  rather  tartly 
replied  :  <  I  ask  your  pardon,  sir ;  but  that  is 
positively  false.  There  is  not  one  man  in  North 
Carolina  who  is  in  favor  of  reconstruction.  I  feel 
confident  you  have  a  greater  proportion  of  recon- 
btructionists  in  South  Carolina  than  we  have.' 

"  My  antagonist  seemed  a  little  confused,  but 
gathered  courage  and  retorted:  'North  Carolina 
has  never  furnished  the  proportion  of  troops,  nor 
have  her  troops  won  the  distinction  on  the  battle 
field  that  South  Carolina  troops  have.' 

"  In  reply  to  this  very  ungenerous  charge,  I 
referred  the  Palmetto  worshippers  to  the  fact 
that  it  was  a  North  Carolinian  who  fired  the  first 
gun  of  the  war ;  that  a  North  Carolina  regiment 
won  the  first  victory  (at  Bethel) ;  that  a  North 
Carolina  regiment  (Colonel  Fisher's)  captured  the 
first  Yankee  battery ;  that  North  Carolina  troops 
had  won  distinguished  laurels  at  Manassas,  at  the 
Seven  Pines,  during  the  *  Seven  Days'  Fight ' 
before  Richmond  (in  which  they  lost  half  as 
many  troops  as  all  the  other  States  together),  at 
the  second  battle  of  Manassas,  at  Sharpsburg, 
Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  — 
indeed,  wherever  her  troops  have  been  called  into 
action.  This  gentleman  only  replied  that  he  was 


not  familiar  with  what  North  Carolina  had  done 
I  told  him  I  hoped  he  would  never  again  be  guilt) 
of  making  such  an  ungenerous  remark  about  a 
State  and  a  people  of  which  he  was  so  ignorant." 


SIIEKILAN'S    RIDE. 

BY     T.   BUCHANAN     BEAD 

UP  from  the  South,  at  break  of  day, 

Bringing  to  Winchester  fresh  dismay, 

The  affrighted  air  with  a  shudder  bore, 

Like  a  herald  in  haste,  to  the  chieftain's  door, 

The  terrible  grumble  and  rumble  and  roar, 

Telling  the  battle  was  on  once  more, 

And  Sheridan  twenty  miles  away. 

And  wider  still  those  billows  of  war 

Thundered  along  the  horizon's  bar, 

And  louder  yet  into  Winchester  rolled 

The  roar  of  that  red  sea,  uncontrolled, 

Making  the  blood  of  the  listener  cold 

As  he  thought  of  the  stake  in  that  fiery  fray, 

And  Sheridan  twenty  miles  away. 

But  there  is  a  road  to  Winchester  town, 

A  good,  broad  highway,  leading  down  ; 

And  there,  throiigh  the  flush  of  the  morning  light, 

A  steed,  as  black  as  the  steeds  of  night, 

Was  seen  to  pass  as  with  eagle  flight: 

As  if  he  knew  the  terrible  need, 

lie  stretched  away  with  his  utmost  speed. 

Hill  rose  and  fell ;  but  his  heart  was  gay, 

With  Sheridan  fifteen  miles  away. 

Still   sprung  from  those  swift  hoofs,  thundering 

south, 

The  du.st,  like  the  smoke  from  the  cannon's  mouth, 
Or  the  trail  of  a  comet,  sweeping  faster  and  faster, 
Foreboding  to  traitors  the  doom  of  disaster ; 
The  heart  of  the  steed,  and  the  heart  of  the  master 
Were  beating,  like  prisoners  assaulting  their  walls, 
Impatient  to  be  where  the  battle-field  calls. 
Every  nerve  of  the  charger  was  strained  to  full 


With  Sheridan  only  ten  miles  away. 

Under  his  spurning  feet  the  road 

Like  an  arrowy  Alpine  river  flowed ; 

And  the  landscape  sped  away  behind 

Like  an  ocean  flying  before  the  wind ; 

And  the  steed,  like  a  bark  fed  with  furnace  ire, 

Swept  on  with  his  wild  eyes  full  of  fire. 

But  lo  !  he  is  nearing  his  heart's  desire ; 

He  is  snuffing  the  smoke  of  the  roaring  fray, 

With  Sheridan  only  five  miles  away. 

The  first  that  the  General  saw  were  the  groups 
Of  stragglers,  and  then  the  retreating  troops. 
What  was  done  —  what  to  do  —  a  glance  told  hisa 

both; 

Then,  striking  his  spurs,  with  a  terrible  oath, 
He  dashed  down  the  line  'mid  a  storm  of  huzzas, 
And  the  wave  of  retreat  checked  its  course  there, 

because 

The  sight  of  the  master  compelled  it  to  pause. 
With  foam  and  with  dust  the  black  charger  was 

gray. 

By  the  flash  of  his  eye,  and  his  red  nostrils'  play, 
He  seemed  to  the  whole  great  army  to  say : 
"I  have  brought  you  Sleridan,  all  the  way 
From  Winchester  down,  to  save  you  the  day !  ** 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


Hurrah,  hurrah,  for  Sheridan  ! 

Hurrah,  hurrah,  for  horse  and  man ! 

And  when  their  statues  are  placed  on  high, 

Und  ?r  the  dome  of  the  Union  sky  — 

The  American  soldiers'  Temple  of  Fame,  — 

There,  with  the  glorious  General's  name, 

U  2  it  said,  in  letters  both  bold  and  bright : 

5«  Here  is  the  steed  that  saved  the  day 
By  carrying  Sheridan  into  the  fight, 

From  Winchester,  twenty  miles  away !  " 

INCIDENTS  OF  CAVALRY  SERVICE.  —  When, 
on  the  30th  of  June,  1863,  the  rear  of  General 
Kilpatriek's  cavalry  division  was  attacked  in  the 
town  of  Hanover,  Pennsylvania,  the  first  charge 
fell  upon  a  remnant  of  the  Eighteenth  Pennsyl 
vania  cavalry.  This  command  was  somewhat 
scattered,  and  the  rebels,  passing  through  it,  came 
upon  the  private  ambulance  of  Dr.  Wood,  chief 
Surgeon  of  the  division.  Two  soldiers,  named 
Spaulding  and  Forsyth,  occupied  this  vehicle  — 
both  hospital  attendants.  As  the  enemy  ap 
proached,  they  made  a  vigorous  attack  upon  the 
covering  of  the  wagon  with  their  swords  —  cut 
ting  a  dozen  or  more  holes  in  the  top  —  when 
Spaulding,  who  was  sick,  suggested  to  Forsyth, 
who  was  driving,  that  he  (Spaulding)  should 
drive,  and  the  other  drive  off  the  assailants  with 
a  six-shooter  one  of  the  party  had.  This  arrange 
ment  was  carried  into  effect;  the  enemy  were 
driven  away,  and  the  worthy  Surgeon's  traps  were 
saved  to  the  service. 

In  the  same  battle,  Folger,  a  private  in  company 
H,  Fifth  New  York  cavalry,  performed  an  act  of 
great  coolness  and  daring.  He  got  mixed  up 
some  way  in  the  charge  upon  the  Eighteenth 
Pennsylvania  cavalry.  Not  having  time  to  reload 
his  carbine,  he  picked  up  a  loaded  one  some  per 
son  had  dropped,  shot  a  horse  upon  which  the 
rebel  Colonel  Payne  was  riding,  the  rider  falling 
into  a  tan-vat,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  Folger 
saved  him  from  drowning.  Just  at  the  moment 
the  Colonel  was  safely  out  of  the  vat,  his  orderly 
rode  up,  arid,  presenting  a  pistol  to  Folger,  ordered 
him  to  surrender.  Folger  hesitated,  but  looking 
up  the  street  and  seeing  the  advance  of  the  Fifth 
in  the  celebrated  charge  made  at  that  time,  sud 
denly  seized  upon  his  unloaded  carbine,  and 
aiming  it  at  Mr.  Orderly,  in  no  very  complimentary 
terms,  ordered  him  to  surrender  or  he  would  blow 
his  brains  out.  The  orderly,  completely  taken 
by  surprise  at  this  turn  of  affairs,  surrendered 
without  making  any  resistance,  so  that  young 
Folger,  by  the  display  of  a  little  coolness  and 
daring  in  extremes,  not  only  saved  himself  from 
capture,  but  captured  a  Colonel  and  a  private  from 
the  ranks  of  the  enemy  during  the  heat  of  battle. 

A  FLAG-RAISING  IN  KENTUCKY.  —  In  the  fall 
of  1861,  just  before  Grant  made  those  masterly 
movements  by  which  the  upper  end  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  Valley  was  open  to  the  Union  arms,  some 
of  his  troops  were  quartered  at  Camp  McAulay, 
near  Paducah,  Kentucky.  They  were  command 
ed  by  Brigadier-General  Smith.  Some  of  his 
troops,  particularly  the  Meventh  Indiana  regi 


ment,  did  not  agree  with  him  in  his  toleration  of 
the  emblems  and  expressions  of  disunion. 

A  family  named  Woolfolk,  living  near  the 
camp,  had  not  only  failed  to  exhibit  any  Ui.iou 
flag,  but  on  several  occasions  hatl  waved  a  little 
rebel  flag  from  the  chamber  window,  greatly  to  the 
disgust  of  the  loyal  boys  of  the  Eleventh  Indiana, 
One  afternoon,  therefore,  a  party  of  officers  procur 
ed  a  beautiful  flag,  bearing  the  "  Stars  and  Stripes," 
and  headed  by  Adjutant  Macauley,  waited  on  the 
aforesaid  family,  reminded  them  of  their  late 
"  suspicious "  doings,  and  politely,  but  firmly, 
stated  their  intention  of  "  placing  '.:.t  American 
flag  upon  their  house."  The  lady  isquested  them 
to  wait  until  her  husband  (he  being  then  absent) 
returned.  To  this  they  consented,  not  wishing 
to  violate  the  domestic  sanctity  of  any  citizen. 
In  the  mean  time  one  of  the  ladies  wended  her  way 
over  to  Brigadier-General  Smith's  headquarters, 
and  asked  him  to  protect  them  from  the  "  sacri 
legious  (?)  outrage  that  was  about  to  be  committed 
upon  their  premises."  In  a  few  moments,  and 
just  as  the  husband  of  the  lady  returned,  here 
came  Brigadier-General  Charles  F.  Smith  bear 
ing  down,  and  in  thundering  tones  demanded  "  by 
whose  authority  this  was  being  done."  Adjutant 
Macauley  respectfully  informed  him  "  that  it  was 
being  done  by  no  constituted  authority;  but  it 
was  the  wish  of  the  Indiana  Eleventh  that  the 
flag  should  be  raised."  General  Smith  replied, 
"  I  care  not  what  the  Indiana  Eleventh  wants ; 
I'm  commander  of  this  post,  by  — .  Disperse  to 
your  quarters ! "  The  officers  then  came  back, 
and  their  non-success  was  soon  known  all  through 
the  regiment.  General  Smith's  conduct  was  re 
garded  with  indignation  by  the  Zouaves,  and  from 
a  murmur  of  indignation  there  soon  arose  a 
mighty  hurricane.  The  idea  that  our  flag  should 
not  be  permitted  to  wave  from  any  place  occu 
pied  by  us  was  more  than  they  could  tolerate. 
Soon  the  excitement  became  too  intense  to  be 
easily  quelled.  With  one  thought  and  one  mind 
the  men  all  declared  that  that  flag  should  be 
raised  upon  that  traitor's  house,  General  Smith's 
orders  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding  ;  "  and 
woe  to  the  man,  no  matter  who,  that  should  dare 
to  pull  it  down."  The  flag  was  again  brought 
forth,  and  headed  by  the  band,  the  whole  regi 
ment  "broke  guard,"  marched  to  the  aforesaid 
rebel's  premises,  and  there  distinctly  informed 
him  that  "  the  Stars  and  Stripes  must  be  imme 
diately  planted  over  his  house." 

The  man  Woolfolk  made  his  .ippenrarce,  and 
tried  to  smooth  matters  over  by  making  a  set  speech. 
"  He  was  loyal  to  the  State  of  Kentucky,  and  »•) 
long  as  the  State  was  loyal  to  the  Union,  that  long 
was  he  also  a  loyal  citizen.  A  secession  flag  had 
not  been  in  his  house  since  the  advent  of  our 
troops.  As  to  rny  private  sentiments,  I  am  an 
swerable  to  my  God." 

Adjutant  Macauley  answered  him  —  "  That  as 
Kentucky  was  loyal  to  the  Union,  and  as  the  flag 
was  emblematical  of  the  Union,  he  should  have 
no  objection  to  its  floating  from  the  roof." 

"  You  have  the  power  and  the  means  j  you  can 
do  it  then,"  was  the  reply. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


401 


The  roof  was  scaled,  and  the  flag  was  waved 
fr  >m  it.  Three  times  three  cheers  and  several 
''tigers"  were  given.  The  band  played  ail  the 
national  "  hims,"  and  warmly  were  they  greeted, 
we  assure  you. 

General  Wallace,  who  had  entered  the  crowd 
unobserved,  here  mounted  a  stand. 

"  Boys,  the  flag  is  there;  your  work  is  done; 
go  home !  "  was  all  he  said.  That  was  sufficient. 


CHAPLAINS.  —  The  graphic  correspondent,  B. 
JF.  Taylor,  in  a  letter  from  the  army  of  the  Cum 
berland,  gives  the  following : 

"  *  Bat  how  about  the  Chaplains?  '  you  ask ;  and 
though  an  ungrateful  business,  I  will  be  frank  to 
tell  you.  I  have  met  three  dozen  men,  whose 
symbol  is  the  cross,  and  of  that  number,  two 
should  have  been  in  the  ranks,  two  in  the  rear, 
one  keeping  the  temperance  pledge,  one  obeying 
the  third  commandment  —  to  be  brief  about  it, 
h've  repenting,  and  eight  getting  common  sense. 
The  rest  were  efficient,  faithful  men.  Not  one 
Chaplain  in  fifty,  perhaps,  lacks  the  paving-stones 
of  good  intentions,  but  the  complex  complaint 
that  carries  off  the  greatest  number  is  ignorance 
of  human  nature,  and  want  of  common  sense. 
Four  cardinal  questions,  I  think,  will  exhaust  the 
qualifications  for  a  chaplaincy :  Is  he  religiously 
fit  ?  Is  he  physically  fit  ?  Is  he  acquainted  with 
the  animal,  '  man  ?  '  Does  he  possess  honest 
horse  sense  ?  Let  me  give  two  or  three  illustra 
tive  pictures  from  life.  Chaplain  A  has  a  putter 
ing  demon ;  he  is  forever  not  letting  things 
alone.  Passing  a  group  of  boys,  he  hears  one 
oath,  stops  short  in  his  boots,  hurls  a  command 
ment  at  the  author,  hears  another  and  reproves 
it,  receives  a  whole  volley,  and  retreats,  pained 
and  discomfited.  Now,  Mr.  A  is  a  good  man, 
anxious  to  do  his  duty  ;  but  that  habit  of  his,  that 
darting  about  camp  like  a  '  devil's  darning  nee 
dle,'  with  a  stereotype  reproof  in  his  eye,  and  a 
pellet  of  rebuke  on  the  tip  of  his  tongue,  bolts 
every  heart  against  him.  Chaplain  B  preaches  a 
sermon  —  regular  army  fare,  too  —  on  Sunday, 
buttons  his  coat  up  snugly  under  his  chin  all  the 
other  days  of  the  week,  draws  a  thousand  dol 
lars,  and  is  content.  Chaplain  C  never  forgets 
that  he  is  C  '  with  the  rank  of  Captain,'  per 
fumes  like  a  civet  cat,  never  saw  the  inside  of  a 
dog-tent,  never  quite  considered  the  rank  and 
file  fellow-beings.  Of  the  three,  the  boys  hate 
the  first,  despise  the  second,  and  d — n  the  third. 

" '  Demoralize '  has  become  about  as  common 
a  tiling  in  the  army  as  a  bayonet,  though  the 
boys  do  not  always  get  the  word  right.  One  of 
them — 'one  of 'em,'  in  a  couple  of  senses  — 
was  talking  of  himself  one  night.  «  Maybe  you 
wouldn't  think  it,  but  I  used  to  be  a  regular, 
straight-laced  sort  of  a  fellow  ;  but  since  I  joined 
the  army  I  have  got  damnably  decomposed!' 
Now,  a  drunken  General  and  a  '  decomposed ' 
Chaplain  are  about  as  useless  lumber  as  can  cum 
ber  an  army. 

"  There  is  Chaplain  D,  well  equipped  with 
heart,  but  with  no  head  '  to  speak  of,'  and  with 
26 


the  purest  intentions,  a  perfect,  provocative  to 
evil.  It  was  next  to  impossible  for  a  man  tu  pul 
the  best  side  out  when  he  was  by  ;  a  curious  t\vo- 
J  footed  diachylum  plaster,  he  drew  everybody's 
infirmities  to  the  surface.  I  think  the  regiment 
grew  daily  worse  and  worse,  and  where  he  was, 
words  were  sure  to  be  the  dirtiest,  jokes  the 
coarsest,  deeds  the  most  unseemly.  The  day  be 
fore  the  battle,  of  Chickamauga,  the  regiment  had 
signed,  almost  to  a  man,  a  paper  inviting  him 
to  resign ;  but  on  the  day  3  of  the  battle  he  "threw 
off  his  coat,  and  carried  water  to  the  men  all  day. 
In  the  hottest  places  there  was  Chaplain  D,  wa 
ter  here,  water  there,  assisting  the  wounded,  aid 
ing  the  Surgeon^,  a  very  minister  of  mercy.  I 
need  not  add  that  the  'invitation'  lighted 
the  fire  under  somebody's  coffee-kettle  on  Mon 
day  night.  The  Chaplain  had  struck  the  right 
vein  at  las'  ;  the  boys  had  found  something 
to  respect  and  to  love  in  him,  and  the  clergy 
man's  future  usefulness  was  insured.  The  bond 
between  Chaplain  and  men  was  sealed  on  that 
field  with  honest  blood,  and  will  hold  good  until 
doomsday. 

"  One  noble  Illinois  Chaplain,  who  died  in  the 
harness,  used  to  go  out  at  night,  lantern  in  hand, 
among  the  blended  heaps  of  the  battle-field,  and 
as  he  went,  you  could  hear  his  clear,  kind  voice, 
'Any  wounded  here?'  and  so  he  made  the  terri 
ble  rounds.  That  man  was  idolized  in  life  and 
bewailed  in  death.  Old  Jacob  Trout,  a  Chaplain 
of  the  Revolution,  and  who  .preached,  if  I  re 
member  right,  a  five  minute  sermon  before  the 
battle  of  Brandywine,  was  the  type  of  the  man 
that  soldiers  loVe  to  honor.  LLis  faith  was  in 
'  the  sword  of  the  Lord  and  of  Gideon/  but  his 
work  was  with  the  musket  of  Jacob  Trout.  I  do 
not  mean  to  say  that  the  Chaplain  should  step 
out  from  the  little  group  of  non-combatants  that 
belong  to  a  regiment,  but  I  do  say,  that  he  must 
establish  one  point  of  contact,  quicken  one  throb 
of  kindred  feeling  between  the  men  and  himself, 
or  his  vocation  is  as  empty  of  all  blessings  and 
honor  as  the  old  wine  flasks  of  Plerculaneum. 
No  man  can  honestly  misunderstand  what  I  have 
written.  The  Chaplaincy,  at  best,  is  an  office 
difficult  and  thankless.  It  demands  the  best 
men  you  have  to  fill  it  well  and  worthily  —  men 
whose  very  presence  and  bearing  put  soldiers 
'  upon  their  honor  :  "  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  he 
who  is  fit  to  be  a  Chaplain  is  fit  to  rule  a  people. 
Kow  nobly  many  of  them  have  labored  in  the 
army  of  the  Cumberland,  I  need  riot  testify ; 
ministers  of  mercy,  right-hand  men  of  the  Sur 
geons,  and  the  Nightingales,  bearers  of  the  cup  of 
cold  water  and  the  word  of  good  cheer ;  the  strong 
regiment  may  be  the  Colonel  s,  but  the  wounded 
brigade  is  the  Chaplain's.  To  mingle  with  the 
men,  and  share  in  their  frolics,  as  well  as  their 
sorrows,  without  losing  self-respect ;  to  be  with 
them,  and  yet  not  of  them  ;  to  get  at  their  hearts 
without  letting  them  know  it,  —  these  are  indeed 
tasks  most  delicate  and  difficult,  requiring  a  tact 
a  man  must  be  born  with,  and  a  good,  honest 
sense  that  can  never  be  derived  from  Gill's 
'  Body  of  Divinity.'  How  do  you  like  Chaplain 


402 


ANSCDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


S.,  I  asked  of  a  group  of  Illinois  boys,  one  day. 
'  We'll  freeze  to  him,  every  time,'  was  the  char 
acteristic  reply ;  and  not  unanticipated,  for  I  had 
seen  him  dressing  a  wound,  helping  out  a  blun 
dering  boy,  whose  fingers  were  all  thumbs,  with 
lus  letter  to  '  the  girl  he  left  behind  him,'  play 
ing  ball,  running  a  race,  as  well  as  heard  him 
making  a  prayer  and  preaching  a  sermon.  The 
Surgeon  and  the  Chaplain  are  co-workers.  I 
said  the  former  should  report  to  the  women,  and 
I  half  believe  that  the  Chaplain  should  do  like 
wise."  

A  :NTOBLE  RICHMOND  GIRL.  —  Early  in  the 
war,  S.  11.  McCullough  entered  the  ranks  of  the 
First  Wisconsin  regiment,  and  soon  after  became 
its  hospital  steward.  At  the  disastrous  battle  of 
Chickamauga,  in  company  with  three  thousand 
others,  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  passed  through 
Atlanta,  on  his  way  to  Itichmond.  Here,  he  says, 
the  loyalty  of  a  great  number  of  the  Southern 
women  was  distinctly  proved  ;  more  than  a  hun 
dred  came  to  the  cars  where  the  prisoners  were 
confined,  and  handed  them  blankets  and  other 
clothing,  within  which  were  rolled  greenbacks, 
varying  in  amount  from  two  to  ten  dollars.  Simi 
lar  demonstrations  took  place  at  various  other 
points  along  the  route;  and  at  Richmond  he 
found  a  friend  indeed  in  a  pretty  looking  young 
lady,  to  whose  agency  he  and  a  comrade  owe 
their  escape.  She  did  the  planning,  and  part  of 
the  execution ;  they  the  remainder.  This  young 
lady  met  young  McCullough,  and  sent  to  the  hos 
pital  for 'him  a  pretty  bag,  containing  \bout  a 
pound  of  tobacco.  It  occurred  to  McCullough 
that  there  might  be  something  besides  tobacco  in 
it ;  and  sure  enough,  at  the  bottom  of  the  bag  was 
a  slip  of  paper,  containing  substantially  these 
words :  "  Would  you  be  free  ?  Then  be 


to  act  —  meet  me  to-morrow  at ."  The  meet 
ing  took  place.  In  a  few  hasty  words  her  plan 
was  unfolded ;  a  day  for  its  attempt  was  agreed 
upon,  and  the  parties  separated  without  attract 
ing  the  attention  of  the  guard. 

A  subsequent  note,  conveyed  in  like  manner, 
told  him  he  might  arrange  for  a  single  comrade  ; 
that  necessary  clothes  would  be  provided,  and 
gave  short,  but  specific  directions  for  the  future. 
The  to  him  important  day  approaches  ;  he  can 
think  of  no  way  to  pass  the  guard  but  to  feign 
sickness  and  death.  It  is  adopted,  and  on  the 
day  four  of  his  fellow-prisoners  carry  him  between 
blankets  to  the  "  dead  house  "  beyond  the  guard. 
but  within  the  high  fenced  enclosure,  where  he 
lies,  "  dead  as  a  nit,"  from  midday  till  dusk, 
all  the  time  fearing  that  some  troublesome  guard 
might  peep  in,  or  a  real  dead  one  be  brought, 
and  his  deception  disclosed  ;  but  neither  hap 
pened.  At  length  he  raised  up  and  listened ; 
then  made  a  short  reconnoissance  barefooted,  arid 
finding  all  right,  returned,  put  on  his  traps,  and 
rallied  forth.  Meanwhile,  a  sham  fight  was  got 
ten  up  in  another  part  of  the  enclosure  among  a 
lot  of  prisoners,  to  quell  which  drew  the  guard 
from  their  legitimate  line,  during  which  the  com 
rade  passed  beyond  to  a  designated  negro  hut, 


where  he  was  safely  stowed  away  till  little  pebbl* 
stones  thrown  against  it  by  McCullough  told  hirr 
to  come  forth.  The  two  proceeded  to  scale  the 
high  fence  by  one  clambering  upon  the  shoulders 
of  the  other,  thus  reaching  the  top,  then  drawing 
up  his  comrade.  After  a  while  they  readied  the 
place  appointed  by  the  lady  (not  far  distant),  ami 
had  been  there  but  a  few  moments  when  she  joined 
them,  directed  that  they  follow  her  at  such  a  dis 
tance  only  as  to  be  able  to  keep  in  view  a  white 
handkerchief  which  she  carried  in  her  hand.  They 
did  follow  her  for  twenty-five  blocks,  when  she  led 
them  into  a  house,  which  proved  to  be  that  of  her 
father.  Up  to  this  time  her  father  did  not  know  a 
word  of  her  doings  ;  but  still  he  received  the  res 
cued  men  cordially,  and  at  once  set  to  work  to 
get  them  safely  oil.  He  procured  two  passes  for 
them,  for  which  he  paid  twenty-five  hundred  dol 
lars  in  Confederate  currency.  In  a  few  days,  dis 
encumbered  of  everything  that  could  by  possi 
bility  expose  them  if  examined,  the  good  man 
furnished  them  a  carriage ;  and  with  his  blessing 
and  that  of  his  family,  they  set  forth  for  the  Fed 
eral  lines,  which  they  reached  on  the  23d  of  De 
cember,  1863.  Once,  on  the  road,  they  were 
stopped  and  examined  by  Confederate  detectives, 
but  there  being  no  apparent  reasons  for  their  de 
tention,  were  allowed  to  proceed. 


ANECDOTES  OF  JUDGE  CHASE.  —  During  the 
visit  of  Chief  Justice  Chase  to  New  Orleans  he 
received  many  elegant  attentions. 

An  evening  party  was  given  him  by  a  relative 
in  Jackson  Street,  where  Miss  Chase,  his  accom 
plished  daughter,  was  the  cynosure  of  all  eyes. 
The  Chief  Justice,  who  has  very  little  official 
stiffness,  indulged  during  the  evening  in  many 
a  delightful  anecdote,  some  of  which  were  far 
more  interesting  than  reports  of  the  Supreme 
Court. 

"  While  at  Key  West,"  said  the  Chief  Justice, 
"  I  fell  in  with  an  intelligent  contraband,  who, 
after  eying  me  intently  for  a  while,  approached 
rue  with  a  broad  grin,  and  said: 

"  '  Ise  —  Ise  seen  you  somewhere,  massa.' 

"  Thinking  this  smiling  recognition  worth  some 
thing,  I  pulled  out  a  greenback,  which  the  negro 
recognized  better  than  your  humble  servant,  and 
with  a  still  broader  grin,  sputtered  out: 

" '  0,  I  know  you  now,  massa,  I  know  you 
now  ;  you'se  Old  Greenbacks.'  "  Whereupon  the 
Chief  Justice  also  smiled  with  a  smile  of  satis 
faction,  and  told  another. 

"  One  summer,  during  my  administration,  v>  hen 
the  Treasury  was  more  than  usually  IDW,  I  had 
occasion  to  visit  a  body  of  troops  that  had  not 
been  paid  off  for  a  long  time.  Among  the  men 
was  one  with  whom  I  had  some  acquaintance,  but 
who  did  not  seem  to  recognize  me,  whereupon  I 
introduced  myself. 

"  '  O,  yes.  Mr.  Chase,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 
I  recollect,'  he  said ;  « but  it  is  so  long  oince  we 
have  seen  your  picture  that  I  had  almost  forgot 
ten  you." 


AKECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


403 


THE  KENTUCKY  PARTISAN. 

BY    PAUL    H.    HAYNE. 

HATH  the  wily  Swamp  Fox 

Come  again  to  earth  ? 
Hath  the  soul  of  Sumter 

Owned  a  second  birth  ? 
From  the  Western  hill- slopes 

Starts  a  hero-form, 
Stalwart,  like  the  oak  tree, 

Tameless,  like  the  storm  ! 
His  an  eye  of  lightning ! 

His  a  heart  of  steel ! 
Flashing  deadly  vengeance, 

Thrilled  with  fiery  zeal ! 
Hound  him  down,  ye  minions  ! 

Seize  him  —  if  ye  can  ; 
But  woe  worth  the  hireling  knave 
Who  meets  him,  man  to  man ! 

Well  done,  gallant  Morgan  ! 

Strike  with  might  and  main, 
Till  the  fair  fields  redden 

With  a  gory  rain  ; 
Smite  them  by  the  roadside, 

Smite  them  in  the  wood, 
By  the  lonely  valley, 

And  the  purpling  flood  ; 
'Neath  the  mystic  starlight, 

'Neath  the  glare  of  day, 
Harass,  sting,  affright  them, 

Scatter  them,  and  slay  ;  — 
Beard,  who  durst,  our  chieftain  ! 

Blind  him  —  if  ye  can,  — 
But  woe  worth  the  Hessian  thief 
Who  meets  him,  man  to  man  ! 

There's  a  lurid  purpose 

Brooding  in  his  breast, 
Born  of  solemn  passion 

And  a  deep  unrest : 
For  our  ruined  homesteads 

And  our  ravaged  land, 
For  our  women  outraged 

By  the  dastard  hand, 
For  our  thousand  sorrows 

And  our  untold  shame, 
For  our  blighted  harvests, 

For  our  towns  aflame  — 
He  has  sworn,  (and  recks  not 

Who  may  cross  his  path)  — 
That  the  foe  shall  feel  him 

In  his  torrid  wrath  — 
That,  while  will  and  spirit 

Hold  one  spark  of  life, 
Blood  shall  stain  his  broadsword, 

Blood  shall  wet  his  knife :  — 
On  !  ye  Hessian  horsemen  ! 

Crush  him  —  if  ye  can  ! 
But  woe  worth  your  stanchest  slave 
\\  ho  meets  him,  man  to  man  ! 

'Tis  no  time  for  pleasure ! 

Doff  the  silken  vest ! 
Up,  my  men,  and  follow 

Marion  of  the  West ! 
Strike  with  him  for  freedom  J 

Strike  with  main  and  might 
'Neath  the  noonday  splendor, 

'Neath  the  gloom  of  night ; 


Strike  by  rock  and  roadside, 
Strike  in  wold  and  wood ; 
By  the  shadowy  valley, 

By  the  purpling  flood  ; 
On  !  where  Morgan's  war-horse 

Thunders  in  the  van  ! 
God!  who  would  not  gladly  die 
Beside  that  glorious  man  ? 

Hath  the  wily  Swamp  Fox 

Coine  again  to  earth  ? 
Hath  the  soul  of  Sumter 

Owned  a  second  birth  ? 
From  the  Western  hill-slopes 

Starts  a  hero-form, 
Stalwart,  like  an  oak  tree, 

Kestless,  like  the  storm  ! 
His  an  eye  of  lightning ! 

His  a  heart  of  steel ! 
Flashing  deadly  vengeance, 

Thrilled  with  fiery  zeal ! 
Hound  him  down,  ye  robbers  ! 

Slay  him  —  if  ye  can ! 
But  woe  worth  the  hireling  knave 
Who  meets  him,  man  to  man  ! 


THE  EXECUTION  OF  A  SPY.  —  When  a  man 
meets  death  with  true  courage,  our  sympathies 
are  drawn  towards  him,  no  matter  what  may  have 
been  his  crimes.  And  no  military  duty  is  more 
painful  than  the  execution  of  a  spy,  especially 
when  his  bearing  is  manly,  and  he  displays  senti 
ments  of  honor  and  magnanimity  at  the  foot  of 
the  scaffold. 

The  following  account  gives  the  particulars  of 
an  event  of  this  character  which  took  place  at 
Pulaski,  about  eighty  miles  south  of  Nashville, 
Tennessee,  in  December,  1863. 

On  Friday  the  citizens  and  soldiers  of  Pulaski 
witnessed  one  of  those  painful  executions  of  stern 
justice  which  makes  war  so  terrible,  and,  though 
sanctioned  by  the  usages  of  war,  is  no  more  than 
men  in  the  service  of  their  country  expose  them 
selves  to  every  day. 

Samuel  Davis,  of  General  Coleman's  scouts, 
having  been  found  within  the  Federal  lines  with 
despatches  and  mails  destined  for  the  enemy, 
was  tried  on  the  charge  of  being  a  spy,  and,  be 
ing  found  guilty,  was  condemned  to  be  hung  be 
tween  the  hours  of  ten  o'clock  A.  M.  and  six 
o'clock  P.  M.,  on  Friday,  November  27,  1863. 

The  prisoner  was  apprised  of  his  sentence  b> 
Captain  Armstrong,  local  Provost  Marshal,  and 
though  somewhat  surprised  at  the  sentence  of 
death,  did  not  manifest  any  outward  signs  of  agi 
tation.  Chaplain  Young,  of  the  Eighty-fust  Ohio 
infantry,  visited  the  prisoner,  and  administered 
spiritual  consolation. 

The  prisoner  expressed  himself  resigned  to  his 
fate  and  perfectly  prepared  to  die.  He  exhibited 
a  firmness  unusual  for  one  of  his  age,  and  up  t« 
the  last  showed  a  lively  interest  in  the  news  of 
the  day,  expressing  regret  when  told  of  the  de 
feat  of  Bragg.  The  scaffold  for  the  execution  of 
the  prisoner  was  built  upon  the  ridge  east  of  the 
town,  near  the  seminary  —  a  position  which  could 
be  seen  fr;m  any  part  of  the  town.  At  precisely 


404 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


ten  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  prisoner  was  taken  from 
his  cell,  his  hands  tied  behind  him,  and,  accom 
panied  by  the  Chaplain  of  the  Eighty-first  Ohio, 
was  placed  in  a  wagon,  seated  upon  his  coffin, 
and  conveyed  to  the  scaffold.  Provost  Marshal 
Armstrong  conducted  the  proceedings.  At  pre 
cisely  five  minutes  past  ten  o'clock  th£  wagon 
containing1  the  prisoner  and  the  guards  entered 
the  hollow  square  formed  by  the  troops,  in  the 
centre  of  which  was  the  scaffold.  The  prisoner 
then  stepped  from  the  wagon,  and  seated  him 
self  upon  a  bench  at  the  foot  of  the  scaffold. 
He  displayed  great  firmness,  glancing  casually 
at  his  coffin  as  it  was  taken  from  the  wagon. 
Turning  to  Captain  Armstrong,  he  inquired  how 
long  he  had  to  live,  and  was  told  he  had  just  fif 
teen  minutes  ;  he  then  remarked,  "  We  would 
have  to  fight  the  rest  of  the  battles  alone." 

Captain  Armstrong  —  "I  am  sorry  to  be  com 
pelled  to  perform  this  painful  duty." 

Prisoner,  with  a  smile  —  "It  does  not  hurt 
me,  Captain.  I  am  innocent,  though  I  am  pre 
pared  to  die,  and  do  not  think  hard  of  it." 

Captain  Chickasaw  then  asked  the  prisoner  if  it 
would  not  have  been  better  for  him  to  have  ac 
cepted  the  offer  of  life  upon  the  disclosure  of 
facts  in  his  possession ;  when  the  prisoner  an 
swered,  with  much  indignation  : 

"  Do  you  suppose  I  would  betray  a  friend? 
No,  sir  !  I  would  die  a  thousand  times  first  ! " 

He  was  then  questioned  upon  other  matters, 
but  refused  to  give  any  information  which  could 
be  of  service. 

The  prisoner  then  mounted  the  scaffold,  accom 
panied  by  the  Chaplain,  James  Young,  whom  he 
requested  to  pray  with  him  at  his  execution. 

The  prisoner  then  stepped  upon  the  trap,  the 
rope  was  adjusted  about  his  neck,  and  the  cap 


the 
his 


drawn  over  his  head.  In  a  moment  the  trap 
sprung,  and  the  prisoner  fell  suspended  in 
air.  For  a  few  moments  he  struggled  with 
hands  and  feet.  This  was  succeeded  by  a  slight 
quivering  of  the  body,  which  ceased  at  three  and 
a  half  minutes  from  the  time  he  fell.  After  be 
ing  suspended  seventeen  and  a  half  minutes, 
the  officiating  Surgeon  (D.  W.  Vayles,  Sixty- 
sixth  Indiana)  pronounced  the  prisoner  dead,  and 
he  was  cut  down  and  placed  in  his  coffin.  It  was 
supposed,  from  the  protracted  animation  which 
the  prisoner  exhibited,  that  the  fall  had  not  bro 
ken  his  neck,  and  that  he  died  by  strangulation  ; 
but  upon  subsequent  examination  his  neck  was 
found  to  be  completely  broken. 

So  fell  one  whom  the  fate  of  war  cut  down  in 
early  youth,  and  who  exhibited  traits  of  charac 
ter  which,  under  other  circumstances,  might  have 
made  him  a  valuable  friend  and  member  of  soci- 


f  THE  FIGHT  IN  HAMPTON  ROADS.  —  On  Sat 
urday,  the  8th  March,  1862,  about  noon,  the 
United  States  frigate  Cumberland  lay  off'  in  the 
roads  at  Newport  News,  about  three  hundred 
yards  from  shore,  the  Congress  being  two  him-  from  the  Cumberland  were  rained  on  the  Merri- 
dred  yards  south  of  her.  The  morning  was  m'kl  j  mac  as  she  passed  ahead,  lut  the  most  glanced 
and  pleasant,  and  the  day  had  opened  withe ut  I  harmlessly  from  the  incline  of  her  iron-plated 
any  noteworthy  incident.  I  bomb-roof. 


Soon  after  eleven  o'clock  a  dark-looking  object 
was  seen  coming  round  Crariey  Island  through 
Norfolk  Channel,  and  making*  straight  for  the 
two  Union  war  vessels.  It  was  instantly  recog 
nised  as  the  Merrimac.  The  officers  of  the  Cum 
berland  and  of  the  Congress  had  been  on  the 
lookout  for  her  for  some  time,  and  were  as  well 
prepared  for  the  impending  fight  as  wooden  ves 
sels  could  be. 

As  the  strange-looking  2raft  camp  ploughing 
through  the  water  right  on  vard  towards  the  port 
bow  of  the  Cumberland,  she  resembled  a  huge, 
half  submerged  crocodile.  Her  sides  seemed  of 
solid  iron,  except  where  the  guns  pointed  from 
the  narrow  ports,  and  rose  slantingly  from  the 
water  like  the  roof  of  a  house,  or  the  arched  back 
of  a  tortoise.  Probably  the  entire  height  of  the 
apex  from  the  wp/er's  edge  was  ten  perpendicular 
feet.  At  her  prow  could  be  seen  the  iron  ram 
projecting  straight  forward  somewhat  above  the 
water's  edge,  and  apparently  a  mass  of  iron. 
Small  boats  were  slung  or  fastened  to  her  sides, 
and  the  rebel  flag  from  one  staff,  and  a  pennant 
to  another  at  the  stern.  There  was  a  smoke 
stack  near  her  middle  ;  but  no  side-wheels  or 
machinery  was  visible,  and  all  exposed  parts  of 
the  formidable  craft  were  heavily  coated  with 
iron. 

Immediately  on  the  appearing  of  the  Merrimac, 
both  Union  vessels  made  ready  for  action.  A)l 
hands  were  ordered  to  places,  and  the  Cumber 
land  was  swung  across  the  channel,  sc  her  broad 
side  would  bear  on  the  hostile  craft,  The  arma 
ment  she  could  use  against  the  Merrimac  was 
about  eleven  nine  and  ten-inch  Dahlgren  guns, 
and  two  pivot  guns  of  the  same  make.  The 
enemy  came  on  at  the  rate  of  four  or  five  knots 
an  hour.  When  within  a  mile,  tli3  Cumberland 
opened  on  her  with  her  pivot  guns,  and  soon 
after  with  broadsides.  Still  &cie  came  en,  the 
balls  bounding  from  her  sides  like  India  rubber, 
making  apparently  no  impression  except  to  cut 
away  the  Bag-staff. 

The  Merrimac  passed  the  Cong)  ess,  dischar 
ging  a  broadside  at  her,  one  shell  from  which 
killed  and  disabled  every  man  at  Gun  Xo.  10 
but  one,  and  made  directly  for  the  Cumberland, 
which  she  struck  on  the  port  bow  just  starboard 
of  the  main  chains,  knocking  a  hole  in  the  side 
near  the  water  line  as  large  as  the  hfiid  of  a 
hogshead,  and  driving  the  vessel  back  upon  her 
anchors  with  great  force.  The  water  at  once 
commenced  pouring  into  the  hold,  and  rose  so 
rapidly  as  to  reach  in  five  minuter;  the  sick-bay 
on  the  berth-deck.  Almost  at  the  rnoimnt  of  tba 
collision  the  Merrimac  discharged  fron,,  her  for 
ward  gun  an  eleven-inch  shell.  This  si  ell  raked 
the  whole  gun-deck,  killing  ten  men  at  Gun  No.  1, 
among  whom  was  Master  Mate  John  Harrington, 
and  cutting  oft'  both  arms  and  legs  of  Quarter- 
Gunner  Wood.  The  water  rushed  in  from  the 
hole  made  below,  and  in  fire  minutes  the  ship 
beiiran  to  sink  by  the  head.  Shell  and  solid  shot 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


405 


As  the  Merrimac  rounded  to  and  came  up,  she 
again  raked  the  Cumberland  with  heavy  fire.  At 
this  fire  sixteen  men  at  Gun  No.  10  were  killed 
or  Bounded,  and  were  all  subsequently  carried 
down  in  the  sinking  ship. 

Advancing  with  increased  momentum,  the  Mer- 
rimac  struck  the  Cumberland  on  the  starboard 
side,  smashing  her  upper  works  and  cutting  an 
other  hole  below  the  water-line. 

The  ship  now  began  rapidly  to  settle,  and  the 
scene  became  most  horrible.  The  cockpit  was 
filled  with  the  wounded,  whom  it  was  impossible 
to  bring  up.  The  forward  magazine  was  under 
water,  but  powder  was  still  supplied  from  the 
after  magazine,  and  the  firing  kept  steadily  up  by 
men  who  knew  that  the  ship  was  sinking  under 
them.  They  worked  desperately  and  unremit 
tingly,  and  amid  the  din  and  horror  of  the  con 
flict  'gave  cheers  for  their  flag  and  the  Union, 
which  were  joined  in  by  the  wounded.  The  decks 
were  slippery  with  blood,  and  arms  and  legs  and 
chunks  of  flesh  were  strewed  about.  The  Merri 
mac  lay  off  at  easy  point-blank  range,  dischar 
ging  her  broadsides  alternately  at  the  Cumberland 
and  the  Congress.  The  water  by  this  time  had 
reached  the  after  magazine  of  the  Cumberland. 
The  men,  however,  kept  at  work,  and  several 
cases  of  powder  were  passed  up,  and  the  guns 
kept  in  play.  Several  men  in  the  after  shell-room 
lingered  there  too  long  in  their  eagerness  to  pass 
up  shell,  and  were  drowned. 

The  water  had  at  this  time  reached  the  berth 
or  main  gun-deck,  and  it  was  felt  hopeless  and 
useless  to  continue  the  fight  longer.  The  word 
was  given  for  each  man  to  save  himself ;  but  after 
this  order  Gun  No.  7  was  fired,  when  the  adjoin 
ing  Gun,  No.  (3,  was  actually  under  water.  This 
last  shot  was  fired  by  an  active  little  fellow  named 
Matthew  Tenney,  whose  courage  had  been  con 
spicuous  throughout  the  action.  As  his  port  was 
left  open  by  the  recoil  of  the  gun,  he  jumped  to 
scramble  out ;  but  the  water  rushed  in  with  so 
much  force  that  he  was  washed  back  and  drowned. 
When  the  order  was  given  to  cease  firing,  and  to 
look  out  for  their  safety  in  the  best  way  possible, 
numbers  scampered  through  the  port-holes,  whilst 
others  reached  the  spar-deck  by  the  companion- 
ways.  Some  were  unable  to  get  out  by  either  of 
these  means,  aud  were  carried  down  by  the'rapidly 
sinking  ship.  Of  those  who  reached  the  upper 
deck,  some  swam  off  to  the  tugs  that  came  out 
from  Newport  News. 

The  Cumberland  sank  in  water  nearly  to  her 
cross-trees.  She  went  down  with  her  flag  still 
{lying  —  a  memento  of  the  bravest,  most  daring, 
and  yet  most  hopeless  defence  that  has  ever  been 
made  by  any  vessel  belonging  to  any  navy  in  the 
world.  The  men  fought  with  a  courage  that  could 
not  be  excelled.  There  was  no  flinching,  no 
thought  of  surrender. 

The  whole  number  lost  of  the  Cumberland's 
crew  was  one  hundred  and  twenty. 

The  Cumberland  being  thoroughly  demolished, 
the  Merrimac  left  her— not,  to  the  credit  of  the 
rebels  it  ought  to  be  stated,  firing  either  at  the 
men  clinging  to  the  rigging,  or  at  the  small  boats 


on  the  propeller  "VVhildin,  which  were  busily  em 
ployed  rescuing  the  survivors  of  her  crew  —  and 
proceeded  to  attack  the  Congress.  The  officers 
of  the  Congress,  feeing  the  fate  of  the  Cumber- 
land,  and  aware  nat  she  also  would  be  sunk  if 
she  remained  within  reach  of  the  iron  beak  of  the 
Merrimac,  had  got  all  sail  on  the  ship,  with  the 
intention  of  running  her  ashore.  The  tug-boat 
Zouave  also  came  out  and  made  fast  to  the  Cum 
berland,  and  assisted  in  towing  her  ashore. 

The  Merrimac  then  surged  up,  gave  the  Con 
gress  a  broadside,  receiving  one  in  return,  and 
getting  astern,  raked  the  ship  fore  and  aft.  This 
fire  was  terribly  destructive,  a  shell  killing  every 
man  at  one  of  the  guns  except  one.  Coming 
again  broadside  to  the  Congress,  the  Merrimac 
ranged  slowly  backward  and  forward,  at  less  than 
one  hundred  yards  distant,  and  fired  broadside 
after  broadside  into  the  Congress.  The  latter 
vessel  replied  manfully  and  obstinately,  every  gun 
that  could  be  brought  to  bear  being  discharged 
rapidly,  but  with  little  effect  upon  the  iron  mon 
ster.  Some  of  the  balls  caused  splinters  of  iron 
to  fly  from  her  mailed  roof,  and  one  shot,  enter 
ing  a  port-hole,  dismounted  a  gun.  The  guns  of 
the  Merrimac  appeared  to  be  specially  trained  on 
the  after  magazine  of  the  Congress,  and  shot 
after  shot  entered  that  part  of  the  ship. 

Thus  slowly  drifting  down  with  the  current  and 
again  steaming  up,  the  Merrimac  continued  for  an 
hour  to  fire  into  her  opponent.  Several  times  the 
Congress  was  on  fire,  but  the  flames  were  kept 
down.  Finally  the  ship  was  on  fire  in  so  many 
places,  and  the  flames  gathering  such  force,  that 
it  was  hopeless  and  suicidal  to  keep  up  the  de 
fence  any  longer.  The  national  flag  was  sorrow 
fully  hauled  down,  and  a  white  flag  hoisted  at  the 
peak. 

After  it  was  hoisted  the  Merrimac  continued  to 
fire,  perhaps  not  discovering  the  white  flag,  but 
soon  after  ceased  firing. 

A  small  rebel  tug  that  had  followed  the  Mer 
rimac  out  of  Norfolk,  then  came  alongside  the 
Congress,  and  a  young  officer  gained  the  gun- 
deck  through  a  port-hole,  announced  that  he 
came  on  board  to  take  command,  and  ordered  the 
officers  on  board  the  tug. 

The  officers  of  the  Congress  refused  to  go  on 
board,  homing  from  the  nearness  to  the  shore  that 
they  would  be  able  to  reach  it,  and  unwilling  to 
become  prisoners  whilst  the  least  chance  of  es 
cape  remained.  Some  of  the  men,  supposed  to 
number  about  forty,  thinking  the  tug  was  one  of 
our  vessels,  rushed  on  board.  At  this  moment 
the  members  of  an  Indiana  regiment,  at  Newport 
News,  brought  a  Parrott  gun  down  to  the  beach 
and  opened  fire  upon  the  rebel  tug.  The  tug 
hastily  put  off,  and  the  Merrimac  again  opened 
fire  upon  the  Congress.  The  fire  not  being  re 
turned  from  the  ship,  the  MerrimLC  commenced 
shelling  the  woods  and  camps  at  Newport  News, 
fortunately,  however,  without  doing  much  dam 
age,  only  one  or  two  casualties  occurring. 

By  the  time  all  we  *e  ashore,  it  was  seven  o'clock 
in  the  evening,  and  ":he  Congress  was  in  a  bright 
sheet  of  flame,  fore  and  aft.  She  ccntinued  *o 


406 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


burn  until  twelve  o'clock  at  night,  her  guns,  which  I  of  formidable,  lying  low  on  the  water,  with  a  plain 
were  loaded  and  trained,  going  off  as  they  became   structure  amidships,  a  small  pilot-house  forward,  a 


heated.     A  shell  from  one  struck  a  sloop  at  New 


port  News,  and  blew  her  up. 


At  twelve  o'clock 


diminutive  smoke-pipe  aft:  at  a  mile's  distance  she 
might  be  taken  for  a  raft,  with  an  army  ambulance 


the  fire  reached  her  magazines,  and  with  a  tre-  amidships, 
mendous  concussion  her  charred  remains  blew  up.  When  Lieutenant  \Vorden  was  informed  of  what 
There  were  some  five  tons  of  gunpowder  ir.  her  had  occurred,  though  his  crew  were  suffering  from 
magazine.  |  exposure  and  loss  of  rest  from  a  stormy  voyage 

After  sinking  the  Cumberland  and  firing  the  j  around  from  New  York,  he  at  once  made  prepara- 


Congress,  the  Merrimac,  with  the  Yorktovvn  ind 
Jamestown,  stood  off  in  the  direction  of  the  steam- 
frigate  Minnesota,  which  had  been  for  some  hours 
aground,  about  three  miles  below  Newport  News. 
This  was  about  five  o'clock  on  Saturday  evening. 
The  rebel  commander  of  the  Merrimac,  either 
fearing  the  greater  strength  of  the  Minnesota,  or 
wishing,  as  it  afterwards  appeared,  to  capture  this 
splendid  ship  without  doing  serious  damage  to 
her,  did  not  attempt  to  run  the  Minnesota  down, 
as  he  had  run  down  the  Cumberland.  He  stood 
off  about  a  mile  distant,  and  with  the  Yorktown 
and  Jamestown  threw  shell  and  shot  at  the  frigate. 
The  Minnesota,  though,  from  being  aground,  un 
able  to  manoeuvre,  or  bring  all  her  guns  to  bear, 
was  fought  splendidly.  She  threw  a  shell  at  the 
Yorktown,  which  oft  her  on  fire,  and  she  was 
towed  off  by  her  consort,  the  Jamestown.  From 
the  reappearance  of  the  Yorktown  next  day,  the 
fire  must  have  been  suppressed  without  serious 
damage.  The  after  cabins  of  the  Minnesota  were 
torn  away,  in  order  to  bring  two  of  her  large  guns 
to  bear  from  her  stern  ports,  the  position  in  which 
she  was  lying  enabling  the  rebels  to  attack  her 
li'ere  with  impunity.  She  received  two  serious 
shots  :  one,  an  eleven-inch  shell,  entered  near  the 
waist,  passed  through  the  chief  engineer's  room, 
knocking  both  rooms  into  ruins,  and  wounding 
several  men.  Another  shot  went  clear  through 
the  chain  plate,  and  another  passed  through  the 
mainmast.  Six  of  the  crew  were  killed  outright 
on  board  the  Minnesota,  and  nineteen  wounded. 
The  men,  though  fighting  at  great  disadvantage, 
stuck  manfully  to  their  guns,  and  exhibited  a 
spirit  that  would  have  enabled  them  to  compete 
successfully  with  any  ordinary  vessel. 

About  nightfall,  the  Merrimac,  satisfied  with 
her  afternoon's  work  of  death  and  destruction, 
steamed  in  under  SewalPs  Point.  The  day  thus 
closed  most  dismally  for  the  Union  side,  and  with 
the  most  gloomy  apprehensions  of  what  would 
occur  the  next  day.  The  Minnesota  was  at  the 
mercy  of  the  Merrimac ;  and  there  appeared  no 
reason  why  the  iron  monster  might  not  clear  the 
Koads  of  the  fleet,  destroy  all  the  stores  and 
warehouses  on  the  beach,  drive  the  troops  into  the 
Fortress,  and  command  Hampton  lloads  against 
any  number  of  wooden  vessels  the  Government 
might  send  there.  Saturday  was  a  terribly  dis 
mal  night  at  Fortress  Monroe. 

4bout  nine  o'clock,  Ericsson's  battery,  the  Mon 
itor,  arrived  at  the  Koads ;  and  upon  her  perform 
ance  was  felt  that  the  safety  of  their  position  in  a 
great  measure  depended.  Never  was  a  greater 
hope  placed  upon  apparently  more  insignificant 
means  ;  but  never  was  a  great  hope  more  tri 
umphantly  fulfilled.  The  Monitor  was  the  reverse 


tions  for  taking  part  in  whatever  might  occur  next 
day. 

Before  daylight  on  Sunday  morning,  the  Mon 
itor  rvjved  up,  and  took  a  position  alongside  the 
Minnesota,  lying  between  the  latter  ship  and  the 
Fortress,  where  she  could  not  be  seen  by  the  reb 
els,  but  was  ready,  with  steam  up,  to  slip  out. 

Up  to  this  time,  on  Sunday,  the  rebels  gave  no 
indication  of  what  were  their  further  designs. 
The  Merrimac  lay  up  towards  Craney  Island,  in 
view,  but  motionless.  At  one  o'clock  she  was  ob 
served  in  motion,  and  came  out,  followed  by  thp 
Yorktown  and  Jamestown,  both  crowded  with 
troops.  The  object  of  the  leniency  towards  the 
Minnesota  on  the  previous  evening  thus  became 
evident.  It  was  the  hope  of  the  rebels  to  bring 
the  ships  aboard  the  Minnesota,  overpower  her 
crew  by  the  force  of  numbers,  and  capture  both 
vessel  and  men. 

As  the  rebel  flotilla  came  out  from  Stall's 
Point,  the  Monitor  stood  out  boldly  towards  thorn. 
It  is  doubtful  if  the  rebels  knew  what  to  make  nf 
the  strange-looking  battery,  or  if  they  despised  it. 
Even  the  Yorktown  kept  on  approaching,  unlil  a 
thirteen-inch  shell  from  the  Monitor  sent  her  to 
the  right  about.  The  Merrimac  and  the  Monitor 
kept  on  approaching  each  other,  the  latter  wait 
ing  until  she  would  choose  her  distance,  and  the 
former  apparently  not  knowing  what  to  make  of 
her  funny-looking  antagonist.  The  first  shot  from 
the  Monitor  was  fired  when  about  one  hundred 
yards  distant  from  the  Merrimac,  and  this  distance 
was  subsequently  reduced  to  fifty  yards,  and  at  no 
time  during  the  furious  cannonading  that  ensued 
were  the  vessels  more  than  two  hundred  yards 
apart. 

It  is  impossible  to  reproduce  the  animated  de 
scriptions  given  of  this  grand  contest  between  two 
vessels  of  such  formidable  offensive  and  defensive 
powers.  The  scene  was  in  plain  \iew  from  For 
tress  Monroe,  and  in  the  main  facts  all  the  spec 
tators  agree.  At  first  the  fight  was  very  furious, 
and  the  guns  of  the  Monitor  were  fired  rapidly. 
As  she  carried  but  two  guns,  whilst  the  Merrimac 
had  eight,  of  course  she  received  two  or  three 
shots  for  every  one  she  gave.  Finding  that  her 
antagonist  was  much  more  formidable  than  she 
looked,  the  Merrimac  attempted  to  run  her  down* 
The  superior  speed  and  quicker  turning  qualities 
of  the  Monitor  enabled  her  to  avoid  these  shocks, 
and  to  give  the  Merrimac,  as  she  passed,  a  shot. 
Once  the  Merrimac  struck  her  near  amidships, 
but  only  to  prove  that  the  battery  could  not  be 
run  dcwn  nor  shot  down.  She  spun  round  like 
a  top  ;  and  as  she  got  her  bearing  again,  sent  one 
of  her  formidable  missiles  into  her  huge  opponent. 

The  officers  of  the  Monitor,  at  this  time,  had 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


407 


gained  such  confidence  in  the  impregnability  of 
their  battery,  that  they  no  longer  fired  at  random, 
nor  hastily.  The  fight  then  assumed  its  most  in 
teresting  aspects.  The  Monitor  ran  round  the 
Merrimac  repeatedly,  probing  her  sides,  seeking 
for  weak  points,  and  reserving  her  fire  with  cool 
ness,  until  she  had  the  right  spot  and  the  exact 
range,  and  made  her  experiments  accordingly.  In 
this  way  the  Merrimac  received  three  shots,  which 
seriously  damaged  her.  Neither  of  these  shots 
rebounded  at  all,  but  cut  their  way  clear  through 
iron  and  wood  into  the  ship.  Soon  after  receiving 
the  third  shot,  the  Merrimac  turned  towards  Sew- 
all's  Point,  and  made  off  at  full  speed. 

The  Monitor  followed  the  Merrimac  until  she 
got  well  inside  Sewall's  Point,  and  then  returned 
to  the  Minnesota. 

The  Merrimac  then  took  the  Patrick  Henry 
and  Jamestown  in  tow,  and  proceeded  to  Norfolk. 
In  making  the  plunge  at  the  Monitor,  she  had 
lost  her  enormous  iron  beak  and  damaged  her 
machinery,  and  was  leaking  considerably. 

Thus  ended  the  most  terrific  naval  engagement 
of  the  war.  The  havoc  made  by  the  Merrimac 
among  the  wooden  vessels  of  the  Federal  navy 
wa«  appalling ;  but  the  providential  arrival  of  the 
Monitor  robbed  the  rebel  craft  of  its  terrors,  and 
the  destruction  of  that  one  Saturday  afternoon  in 
March  was  the  last  serious  mischief  she  ever  did. 


A  SQUARE  MEAL.  —  One  of  the  Wisconsin 
boys,  on  the  reception  at  the  return  of  the  Fifth 
regiment  of  that  State,  said:  "This  is  the  first 
square  meal  I've  had  since  I  left  home."  Being 
asked  what  a  square  meal  was,  he  replied,  "  Four 
cups  of  coffee,  all  the  ham  I  can  eat,  with  bread, 
butter,  pies,  cakes,  pickles,  and  cheese  in  propor 
tion,  with  ladies  smiling  to  inspire  the  appetite." 


ANECDOTE  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.  —  It  will 
be  remembered  that  an  extra  session  of  Con 
gress  was  called  in  July  following  Mr.  Lincoln's  in 
auguration.  In  the  message  then  sent  in,  speaking 
of  secession,  and  the  measures  taken  by  the 
Southern  leaders  to  bring  it  about,  there  occurs 
the  following  remark :  "  With  rebellion  thus 
sugar-coated,  they  have  been  drugging  the  public 
mind  of  their  section  for  more  than  thirty  years, 
until  at  length  they  have  brought  many  good  men 
to  a  willingness  to  take  up  arms  against  the 
Government,"  £c.  Mr.  Denies,  the  Government 
printer,  told  me  that,  when  the  message  was  being 
printed,  he  was  a  good  deal  disturbed  by  the  use 
of  the  term  "sugar-coated,"  and  finally  went  to 
the  President  about  it  Their  relations  to  each 
other  being  of  the  most  intimate  character,  he 
told  Mr.  Lincoln  frankly  that  he  ought  to  remem 
ber  that  a  message  to  Congress  was  a  different 
affair  from  a  speech  at  a  mass  meeting  in  Illinois  ; 
tnat  the  message  became  a  part  of  history,  and 
should  be  written  accordingly. 

"  What  is  the  matter  now  ? "  inquired  the 
President. 


"Why,"  said  Mr.  Defrees,  "you  have  used  an 
undignified  expression  in  the  message ;"  and 
then,  reading  the  paragraph  aloud,  he  added,  "  I 
would  alter  the  structure  of  that,  if  I  were  you." 

"  Defrees,"  replied  Mr.  Lincoln,  "  that  word  ex 
presses  precisely  my  idea,  and  I  am  not  going  to 
change  it.  The  time  will  never  come,  in  this 
country,  when  the  people  won't  know  exactly 
what  sugar-coated  means !  " 


THE   3OMMON   SOLDIER. 

NOBODY  cared,  when  he  went  to  war, 

But  the  won. an  who  cried  on  his  shoulder; 

Nobody  decked  him  with  immortelles  : 
He  was  only  a  common  soldier. 

Nobody  packed  in  a  dainty  trunk 

Folded  raiment  and  officer's  fare  : 
A  knapsack  held  all  the  new  recruit 

Might  own,  or  love,  or  eat,  or  wear. 

Nobody  gave  him  a  good-by  fete, 

With  sparkling  jest  and  flower-crowned  wine* 
Two  or  three  friends  on  the  sidewalk  stood 

Watching  for  Jones,  the  fourth  in  line. 

Nobody  cared  how  the  battle  went 

With  the  man  who  fought  till  the  bullet  sped 
Through  the  coat  undecked  with  leaf  or  star 

On  a  common  soldier  left  for  dead. 

The  cool  rain  bathed  the  fevered  wound, 

And  the  kind  clouds  wept  the  livelong  night: 

A  pitying  lotion  Nature  gave, 

Till  help  might  come  with  morning  light  — 

Such  help  as  the  knife  of  the  surgeon  gives, 
Cleaving  the  gallant  arm  from  shoulder  ; 

And  another  name  swells  the  pension-list 
For  the  meagre  pay  of  a  common  soldier. 

See,  over  yonder  all  day  he  stands  — 
An  empty  sleeve  in  the  soft  wind  sways, 

As  he  holds  his  lonely  left  hand  out 
For  charity  at  the  crossing  ways. 

And  this  is  how,  with  bitter  shame, 
He  begs  his  bread  and  hardly  lives ; 

So  wearily  ekes  out  the  sum 

A  proud  and  grateful  country  gives. 

What  matter  how  he  served  the  guns 

When  plume  and  sash  were  over  yonder  ? 

What  matter  though  he  bore  the  flag 
Through  blinding  smoke  and  battle  thunder  1 

What  matter  that  a  wife  and  child 
Cry  softly  for  that  good  arm  rent  ? 

And  wonder  why  that  random  shot 
To  him,  their  own  beloved,  was  sent  ? 

O  patriot  hearts,  wipe  out  this  stain  ; 

Give  jewelled  cup  and  sword  no  morej, 
But  let  no  common  soldier  blush 

To  own  the  loyal  blue  he  wore. 

Shout  long  and  loud  for  victory  won 
By  chief  and  leader  stanch  and  true  ; 

But  don't  forget  the  boys  that  fought  — 
Shout  for  the  common  soldier  too. 


408 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  TDE  WILDERNESS.  —  During 
one  of  the  battles  on  the  left  of  Grant's  army,  in 
1865,  a  son  in  one  of  the  New  York  regiments 
met  his  father  in  one  of  the  rebel  regiments,  and 
took  him  prisoner.  It  was  an  actual  occurrence, 
vouched  for  upon  good  authority,  and  the  manner 
of  it  was  this.  Just  before  the  war  commenced, 
the  son  left  his  home,  and  went  to  the  State  of 
New  York  ;  he  enlisted  in  the  Federal  service, 
and  went  down  into  General  Grant's  army,  and 
for  gallantry  in  action  was  promoted  to  a  Lieu 
tenancy.  The  father  was  in  the  ranks  yet.  On 
the  day  of  the  battle,  while  charging  the  rebel 
works  on  the  left,  this  son,  by  some  curious  hap 
pening  of  providence,  came  directly  upon  his 
father  on  the  other  side.  "  Hold !  "  he  cried, 
hastily,  as  he  noticed  his  father  was  levelling  his 
gun  upon  him  ;  "  don't  you  know  whom  you  are 
firing  at?  "  During  the  four  years  of } is  service, 
this  son  had  grown  so  much  that  the  father  did 
not  know  him.  "  Well,"  says  he,  "  I  am  your 
son,  and  you  are  my  prisoner."  The  father  looked 
up,  came  quickly  to  a  recognition  of  his  offspring, 
and  went  to  the  rear.  The  head  of  the  family 
was  once  a  shoemaker  in  the  city  of  Petersburg. 


A  PATRIOTIC  ARTIST.  —  A  correspondent  who 
visited  the  studio  of  Powers,  at  Florence,  says : 

"  Though  courted  and  petted  by  the  English, 
who  have  been  among  his  best  patrons,  Powers  has 
always  been  true  to  his  country  —  loyal  to  the  core. 
I  was  reminded  of  a  little  incident  which  occurred 
a  few  months  before,  when  he  was  in  his  studio, 
and  an  English  lady,  or  some  one  of  secession 
proclivities,  asked  him  if  he  had  ever  executed  a 
bust  of  Jefferson  Davis.  '  No,  madam,'  said  he, 
his  bright  eye  flashing  with  fire,  '  I  hope  that  be 
fore  long,  an  artist  of  another  profession  than 
mine  may  have  the  pleasure  of  executing  him.' 
We  spoke  of  the  readiness  of  the  English  to  be 
on  our  side,  now  that  success  had  crowned  our 
arms.  «  Ah,'  said  he,  '  1  know  not  which  is  the 
more  annoying,  when  you  are  trying  to  get  a 
heavy  load  up  hill,  to  have  some  one  hitch  on  his 
horse  behind  and  pull  you  back,  or  when  you  are 
going  down  hill,  to  have  him  put  on  his  horses 
before,  and  dash  away  with  all  fury,  to  the  risk  of 
upsetting  your  load  and  breaking  your  neck.' " 


A  NIGHT  IN  MISSOURI.  —  Until  I  began  to 
follow  the  camp,  I  had  never  known,  save  by 
auricular  evidence,  of  those  unpoetical  insects 
known  as  fleas ;  but  one  night  in  Syracuse,  Mo., 
"  our  mess  "  experienced  the  cruelty  and  savage- 
ness  of  the  diminutive  foes,  of  man,  to  our  bodies' 
extremest  dissatisfaction.  We  were  all  lounging 
in  the  tent,  reading,  undreaming  of  enemies  of 
any  kind,  when  we  all  became  restless,  and  the 
interest  of  our  books  began  seriouslv  to  dimin 
ish.  There  were  various  manual  applications  to 
various  parts  of  the  body,  multifarious  shiftings 
of  position,  accompanied  with  emphatic  expletives 
that  sounded  marvellously  like  oaths. 


"  What  is  the  matter  ?  "  was  asked  by  one  of 
us  to  the  other.  "  What  renders  you  so  uneasy a  * 

"  Heaven  knows,"  was  the  answer ;  "  but  1 
itch  like  Satan." 

"  My  bot  /  is  on  fire,"  observed  one- 

"  I  wonder,"  said  another,  "  if  I  have  3ontracte'J 
a  loathsome  disease." 

"  Confound  it !  what  ails  me  ?  " 

"  And  me  ?  "  "  And  me  ?  "  "  And  me  ?  "  was 
eclioed  firm  my  companions. 

One  hand  became  insufficient  to  allay  the  irri 
tation  of  our  corporeality.  Both  hands  became 
requisite  to  the  task,  and  our  volumes  were  ne- 
cessa.ily  laid  aside.  No  one  yet  appeared  aware 
of  the  cause  of  his  suffering.  "  If  we  were  not  all 
in  Tophet,  no  one  could  deny  we  had  gone  to  the 
old  Scratch.  We  seemed  to  be  laboring  under 
an  uncontrollable  nervous  complaint.  We  threw 
our  hands  about  wildly.  We  seized  our  flesh 
rudely,  and  rubbed  our  clothes  until  they  nearly 
ignited  from  friction.  One  of  the  quartet  could 
stand  it  no  longer.  He  threw  off  his  coat  and 
vest  spasmodically,  and  even  his  undergarments, 
and  solemnly  exclaimed  : 

"  Flee  from  the  wrath  to  come  !  " 

The  mystery  was  explained,  the  enigma  solved. 

The  martyr's  person  was  covefed  with  small 
black  spots,  that  disappeared  and  reappeared  in 
the  same  instant. 

To  be  practically  expressive,  he  tvas  covered 
with  fleas. 

The  rest  of  us  followed  his  example,  and  ro&- 
verted  ourselves  into  model  artists. 

We  were  all  covered  with  fleas. 

Fleas  were  everywhere.  Tent,  straw,  books, 
blankets,  valises,  saddles,  swarmed  with  them. 

The  air  scintillated  with  their  blackness. 

We  rushed  out  of  the  tent. 

They  were  there  in  myriads. 

The  moonlight  fell  in  checkered  beams  through 
their  innumerable  skippings. 

They  made  a  terrible  charge,  as  of  a  forlorn 
hope,  and  drove  us  back. 

We  roared  with  anger  and  with  pain,  and 
loud  curses  made  the  atmosphere  assume  a  vio 
let  hue. 

Three  of  the  flea-besieged  caught  up  canteens 
of  whiskey  and  brandy,  and  poured  the  contents 
over  their  persons  and  down  their  throats  ; 
scratching  meanwhile  like  a  thousand  cats  of  the 
Thomas  persuasion,  and  leaping  about  like  dan 
cing  dervishes.  The  more  the  fleas  bit,  the  more 
the  victims  drank  ;  and  I,  having  no  taste  for 
liquor,  began  to  envy  them,  as,  in  their  increas 
ing  intoxication,  they  seemed  to  enjoy  themselves 
after  a  sardonic  fashion.  The  fleas  redoubled 
their  ferocity  on  me,  and  I  surrendered  at  discre 
tion,  and  at  last  became  resigned  to  their  at 
tacks,  until,  a  few  minutes  after,  a  fitorm  that 
had  been  gathering  burst  with  fierce  lightning, 
heavy  thunder,  and  torrents  of  rain. 

A  happy  idea  seized  me. 

I  caught  up  rny  saddle  and  bridle,  arid  placed 
them  on  my  sable  steed,  "  Festus,"  which  stood 
neighing  to  the  tempest,  a  few  feet  from  the 
camp.  I  mounted  the  flei  t-footed  horse,  and, 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


409 


nude  as  the  Apollo  Belvedere,  cried,  "  Go,"  to  the 
restive  animal ;  and  t)ff  we  sped,  to  the  amaze 
ment  of  the  sentinels,  through  the  darkness  and 
the  storm.  Every  few  moments  the  lightning 
blazed  around  us  with  a  lurid  sheen,  as  we 
went  like  the  wind  through  the  tempestuous 
night. 

"  Festus  "  enjoyed  it,  as  did  his  rider  ;  and  six 
swift-speeding  miles  were  passed  ere  I  drew  the 
rein  upon  the  neck  of  the  panting  beast,  overed 
with  white  flecks  of  foam. 

1  paused,  and  felt  that  the  fleas  had  been  left  be 
hind.  The  pelting  rain  and  rushing  blast  had  been 
too  much  for  them,  while  the  exercise  had  made 
my  attireless  body  glow  into  a  pleasant  warmth. 
"  Festus  "  galloped  back,  and  soon  I  was  in  the 
tent,  rolled  so  closely  in  the  blanket  that  no  new 
attack  of  the  fleas  could  reach  me.  My  com 
panions,  overcome  with  their  exertions, "  suffer 
ings,  and  potations,  had  lain  down ;  but  the  fleas 
were  still  upon  them,  and  they  rolled  and  tossed 
more  than  a  rural  tragedian  in  the  tent  scene  of 
"  Kichard  the  Third."  They  were  asleep,  and  yet 
they  moaned  piteously,  and  scratched  with  de 
moniac  violence.  In  spite  of  my  pity  for  the  poor 
fellows,  I  could  riot  refrain  from  laughing. 

With  the  earliest  dawn  I  awoke,  and  the  tent 
was  vacant. 

Horrid  thought ! 

Had  the  fleas  carried  them  off? 

I  went  out  to  search  for  them,  and,  after  dili 
gent  quest,  found  them  still  in  Nature's  garb, 
distributed  miscellaneously  about  the  encamp 
ment.  In  their  physical  torture  they  had  uncon 
sciously  rolled  out  of  the  tent.  One  lay  in  an 
adjacent  ditch,  a  second  under  an  artillery  wag 
on,  and  the  third  was  convulsively  grasping  the 
earth,  as  if  he  were  endeavoring  to  dig  his  own 
grave ;  believing,  no  doubt,  that  in  the  tomb 
neither  Fortune  nor  fleas  could  ever  harm  him 
more.  The  unfortunate  two  were  covered  with 
crimson  spots,  and  looked  as  if  recovering  from 
the  small-pox.  I  pulled  them,  still  stupid  from 
their  spiritual  excess,  into  the  tent  again,  and 
covered  them  with  blankets,  though  they  swore 
incoherently  as  I  did  so,  evidently  believing 
that  some  giant  flea  was  dragging  them  to  per 
dition. 

When  they  were  fully  aroused,  they  fell  to 
scratching  again  most  violently,  but  knew  not 
what  had  occurred  until  they  had  recalled  the 
events  of  the  previous  night.  They  then  blas 
phemed  afresh,  and  unanimously  consigned  the 
entire  race  of  fleas  to  the  bottomless  pit.  The 
fleas  still  tried  to  bite,  but  could  find  no  new 
places,  and  my  companions  had  grown  accus- 
tomri  to  them. 

The)  felt  no  uneasiness  for  the  coming  night ; 
they  were  aware  that  the  new  fleas  would  retire 
from  a  field  so  completely  occupied,  and  that  the 
domesticated  creatures  were  in  sufficient  force  to 
i  out  all  invaders. 

So  ended  that  memorable  Noche  Triste,  an  ex 
emplification  of  the  scriptural  declaration : 

"  The  wicked  flee  when  no  man  pursueth." 


SERVILE  INSURRECTIONS.  —  In  the  first  year 
of  the  war  the  people  of  the  South  in  many 
places  felt  that  they  were  standing  over  a  smoul 
dering  volcano.  It  was  feared,  and  by  many  be 
lieved,  that  a  general  -.jervile  insurrection  would 
take  place  simultaneously  with  the  advance  of 
the  Union  forces,  and  that  Southern  society  would 
be  crushed  to  pieces  by  the  combined  action  of 
hostile  pressure  from  without  and  terrible  com 
motions  within. 

In  fact,  disturbances  of  this  kind  did  take  place 
in  various  parts  of  the  South,  and  when  they 
were  quieted  and  the  mutineers  were  arrested 
there  followed  scenes  of  norrid  torture  and  sick 
ening  executions  which  :  ave  had  no  equal  on  the 
continent,  except  in  the  Indian  wars.  The  fol 
lowing  account  of  an  insurrection  in  South  Caro 
lina  and  the  executions  that  followed  it  is  from  a 
private  letter  written  from  Charleston  in  the  fall 
of  1861 : 

"  No  general  insurrection  has  taken  place, 
though  several  revolts  have  been  attempted ; 
two  quite  recently,  and  in  these  cases  wliole  fam 
ilies  were  murdered  before  the  slaves  were  siibdued. 
Then  came  retaliation  of  the  most  fearful  char 
acter.  At  any  time  where  servants  assail  or 
murder  white  persons,  speedy  and  severe  punish 
ment  is  administered ;  but  now  they  do  not  wait 
for  the  action  of  the  law.  Lynch  law  prevails. 
In  these  revolts,  which  occurred  in  the  interior 
of  the  State,  most,  cf  the  servants  v%ho  partici 
pated  were  either  shot  in  the  conflict  or  as  soon 
as  captured,  and  two  of  them  were  burned  to 
death. 

"  To  say  they  were  burned  to  death  seems  a 
simple  sentence,  devoid  of  any  special  horror; 
but  the  scene,  as  described  to  me  by  a  witness, 
was  too  dreadful  for  mortal  eyes.  Imagine  the 
poor  wretches,  red  with  the  blood  of  their  mas 
ters,  cowering  in  the  hands  of  those  from  whom 
they  need  not  look  for  pity  ;  not  even  for  time 
to  repent  of  deeds  which  exclude  them  from  hope 
hereafter.  They  are  dogged  and  defiant  towards 
their  captors,  until  their  doom  is  pronounced  —  a 
fate  of  which  they  have  a  special  horror.  Dragged 
to  the  place  of  execution,  within  sight  of  their 
own  houses,  surrounded  by  their  fellow-servants, 
who  are  compelled  to  witness  the  sight,  they  are 
bound  to  strong  trees,  with  great  heaps  of  pine 
knots  piled  close  around  their  persons.  Directly 
the  torch  is  applied,  and  the  inflammable  pine 
bursts  into  a  vivid  flame.  When  the  blaze  reaches 
the  bodies,  and  the  sensitive  flesh  peels  and 
crackles,  their  cries  are  too  fearful  to  be  heard  by 
human  ears.  Nor  is  the  torment  soon  over.  The 
flames  scorch  the  upper  part  of  the  bodies,  pro 
ducing  exquisite  agony,  but  slowly  burn  into  the 
vitals,  until  the  wretched  sufferers  go  to  judg 
ment  with  all  their  crimes  upon  their  heads. 

"  I  undertook  to  say  the  apprehension  of  ser 
vile  insurrection  lost,  its  power  when,  as  time 
passed,  all  seemed  peaceful;  so  we  easily  feU 
back  into  dreams  of  security  until  these  events 
aroused  us  to  watchfulness.  This  news  is  sup 
pressed  as  far  as  possible,  and  kept  entirely  from 
the  papers,  for  the  neg:oes  hear  what  is  published, 


410 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


if  they  do  not  read  it,  and  such  examples  might 
produce  disastrous  consequences." 


A  SAILOR'S  STORY.  —  On  the  10th  of  April, 
1862,  a  month  after  the  great  naval  fig^bt  in 
Hampton  Roads,  there (was  a  grand  reception  in 
New  Yqrk  of  the  surviving  heroes  of  the  Con 
gress  and  the  Cumberland. 

IP.  the  course  of  the  evening  Mr.  Willard,  one 
of  the  sailors  on  the  Congress,  gave,  in  his  vigor 
ous  way,  an  account  of  the  action,  as  follows : 

*'  Gentlemen  and  ladies :  I  am  not  acquainted 
with  this  kind  of  speaking.  1  am  not  used  to  it. 
I  have  been  too  long  in  a  man-of-war.  I  enlisted 
in  a  man-of-war  when  1  was  thirteen  years  of 
age.  (I  am  now  forty.)  I  have  been  in  one  ever 
since.  We  had  been  a  long  time  in  the  Congress, 
waiting  for  the  Merrimac,  with  the  Cumberland. 
I  claim  a  timber-head  in  both  ships.  I  belonged 
to  the  Cumberland  in  the  destroying  of  the  navy 
yard  and  the  ships  at  Norfolk.  On  the  8th  tf 
March,  when  the  Merrimac  came  out,  we  were  as 
tickled  as  a  boy  would  be  with  his  father  coining 
home  with  a  new  kite  for  him.  [Loud  laughter 
and  applause.]  She  fired  a  gun  at  us.  It  went 
clean  through  the  ship,  and  killed  nobody.  The 
next  one  was  a  shell.  It  came  in  at  a  port-hole, 
killed  six  men,  and  exploded  and  killed  nine  more. 
The  next  one  killed  ten.  Then  she  went  down  to 
the  Cumberland.  She  had  an  old  grudge  against; 
her,  and  she  took  her  hog-fashion,  as  I  should 
&ay.  [Great  laughter.]  The  Cumberland  fought 
her  as  long  as  she  could.  She  fired  her  spar-deck 
guns  at,  her  after  her  gun-deck  was  under  water ; 
but  the  shot  had  no  more  effect  than  peas.  She 
sunk  the  Cumberland  in  about  seven  fathoms  of 
water.  You  know  what  a  fathom  is  —  six  feet. 
We  lay  in  nine  fathoms  ;  and  it  would  not  do  to 
sink  in  that.  We  slipped  our  cable,  and  ran  into 
shallower  water  to  get  our  broadside  on  the  Mer 
rimac,  but  we  got  her  bows  on.  That  gave  them 
a  chance  to  rake  us  as  they  did.  The  com 
mander  opened  a  little  port.-hole  and  said: 
'  Smith,  will  you  surrender  the  ship  ?  '  Says  he, 
*  No,  not  as  long  as  I  have  got  a  gun,  or  a  man 
to  man  it.'  They  fired  a  broadside.  The  men 
moved  the  dead  bodies  away,  and  manned  the* 
guns  again.  They  fired  another  broadside,  and 
dismounted  both  the  guns,  and  killed  the  crews. 
When  they  first  went  by  us,  they  set  us  afire  by 
a  shell  exploding  near  the  magazine.  (I  know 
where  the  magazine  is — you  folks  don't.)  Last 
broadside  she  killed  our  commander,  Mr.  Smith, 
our  sailing-master,  and  the  pilot.  We  had  no 
chance  at  ail.  We  were  on  the  spar-deck  —  most 
of  us  —  the  other  steamers  firing  at  us,  and  we 
dodging  the  shot.  No  chance  to  dodge  down 
below,  because  you  could  not  see  the  shot  till 
they  were  inside  of  the  ship.  We  had  no  chance, 
and  we  surrendered.  The  rebel  officers  —  we 
KI.  owed  'em  all  —  all  old  playmates,  shipmates  — 
came  home  in  the  Gerrnantown  with  them  —  all 
old  playmates,  but  rascals  now.  She  left  us,  and 
she  went  toward  Norfolk  to  get  out  of  the  \vay. 
She  returned  in  the  morning  to  have  what  I'd  call 


a  '  fandango '  with  the  Minnesota  ;  and  the  first 
thing  she  knowed,  the  little  bumble-bee,  the 
Monitor,  was  there,  and  she  went  back.  I  have 
no  more  to  say,  people ;  but  there  is  the  flag  fhat 
the  fathers  of  our  country  left  us,  and,  by  the 
powers  of  God  above  us,  we"l —  " 

The  brave  sailor's  closing  sentence  was  brtken 
off  by  long  and  repeated  cLeers  from  the  audi- 


AXECDOTE  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.  —  Presi 
dent  Lincoln,  having  been  applied  to  to  pardon  a 
repentant  slave-trader  who  had  been  sentenced  to 
prison,  answered  the  applicant:  "My  friend,  if 
this  man  had  been  guilty  of  the  worst  murder 
that  can  be  conceived  of,  I  might,  perhaps,  have 
pardoned  him.  You  know  the  weakness  of  my 
nature  —  always  open  to  the  appeals  of  repent 
ance  or  of  grief ;  and  with  such  a  touching  letter, 
and  such  recommendations,  I  could  not  resist. 
But  any  man  who  would  go  to  Africa  and  snatch 
from  a  mother  her  children,  to  sell  them  into  in 
terminable  bondage,  merely  for  the  sake  of  pecu 
niary  gain,  shall  never  receive  pardon  from  me." 


TAKING  THE  OATH.  — A  very  shrewd,  sensible 
man  in  Maury  County,  Tennessee,  who  had  been 
a  strong  Union  man  until  the  Yankees  got  there, 
but  who,  after  that,  became  equally  as  strong  a 
Southerner,  went  to  Columbia  one  day,  and  was 
brought  before  General  Negley.  "  Well,"  said 
General  Negley,  "  Mr.  B.,  you  must  take  tha 
oath  before  you  go  home." 

"  Very  well,"  said  B. ;  "just  have  it  boxed  up, 
•General,  and  I'll  take  it  out." 

"  O."  said  General  Negley,  "  you  don't  un 
derstand  me  ;  you  must  take  the  oath- to  support 
the  Government  of  the  United  States." 

"  Why,  General,"  said  friend  B.,  "  I  have  a 
wife  and  several  children,  and  it's  as  much  as  I 
can  do  to  support  them.  I  am  a  poor  man,  and 
I  can't  think  of  supporting  the  whole  United 
States  —  that's  rather  too  much." 

By  this  time  Negley  became  rather  impatient. 
"  Here,"  said  he,  handing  B.  the  printed  oath, 
"  read  it  for  yourself." 

"  I  can't  read,"  said  B. 

"  Well,  then,"  said  Negley,  turning  to  the  Pro 
vost  Marshal,  "  give  him  a  pass  anyhow  ;  he  has 
no  sense." 

And  thus  he  went  home  without  taking  the 
oath,  and  the  Yankee  General  was  outwitted. 


GET  OFF  THAT  STLMP.  —  Among  the  paroled 
rebel  soldiers  who  were  sent  to  Cairo  was  a  man 
a  little  over  seven  and  a  half  feet  in  height.  He 
started  out  with  the  Missouri  troops  at  the  com 
mencement  of  the  war,  and  stuck  to  them  until 
the  "  dog  was  dead,"  and  never  received  a  scratch. 
Soon  after  he  was  mustered  into  the  rebel  ser 
vice,  the  regiment  to  which  he  belonged  appeared 
before  the  Colcne.  on  dress  parade,  arid  the  Col 
onel,  who  prided  himself  on  the  line  appearance 
and  good  size  of  his  men,  cast  his  eyes  along  the 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


411 


line  with  a  smile  of  self-satisfaction,  until  they 
rested  on  the  towering  form  of  the  tall  Missourian, 
when  he  knit  his  brows,  and  called  out  fiercely  in 
thunder  tones,  "Get  off  that  stump,  you  imperti 
nent  scoundrel,  or  I'll  order  you  under  arrest.'' 
The  soldiers  looked  at  each  other,  wondering  what 
the  Colonel  meant,  but  no  one  moved.  Finding 
his  authority  treated  with  disrespect,  he  fairly 
boiled  with  rage,  and  advancing  to  the  soldier, 
he  exclaimed,  "  What  in  the  devil  are  you  stand 
ing  on  ?  "  The  soldier  respectfully  replied,  "  On 
my  feet,  Colonel."  The  Colonel  was  completely 
taken  back,  as  he  surveyed  this  tall  specimen  of 
humanity  from  head  to  foot  in  blank  amazement ; 
he  mumbled  an  apology  for  his  rude  remarks,  and 
hastened  away,  leaving  his  men  convulsed  with 
laughter.  "  Get  off'  that  stump  "  became  a  by 
word  with  the  Missouri  rebels,  and  it  will,  no 
doubt,  live  as  long  as  the  long  Missourian. 


THE  CAPTURE  OF  JEFFERSON  DAVIS.  —  An 
officer  who  accompanied  Davis  in  his  flight  from 
Richmond,  and  who  was  present  at  his  capture, 
gives  the  following  account  of  that  aft'uir  : 

"  Davis  ran  his  risks  and  took  his  chances,  fully 
conscious  of  imminent  danger,  yet  powerless,  from 
physical  weariness,  to  do  all  he  designed  doing 
against  the  danger.  When  the  musketry  firing 
was  heard  in  the  morning,  at  '  dim  gray  dawn,'  it 
was  supposed  to  be  between  the  rebel  marauders 
and  Mr.  Davis'  few  camp  defenders.  Under  this 
impression  he  hurriedly  put  on  his  boots,  and 
prepared  to  go  out  for  the  purpose  of  interpos 
ing,  saying : 

" '  They  will  at  least  as  yet  respect  me.' 

"As  he  got  to  the  tent  door  thus  hastily 
equipped,  and  with  this  good  intention  of  pre 
venting  an  effusion  of  blood  by  an  appeal  in  the 
name  of  a  fading,  but  not  wholly  faded  authority, 
he  saw  a  few  cavalry  ride  up  the  road  and  de 
ploy  in  front. 

44 '  Ha,  Federals ! '  was  his  exclamation. 

" '  Then  you  are  captured,'  cried  Mrs.  Davis, 
with  emotion. 

"  In  a  moment  she  caught  an  idea  —  a  woman's 
idea  —  and  as  quickly  as  women  in  an  emergency 
execute  their  designs,  it  was  done.  He  slept  iii 
a  wrapper  —  a  loose  one.  It  was  yet  around  him. 
This  she  fastened  ere  he  was  aware  of  it,  and  then, 
bidding  him  adieu,  urged  him  to  go  to  the  spring, 
a  short  distance  off,  where  his  horses  and  arms 
were.  Strange  as  it  may  seem,  there  was  not  even 
a  pistol  in  the  tent.  Davis  felt  that  his  only  course 
was  to  reach  his  horse  and  arms,  and  complied. 
As  he  was  leaving  the  door,  followed  by  a  servant 
with  a  water-bucket,  Miss  Howell  flung  a  shawl 
over  his  head.  There  was  no  time  to  remove  it 
without  exposure  and  embarrassment,  and  as  he 
had  not  far  to  go,  he  ran  the  chance  exactly  as 
it  was  devised  for  him.  In  these  two  articles  con 
sisted  the  woman's  attire  of  which  so  much  non 
sense  has  been  spoken  and  written,  and  under 
these  circumstances,  and  in  this  way,  was  Jeffer 
son  Davis  going  forth  to  perfect  his  escape, 

"  But  it  was  too  late  for  any  effort  to  reach  his 


horses,  and  the  Confederate  President  was  at  last 
a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  the  United  States." 


BOB,  THE  "  BULLY  Boy."  —  Among  tne  sharp 
boys  in  Sherman's  army,  on  the  grand  march, 
was  a  graduate  of  the  common  schools  of  North 
ern  Ohio — the  only  son  of  a  widowed  mother. 
The  fond  mother  had  no  word  from  her  son  from 
the  time  the  army  left  Jhattanooga  till  it  reached 
Atlanta.  She  waited  i  n-  tidings  wi'.h  much  anx 
iety,  watching  daily  the  newspaper  reports.  At 
length,  several  days  after  the  taking  of  Atlanta 
had  been  announced,  a  letter  was  brought  her, 
vhich  read  a'  follows  : 

"  ATLANTA. 

"  DEAR  M  JTIIER  :   Bully  boy  all  right. 

"BOB." 

In  due  time,  Sherman  marched  from  Atlanta 
to  Savannah.  There  was  a  fight  behind  Savan 
nah.  The  widowed  mother  read  in  the  newspa 
pers  that  the  company  to  which  her  boy  belonged 
was  in  that  fight.  With  almost  sleepless  anxiety 
she  waited  for  news  from  him.  One  day  she  re 
ceived  a  note  which  read  thus  : 

" SAVANNAH. 

"  DEAR  MOTHER  :  Bully  boy  got  a  hole  in  his 
hide  —  not  bad.  BOB." 

In  the  march  of  events,  Sherman's  men  reached 
Washington,  were  mustered  out,  and  the  com 
pany  to  which  "  Bob  "  belonged  went  to  the  cap 
ital  of  Ohio.  Here  "  Bob  "  had  his  final,  honcr- 
able  discharge,  and  when  he  had  made  it  "  all 
right"  with  the  paymaster,  and  was  again  a  citi 
zen,  he  sent  the  following  telegram  : 

"  COLUMBUS. 

rt  DEAR  MOTHER  :  Bully  boy  home  to-morrow. 

"  BOB." 

When  asked  by  a  friend,  to  whom  the  infre- 
quency  and  brevity  of  his  epistles  home  had  been 
mentioned,  why  he  did  not  write  oftener,  and  at 
greater  length,  he  answered : 

"  Bully  boy's  got  his  haversack  full.  Keep  it 
all  to  tell  by  word  of  mouth.  Won't  he  have  a 
good  time  talking  up  the  old  lady  ?  " 


THE  FIRST  REBEL  ADMIRAL.  —  Harry  Maury 
was  a  dashing  young  Southron,  a  nephew  of  the 
Lieutenant  of  National  Observatory  memory. 
He  had  been  educated  for  the  navy,  and  wa? 
only  thoroughly  alive  in  scenes  of  adventure  and 
peril.  He  rushed  into  Walker's  Nicaragua  ex 
pedition  as  if  it  had  been  a  schoolboy  frolic  ;  and 
his  escapade  of  capturing  the  revenue  cutter  Su 
san,  with  all  on  board,  officers  and  men,  and  run 
ning  her  off  to  the  West  Indies,  without  compass 
or  pilot,  and  making  his  way  back  by  the  corks 
he  left  in  his  wake,  are  yet  fresh  in  the  memory. 

In  January,  1861,  this  young  "  Harry  "  mount 
ed  one  six-poi  nd  gun  upon  his  bit  of  a  pleasure 
yacht,  laid  ir  three  hams  an  I  five  barrels  of 


412 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


whiskey  for  stores,  anchored  off  Fort  Morgan,  in 
Mobile' Bay,  trained  a  pump-log  against  the  for 
tress,  took  observations  with  a  table-leg,  sent  a 
summons  to  surrender,  and  thus  inaugurated  the 
Confederate  navy. 

Subsequently  he  led  an  Alabama  regiment,  was 
badly  wounded,  captured,  and  exchanged,  and 
now,  disabled  either  for  mischief  or  for  frolic, 
lingers  out  a  painful  life  somewhere  in  Dixie. 

So  much  for  the  first  Admiral  of  the  rebel  Ar 
mada.  —  B.  F.  Taylor. 


WANTED  TO  "  GET  OUT."  —  The  following 
story  was  told  by  a  correspondent,  at  the  depot 
of  Prisoners  of  *War,  at  Johnson's  Island  : 

"  Last  night,  a  number  of  prisoners  made  a  fu 
tile  attempt  to  escape  by  digging  under  the  fence. 
They  commenced  a  mine  under  the  floor  of  a 
building  next  to  the  wall,  and  four  succeeded  in 
getting  through,  making  their  exit  on  the  side  of 
the  fence.  But  fortunately  the  fifth  was  a  size 
larger  than  he  imagined  himself  to  be,  and  stuck 
in  the  mud,  as  the  boys  say.  He  succeeded  in 
getting  his  head  through,  but  somehow  got  his 
arms  in  such  a  position  that  he  could  not  move, 
being  evidently  under  much  excitement,  and  anx 
ious  to  make  his  escape  with  all  possible  speed. 

"  In  the  mean  time,  his  comrades,  who  had  made 
their  escape,  were  anxious  that  he  should  accom 
pany  them  on  their  imaginary  journey  South"; 
and  after  undergoing  a  severe  operation  of  hair- 
pulling —  as  that  was  the  only  hold  they  could 
got --he  declined  going  any  farther  at  that  time. 
And  after  bidding  his  more  fortunate  comrades 
to  take  a  lock  of  his  extricated  hair  with  them 
to  his  sweetheart  in  Dixie,  he  bade  them  fare 
well  ;  and  they  left  him  in  this  ludicrous  position, 
perfectly  disgusted. 

"But  now  arose  the  second  difficulty:  his 
friends  on  the  inside  thought  that  he  was  intrud 
ing  upon  their  rights,  and  informed  him  that  if 
he  did  not  intend  to  go  any  farther  it  was  very 
impolite  to  stop  up  the  hole  with  his  precious 
self,  and  keep  them  from  going  too.  After  much 
persuading,  by  way  of  pulling  at  his  legs,  and 
again  pushing,  of  no  avail,  they,  too,  abandoned 
the  enterprise  of  extricating  the  poor,  miserable 
wretch.  But  what  this  unlucky  being  lacked  in 
the  organ  of  size  he  made  up  in  the  organ  of  en 
durance,  for  he  actually  remained  in  this  tight 
placH  from  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  until  half 
past  five  in  the  morning.  It  was  raining  nearly 
the  whole  night,  and  was  uncomfortably  cold. 
The  first  that  was  discovered  of  him  was  by  the 
sentinel,  who  heard  a  suppressed  voice,  saying  : 

"  '  I  want  to  get  out  o'  this.' 

"  Sentinel  —  '  Where  are  you  ? ' 

"  Kebel  — '  Here,  under  the  fence.  I  want  to 
get  out ! ' 

"  Sentinel  — « Well,  get  out,  or  I'll  shoot  you.' 

"  Itebel  —  '  I  am  fast !  Don't  shoot !  I  am 
fist ! ' 

"  The  Corporal  of  the  guard  was  called,  who 
brought  a  light,  and,  sure  enough,  there  was  a 
rebel  planted,  with  his  head  protruding  out  of 
the  solid  earth. 


"  It  was  agreed  among  the  boys,  that  with  the 
addition  of  a  head -board,  ivit.li  his  name  inscribed 
on  it,  '  Captain  Pole,  who  stuck  in  the  hole,'  he 
would  be  buried  decent.)*  enough.  But  after 
consulting  the  officer  of  the  guai  1  they  concluded 
to  dig  him  out.  The  ludicrous  appearance  he 
presented  rented  great  merriment ;  muddy,  drip 
ping,  half  foundered,  forth  he  came,  wringing 
himself  as  he  went,  '  with  the  look  of  a  "wet- 
down  "  rooster  in  a  fall  rain  storm.'  He  said  he 
was  the  first  who  attempted  to  escape,  but  no  re 
liance  was  p.aced  on  his  statement,  and  pickets 
were  sent  out,  and  those  prisoners  who  were  out 
were  discovered  in  the  back  part  of  the  island 
building  a  raft,  and  were  brought  in  and  se 
cured." 

AN  INCIDENT  OF  FAIR  OAKS.  —  On  the  dark 
nights  that  followed  the  first  and  the  disastrous 
day  at  Fair  Oaks,  hundreds  of  soldiers  remember 
with  what  fierce  enthusiasm  Meagher  and  his  Irish 
brigade  pressed  forward  over  the  dead  and  dying. 
Then  early  the  following  morning  there  came  the 
wild  shout,  the  rush,  the  clash,  the  dead  stillness, 
and  then  the  yell  of  victorious  Erin. 

In  the  mid>t  of  that  red  battle  scene  there  oc 
curred  one  of  those  touching  incidents  in  which 
this  unhappy  civil  war  has  abounded. 

Among  General  Meagher's  men  was  one  O'Neill, 
a  soldierly  appearing  fellow,  aged,  perhaps,  thirty, 
dark  complexioned,  robust,  and  undoubtedly  full 
of  pluck.  On  that  terrible  Sabbath  morning  a 
portion  of  the  Irish  brigade  swept  over  the  rail 
road  and  into  an  adjacent  swamp,  full  of  dead  hor 
rors,  for  there  was  one  scene  of  the  previous  day'i 
struggle.  A  rebel  Lieutenant,  at  the  head  of  those 
who  remained  of  his  company,  dashed  madly  on 
the  Irish  line  of  steel,  which  stood  firm  as  the  rock 
of  Cashel ;  and  the  impotent,  insurrectionary  wave 
was  repelled  with  a  reaci'onary  shock  that  scat 
tered  it  like  spray.  Forty  rebels  lay  dead  and 
wounded  ;  and  foremost  among  them  all  the  young 
Lieutenant,  a  bullet  having  shattered  his  left  knee. 
Of  course  he  fell  into  our  hands  a  prisoner,  and 
with  his  companions  was  thereafter  soon  carried 
to  the  rear.  This  young  man — long  hair,  dark 
eyes,  straight  and  soldierly  —  was  admired  for  his 
bearing,  which  was  that  of  a  proud  foe,  foiled,  but 
not  vanquished.  There  was  a  halt  near  the  station, 
where  the  O'Neill  alluded  to  above  then  was,  as  a 
temporary  guard  over  some  other  prisoners.  As 
he  gazed  at  the  wounded  rebel  officer,  a  visible 
change  overspread  his  features.  He  asked  one 
of  his  superiors  if  he  might  speak  to  the  Lieuten 
ant.  His  joy  knew  no  bounds  when  he  learned 
that  this  was  Phil  O'Neill,  C.  S.  A.,  a  youngei 
brother,  of  whom  the  family  had  had  no  tidings 
for  fifteen  years.  He  had  lived  as  a  clerk  in  Sa 
vannah,  had  enlisted  as  a  private,  for  good  con 
duct  had  been  promoted,  and  was  at  length  a 
prisoner.  The  young  Confederate,  when  fully 
aware  of  this  interesting  dis3overy,  again  wept 
tears  of  joy  and  the  scene  was  one  ne%er  to  be 
forgotten.  The  romantic  circumstance  was  made 
known  to  General  Meagher,  to  whom  the  Lieu 
tenant  was  inti  duced,  and  for  whom  the  Geneial 
did  everything  in  his  power.  Though  the  cap- 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND   INCIDENTS. 


413 


tured  officer  would  not  fight  on  our  side,  he  would 
not  be  exchanged,  and  went  North,  where,  in  a 
brief  period,  he  took  the  oath  of  allegiance.  His 
brother  was  killed  while  butting  under  Burnside 
ugainst  the  stone  wall  at  Fredericksburg,  and  his 
ew  gi  ceil  sprig  was  nearest  to  the  enemy. 


SIEECH  OP  MRS.  BOOTH.  —  On  the  3d  of 
April,  1864,  the  widow  of  Major  Booth,  who  was 
killed  in  the  barbarous  attack  on  Fort  Piilo\v, 
arrived  at  Fort  Pickering,  below  Memphis,  Ten 
nessee.  Colonel  Jackson,  of  the  Sixth  United 
States  heavy  artillery,  had  his  regiment  formed 
into  line  for  her  reception.  In  front  of  its  centre 
stood  fourteen  men,  as  tine,  brave  fellows  as  tread 
the  earth.  They  were  the  remnant  of  the  first 
battalion  of  the  regiment  now  drawn  up  —  all 
who  had  escaped  the  fiendish  scenes  of  Fort 
Pillow  —  scenes  that  have  stamped  the  deepest 
blackness  on  the  infamous  brow  of  treason. 

Mrs.  Booth  came  forward.  In  her  hand  she 
bore  a  Hag,  red  and  clotted  with  human  blood. 
She  took  a  position  in  front  of  the  fourteen  he 
roes,  so  lately  under  her  deceased  husband's  com 
mand. 

The  ranks  before  her  observed  a  silence  that 


a  tear  they  tried  ,o  hide,  though  it  did  hon.or  to 
their  manly  natui  ES.  Beside  them  stood  in  her 
grief  the  widow  of  the  loved  officer  they  had 
lost,  ar.  1  above  them  was  held  the  bloody  flag  — 
that  eloquent  record  of  crime  which  has  capped 
the  climax  of  rebellion,  ami  which  will  bring  a 
reckoning  so  fearful. 

In  a  few  pointed  words,  Colonel  Alexander 
pledged  himself  and  his  command  to  discharge 
to  the  uttermost  the  solemn  obligation  of  jus 
tice  they  had  that  day  taken. 

Colonel  Kappan  followed  him,  expressing  him 
self  in  favor  of  such  retaliatory  acts  of  justice 
as  the  laws  of  warfare  required,  in  a  case  of  such 
fiendish  and  wicked  cruelty. 


ADVENTURE  OF  A  LONG  ISLAND  GIRL. — A 
Western  journalist  relates  this  story  of  a  young 
woman's  adventures  :  "  Miss  Fanny  Wilson  is 
a  native  of  Williamsburg,  Long  Island.  About 
four  years  ago,  or  one  year  prior  to  the  war,  she 
came  West,  visiting  a  relative  who  resided  at  La 


Fayette,  Indiana.  While  here  her  leisure  mo 
ments  were  frequently  employed  in  communicat 
ing,  by  affectionate  epistles,  with  one  to  whom 
her  heart  had  been  given,  and  her  hand  had  been 
was  full  of  solemnity.  Many  a  hardy  face  showed  !  promised,  before  leaving  her  native  city  —  a 
by  twitching  lids  and  humid  eyes  how  the  sight  I  young  man  from  New  Jersey.  After  a  residence 
of  the  bereaved  lady  touched  bosoms  that  could  I  of  about  one  year  with  her  Western  relative,  and 
meet  eteel,  and  drew  on  the  fountain  of  tears  that  just  as  the  war  was  beginning  to  prove  a  reality, 


had  remained  dry  even  amid  the  piteous  sights 
witnessed  on  the  battle-field  after  a  fierce  action, 
Turning  to  the  men  before  her,  she  said : 
"Boys,  I  have  just  come  from  a  visit  to  the 
hospital  of  Mound  City.     There  I  saw  your  com 
rades,  wounded  at  the  bloody  struggle  in  Fort 


Fanny,  in  company  with  a  certain  Miss  Nelly 
Graves,  who  had  also  come  from  the  East,  and 
there  left  a  lover,  set  out  upon  her  return  to  her 
home  and  family.  While  on  their  way  thither, 
the  two  young  ladies  concocted  a  scheme,  the  ro 
mantic  nature  of  which  was  doubtless  its  most 


Pillow.  There  I  found  this  rlug  —  you  recognize 
it.  One  of  your  comrades  saved  it  from  the  in 
sulting  touch  of  traitors  at  Fort  Pillow ! 

"1  have  given  to  my  country  all  I  had  to  give  (  ...  _   ___,  ., ___ri 

—  my  husband  —  such  a  gift!     Yet  I  have  freely  j  two  youths  whose  hearts  had  been  exchanged  for 
given  him  for  freedom  and  my  country.  !  those  of  the  pair  who   now  were  on   their  happy 

"  After  my  husband's  cold  remains,  the  next    way  towards  them,  enlisted  in  a  certain  and  the 


attractive  feature. 

"  The  call  for  troops  having  been  issued,  and 
the  several  States  coming  quickly  forward  with 
their  first  brave  boys,  it  so  happened  that  those 


dearest  object  left  me  in  the  world  is  this  flag  — 
the  flag  that  waved  in  proud  defiance  over  the 


works  of  Fort  Pillow  ! 
"  Soldiers  :    this  flag 
that  you  will  ever  remember  the  last  words  of 


I  give  to  you,  knowing 


same  regiment.  Having  obtained  cognizance  of 
this  fact,  Fanny  and  her  companion  conceived 
the  idea  of  assuming  the  uniform,  enlisting  in  the 
service,  and  following  their  lovers  to  the  field. 
Soon  their  plans  were  matured  and  carried  into 


oone      acson  ten  receve      rom     er     an,    cut,  an     temseves  recot 
on  behalf  of  his  command,  the  blood-stained  flag,  j  they  sought  the  locality  of 
He  called  upon  the  regiment  to  receive  it  as  such  !  offered  their  services,  were 
a  gift  ought  to  be  received.     At  that  call  he  and    tered  in.     In  another  comp 


my  noble  husband  :  *  Never  surrender  the  flag  j  effect.  A  sufficient  change  having  been  made  in 
to  traitors.'"  !  their  personal  appearance,  their  hair  having  been 

Colonel  Jackson  then  received  from  her  hand,  |  cut,  and  themselves  reclothed  to  suit  their  wish, 

the  chosen  regiment, 
accepted,  and  mus- 
mpany  iron  their  town, 

every  man  of  the  regiment  fell  upon  their  knees,  of  the  same  regiment  (the  Twenty-fourth  New- 
and.  solemnly  appealing  to  the  God  of  battles,  |  Jersey),  were  their  patriotic  lovers,  '  known, 
each  one  SAVore  to  avenge  their  brave  and  fallen  I  though  all  unknowing.'  On  parade,  in  the  drill, 
comrades,  and  never  —  never  to  surrender  the  they  were  together  —  they  obeyed  the  same  corn- 
flag  to  traitors!  niarid.  In  the  quick  evolution's  of  the  field,  they 

The  scene  was  one  never  surpassed  in  emotional  came  as  close  as  they  had  in  other  days,  even  .  vi 
incident.  Beside  the  swift-rolling  waters  of  the  the  floor  of  the  dancing-school;  and  yet—  ao 
Mississippi  —  within  the  enclosure  that  bristled  |  says  Fanny  —  the  facts  of  the  case  ^\ere  nut 
with  ,the  death-dealing  cannon  —  knelt  these  '  made  known. 

rough  soldiers,  whose  bosoms  were  heaving  with  I  "  But  the  Twenty  fourth,  by  the  fate  of  war, 
emotion,  and  on  many  of  whose  cheeks  quivered  !  was  ordered  befrre  Vicksbjrg,  having  already 


414 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


served  through  the  first  campaign  in  Western 
Virginia  ;  and  here,  alas  for  Fanny !  she  was  to 
suffer  by  one  blow.  Here  her  brave  lover  was 
wounded.  She  sought  his  cot,  watched  over  him, 
and  half  revealed  her  true  nature  in  her  devotion 
and  gentleness.  She  nursed  him  faithfully  and 
long,  but  he  died.  Next  after  this,  by  the  reverse 
of  fortune,  Fanny  herself  and  her  companion 
were  both  thrown  upon  their  hospital  cots,  ex 
hausted,  sick.  With  others,  both  wounded  and 
debilitated,  they  were  sent  to  Cairo.  Their  at 
tendants  were  more  constant  and  more  scrutiniz 
ing.  Suspicion  was  first  had ;  the  discovery'  of 
Fanny's  and  Nelly's  true  sex  was  made.  Of 
course,  the  next  event  in  their  romantic  history 
was  a  dismissal  from  the  service.  But  not  until 
her  health  had  improved  sufficiently,  was  Fanny 
dismissed  from  the  sick-ward  of  the  hospital. 
This  happened,  however,  a  week  or  two  after  her 
sex  had  become  known.  Nelly,  who  up  to  this 
time  had  shared  the  fate  of  her  companion,  was 
now  no  longer  allowed  to  do  so  ;  her  illness  be 
came  serious,  she  was  detained  in  the  hospital, 
and  Fanny  arid  she  parted  —  their  histories  no 
longer  being  linked.  Nelly  we  can  tell  no  fur 
ther  of;  but  Fanny,  having  again  entered  society 
in  her  true  position,  what  became  of  her? 

"  We  now  see  her  on  the  stage  of  a  theatre  at 
Cairo,  Illinois,  serving  an  engagement  as  ballet 
girl.  But  this  lasts  but  a  few  nights.  She  turns 
up  in  Memphis,  even  as  a  soldier  again.  But  she 
has  changed  her  branch  of  the  service  ;  Fanny 
lias  now  become  a  private  in  the  Third  Illinois 
cavalry.  Only  two  weeks  has  she  been  enlisted, 
when,  to  her  surprise,  while  riding  through  the 
street  'vith  a  fellow-soldier,  she  is  stopped  by  a 
guard,  and  arrested  for  being  '  a  woman  in  men's 
clothing.'  She  is  taken  to  the  office  of  the  detec 
tive  police,  and  questioned  until  no  doubt  can 
remain  as  to  her  identity  —  not  proving  herself, 
as  suspected,  a  rebel  spy,  but  a  Federal  soldier. 
An  appropriate  wardrobe  is  procured  her,  and 
her  word  is  given  that  she  will  not  again  attempt 
a  disguise.  And  here  we  leave  her.  Fanny  is  a 
young  lady  of  about  nineteen  years  ;  of  a  fair 
face,  though  somewhat  tanned ;  of  a  rather  mas 
culine  voice,  and  a  mind  sprightly  and  somewhat 
educated  —  being  very  easily  able  to  pass  herself 
off  for  a  boy  of  about  seventeen  or  eighteen." 


COTTON-DOODLE. 

Written  by  a  lady  on  hearing  that  Yankee  Doodle  had 
been  hissed  in  is'ew  Orleans. 

HUKIIAH  for  brave  King  Cotton  ! 

The  Southerners  are  singing; 
From  Carolina  to  the  Gulf 

The  echo's  loudly  ringing  ; 
In  every  heart  a  feeling  stirs 

'Gainst  Northern  abolition  ! 
Something  is  heard  of  compromise, 

But  nothing  of  submission. 

Cotton-doodle,  boys,  hurrah ! 

We've  sent  old  Yankee  hissing; 
And  when  we  get  our  Southern  rights, 

I  guess  he'll  turn  up  missing ! 


His  poet,  Lowell,  is  singing 

'Gainst  "sacred  compromises;" 
Prays,  "  God  confound  the  da^ard  ward,'* 

At  which  his  "gall  arises." 
No  wonder    nat  he  hates  it, 

Pie  surely  has  good  reason  ; 
He  broke  the  faith  of  Seventy-six, 

And  it  proclaims  his  treason. 

Cottcn-doodle,  boys,  hurrah  I 

He  does  not  love  the  negro ; 

That's  but  a  pretext  hollow 
To  hide  his  greedy  longing 

For  the  "  almighty  dollar." 
Where  was  his  tender  conscience, 

When  for  "  blood-stained  gold  " 
His  Narraganset  captives 

Were  into  slavery  sold  ? 

Cotton-doodle,  boys,  hurrah ! 

'Gainst  nullifying  tariffs 

He  raised  a  mighty  din, 
And  loudly  talked  in  Thirty-two 

Of  Carolina's  sin ; 
But  now  appeals  from  Congress 

To  the  "  higher  law  "  of  Heaven  ! 
'Twas  horrible  in  one,  you  know, 

But  God-like  in  eleven  ! 

Cotton-doodle,  boys,  hurrah  I 

Thank  God,  his  day  is  passing  ! 

He  can  no  longer  vex  us ; 
For,  State  by  State,  we'll  firmly  stand, 

From  Maryland  to  Texas. 
King  Cotton  is  a  monarch 

Who'll  conquer  abolition, 
And  set  his  toot  upon  the  neck 
Of  treason  and  sedition. 

Cotton-doodle,  boys,  hurrah  ! 

We've  sent  old  Yankee  hissing; 
And  when  we  get  our  Southern  rights, 
I  guess  he'll  turn  up  missing  ! 


"  ALEX.  HAYES."  —  A  soldier  of  Gettysburg,  a 
few  days  after  the  battle,  wrote  : 

"  I  wish  you  could  have  seen  a  picture,  just  at 
the  close  of  last  Friday's  battle,  on  the  left  of  our 
centre,  of  which  his  splendid  figure  formed  a 
prominent  part.  Our  little  brigade,  which  had 
been  lying  on  Cemetery  Hill,  was  ordered  over 
to  the  position  that  was  so  valiantly  but  unsuc 
cessfully  charged  by  Pickett's  rebel  division.  We 
hurried  there  through  a  storm  of  shot  and  shell, 
but  only  arrived  in  time  to  see  the  grand  finale, 
the  tableaux  vivants,  and,  alas,  mouranis,  at  the 
close  of  the  drama.  The  enemy's  batteries  were 
still  playing  briskly,  and  their  sharpshooters  kept 
up  a  lively  fire,  but  their  infantry,  slain  and 
wounded  and  routed,  were  pouring  into  our  lines 
throughout  their  whole  extent.  Then  enter  Alex. 
Hayes,  Brigadier-General  United  States  Army, 
the  brave  American  soldier.  Six  feet  or  more  m 
height,  and  as  many  inches  the  length  of  his 
mighty  mustache,  erect  and  smiling,  lightly  hold 
ing  well  in  hand  his  horse — the  third  within  a 
half  hour,  a  noble  animal,  his  fla-.ks  be  spattered 
with  "rlocd,  tied  to  his  streaming  tail  a  rebel  flag 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


410 


that  drags  ignominiously  in  the  mud  —  he  dashes 
along  our  lines,  now  rushing  out  into  the  open 
field,  a  mark  for  a  hundred  sharpshooters,  but 
never  touched,  now  quietly  cantering  hack  to  our 
iines  to  he  welcomed  with  a  storm  of  cheers.  1 
reckon  him  the  grandest  view  of  my  life.  I  bar 
not  Niagara.  It  was  the  arch  spirit  of  glo 
rious  Victory  wildly  triumphing  over  the  fallen 
foe. 

"  The  night  after,  I  met  General  Hayes  again. 
After  the  fight  of  Friday  afternoon,  we  held  the 
battle-field,  our  skirmishers  forming  a  line  on  the 
outer  edge  of  it.  This  field  was  strewn  with 
rebel  wounded.  It  was  impossible  for  us  to 
bring  them  in  Friday  night ;  every  apology  for 
a  hospital  being  crowded,  our  own  wounded,  in 
many  cases,  lying  out  all  night.  But  Saturday 
morning  bandsmen  were  sent  out  with  litters  to 
bring  in  the  poor  fellows,  and  were  fired  upon  by 
the  rebel  skdrpsJiooters  so  briskly  that  it  was  im 
possible  to  kelp  them.  Stories  similar  to  this  I 
had  often  heard,  but  never  believed.  This  came 
under  my  own  observation.  So  all  day  Saturday 
the  poor  fellows  lay  there,  praying  for  death. 
When  night  fell,  another  officer  of  my  regiment 
and  myself  got  a  few  volunteers  to  go  out  with 
us,  thinking  there  might  be  some  who  could 
creep  into  our  lines,  supported,  on  either  side,  by 
one  of  us.  May  God  preserve  me  from  such  a 
position  again !  We  could  do  almost  nothing. 
Of  a  thousand  wounded  men,  we  found  one  whom 
four  of  us  carried  into  our  lines  in  a  blanket. 
Other  po)r  souls  would  think  they  might  accom 
plish  it.  but,  at  the  slightest  change  of  position, 
would  fall  back,  screaming  in  awful  agony.  Lit 
ters  we  had  none.  Then  appeared  General  Alex. 
Hayes  in  another  light,  less  of  the  bravado,  per 
haps,  not  less  of  the  hero.  He  sent  out  two  com 
panies,  who  cleared  the  rebel  sharpshooters  from 
a  position  they  held  in  a  ruined  building,  busied 
himself  in  procuring  litters  and  bearers,  and  be 
fore  morning  many  of  the  poor  fellows  were  safe 
within  our  lines.  It  is  not  my  good  fortune  to 
be  personally  acquainted  with  this  General  Alex. 
Hayes  ;  but  1  wish  every  one,  as  far  as  I  can 
effect  it,  to  honor  him  as  the  bravest  of  soldiers, 
and  love  him  as  the  best-hearted  of  men,  A 
true  chevalier  he  must  be,  sans  jjeur  et  sans 
reproche." 

THE  FALL  OF  LEXINGTON,  MO. 
COLONEL  MULLIGAN'S  OWN  STORY. 

"ON  the  10th  of  September,  1861,"  said  Col 
onel  Mulligan,  in  his  speech  at  Detroit,  "  a  letter 
arrived  from  Colonel  Peabody,  saying  that  he  was 
retreating  from  Warrensburg,  twenty-five  miles 
distant,  and  that  Price  was  pursuing  him  with  ten 
thousand  men.  A  few  hours  afterwards,  Colonel 
Peabody,  with  the  Thirteenth  Missouri,  entered 
Lexington.  We  then  had  two  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  eighty  men  in  garrison,  and  forty 
rounds  of  cartridges.  At  noon  of  the  llth  we 
commenced  throwing  up  our  first  retrenchments.  | 
Jn  nix  hours  afterwards,  the  enemy  opened  their  j 
fire.  Colonel  Peabody  was  ordered  out  to  meet ' 


!  them.     The  camp  then  presented  a  liv<  ly  scene ; 
'  officers  were  hurrying  lather  arid  thither  drawing 
j  the  troops  in  line  and  gr  ing  orders,    and  the 
commander  was  riding  with  ais  ?taff  to  the  bridge 
I  to  encourage  his  men  and  to  'plant  his  artillery. 
j  Two    six-pounders  were   planted  to   oppose  Ihe 
I  enemy,    and  placed  in  charge  of    Captain  Dan 
;  Quirk,  who  remained  at  his  post  till  daybreak. 
It  was  a  night  of  fearful  anxiety.      None  knew  at 
what  moment  the  enemy  would  be  upon  the  little 
band,  and  the  hours  passed  in  silence  and  anxious 
!  waiting.     So  it  continued  until  morning,  when 
the   Chaplain   rushed   into   headquarters,    saying 
that   the   enemy   were   pushing    forward.      Two 
companies  of  the    Missouri  Thirteenth  were  or 
dered  out,  and  the  Colonel,  with  the  aid  of  his 
glass,  saw  General  Price  urging  his  men  to  the 
j  fight.     They  were  met  by  Company  K,   of  the 
Irish   brigade,  under  Captain   Quirk,  who  held 
them  in  check  until  Captain  Dillon's  company,  of 
the  Missouri  Thirteenth,  drove  them  back,  arid 
burned  the  bridge.     That  closed  our  work  before 
breakfast.      Immediately   six   companies   of  the 
Missouri  Thirteenth  and  two  companies  of  Illinois 
cavalry  were  despatched  in  search  of  the  retreating 
enemy.     They  engaged  them  in  a  cornfield,  fought 
with  them  gallantly,  and  harassed  them  to  such 
an  extent  as  to  delay  their  progress,  in  order  to 
give  time  for  constructing  in  trench  men  ts  around 
the  camp  on  College  Hill.     This  had  the  desired 
effect,  and  we  succeeded  in  throwing  up  earth 
works  three  or  four  feet  in  height.     This  con 
sumed  the  night,  and  was  continued  during  the 
next  day,  the  outposts  still  opposing  the  enemy, 
and  keeping  them  back  as  far  as  possible. 

"At  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  12th, 
the  engagement  opened  with  artillery.  A  volley 
of  grape  shot  was  thrown  among  the  officers,  who 
stood  in  front  of  the  breastworks.  The  guns 
within  the  intrenchments  immediately  replied 
with  a  vigor  which  converted  the  scene  into  one 
of  the  wildest  description.  The  gunners  were 
inexperienced,  and  the  firing  was  bad.  We  had 
five  six-pounders,  and  the  musketry  was  firing  at 
every  angle.  Those  who  were  not  shooting  at 
the  moon  were  shooting  above  it.  The  men  were 
ordered  to  cease  firing,  and  they  were  arranged  in 
ranks,  kneeling,  the  front  rank  shooting  and  the 
others  loading.  The  artillery  was  served  with 
more  care,  and  within  an 'hour  a  shot  from  one  of 
our  guns  dismounted  their  largest  piece,  a  twelve- 
pounder,  and  ex  j)  1'oded  a  powder  caisson.  This 
achievement  was  received  with  shouts  of  exulta 
tion  by  the  beleaguered  garrison.  The  enomy 
retired  a  distance  of  three  miles.  At  seven 
o'clock  the  engagement  had  ceased,  and  Lex  ing' 
ton  was  oars  again. 

"  Next  morning  General  Parsons,  with  ten 
thousand  men  at  his  back,  sent  in  a  flag  of  truct 
to  a  little  garrison  of  two  thousand  seven  hundred 
men,  asking  permission  to  enter  the  town  and 
bury  Us  dead,  claiming  that  when  the  noble  Lyon 
went  down,  his  corpse  had  fallen  into  his  hands, 
and  he  had  granted  every  privilege  to  the  Fe  leral 
officers  sent  after  it.  It  was  not  necessary  to 
adduce  this  as  a  reason  why  he  should  be  per 
mitted  to  perform  an  act  w  lich  humanity  would 


416 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


dictate.     The  request  was  willingly  granted,  and  |  A  company  of  the  Missouri  Thirteenth  was  or- 


we  cheerfully  assisted  in  burying  the  fallen  foe. 

"  On  Friday  the  work  of  throwing  up  intrench- 
inents  went  on.  It  rained  all  day,  and  the  men 
stood  knee  deep  in  the  rnud,  building  them. 
Troops  were  sent  out  for  forage,  and  returned 
with  large  quantities  of  provisions  and  fodder. 
On  Friday,  Saturday,  and  Sunday,  we  stole  seven 
days'  provisions  for  two  thousand  seven  hundred 
men.  We  had  found  no  provisions  at  Lexington, 
and  were  compelled  to  get  our  rations  as  best  we 


dered  forward  to  retake  the  hospital.  They 
started  on  their  errand,  but  stopped  at  the  breast 
works,  '  going  not  cut  because  it  was  bad  to  go 
out.'  A  company  of  the  ^fissouri  Fourteenth 
was  sent  forward,  but  it  also  shrank  from  the 
task,  and  refused  to  move  outside  the  intrench- 
merits.  The  Montgomery  Guards,  Captain  Glea- 
son,  of  the  Irish  brigade,  were  then  brought  out. 
The  commander  admonished  them  that  the  others 
had  filled,  and  with  a  brief  exhortation  to  uphold 


the  name  they  bore,  gave  the  word  to  'charge.' 
The    distance    was    eight    hundred   yards.     They 


could.     A  quantity  of  powder  was  obtained,  and 

then  large  easterns  were  filled  with  water.  The  j  me  distance  was  eignt  nundreu  yards,  ifiey 
men  made  cartridges  in  the  cellar  of  the  college !  started  out  from  the  intrenchment,  first  quick, 
building,  and  cast  one  hundred  and  fifty  rounds  j  then  double-quick,  then  on  a  run,  then  faster. 


of  shot  for  the  guns,  at  the  founderies  of  Lexing 
ton.  During  the  little  respite  the  evening  gave 
us,  we  cast  our  shot,  made  our  cartridges,  and 
stole  our  own  provisions.  We  had  stacks  of 
forage,  plenty  of  hams,  bacon,  &c.,  and  felt  that 
good  times  were  in  store  for  us.  All  this  time, 
our  pickets  were  constantly  engaged  with  the 
enemy,  and  we  were  well  aware  that  ten  thousand 
men  were  threatening  us,  and  knew  that  the 
struggle  was  to  be  a  desperate  one.  Earthworks 
had  been  raised  breast-high,  enclosing  an  area  of 
fifteen  to  eighteen  acres,  and  surrounded  by  a 
ditch.  Outside  of  this  was  a  circle  of  twenty-one 
mines,  and  still  farther  down  were  pits  to  em 
barrass  the  progress  of  the  enemy. 

"  During  the  night  of  the  17th,  we  were  getting 
ready  for  the  defence,  and  heard  the  sounds  of 
preparation  in  the  camp  of  the  enemy  for  the 
attack  on  the  morrow.  Father  Butler  went 
around  among  the  men  and  blessed  them,  and 
they  reverently  uncovered  their  heads  and  re 
ceived  his  benediction.  At  nine  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  18th,  the  drums  beat  to  arms,  and 
the  terrible  struggle  commenced.  The  enemy's 
force  had  been  increased  to  twenty-eight  thousand 
men  and  thirteen  pieces  of  artillery.  They  came 
as  one  dark,  moving  mass  —  men  armed  to  the 
teeth  ;  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  men,  men, 
men,  were  visible.  They  planted  two  batteries 
in  front,  one  on  the  left,  one  on  the  right,  and  one 
in  the  rear,  and  opened  with  a  terrible  fire,  which 
was  answered  with  the  utmost  bravery  and  deter 
mination.  Our  spies  had  informed  us  that  the  | 


The  enemy  poured  a  deadly  shower  of  bullets 
upon  them  ;  but  on  they  went,  a  wild  line  of  steel, 
and  what  is  better  than  steel,  human  will.  They 
stormed  up  the  slope  to  the  hospital  door,  and 
with  irresistible  bravery  drove  the  enemy  before 
them,  and  hurled  them  far  down  the  hill  beyond. 
At  the  head  of  those  brave  fellows,  pale  as  marble, 
but  not  pale  from  feur,  stood  the  gallant  officer, 
Captain  Gleason.  lie  said,  '  Come  on,  my  brave 
boys,'  and  in  they  rushed.  But  when  their  brave 
captain  returned,  it  was  with  a  shot  through  the 
cheek  and  another  through  the  arm,  and  with  but 
fifty  of  the  eighty  he  had  led  forth.  The  hospi 
tal  was  in  their  possession.  This  charge  was  one 
of  the  most  brilliant  and  reckless  in  all  history, 
and  to  Captain  Gleason  belongs  the  glory.  Each 
side  felt,  after  this  charge,  that  a  clever  thing  had 
been  done ;  and  the  fire  of  the  enemy  lagged. 
We  were  in  a  terrible  situation.  Towards  night 
the  fire  increased,  and  in  the  evening  word  came 
from  the  rebels  that  if  the  garrison  did  not  sur 
render  before  the  next  day,  they  would  hoist  the 
black  flag  at  their  cannon  and  give  us  no  quarter. 
Word  was  sent  back  that  '  when  we  asked  for 
quarter  it  would  be  time  to  settle  that.'  It  was  a 
terrible  thing  to  see  those  brave  fellows  mangled, 
and  with  no  skilful  hands  to  bind  their  gaping 
wounds.  Our  surgeon  was  hold  with  the  enemy, 
against  all  rules  of  war,  and  that,  too,  when  we 
had  released  a  surgeon  of  theirs  on  his  mere 
pledge  that  he  was  such.  Captain  Moriarty  went 
into  the  hospital,  and  with  nothing  but  a  razor, 
acted  the  part  of  a  surgeon.  We  could  not  be 
without  a  chaplain  or  a  surgpon  any  longer. 
There  was  in  our  ranks  a  Lieutenant  Kickey,  a 
rollicking,  jolly  fellow,  who  was  despatched  from 
the  hospital  with  orders  to  procure  the  surgeon 
and  chaplain  at  all  hazards.  Forty  nr.r.utes  later 
and  the  brave  lieutenant  was  borne  ty  severely 
wounded.  As  he  was  borne  past  I  heard  him  ex 
claim,  '  God  have  mercy  on  my  little  ones ! '  Ar.ii 
God  did  hear  his  prayers,  for  the  gay  Lieutenant 
is  up,  as  rollicking  as  ever,  and  is  now  forming 
his  brigade  to  return  to  the  field. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  19th  the  firing  was  re 
sumed,  and  continued  all  day.  We  recovered  out 
surgeon  and  chaplain.  The  day  was  signalized 

cony  and  roof  "their  sharpshooters  poured  a  by  a  fierce  bayonet  charge  upon  a  regiment  of  the 
deadly  fire  within  our  intrenchmerits.  It  con-  j  enemy,  which  served  to  show  them  that  our  men 
Earned  our  chaplain  and  surgeon,  and  one  hundred  !  were  not  yet  completely  worried  out.  The  ofti- 
and  twenty  wounded  men.  It  could  not  be  j  cers  had  ".old  them  to  hold  out  until  the  19th, 
allowed  to  remain  in  the  possession  of  the  enemy,  j  when  they  would  certainly  be  reenforced.  Through 


rebels  intended  to    make 
burv    us   in    the    trenches 


one   grand    rout,  and 
of  Lexington.      The 


batteries  opened  at  nine  o'clock,  and  for  three 
days  they  never  ceased  to  pour  deadly  shot  upon 
us.  About  noon  the  hospital  was  taken.  It  was 
situated  on  the  left,  outside  of  the  intrenchments. 
I  had  taken  for  granted  that  it  was  not  neces 
sary  to  build  fortifications  around  the  sick  man's 
ccuch.  I  had  thought  that,  among  civilized 
nations,  the  soldier  sickened  and  wounded  in  the 
service  of  his  country,  would,  at  least,  be  sacred. 
But  I  was  inexperienced,  and  had  yet  to  learn 
that  such  was  not  the  case  with  the  rebels.  They 
besieged  the  hospital,  took  it,  and  from  the  bal- 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


417 


that  day  our  little  garrison  stood  with  straining 
eyea,  watching  to  see  if  some  friendly  flag  was 
bearing  aid  to  them  —  with  straining  ear,  awaiting 
the  sound  of  a  friendly  cannonade.  13  ut  no  reen- 
forcements  appeared,  and,  with  the  energy  of 
despair,  they  determined  to  do  their  duly  at  all 
hazards.  The  19th  was  a  horrid  day.  Our  water 
cisterns  had  been  drained,  and  we  dared  not  leave 
the  crown  of  ttie  hill,  and  make  our  intrench- 
ments  on  the  hank  of  the  river,  for  the  enemy 
could  have  planted  his  cannon  on  the  hill  and 
buried  us.  The  day  was  burning  hot,  and  the 
men  bit  their  cartridges  ;  their  lips  were  parched 
and  blistered.  But  not  a  word  of  murmuring. 
The  night  of  the  19th  two  wells  were  ordered  to 
be  dug.  We  took  a  ravine,  and  expected  to  reach 
water  in  about  thirty  hours.  During  the  night,  I 
passed  around  the  field,  smoothed  back  the  clot 
ted  hair,  and  by  the  light  of  the  moon,  shining 
through  the  trees,  recognized  here  and  there  the 
countenances  of  my  brave  men  who  had  fallen. 
Some  were  my  favorites  in  days  gone  past,  who 
had  stood  by  me  in  these  hours  of  terror,  and  had 
fallen  on  the  hard  fought  field.  Sadly  we  buried 
them  in  the  trenches. 

"  The  morning  of  the  20th  broke;  but  no  reen- 
forcements  appeared,  and  still  the  men  fought  on. 
The  rebels  had  constructed  movable  breastworks 
of  hemp  bales,  rolled  them  up  the  hill,  and  ad 
vanced  their  batteries  in  a  manner  to  command 
the  fortification.  Heated  shot  were  fired  at  them, 
but  they  had  taken  the  precaution  to  soak  the 
bales  in  the  Missouri.  The  attack  was  urged 
with  renewed  vigor,  and,  during  the  forenoon,  the 
outer  breastworks  were  taken  by  a  charge  of  the 
rebels  in  force.  The  whole  line  was  broken,  and 
the  enemy  rushed  in  upon  us.  Captain  Fitz 
gerald,  whom  I  had  known  in  my  younger  days, 
and  whom  we  had  been  accustomed  to  call  by  the 
familiar  name  of  '  Saxy,'  was  then  ordered  to  op 
pose  his  company  to  the  assailants.  As  1  gave 
the  order,  '  Saxy,  go  in,'  the  gallant  Fitzgerald, 
at  the  head  of  company  I,  with  a  wild  yell  rushed 
in  upon  the  enemy.  The  commander  sent  for  a 
company  on  which  he  could  rely;  the  firing  sud 
denly  ceased,  and  when  the  smoke  rose  from  the 
field,  I  observed  the  Michigan  company,  under 
their  gallant  young  commander,  Captain  Patrick 
McDermott,  charging  the  enemy  and  driving  them 
back.  Many  of  our  good  fellows  were  lying 
dead,  our  cartridges  had  failed,  and  it  was  evident 
that  the  fight  would  soon  cease.  It  wras  now 
three  o'clock,  and  all  on  a  sudden  an  orderly 
came,  saying  that  the  enemy  had  sent  a  flag  of 
truce.  With  the  flag  came  the  following  note 
from  General  Price : 

"'Colonel:  What  has  caused  the  cessation  of 
the  fight?' 

"The  Colonel  returned  it  with  the  following 
reply  written  on  the  back  :  — 

'"General:  I  hardly  know,  unless  you  have 
surrendered.' 

"  He  took  pains  to  assure  me,  however,  that 

such  was  not  the  case.     I  learned  soon  after  that 

the  Home  Guard  had  hoisted  the  white  flag.    The 

Lieutenant  who  had  thus  hoisted  the  white  flag 

27 


was  threatened  with  instant  death  unless  be 
pulled  it  down.  The  men  all  said,  *  We  have  no 
cartridges,  and  a  vast  horde  of  the  enemy  is  a)m::t 
us.'  They  were  told  to  go  '  o  the  line  and  stand 
there,  and  use  the  charge  at  the  muzzle  of  thfik 
guns,  or  perish  there.  They  grasped  their  weap 
ons  the  fiercer,  turned  calmly  about,  arid  stood 
firmly  at  their  posts.  And  there  they  stood  with 
out  a  murmur,  praying,  as  they  never  prayed  be 
fore,  that  the  rebel  horde  would  show  themselves 
at  the  earthworks.  An  officer  remarked,  '  This  is 
butchery.'  The  conviction  became  general,  anc.  a 
council  of  war  was  held.-  And  when,  finally,  the 
white  Hag  was  raised,  Adjutant  Cosgrove,  of  your 
city,  shed  bitter  tears.  The  place  was  given  up, 
upon  what  conditions)  to  this  day  I  hardly  know 
or  care.  The  enemy  came  pouring  in.  One  fop 
pish  officer,  dressed  in  the  gaudiest  uniform  of 
his  rank,  strutted  up  and  down  through  the  camp, 
stopped  before  our  men,  took  out  a  pair  of  hand 
cuffs,  and  holding  them  up,  said,  'Do  you  know 
what  these  are  for  ?  '  We  were  placed  in  file,  and 
a  figure  on  horseback,  looking  much  like  '  Death 
on  the  pale  horse,'  led  us  through  the  streets  of 
Lexington.  As  we  passed,  the  secession  ladies 
of  Lexington  came  from  their  houses,  and  froia 
the  fence  tops  jeered  at  us.  We  were  then  taken 
to  a  hotel  with  no  rations  and  no  proprietor. 
After  we  had  boarded  there  for  some  time,  w« 
started  with  General  Price,  on  the  morning  of  tha 
30th,  for  '  the  land  of  Dixie.' " 


THE   RIYEIl   FIGHT. 

BY    H.    H.    BROWN  ELL. 

Do  vou  know  of  the  dreary  land, 

If  land  such  region  may  seem, 
Where  'tis  neither  sea  nor  strand, 
Ocean  nor  good  dry  land, 

But  the  nightmare  marsh  of  a  dream  ? 
Where  the  Mighty  River  his  death-road  takes, 
'Mid  pools  and  windings  that  coil  like  snakes, 
A  hundred  leagues  of  bayous  and  lakes, 

To  die  in  the  great  Gulf  Stream  ? 

No  coast-line  clear  and  true, 
Granite  and  deep-sea  blue, 

On  that  dismal  shore  you  pass, 
Surf-worn  boulder  or  sandy  beach,  — 
13 ut  oo/e-flats  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach, 

With  shallows  of  water-grass; 
Reedy  savannas,  vast  and  dun, 
Lying  dead  in  the  dim  March  sun  ; 
Huge  rotting  trunks  and  roots  that  lie 
Like  the  blackened  bones  of  shapes  gone  by, 

And  miles  of  sunken  morass. 

No  lovely,  delicate  thing 

Of  life  o'er  the  waste  is  seen ; 
But  the  cayman,  couched  by  his  weedy  spring, 

And  the  pelican,  bird  unclean, 
Or  the  buzzard,  flapping  with  heavy  wing, 

Like  an  evil  ghost  o'er  the  desolate  seen  9, 

Ah  !  many  a  weary  day 
With  our  leader  there  we  lay, 

In  the  sultry  haze  and  smoke, 
Tugging  our  s'  ips  o'er  the  bar, 
Till  the  spring  was  wasted  far, 


418 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Till  his  brave  heart  almost  broke. 
For  the  sullen  river  seemed 
As  if  our  intent  he  dreamed,  — 

All  his  sallow  mouths  did  spew  and  choke. 

But  ere  April  fxilly  passed, 

All  ground  over  at  last, 

And  we  knew  the  die  was  cast  — 

Knew  the  day  drew  nigh 
To  dare  to  the  end  one  stormy  deed, 
Might  save  the  land  at  her  sorest  need, 

Or  on  the  old  deck  to  die ! 

Anchored  we  lay,  —  and  a  morn  the  more, 

To  his  captains  and  all  his  men 
Thus  wrote  our  old  Commodore  — 

(lie  wasn't  Admiral  then)  : 

"GENERAL   ORDERS. 

'•  Send  your  to'gallant-masts  down, 

Ilig  in  each  flying  jib-boom  ! 

Clear  all  ahead  for  the  loom 
Of  traitor  fortress  and  town, 
Or  traitor  fleet  bearing  down. 

"  In  with  your  canvas  high ; 

We  shall  want  no  sail  to  fly  ! 
Topsail,  foresail,  spanker,  and  jib 
(With  the  heart  of  oak  in  the  oaken  rib), 

Shall  serve  us  to  win  or  die! 

"  Trim  every  sail  by  the  head, 

(So  shall  you  spare  the  lead,) 
Lest,  if  she  ground,  your  ship  swing  round, 

Bows  in  shore,  for  a  wreck. 
See  your  grapnels  all  clear  with  pains, 
And  a  solid  kedge  in  your  port  main-chains, 

With  a  whip  to  the  main  yard : 

Drop  it  heavy  and  hard 

When  you  grapple  a  traitor  deck  ! 

"  On  forecastle  and  on  poop 
Mount  guns,  as  best  you  may  deem. 

If  possible,  rouse  them  up 

(For  still  you  must  bow  the  stream). 

Also  hoist  and  secure  with  stops 

Howitzers  firmly  in  your  tops, 
To  fire  on  the  foe  a-beam. 

•'  Look  well  to  your  pumps  and  hose  ; 

Have  water-tubs  fore  and  aft, 

For  quenching  flame  in  your  craft, 
And  the  gun- crews'  fiery  thirst. 
See  planks  with  felt  fitted  close, 

To  plug  every  shot-hole  tight. 
Stand  ready  to  meet  the  worst ! 

For,  if  I  have  reckoned  aright, 
They  will  serve  us  shot,  both  cold  and  hot, 

Freely  enough  to-night. 

"  Mark  well  each  signal  I  make 
(Our  life-long  service  at  stake, 

And  honor  that  must  not  lag)  — 
Whatever  the  peril  and  awe, 
In  the  battle's  fieriest  flaw, 
L(  t  never  one  ship  withdraw 

Till  the  orders  come  from  the  flag  J  " 


Would  you  hear  of  the  River  Fight  ? 
It  was  two  of  a  soft  spring  night ; 
God's  stars  looked  down  on  all; 
And  all  was  clear  and  bright 


But  the  low  fog's  clinging  breath: 
Up  t'he  River  of  Death 
Sailed  the  Great  Admiral. 

On  our  high  poop-deck  he  stood, 

And  round  him  ranged  the  men 
Who  have  made  their  birthright  good 

Of  manhood  once  and  again  — 
Lords  of  helm  and  of  sail, 
Tried  in  tempest  and  gale, 

Bronzed  in  battle  and  wreck. 
Bell  and  Bailey  grandly  led 
Each  his  line  of  the  Blue  and  Red ; 
\Va; -A wright  stood  by  our  starboard  rail; 

Thornton  fought  the  deck. 

And  1  mind  me  of  more  than  they, 
Of  the  youthful,  steadfast  ones, 
That  have  shown  them  worthy  sons 

Of  the  seamen  passed  away. 

Tyson  conned  our  helm  that  day ; 
Watson  stood  by  his  guns. 

What  thought  our  Admiral  then, 
Looking  down  on  his  men  ? 

Since  the  terrible  day 

(Day  of  renown  and  tears), 

When  at  anchor  the  Essex  lay, 

Holding  her  foes  at  bay,  — 
When  a  boy  by  Porter's  side  he  stood, 
TU1  deck  and  plank-shear  were  dyed  n':*h  blood  l 
'Tis  half  a  hundred  years,  — 

Half  a  hundred  years  to  a  day  1 

Who  could  fail  with  him  ? 
Who  reckon  of  life  or  limb  ? 

Not  a  pulse  but  beat  the  higher  ! 
There  had  you  seen,  by  the  starlight  dim, 
Five  hundred  faces  strong  and  grim : 

The  Flag  is  going  under  fire  ! 
Right  up  by  the  fort,  with  her  helm  hard  a-poit. 

The  Hartford  is  going  under  fire  1 

The  way  to  our  work  was  plain. 
Caldwell  had  broken  the  chain, 
(Two  hulks  swung  down  amain 

Soon  as  'twas  sundered). 
Under  the  night's  dark  blue, 
Steering  steady  and  true, 
Ship  after  ship  went  through, 
Till,  as  we  hove  in  view, 

"  Jackson  "  out- thundered. 

Back  echoed  "  Philip  !  "     Ah  !  then 
Could  you  have  seen  our  men, 

How  they  sprung,  in  the  dim  night  haze, 
To  their  work  of  toil  and  of  clamor ! 
How  the  boarders,  \vith  sponge  and  rammer, 
And  their  captains,  with  cord  and  hammer, 

Kept  every  muzzle  ablaze. 
How  the  guns,  as  with  cheer  and  shout 
Our  tackle-men  hurled  them  out, 

Brought  up  on  the  water-ways! 

First,  as  we  fired  at  their  flash, 

'Twas  lightning  and  black  eclipse, 
With  a  bellowing  roll  and  crash. 
But  soon,  upon  either  bow, 

What  with  forts,  and  fire-rafts,  and  ships 
(The  whole  fleet  was  hard  at  it,  now), 
All  pounding  away  !  —  and  Porter 
Still  thundering  with  shell  and  mortar  — 

'Twas  the  mighty  sound  and  form! 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


419 


(Such  you  see  in  the  far  South, 
After  long  heat  and  drought, 

As  day  draws  nigh  to  even, 
Arching  from  north  to  south, 

Blinding  the  tropic  sun, 

The  great  black  bow  comes  on, 
Till  the  thunder- veil  is  riven  — 
Whon  all  is  crash  and  levin, 
And  the  Cannonade  of  heaven 

Rolls  down  the  Amazon  !) 

But,  as  we  worked  along  higher, 

Just  where  the  river  enlarges, 
Down  came  a  pyramid  of  fire  — 

It  was  one  of  your  long  coal  barges. 

(We  had  often  had  the  like  before.) 
'T was  coming  down  on  us  to  larboard, 

Well  in  with  the  eastern  shore  ; 

And  our  pilot,  to  let  it  pass  round, 

(You  may  guess  we  never  stopped  to  sound), 
Giving  us  a  rank  sheer  to  starboard, 

Ran  the  flag  hard  and  fast  aground  ! 

'Twas  nigh  abreast  of  the  Upper  Fort ; 

And  straightway  a  rascal  Ram 

(She  was  shaped  like  the  Devil's  dam) 
Puffed  away  for  us,  with  a  snort, 

And  shoved  it,  with  spiteful  strength, 
Right  alongside  of  us  to  port. 

It  was  all  of  our  ship's  length  — 
A  huge  crackling  Cradle  of  the  Pit ! 

Pitch-pine  knots  to  the  brim, 

Belching  flame  red  and  grim  — 
What  a  roar  came  up  from  it ! 

Well,  for  a  little  it  looked  bad  : 

But  these  things  are,  somehow,  shorter 
In  the  acting  than  in  the  telling  ; 
There  was  no  singing  out  or  yelling, 
Or  any  fussing  and  fretting, 

No  stampede,  in  short ; 
But  there  we  were,  my  lad, 

All  afire  on  our  port  quarter 
Hammocks  ablaze  in  the  netting, 

Flame  spouting  in  at  every  port, 
Our  Fourth  Cutter  burning  at  the  davit 
(No  chance  to  lower  away  and  save  it). 

In  a  twinkling,  the  flames  had  risen 
Half  way  to  main-top  and  mizzen, 

Darting  up  the  shrouds  like  snakes ! 

Ah,  how  we  clanked  at  the  brakes, 

And  the  deep  steaming-pumps  throbbed  under, 

Sending  a  ceaseless  flow  ! 
Our  top-men,  a  dauntless  crowd, 
Swarmed  in  rigging  and  shroud  : 

There  ('twas  a  wonder  !) 
The  burning  ratlines  and  strands 
They  quenched  with  their  bare  hard  hands ; 

But  the  great  guns  below 

Never  silenced  their  thunder  ! 

At  last,  by  backing  and  sounding, 
When  we  were  clear  of  grounding, 

And  under  headway  once  more, 
ITie  whole  rebel  fleet  came  rounding 

The  point.    If  we  had  it  hot  before. 

'Twas  now,  from  shore  to  shore, 

One  long,  loud  thundering  roar, — 
Such  crashing,  splintering,  and  pounding, 

And  smashing  ae  you  never  heard  before  ! 


But  that  we  fought  foul  wrong  to  wreck, 
And  to  save  the  land  we  loved  so  well, 

You  might  have  deemed  our  long  gun-deck 
Two  hundred  feet  of  hell ! 

For  above  all  was  battle, 
Broadside,  and  blaze,  and  rattle, 

Smoke  and  thunder  alone. 
(But,  down  in  the  sick-bay, 
Where  our  we  mded  and  dying  lay, 

There  was  scarce  a  sob  or  a  moan.) 
And  at  last,  when  the  dim  day  broke, 
And  the  sullen  sun  awoke, 

Drearily  blinking 

O'er  the  haze  and  the  cannon  smoke, 
That  ever  such  morning  dulls,  — 
There  were  thirteen  traitor  hulls 

On  fire  and  sinking  ! 

Now,  up  the  river!  — through  mad  Chalmette 

Sputters  a  vain  resistance  yet. 

Small  helm  we  gave  her,  our  course  tc  steer,  — 

'Twas  nicer  work  than  you  well  would  dream, 
With  cant  and  sheer  to  keep  her  clear 

Of  the  burning  wrecks  that  cumbered  the  stream.. 

The  Louisiana,  hurled  on  high, 

Mounts  in  thunder  to  meet  the  sky  ! 

Then  down  to  the  depths  of  the  turbid  flood,  — 

Fifty  fathom  of  rebel  mud  ! 

The  Mississippi  comes' floating  down 

A  mighty  bonfire,  from  off  the  town  ; 

And  along  the  river,  on  stocks  and  ways, 

A  half-hatched  devil's  brood  is  ablaze,  — 

The  great  Anglo-Norman  is  all  in  flames 

(Hark  to  the  roar  of  her  tumbling  frames), 

And  the  smaller  fry  that  Treason  would  spawn 

Are  lighting  Algiers  like  an  angry  dawn ! 

From  stem  to  stern,  how  the  pirates  burn, 
Fired  by  the  furious  hands  that  built ! 

So  to  ashes  forever  turn 

The  suicide  wrecks  of  wrong  and  guilt  I 

But  as  we  neared  the  city, 

By  field  and  vast  plantation, 

(Ah,  millstone  of  our  nation !) 
With  wonder  and  with  pity, 

What  crowds  we  there  espied 
Of  dark  and  wistful  faces, 
Mute  in  their  toiling  places, 

Strangely  and  sadly  eyed  ! 

Haply,  'mid  doubt  and  fear, 

Deeming  deliverance  near. 

(One  gave  the  ghost  of  a  cheer !) 

And  on  that  dolorous  strand, 

To  greet  the  victor  brave 

One  flag  did  welcome  wave,  — 
Raised,  ah  me !  by  a  wretched  hand, 
All  outworn  on  our  cruel  land,  — 

The  withered  hand  of  a  slave  1 

But  all  along  the  Levee, 

In  a  dark  and  drenching  rain, 
(By  this  'twas  pouring  heavy), 

Stood  a  fierce  and  sullen  train. 
A  strange  and  frenzied  time  ! 

There  were  scowling  rage  and  pain, 
Curses,  howls,  and  hisses, 
Out  of  Hate's  black  abysses,  — 
Their  courage  and  their  crime 

All  in  vain  —  all  in  vain  I 


420 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


For,  from  the  hour  that  the  Rebel  Stream, 
With  the  Crescent  City  lying  abeam, 

Shuddered  under  our  keel, 
Smit  to  the  heart  with  self  struck  sting, 
Slavery  died  in  her  scorpion- ring, 

And* Murder  fell  on  la's  steel ! 
Tis  well  to  do  and  dare ; 
But  ever  may  grateful  prayer 
Follow,  as  aye  it  ought, 
When  the  good  fight  is  fought, 

When  the  true  deed  is  done ! 
Aloft  in  heaven's  pure  light 
(Deep  azure  crossed  on  white), 
Our  fair  Church  pennant  waves 
O'er  a  thousand  thankful  braves, 

Bareheaded  in  God's  bright  sun  I 

Lord  of  mercy  and  frown, 

Ruling  o'er  sea  and  shore, 

Send  us  such  scene  once  more ! 

All  in  line  of  battle, 
When  the  black  ships  bear  down 
On  tyrant  fort  and  town, 

'Mid  cannon  cloud  and  rattle  j 

And  the  great  guns  once  more 

Thunder  back  the  roar 

Of  the  traitor  walls  ashore, 
And  the  traitor  flags  come  down ! 


NOTES  FROM  THE   SADDLE. 

FROM    THE    "  COUE.IEH."  * 

STILL  pushing  on  !  Still  watching  the  warm, 
\vhite  clouds,  and  the  fields,  green  with  the  win 
ter  grain.  Still  weaving  of  way-side  flowers  a 
simple  garland  to  fling  in  through  the  open  gates 
of  Janus,  while  our  fancies  wander  homeward,  as 
the  youth  of  the  Roman  Republic  loved  to  do  in 
those  early  days  of  struggle  and  victory.  The 
birds  chatter  in  great  flocks  among  the  trees,  and 
say,  mockingly,  "  Go  South  with  us."  The  hoarse 
brooks,  intoxicated  with  the  dissipation  of  plenty, 
go  roaring  along,  tumbling  over  the  stones,  and 
making  crooked  paths  over  the  meadow.  Alas  ! 
how  poor !  for  yesterday  they  were  covered  with 
the  first  and  oldest  resource  of  leaves,  dark  as 
Terape,  but  now  quite  stripped  bare,  are  driven 
along,  tormented  and  complaining,  out  of  the 
gardens  into  the  waste.  Only  the  wild  flowers 
along  the  ravines  hold  their  beauty,  peeping  out 
timidly  between  the  gnarled  roots  of  the  leaning 
chestnuts,  or  smiling  under  some  broad  fern,  like 
an  Eastern  lady  behind  her  fan.  To  be  sure,  a 
tew  vines  hang  gracefully  over  gray  limbs,  and 
trail  tenderly,"  as  if  to  hide  the  poor  bushes, 
which  once  called  their  foliage  their  own,  and 
would  not  own  how  much  they  depended  on  the 
ft  nil  stem  that  clung  to  them  for  protection. 

But  refinement  is  not  weakness,  and  pride  is 
not  strength,  and  storm  brings  the  judgment. 
Then  we  look  over  the  swelling  river  with  its  tur- 
hM  current,  into  Virginia,  where  the  masses  of 
\rees,  and  the  clumps  of  shrubbery,  and  the  open 
glades,  reveal,  after  these  same  summer  experi 
ence!*,  their  own  individuality.  Golden  and  lead  n, 

*  Boston  Courier,  November  23, 1861. 


purple  and  silver,  with  here  and  there  a  flash  of 
green  across  the  softer  shades,  as  if  the  glorious 
clouds,  just  at  sunset,  heavy  with  quiet,  chastened 
grief,  had  drooped  too  low,  and  could  not  sail 
away  when  the  e-m  crept  down  behind  the  hills. 
And  we  weave  our  garland,  conqueror  of  timea 
and  seasons,  while  the  wind  scatters  the  treasures 
of  the  forest  about,  and  throws  the  leaves  before 
our  horses'  feet,  gilded  with  the  golden  sky  arid 
soft  sun  of  the  Indian  summer  until  musing  of 
changing  scenes,  of  the  fate  of  those  who  wander 
along  life's  way,  and  the  city  cf  unfading  rest,  we 
find  that  the  leaves  have  fallen  even  from  our  gar 
land,  and  like  one  of  old,  weeping  in  the  midst  of 
triumph,  only  the  'horns  remain  to  us  ! 

But  this  is-  no  so  very  si  d,  if,  as  a  friend  re 
marks  quietly,  we  are  oursel  res  to  leave  so  soon. 
Seaward  and  Southward  is  new  the  cry,  and  we 
long  for  our  orders.  On  every  hill,  by  every  way, 
are  the  deserted  camps  of  those  who  have  moved 
before  us.  It  is  a  singular  feeling  which  creeps 
over  you,  as  you  sit  and  look  into  these  same 
camping  grounds.  If  it  is  sad  to  do  anything 
for  the  last  time,  how  much  more  to  stand  where 
there  has  been  so  much  activity  for  the  last  time. 
Here  are  the  streets  laid  out  in  order,  where  your 
feet  seem  to  intrude,  the  trenches  still  full  of 
water ;  the  outlines  and  walls  of  tents  and  rude 
coverings  of  trees  ;  the  posts  still  waiting  for  the 
horse  ;  the  ovens,  which,  weary  of  their  weight 
have  fallen  ;  the  broken  jars  and  bones  which  aie 
the  skeletons  of  past  feasts !  Here  was  the  place 
called  "  home,"  here  the  guard  tent,  and  theie  the 
place  of  sport,  and  beyond  the  scene  cf  woiship., 
It  is  Pompeii  over  again,  with  its  pavements  and 
houses,  its  walls  and  posts,  with  dwellings  and 
theatres  and  temples !  A  deserted  city,  or,  if  you 
wish  to  believe  it,  a  city  whose  inhabitants  may 
return  at  any  momeiit  to  ask  why  you  have  taken 
such  liberty  in  your  inquisitiveness.  The  fire 
places  are  full  of  water.  The  wood  lies  cut  beside 
the  cold  embers.  The  grain  still  waits  under  the 
trees  for  the  horses,  or  springs  up  in  a  carpet  of 
green,  to  show  you  that  nothing  is  lost ;  and  even 
the  fruit  of  opportunities  which  we  throw  aside, 
others  may  reap  when  we  are  gone.  The  fashion 
able  line  of  trees,  and  the  arbors,  where  every  one 
sat  under  the  pine  and  fir  tree,  lean  away  from  the 
last  storm.  It  is  easy  to  see  by  the  worn  ground 
over  what  hills  the  sentry  marched,  or  by  what 
trees  the  way  towards  the  spring  passed.  But  now 
only  the  crows  sail  away  before  you,  and  shout 
from  the  tree  tops  their  inhospitable  complaints. 

By  this  stake  a  rope  passed  to  another,  not 
twenty  feet  away,  that  the  cavalry  horses  might 
be  fastened.  Just  beyond  stood  some  staff  horse, 
and  there  a  wagon.  Pieces  of  torn  caps,  and 
boxes,  and  knapsacks,  and  broad  shoes  broken  out 
at  the  sides,  which  I  venture  to  say  Cinderella 
could  not  have  worn  —  and  little  rubber  blankets, 
which  served  as  coverings  of  miniature  tents  in 
this  deserted  village,  under  which  Evangeliiio 
never  could  have  plied  the  distaff,  and  fragments 
of  envelopes,  lie  scattered  about.  But  all  this 
desolation  may  have  happened  long  ago.  The 
leaf  reta.'as  the  rnai^  of  its  filres,  along  which 


ANECD01ES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


421 


poured  the  tid*  of  life,  long  after  it  is  dead. 
Does  not  the  print  of  the  face  remain  on  the  walls 
of  the  theatre  of  Herculaneum,  though  the  actor 
passed  away  at  the  first  part,  when  the  fiery  del 
uge  surprised  the  attendants  and  drowned  the 
applauses  of  the  audience,  and  caught  him  just 
fleeing,  unhappy  man  !  So  this  forsaken  camp, 
with  its  impress  of  the  mind,  our  fancy  tells  us, 
may  have  been  peopled  by  a  host  of  olden  time, 
and  haunted  for  three  generations.  And  as  we 
ride  on  in  the  moonlight,  the  old  oaks  throw  their 
shadow  over  the  straw  and  trenches,  sighing  like 
the  tempest,  and  urging  us  on,  as  it  did  the  poor 
Wandering  Jew. 

They  "  found  the  man  by  the  way  ;"  so  they 
told  me,  with  a  tone  which  said,  "  He  is  only  a 
stranger."  The  horses  were  feeding  by  the  road 
side,  with  their  harness  still  on,  and  the  reins 
fallen  under  their  feet.  From  the  top  of  the 
heavy  army  wagon  the  white  canvas  had  been 
pushed  slightly  back,  and  two  empty  bags  lay 
within.  Upon  these  was  an  old  man.  Kis  un 
combed  beard  was  gray,  and  his  long,  tangled 
hair  hung  in  masses  on  his  shoulders.  His  fea 
tures  were  sharp  with  poverty,  and  his  thin,  bony 
hands  were  hard  with  labor.  By  his  words  we 
knew  that  he  was  from  the  West;  but  we  could 
tell  nothing  more.  He  was  past  the  years  of 
service,  but  of  an  iron  constitution,  winch  never 
gives  way  to  such  accidents  as  years  until  it  is 
broken.  He  was  very  meanly  dressed,  quite  in 
rags,  with  a  soiled  cap  and  dirty  flannel  shirt. 
His  hands  were  thrown  wildly  over  his  head,  and 
his  eyes  rolled  with  unnatural  brightness.  We 
spoke  to  him,  but  he  did  not  reply  —  only  kept 
driving  his  horses,  who,  unused  to  the  strange 
tone,  were  still  at  work  on  the  green  grass  which 
sprang  up  under  the  wooden  fence.  lie  had  evi 
dently  staid  in  his  seat  until  overcome  with  the 
fever,  and  then,  unknown  and  uncared  for,  had 
fallen  backward  into  the  wagon.  They  carried 
him  to  the  hospital.  Two  days  he  grew  thinner 
and  more  weak.  Sometimes  the  light  of  intelli 
gence  seemed  to  rekindle  ;  but  it  was  the  light 
ning  in  the  tempest,  a  moment  bright,  only  to 
leave  the  clouds  more  dark.  It  was  late  at  night 
when  I  last  saw  him.  A  storm  was  raging 
through  the  trees,  and  shaking  the  thin  canvas 
of  the  tent.  By  a  single  candle  two  men  were 
busy  over  some  vials  in  one  corner,  and  at  the  op 
posite  end  the  two  rows  of  silent  forms,  wrapped 
in  coarse  blankets,  with  faces  which  looked  sallow 
and  ghostly,  seemed  like  some  tomb.  They  sent 
for  me  because  they  thought  he  showed  signs  of 
reason,  and  his  mind  grew  more  steady  as  the 
bark  of  life  touched  on  the  shores  of  eternity.  It 
was  too  late.  As  he  had  lived,  so  he  must  die, 
by  himself,  without  a  man  who  knew  him.  At 
once  I  saw  it  was  too  late  ;  yet  I  leaned  breath 
lessly  forward  to  listen  to  his  answer,  as  one  man 
kneeled  by  the  bedside  of  the  dying  man. 

"  Have  you  friends  ?  "  Said  he,  "  My  money 
ia  not  paid  —  what  will  they  do  ?  "  "  Have  you 
a  wife  P  "  He  looked  up  a  moment,  and  then  be 
gan  to  talk  about  his  pay.  "  What  is  your 
name  ?  "  He  gave  no  answer.  Whether  he  had 


friends  or  a  family  we  could  not  tell.  His  very 
name  was  unknown,  and  he  was  dying(.  His 
long  limbs  trembled.  His  voice  grew  less  strong. 
A  group  of  pale  faces,  half  seen  in  the  flickering 
light  about.  There  was  a  prayer,  an  awful  si 
lence  The  old  man  grew  quiet,  and  only  one 
treml  ling  voice  wrestled  with  the  pattering  of  the 
rain  and  t  ie  moaning  of  the  trees  overhead.  He 
hardly  breathed.  It  was  almost  midnight.  The 
next  morning  I  heard  that  another  had  fallen  by 
the  way  in  the  onward  march  of  the  army.  He 
had  nothing  to  leave.  No  one  ever  heard  of 
his  home  or  friends.  In  the  broad  West  are 
doubtless  some  that  think  of  him.  How  slowly 
will  they  believe  that  he  is  lost  —  hoping  against 
hope,  in  silence  taking  comfort !  There  are 
strange  unwritten  histories  in  camp,  there  are 
patient,  unseen  offerings,  and  they  consecrate  the 
cause  by  their  silent  tenderness. 

We  happened  in  the  town  of  Rockville  on 
election  day.  Little  boys  strutted  about  with 
white  tickets  in  their  breasts,  full  of  secession. 
Here  and  there  a  blue  Union  vote  could  be  seen, 
as  it  was  slyly  slipped  from  pocket  to  pocket.  A 
little  electioneering  was  done  by  the  more  influ 
ential  ;  but  the  most  contented  themselves  with 
clinching  their  fists  behind  their  backs  and  talk 
ing  in  gusts,  which  died  away  and  rose  again, 
like  the  fitful  storm.  The  Court  House  is  of 
brick,  of  two  stories  height,  and  quite  imposing 
for  this  miserable  place.  It  is  situated  in  the 
centre  of  the  town,  on  a  green  lawn,  which  is 
enclosed  by  a  neat  iron  fence.  The  soldiers  were 
stationed  opposite,  and  the  sentries  kept  a  quiet 
lookout  across  the  street.  Three  men  stood  in 
the  window  to  receive  the  votes,  white  and  blue. 
From  every  street  they  came  pouring  in,  —  some 
on  "  hunters,"  some  on  "  cobs."  A  father  is  held 
on  by  his  boy,  who  sits  behind.  A  great  wagon, 
with  votes  and  whiskey,  stops  the  throng,  and 
sends  them  on  their  way  rejoicing.  An  old 
farmer  mounts  his  ample  plough-horse,  and  goes 
trotting  on,  his  brains  quite  lost  in  a  sombre 
black  hat  of  unknown  date,  and  a  coat  with 
bright  buttons,  that  might  have  served  his  ances 
tor  at  a  fourth  remove.  There  is  a  motley  throng 
of  long-haired,  sallow,  misanthropic  beings,  eager 
to  save  their  feelings  or  their  country,  as  the  case 
may  be.  Everything  moves  quietly,  despite  some 
long-limbed  boys  with  tanned  faces  and  black  eyes. 
Evidently  they  have  grown  too  fast.  Their  short 
pants,  and  sharp  voices,  and  restless  gestures, 
seem  to  demand  a  quarrel.  They  are  walking 
about,  as  if  to  say,  "  Who  dares  to  blow  this 
straw  of  a  vote  off  my  shoulder?"  but  in  the 
spirit  of  the  dignified  Government  whose  cause  is 
at  stake,  the  better  educated  representatives  of 
liberty  say,  "  It  is  but  hollow,  and  very  light.  We 
will  keep  you  quiet.  The  wind  will  take  care  of 
the  straw." 

•  Close  by  the  way  stands  the  jail.  The  little 
jailer,  grown  thin  and  old,  approaches  the  gate 
with  the  importance  of  St.  Peter,  moving  his 
keys  and  admiring  his  lock,  whose  only  value  is 
its  antiquity.  It  turns  ivith  a  gloomy  sound.  On 
the  right  hang  a  few  slave  fetters,  and  within. 


422 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


another  door  opens  into  a  yard.  It  is  not  thirty 
paces  long,  or  twenty  wide.  The  pile  of  wet 
wood  in  the  corner  mocks  comfort,  and  the  rain, 
grown  stained  and  dirty,  gathers  timidly  in  the 
corner,  trying  to  escape.  A  door  opens  from  the 
yard  into  a  passage  lighted  by  two  grated  win 
dows  on  the  right.  Our  eyes  grow  familiar  with 
darkness,  as  from  the  two  cells  opposite  —  long, 
and  wide,  and  quite  dark,  only  as  a  fire  kindling 
in  the  great  chimney  lights  it  —  come  a  dozen 
heavy  hearts.  They  are  all  manacled  —  some  by 
the  hands,  some  by  the  feet.  Some  are  even 
chained  to  the  floor.  The  iron,  as  they  move, 
sounds  gloomy  enough.  Their  faces  look  like 
despair.  They  are  slaves  who  liked  their  free 
dom.  "  Let  them  be  quiet  for  a  while  —  their 
time  is  coming !"  said  my  friend  to  the  juiler; 
and  I  heard  their  hands  clasped  in  joy  as  they 
bent  down  over  the  floor.  It  was  a  wild  scene. 
The  flames  danced  over  the  wooden  walls  and 
polished  floor,  making  the  whitewashed  chimney 
gleam  with  a  mockery  of  neatness.  A  few  rags 
were  on  the  floor,  and  moving  about  were  these 
dark  shadows,  clanking  their  chains,  and  moving 
their  great  eyes  in  wonder.  They  had  been  taken 
without  free  papers,  and  are  supposed  to  be  fugi 
tives.  None  care  to  claim  them,  or  perhaps  they 
do  not  know  where  they  are ;  and  so  they  stay 
and  drag  along  the  hours,  as  if  they  too  were 
chained,  and  sit  in  the  sullen  sun,  which  gleams 
as  if  it  had  lost  its  spirit  as  it  came  through  the 
bais.  How  fresh  and  free  seemed  everything  as 
we  came  out  again  into  the  street ! 

Like  all  the  other  roads,  the  way  from  Wash- 
higton  is  terribly  rough.  In  the  centre  is  the 
most  stony  road  imaginable.  On  either  side  is 
the  most  muddy,  and  full  of  holes,  ever  conceived 
of.  It  begins  to  rain,  and  to  get  inside  is  a  mat 
ter  of  necessity.  Every  stone  shakes  the  car 
riage.  It  is  impossible  to  sit  upright.  On  one 
side  and  the  other,  on  trunks  and  mail-bags  and 
wooden  partitions,  on  stools  and  saddles  and 
tables,  roll  our  poor  head  and  arms  and  body. 
There  is  no  relief.  Four  hours  in  the  rain  under 
torture.  How  faint  and  hungry  the  violent  exer 
cise  makes  one!  How  chilly,  too!  And  now 
the  horses  stop.  We  are  fording  a  stream.  The 
driver  shouts,  then  the  lash  descends.  It  is  use 
less.  The  driver  will  not  get  out  of  the  carriage, 
nor  will  they  get  out  of  the  brook.  Some  one 
conies  to  our  relief.  With  a  spring  they  clear 
the  brook,  and  begin  to  climb  the  hill.  Again 
they  stop.  Whip  and  reins  are  alike  useless. 
The  front  leader  turns,  and  the  tall  pole  horse,  a 
foot  higher  than  his  little  mate,  shakes  his  head. 
Urge  him,  and  he  stands  on  his  feet  and  looks 
over  the  hill  for  some  Hercules  to  assist.  It  is  a 

'  no  go."  The  driver,  in  despair,  gets  three  men  j  est  and  a  furious  storm.  I  had  quiet,  at  least, 
to  assist.  They  pull  the  wagon,  but  not  the  though  the  sound  still  rang  in  my  ears,  and  the 
horses.  "  Try  waiting."  And  three  clouds,  drop  j  feverish  flush  of  the  terrible  extrcise  remained  on 
by  drop,  roll  down  the  manes  of  the  horses,  j  the  cheeks. 

•'Fury!"  and  the  men,  out  of  patience,  jump  out  __  Have  we  not  been  long  enough  on  the  way? 
humming  the  ditty,  "If  I  had  a  donkey,"  &c. 


and  pound  together.  I  put  my  face  up  ,to  the 
little  hole  in  front,  and  shout  lustily  ;  I  who  had 
frightened  so  many  by  my  noise.  The  wagon 
runs  back  ;  out  plunges  the  passenger  into  the 
mud  and  rain,  through  the  side,  fearful  of  going 
over.  "  Once  more  it  has  started,"  says  the 
mocking  wagoner  ;  and  that  tall,  large-boned 
horse  ref.rs,  ind  then  shs  down  on  the  pole. 
There  is  a  srr  ash,  and  we  are  fixed.  All  are  in 
dtopiir.  Night  is  coming  on.  Six  hours  find  us 
eighteen  miles  from  Washington  !  Another  wagon 
is  sent  for.  We  must  wait. 

Fortunately  a  little  ruined  cottage  is  left  stand 
ing  beside  the  road.  Shivering  and  wet,  the  coarse 
shelter  seems  delightful.  I  always  sigh  as  1  enter 
a  deserted  building.  There  are  so  many  sad  and 
pleasant  things  which  m  .st  have  been  done  there, 
yet  no  one  cares  for  it.  Now  I  draw  back.  A 
few  rough  men  are  seated  on  a  wooden  bench 
playing  cards.  They  are  not  soldiers  ;  who  can 
they  be  ?  A  little  fire  flickers  in  an  enormous 
chimney,  which  seems  ready  to  fall.  Out  beyond 
are  rooms  stripped  of  their  roof  and  sides.  "  The 
wind  and  rain  drive  me  nearer.  A  few  guns  are 
hung  upon  the  wall,  and  a  great  bed  of  straw  ia 
pushed  into  one  corner.  There  are  boxes  to  sit 
upon,  and  by  the  fire  is  a  kettle  boiling,  the  only 
sign  of  comfort.  I  cannot  understand  what  the 
men  were  talking  about,  but  by  their  gestures 
they  seemed  very  angry.  At  any  rate,  through 
the  chimney  I  looked  up  and  saw  the  heavy  clouds 
with  despair.  I  pity  the  very  rat  who  looks  out 
through  the  broken  chimney  at  me.  How  lonely 
a  place  !  Pieces  of  board  were  nailed  over  the 
window,  and  the  light  came  in  through  the  door, 
which  certainly  would  not  swing  many  times 
more.  A  broken  door  step,  a  green  lawn  reach 
ing  away  to  a  large  stream,  a  ruined  house,  and 
an  intensely  disagreeable  road  are  all  I  see.  The 
dingy  rafters  at  least  keep  off  the  rain,  and  the 
floor  is  dry,  but  it  is  not  pleasant  to  spend  the 
night  in  such  company.  It  is  growin  dark. 

At  length  a  wagon  with  five 
me  —  an  army  wagon,  a  heavy, 
without  the  slightest  suspicion  of 
starts  furiously.  I  only  remember,  in  the  dark 
ness,  a  battery  of  artillery  go  by,  a  camp  fire,  and 
then  stopping  to  arrange  the  harness.  The  ter 
rible  noise  of  the  wagon  drowns  the  cracking  of 
whips,  and  the  shouts  of  the  drivers  who  rode  the 
mules.  I  thought  I  should  not  survive  the  ter 
rible  jar  ;  it  was  a  torment.  Had  I  not  a  coach 
and  five,  outriders,  a  carriage  for  thirty,  four  led 
horses  ?  What  was  left  to  desire  for  a  Bourbon  ? 

The  mules  stopped  at  length  ;  and,  tired  as  I 
was,  I  felt  happy  to  plod  through  the  deep  mud, 
and  wade  the  pools,  amid  the  darkness  of  the  for- 


mules  waits  for 
on, 
sprngs.     It 


tough 


The  sun  does  not  always  shine,  and  it  is  not  per- 

Now  the  rails  are  broken,  sticks  are  stripped  and  j  petual  summer  in  camp.  Doubtless,  when  we 
worn  out,  whips  are  like  oat  straws.  Go  ?  Of  |  look  back  on  the  campaign,  there  will  be  more 
course  not  Here  is  a  final  effort.  All  shout  j  lights  than  shadows;  aid  under  the  direction  of  a 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


423 


hand  more  skilful  than  cur  own,  a  beautiful  pat 
tern  will  be  wrought  of  the  many-colored  threads, 
which  we  may  look  upon  in  the  halls  of  our  mem 
ory,  as  one  looks  upon  the  tapestries  of  the  Vati 
can  —  once  a  mystery  and  rarity  to  the  artisan, 
but  a  simple  unity  to  the  mind  of  Raphael,  who 
walked  with  him  by  the  way. 


YANKEES  —  HYENAS.  —  "Justinian,"  a  corre 
spondent  of  the  Southern  Literary  Messenger, 
sends  the  following  to  that  periodical  : 

"  The  comparison  so  well  made  by  President 
Davis,  in  his  recent  speech,  of  Yankees  to  Hyenas, 
had  been  frequently  suggested  to  my  mind,  not  only 
from  the  fiendish  and  felonious  character  of  both 
animals,  but  from  having  referred  to  the  deriva 
tion  of  the  term  Yankee,  or  Yanhee,  as  given  in 
'  Anbury's  Travels  in  America,'  in  the  year  1791. 
That  author  asserts  that  Yankee,  or  Yanhe,  is  de 
rived  from  the  Cherokee  word  Eanke,  or  Eanhe, 
which  signifies,  in  that  language,  coward,  and  was 
applied  by  the  Virginians  to  the  people  of  the 
North  for  not  arming  and  joining  them  to  resist 
the  assaults  of  the  Cherokees  in  the  year  1780. 
If,  then,  the  true  orthography  of  the  word  Yankee 
be  Yanhe,  it  may  be  assimilated  to  the  word  Hy 
ena,  by  the  simple  rule  of  transposition,  as  fol 
lows:  In  the  term  Yanhe,  the  letters  are  the 
same  —  the  y  in  hyena  being  the  second,  the  a 
being  fifth,  the  n  being  the  fourth,  the  h  being  the 
first,  and  the  e  being  the  third.  I  therefore  think 
that  we  are  fully  authorized  in  denominating  the 
Yankees  as  Hyenas." 


FEMALE  BUSHWHACKERS.  —  The  women  of  the 
South  are  the  goads  that  prick  the  men  to  action. 
I  should  have  said  first  that  there  are  female  as 
well  as  male  bushwhackers.  When  a  woman 
takes  one  of  these  jreatures  to  her  home  or  heart, 
as  the  case  may  be,  she  becomes  a  partner  to  his 
guilt,  according  to  the  common  law.  She  thus 
recognizes  his  vocation,  and  applauds  him  in  his 
robberies.  She  is  the  receiver,  and  the  receiver 
is  as  bad  as  the  thief.  All  the  country  is  infested 
by  these  guerrillas  and  bushwhackers ;  they  have 
certain  haunts,  where  they  make  their  headquar 
ters  and  store  away  their  plunder.  These  haunts 
are  invariably  presided  over  by  that  creature  (God 
help  her,  after  all)  of  modern  growth,  and  the 
offspring  of  the  miseries  of  war  —  the  "war  wid 
ow."  They  are,  without  exception,  bitter  and  in 
veterate  secesh.  Usually,  indeed  in  all  cases, 
ignorant  and  wholly  uneducated,  they  are  en 
tirely  controlled  by  passion.  Being  in  destitute 
circumstances,  and  lonely,  they  gladly  become  the 
accomplices  of  the  herd  of  robbers  prowling  about. 
I  am  not  to  be  understood  as  saying  that  all  the 
women  of  the  South  who  unfortunately  have  lost 
their  husbands  in  this  war,  are  of  the  class  known 
as  "war  widows."  Far  be  it  from  me.  I  have 
found  many  such  women  as  intelligent,  refined, 
and  pure  as  any  I  have  ever  known.  But  every 
body  knows,  or  is  supposed  to  know,  what  the 
real "  war  widow  "  is,  and  it  is  of  her  I  write.  She 


makes  a  good  home  bushwhacker ;  aids  and  aliets 
freely  and  voluntarily  in  all  the  depredations  of 
her  warring  accomplice.  She  feeds  and  clothes 
him,  secretes  him  when  hunted  down,  encourages 
him  in  his  bad  work,  and  does  all  she  can  (and 
women  are  all-powerful  for  good  or  evi.)  to  make 
him  a  reck.yss  and  depraved  outlaw.  There  is  a 
certain  sort  of  superstitious  poetry  of  innocence 
attached  to  woman's  being,  which  has  been  handed 
down  to  us  from  the  time  Adam  beheld  the  beau 
tiful  image  of  Eve  in  the  clear,  crystal  water. 
While  I  would  regret  to  despoil  woman  of  any  of 
the  rcmance  of  her  nature,  I  must  say  that,  as  far 
as  regards  women  bushwhackers,  there  is  nothing 
in  their  natures  except  poetical  depravity  —  a 
license  in  licentious  liberty,  wh'.ch  mars  and  black 
ens  her  nature.  As  liars,  they  cannot  be  excelled 
in  the  universe.  Actually,  they  would  lie  any 
thing  or  anybody  out  of  existence.  And  they  do 
it  with  such  brazen  impudence  —  such  a  shame 
less  air  of  innocence.  Their  little  hearts  are  aw 
fully  corrupt.  While  out  with  scouting  parties,  1 
have  repeatedly  asked  for  various  kinds  of  infor 
mation  from  these  frail  creatures,  and,  looking 
into  my  face  as  innocent  as  an  unwooed  maiden, 
they  have  told  lie  upon  lie,  yes,  mountains  of 
them.  Their  moral  perception  of  right  and  wrong 
is  very  blunt,  while  their  perceptive  faculties  are 
quite  acute  in  judging  of  the  relative  value  of  a 
ring,  a  blanket,  a  watch,  or  other  article  brought 
them  by  their  bushwhacking  lords.  — "Dr.  Ado 
nis,"  in  the  Louisville  Journal. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  DUNKSBURG. —  The  follow 
ing  amusing  account  of  a  battle  that  occurred  in 
the  wilds  of  Missouri  has  not  yet  taken  its  ap 
propriate  place  in  the  history  of  the  rebellion : 

"  The  village  of  Dunksburg  is  situated  in  the 
north-east  corner  of  Pettis  County,  Missouri,  and 
very  near  the  stream  known  as  the  Black  Water. 
In  the  south-east  part  of  Lafayette  County,  and 
immediately  in  the  neighborhood  of  Dunksburg, 
there  is  a  large  German  settlement.  From  the 
very  commencement  of  the  present  troubles  in 
Missouri,  the  Germans  have  been  loyal  to  the 
Government,  and  as  they  were  the  first  against 
whom  the  vengeance  of  the  secessionists  was  di 
rected,  they  were  the  first  to  take  up  arms  in  the 
defence  of  their  adopted  country,  and  a  small 
company  of  some  forty  or  fifty  banded  them 
selves  together  for  the  purposes  of  self-defence, 
making  the  church  at  Dunksburg  their  temporary 
headquarters.  Late  one  afternoon  they  were  no 
tified  of  the  approach  of  a  considerable  body  of 
rebels  from  Pettis  and  Saline  Counties,  and  they 
prudently  determined  to  retreat  from  the  position 
they  held  in  the  church,  believing  that  they  would 
be  unable  to  defend  it  against  greatly  superior 
numbers. 

"  The  attacking  party,  not  aware  that  the  Ger 
mans  had  retreated,  advanced  cautiously,  under 
cover  of  night,  and  by  a  dexterous  movement 
succeeded  in  surrounding  the  church,  arid  at  a 
j  signal  agreed  on,  imm  »diately  commenced  a 
I  heavy  ire  upon  the  building,  which  being  only 


421 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


weather-boarded  with  thin  pine  or  poplar  plank, 
offered  scarcely  any  resistance  to  the  bullets 
which  were  rapidly  discharged  from  rifles  and 
shot  guns,  and  which,  passing  through  and 
through  the  house,  killed  and  wounded  many  of 
:he  assailants.  Unprepared  for  what  they  mis- 
fook  for  a  vigorous  defence  on  the  part  of  the 
Germans,  after  considerable  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded,  they  retreated  to  their  camp  a  short 
distance  off ;  but  dissatisfied  with  the  result,  and 
believing  it  entirely  in  their  power  to  capture  the 
small  force  which  had  peppered  them  so  severely, 
they  determined  to  return  to  the  charge,  and  to 
carry  the  church  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 

"  The  same  precaution  was  used  in  making 
their  advances  for  the  second  attack,  and  they 
completely  surrounded  the  building  before  the 
word  was  given  to  fire.  Greatly  to  their  aston 
ishment,  at  the  first  volley  many  of  their  men 
were  killed,  and  being  in  close  proximity  to  the 
building,  several  were  seriously  wounded  by 
splinters,  which  were  scattered  in  every  direction 
by  the  balls  passing  through  the  house.  The 
fire  was  so  destructive  that  no  time  was  lost  in 
forcing  the  doors  of  the  building,  with  the  pur 
pose  of  making  a  finish  of  all  the  Dutch  inside  ; 
but  greatly  to  their  disappointment  and  mortifi 
cation,  they  discovered  that  there  was  not  a  sin 
gle  Dutchman  anywhere  about  the  house,  and 
that  they  had  been  guilty  of  the  extreme  folly  of 
shooting  each  other.  Thus  ended  the  battle  of 
Dunksburg —  an  event  long  to  be  remembered 
by  the  peaceful  inhabitants  of  that  quiet  village, 
which  has  thus  become  famous  among  the  bloody 
localities  of  Missouri." 


THE    OLD    RIFLEMAN. 

BY   FKANK   TICKNOR,    M.  D. 

Now,  bring  me  out  my  buckskin  suit, 

My  pouch  and  powder  too  ; 
We'll  see  if  seventy-six  can  shoot 

As  sixteen  used  to  do. 

Old  Bess,  we've  kept  our  barrels  bright, 
Our  triggers  quick  and  true  — 

As  far,  if  not  as  fine  a  sight, 
As  long  ago  we  drew. 

And  pick  me  out  a  trusty  flint  — 

A  real  white  and  blue ; 
Perhaps  'twill  win  the  other  tint 

Before  the  hunt  is  through. 

Give  boys  your  brass  percussion  caps  ; 

Old  "  shut-pan  "  suits  as  well : 
There's  something  in  the  sparks,  —  perhap^ 

There's  something  in  the  smell. 

We've  seen  the  red-coat  Briton  bleed  ; 

The  red-skin  Indian  too  ; 
We  never  thought  to  draw  a  bead 

On  Yankee-doodle-doo. 

But,  Bessie,  bless  your  dear  old  heart, 

Those  days  are  mostly  done  ; 
And  now  we  must  revive  the  art 

Of  shooting  on  the  run. 


If  Doodle  must  be  meddling,  why, 

There's  only  this  to  do  — 
Select  the  black  spot  in  his  eye, 

And  let  the  daylight  through. 

And  if  he  doesn't  like  the  way 
That  Bess  presents  the  view, 
He'll,  may  be,  change  his  mind,  and  stay 
•Vhere  the  good  Doodles  do,  — 

Where  Lincoln  lives —  :':ie  man,  you  know, 

Who  kissed  the  Testaa.ent; 
To  keep  the  Constitution?     No, 

To  keep  the  Government  ! 

We'll  hunt  for  Lincoln,  Bess,  old  tool, 

And  take  him  half  and  half; 
We'll  aim  t '  hit  him,  if  a  fool, 

And  miss  him,  if  a  calf. 

We'll  teach  these  shot-gun  boys  the  tricks 

By  which  a  war  is  won ; 
Especially,  how  Seventy-six 

Took  Tories  on  the  run. 


THE  DRUMMER-BOY  OF  IFIE  EIGHTH  MICHI 
GAN. —  Charles  Howard  Gaidner  was  a  school 
boy  thirteen  and  a  half  years  old,  in  the  city  of 
Flint,  Michigan,  when  the  war  commenced.  His 
father  was  connected  with  a  military  organizati-  m 
of  long  standing,  and  under  the  first  call  for  PC*'- 
enty-five  thousand  troops,  immediately  left  ft  r 
the  defence  of  the  national  capital.  Soon  th<!)  * 
came  a  second  call  for  three  hundred  thousand 
more,  when  Charlie's  teacher,  S.  C.  Guild,  a  most 
exemplary  young  man,  soon  to  enter  the  ministry, 
joined  the  army.  Between  Charlie  and  him 
there  existed  a  very  ardent  attachment,  and  Cap 
tain  Guild  seconded  Charlie's  earnest  entreaties 
that  he  might  go  with  him  as  a  drummer.  He 
had  been  famous  from  his  babyhood  for  his  mu 
sical  ability,  and  had  acquired  a  good  deal  of 
merited  notoriety  for  his  skilful  handling  of  the 
drumsticks.  "  If  I  can  go  to  the  war  with  my 
drum,  and  thus  take  the  place  of  a  man  who  can 
handle  a  musket,"  was  Charlie's  persistent  plea, 
"  I  think  it  is  my  duty  to  go,  especially  as  you, 
mother,  do  not  greatly  need  me  at  home."  So, 
reluctantly,  the  poor  mother,  who  had  surrendered 
her  husband,  consented  that  her  boy  should  join 
the  Eighth  Michigan  infantry. 

The  regiment  was  ordered  to  Port  Royal,  and 
on  their  way  thither,  Charlie  mot  his  father  ia 
Washington.  As  they  were  returning  from  the 
navy  yard,  where  they  hud  been  for  their  arms, 
he  saw  his  father  a  little  way  off,  and  forgetting 
military  rule,  he  broke  from  the  ranks,  and  with 
child-like  joy  ran  to  his  father's  arms.  It  vvavS 
their  last  earthly  meeting,  as  the  November  fol 
lowing  Mr.  Gardner  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Al 
exandria.  Charlie's  letters  to  his  mother  after 
this  bereavement,  written  from  Port  Royal,  are 
exceedingly  touching,  and  remarkably  thoughtful 
for  a  boy  not  yet  fourteen.  "  I  am  near  broken 
hearted,"  he  writes  :  "  I  try  to  be  cheerful,  but  it 
is  of  no  use  ;  my  mind  ( ontinually  rans  in  the 
direction  of  Lome,  a  fresh  gush  of  tears  comes  to 


"  Old  Bess,  we've  kept  our  barrels  bright."— Page  424. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


425 


my  eyes,  and  I  have  to  weep.  But,  mother,  if 
this  is  so  hard  for  me,  what  must  it  be  for  you  P 
Don't  take  it  too  much  to  heart,  for  remember 
that  you  have  me  left,  and  I  will  do  my  best  to 
help  you.  I  shall  send  you  all  my  money  here 
after,  "for  I  do  not  really  need  money  here." 

This  promise  he  fulfilled  to  the  letter.  Al 
ways  cheerful,  he  was  a  great  favorite  with  the 
officers  and  men,  for  whom  he  never  did  a  favor 
but  they  would  compel  him  to  receive  some  small 
compensation  in  return.  These  small  gains  he 
carefully  husbanded,  and  increased  them  by  ped 
dling  papers  and  periodicals,  making  enough  for 
his  little  extra  expenses,  and  invariably,  on  ev 
ery  pay-day,  he  sent  his  money  to  his  widowed 
mother.  None  of  the  vices  of  the  camp  clung 
to  him,  and  amid  the  profane,  and  drunken, 
and  vulgar,  he  moved,  without  assoiling  the 
whiteness  of  his  young  soul.  His  teacher  and 
Captain  guarded  him  like  a  father ;  he  shared  his 
bed  and  board  with  Charlie,  and  the  two  loved 
one  another  with  an  affection  so  unusual  that  it 
was  everywhere  the  subject  of  comment. 

By  and  by  we  hear  of  the  fearless  little  fellow, 
small  beyond  his  years,  on  the  battle-field  with 
the  surge-on,  where  the  grape  and  canister  were 
falling  like  hail  around  them,  pressing  forward  to 
the  front,  during  an  engagement,  with  the  hospi 
tal  flag  in  his  hand,  to  aid  in  the  care  of  the 
wounded.  Only  a  peremptory  order  from  a  su 
perior  officer  was  able  to  turn  him  back  to  the 
reir;  and  there,  when  the  wounded  were  brought 
in,  he 'worked  all  night  and  the  next  day,  carry 
ing  water,  and  bandages,  and  lint,'and  lighting  up 
(lie  sorrowfulness  of  the  hour  by  his  boyish  but 
unfailing  kindness.  Never  was  he  more  service 
able  than  during  a  battle.  At  the  terrible  battle 
of  James'  Island,  in  an  assault  on  the  fort,  his 
btloved  Captain,  always  foremost  in  the  fight, 
had  climbed  to  the  parapet  of  the  fort,  when  a 
shot  struck  him,  and  he  fell  backward,  and  was 
seen  no  more.  Now  was  Charlie  indeed  bereaved 
--  his  teacher,  captain,  friend,  father,  lover,  dead 
01.  the  battle-field,  and  even  the  poor  satisfaction 
denied  his  friends  of  burying  his  remains.  His 
letters,  after  this  event,  are  one  long  wail  of  sor 
row  —  he  could  not  be  comforted ;  and  yet,  al 
ways  thoughtful  for  others,  he  writes:  "  \)t  how 
I  pity  lii.s  poor  mother  !  " 

Months  passed,  and  the  Eighth  Michigan  was 
ordered  to  Vicksburg,  to  reenforce  Grant,  who 
had  beleaguered  that  doomed  city.  Battle  after 
baf.ile  ensued  —  nineteen  of  them  —  in  all  of 
which  Charlie  more  or  less  participated,  often  es 
caping  death  as  by  a  miracle.  Something  of  the 
fierce  life  led  by  this  regiment  may  be  inferred 
from  the  fact  that  one  thousand  six  hundred  and 
fifty-three  men  have  enlisted  in  it  since  it  first 
took  the  field ;  of  these,  only  four  hundred  sur 
vive  to-day,  all  but  eight  of  whom  have  just  re- 
enlisted.  Through  all  battles,  all  marches,  all 
recormoissances,  all  campaigns,  Charlie  kept  with 
the  regiment,  crossing  the  mountains  with  them 
to  Knoxville,  in  Burnside's  corps,  on  rations  of 
three  ears  of  corn  per  day,  and  then  for  weeks 
shut  up  iu  that  city,  besieged  by  Longstreet's 


force,  and  subsisting  on  quarter  rations.  Yet  not 
one  word  of  complaint  ever  came  from  the  pa 
triot  boy,  not  one  word  of  regret,  only  an  earnest 
desire  to  rempiu  in  tli3  service  till  the  end  of  the 
war. 

At  last  there  came  a  letter  from  the  surgeon. 
During  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  Charlie  had  been 
wounded  for  the  first  time.  A  chance  shot,  that 
passed  through  the  window  of  the  house  in  which 
he  was,  struck  him  on  the  shoulder,  and  entered 
the  lung.  "  He  has  been  in  a  very  dangerous 
condition,"  wrote  the  surgeon,  "  but  he  is  now 
fast  recovering.  He  is  a  universal  pet,  and  is 
well  cared  for  in  the  officers'  quarters."  The  next 
tidings  were  more  joyful.  The  regiment  were  on 
their  way  to  Detroit,  on  a  thirty  days'  furlough, 
and  would  remain  to  recruit.  Now  the  telegraph 
notified  those  interested  that  they  were  in  Louis 
ville —  then  in  Indianapolis  —  in  Michigan  City 
—  at  last  in  Detroit. 

With  a  happy  heart  the  good  mother  tele 
graphed  to  have  her  boy  sent  to  Chicago  as 
soon  as  possible ;  and  then  she  watched  the  arri 
val  of  the  trains.  "  He  will  be  here  to-night  — 
he  will  be  here  to-morrow,"  she  said;  and  ev 
ery  summons  to  the  door  she  was  sure  was  her 
Charlie.  Everything  was  in  readiness  for  xhe 
darling  —  his  room  —  his  clothes  —  the  supper- 
table  set  with  the  luxuries  he  loved  —  and  there 
sat  mother,  sister,  and  brother,  waiting  for  him. 
A  knock  at  the  door  —  all  start  —  all  rush  — 'tis 
Charlie  !  No,  only  a  telegram.  God  help  the  poor 
broken  hearts,  as  they  read  it  —  "  The  regiment 
has  arrived,  but  Charlie  is  dead ! "  And  this 
was  all.  

A  SHELL  ON  BOARD  SHIP.  —  A  shell  from  a 
rifled  cannon  must  be  a  very  nice  visitor  to  "  drop 
in  "  to  a  small  party,  if  we  may  judge  from  the 
exploits  of  one  which  struck  the  United  States 
steamer  Massachusetts,  oft'  Ship  Island,  and  which 
a  writer  who  was  on  board  describes  as  follows  : 

"During  the  action  I  think  we  hit  her,  the 
Florida,  four  times,  and  I  know  she  hit  us  once 
with  a  sixty-eight  pound  rifle  shell  (that  is  the 
way  we  got  the  exact  size  of  her  rifled  gun).  The 
shell  entered  on  our  starboard  quarter,  just  above 
the  iron  part  of  the  hull ;  it  came  through  the 
side  angling  aft  (as  we  were  a  little  abaft  her  beam 
when  it  struck  us),  and  took  the  deck  in  the  pas 
sage  way  between  two  state-rooms,  and  com 
pletely  cut  off  eighteen  of  the  deck  planks,  and 
then  struck ^a  beam,  which  canted  it  up  a  little,  so 
that  it  took  the  steam-heating  pipes  under  our 
dining-table,  cutting  off  five  of  them,  and  tearing 
our  dining-table  all  to  pieces  —  then  went  through 
the  state-room,  bulkhead,  and  ceiling  of  the  ship 
on  the  opposite  side,  and  struck  one  of  the  cutside 
timbers,  and  broke  every  plank  abreast  of  it  short 
oft',  from  the  spar  to  the  gun  deck :  it  then  fell 
down  on  to  the  cabin  deck  and  exploded,  knock 
ing  four  state-rooms  into  one,  breaking  all  the 
glass  and  crockery  ware,  shattering  the  cabin  very 
badly,  breaking  up  the  furniture,  and  setting  fire 
to  the  ship ;  bu*  we  had  three  streams  of  water 
upon  the  fire  at  very  short  :  otice,  and  put  it  out 


426 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


before  it  did  any  damage  —  keeping  up  our  chase 
as  though  nothing  had  happened." 

A  letter  from  the  Surgeon  of  the  Massachu 
setts,  Dr.  John  H.  Mackie,  gives  information  that 
he  was  the  only  person  wounded  by  this  destruc 
tive  visitor.  He  was  struck  by  a  splinter  on  the 
sm'n-  _____ 

A  COLORED  HERO.  —  During  the  thickest  of 
the  fight  at  Belmont,  the  body  servant  of  General 
McCleruand,  a  mulatto  named  William  Stains, 
exhibited  conspicuous  courage.  He  was  close  by 
the  General  during  the  whole  engagement,  cheer 
ing  the  soldiers,  and  swearing  that  he  would  shoot 
the  first  man  that  showed  the  white  feather. 
Many  of  the  soldiers  laughed  heartily  at  the 
fighting  negro,  while  the  bullets  flew  about  like 
hail. 

In  the  course  of  the  fight  a  captain  of  one  of 
the  companies  was  struck  by  a  spent  ball,  which 
disabled  him  from  walking.  The  mulatto  boy, 
who  was  mounted,  rode  up  to  him,  and  shouted 
out,  "  Captain,  if  you  can  fight  any  longer  for  the 
old  Stars  and  Stripes,  take  my  horse  and  lead 
your  men."  He  then  dismounted  and  helped  the 
wounded  officer  into  his  saddle,  and  as  he  was 
walking  away,  a  rebel  dragoon  rushed  forward  at 
the  officer  to  take  him  prisoner.  The  negro  drew 
his  revolver,  and  put  a  ball  through  the  rebel's 
head,  scattering  his  brains  over  the  horse's  neck. 


PASSING  THE  BATTERIES.  —  The  world  knows 
how  Vicksburg  was  taken.  After  four  months  of 
ineffectual  but  constant  labor  to  flank  it  on  the 
north,  and  to  cut  a  canal  across  the  bend  so  as  to 
divert  the  river  from  its  course,  Grant  suddenly 
projected  a  new  and  brilliant  line  of  strategy, 
which  was  crowned  with  success. 

That  was  to  march  his  army  down  past  the 
stronghold,  on  the  Louisiana  shore,  run  six  or 
eight  boats  by  the  batteries  and  take  them  down 
twenty-five  miles  to  Bruinsburg,  just  below  Jeff 
Davis'  Plantation,  and  act  as  ferry-boats  in  taking 
the  army  across.  Then  his  problem  was  to 
march  north,  cut  the  roads  between  Vicksburg 
and  Jackson,  and  establish  a  base  of  supplies  on 
the  Yazoo  River,  and  forcing  the '  army  of  Pern- 
berton  back  into  the  "  Gibraltar  of  the  South," 
surround  it,  and  either  storm  or  starve  it  into  sur 
render.  This  was  the  plan  that  succeeded. 

But  the  most  hazardous  part  of  this  enterprise 
was  to  run  the  batteries.  Volunteers,  however,  for 
this  dangerous  service,  were  numerous,  and  among 
others  three  army  correspondents  of  leading  New 
York  papers  were  on  board  —  Mr.  Richardson  of 
the  Tribune,  Mr.  Browne  of  the  Herald,  and  Mr. 
Colburn  of  the  World. 

These  knights-errant  of  the  quill  have  each 
given  to  the  world  their  story.  But  the  narrative 
of  Mr.  Colburn,  especially  what  relates  to  the 
passing  of  the  batteries,  is  not  surpassed  by  either 
of  the  others  in  thrilling  interest. 

"  It  was  ten  o'clock  on  a  beautiful  moonlight 
night,"  says  Mr.  C.,  '•  even  for  those  latitudes, 
when  we  cast  loose  at  Milliken's  Bend,  and  our 


little  tug  snorted  down  the  river  accompanied  by 
the  transport  A.  D.  Hine. 

"  Our  adieus  said,  we  quietly  chatted,  and  fin 
ished  a  solitary  bo'tJe  of  dry  Catawba  which  s.)me 
good  friends  had  sent  on  board  for  our  comfort. 
We  had  on  board,  as  a  guard,  fifteen  sharp 
shooters  from  the  Forty-seventh  Ohio,  under 
Captain  Ward,  Surgeon  Davidson,  the  tug's  crew 
of  eight,  fc  ar  persons  on  their  way  to  join  their 
regiments,  and  our  party  of  three,  all  volunteers. 

"  I  should  here  mention,  as  illustrating  the  tem 
per  of  that  army,  that  when  fourteen  volunteers 
were  called  for,  the  whole  regiment  stepped  for 
ward.  Company  A  was  selected,  and  still  there 
was  a  squabble  to  go.  Fourteen  were  then  marked 
off;  a  fifteenth  begged  permission  of  the  Colonel, 
and  one  actually  paid  a  premium  of  five  dollars  to 
his  comrade  for  the  privilege  of  going  on  this  haz 
ardous  service.  The  barges  were  covered  with 
tiers  of  hay  in  order  to  protect  the  tug,  but  the 
hay  was  deemed  almost  unnecessary,  and  so  put 
on  quite  loosely,  and  the  ends  of  the  boat  were 
quite  exposed. 

"  At  midnight  we  came  in  sight  of  Vicksburg. 
At  half  past  twelve,  as  we  were  steaming  across 
the  upper  side  of  the  point,  the  rebel  pickets  on 
the  Louisiana  shore  began  to  fire  upon  us  ;  their 
shots,  however,  did  no  damage. 

"At  quarter  before  one  a  rocket  shot  up  frcm 
the  upper  batteries.  There  was  no  need  of  suoh 
a  warning,  for  the  boats  might  be  seen  almost  ue 
clearly  as  by  sunlight,  and  the  loud  puff  of  our 
exhaust  pipe  gave  ample  warning  when  we  were 
three  miles  distant. 

"At  five  minutes  past  one  the  first  shot  was  fired, 
and  struck  so  near  as  to  leave  us  in  doubt  whether 
the  barges  were  hit.  A  lull  of  a  few  minutes, 
then  another,  closely  followed  by  a  round.  It 
kept  up  in  this  way  as  we  were  rounding  the 
bend,  the  shots  all  seeming  to  come  very  near  to 
us,  but  few  striking,  as  we  could  perceive  by  the 
momentary  throb  of  the  hull  when  struck. 

"  With  the  exception  of  Captain  Ward,  the 
pilots,  engineers,  and  firemen,  the  rest  of  us  were 
posted  along  the  barges,  on  the  alert  for  an  at 
tempt  at  boarding. 

"  By  reference  to  a  map  of  the  locality,  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  river  forms  a  kind  of  loop  in  front 
of  Vicksburg ;  so  that  we  had  to  run  a  portion 
of  the  distance  by,  and  then  turn  under  fire,  and 
run  the  whole  line  back  again.  In  this  way  we 
were  exposed  to  a  fire  from  the  starboard  side, 
then  from  the  bow,  and.  when  fairly  in  front  of 
the  batteries,  from  all  three  directions  to  a  con 
centrated  fire. 

"  At  first  there  were  efforts  to  peer  from  behind 
the  rampart  of  hay  bales  and  duck  on  perceiving 
the  flash  of  the  rebel  guns  ;  but  soon  the  shots 
were  so  rapid,  and  from  points  so  widely  apart, 
that  that  exciting  amusement  was  dropped.  The 
screaming  of  the  shells  as  they  went  over  us,  the 
splashing  and  spray,  were  for  a  time  subjects  of 
jesting  and  imitation,  when  a  shell  burst  three 
feet  ovei  our  heads  with  a  stunning  report. 

"Twenty  minutes  (long  minutes  those)  undei 
!  fire,  and  .10 body  hurt ! 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


427 


"  The  barges  still  floating,  and  the  little  propeller 
making  eight  miles  an  hour.  We  had  already 
passed  the  upper  batteries,  and  were  congratu 
lating  ourselves  on  our  good  luck,  the  guns  pour 
ing  broadsides  at  us  with  amazing  noise,  as  we 
were  but  four  hundred  yards  from  the  guns,  and 
it  seemed  in  the  clear  air  as  if  we  were  right  in 
front  of  the  muzzles.  Several  shots  struck  the 
barges  very  heavily  ;  still  there  was  no  stoppage. 
It  must  have  been  about  a  quarter  before  two, 
when  all  the  roar  of  the  guns  was  drowned  in 
one  terrific  report,  as  if  a  magazine  had  burst 
under  us. 

"  My  first  thought  was  that  the  powder  had  been 
stowed  on  the  barges,  and  had  ignited  ;  but,  on 
clambering  up  among  smoke  and  flames,  I  could 
see  indeed  nothing  like  a  tug.  She  had  exploded, 
and  the  white  hot  cinders  were  thrown  up  in  a  | 
spouting  shower,  while  steam  and  smoke  envel 
oped  the  barges  like  a  pall. 

"  Almost  at  the  same  minute  the  batteries  com 
menced  a  vengeful,  and,  as  it  seemed  to  me,  a 
savage  fire  upon  us,  faster  and  faster.  The  shells 
burst  all  round  and  above  us  for  a  few  moments 
with  a  stunning  and  blinding  effect.  The  coals 
had  set  fire  to  the  hay  bales  in  several  places ;  the 
bursting  shells  had  aided  in  the  work.  In  vain 
did  we  trample  upon  them,  and  throw  them  over 
board,  burning  our  hands,  feet,  and  clothing  in 
the  effort.  No  buckets  were  to  be  found.  They 
had  been  blown  away.  On  looking  down  between 
the  barges,  there  hung  the  fragments  of  the  tug 
by  the  tow  ropes.  The  little  craft,  being  nearly 
all  boiler,  had  been  shattered  to  atoms,  as  we 
learned  afterwards,  by  a  ten-inch  shell. 

"  The  rebels  then  set  up  a  hideous  yell  from  the 
bluffs,  as  if  in  mockery  at  our  crippled  condition. 
The  batteries  kept  on  firing,  the  blazing  hay  light 
ing  up  the  river.  We  were  then  slowly  drifting 
with  the  current  past  the  front  of  the  city.  Our 
disaster  happened  right  abreast  of  the  court 
house,  when  we  had  passed  more  than  half  the 
batteries,  and  under  the  fire  of  them  all. 

"  As  soon  as  we  could  clearly  see  through  the 
blinding  smoke,  we  found  Mr.  Browne  standing 
bareheaded  on  the  topmost  bale,  as  if  he  were  a 
defiant  target  for  the  rebel  gunners.  Captain 
Ward  had  been  blown  forward  thirty  feet  from 
the  tug  into  the  river,  and  two  of  his  men  were 
engaged  in  fishing  him  up.  The  wounded  and 
scalded  men  were  crying  for  help,  answered  only 
by  an  occasional  shell  or  malicious  cheer. 

"  After  a  few  moments  of  hasty  and  rather  in 
formal  consultation,  it  was  deemed  best  to  quit 
the  barges,  as  the  flames  were  crowding  us  very 
closely.  Bales  of  hay  were  then  tumbled  off  into 
the  river,  and  the  wounded  placed  upon  them. 

"  The  heat  now  became  intense.  Mr.  Browne  and 
myself  remained  till  all  were  off,  and  then,  with 
but  one  bale  for  the  two,  stripped  for  the  plunge. 
Just  as  we  were  ready,  a  solid  shot  whistled  be 
tween  us,  and  ploughed  into  the  water  under  Mr. 
Hkhardson's  feet,  overturning  him  from  his  bale, 
and  producing  a  fountain  of  spray  where  he  had 
sunk. 

"  Our  eyes  were  gladdened  at  his  return  to  the 
surface  unhurt. 


"We  leaped  into  the  muddy  flood  anl  buf 
feted  the  waves  for  some  minutes  —  with  a  sen«e 
of  relief  from  the  insupportable  heat.  Junius 
followed,  and  together  we  commenced  swimming 
for  the  Louisiana  shore,  supposing  that  our  pick 
ets  occupied  it. 

"  We  had  been  in  the  water  for  half  an  hcur 
perhaps,  \vhsn  the  soind  of  the  stroke  of  oara 
reached  us,  and  presently  a  yawl  pulled  round 
the  barge?.  Our  first  emotions  were  pleasant 
enough,  b :_t  they  were  all  destroyed  when  we  saw 
the  gray  clothing  of  the  boatmen.  They  scooped 
us  in  by  the  tir.ie  we  hj/1  drifted  two  miles  below 
the  city,  and  wiin  some  roughness  impressed  upon 
us  the  fact  that  we  were  prisoners.  Dripping 
and  shivering,  we  were  :n  irched  up  to  the  city 
and  taken  before  the  Provost  Marshal  and  regis 
tered." 

WILLIE  JOHNSON,  thirteen  years  old,  of  St. 
Johnsbury,  a  drummer  boy  in  company  D,  Third 
Vermont  regiment,  received  a  medal  for  his  he 
roic  conduct  in  the  seven  days'  fight  before  Rich 
mond.  On  the  retreat,  when  strong  men  threw 
away  their  guns,  knapsacks,  and  blankets,  tint 
they  might  have  less  weight  to  carry,  this  little 
fellow  kept  his  drum,  and  brought  it  safely  to 
Harrison's  Landing,  where  he  had  the  honor  of 
drumming  for  division  parade,  being  the  only 
drummer  who  brought  his  drum  from  the  fkld. 
When  these  facts  were  reported  to  the  War  De 
partment  by  the  division  commander,  Willie  was 
presented  with  the  star  medal  of  honor  by  Secre 
tary  Stan  ton  in  person. 


STORY  OF  THE  DRAFT.  —  The  enrolling  officer 

of district,  was  very  active  and  thorough 

in  the  performance  of  his  duties.  One  day  he 
went  to  the  house  of  a  countryman,  and  finding 
none  of  tl.e  nale  members  at  home,  he  made  in 
quiry  of  an  old  woman  about  the  name  and  age 
of  the  "  males  "  of  the  family.  After  naming 
several,  the  old  lady  stopped.  "Is  there  any 
more  P "  asked  the  officer.  "  No,"  replied  the 
woman, "  none  except  Billy  Bray."  "  Billy  Bray  ? 
Where  is  he  ?  "  *'  He  was  at  the  barn  a  moment 
ago,"  said  the  old  lady.  Out  went  the  officer,  but 
he  could  not  find  the  man.  Coming  back,  the 
worthy  officer  questioned  the  old  lady  as  to  the 
age  of  Billy,  and  went  away,  after  enrolling  his 
name  among  those  to  be  drafted.  The  time  of 
drafting  came,  and  among  those  on  whom  the 
draft  fell  was  Billy  Bray.  No  one  knew  him. 
Where  did  he  live  ?  The  officer  who  enrolled 
him  was  called  upon  to  produce  the  conscript : 
and  lo  and  behold,  Billy  Bray  was  a  jackass  ! 
and  stands  now  on  the  list  of  drafted  men  as 
forming  one  of  the  quota  of  Maryland. 


A  BEAUTIFUL  INCIDENT. — A  Washington 
correspondent  mentions  tl.e  following  incident  as 
showing  the  kindness  if  heart  of  President  Lin 
coln: 


428 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


At  the  reception  this  afternoon,  at  the  Presi-  I  A  LOUD  OUTCRY.  —  General  Sherman,  before 
(]<  nt's  house,  many  persons  present  noticed  three  starting  on  that  great  campaign,  passed  some  part 
little  girls,  poorly  dressed,  the  children  of  some  |  of  the  winter  of  1863-4  in  Huntsville,  Alabama, 
mechanic  or  laboring  man,  who  had  followed  the  j  As  this  commu  aty  had  been  from  the  firm  in- 
visitors  into  the  house  to  gratify  their  curiosity,  tensely  and  bitterly  disloyal,  he  did  not  regard 


They  passed  round  from  room  to  room,  and  were 


them  >s  entitled 


to  any  special  leniency  or  pro- 


hastening  through  the  reception  room  with  some  j  tectio.i.  Houses  vacated  by  fugitive  rebels  were 
trepidation,  when  the  President  called  to  them,  j  generally  taken  for  quaiters  by  his  officers,  and 
"  Little  girls !  are  you  going  to  pass  me  without  j  the  expression  of  open  and  defiant  disloyalty  was 
shaking  hands?"  Then  he  bent  his  tall,  awk-  i  checked  by  the  bayonet.  This  natural  "result  of 
ward  form  down,  and  shook  each  little  girl  warmly  the  success  of  the* Union  arms  is  commented  on 
by  the  hand.  Everybody  in  the  apartment  was  and  described  'n  the  following  terms  by  a  Hunts- 
spell-bound  by  the  incident,  so  simple  in  itself,  ville  correspondent  of  a  Southern  paper,  signing 
yet  revealing  so  much  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  character,  himsplf  "E\'il«  •  " 
His  heart  overflows  with  kindness,  he  possesses 
deep  anti-slavery  convictions,  and  he  never  takes 
a  backward  step,  even  if  he  does  sometimes  hesi 
tate  long  before  taking  one  in  advance. 


"  THAT  DEAR  OLD  FLAG."  —  Perhaps  no  man, 
since  the  days  of  Falstaff  and  the  Merry  Wives 
of  Windsor  was  ever  more  tormented  by  women 
than  was  General  Butler,  after  the  issue  of  his 
famous  "  Order,  No.  28,"  directed  to  the  women 
of  New  Orleans.  The  secesh  crinoline  from  that 
time  forward  delighted  to  tease,  vex,  and  iritate 
him.  Numberless  were  the  pretexts  they  would 
get  up  to  go  and  call  on  him,  and  extract  impa 
tient  or  angry  retorts  from  him,  which  they  wouM 
retail  to  their  friends  afterwards,  with  the  great- 
tst  gusto.  "To  take  the  oath,"  was  with  them 
the  height  of  infamy;  nevertheless,  there  were 
found  men,  who  not  willingly  only,  but  gladly  re 
newed  their  fealty  to  the  United  States  Govern 
ment.  Of  these,  one  man,  who  had  always  been 
known  as  a  Union  man,  but  whose  wife  was  in 
tensely  Southern  in  her  views  and  feelings, 
promptly  came  forward  and  "  took  the  oath."  It 
was  not  long  before  she  became  acquainted  with 
the  hideous  fact,  and  she  determined  upon  some 
sort  of  revenge.  A  magnificent  looking  woman 
she  was,  and  of  elegant  and  commanding  man 
ner.  Attiring  herself  in  the  most  elaborate  and 
becoming  style  and  costume,  she  waited  upon  the 
General,  gave  her  husband's  name,  and  was  re 
ceived  with  eminent  distinction  and  courtesy. 
After  exchanging  a  few  elegant  and  gracious 
compliments  with  the  General  and  his  staff,  and 
attracting  the  attention  of  every  one  in  the 
room,  she  proceeded  to  unfold  the  object  of 
her  visit. 

"  General,"  said  she,  "  some  of  my  friends  have 
taken  the  oath ;  my  husband  has  taken  the  oath ; " 
and  clasping  her  hands  upon  her  breast,  and  roll 
ing  her  eyes  heavenward,  she  exclaimed  in  tones 
that  Mrs.  Siddons,  even,  might  have  envied,  "  I 
have  come  down  to  swear  allegiance  to  that  dear 
Hag."  The  denouement  was  as  irresistible  as 
it  was  unexpected.  Bursts  of  laughter  rung 
through  the  presence-chamber,  and  Butler,  seeing 


himself  "  Exile 

"  It  is  but  a  short  time  since  I  left  HuntsvLle, 
Alabama.  The  iron  hand  of  despotism  is  upon 
the  people;  not  perhaps  as  roughly,  nor  as  gross 
ly,  as  two  years  ago,  when  the  impotent  Mitchel 
commanded  there  ;  nevertheless,  the  hand  is  iron, 
and  thumb-screws  are  in  it,  which  daily  are  tight 
ened,  slowly,  but  surely,  a  little  more  and  a  little 
more.  The  people,  as  a  body,  are  true  to  our 
cause,  arid  the  principles  involved  in  it ;  yet  there 
are  a  few,  four  or  five  at  the  most,  who  are  not 
only  untrue,  but  vilely  and  fetidly  dishonorable 
in  their  conduct  towards  men  who  are  honorable, 
and  whose  degradation  to  their  unholy  level  is  a 
prime  object  in  their  movement.  It  would  do  no 
good  to  name  them ;  the  absentees,  refugees,  and 
exiles  from  Huntsville  know  them ;  but  per 
sonal  wrongs  inflicted  by  these  men  tempt  strong 
ly  to  name,  and  hold  the  wretches  up  to  a  just 
and  blasting  reprobation.  A  few  days  ago,  a 
body  of  gentlemen,  unexceptionable  in  character, 
and  conservative  by  age,  were  exiled  upon  a  four 
teen  hours'  order  to  leave,  because  they  refused 
to  take  an  oath  of  allegiance  to  a  Government 
they  abhor  in  their  inner  souls.  The  promptness 
and  alacrity  with  which  they  obeyed  the  order 
appeared  to  chagrin  the  domestic  traitors,  and 
rather  exasperate  the  enemy  in  possession  of  the 
place.  This  is  evidenced  by  a  change  of  policy 
after  the  departure  of  the  gentlemen  alluded  to, 
because  the  grace  with  which  they  left,  indicated 
that  it  was  no  trial  at  all  to  their  faith  or  spirit 
of  martyrdom,  if  you  choose  so  to  call  it.  They 
—  the  officers  in  charge  —  have  determined  not 
to  make  any  more  exiles,  by  sending  the  recu 
sants  of  the  oath  South ;  they  will,  henceforth,  be 
ordered  North,  and  buried  in  Northern  bastiles. 
Already  they  have  immured  one  heroic  old  soul, 
William  McDowell,  in  the  penitentiary  in  Nash 
ville.  They  intend  to  murder  him,  and  in  this 
way  —  but,  thank  Heaven,  they  have  elected  one, 
who,  God  willing,  will  be  up  *to  the  emergency. 
If  his  country  calls  on  him  for  the  sacrifice,  I 
know  wo  man  (and  I  know  him  well)  who  will 
more  cheerfully,  more  heroically,  make  it.  As 
another  indication  of  Yankee  barbarism,  brutali 


ty,  cruel  and  relentless,  I  will  mention  an  inci 
dent,  all  the  more  cruel  because  it  involved  not 

& t^_^ , ,  __„  ,  wounds  of  the  body,  not  torture  of  the  nerve  and 

that  he  was  sold,  retorted  angrily,  "  We  don't  I  flesh,  but  terrific  convulsions  of  the  noul  itself, 
want  your  oath,  madam;  go  home  and  take  care  j  and  the  more  painful  because  that  soul,  or  rather 
of  your  house  and  your  family ;  that's  the  proper  j  those  souls,  are  up  to  the  highest  standard  of 
place  for  women."  I  moral  perfection,  ar.d  susceptible  of  keenest  tor- 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


429 


ture.  The  venerable  Ex-Governor  Chapman  re 
ceived  an  order,  on  the  19th  of  January,  to  leave 
his  house  and  family  at  nine  o'clock  A.  M.  on  the 
20th ;  and  when  in  the  arms  of  his  family,  bid 
ding  adieu  to  the  loved  ones,  on  whom  the  winds 
of  heaven  had  never  blown  roughly,  —  at  that 
painful  moment,  as  if  to  sound  the  depths  of 
their  own  depravity,  and  the  unknown  depths  of 
sensitive  souls,  a  Yankee  order  was  l!:rust  into 
his  hands,  requiring  wife  and  daughters  to  vacate 
their  premises  by  two  o'clock  P.  M.  the  same 
day,  not  allowing  any  article  to  be  remove;! ;  and 
a  guard  was  placed  to  carry  out  the  order.  The 
circumstances,  with  the  fortitude  manifested,  pre 
sented  to  me  a  spectacle  cf  moral  grandeur  oc 
casionally  read  of — rarely  witnessed.  Whilst 
speaking  of  the  heroism  of  the  old  Governor,  I 
will  mention  an  incident  that  occurred  in  an  in 
terview  between  him  and  the  Yankee  Colonel 
commanding  the  post.  The  Governor,  knowing 
he  would  be  compelled  to  leave  in  a  day  or  so, 
to  secure  some  of  the  commonest  claims  of  hu 
manity  towards  his  family  during  his  absence,  ap 
proached  the  Colonel,  who  replied:  'Governor 
Chapman  —  1  believe  that  is  your  name.'  'Yes, 
sir.'  '  Did  you  not,  in  a  public  speech,  in  Hunts- 
ville,  say,  that  to  secure  secession,  you  would 
sacrifice 'your  property  and  your  life?'  After  a 
moment's  hesitation,  the  venerable  man  replied, 
with  emphasis,  *  No,  sir.  To  the  best  of  my  rec 
ollection,  Colonel,  I  have  made  no  public  speech 
since  the  revolution  commenced.  I  was  in  Europe 
at  the  time.  You  know  my  principles,  Colonel, 
from  the  conversations  I  have  had  with  you ;  and 
though  I  do  not  recollect  any  such  "  speech,"  or 
expression,  my  principles,  as  you  very  well  know, 
lead  in  that  direction.  And,  lest  you  might 
suppose  I  would  desire  to  evade  consequences 
and  responsibilities  attachable  to  such  princi 
ples/  rising  to  the  full  height  of  person  and  dig 
nity,  '  I  will  say  it  now,  and  more  —  not  only  will 
I  sacrifice  myself  and  property,  but,  sir,  wife  and 
children,  to  the  preservation  of  our  holy  cause.' 
The  statement  of  these  honorable  incidents  runs 
out  this  to  great  length ;  but  I  will  state  a  fact  or 
two  :  '  Greenbacks '  are  two  and  a  half  for  one  in 
gold  in  Huntsville  and  Nashville;  and  though 
the  money  quotations  in  Northern  papers  place 
them  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine  to  one  hundred 
and  sixty,  the  truth  is,  two  months  ago,  in  New 
York,  in  Wall  Street,  no  '  operation '  could  be  per 
formed  at  less  rate  than  two  for  one.  The  Yankee 
troops  in  Huntsville,  whose  term  of  service  has 
expired,  are  converting  their  '  greenbacks '  into 
Confederate  currency  to  take  home.  I  state  this 
for  an  incontrovertible  jfactf.  Not  in  one  instance 
only,  but  I  witnessed  several  of  the  same.  The 
streets  are  becoming  foul ;  the  groves  and  wood 
land  around  the  town  being  swept  away,  all  the 
lesser  houses  about  the  town  are  being  torn  down 
to  floor  and  weather-board  winter  quarters  for 
them.  Every  house  in  the  city  has  been  surveyed 
for  occupation  by  them  —  not  in  a  desultory  man 
ner,  but  regularly  and  systematically.  It  19  the 
duty  of  an  officer,  one  Lieutenant  Cliff,  to  assign 
there  quarters ;  thus,  according  to  rank  or  per 


sonal  standing  (if  any)  at  home,  are  they  placed 
in  palaces  of  average  respectability  in  appear 
ance.  Colonel  G  P.  Birney's  mansion  is  assigned 
as  headquarters  for  General  Sherman  &  Co.  A 
regular  system  of  oj  crating  is  thus  instituted, 
and  as  an  enter:  ng  wedge  to  confiscation,  this  is 
the  object  of  tl.is  procedure.  But,  through  all, 
the  people  are  true  and  devoted.  I  would  men 
tion  more,  but  already  I  have  written  at  too  much 
length.  You  may  rely  on  the  women — God 
bless  them  —  in  Noith  Alabama.  I  do  know,  how 
ever,  one  or  two  disgraceful  and  unpatriotic  ex 
ceptions." 


THE  HOUSE  THAT  JEFF  BUILT. — The  Hart 
ford  Post  published  the  following  history  of  the 
celebrated  edifice  erected  by  J.  Davis,  Esq.,  as 
authentic.  It  was  written  for  the  purpose  of  giv 
ing  infant  politicians  a  clear,  concise,  and  truthful 
description  of  the  habitation,  and  the  fortunes  and 
misfortunes,  and  doings  of  the  inmates : 

"  I.  THE  SOUTHERN  CONFEDERACY.  —  This  is 
the  house  that  Jefi'  built. 

"II.  THE  ETHIOPIAN.  —  This  is  the  malt  that 
lay  in  the  house  that  Jeff  built. 

"  III.  THE  UNDERGROUND  RAILROAD.  —  This 
is  the  rat  that  ate  the  malt  that  lay  in  the  house 
that  Jeff  built. 

"IV.  THE  FUGITIVE  SLAVE  LAW.  —  This  i? 
the  cat  that  killed  the  rat  that  ate  the  malt  that, 
lay  in  the  house  that  Jeft'  built. 

'"V.  THE  PERSONAL  LIBERTY  BILL.  —  This 
is  the  dog  that  worried  the  cat  that  killed  the  rat 
that  ate  the  malt  that  lay  in  the  house  that  Jeff 
built. 

"  VI.  CHIEF  JUSTICE  TANEY.  —  This  is  the 
cow  with  crumpled  horn  that  tossed  the  dog  that 
worried  the  cat  that  killed  the  rat  that  ate  tl.2 
malt  that  lay  in  the  house  that  Jeff  built. 

"  VII.  JAMES  BUCHANAN.  —  This  is  the  maiden 
all  forlorn  that  milked  the  cow  with  crumpled  horn 
that  tossed  the  dog  that  worried  the  cat  that  killed 
the  rat  that  ate  the  malt  that  lay  in  the  house  that 
Jeff  built. 

"  VIII.  C.  CESH.  —  This  is  the  man  all  tattered 
and  torn  that  married  the  maiden  all  forlorn  that 
milked  the  cow  with  crumpled  horn  that  tossed 
the  dog  that  worried  the  cat  that  killed  the  rat 
that  ate  ihe  malt  that  lay  in  the  house  that  Jeff 
built. 

"  IX.  PLUNDER.  — This  is  the  priest  all  shaven 
and  shorn  that  married  the  man  all  tattered  and 
torn  to  the  maiden  all  forlorn  that  milked  the  cow 
with  crumpled  horn  that  tossed  the  dog  that  wor 
ried  the  cat  that  killed  the  rat  that  ate  the  malt 
that  lay  in  the  house  that  Jeff  built." 


EPIGRAM. 

WHILST  Butler  plays  his  silly  pranks, 
And  closes  up  New  Orleans'  banks, 
Our  Stonewall  Jackson,  with  more 
Keeps  Yankee  Banks  forever  running. 


430 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


FRIENDS  TN  SCOTLAND.  —  When  the  news  of 
the  fall  of  Vicksburg  and  General  Lee's  retreat 
reached  the  village  of  Bankfoot,  in  Perthshire,  the 
friends  of  the  North  got  quite  jubilant.  A  banner 
was  hastily  painted  with  the  motto  on  one  side, 
44  Vicksburg  is  taken;"  on  the  reverse,  "God 
speed  the  North."  A  floral  device  on  a  large 
EC-ale  was  also  extemporized,  and  at  eight  o'clock  a 
procession  set  out  through  the  village,  accom 
panied  by  the  music  band.  At  the  close  of  the 
procession  the  political  lions  of  the  place  and  the 
members  of  the  band  repaired  to  the  inn,  where 
President  Lincoln  and  his  successful  Generals' 
healths  were  drunk  with  rounds  of  cheers,  and 
then  all  went  peaceably  and  gladly  to  their  homes. 


AT  PORT  ROYAL. 

BY   JOHN    GREENLEAF  "WHITTIER. 

TIIE  tent-lights  glimmer  on  the  land, 

The  ship-lights  on  the  sea ; 
The  night- wind  smooths  with  drifting  sand 

Our  track  on  lone  Tybce. 

At  last  our  grating  keels  outslide, 
Our  good  boats  forward  swing; 

And  while  we  ride  the  land-locked  tide, 
Our  negroes  row  and  sing. 

For  dear  the  bondman  holds  his  gifts 

Of  music  and  of  song  — 
Tue  gold  that  kindly  Nature  sifts 

Among  his  sands  of  wrong  ;  — 

The  power  to  make  his  toiling  days 
And  poor  home-comforts  please  ; 

The  quaint  relief  of  mirth  that  plays 
With  sorrow's  minor  keys. 

Another  glow  than  sunset's  fire 
lias  filled  the  West  with  light, 

Where  field  and  garner,  barn  and  byre 
Are  blazing  through  the  night. 

The  land  is  wild  with  fear  and  hate  ; 

The  rout  runs  mad  and  fast ; 
From  hand  to  hand,  from  gate  to  gate, 

The  flaming  brand  is  passed. 

The  lurid  glow  falls  strong  across 
Dark  faces  broad  with  smiles : 

Not  theirs  the  terror,  hate,  and  loss 
That  fire  yon  blazing  piles. 

With  oar-strokes  timing  to  their  song, 

They  weave  in  simple  lays 
The  pathos  of  remembered  wrong, 

The  hope  of  better  days  ;  — 

The  triumph-note  that  Miriam  sung, 

The  joy  of  uncaged  birds  : 
Softening  with  Afric's  mellow  tongue 

Their  broken  Saxon  words. 

SONG  OF  THE  NEGRO  BOATMEN. 

O,  praise  an*  tanks  !     De  Lord  he  come 

To  set  de  people  free  ; 
An'  ma=sa  tink  it  day  ob  doom, 

An*  we  ob  jubilee. 


De  Lord,  dat  heap  de  Red  Sea  waves, 

He  jus'  as  'trong  as  den ; 
He  say  de  word :  we  las'  night  slaves, 
To-day  Je  Lore  s  free  men  ! 

De  yam  will  grow,  de  cotton  blow, 

We'll  hab  de  rice  and  corn  ; 
O  nebber  ycu  fear,  if  nebber  you  hear 
De  driver  blow  his  horn  ! 

Ole  massa  on  he  trubbles  gone ; 

He  leaf  de  land  behind  : 
De  Lord's  breff  blow  him  furder  on, 

Like  corn  shuck  iu  de  wind. 
We  own  de  hoe,  we  own  de  plough, 

We  own  de  hands  dat  hold  ; 
We  sell  de  pig,  we  sell  de  cow, 
But  nebber  chile  be  sold. 

De  yam  will  grow,  de  cotton  blow, 

We'll  hab  de  rice  an*  corn; 
O  nebber  you  fear,  if  nebber  you  hear 
De  driver  blow  his  horn! 

We  pray  de  Lord ;  he  gib  us  signs 

Dat  some  day  we  be  free  ; 
De  norf  wind  tell  it  to  de  pines, 

De  wild-duck  to  de  sea ; 
We  tink  it  when  de  church-bell  ring, 

We  dream  it  in  de  dream ; 
De  rice-bird  mean  it  when  he  sing, 
De  eagle  when  he  scream. 

De  yam  will  grow,  de  cotton  blow, 

We'll  hab  de  rice  an'  corn  ; 
O  nebber  you  fear,  if  nebber  you  hear 
De  driver  blow  his  horn  ! 

We  know  de  promise  nebter  fail, 

An'  nebber  lie  de  word  ; 
So,  like  de  'postles  in  de  jail, 

We  wraited  for  de  Lord  ; 
An'  now  he  open  ebery  door, 

An'  trow  away  de  key  ; 
He  tink  we  lub  him  so  before, 
We  lub  him  better  free. 

De  yam  will  grow,  de  cotton  blow, 

He'll  gib  de  rice  an'  corn ; 
O  nebber  you  fear,  if  nebber  you  hear 
De  driver  blow  his  horn ! 

So  sing  our  dusky  gondoliers  ; 

And  with  a  secret  pain, 
And  smiles  that  seem  akin  to  tears, 

We  hear  the  wild  refrain. 

We  dare  not  share  the  negro's  tr  ast, 

Nor  yet  his  hope  deny ; 
We  only  know  that  God  is  just, 

And  every  wrong  shall  die. 

Rude  seems  the  song ;  each  swarthy  fact, 

Flame-lighted,  ruder  still ; 
We  start  to  think  that  hapless  race 

Must  shape  our  good  or  ill ;  — 

That  laws  of  changeless  justice  bind 

Oppressor  with  oppressed ; 
And  close  as  sin  and  suffering  joined, 

We  march  to  fate  abreast. 

Sing  on,  poor  hearts  !  your  chant  shall  be 

Our  sign  of  blight  or  bloom,  — 
The  Vala-song  of  Liberty, 

Or  death-rune  of  our  doom  I 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


431 


INCIDENT  OP  LOOKOUT  VALLEY.  —  "An  un 
recorded  incident  of  the  midnight  fight  between 
Hooker's  and  Longstreet's  forces  in  Lookout 
Valley,  ten  days  ago,  has  come  to  my  knowledge 
and  deserves  t'.i  have  a  place  on  the  record,"  says 
ft  correspondent.  "A  short  time  subsequent  to 
this  magnifice  it  charge  on  the  enemy  in  their 
breastworks  by  General  Geary's  brigade.  Genera] 
Howard,  taking  with  him  a  small  escort  of  cav 
alry,  started  for  that  part  of  the  field  where  Gen 
eral  Geary  was  supposed  to  be.  He  had  not  gone 
far  when  he  came  up  with  a  body  of  infantry. 
'  What  cavalry  is  that  P '  was  the  hail.  « All  right, 
responded  General  Howard,  at  the  same  time 
calling  out,  'What  men  are  those?'  'Long- 
street's.'  was  the  reply.  '  All  right ;  come  here, 
said  General  Howard.  The  men  approached. 
'  Have  we  whipped  those  fellows  ? '  asked  General 
Howard,  in  a  manner  to  keep  up  the  deception. 
1  No,  d — n  them  ;  they  were  too  much  for  us,  and 
drove  us  from  our  rifle  pits  like  devils.  We're 
whipped  ourselves.'  By  this  time  the  rebels  had 
gathered  nearer.  '  Lay  down  your  arms,'  de 
manded  General  Howard  in  a  stern  voice.  The 
men  surrendered.  Taking  his  prisoners  in  charge, 
General  Howard  proceeded  on  his  way.  He  had 
not  gone  far  before  another  party  of  rebel  infantry 
called  out,  '  What  cavalry  is  that  ?  '  '  All  right,' 
was  the  response  again  of  General  Howard,  as 
he  proceeded.  On  approaching  the  position  oc 
cupied  by  Geary,  that  officer  had  observed  the 
advancing  horsemen  and  infantry,  as  he  supposed 
the  prisoners  to  be,  and  supposing  them  to  be 
rebels,  he  had  ordered  his  guns  to  be  loaded  with 
canister,  and  in  a  moment  more  would  have  given 
the  intrepid  Howard  and  his  little  forces  the  ben 
efit  of  it.  But  the  General  who  had  successfully 
deceived  the  enemy  found  a  way  to  make  himself 
known  to  friends,  and  so  escaped  a  reception  of 
that  kind."  

A  RAID.  —  A  correspondent  at  Washington 
wrote:  "Owing  to  Mosby's  depreciations,  the 
word  '  raid '  is  worked  into  almost  every  expres 
sion.  I  have  in  my  employ  a  contraband,  of 
tlouble-dyed  blackness,  called  John.  I  went  out 
to  my  barn  one  morning,  and,  noticing  that  his 
face  was  wet  with  perspiration,  remarked  that  he 
1  looked  pretty  warm.'  '  Yes,  massa,'  was  his  re 
ply,  '  Ise  had  a  pretty  big  raid  on  my  muscle  dis 
mornin',  an'  Ise  mos'  done  gone.' " 


FEMININE  WRATH.  —  In  the  fall  of  1863,  after 
the  great  national  successes  at  Vicksburg,  Chat- 
t=riooga,  and  Gettysburg,  the  President  of  the 
United  States  appointed  a  day  of  Thanksgiving 
t5  God  for  the  victories  that  had  crowned  the 
national  arms. 

The  Bulletin,  a  Union  paper  published  in  Mem 
phis,  Tennessee,  made  a  simple  announcement  of 
the  fart,  and  remarked  that  there  were  many,  no 
doubt,  in  that  city  who  would  heartily  join  in 
celebral  ing  the  day.  This  suggestion  drew  upon 
the  editor's  head  the  following  glowing  and  defiant 


philippic  from  the  pen  of  one  of  the  fair  citizens 
of  Memphis : 

"  EDITOR  BULLETIN  :  You  call  attention  to  Lin 
coln's  appointment  of  a  day  of  Thanksgiving  for 
the  successes  which  have  blessed  our  cause,  and 
you  hope  the  day  will  be  properly  observed.  By 
'  our  cause '  you  mean  the  Union  cause.  I  -won 
der  how  you  think  the  people  of  Memphis  can 
thank  God  for  the  successes  of  the  Union  Aboli 
tion  cause.  You  pretend  to  think  that  a  great 
Union  sentiment  has  sprung  up  in  Memphis,  be 
cause  you  say  that  upwards  of  eleven  thousand 
persons  have  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance.  Let 
me  tell  you,  if  they  have  taken  it,  they  did  not 
do  it  of  their  own  free  will,  and  they  don't  feel 
bound  by  it ;  they  had  to  take  it  under  a  military 
despotism,  and  don't  feel  bound  to  regard  any 
oath  forced  upon  them  in  that  way.  Do  you  be 
lieve  that  any  preacher  in  Memphis  will  appoint 
services  in  his  church  at  Lincoln's  dictation  ?  Let 
one  dare  to  try  it,  and  see  how  his  congregation 
will  stand  it.  They  know  better.  They  know 
full  well  that  the  people  of  Memphis  give  thanks 
over  Union  disasters  with  sincere  hearts,  but  don't 
rejoice  at  Union  victories,  as  they  call  them. 
The  women  of  Memphis  will  stick  to  the  Confed 
erate  cause,  like  Ruth  clung  to  her  mother-in- 
law,  and  say  to  it,  '  Where  thou  goest  I  will  go, 
where  thou  livest  I  will  live,  where  thou  diest  I 
will  die,  and  there  will  I  be  buried.'  But  where 
are  your  great  successes  ?  Your  own  papers  say 
that  Lee  brought  off"  a  train  of  captured  spoils 
twelve  miles  long,  and  that  Morgan  destroyed 
seven  or  eight  millions'  of  dollars'  worth,  before 
all  Ohio  and  Indiana  could  stop  him.  Pretty 
deai'  success,  this.  Still  I  won't  rejoice  over  it  at 
Lincoln's  dictation.  But  wait  till  President  Da 
vis'  day  comes  round.  Perhaps  by  that  time 
Meade  may  get  another  whipping,  and  if  you 
don't  see  rejoicing  and  thanksgiving  then,  you 
may  well  believe  that  you  and  your  officious  local 
fail  to  see  half  that  exists  in  Memphis.  Now 
you  won't  publish  this,  perhaps,  because  it  don't 
suit  you.  You  can  say  the  reason  is,  because  I 
don't  put  my  real  name  to  it.  You  can  do  as  you 
please  about  it.  I  choose  to  sign  it. 

MARY  LEE  THORNE. 

RELENTLESS  CONSCRIPTION.  —  The  rebel  con 
script  act,  which  was  enforced  on  and  after  the 
20th  April,  1862,  brought  dismay  to  thousands 
of  Southern  families.  A  large  portion  of  the 
rebel  army,  at  that  time,  was  composed  of  men 
who  had  enlisted  for  twelve  and  three  months,  and 
whose  time  would  expire  in  May,  when  their  re 
turn  was  eagerly  and  anxiously  anticipated  by 
their  families,  for  many  of  whom  no  pecuniary 
provision  had  been  made  after  the  expiration  of 
;he  time  enlisted  for.  One  of  t  ae  regiments  un 
der  Bragg's  command  at  this  time  was  composed 
of  men  from  East  Tennessee,  most  of  them  poor, 
and  leaving  at  home  small  provision  for  their 
wives  and  children.  Of  this  regiment,  one  com- 
oany,  atXhe  expiration  of  the  twelve  months  of 
iheir  enlistment,  laid  down  their  arms,  and  de- 


432 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


manded  permission  to  return  to  their  families. 
By  threat  and  argument,  most  of  them  were  in 
duced  to  return  to  duty ;  but  three  or  four  held 
out,  declaring  that  they  would  insist  on  their 
right  to  go  home ;  but  all  these,  save  one,  were 
at  last  convinced  that  there  was  no  alternative 
hut  death  or  obedience,  and,  at  whatever  sacrifice 
of  feeling,  concluded  to  shoulder  arms  again,  and 
return  to  duty.  One  man,  however,  firmer  than 
the  rest,  and  who  was  continually  haunted  by  the 
memory  of  his  destitute  family  at  home,  steadily 
refused  obedience  to  the  new  and  terrible  law. 
lie  said  he  had  fought  faithfully  and  willingly  for 
his  country,  but  his  time  had  expired,  and  he  de 
manded,  as  a  right,  that  he  should  go  home  and 
make  proper  provision  for  the  support  of  his  family, 
when  he  promised  to  return  and  become  a  voluntary 
conscript.  Argument,  persuasion,  threat,  impris 
onment  were  powerless  to  move  him  from  this 
position.  At  last  he  was  tried  by  court-martial 
for  mutiny,  and  sentenced  to  be  shot  on  the  fol 
lowing  day.  He  received  his  sentence  with  per 
fect  coolness,  declaring  that  he  was  right,  and  if 
they  chose  to  shoot  him,  they  might  do  so.  His 
case  elicited  universal  sympathy,  and  Bragg  was 
persuaded,  by  the  entreaties  of  some  of  his  offi 
cers,  to  extend  the  condemned  man  three  days  of 
grace.  He  was  allowed  the  liberty  of  the  camp, 
and  every  argument  used  to  persuade  him  to  get 
a*vay,  which  he  could  easily  do.  "  No,"  he  replied 
to  all  such  suggestions ;  he  had  done  nothing 
wrong,  and  he  would  not  sneak  away,  as  though 
he  were  guilty.  He  wished  nothing  unjust  or 
wrong ;  his  family  at  home  were  starving ;  his 
first  duty  was  to  provide  for  them.  The  three 
days  passed;  and  the  Crescent  regiment,  which 
was  enlisted  for  three  months,  and  which  was, 
perhaps,  as  anxious  to  return  home  as  any  other 
in  the  field,  was  detailed  to  complete  the  tragedy. 
The  army  was  drawn  up,  enclosing  the  Crescent 
regiment,  for  fear,  it  was  said,  they  should  refuse 
to  obey  orders.  The  doomed  man  was  brought 
out,  and  marched,  with  a  firm  step,  to  his  stand 
beside  the  coffin  prepared  to  receive  his  dead 
body.  At  the  appointed  moment  he  bared  his 
breast,  gave  the  signal  to  fire,  and  fell,  in  the  same 
moment,  upon  his  coffin,  a  lifeless  corpse.  A 
squad  of  men  were  immediately  detailed  to  bury 
him,  and  the  army  wras  marched  back  to  camp. 
The  unfortunate  regiment,  which  was  chosen  as 
the  instrument  of  this  terrible  despotism,  was 
<si?kened  by  the  sight,  as  though  there  had  been 
administered  to  them  the  most  powerful  emetic ; 
and  from  that  time  on,  upon  the  name  of  Braxton 
Bragg  were  heaped  curses,  both  loud  and  deep; 
but  open  mutiny  was  effectually  suppressed. 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  JOHN  B.  FLOYD.  —  A 
"  Soldier  "  of  the  South  contributed  the  following 
story  to  a  Confederate  journal: 

I  Laving  recently  read  a  notice  of  the  death  of 
General  Floyd,  my  thoughts  went  back  to  the 
days  of  Fort  Donelson,  and  the  period  imme 
diately  following  that  disaster  to  our  arms.  Hav 
ing  taken  a  humble  part  in  those  affairs,  and 


having  been  an  eye-witness  to  the  part  acted  in 
it  by  General  Floyd,  it  has  suggested  itself  that 
a  few  thoughts  thereon  would  not  be  inappro 
priate.  I  first  saw  General  Floyd,  at  Nashville, 
in  January,  1862.  He  was  then  on  his  way  to 
join  General  A.  S.  Johnston,  whose  headquarters 
were  at  Bowling  Green,  on  Green  River,  Ken 
tucky.  General  Floyd  hid  his  command  with 
him,  the  same  that  served  with  him  in  West  Vir 
ginia.  It  was  then  supposed  that  the  great  bat 
tle  of  the  war  would  take  place  at  or  near  Bow 
ling  Green,  which  would  decide  the  question 
whether  Kentucky  was  ours  or  belonged  to  the 
Federals.  General  Buell  commanded  the  Fed 
eral  forces,  which  occupied  the  line  of  Green  Riv 
er,  and  his  army  was  rapidly  reenforced,  until,  on 
the  1st  of  February,  1862,  'it  numbered  one  hun 
dred  thousand  men.  It  wtis  given  out  that  Gen 
eral  Johnston's  army  WHS  also  one  hundred  thou 
sand  strong,  and  that  the  line  of  Green  River 
would  be  held.  A  line  of  defence  had  been  drawn 
from  Bowling  Green  westward  to  Columbus,  on 
the  Mississippi,  embracing  Forts  Henry,  on  the 
Tennessee  River,  and  Donelson,  on  life  Cumber 
land.  The  latter  place  was  selected  by  Governor 
Harris,  of  Tennessee,  on  account  of  the  natural 
strength  of  the  position,  and  because  it  was  the 
key  of  Nashville.  This  point  was  strongly  forti 
fied.  Most  of  the  heavy  guns  were  mounted  un 
der  the  supervision  of  General  Buckner,  who  took 
command  of  the  post  in  January,  1862.  Thus, 
on  the  1st  of  February,  1862,  the  people  who 
were  south  of  this  military  line  felt  perfectly  se 
cure  from  the  horrors  of  invasion,  fully  confident 
that  the  tide  of  war  would  roll  towards  the  Ohio, 
instead  of  south,  on  the  Cumberland  and  Ten 
nessee.  With  the  accomplished  Sidney  Johnston, 
commanding  an  army  one  hundred  thousand 
strong,  in  Central  Kentucky,  and  the  people  of 
that  gallant  State  rising  in  arms,  it  was  believed 
that  the  enemy  would  be  beaten,  and  his  flying 
cohorts  driven  out  of  the  State.  Such  was  the 
feeling  of  the  people  of  Tennessee  and  Southern 
Kentucky  on  the  1st  of  February,  1862.  Fatal 
security !  It  lost  us  an  empire,  not  yet  recovered. 
Early  in  February  General  Gideon  J.  Pillow 
assumed  command  of  the  forces  at  Fort  Donelson. 
He  was  the  universal  choice  of  the  people  of 
Tennessee  for  that  position.  On  arriving  at  the 
fort  he  commenced  work  with  his  usual  energy. 
It  was  under  his  direction  that  the  rifle  pits  were 
dug,  earthworks  thrown  up,  timber  and  under 
growth  cut  down,  and  guns  mounted,  to  prepare 
for  a  land  attack  from  the  enemy.  H  is  presence 
seemed  to  inspire  every  man  with  confidence, 
and  he  infused  new  energy  into  every  laggard. 
I  think  it  was  on  the  12th  of  February  that  Ger- 
eral  Floyd  arrived  at  the  fort,  from  Bowling 
Green,  and  assumed  command  of  all  the  forces. 
He  immediately  examined  the  earthworks  and 
defences,  and  pronounced  everything  that  had 
been  done  "  good."  For  a  day  or  two  previous 
the  gunboats  of  the  enemy  had  been  seen  hover 
ing  about  the  point  below,  and  everything  was  in 
preparation  to  give  them  a  warm  reception.  The 
scouts  brought  in  word  that  the  enemy  was  land- 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


433 


ing  a  large  force  below  the  point,  and  it  then 
became  apparent  that  the  ditching  and  digging 
were  not  labor  lost.  Our  entire  force,  all  told, 
amounted  to  thirteen  thousand  men.  The  fight 
was  commenced  by  the  enemy's  gunboats  on 
Thursday,  the  13th,  and  continued  through  three 
days.  From  prisoners,  which  were  taken  on  Fri 
day,  we  learned  that  the  enemy's  land  force  was 
thirty  thousand  strong,  and  that  they  were  being 
daily  reenforced  with  fresh  troops.  The  history 
of  the  three  days'  fight  is  well  known.  I  do  not 
desire  to  enter  into  an  account  of  each  day's  fight ; 
sufiice  it  to  say  that  the  enemy  was  repulsed  at  ail 
points  with  great  slaughter,  and  that  he  gained 
no  material  advantage  until  Saturday  evening, 
when,  by  the  loss  of  a  battery,  our  line  was 
bent  back,  and  we  stood  in  great  danger  of  being 
Hanked.  During  the  three  days'  fight  the  gun 
boats  had  made  no  impression  on  the  fort,  while 
the  fort  had  disabled  two  of  the  gunboats,  and 
injured,  to  some  extent,  a  third.  No  boat  could 
stand  a  fire  from  heavy  guns  mounted  on  a  bluff 
one  hundred  feet  above  the  river.  The  terrible 
plunging  tire  of  solid  shot  was  certain  destruction 
to  all  below.  In  Saturday's  fight  we  were  so  over 
whelmed  by  numbers  that  we  were  forced  to  give 
back. 

Our  line  of  defence  once  lost,  we  were  then  at 
a  great  disadvantage.  The  weather  was  terrible. 
It  "had  been  sleeting  and  snowing  for  two  days  and 
nights,  and  was  bitter  cold.  Several  of  the  men 
had  fro/en  to  death  in  the  trenches.  The  rifle  pits 
were  knee-deep  in  water  and  ice.  Many  of  the 
men  had  not  tasted  food  for  two  days.  Some 
were  physically  exhausted  from  hunger,  loss  of 
sleep,  and  cold*  More  than  three  fourths  of  the 
^  hole  command  were  raw  troops,  and  had  never 
faced  an  enemy  before.  Some  murmuring  was 
heard  among  the  men,  such  as,  "  We  can't  fight 
forever  ;  it  Johnston  don't  send  us  reinforcements 
we  ought  to  leave  here."  In  this  state  of  affairs 
a  council  of  war  was  held  late  on  Saturday  even 
ing.  It  was  admitted  that  the  place  could  not 
be  held  without  reenforcements.  General  Pillow 
believed  that  reenforcements  would  yet  arrive,  and 
he  was  in  favor  of  commencing  a  vigorous  attack 
on  the  enemy  next  morning  (Sunday),  to  regain 
our  former  line,  and  hold  that  position  at  all 
hazards  until  help  came,  lie  said  that  he  had 
promised  Governor  Harris  that  he  would  hoid 
that  place  at  all  hazards  and  defend  the  capital, 
and  he  was  in  favor  of  holding  it.  General  Floyd 
said  that  no  more  aid  would  come ;  that  he  had 
brought  the  last  available  man  that  General 
Johnston  could  spare ;  that  he  had  but  twenty- 
five  thousand  men  left ;  arid  that  he  thought  it 
best  to  make  a  vigorous  attack  on  the  enemy 
next  morning,  and,  under  cover  of  the  attack,  to 
retire  the  whole  command.  To  this  General 
Buckner  made  some  objection,  but  finally  he  as 
sented  to  it.  It  was  admitted  by  all  that  the 
place  could  not  be  longer  held  without  reenforce 
ments,  and  after  General  Floyd's  statement  it 
was  seen  that  it  was  impossible  to  be  reenforced. 
The  plan  of  General  Floyd  was  assented  to  by 
Generals  Buckner  and  Pillow,  and  it  was  deter- 
28 


I  mined  to  commence  tho  attack  on  Sunday  mort- 
ing  at  daylight. 

Sometime  later  in  the  night  another  meeting 
of  general  officers  was  held,  1  understood  U  the 
request  of  General  Buckner,  at  which  he  stated 
that  the  men  were  physicall)  worn  out  and  inca 
pable  of  fighting  any  more,  imd  that  he  was  in 
favor  of  surrendering;  that  they  were  entirely 
surrounded  by  the  enemy,  and  that  even  if  they 
succeeded  in  cutting  their  way  out,  that  there  was 
not  sufficient  river  transportation  to  convey  the 
troops  to  Nashville ;  that  an  attack  next  morning 
would  end  only  in  a  wanton  destruction  of  life,  and 
that  he  could  not  see  any  benefit  that  would  result 
from  it.  General  Pillow  spoke  in  favor  of  the 
attack  next  morning.  He  thought  the  men  capa- 

!  ole  of  another  effort,  and  he  spoke  eloquently 
against  a  surrender,  which  would  dim  all  the 
glory  that  had  been  achieved.  lie  eulogized  the 
troops  •;  said  they  were  not  lacking  in  strength  or 
spirit ;  that  they  were  capable  of  one  more  effort, 
and  that  effort  should  be  made  ;  that  he  would 
never  surrender  to  the  enemy.  General  Floyd 
said  he  was  opposed  to  surrendering ;  that  he 
could  not  and  would  not  surrender  ;  that  he  knew 
the  men  were  worn  out,  yet  he  thought  almost  the 
entire  command  could  be  saved  by  a  vigorous 
attack  next  morning.  General  Buckner  replied 
that  the  men  were  exhausted,  and  could  fight  no 
more,  and  that  he  would  stay  with  his  men. 
General  Floyd  said,  "  I  cannot  surrender  ;  I  pass 
the  command  over  to  you,  General  Pillow." 
General  Pillow  said,  "  Nor  can  I  surrender  ;  1 
pass  the  command  to  General  Buckner."  General 
Buckner  said,  "  I  accept  the  command."  On 
these  facts  becoming  known  to  the  men,  all  was 
commotion.  Many  prepared  to  leave  at  once. 
It  was  given  out  that  all  that  wanted  to  could 
now  leave,  as  the  way  to  Nashville  was  open. 
Many  crossed  the  river,  and  went  on  foot  on  to 
Nashville.  Colonel  Forrest,  of  the  Tennessee  cav 
alry,  now  General  Forrest,  said  that  he  would 
form  a  rear  guard  of  his  command,  and  protect  all 
who  would  come  out.  Many  availed  themselves 
of  this  offer,  and  Colonel  Forrest  kept  his  word. 
General  Floyd  brought  out  almost  his  entire  com 
mand,  which  had  come  with  him  from  Virginia. 
General  Pillow  was  instrumental  in  bringing 
several  of  the  men  out.  He  made  personal  appeals 
to  many  of  the  officers  commanding  Tennessee 
troops  not  to  remain,  which  was  responded  to. 
It  is  my  opinion  that  the  entire  command  could 
have  been  saved  had  General  Floyd's  plan  been 
adopted.  As  it  was,  more  than  four  thousand 
men  left  the  fort  and  the  trenches  on  that  night, 
and  arrived  safe  at  Nashville.  All  left  who  chose 
to,  and  those  who  remained  chose  to  remain. 
Indeed,  many  left  the  fort  after  it  had  been  sur 
rendered,  on  Sunday,  and  walked  all  the  way  1o 
Nashville.  Eleven  members  of  a  Texas  regimeuX 
came  into  camp  at  Murfreesbofo',  thirteen  dayi 
after  the  surrender,  having  left  the  fort  on  Mon 
day  morning  after  the  surrender.  The  report  tha' 
the  fort  was  surrounded  by  the  enemy  was  a  mis 
take.  It  wa^»  not  even  invested  on  Sunday  even 
ing,  as  our  nen  were  continually  leaving  the 


434 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


fort  from  morning  until  night  on  that  day.  About 
six  thousand  men  remained  with  General  Buck- 
ner,  and  he  surrendered  these  with  the  fort  on 
Sunday,  the  16th  of  February.  Our  loss  in  killed, 
\vounded,  and  missing  was  not  more  than  one 
thousand.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  immense ; 
it  could  not  have  been  less  than  six  thousand  in 
killed  and  wounded.  The  ground  on  the  slope  in 
front  of  the  rifle  pits  was  literally  covered  with 
his  dead  and  dying.  Never  were  troops  handled 
better  than  ours  were  at  Fort  Donelson.  Never 
did  men  fight  with  greater  resolution.  The  force 
brought  against  them  was  immensely  superior  in 
men  and  munitions  of  war,  and  for  three  days  they 
held  out,  fighting  each  day  fresh  troops,  and  re 
puting  them  with  terrible  slaughter.  That  the 
victory  was  not  ours  is  not  the  fault  of  those  who 
fought  on  that  ensanguined  field.  Had  five 
thousand  fresh  troops  arrived  on  Saturday  even 
ing  the  victory  would  have  been  ours. 

I  now  desire  to  state  a  few  facts  in  relation  to 
the  surrender,  not  for  the  purpose  of  doing  any 
injustice  to  the  living,  but  to  do  justice  to  the 
dead.  In  stating  these  facts  I  do  not  wish  to 
draw  any  invidious  distinction  between  the  troops 
from  the  different  States  who  fought  at  Fort 
Donelson.  They  all  fought  well,  and  they  all  de 
serve  well  of  their  country.  As  long  as  success 
seemed  possible,  the  different  State  troops  vied 
with  each  other  in  bravery  and  gallantry.  When 
success  seemed  impossible,  then  murmurs  were 
heard,  and  there  was  dissatisfaction  expressed  at 
the  non-arrival  of  reinforcements.  When  the 
question  was  mooted,  whether  the  garrison  "  fall 
back  "  or  surrender,  loud  disclaimers  were  heard 
against  the  former.  It  was  said,  "  Are  we  to  leave 
our  homes  and  families,  and  fall  back  fighting  for 
other  States  ?  No  ;  we  have  fought  enough  ;  we 
will  surrender  and  go  home." 

The  troops  that  fought  at  Fort  Donelson  were 
volunteers,  many  of  them  "  home  guards,"  who 
had  left  their  homes,  as  they  thought,  to  fight  at 
Fort  Donelson,  and  then  go  home.  They  had  no 
idea,  if  unsuccessful  there,  to  "  fall  back  "  and 
fight  indefinitely.  These  men  fought  bravely  as 
long  as  there  was  a  show  of  victory ;  but  when 
the  dark  hour  came,  and  the  question  was  surren 
der  or  fall  back,  they  preferred  the  former.  There 
were  many  such  at  Fort  Donelson.  It  was  said 
that  these  men  had  some  weight  in  influencing 
General  Buckner  to  remain.  If  true,  it  is  no  ar 
gument  against  his  humanity,  honor,  or  patriotism. 
On  the  contrary,  he  deserves  credit  for  remaining 
with  his  men,  to  share  their  fortunes,  good  or 
e\il.  There  was  another  class  of  men  at  Fort 
Donelson,  who  were  not  from  any  particular  State, 
but  from  all  the  States  there  represented,  who 
had  determined  never  to  surrender  —  who  pre 
ferred  death  to  surrender.  The  head  and  front 
of  this  class  was  General  Floyd.  When  he  said, 
"  I  cannot  surrender,"  there  was  a  deep  meaning 
in  it.  He  had  been  Secretary  of  War  under  the 
Buchanan  administration.  He  had  sent  the  arms 
belonging  to  the  Government  South,  and  the 
whole  North  howled  like  demons  over  it.  He 
had  been  denounced  by  the  whole  abolition  tribe. 


from  Seward  to  Garrison.  They  all,  from  Lincoln 
to  the  lowest  minion,  hated,  with  a  venomous  ha 
tred,  John  B.  Floyd.  Therefore  he  could  not  sur 
render.  To  that  noble  old  man  it  would  hu/e 
been  too  deep  a  humiliation.  Had  he  surren 
dered,  the  vile  Northern  rabble  would  have  hooted 
and  howled  at  his  heels,  from  the  Ohio  to  the  St. 
Lawrence.  He  wo  ild  have  been  hawked  at  by 
the  Yankee  owls  in  every  city  and  village  through 
which  he  passed.  Therefore  General  Floyd 
"  cculd  not  surrender."  Did  he  do  wrong,  theu, 
in  leaving  Fort  Donelson,  and  saving  all  that  he 
could  of  the  garrison  ?  I  think  not.  He  did 
right  in  saving  a  part,  if  he  could  not  save  the 
whole.  He  was  willing  to  make  the  effort  to 
save  all,  but  in  this  he  was  opposed ;  he  then  did 
the  next  best  thing,  —  he  saved  all  he  could.  It 
was  said  by  one  high  in  authority,  that  he  could 
not  understand  how  seven  thousand  men  could 
surrender  with  arms  in  their  hands.  How,  then, 
could  it  be  conceived  that  twelve  thousand  men 
could  surrender  with  arms  in  their  hands,  which 
would  have  been  the  case  had  General  Floyd  re 
mained  at  Fort  Donelson. 

When  it  was  known  on  the  march  from  Mur- 
freesboro'  to  Decatur  that  the  President  had  sus 
pended  General  Floyd  for  the  part  he  took  at 
Fort  Donelson,  a  feeling  of  regret  pervaded  the 
army.  It  was  supposed  that  his  susp^ni'im  would 
be  of  short  duration.  Men  of  common  sense 
could  not  see  wherein  he  had  done  wrong.  He 
had  the  sympathies  of  the  whole  army,  and  all 
hoped  that  he  would  soon  be  reinstated  by  the 
President.  But  he  never  was.  He  was  too  proud 

<l  To  bow  the  supple  hinges  of  the  knee 
That  thrift  might  follow  fawning/' 

and  he  went  down  to  the  grave  with  the  censure 
of  the  President  upon  him.  What  a  pity  it  could 
not  have  been  otherwise  !  General  Buckner  was 
promoted  for  the  part  he  acted  at  Fort  Donelson, 
and  he  deserved  it.  General  Pillow  was  rein 
stated  in  his  command,  but  General  Floyd  was 
left  to  go  down  to  the  grave  with  this  foul  censure 
clinging  to  him  to  the  last.  Why  was  this  ?  Did 
the  good  of  the  cause  require  that  it  should  be 
so  ?  Let  us  suppose  that,  in  refusing  to  surren 
der  at  Fort  Donelson,  he  committed  a  wrong. 
Did  the  good  of  the  country  require  that  he 
should  never  be  forgiven  ?  If  General  Floyd 
committed  a  wrong,  General  Pillow  was  guilty  of 
a  like  offence.  General  Pillow  was  reinstated  in 
his  command.  Why  was  not  the  same  justice 
rendered  towards  General  Floyd  ?  The  writer  of 
this  is  a  friend  and  ardent  admirer  of  President 
Davis.  He  has  full  confidence  in  his  patriotism, 
integrity,  and  ability  ;  but  he  is  constrained  to  f»ay 
that  the  old  patriot,  who  has  gone  down  to  hia 
grave,  was  wronged  at  his  hands.  A  more  patri 
otic  man  than  John  B.  Floyd  did  riot  live  in  the 
limits  of  this  Confederacy.  He  was  brave  and 
able,  honest  and  sagacious,  kind  and  courteous 
to  those  under  him,  and  one  of  the  truest  men  I 
ever  knew.  Those  who  served  under  him  at  Fort 
Donelson,  who  saw  h'm  sharing  the  dangers  and 
perils  of  :  is  men,  hh  face  and  breast  bured  lo  the 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


435 


pitiless  storm,  with  the  icicles  hanging  to  his  gray 
beard ;  those  who  heard  his  words  of  cheer  and 
comfort  to  the  doubtful  and  desponding  will 
never  forget  him.  And  again  at  Nashville,  after 
the  fall  of  Donelson,  restoring  order  out  of 
chaos,  quieting  the  fears  of  the  timid,  putting 
down  the  lawlessness  of  the  rabble,  and  saving  the 
property  of  the  Government.  Before  the  arrival 
of  the  Federals  at  Nashville  he  had  removed  to 
a  place  of  safety  more  than  a  million  dollars 
worth  of  Government  stores,  which  would  other 
wise  have  been  destroyed  in  the  general  panic. 
He  also  saved  the  State  of  Tennessee  many  hun 
dreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  by  his  timely  ar 
rival  at  the  capital. 

Such  was  John  B.  Floyd.  This  imperfect,  but 
impartial  sketch  is  but  a  poor  tribute  to  the  man. 
The  future  historian  will  do  him  justice.  He  was 
a  noble,  chivalrous,  patriotic  Virginian  ;  but  his 
heart  was  large  enough  to  hold  his  whole  coun 
try.  It  can  be  said  of  him  — 

"  This  was  the  noblest  Roman  of  them  all ! 

The  elements 

So  mixed  in  him  that  Nature  might  stand  up 
And  say  to  all  the  world,  THIS  WAS  A  MAN." 


A  DINNER  PARTY  BROKEN  UP.  —  In  April, 
1863,  the  17th  of  the  month,  a  party  of  some 
what  crestfallen  but  defiant  rebel  officers  were 
dining  at  the  plantation  of  a  great  slave-owner 
o^  the  Mississippi  River,  about  half  way  between 
Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson.  There  was  a  com 
missary  captain,  a  surgeon,  the  governor  of  rebel 
Louisiana,  arid  others  of  greater  or  less  rank  in 
secession  circles. 

The  planter's  wines  had  been  long  ago  con 
sumed,  but  he  had  a  demijohn  of  Louisiana  rum, 
to  which  his  guests  were  welcome,  and  every 
thing  which  the  large  and  .admirably  cultivated 
plantation  garden  could  supply  graced  the  table. 

Strong  opinions  were  expressed  that  no  boat 
on  the  Mississippi  could  live  ten  minutes  under 
the  fire  of  the  Vicksburg  batteries  —  that  yellow 
fever  would  soon  appear  in  Grant's  army  at  Mil- 
liken's  Bend,  that  the  South  would  hold  that 
portion  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  against  all  op 
position  ;  and  fearful  accounts  were  related  of 
Yankee  cowardice,  Yankee  barbarism  and  atrocity, 
with  strong  determinations  "  never  to  submit  or 
yield." 

In  the  midst  of  all  this  bravery  one  of  the 
gentlemen  was  summoned  to  the  door  by  a  cou 
rier,  who  had  an  important  communication  from 
the  General  commanding  at  Vicksburg,  and  also 
another  from  the  commander  at  Port  Hudson. 

One  telegram  read,  "  Five  gunboats  passed 
last  night :  notify  all  boats  and  river  batteries." 
The  other,  from  below,  was,  "  Hartford  and  two 
others  coming  up  :  look  out."  He  stepped  back 
and  read  them  to  the  company. 

If  a  ten-inch  shell  had  exploded,  the  change 
would  not  have  been  greater.  First  there  was  a 
blank  pause.  Then  one  said,  "  It's  all  up  with 
ss,  gentlemen  j  if  five  have  passed,  twenty  will 


pass,  and  the  Valley  is  gone."  —  "  Colonel,  will  yon 
order  my  horse  ?  "  "  Colonel,  I  will  have  mint? 
at  the  same  time." 

In  ten  minutes  the  party  had  broken  up,  and 
were  scattering  in  every  direction,  some  for 
Shreveport,  others  for  Mobile  ;  and  the  boore 
of  the  guns  on  the  Hartford  as  she  came  s\veei>- 
ing  around  the  bend  of  the  river  was  the  knell 
of  all  their  high-blown  hopes  and  sanguine 
boasts.  

SHEE [DAN'S    EARLY  ORDERS. 


PHIL  PnERinAN  dc  wn  in  the  valley  made 

A  T..J.Q  the  "  rebs  "  to  soften : 
Twas  —  «•  Out  with  the  blade, 
Away  with  the  spade  ; 
Fight  EARLY,  and  fight  often  !  " 


But  "  often  "  was  not  quite  often  enough 
To  have  things  done  up  rarely  ; 

So  he  wrote,  and  said, 

"  Have  this  order  read  : " 
'Twas,  »  Boys,  fight,  late  and  EARLY." 


But  "late"  and  "  often"  give  too  many  rest* 

To  clear  the  valley  fairly  ; 
"  They  are  not  bad  tests," 
Thought  Phil—  "  but  the  best's 

To  whip  the  enemy,  EARLY." 


So  he  says,  "  No  matter  for  hour  or  date : 

To  use  the  foe  up  squarely, 
Fight  him  earl}',  late  — 
When  we  thrash  him  straight, 

They'll  admit  we  whipp'd  him,  EARLY." 


ANECDOTE  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.  —  A 
gentleman  called  on  the  President,  and  solicited 
a  pass  for  Richmond.  "  Well,"  said  the  Presi 
dent,  "  I  would  be  very  happy  to  oblige  you,  if 
my  passes  were  respected;  but  the  fact  is,  sir,  I 
have,  within  the  last  two  years,  given  passes  to 
two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  men  to  go  to 
Richmond,  and  not  one  has  got  there  yet." 


GENERAL  ROSSER  ON  THE  BORDER.  —  In  the 
winter  of  1863-4,  the  two  opposing  armies  in 
Virginia  lay  on  the  upper  branches  of  the  Rap- 
idan,  not  far  from  Culpepper  and  Brandy  Station, 
sixty  miles  south  of  the  Potomac.  As  General 
Meade  had  all  his  supplies  to  bring  in  wagons 
from  Alexandria,  the  possible  plunder  that  might 
reward  an  enterprising  raid  in  the  country  be- 
t\veen  the  Union  army  and  the  Potomac  was  a 
strong  bait  to  Southern  enterprise.  There  were, 
consequently,  two  or  three  of  these  expeditions 
during  the  winter,  of  which  the  most  successful 
in  the  way  of  plunder  was  that  of  the  rebel  Gen 
eral  Rosser,  who,  next  to  Stuart  and  Forrest,  won 
the  greatest  name  air.cn g  the  Confederates  as  * 


436 


A.NECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


cavalry  officer.  The  following  story  of  his  ex 
ploit  that  winter  was  prepared  by  a  correspondent 
of  a  Richmond  paper  : 

"  The  foray  made  by  Early,  Fitz  Lee,  and  Rosser, 
about  the  1st  of  January,  proving  rather  unsuc 
cessful,  it  was  ordered  that  General  Early,  with 
one  brigade  of  infantry  (General  Thomas'),  Ros- 
ser's  brigade  of  cavalry,  and  McCallahan's  battery, 
should  make  another  effort  towards  relieving  the 
border  of  its  Yankees  and  cattle.  Information 
had  been  received  that  a  large  supply  train  would 
start  from  New  Creek  to  Petersburg  on  a  certain 
day ;  and,  moreover,  it  was  necessary  that  we 
should  hold  Petersburg  in  order  to  make  our 
search  for  cattle  successful.  The  plan  of  opera- 
don  having  been  decided  upon,  General  Early, 
with  Thomas'  brigade  of  infantry,  crossed  by 
Orkney  Springs,  General  Rosser's  brigade,  with 
McCallahan's  battery,  at  Brook's  Gap,  forming  a 
junction  at  Mathias'  on  the  31st,  and  entering 
Moorefield  on  the  1st  of  February.  That  night 
our  picket  on  the  Petersburg  road',  through  neg 
ligence,  was  captured  by  a  scouting  party  of  the 
enemy  that  advanced  within  half  a  mile  of  Gen 
eral  Early's  headquarters  without  becoming  aware 
of  our  presence.  General  Rosser,  in  order  to  pre 
vent  communication  between  Petersburg  and  the 
expected  train,  sent  out  Baylor's  squadron  of  the 
Twelfth  Virginia  cavalry,  with  a  guide,  to  inter 
cept  couriers  passing  from  one  point  to  anpther. 
The  brigade  moved  off  about  ten  A.  M.  on  the 
road  crossing  the  mountain,  and  intersecting  the 
Petersburg  and  New  Creek  road  about  five  miles 
above  Wiliiamsport. 

"  As  we  were  approaching  the  top  of  the  moun 
tain,  our  advance  guard  was  checked  by  an  in 
fantry  picket  of  the  enemy,  about  two  hundred 
8tT«»ng,  which  had  been  engaged  in  obstructing 
the  road.  They  moved  off  rapidly  and  safely ; 
for  pursuit  was  impracticable,  in  consequence  of 
the  thorough  blockade  the  enemy  had  constructed 
by  throwing  heavy  timber  across  the  road  for  a 
distance  of  three  miles,  and  digging  away  the 
road  itself  for  some  distance.  These  obstacles, 
by  means  of  axes  and  picks  in  the  hands  of  eager 
and  determined  men,  were  speedily  removed,  and 
in  a  few  moments  the  Yankees  were  again  in 
sight,  in  rapid  rout  for  the  Petersburg  road.  The 
Twelfth,  moving  down  on  them,  speedily  checked 
ihern  up,  but  was  unable  to  inffict  any  injury  on 
account  of  the  enemy's  position,  who  had  lost  no 
time  in  ensconcing  himself  in  the  thick  growth 
on  the  side  of  the  mountain.  At  this  crisis,  how 
ever,  Baylor's  squadron,  misled,  through  the  igno 
rance  of  their  guide,  came  up  in  the  rear  of  the 
enemy,  and  speedily  dislodged  him.  General 
Rosser,  following  with  his  cavalry  and  battery, 
turned  towards  Wiliiamsport,  and  came  up  within 
sight  of  the  enemy  about  two  miles  below,  just 
as  the  Yankee  picket  met  their  main  column. 
The  Yankees  were  eleven  hundred  strong,  under 
Colonel  Snyder.  Confident  of  easy  victory,  they 
h-nl  parked  their  train,  and  were  prepared  to  re 
ceive  us.  General  Rosser,  dismounting  detach 
ments  from  the  Eleventh,  Seventh,  Twelfth,  ard 
White's  battalion,  in  all  about  three  hundred 


guns,  placing  his  battery  in  position,  and  throw 
ing  forward  the  remaining  squadron  of  the  Seventh 
under  Major  Myers,  to  charge  the  enemy  when 
an  opportunity  offered,  sent  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Massie,  with  the  rest  of  the  Twelfth  Virginia,  to 
make  a  demonstration  in  the  enemy's  rear,  inter 
cept  communication,  and  blockade  the  road,  and 
commenced  the  attack.  Here  was  presented  a 
sight  novel  and  suggestive  —  dismounted  cav 
alry,  with  short-range  guns,  attacking  more  than 
three  times  their  number  of  infantry,  prepared 
both  by  time  and  position  to  receive  them.  Here 
the  genius  that  has  placed  General  Rosser,  at 
twenty-five,  in  a  position  unsurpassed  in  our 
military  annals,  the  genius  that  has  won  the 
admiration  of  his  men,  and  is  rapidly  filling,  in 
their  hearts,  the  place  left  void  by  the  death  of 
Ashby,  was  fully  manifested.  Pressing  rapidly 
upon  the  enemy,  he  drove  them  from  one  posi 
tion  to  another,  until,  having  fairly  uncovered 
their  train,  the  appearance  of  our  cavalry  in  their 
rear  excited  an  agitation  in  their  ranks  which  the 
effective  charge  of  Major  Myers  quickly  fomented 
into  a  panic  ;  the  enemy  sought  safety  in  the  neigh 
boring  mountain.  Meantime  General  Early  was 
moving  on  Petersburg,  and,  in  order  to  cooperate 
with  him,  the  pursuit  was  abandoned,  and  atten 
tion  turned  to  the  captured  train  —  ninety-four 
wagons,  four  hundred  and  fifty  mules,  flour, 
bacon,  salt,  molasses,  sugar,  coffee,  bears,  rice, 
overcoats,  and  blankets,  with  three  or  four  sut 
lers'  wagons,  loaded  with  all  manner  of  eatablea 
and  wrearables. 

"  '  Quod  nunc  describere  longum  eet,'  were  the 
fruits  of  victory !  Moving  back  towards  Peters 
burg,  we  encamped  for  the  night  about  ten  miles 
from  that  place.  Oysters,  sardines,  canned  fruits, 
brandy  peaches,  cheese  crackers,  &c.,  comprised 
our  '  homely  fare.'  We  learned  next  day,  while 
on  the  march,  that  Colonel  Thorburn,  command 
ing  at  Petersburg,  had  '  vamosed  the  ranche ' 
during  the  night,  and  was  then  on  his  way  to 
wards  New  Creek.  On  reaching  Petersburg  we 
found  the  camps  deserted,  but  the  huts  and  tents 
still  standing,  and  apparently  but  few  things  had 
been  burned.  Everything  bore  marks  of  haste, 
confusion,  and  flight ;  large  quantities  of  clothing, 
blankets,  overcoats,  and  provisions  were  secured, 
and  two  large  sutlers'  establishments  unearthed 
and  promptly  despatched.  In  a  short  time  Gen 
eral  Early,  with  Thomas'  brigade,  came  up,  chagrin 
and  disappointed  depicted  in  their  visages,  de 
prived  of  their  expected  glory  by  Yankee  pru 
dence,  and  of  their  anticipated  plunder  by  cavalry 
promptness.  As  the  only  means  of  relieving  their 
furore  and  assuaging  their  grief,  they  were  gen 
erously  permitted  to  burn  the  Yankee  quarters 
and  dig  down  their  earthworks.  After  a  confer 
ence  with  General  Early,  General  Rosser  moved 
again  towards  Burlington,  and  reached  there  next 
day  by  twelve  M.«  driving  in  and  bagging  the 
Yankee  picket.  Halting  here,  we  threatened,  by 
our  position,  both  New  Creek  and  Cumberland; 
and  information  received  during  the  day  showed 
I  that  at  the  former  place  we  were  painfully  ex- 
I  pected.  We  rno-  ed  ±  at  .light  five  miles  below, 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


437 


in  the  direction  of  Cumberland,  and  encamped  for 
the  night  on  the  farm  of  the  Hon.  James  Kars- 
caddan,  senator,  from  that  district,  in  the  august 
council  of  *  West  Virginia.'  Passing  through 
Frankfort  next  day,  we  struck  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Railroad  at  Patterson's  Creek  Station.  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  White,  with  his  memorable  battal 
ion,  being  in  front,  charged  the  camp,  riding  over 
the  infantry  picket;  he  surprised  the  guard  of 
forty  men,  killed  and  wounded  several,  and  cap 
tured  the  rest.  Here  we  destroyed  effectually  two 
large  railroad  bridges,  two  canal  locks  and  bridges, 
besides  destroying  the  railroad  houses  and  tele 
graph  wires,  and  relieving  a  large  Yankee  store 
house  of  its  contents.  I  neglected  to  mention 
that  Colonel  Marshall,  with  the  Seventh,  had  beer, 
previously  sent  to  hold  the  Mechanicsburg  Gap, 
three  miles  from  Romney,  and  that  Colonel  Mas- 
sie,  with  the  Twelfth,  had  been  left  at  Frankfort 
to  collect  cattle.  It  was  important  that  he  should 
return  the  same  day.  Leaving  the  railroad,  he 
reached  Frankfort,  and  learned  that  Averill  was 
in  Romney,  and  had  started  to  Springfield,  and 
was,  consequently,  apprised  of  our  whereabouts. 
At  the  same  time  we  received  information  from 
Colonel  Marshall  that  he  had  been  compelled  to 
abandon  the  Gap  near  Romney.  Things  certainly 
did  wear  a  sombre  hue.  But  General  Rosser, 
with  a  sagacity  amounting  almost  to  intuition, 
divined  their  schemes,  and  prepared  to  thwart 
them.  Pushing  on  with  his  command,  cattle,  and 
prisoners,  he  reached  Sheetz's  Mills  about  ten 
A.  M.,  and  took  the  road  that  intersects  the 
north-western  grade,  between  Burlington  and 
Romney,  the  enemy  holding  both  places.  Mov 
ing  towards  Moorefield,  he  encamped  about  twen 
ty  miles  from  there,  reaching  there  next  morning, 
the  enemy  occupying  our  camps  shortly  after  we 
left. 

"  Everything  was  ready  for  an  early  start  home 
ward  next  day.  But  lo!  Averill,  mystified  by 
our  movements,  and  thrown  completely  off  the 
Bcent,  appeared  next  morning  before  our  camps, 
and  threatened  immolation.  With  the  Christian 
fortitude  that  characterizes  true  martyrs,  we 
awaited  our  fate  —  awaited  long  and  patiently, 
but  waited  in  vain.  Yankee  Generals  rode  to  the 
front,  flourished  their  flags,  and  retired  ;  Yankee 
reconnoitrers  rode  up  on  high  hills,  reconnoitred, 
and  rode  down  again ;  Yankee  skirmishers  ex 
pended  much  private  strategy  in  securing  safe 
positions,  and  desperately  held  them.  Wearied 
with  waiting,  we  moved  off,  and  as  we  reached 
the  summit  of  the  mountain,  looking  back  down 
the  valley,  we  saw,  with  such  emotions  as  Gul 
liver  experienced  when  the  Lilliputian  army 
marched  between  his  legs,  these  valiant  defend 
ers  of  the  Constitution  drawn  up  in  formidable 
lines,  determined  'to  do  or  fly.'  We  reached 
camp  on  the  6th,  with  twelve  hundred  cattle,  and 
the  captures  already  enumerated.  Our  casualties 
are,  Lieutenant  ]  lowell,  Seventh,  lost  an  arm ; 
Captain  Richardson,  Eleventh,  shot  through  the 
leg ;  the  gallant  Lieutenant  Baylor,  slightly  in 
the  arm  ;  Mr.  John  H.  Buck,  of  the  brigade  staff, 
in  the  leg." 


THE  PRESENT  CRISIS. 

BY   JAMES   RUSSELL   LOWELL. 

WHEN  a  deed  is  done  for  Freedom,  through  'the 

broad  earth's  aching  breast 
Runs  a  thrill  of  joy  prophetic,  trembling  on  from 

east  to  west ; 
And  the  slave,  where'er  Le  cowers,  feels  the  soul 

within  him  climb 

To  the  awful  verge  of  manhood,  as  the  energy  sub 
lime 
Of  a  century  hirsts  full -blossomed  on  the  thorny 

stem  of  Time. 

Through  the  walls  of  hut  and  palace  shoots  the  in 
stantaneous  throe, 

When  the  travail  of  the  Ages  wrings  earth's  sys 
tems  to  and  fro  ; 

At  the  birth  of  each  new  Era,  with  a  recognizing 
start, 

Nation  wildly  looks  on  nation,  standing  with  mute 
lips  apart, 

And  glad  Truth's  yet  mightier  man-child  leaps  be 
neath  the  Future's  heart. 

For  mankind  are  one  in   spirit,    and   an  instinct 

bears  along, 
Round  the  earth's  electric  circle,  the  swift  flash  of 

right  or  wrong ; 
Whether  conscious  or  unconscious,  yet  humanity1  B 

vast  frame, 
Through  its  ocean-sundered  fibres,  feels  the  gush 

of  joy  or  shame;    ^ 
In  the  gain  or  loss  of  one  race,  all  the  rest  have 

equal  claim. 

Once,  to  every  man  and  nation,  comes  the  moment 

to  decide, 
In  the  strife  of  Truth  with  Falsehood,  for  the  good 

or  evil  side ; 
Some  great  cause,  God's  new  Messiah,  offering  each 

the  bloom  or  blight, 
Parts  the  goats  upon  the  left  hand,  and  the  sheep 

upon  the  right, 
And  the  choice  goes  by  forever  'twixt  that  darkness 

and  that  light. 

Hast  thou  chosen,  O  my  people,  on  whose  party 

thou  shalt  stand, 
Ere  the  Doom  from  its  worn  sandals  shakes  the 

dust  against  our  land  > 
Though  the  cause  of  Evil  prosper,  yet  'tis  Truth 

alone  is  strong ; 
And  albeit  she  wander  outcast  now,  I  see  around 

her  throng 
Troops  of  beautiful,   tall   angels,    to  enshield  her 

from  all  wrong. 

We  see  dimly,  in  the  Present,  what  is  small  and 

what  is  great ; 
Slow  of  faith,  how  weak  an  arm  may  turn  the  iroa 

helm  of  Fate ; 
But  the  soul  is  still  oracular  —  amid  the  market's 

din, 
L'st  the  ominous  stern  whisper  from  the  Delphic 

cave  within : 

| '  They  enslave  their  children's  children  who  make 
i  compromise  with  Sin  ! ; ' 


438 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Slavery,    the   earth-born    Cyclops,    fellest   of  the 

giant  brood, 
Sons  of  brutish  Force   and    Darkness,  who  have 

drenched  the  earth  with  blood, 
Famished  in  his  self-made  desert,  blinded  by  our 

purer  day, 
Gropes  in  yet  unblasted  regions  for  his  miserable 

prey : 
Shall  we  guide  his  gory  fingers  where  our  helpless 

children  play  r 

Tis  as  easy  to  be  heroes,  as  to  sit  the  idle  slaves 
Of   a   legendary   virtue  carved  upon   our  fathers' 

graves  : 
Worshippers  of  light  ancestral  make  the  present  light 

a  crime. 
Was    the    Mayflower    launched    by   cowards  ?  — 

steered  by  men  behind  their-  time  ? 
Turn  those  tracks  towards  Past,   or  Future,  that 

make  Plymouth  Rock  sublime  ? 


were  men  of  present  valor  —  stalwart  old 
iconoclasts ; 

Unconvinced  by  axe  or  gibbet  that  all  virtue  was 
the  Past's ; 

But  we  make  their  truth  our  falsehood,  thinking 
that  has  made  us  free, 

Hoarding  it  in  mouldy  parchments,  while  our  ten 
der  spirits  flee 

The  tude  grasp  of  that  great  Impulse  which  drove 
them  across  the  sea. 

New  occasions  teach  new  duties  !  Time  makes  an 
cient  good  uncouth  ; 

They  must  upward  still,  and  onward,  who  would 
keep  abreast  of  Truth  ; 

1*0,  beiore  us  gleam  her  camp  fires !  we  ourselves 
must  Pilgrims  be, 

Launch  our  Mayflower,  and  steer  boldly  through 
the  desperate  winter  sea, 

Nor  attempt  the  Future's  portal  with  the  Past's 
blood- rusted  key. 


A.  SIGHT  ON  THE  BATTLE-FIELD.  —  A  sol 
dier  who  fought  on  the  bloody  field  of  Shiloh, 
in  describing  the  sights  of  that  Golgotha,  says 
that  no  spectacle  was  more  appalling  than  one  he 
witnessed  just  as  the  defeated  army  of  Beaure- 
gard  commenced  its  retreat  upon  Corinth. 

The  enclosures  of  that  country  are  all  the  old 
Virginia  snake  fence,  in  the  angle  of  which  a 
person  may  sit  and  be  supported  on  each  side. 
In  such  an  angle,  and  with  his  feet  braced  against 
a  little  tree,  sat  a  man  apparently  in  middle  life, 
bolt  upright,  and  gazing  at  a  locket  in  his  hand. 

Approaching  nearer  he  was  shocked  to  find 
him  stone  dead  and  rigid  ;  his  stiffened  feet  so 
braced  against  the  tree  that  he  could  not  fall  for 
ward,  and  the  fence  supporting  each  wide  of  the 
corpse. 

The  dead  man's  eyes  were  open,  and  fixed,  with 
a  horrible  stony  stare,  on  the  daguerreotype, 
which  was  clinched  in  both  hands. 

In  a  hasty  glance  over  his  shoulder  the  soldier 
saw  the  figures  of  a  woman,  and  a  child  standing 
beside  her;  the  wife  and  daughter,  no  doubt, 
of  the  dead  man,  upon  which  the  eyes  of  the 
husband  and  father  had  not,  even  in  death,  ceased 
to  gaze. 


A  WAR  PICTURE.  —  Chickamauga  was  fought 
the  20th  September,  1863,  and  Lookout,  Moun 
tain  a  little  more  than  a  month  after.  During 
that  interval  the  two  antagonist  armies  lay  with 
in  cannon  shot  of  each  other  —  the  Union  foice 
in  Chattanooga,  the  rebel  MI  Lookout  Mountain 
and  Missionary  Kidge. 

The  panorama  pre.-ented  from  the  top  of  Look 
out  Mountain,  aside  from  its  rare  beauty  as  a 
landscape,  combined  more  of  the  wild  and  roman 
tic  scenery  of  war  than  any  other  combination  of 
picturesque  elements  made  during  the  whole  war. 

A  correspondent  of  the  Richmond  Sentinel 
wrote  the  following  admirable  sketch  of  what  he 
saw  from  the  mountain  top,  and  in  the  rebel  camp 
and  hospitals: 

"  When  setting  out  for  the  West  from  your 
city  a  few  weeks  ago,  a  friend  said  to  me  at  part 
ing,  '  If  you  write  from  the  West,  be  sure  and 
give  us  the  truth.'  Having  been  accustomed  to 
look  upon  '  News  from  the  West '  with  the  same 
suspicion,  I  promised  to  exercise  due  caution. 

"  Judge  of  my  chagrin  when  the  first  message  I 
sent  by  telegraph,  on  getting  to  Atlanta,  turned 
out  to  be  false.  Arriving  a  few  days  after  the 
fight,  a  rumor  that  Chattanooga  had  been  evacu 
ated  by  the  Yankees,  was  very  current.  I  did' 
not  believe  it.  It  happened,  however,  during  the 
day,  that  I  was  introduced  to  a  gentleman  of  high 
position  among  the  railroad  men  of  the  town, 
and,  on  inquiry,  I  was  informed  that  the  repoit 
was  true ;  that  General  Bragg  had  telegraphed 
for  a  train  to  leave  next  morning  for  that  point, 
via  Cleveland,  and  that  the  train  would  certainly 
go.  These  data  even  my  cautious  friend  in 
your  city  would  have  regarded  as  satisfactory.  I 
have  no  doubt  but  that  such  a  message  was 
received,  and  the  General,  for  the  second  time, 
at  least,  in  his  life,  telegraphed  too  soon. 

"  I  have  seen  about  fifteen  hundred  of  our 
wounded,  and- have  also  been  to  the  battle-field. 
The  wounded  I  saw  were  among  the  worst  cases. 
They  had  been  sent  down  to  the  (then)  terminus 
of  the  railroad,  on  Chickamauga  lliver,  —  many 
of  them  after  being  operated  upon,  and  many 
others  where  further  attempts  would  be  made  to 
save  the  limb.  Some  of  these  poor  fellows  were 
terribly  hurt.  Many  were  wounded  in  two  and 
three  places  —  sometimes  by  the  same  ball. 
Though  suffering  much  for  food  and  attention, 
they  were  in  remarkably  good  spirits.  It  would 
sicken  many  of  your  readers  were  I  to  describe 
minutely  the  sufferings  of  these  men  —  exposed, 
first,  for  four  days  upon  the  field,  and  in  the  field 
hospitals ;  then  hauled  in  heavy  army  wagons 
over  a  rocky  road  for  twelve  miles,  and  after 
wards  to  lie  upon  straw ;  some  in  the  open  air, 
and  others  under  sheds,  for  two  and  three  days 
more,  with  but  one  blanket  to  cover  w;*tb,  and 
none  to  lie  upon.  Nothing  that  I  have  seen  since 
the  war  began  has  so  deeply  impressed  me  with 
the  horrors  of  this  strife  as  frequent  visits  to  this 
hospital  at  Chickamauga.  God  forbid  that  such 
a  spectacle  may  be  witnessed  again  in  this  Con 
federacy !  I  did  not  visit  the  entire  battle-field, 
but  only  that  part  of  it  w>  ere  the  ntrife  was  most 
deadly.  It  being  i  wet  t  after  tie  fight,  I  saw 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


439 


only  about  fifteen  unburied  Yankees  and  two 
Confederates,  and  about  twenty  dead  horses  — 
nine  lying  upon  a  space  thirty  feet  square.  They 
had  belonged  to  one  of  our  batteries  which  at 
tempted  to  go  into  action  within  one  hundred  and 
twenty  yards  of  a  Yankee  battery  —  the  latter 
being  masked.  The  chief  evidences  of  a  severe 
engagement  were  the  number  of  bullet  marks  on 
the  trees.  The  ground  on  which  this  severe  con 
flict  took  place  was  a  beautiful  wood,  with  but 
little  'undergrowth. 

"  I  never  saw  a  more  beautiful  place  for  skir 
mishing,  and  I  have  understood  from  men  in  the 
fight  that  the  Yankees  favored  this  mode  of  war 
fare  greatly,  the  men  taking  to  the  trees.  But 
our  boys  dashed  upon  them  and  drove  them  from 
this  cover.  I  had  heard  that  the  battle-ground 
was  like  that  of  Seven  Pines,  but  that  part  I 
visited  had  no  such  resemblance.  It  was  open 
and  gently  undulating.  Here  and  there  you 
would  find  a  small,  cleared  field.  Very  little  ar 
tillery  was  used,  though  some  correspondents  say 
the  '  roar  was  deafening.'  It  has  been  also  said 
that  the  enemy  were  driven  from  behind  '  strong 
breastworks  '  on  Sunday.  The  works  I  saw  were 
mean,  consisting  of  old  logs,  badly  thrown  to 
gether.  1  saw  in  one  collection  thirty-three  pieces 
of  captured  artillery,  and  nineteen  thousand  mus 
kets,  in  very  good  order.  These  latter  will  be  of 
great  service  in  arming  the  exchanged  Vicksburg 
prisoners.  But  before  closing  I  must  tell  you  of  a 
little  affair  in  which  Longstreet's  artillery  took  a 
part.  Chattanooga,  as  you  know,  lies  in  a  deep 
ibid  of  the  Tennessee  River.  In  front  of  the 
town,  and  three  miles  east  of  it,  Missionary  Ridge 
runs  from  north  to  south,  completely  investing 
the  town  in  this  direction.  On  the  west  of  the 
town  Lookout  Mountain,  with  its  immense  rocky 
'lookout'  peak,  approaches  within  three  miles, 
and  rests  upon  the  river,  which  winds  beneath  its 
base.  The  Yankee  line  (the  right  wing  of  it) 
rests  about  three  fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  base 
of  the  mountain.  Our  pickets  occupy  the  base. 
The  river  makes  a  second  fold  just  here,  and  in 
it  is  '  Moccason  Ridge,'  on  the  opposite  side, 
where  the  Yankees  have  several  casemated  bat 
teries,  which  guard  their  right  Hank.  When  on 
the  mountain  this  ridge  is  just  beneath  you,  say 
twelve  hundred  yards,  but  separated  by  the  river. 
From  this  mountain  you  have  one  of  the  grandest 
views,  at  present,  I  ever  beheld.  You  see  the 
river  far  beneath  you  in  six  separate  and  distinct 
places,  like  six  lakes.  You  see  the  mountains  of 
Alabama  and  Georgia  and  Tennessee  in  the  dis 
tance,  and  just  at  your  feet  you  see  Chattanooga 
and  the  Yankee  army,  and  in  front  of  it  you  see 
the  '  Star '  fort,  and  also  two  formidable  forts  on 
the  left  wing,  north  of  the  town.  You  see  their 
whole  line  of  rifle  pits,  from  north  to  south. 
Along  the  base  of  Missionary  Ridge  the  Confed 
erate  tents  are  seen  forming  a  beautiful  crescent ; 
arid  perched  high  upon  the  top  of  this  ridge, 
overlooking  this  grand  basin,  you  see  four  or  five 
white  tents,  where  General  Bragg  has  his  head 
quarters.  Our  army  is  strongly  fortified  upon 
the  rising  ground  along  the  base  of  the  ridge.  I 


have  ridden  three  miles  along  these  fortifications, 
and  think  they  are  the  best  of  the  kind  I  ever 
saw.  Now  for  the  little  affair  I  spoke  of.  Colonel 
E.  P.  Alexander,  General  Longstreet's  active  and 
skilful  Chief  cf  Artillery,  hoped  he  might  be 
able  to  shell  Chattanooga,  or  the  enemy's  camps, 
from  this  mountain,  and  t,hree  nights  ago  twenty 
long-ranged  rifle  pieces  were  brought  up,  after 
great  difficulty.  It  was  necessary  to  bring  them 
up  at  night,  because  the  mountain  road  is  in 
many  places  commanded  by  the  batteries  on 
Moccason  Ridge.  We  used  mules  in  getting  ou: 
heaviest  pieces  up.  They  pull  with  more  steadi 
ness  than  horses.  Every  gun  was  located  behind 
some  huge  rock,  so  as  to  protect  the  cannoneers 
from  the  cross-  fire  of  the  « Ridge.'  The  firing 
was  begun  by  seme  guns  upon  the  right  in  Gen 
eral  Polk's  corps.  Only  one  gun  in  that  quarter 
(twenty-four  pound  rifle  gun)  could  reach  the 
enemy's  lines.  At  one  P.  M.,  order  was  given  to 
open  the  rifles  from  the  mountain.  Parker's  bat 
tery,  being  highest  up  the  mountain,  opened  first, 
and  then  down  among  the  rocky  soils  of  the 
mountain.  Jordan's,  Woolfolk's,  and  other  bat 
teries  spoke  out  in  thunder  tones.  The  reverber 
ations  were  truly  grand.  Old  Moccason  turned 
loose  upon  us  with  great  fury  ;  but  '  munitions 
of  rocks '  secured  us.  All  their  guns  being  se 
curely  casemated,  we  could  do  them  little  or  no 
injury;  so  we  paid  little  or  no  attention  to  them. 
Colonel  Alexander,  with  his  glass  and  signal  flag, 
took  position  higher  up  in  the  mountain,  and 
watched  the  shots.  Most  of  our  fuses  (nine  tenths 
of  them,  indeed)  were  of  no  account,  and  hence 
there  was  great  difficulty  to  see  where  our  shot 
struck,  only  a  few  exploding.  The  Yankees  in 
their  rifle  pits  made  themselves  remarkably  small. 
They  swarmed  before  the  firing  began,  but  soon 
disappeared  from  sight.  We  fired  slowly,  every 
cannoneer  mounting  the  rocks  and  watching  the 
shot.  After  sinking  the  trail  of  the  guns,  so  as 
to  give  an  elevation  of  "wenty-one  degrees,  the 
shots  continued  to  fall  short  of  the  camps  and  the 
principal  works  of  the  enemy,  and  the  order  was 
given  to  cease  firing.  It  has  been  reported  we 
killed  and  wounded  a  few  men  in  the  advanced 
works.  Last  night  at  nine,  four  shots,  at  regular 
intervals  and  for  special  reasons,  were  fired  at  the 
town,  and  it  was  amusing  to  see  the  fires  in  the 
camps  go  out.  The  pickets,  poor  fellows,  were 
the  first  to  extinguish  their  little  lights,  which, 
like  a  thread  of  bright  beads,  encircled  the  great 
breast  of  the  army.  We  have  spent  two  nights 
upon  the  mountain.  It  is  hard  to  say  which  is 
the  most  beautiful  —  the  scene  by  night,  when 
thousands  of  camp  fires  show  the  different  lines 
of  both  armies  with  a  dark,  broad  band  between 
them,  called  '  neutral  ground,'  and  when  the  pick 
et  by  his  little  fire  looks  suspiciously  into  this 
dark  terra  incognita  the  livelong  night,  or  the 
view  after  sunrise  before  the  fog  rises,  when  the 
valley  northward  and  eastward  as  far  as  the  eye 
can  reach  looks  like  one  great  ocean.  The  tops 
of  the  trees  of  Missionary  Ridge,  in  the  east,  are 
seen  above  the  great  waste  of  waters,  and  here 
and  there  in  the  great  distance  some  mountain 


440 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


peak  rears  its  head.  I  have  seen  celebrated  pic 
tures  of  Noah's  deluge,  but  nothing  comparable 
to  this. 

"  The  view  by  clear  daylight  is  also  very  grand 
and  beautiful.  The  Yankees  and  their  lines  are 
seen  with  great  distinctness,  and  appear  so  near 
that  you  think  you  could  almost  throw  a  stone 
into  their  camps.  You  see  every  wagon  that 
moves,  and  every  horse  carried  to  water.  What 
will  be  done  next  I  would  not  tell  if  I  knew. 
Something  decisive  can  and  ought  to  be  done, 
and  done  soon  too.  Bragg  has  a  fine  army,  and 
is  able  to  whip  llosecrans  in  a  fair  field.  Long- 
street's  men  say  these  Western  Yankees  do  not 
fight  like  the  Eastern  Yankees.  There  is  no  dif 
ference  of  opinion  on  this  subject,  I  find.  May 
God  give  wisdom,  and  soon  crown  our  efforts 
with  great  and  complete  success." 


ANECDOTE  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.  —  Mr. 
Lincoln's  practical  shrewdness  is  exemplified  in 
the  following  anecdote,  which  is  sufficiently  char 
acteristic  : 

In  the  purlieus  of  the  Capitol  at  Washington, 
the  story  goes  that,  after  the  death  of  Chief  Jus 
tice  Taney,  and  before  the  appointment  of  Mr. 
Chase  in  his  stead,  a  committee  of  citizens  from 
the  Philadelphia  Union  League,  with  a  distin 
guished  journalist  at  their  head  as  chairman,  pro 
ceeded  to  Washington,  for  the  purpose  of  laying 
before  the  President  the  reason  why,  in  their 
opinion,  Mr.  Chase  should  be  appointed  to  the 
vacancy  on  the  bench.  They  took  with  them  a 
memorial  addressed  to  the  President,  which  was 
read  to  him  by  one  of  the  committee.  After  lis 
tening  to  the  memorial,  the  President  said  to 
them,  in  a  very  deliberate  manner  :  "  Will  you 
do  me  the  favor  to  leave  that  paper  with  me  ?  I 
want  it  in  order  that,  if  I  appoint  Mr.  Chase,  I 
may  show  the  friends  of  the  other  persons  for 
whom  the  office  is  solicited,  by  how  powerful  an 
influence,  and  by  what  strong  personal  recom 
mendations,  the  claims  of  Mr.  Chase  were  sup 
ported." 

The  committee  listened  with  great  satisfaction, 
and  were  about  to  depart,  thinking  that  Mr.  Chase 
was  sure  of  the  appointment,  when  they  per 
ceived  that  Mr.  Lincoln  had  not  finished  what  he 
intended  to  say.  "  And  I  want  the  paper,  also," 
continued  he,  after  a  pause,  "  in  order  that,  if  I 
should  appoint  any  other  person,  I  may  show  his 
friends  how  powerful  an  influence,  and  what 
strong  recommendations,  I  was  obliged  to  disre 
gard  in  appointing  him."  The  committee  de 
parted  as  wise  as  they  came. 


A  GOOD  RUSE.  —  While  the  rebels  were  near 
Georgetown,  Kentucky,  in  1862,  a  resident  of 
Lexington  put  on  secesh  clothes  and  rode  to  the 
house  of  Mrs.  Johnston,  widow  of  the  late  "  Pro 
visional  Governor,"  and  when  at  the  gate  met  *. 
little  son  of  John  C.  B re ckin ridge,  who  said : 

"  Yes,  I  am  Champ  Ferguson." 

"  You  are  one  of  Morgan's  men." 


"  Well,  let  me  call  aunt  (Mrs.  Johnston)  ;  she 
will  do  anything  she  can  for  you." 

In  a  moment  Mrs.  Johnston  appeared. 

"  Yo  i  are  the  celebrated  Mr.  Ferguson  ;  wel 
come  here." 

A  dinner  was  prepared,  of  which  the  individual 
partook  with  great  relish.  When  he  was  about 
t^  remount,  Mrs.  Johnston  said  : 

'Your  horse  is  jaded;  I'll  give  you  a  better 
one  X)  driv3  the  Yankee's  from  the  State." 

A  contraband  was  called,  and  one  of  the  finest 
horses  brought  out,  on  which  the  pretended  se 
cesh  returned  to  Lexington  rejoicing. 


THE   DOG   OF  THE  REGIMENT. 

"  IF  I  were  a  poet,  like  you,  my  friend," 

Said  a  bronzed  old  Sergeant,  speaking  to  me, 
"  I  would  make  a  rhyme  on  this  mastiff  here ; 

For  a  right  good  Union  dog  is  he, 
Although  he  was  born  on  « secesh '  soil, 

And  his  master  fought  in  the  rebel  ranks. 
If  you'll  do  it,  I'll  tell  you  his  history, 

And  give  you  in  pay,  why  —  a  soldier's  thanks. 

"Well,  the  way  we  came  across  him  was  this: 
We  were  on  the  march,  and  'twas  getting  late 

When  we  reached  a  farm-house,  deserted  by  all 
Save  this  mastiff  here,  who  stood  at  the  gate. 

Thin  and  gaunt  as  a  wolf  was  he, 

And  a  piteous  whine  he  gave  'twixt  the  bars; 

But,  bless  you !  if  he  didn't  jump  for  joy 

.     When  he  saw  our  flag  with  the  Stripes  and  Star* 

"Next  day,  wher.  we  started  again  on  the  march 

With  us  went  Jack,  without  wor-'l  or  call, 
Stopping  for  rest  at  the  order  to  '  halt,' 

And  taking  his  rations  along  with  us  all, 
Never  straggling,  but  keeping  his  place  in  line, 

Far  to  the  right,  and  close  beside  me; 
And  I  don't  care  where  the  other  is  found, 

There  never  was  better  drilled  dog  than  he. 

"He  always  went  with  us  into  the  fight, 

And  the  thicker  the  bullets  fell  around, 
And  the  louder  the  rattling  musketry  rolled, 

Louder  and  fiercer  his  bark  would  sound ; 
And  once,  when  wounded,  and  left  for  dead, 

After  a  bloody  and  desperate  right, 
Poor  Jack,  as  faithful  as  friend  can  be, 

Lay  by  my  side  on  the  field  all  night. 

"And  so,  when  our  regiment  home  returned, 

We  brought  him  along  with  us,  as  you  see ; 
And  Jack  and  I  being  much  attached, 

The  boys  seemed  to  think  he  belonged  to  me. 
And  here  he  has  lived  with  m'e  ever  since ; 

Right  pleased  with  his  quarters,  too,  he  seems. 
There  are  no  more  battles  for  brave  old  Jack, 

And  no  more  marches  except  in  dreams. 

"But  the  best  of  all  times  for  the  old  dog  is 

When  the  thunder  mutters  along  the  sky, 
Then  he  wakes  the  echoes  around  with  his  bark, 

Thinking  the  enemy  surely  is  nigh. 
Now  I've  told  you  his  history,  write  him  a  rhyme, 

Some  day  poor  Jack  in  his  grave  must  rest,  — 
And  of  all  the  rhymes  of  this  cruel  war 

Which  your  bi  tin  has  made,  let  his  be  the  best." 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


441 


A  PROVIDENTIAL  DELIVERANCE.  —  It  is  well 
known  that  Major  Anderson  was  an  earnest  sup 
pliant  for  divine  guidance  in  all  the  perplexities 
of  his  position  in  Charleston  harbor.  He  recog 
nizes  many  instances  of  direct  answers  to  his 
prayers  during  the  long  and  anxious  weeks  in 
which  he  upheld  the  honor  of  his  country's  flag. 
The  following  incident  is  narrated  by  a  contributor 
to  the  Christian  Intelligencer : 

"  Permit  me  to  give  an  unpublished  fact  in  re 
spect  to  the  hero  of  Fort  Sumter.  It  was  nar 
rated  by  the  General  himself,  in  the  following 
words.  Said  he :  'A  remarkable  circumstance 
occurred  at  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter,  which 
I  can  only  attribute  to  a  kind  Providence.  On 
abandoning  Fort  Moultrie,  we,  of  course,  took 
what  ammunition  we  could  with  us.  Sumter  was 
a  new  and  unfinished  fort.  It  had  two  magazines, 
but  neither  was  completed.  A  Lieutenant  came 
to  me  for  orders  as  to  wiiich  he  should  put  the 
mimunition  into.  Thinking  there  was  no  choice, 
}r,  perhnps,  not  having  any  special  reason,  I  as 
signed  the  one  to  be  occupied.  I  afterwards 
Uncovered  that  the  one  so  taken  was  the  most 
Deposed.  In  a  word,  it  was  a  moral  certainty, 
ihat  if  I  had  first  examined  the  two,  I  should  not 
-lave  ordered  the  occupancy  of  the  one  I  did.  In 
the  bombardment,  hot  shot  was  freely  used. 
Judge  of  our  feelings  at  the  surrender,  when  it 
was  found  that  a  red-hot  cannon  ball  was  lying  at 
the  bottom  of  the  unused  magazine.  So  that, 
had  I  selected  that  one,  the  entire  garrison  must 
have  been  blown  into  eternity ! '  It  would  be  well 
if  our  public  men  generally  observed  the  precept : 
In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  Him." 


THE  STAR  BRIGADE  AT  CIIICKAMAUGA.  —The 
Southern  war-writers  have  said  much  of  the  cour 
age  and  prowess  displayed  by  their  arms  in  the 
last  great  battle  won  by  the  Confederates,  and, 
no  doubt,  the  praises  bestowed  upon  McNair's 
brigade,  of  Hood's  division,  were  won  by  the 
most  gallant  and  soldierly  qualities  on  that  hard- 
fought  field. 

The  war  correspondent  of  one  of  the  Mont 
gomery  papers  has  given  a  vivid  description  of 
the  part  they  bore  in  the  two  days'  battles. 

"The  band  of  heroes,"  he  writes, "  composing  this 
brigade,  consists  of  the  First,  Second,  and  Fourth 
Arkansas  dismounted  cavalry,  the  Twenty-first 
and  Thirty-first  Arkansas  infantry,  the  Fourth  Ar 
kansas  battalion,  and  the  Thirty-ninth  North  Caro 
lina,  under  Colonel  Coleman.  In  the  command 
the  North  Carolinians  were  better  known  as  the 
'  Tar  heels,'  perhaps  from  their  tenacity  of  purpose 
as  well  as  their  having  been  enlisted  in  the  piny 
woods  of  the  old  North  State. 

"  On  Saturday,  the  first  day  of  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga,  at  noon,  this  brigade  was  ordered 
to  support  General  Gregg's  command,  then  sorely 
pressed,  on  the  left  of  Hood's  division.  Gregg 
was  holding  his  position  with  great  difficulty 
against  tremendous  odds.  When  ordered  to  ad 
vance,  McNair's  brigade  rushed  over  Gregg's 


column,  the  Thirty-ninth  North  Carolina  and  the 
Twenty-fifth  Arkansas  being  led  by  Colonel  Cole 
man.  The  Yankees  gave  way,  but  in  good  order; 
and  were  driven  not  less  than  three  fourths  of  ? 
mile.  General  Gregg  pronounced  this  charge  one 
of  the  most  brilliant  achievements  of  the  duy. 
A  Yankee  regiment,  which  encountered  the  Thir 
ty-ninth  North  Carolina  and  Twenty-fifth  Arkan 
sas,  was  almost  annihilated.  These  two  skeleton 
regiments  halted  oiue  to  await  support;  but  not 
receiving  it,  they  advanced  through  the  woods 
into  the  open  country,  where  their  own  weakness 
and  the  strength  of  the  Federal  lines  became 
apparent.  Cc.eman'a  command,  having  exhausted 
their  ammunition,  withdrew  to  Gregg's  line  of 
battle,  and  encamped  for  the  night. 

"  In  the  great  battle  of  Sunday,  McNair's  bri 
gade  were  on  the  left,  next  to  Hood's  division. 
At  half  past  nine  they  were  lying  behind  an  im 
perfect  breastwork  of  fallen  trees.  A  strong  col 
umn  of  the  enemy  advanced  upon  them.  They 
were  received  with  a  destructive  fire,  and  falling 
back,  were  charged  by  McNair's  brigade,  and 
driven  in  confusion  over  two  lines  of  breastworks 
into  the  open  fields.  On  an  eminence,  two  lines 
of  Yankee  batteries  commanded  the  open  space. 
Just  before  his  men  entered  this  broad  field,  Gen 
eral  McNair  was  wounded.  The  gallant  Colonel 
Harper,  of  the  First  Arkansas,  was  killed,  and 
the  command  of  the  brigade  devolved  upon  Col 
onel  Coleman.  The  brigade  now  diverged  to  the 
right,  and,  under  the  leadership  of  the  gallant 
North  Carolinian,  captured  both  the  batteries. 
Eight  of  the  pieces  were  at  once  takon  to  the 
rear,  and  two  others  were  afterwards  removed. 
General  Bragg  gave  Colonel  Coleman  an  order 
for  three  of  these  guns  to  attach  to  his  command. 

"  These  batteries  were  supported  by  a  very 
strong  Federal  force; — but  McNair's  brigade 
charged  so  rapidly,  loading  and  firing  as  they 
went,  that  the  Yankees  were  surprised  and 
routed.  The  assault  was  ferocious,  and  the  vic 
tory  complete. 

"  The  Federal  artillerists  fought  infinitely  better 
than  their  infantry  supports,  actually  throwing 
shell  and  shot  with  their  hands  into  the  faces  of 
our  men  when  they  could  no  longer  load  their 
pieces.  The  two  batteries  captured  were  about 
one  hundred  yards  apart,  and  when  the  guns 
were  captured,  our  men  were  compelled  to  move 
off'  with  the  utmost  rapidity. 

"  Colonel  Coleman  was  the  first  to  place  his 
hand  upon  a  Federal  field  piece,  and  the  banner 
of  the  Thirty-ninth  North  Carolina  was  the  first 
unfurled  above  them,  cheer  after  cheer  announcing 
the  triumph  of  our  gallant  men ;  and  then  came 
the  hurried  withdrawal  of  the  guns  from  their 
place  in  the  Federal  lines. 

"  Lieutenant-Colonel  Reynolds  and  Adjutant 
J.  1).  Hardin  were  just  behind  Colonel  Coleman 
when  he  reached  the  Federal  guns.  Hardin  was 
shot  through  the  neck  in  the  afternoon.  When  the 
brigade  again  fell  back  to  our  lines,  and  had  ob 
tained  supplies  arid  ammunition,  it  was  again  or 
dered  forward  to  a  height  on  the  left,  to  support 
Ilobrison's  batte/y  on  the  Lookout  V alley  rjad. 


442 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


With  Johnson's  brigade  and  Hindman's  division 
on  the  right,  and  Manigault's  on  the  left,  Colonel 
Goleman  advanced  to  the  closing  fight  of  the  day. 

"  By  successive  charges  the  enemy  were  driven 
slowly,  but  steadily,  from  the  chain  of  hills  which 
formed  his  position,  and  the  battle  closed.  Two 
hours  more  of  daylight,  and  this  portion  of  Rose- 
crans'  army  would  have  been  annihilated. 

"  Captain  Culpepper,  belonging  to  this  brigade, 
displayed  great  skill  and  heroism.  The  loss  of 
the  brigade  in  killed  and  wounded  was  about  forty 
per  cent.  The  Thirty-ninth  North  Carolina  en 
tered  the  fight  with  two  hundred  and  thirty-eight 
men,  and  lost  over  one  hundred.  Of  the  whole 
brigade  there  are  left  about  eight  hundred  men. 
Colonel  Coleman's  coat  was  pierced  by  a  ball,  but 
he  is  unharmed. 

"  The  gallant  Captain  Moore  was  killed,  and 
Colonel  Huff'shedler,  of  the  Twenty-fifth  Arkansas, 
was  pierced  by  five  balls,  yet  not  killed." 


ORDERS  HIS  OWN  EXECUTION.  —  During  the 
siege  at  Yorktown,  a  correspondent,  who  was 
watching  its  progress,  related  the  following  inci 
dent  :  "  Last  night  an  officer  was  shot  by  one  of 
his  own  men.  The  officer,  Captain  A.  R.  Wood, 
had  posted  his  last  picket  and  left  him  with  this 
order  :  '  Shoot  the  first  man  who  approaches  from 
the  direction  of  the  rebels,  without  waiting  to  ask 
for  the  countersign.'  It  was  quite  dark,  and  the 
olficer  left  the  picket  and  lost  his  way,  wandering 
from  our  '  lines  '  instead  of  to  them.  He  soon 
discovered  his  mistake,  and  turned  back.  He 
approached  the  soldier  to  whom  he  had  given  the 
decisive  order.  In  the  shadow  the  faithful  and 
quick-sighted  private  saw  the  dark  figure  stealing 
towards  him  :  in  an  instant  he  raised  his  piece, 
and  shot  his  own  Captain  through  the  side.  The 
wound  was  mortal  ;  and  thus  it  turned  out  that 
the  officer  bad  given  the  orders  for  his  own  exe 
cution.  Such  are  the  chances  of  war.  Picket 
service  here  is  most  perilous  ;  and,  considering 
that  the  safety  of  the  whole  army  depends  on  the 
faithfulness  with  which  this  duty  is  performed, 
one  cannot  wonder  that  those  detailed  for  it  are 
so  ready  to  execute  the  commands  of  their  supe- 


LET  us  LOVE  OUR  FLAG.  —  "  As  I  sat  by  the 
bed  of  a  sick  soldier,  I  saw  on  his  arm  what  ap 
peared  to  me  to  he  our  national  flag. 

"  '  Yoa  have  the  American  flag  on  your  arm  ?  ' 
I  said  to  him,  inquiringly. 

"  '  Yes,  ma'am,'  he  replied,  and  began  to  pull 
jp  his  shirt  sleeve  that  I  might  see  it  more  dis 
tinctly.  '  That  was  put  in  when  I  was  nine  years 
old  ;  I  fainted  several  times  while  it  was  being 
done,  but  I  would  have  it  there.' 

"  1  looked  at  his  arm.  There  was  the  Goddess 
of  Liberty,  bearing  in  her  hand  our  Star-spangled 
Banner.  The  red  stripes  had  been  put  on  in  ver 
milion. 

"  '  That  is  a  mark  the  rebels  would  not  like,'  I 
remarked  to  him. 

"  I  always  supposed  if  I  should  be  taken  pris 


oner  I  should  be  murdered,  because  of  this  mark 
but  I  was  determined  to  fight  for  the  flag  thaf 
protected  me.  It  protected  me  when  I  came  to 
thi'  country,  seven  years  old,  and  under  it  I  'have 
had  toy  living  ever  since.  I  want  to  die  under  its 
folds.' 

"  '  You  die  for  your  country  just  as  truly  as  if 
you  died  on  the  cattle-field,  and  I  thank  you  for 
what  you  have  done  for  us,'  I  said  to  the  poor  fel 
low,  who  was  suffering  from  heart  disease  and 
dropsy,  and  who  is  liable  every  moment  to  be 
taken  from  this  fighting  world. 

"  '  Do  you  ever  regret  that  you  volunteered?  ' 

"  '  Never.  I  have  done  what  I  could,  and  am 
willing  to  die  in  this  way.' 

"  The  young  Irishman  seemed  to  have  a  true 
attachment  to  the  flag  of  his  adopted  country. 
Pie  has  given  his  life  for  it.  How  is  it  with  our 
selves  ?  Do  we  really  love  it,  and  prize  it  as  we 
should  ?  Is  it  the  symbol  of  progress,  of  political 
and  religious  freedom  ?  We  should  cherish  it  as 
we  cherish  God's  best  gifts  to  us,  and  we  should 
be  willing,  if  need  be,  to  die  for  it.  We  must 
teach  our  children  to  love  it,  to  consider  its  safety 
superior  to  their  own,  and  to  be  willing  to  make 
any  sacrifice  which  it  requires.  We  must  pray 
for  it,  and  teach  our  children  to  pray  for  it.  Let 
us  not  be  too  much  tried  by  the  self-denials  and 
privations  that  war  is  bringing  upon  us.  Let  us 
bear  it  nobly  and  uncomplainingly,  with  hearts  full 
of  steadfast  faith  and  trust  in"  God,  and  let  us 
grow  strong  in  patriotism,  as  were  our  grand 
mothers  before  us.  They  left  us  a  precious  legacy. 
Shall  we  leave  one  of  less  value  to  our  children  ?  " 


THE  CHARGE  AT  SPRINGFIELD,  Mo.  —  This 
brilliant  exploit  of  Fremont's  Body  Guard,  under 
the  leadership  of  Major  Zagonyi,  and  the 
"Prairie  Scouts"  of  Major  Frank  Ward,  forms 
one  of  the  most  interesting  chapters  in  the  history 
of  the  war. 

"  The  foe  were  advised  of  the  intended  attack. 
When  Major  Wright  was  brought  into  their  camp, 
they  were  preparing  to  defend  their  position.  As 
appears  from  the  confession  of  prisoners,  they 
had  twenty-two  hundred  men,  of  whom  four 
hundred  were  cavalry,  the  rest  being  infantry, 
armed  with  shot  guns,  American  rifles,  and  re 
volvers.  Twelve  hundred  of  their  foot  were 
posted  along  the  edge  of  the  wood  upon  the  crest 
of  the  hill.  The  cavalry  was  stationed  upon  the  ex 
treme  left,  on  top  of  a  spur  of  the  hill,  and  in  front 
of  a  patch  of  timber.  Sharpshooters  were  concealed 
behind  the  trees  close  to  the  fence  alongside  the 
lane,  and  a  small  number  in  some  underbrush 
near  the  foot  of  the  hill.  Another  detachment 
guarded  their  train,  holding  possession  cf  the 
county  fair  ground,  which  was  surrounded  by  a 
high  board  fence. 

"  This  position  was  unassailable  by  cavalry 
from  the  road,  the  only  point  of  attack  being 
down  the  lane  en  the  right ;  and  -the  enemy  were 
so  disposed  as  to  command  this  approach  perfectly. 
The  lane  was  a  blind  one,  being  closed,  after 
jassing  tl.e  brc ok,  by  fences  and  ploughed  land; 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


443 


it  was  in  fact  a  cul-de-sac.  If  the  infantry  should 
stand,  nothing  could  save  the  rash  assailants. 
There  are  horsemen  sufficient  to  sweep  the  little 
band  before  them,  as  helplessly  as  the  withered 
forest-leaves  in  the  grasp  of  the  autumn  winds ; 
there  are  deadly  marksmen  lying  behind  the  trees 
upon  the  heights,  and  lurking  in  the  long  grass 
npon  the  lowlands ;  while  a  long  line  of  foot 
stand  upon  the  summit  of  the  slope,  who,  only 
stepping  a  few  paces  back  into  the  forest,  may 
defy  the  boldest  riders.  Yet  down  this  narrow 
lane,  leading  into  the  very  jaws  of  death,  came  the 
three  hundred. 

"On  the  prairie,  at  the  edge  of  the  woodland, 
in  which  he  knew  his  wily  foe  lay  hidden,  Zagonyi 
halted  his  command.  He  spurred  along  the  line. 
With  eager  glance  he  scanned  each  horse  and 
rider.  To  his  officers  he  gave  the  simple  order, 
'  Follow  me !  do  as  I  do  !'  and  then,  drawing  up 
in  front  of  his  men,  with  a  voice  tremulous  and 
shrill  with  emotion,  he  spoke : 

" '  Fellow-soldiers,  comrades,  brothers  !  This 
is  your  first  battle.  For  our  three  hundred,  the 
enemy  are  two  thousand.  If  any  of  you  are  sick, 
or  tired  by  the  long  march,  or  if  any  think  the 
number  is  too  great,  now  is  the  time  to  turn 
back.'  He  paused — no  one  was  sick  or  tired. 
'  We  must  not  retreat.  Our  honor,  the  honor  of 
our  General  and  our  country,  tell  us  to  go  on.  I 
will  lead  you.  We  have  been  called  holiday 
soldiers  for  the  pavements  of  St.  Louis ;  to-day 
we  will  show  that  we  are  soldiers  for  the  battle. 
Your  watchword  shall  be  — "  The  Union  and 
Fremont ! "  Draw  sabre !  By  the  right  flank  — 
quick  trot  —  march  ! ' 

"  Bright  swords  flashed  in  the  sunshine,  a  pas 
sionate  shout  burst  from  every  lip,  and  with  one 
accord,  the  trot  passing  into  a  gallop,  the  compact 
column  swept  on  in  its  deadly  purpose.  Most  of 
them  were  boys.  A  few  weeks  before,  they  had 
left  their  homes.  Those  who  were  cool  enough 
to  note  it  say  that  ruddy  cheeks  grew  pale,  and 
fiery  eyes  were  dimmed  with  tears.  Who  shall 
tell  what  thoughts,  what  visions  of  peaceful  cot 
tages  nestling  among  the  groves  of  Kentucky,  or 
shining  upon  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  and  the  Illi 
nois —  what  sad  recollections  of  teaiful  farewells, 
of  tender,  loving  faces,  filled  their  minds  during 
those  fearful  moments  of  suspense  ?  No  word 
was  spoken.  With  lips  compressed,  firmly 
clinching  their  sword-hilts,  with  quick  tramp  of 
hoofs  and  clang  of  steel,  honor  leading  and  glory 
awaiting  them,  the  young  soldiers  flew  forward, 
each  brave  rider  and  each  straining  steed  mem 
bers  of  one  huge  creature,  enormous,  terrible, 
irresistible. 

« 'Twere  worth  ten  years  of  peaceful  life, 
One  glance  at  their  array.' 

"  They  pass  the  fair  ground.  They  are  at  the 
corner  of  the  lane  where  the  wood  begins.  It 
runs  close  to  the  fence  on  their  left  for  a  hundred 
yards,  and  beyond  it  they  see  white  tents  gleam- 
mg.  They  are  half  way  past  the  forest,  when, 
sharp  and  loud,  a  volley  of  musketry  bursts  upon 
the  head  of  the  column;  horses  stagger,  riders 


reel  and  fall,  but  the  troop  presses  forward  un 
dismayed.  The  farther  corner  of  the  wood  is 
reached,  and  Zagonyi  beholds  the  terrible  array. 
Amazed,  he  involuntarily  checks  his  horse.  The 
rebels  are  not  surprised.  There  to  his  left  they 
stand  crowning  the  height,  foot  and  horse  ready 
to  ingulf  him,  if  hi  shall  be  rash  enough  to  go 
on.  The  road  he  is  following  declines  rapidly. 
There  is  but  one  thing  to  do  —  run  the  gantlet, 
gain  the  cover  of  the  hill,  and  charge  up  the  steep. 
Ihese  ^hanghts  pass  quicker  than  they  can  be  told. 
He  waves  his  sabre  over  his  head,  and  shouting, 
'  Forward  !  follow  me  !  quick  trot !  gallop  ! '  he 
dashes  head.ong  down  the  stony  road.  The  first 
company,  ai.d  most  of  the  second,  follow.  From 
the  left  a  thousand  muzzles  belch  forth  a  hissing 
flood  of  hullets  ;  the  poor  fellows  clutch  wildly  at 
the  air  and  fall  from  their  saddles,  and  maddened 
horses  throw  themselves  against  the  fences.  Their 
speed  is  not  for  an  instant  checked  ;  farther  down 
the  hill  they  fly,  like  wasps  driven  by  the  leaden 
storm.  Sharp  volleys  pour  out  of  the  underbrush 
at  the  left,  clearing  wide  gaps  inrough  iheir  ranks. 
They  leap  the  brook,  take  down  the  fence,  and 
draw  up  under  shelter  of  the  hill.  Zagonyi  looks 
around  him,  and  to  his  horror  sees  that  only  a 
fourth  of  his  men  are  with  him.  He  cries,  '  They 
do  not  come  —  we  are  lost!'  and  frantically 
waves  his  sabre. 

"  He  has  not  long  to  wait.  The  delay  of  the 
rest  of  the  Guard  was  not  from  hesitation.  When 
Captain  Foley  reached  the  lower  corner  cf  the 
wood,  and  saw  the  enemy's  line,  he  thought  a 
flank  attack  might  be  advantageously  made.  He 
ordered  some  men  to  dismount,  and  take  down 
the  fence.  This  was  done  under  a  severe  fire. 
Several  men  fell,  and  he  found  the  wood  so  dense 
that  it  could  not  be  penetrated.  Looking  down 
the  hill,  he  saw  the  flash  of  Zagonyi's  sabre,  and 
at  once  gave  the  order,  '  Forward ! '  At  the 
same  time,  Lieutenant  Kennedy,  a  stalwart  Ken- 
tuckian,  shouted,  '  Come  on,  boys !  remember 
Old  Kentucky  ! '  and  the  third  company  of  the 
Guard,  fire  on  every  side  of  them  — from  behind 
trees,  from  under  the  fences  —  with  thundering 
strides  and  \md  cheers,  poured  down  the  slope, 
and  rushed  to  the  side  of  Zagonyi.  They  have 
lost  seventy  dead  and  wounded  men,  and  the  car 
casses  of  horses  are  strewn  along  the  lane.  Ken 
nedy  is  wounded  in  the  arm,  and  lies  upon  the 
stones,  his  faithful  charger  standing  motionless 
beside  him.  Lieutenant  Goff  received  a  wound 
in  the  thigh  ;  he  kept  his  seat,  and  cried  out, 
'The  devils  have  hit  me,  but  1  will  give  it  to 
them  yet!' 

"  The  remnant  of  the  Guard  are  now  in  the 
field  under  the  hill,  and  from  the  shape  of  the 
ground  the  rebel  fire  sweeps  with  the  roar  of  a 
whirlwind  over  their  heads.  Here  we  will  leave 
them  for  a  moment,  and  trace  the  fortunes  of  the 
Prairie  Scouts. 

"  When  Foley  brought  his  troop  to  a  halt,  Cap 
tain  Fairbanks,  at  the  head  of  the  first  company 
of  Scouts,  was  at  the  point  where  the  first  vol 
ley  of  musketry  had  been  received.  The  narrow 
lane  was  crowde  1  by  a  dei.se  mass  of  struggling 


444 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


horses,  and  filled  with  the  tumult  of  battle.  Cap 
tain  Fairbanks  says,  —  and  he  is  corroborated  by 
several  of  his  men  who  were  near,  —  that  at  this 
moment  an  officer  of  the  Guard  rode  up  to  him, 
and  !$aid,  '  They  are  flying ;  take  your  men  down 
that  lane,  and  cut  off  their  retreat'  —  pointing  to 
the  lane  at  the  left.  Captain  Fairbanks  was  not 
able  to  identify  the  person  who  gave  this  order. 
It  certainly  did  not  come  from  Zagonyi,  who  was 
several  hundred  yards  farther  on.  Captain  Fair 
banks  executed  the  order,  followed  by  the  second 
company  of  Prairie  Scouts,  under  Captain  Ke- 
hoe.  When  this  movement  was  made,  Captain 
Naughton,  with  the  Third  Irish  dragoons,  had 
not  reached  the  corner  of  the  lane.  He  came  up 
at  a  gallop,  and  was  about  to  follow  Fairbanks, 
when  he  saw  a  Guardsman  who  pointed  in  the 
direction  in  which  Zagonyi  had  gone.  He  took 
this  for  an  order,  and  obeyed  it.  When  he 
reached  the  gap  in  the  fence,  made  by  Foley,  not 
seeing  anything  of  the  Guard,  he  supposed  they 
had  passed  through  at  that  place,  and  gallantly 
attempted  to  follow.  Thirteen  men  fell  in  a  few 
minutes.  He  was  shot  in  the  arm,  and  dis 
mounted.  Lieutenant  Connolly  spurred  into  the 
underbrush,  and  received  two  balls  through  the 
lungs,  and  one  in  the  left  shoulder.  The  dra 
goons,  at  the  outset  not  more  than  fifty  strong, 
were  broken,  and,  dispirited  by  the  loss  of  their 
oilicers,  retired.  A  Sergeant  rallied  a  few,  and 
brought  them  up  to  the  gap  again,  and  they 
were  again  driven  back.  Five  of  the  boldest 
passed  down  the  hill,  joined  Zagonyi,  and  were 
conspicuous  for  their  valor  during  the  rest  of 
the  day.  Fairbanks  and  Kehoe,  having  gained 
{.ho  rear  and  left  of  the  enemy's  position,  made 
two  or  three  assaults  upon  detached  parties  of 
the  foe,  but  did  not  join  in  the  main  attack. 

"  I  now  return  to  the  Guard.  It  is  forming 
under  the  shelter  of  the  hill.  In  front,  with  a 
gentle  inclination,  rises  a  grassy  slope,  broken  by 
occasional  tree-stumps.  A  line  of  fire  upon  the 
summit  marks  the  position  of  the  rebel  infantry, 
and  nearer,  and  on  the  top  of  a  lower  eminence 
to  the  right,  stand  their  horse.  Up  to  this  time 
no  Guardsman  has  struck  a  blow  ;  but  blue-coats 
and  bay  horses  lie  thick  along  the  bloody  lane. 
Their  time  has  come.  Lieutenant  Maythenyi, 
with  thirty  men,  is  ordered  to  attack  the  cavalry. 
With  sabres  flashing  over  their  heads,  the  little 
band  of  heroes  spring  towards  their  tremendous 
foe.  Right  upon  the  centre  the}  "barge.  The 
dense  mass  opens,  the  blue-coats  force  their  way 
in,  and  the  whole  rebel  squadron  scatter  in  dis 
graceful  fligh;  through  the  cornfields  in  the  rear. 
The  bays  follow  them,  sabring  the  fugitives. 
Days  after,  the  enemy's  horses  lay  thick  among 
the  uncut  corn. 

"  Zagonyi  holds  his  main  body  until  May 
thenyi  disappears  in  the  cloud  of  rebel  cavalry ; 
then  his  voice  rises  through  the  air  :  '  In  open 
order  —  charge  ! '  The  line  opens  out  to  give 
play  to  their  sword-arm.  Steeds  respond  to  the 
ardor  of  their  riders,  and  quick  as  thought,  with 
thrilling  cheers,  the  noble  hearts  rush  into  the 
leaden  torrent  which  pours  down  the  incline. 


With  unabated  fire  the  gallant  fellows  press 
through.  Their  fierce  onset  is  not  even  checked. 
The  foe  do  not  wiit  for  them  —  they  waver, 
break,  ar.i  fly.  Th-3  Guardsmen  spur  into  the 
midst  of  the  rout,  and  their  fast-falling  swords 
work  a  terrible  revenge.  Some  of  the  boldest 
of  the  Southrons  retreat  into  the  woods,  and 
continue  a  murderous  fire  from  behind  trees  and 
thickets.  Seven  Guard  horses  fall  upon  a  space 
not  more  than  twenty  feet  square.  As  his  steed 
sinks  under  him,  one  of  the  officers  is  caught 
around  the  shoulders  by  a  grape-vine,  and  hangs 
dangling  in  the  air  until  he  is  cut  down  by  his 
friends. 

"  The  rebel  foot  are  flying  in  furious  haste  from 
the  field.  Some  take  refuge  in  the  fair  ground, 
some  hurry  into  the  cornfields,  but  the  greater 
part  run  along  the  edge  of  the  wood,  sAvarm  over 
the  fence  into  the  road,  and  hasten  to  the  village. 
The  Guardsmen  follow.  Zagonyi  leads  them. 
Over  the  loudest  roar  of  battle  rings  his  clarion 
voice —  '  Come  on,  Old  Kentuck  !  I'm  with  you ! ' 
And  the  flash  of  his  sword-blade  tells  his  men 
where  to  go.  As  he  approaches  a  barn,  a  man 
steps  from  behind  the  door  and  lowers  his  rifle ; 
but  before  it  has  reached  a  level,  Zagonyi's  sabre 
point  descends  upon  his  head,  and  his  life-blood 
leaps  to  the  very  top  of  the  huge  barn-door. 

"  The  conflict  now  raged  through  the  village  — 
in  the  public  square,  and  along  the  streets.  Up 
and  down  the  Guards  ride  in  squads  of  three  or 
four,  and  wherever  they  see  a  group  of  the  ene 
my,  charge  upon  and  scatter  them.  It  is  biiid- 
to-hand.  No  one  but  has  a  share  in  the  fray. 

"  There  was  at  least  one  soldier  in  the  South 
ern  ranks.  A  young  officer,  superbly  mounted, 
charges  alone  upon  a  large  body  of  the  Guard. 
He  passes  through  the  line  unscathed,  killing  one 
man.  He  wheels,  charges  back,  and  again  breaks 
through,  killing  another  man.  A  third  time  he 
rushes  upon  the  Federal  line ;  a  score  of  sabre- 
points  confronts  him  ;  clouds  of  bullets  fly  around 
him  ;  but  he  pushes  on  until  he  reaches  Zagonyi : 
he  presses  his  pistol  so  close  to  the  Major's  side, 
that  he  feels  it,  and  draws  convulsively  back  >  the 
bullet  passes  through  the  front  of  Zagonyi's  coat, 
who,  at  the  instant,  runs  the  daring  rebel  through 
the  body ;  he  falls,  and  the  men,  thinking  their 
commander  hurt,  kill  him  with  a  dozen  wounds. 

"  '  He  was  a  brave  man,' said  Zagonyi  after 
wards,  '  and  I  did  wish  to  make  him  prisoner.' 

"  Meanwhile  it  has  grown  dark.  The  foe  have 
left  the  village,  and  the  battle  has  ceased.  The 
assembly  is  sounded,  and  the  Guard  gathers  in 
the  Plaza.  Not  more  than  eighty  mounted  men 
appear ;  the  rest  are  killed,  wounded,  or  un 
horsed.  At  this  time  one  of  the  most  character 
istic  incidents  of  the  affair  took  place. 

"  Just  before  the  charge,  Zagonyi  directed  one 
of  his  buglers,  a  Frenchman,  lo  sound  a  signal. 
The  bugler  did  not  seem  to  pay  any  attention  to 
the  order,  b  it  darted  off  with  Lieutenant  Maythen 
yi.  A  few  moments  after  war  la  he  was  observed 
in  another  part  of  the  field  vigorously  pursuing 
the  flying  infantry.  His  active  form  was  al 
ways  seen  in  the'  thickest  of  the  fight.  When 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


44i 


the  line  was  formed  in  the  Plaza,  Zagonyi  no 
ticed  the  bugler,  and  approaching  him,  said:  *  In 
the  midst  of  battle  you  disobeyed  my  order. 
You  are  unworthy  to  be  a  member  of  the  Guard. 
I  dismiss  you.'  The  bugler  showed  his  bugle  to 
his  indignant  commander — the  mouth-piece  of 
the  instrument  was  shot  away.  He  said  :  '  The 
mouth  was  shoot  off.  I  could  not  bugle  viz  mon 
bugle,  and  so  I  bugle  viz  mon  pistol  and  sabre.' 
It  is  unnecessary  to  add,  the  brave  Frenchman 
was  not  dismissed. 

"  I  must  not  forget  to  mention  Sergeant  Hun 
ter,  of  the  Kentucky  company.  His  soldierly 
figure  never  failed  to  attract  the  eye  in  the  ranks 
of  the  Guard.  He  had  served  in  the  regular 
cavalry,  and  the  Body  Guard  had  profited  greatly 
from  his  skill  as  a  drill-master.  He  lost  three 
horses  in  the  fight.  As  soon  as  one  was  killed, 
he  caught  another  from  the  rebels ;  the  third 
horse  taken  by  him  in  this  way  he  rode  into  St. 
Louis. 

"  The  Sergeant  slew  five  men.  '  I  won't  speak 
of  those  I  shot,'  said  he ;  '  another  may  have  hit 
them ;  but  those  I  touched  with  my  sabre  I  am 
•sure  of,  because  I  felt  them.' 

"  At  the  beginning  of  the  charge,  he  came  to 
the  extreme  right,  and  took  position  next  to  Za 
gonyi,  whom  he  followed  closely  through  the  bat- 
tie.  The  Major,  seeing  him,  said : 

"  '  Why  are  you  here,  Sergeant  Hunter?  Your 
place  is  with  your  company  on  the  left.'  « I  kind 
o'  wanted  to  be  in  the  front,'  was  the  answer. 

"  '  What  could  I  say  to  such  a  man  ?  '  exclaimed 
Zagonyi,  speaking  of  the  matter  afterwards. 

"  There  was  hardly  a  horse  or  rider  among  the 
survivors  that  did  not  bring  away  some  mark  of 
the  fray.  I  saw  one  animal  with  no  less  than 
seven  wounds,  none  of  them  serious.  Scabbards 
were  bent,  clothes  and  caps  pierced,  pistols  in 
jured.  I  saw  one  pistol  from  which  the  sight  had 
been  cut  as  neatly  as  it  could  have  been  done  by 
machinery.  A  piece  of  board  a  few  inches  long 
was  cut  from  a  fence  on  the  field,  in  which  there 
were  thirty-one  shot-holes. 

"  It  was  now  nine  o'clock.  The  wounded  had 
been  carried  to  the  hospital.  The  dismounted 
troopers  were  placed  in  charge  of  them  —  in  the 
double  capacity  of  nurses  and  guards.  Zagonyi 
expected  the  foe  to  return  every  minute.  It 
seemed  like  madness  to  try  and  hold  the  town 
with  his  small  force,  exhausted  by  the  long  march 
and  desperate  fight.  He  therefore  left  Spring 
field,  and  retired  before  morning  twenty-five  miles 
on  the  Bolivar  road. 

"  Captain  Fairbanks  did  not  see  his  commander 
after  leaving  the  column  in  the  lane,  at  the  com 
mencement  of  the  engagement.  About  dusk  he 
repaired  to  the  prairie,  and  remained  there  within 
a  mile  of  the  village  until  midnight,  when  he 
followed  Zagonyi,  rejoining  him  in  the  morning. 

"  I  will  now  return  to  Major  White.  During 
the  conflict  upon  the  hill,  he  was  in  the  forest, 
near  the  front  of  the  rebel  line.  Here  his  horse 
was  shot  under  him.  Captain  Wroton  kept  care 
ful  watch  over  him.  '  When  the  flight  began  he 
hurried  White  away,  and,  accompanied  by  a 


squad  of  eleven  roen,  took  him  ten  miles  into  the 
country.  They  stopped  at  a  farm-house  for  tho 
night.  White  discovered  that  their  host  was  a 
Union  man.  His  parole  having  expired,  he  took 
advantage  of  the  momentary  absence  of  his  cap 
tor  to  speak  to  the  farmer,  telling  him  who  he 
was,  and  asking  him  to  send  for  assistance. 

"The  countryman  Liounted  his  son  upon  his 
swiftest  horse,  and  sent  him  for  succor.  The 
party  lay  doAvn  by  the  fire,  White  being  placed  in 
the  midst.  The  rebels  were  soon  asleep,  but  there 
was  no  sleep  for  the  Major.  He  listened  anxiously 
for  the  footsteps  of  his  rescuers.  After  long, 
weary  hours,  he  heard  the  tramp  of  horses.  He 
arose,  and  walking  on  tiptoe,  cautiously  stepping 
over  his  sleeping  guard,  he  reached  the  door,  and 
silently  unfastened  it.  The  Union  men  rushed 
into  the  room,  and  took  the  astonished  Wroton 
and  his  followers  prisoners.  At  daybreak  White 
rode  into  Springfield,  at  the  head  of  his  captives 
and  a  motley  band  of  Home  Guard.  He  found 
the  Federals  still  in  possession  of  the  place.  As 
the  officer  of  highest  rank,  he  took  command. 
His  garrison  consisted  of  twenty-four  men.  He 
stationed  twenty-two  of  them  as  pickets  in  the 
outskirts  of  the  village,  and  held  the  other  two 
as  a  reserve.  At  nooit  the  enemy  sent  a  flag  of 
truce,  and  asked  permission  to  bury  their  dead. 
Major  White  received  the  flag  with  proper  cere 
mony,  but  said  that  General  Siegel  was  in  com 
mand,  and  the  request  would  have  to  be  referred 
to  him.  Siegel  was  then  forty  miles  away.  In  a 
short  time,  a  written  communication,  purporting 
to  come  from  General  Siegel, saying  that  the  reb 
els  might  send  a  party,  under  ceifnin  restric 
tions,  to  bury  their  dead.  White  diew  in  some 
of  his  pickets,  stationed  them  about  the  field,  and 
under  their  surveillance,  the  Southern  dead  were 
buried. 

"  The  loss  of  the  enemy,  as  reported  by  some  of 
their  working  party,  was  one  hundred  and  sixteen 
killed.  The  number  of  wounded  could  not  be 
ascertained.  After  the  conflict  had  drifted  away 
from  the  hill-side,  some  of  the  foe  had  returned  to 
the  field,  taken  away  their  wounded,  and  robbed 
our  dead.  The  loss  of  the  Guard  was  fifty-three, 
out  of  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  actually  en 
gaged,  twelve  men  having  been  left  by  Zagonyi 
in  charge  of  his  train.  The  Prairie  Scouts  re 
ported  a  loss  of  thirty-one  out  of  one  hundred 
and  thirty :  half  of  these  belonged  to  the  Irish 
Dragoons.  In  a  neighboring  field  an  Irishman 
was  found  stark  and  stiff',  still  clinging  to  the  hilt 
of  his  sword,  which  was  thrust  through  the  body 
of  a  rebel  who  lay  beside  him.  Within  a  few  feet 
a  second  rebel  lay,  shot  through  the  head. — Ma 
jor  Dorsheimer.  

LETTERS  FROM  SOLDIERS.  —  One  of  the  agents 
of  the  Sanitary  Commission  in  Washington  said : 
"As  an  evidence  of  the  literary  capacity  of  our 
soldiers,  I  may  mention  that  our  boys  are  to-day 
stamping  over  ten  thousand  letters  I  brought  up 
from  the  front,  from  soldiers  wounded  but  slightly, 
or  not  at  all,  telling  their  friends  of  their  condi 
tion  after  the  fights." 


446 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


THE  DEAD   CAVALIER  —  GENERAL  J.   E. 
B.  STUART. 

BY    J.    MARSHALL    HANNA. 

THE  drums  came  back  muffled,  that,  beating  aloud, 
Went  out  in  the  morning  all  thrill  to  the  fight, 

For  the  hero  lies  dead  in  his  battle-flag  shroud, 
And  his  steed  is  led  groomed  without  rider  to 
night. 

Then  beat  the  drums  muffled,  and  play  the  fife  low, 
And  march  on  the  cortege  to  cadences  slow. 

Who  saw  him  that  morning  as  gayly  he  rode 

At  the  front  of  his  troopers,  who  filed  proudly  af 
ter  him, 

Thought  to  look  on  to-night  the  visage  that  showed 
The  pale  death  relapse,  and  the   eye  sunk  and 

dim  ? 

Then  toll  the  bell  sadly,  solemnly  toll ; 
A  hero  is  passing  to  glory's  last  goal. 

Come,  stand  by  the  corpse,  look  down  on  that  face, 
Mark  where  the  bullet  burst  its  way  through, 

See  where  the  death -pang  left  its  last  trace 

As  the  lead  messenger  struck,  unerring  and  true. 

Then,  hushed,  gather  round ;   let  our  tears  be  like 

rain ; 
A  truer  cavalier  we  shall  ne'er  see  again. 

Ah  !  the  story  he  wrote  with  the  point  of  his  sword, 
How  it  thrilled  through  the  cities,  how  it  stirred 

up  the  land  ! 
Who  can  forget  how  the  hireling  horde 

Ran  blating  for  mercy  when  he  did  command  ? 
At  the  North  though  they  mock,  and  rejoice  at  his 

fall, 
With  grief-laden  flowers  will  we  cover  his  pall. 

O,  how  like  the  besom  of  fate  in  their  rear 

Came  the  \  ive  of  his  plume  and  the  flash  of  his 

blade. 
When,  bursting  from  covert,  to  his  troopers'  wild 

cheer, 

The  bugle  it  sounded  the  charge  in  the  raid. 
Now  his  plume  is  at  rest,  his  sword  in  its  sheath, 
Arid  the  hand  that  should  grasp  it  is  nerveless 
in  death. 

Make  his  grave  where  he  fought,   nigh  the  field 

where  he  fellt 

In  blossoming  Hollywood,  under  the  hill, 
In  sight  of  the  hearth-stones  he  defended  so  well, 

That  his  spirit  may  be  guardian  sentinel  still, 
And  there  let  a  finger  of  marble  disclose 
The  spot  where  he  lies  —  point  the  skies  where 
he  rose. 


EXPERIENCE  ON  A  GUNBOAT.  —  A  pilot  on  the 
gunboat  Louisiana,  the  most  formidable  and  ef 
fective  of  any  which  Farragut  encountered  in  his 
battle  at  the  forts  below  New  Orleans,  came 
stealthily  creeping  into  the  city  two  or  three  days 
after  its  occupation  by  Butler. 

He  was  covered  with  mud  from  head  to  foot. 
His  clothes  were  hanging  in  tatters  ;  his  face  and 
hands  swollen  by  the  poison  of  mosquitoes  and 
blistered  by  the  fierce  rays  of  an  almost  tropical 
gun,  and  he  had  eaten  nothing  for  three  days  and 


nights  but  a  few  green  berries,  which  he  found  in 
the  swamps. 

Only  a  week  before  he  had  left  New  Orleans 
on  that  gunboat  in  perfect  health,  and  hoping  for 
a  speedy  and  easy  victory  over  the  Federal  fleet. 

He  described  his  three  days'  experience  on  the 
vessel  before  she  was  blown  up  as  the  nearest  ap- 
prcach  to  a  sojourn  in  the  infernal  regions  of 
anything  he  had  ever  experienced  or  thought  pos 
sible  in  this  world. 

Shut  up  in  a  stifling  atmosphere  of  hot  gun 
powder  smoke,  with  the  incessant  clatter  and 
thunder  and  hiss  of  shells  and  round  shot  just 
over  his  head,  pounding  against  the  plating  of 
railroad  iron,  with  the  tide  of  battle  turning 
against  them,  and  the  chances  for  success,  and 
finally  for  escape  with  life,  growing  less  and  less 
every  hour,  it  is  not  strange  that  in  referring  to 
it  he  exclaimed,  "  I  thought  I  was  in  hell." 

When  all  hope  of  victory  was  gone,  and  the 
Admiral  had  passed  the  forts,  the  commanding 
officer  of  the  Louisiana  determined  to  blow  her 
up  rather  than  to  allow  her  to  fall  into  the  hands 
of  the  Federals.  She  was  run  ashore  on  the 
right  bank,  about  fifty  miles  below  the  city.  The 
officers  and  crew,  escaping  to  the  shore,  betook 
themselves  to  the  swamp  for  concealment. 

Here  they  waded,  sometimes  up  to  their  necks 
in  water,  sometimes  coming  in  where  the  land 
was  higher,  and  then  striking  out  into  deep  swamp 
again.  At  Chalmette,  Jackson's  old  battle-ground, 
they  went  far  into  the  swamp  in  order  to  flank 
the  fortifications  there  erected  ;  and  finally  most 
of  them  reached  the  city  in  the  miserable  plight 
above  described. 

The  pilot  was  among  the  earliest  of  those  who 
professed  themselves  ready  to  take  the  oath. 

A  LITERAL  TRANSLATION.  —  As  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Massachusetts  regiment  was  about  leaving 
Washington,  N.  C.,  in  1862,  an  incident  occurred 
which  reflected  credit  upon  the  acumen  of  one  of 
its  officers.  A  pretty  mulatto  slave  girl,  belong 
ing  to  a  citizen  of  the  town,  had  been  acting  as 
house  servant  to  Lieutenant  Turner,  and  when 
marching  orders  were  received,  expressed  great 
anxiety  to  go  with  the  regiment  to  Newbern,  and 
escape  bondage.  She  took  refuge  on  board  one 
of  the  steamers  on  which  the  Twenty-fourth  had 
embarked  ;  but  just  before  the  time  for  starting, 
her  owner  appeared  with  an  order,  which  read  as 
follows  : 

"  John  Doe  has  permission  to  search  for  his 
slave  girl  Henrietta,  and  will  be  protected  in  so 
doing." 

This  he  presented  to  Quartermaster  William 
V.  Hutchings,  and  demanded  the  girl.  Mr.  Ilutch- 
ings,  seeing  the  trepidation  and  anxiety  mani 
fested  in  the  countenance  of  Henrietta,  asked  her, 
"Are  you  willing  to  return  to  your  master?" 
"  O,  no,  sir!"  she  said;  please  don't  give  me 
up  to  him !  "  "  Let  me  see  that  order,  sir,"  said 
he  to  the  owner;  and  reading  it  aloud,  he  re 
marked,  "  This  gives  you  authority  to  search  for 
your  girl ;  you  have  searched  for  her,  and  trier* 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


447 


she  is.  You  are  to  be  protected  in  making  your 
searcn ;  you  have  been  protected.  This  gives  you 
no  authority  to  take  her  against  her  will.  She 
does  not  wish  to  return  to  you,  and  you  can't  take 
her.  And  now,  the  sooner  you  get  off  this  boat, 
the  better  it  will  be  for  your  skin."  As  he  said 
this  with  the  determination  of  a  man  who  was 
not  to  be  trifled  with,  the  discomfited  owner  beat 
a  precipitate  retreat,  amid  the  jeers  and  shouts 
of  the  bystanders.  

THE  PRESIDENT'S  CHOICE.  —  During  a  conver 
sation  on  the  approaching  election,  in  1864,  a 
gentleman  remarked  to  President  Lincoln  that 
nothing  could  defeat  him  but  Grant's  capture  of 
Richmond,  to  be  followed  by  his  nomination  at 
Chicago  and  acceptance.  "  Well,"  said  the  Pres 
ident,  "  I  feel  very  much  like  the  man  who  said  he 
didn't  want  to  die  particularly,  but  if  he  had  got 
to  die,  that  was  precisely  the  disease  he  would 
like  to  die  of."  

THE  TRAITOR'S  "  COAT-OF-ARMS."  —  Joseph 
Schofield  —  an  Englishman  by  birth,  but  an 
adopted  citizen  of  the  United  States,  residing  in 
Iowa,  who  justly  boasted  of  having  two  sons  in 
the  army,  one  of  whom  had  reenlisted  to  fight  for 
the  flag  of  his  country  —  sent  his  annual  subscrip 
tion  to"  the  Scientific  American,  for  another  year, 
and  closed  his  letter  with  the  following  pungent 
remarks : 

"  The  traitor's  '  coat-of-arms '  consists  of  a  flea, 
a  fly,  a  magpie,  and  a  side  of  bacon.  Explana 
tion  :  A  flea  will  bite  either  the  quick  or  the  dead  ; 
so  will  a  traitor.  A  fly  '  blows,'  corrupts,  and  con 
taminates,  all  it  comes  in  contact  with  ;  so  will  a 
traitor.  A  magpie  is  always  chattering,  talking, 
and  lying;  so  is  a  traitor.  A  side  of  bacon  is 
never  4  cured '  till  it  is  hung ;  neither  is  a  traitor." 


WHISKEY  IN  CAMP. — When  the  war  first 
broke  out,  Bragg  was  in  command  of  about  ten 
thousand- troops,  stationed  at  Pensacola.  He  re 
mained  there  for  more  than  a  year,  until  Grant 
drew  all  eyes  away  from  the  Southern  border  by 
his  vigorous  and  successful  campaign  in  the  upper 
Mississippi  Valley. 

Bragg  made  the  long  semicircular  shore  bris 
tle  with  sand  batteries,  that  bore  upon  the  defi 
ant  and  loyal  Fort  Pickens,  but  his  infantry  had 
nothing  to  do.  Month  after  month  passed,  and 
they  neither  attacked  nor  were  attacked.  The 
true  point  of  strategy  and  of  interest  was  else 
where.  Bragg  soon  found  scope  for  his  peculiar 
genius  in  keeping  up  the  morals  of  his  army. 

The  war  has  not  developed  a  more  vigilant  police 
officer  than  BraxtonBragg:  yet  his  abilities  in  that 
line  were  taxed  to  their  utmost  to  check  the  gross 
drunkenness  that  prevailed  in  his  camp  ;  for  "  Sa 
tan  finds  some  mischief  still  for  idle  hands  to  do," 
ar;d  the  soldiers  employed  their  time  and  talents  in 
circumventing  his  strict  general  order  excluding 
intoxicating  drinks  from  the  camp,  or  any  place 
within  the  distance  of  ten  miles  in  every  direction. 

About   a  mile  back  of  his  main  force,  in  the 


woods,  lay  a  long,  narrow  lake.  It  would  take  a 
soldier  seven  or  eight  hours  to  walk  around  to 
the  other  side,  but  a  gc  od  swimmer  could  reach 
it  in  twenty  minutes'  time. 

During  the  hot  months  of  that  long,  dull  sum 
mer  the  men  discovered  a  commendable  zeal  for 
personal  cleanliness.  Every  evening  the  lake 
was  alive  with  swimmers,  for  in  the  South  swi:a- 
ming  and  horsemanship  are  accomplishments 
equally  necessary  and  universal.  Yet  Bragg's  in 
spectors  found  some  mysterious  and  constant 
connection  between  swimming  and  intoxication. 
The  best  swimmers  were  often  quarrelsome  and 
noisy,  and  found  their  way  into  the  guard-house 
for  drunkenness.  But  with  all  his  vigilance,  the 
mystery  was  no  nearer  solution  than  at  first  — 
how  the  men  got  their  whiskey. 

There  was  a  puzzle,  too,  among  the  butchers. 
There  arose  an  astonishing  demand  for  bladders 
among  the  soldiers.'  Whenever  a  beef  was  killed, 
half  a  dozen  eager  fellows  stood  by  and  bid 
against  each  other  for  this  part  of  the  animal. 
Bragg  heard  of  this,  but  he  could  see  no  con 
nection  between  it  and  the  solution  of  the  whis 
key  question ;  and  he  never  learned  the  secret 
till  the  army  had  left  Pensacola,  and  the  disclo 
sure  could  do  no  harm. 

A  poor,  inoffensive  fisherman  lived  on  the  op 
posite  side  of  the  lake.  Some  of  the  men  swam 
across,  made  his  acquaintance,  and  persuaded  him 
to  open  an  account  with  a  liquor  dealer  in  Mo 
bile,  saying  he  would  lose  nothing  by  the  operation, 
and  might  make  a  great  deal.  He  accordingly 
kept  himself  well  supplied  with  the  genuine  arti 
cle,  and  had  the  satisfaction  every  evening  of  see 
ing  platoons  of  naked  customers  come  swimming 
across  the  lake,  with  bladders  around  their  necks, 
which  they  filled  from  his  barrel,  a^}d  paid  for  in 
hard  money,  which  they  brought  over  in  their 
mouths. 

Emboldened  by  their  success  in  smuggling  by 
the  bladder  full,  they  managed  at  length  to  get  a 
barrel  of  the  coveted  liquor  across  the  lake.  But 
they  were  like  the  man  who  bought  the  elephant. 
They  did  not  know  what  to  do  with  it.  At  length 
a  genius  brighter  than  the  rest  hit  upon  a  happy 
expedient.  The  spring  where  most  of  their  drink 
ing  water  was  obtained,  rose  from  a  sandy  soil,  in 
which  a  pit  could  be  easily  excavated.  In  the 
darkness  of  a  rainy  night  this  was  done,  and  the 
barrel  buried  close  to  the  spring.  Of  course, 
nothing  could  be  more  natural  than  that  soldiers 
in  the  month  of  August,  and  in  that  latitude, 
should  go  often  to  the  spring.  But  the  water 
seenyed  to  have  a  strange  effect  upon  them. 
After  leaning  over  to  quaff  from  the  cooling  foun 
tain,  they  grew  chatty,  then  boisterous,  noisy,  and 
quarrelsome,  and  ended  the  day  in  the  guard 
house. 

There  was  no  solving  the  mystery,  till,  at  last, 
just  as  they  all  left  Pensacola,  they  told  Bragg's 
orderly  how  the  whiskey  barrel  was  buried  close 
by  the  spring,  and  they  kept  a  straw  convenient, 
so  that  when  they  seemed  to  be  drinking  from 
the  spring,  they  were,  Li  fact,  sucking  from  the 
whiskey  barrel. 


448 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


THE  ANCIENT  MARINER. 

IT  was  an  ancient  mariner, 

And  thus  he  spake  to  me : 
"Twice  twenty  year  or  more  I've  sailed 

Upon  the  salt,  salt  sea." 

More  stronger  of  salt  the  sea  must  be 

Than  XX  all  of  malt, 
When  such  an  ancient  sailor-man 

Must  call  it  doubly  salt. 

"Twice  twenty  year  I've  sailed,"  he  said, 

"Upon  th-3  salt,  salt  sea, 
And  mar.y  strange  e.nd  fearful  things 

Have  happened  unto  me." 

"  Avast,  thou  ancient  mariner  1 

Thou  smellest  much  of  tar ; 
Besides,  I've  got  a  telegram, 

With  good  news  from  the  war." 

"  Twice  twenty  year  I've  sailed,"  he  said, 

"Upon  the  salt,  salt  sea; 
The  knowledge  I  have  gained,  my  boy, 

Were  worth  a  mint  to  thee." 

"  Hands  off,  thou  ancient  mariner ! 

And  let  my  flipper  drop  ; 
We've  glorious  news  from  Grant  to-day, 

And  stocks  are  rushing  up. 

"  The  hour  is  now,  the  Board  has  met, 

And  I  am  '  in.  the  ring ; ' 
Erie  is  flying  like  a  kite, 

And  I  may  hold  the  string. 

"  I  must  be  off,  thou  ancient  man, 

To  call  on  Jones  &  Tuttle  ; " 
"  I  knew  Jack  Bunsby  well,"  quoth  he, 

"  And  sailed  with  Cap'n  Cuttle." 

He  placed  his  chair  beside  my  own, 

That  ancient  marinere ; 
And  then  he  called  for  brandy  neat, 

And  I  for  lager  beer. 

He  gave  to  me  for  my  repast 

Salt-horse  and  pine-wood  cracker; 

And  rammed  into  his  starboard  cheek 
Some  stuff  he  called  terbacker. 

Then  thrice  he  winked  his  larboard  eye 

Right  solemnly  at  me, 
And  thus  commenced  his  wondrous  tale  : 

"There  was  a  man,"  quoth  he  — 

"  Twice  twenty  year,  or  more,  I've  sailed, 

Upon  the  salt,  salt  sea ; 
But  never  have  I  chanced  to  meet 

With  such  a  man  as  he. 

"  He's  older  than  the  hills,  they  say, 

This  old,  old  marinere ; 
Or  just  about  the  age  of  Airth  — 

Say  seven  thousand  year. 

"  He's  older  than  Methusaler, 

Or  any  man  before  ; 
They  say  he  piloted  the  craft 

That  carried  Father  Noar. 


"  Our  great  Rail-splitter  dug  him  up  — 

He  split  the  solid  stone, 
And  there  he  found  this  ancient  man 

A  sittink  all  alone. 

"  Our  Uncle  Abe  is  fond,  you  know, 

Of  jolly  jokes  and  sells, 
But  never  cracked  a  harder  joke, 

Than  this  same  Gidyun  Welles. 

"  Quoth  Abraham,  <  From  rebel  ram 
Here's  just  the  man  to  save  ye.' 

And  so  he  made  old  Daddy  Welles 
The  ruler  of  our  navy. 

"  From  Richmond  town  the  ram  came  down, 

To  Hampton  Roads  it  crept, 
And  stiL  old  Daddy  Gidyua 

He  slept,  and  slept,  and  slept. 

"  It  stove  our  splendid  frigates'  sides, 

And  slew  our  gallant  tars, 
While  Welles  was  dreamink  ancient  dreams 

Of  masts,  and  ropes,  and  spars. 

"  Old  England  sent  a  steamer  out  — 

A  clipper-ship,  and  new   sir  ; 
A  pirate  ship  some  called  the  craft, 

And  some  a  rebel  cruiser. 

"  She  burned  and  sank  our  merchant-ghipa 

All  o'er  the  ocean  wide, 
And  Daddy  Welles's  «  creeping  things ' 

Owdaciously  defied. 

"  That  boat  had  such  a  jolly  time, 
That  England  scoffed  and  laughed, 

And  sent  upon  the  briny  deep 
Some  more  swift- sailing  craft. 

"  Our  flag  was  driven  from  the  sea, 
Our  commerce,  sir,  was  floored, 

And  still  old  Daddy  Welles  he  slept, 
And  snored,  and  snored,  and  snored.** 

"  Avast,  thou  sailor-man  !  "  I  said, 

"  For  all  athirst  am  I ; 
So  salty  is  this  throat  of  mine, 

That  I  shall  surely  die." 

"  Come  hither,  then,  thou  waiter-boy," 

The  mariner  he  said. 
"  Bring  us  some  beer  and  brandy  neat, 

Before  I  punch  thy  head." 

The  cups  were  set,  our  lips  were  wet, 

And  then  again  began 
To  tell  his  mournful,  bitter  tale, 

That  ancient  sailor-man. 

"  In  vain  the  people  raved  and  swore, 

In  vain  the  merchants  wailed  : 
Old  Welles  sent  out  his  •  creeping  things/ 

But  still  the  pirates  sailed. 

"  The  « creeping  things '  beset  the  coast 

Of  all  the  rebel  land  ; 
But  nightly  still  the  boats  slipped  in, 

With  goods  called  contraband. 

"  Another  man  this  ancient  man 

Employed  to  do  his  talks  ; 
A  sly,  and  slippery,  cunning  chap  — 

I  think  they  called  him  Fox. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


449 


"  So,  wfeile  this  ancient  man  slept  well, 

His  head  upon  a  hawser ; 
This  sly  and  slippery  cunning  chap 

Was  mate,  all  hands,  and  boss,  sir. 

"  And  while  our  ships  were  burned  and  sunk, 

And  commerce  went  to  pot, 
He  squandered  millions  of  our  cash  — 

I  want  to  know  for  what. 

"  Thou  knowest,  broker  of  the  stocks, 

How  great  has  been  the  cost ; 
Thou  knowest  well  what  wondrous  wealth 

Beneath  the  sea  is  lost. 

"  At  times  the  thunder  of  our  guns 

Awakes  this  ancient  bore  ; 
He  claims  the  credit  of  the  work, 

And  falls  asleep  once  more." 

"  I  know,  thou  antique  sailor-man," 

I  said,  "  of  Welles  and  Fox ; 
But  what  has  that  to  do  with  me, 

Or  with  the  price  of  stocks  ? " 

•«  That  Old  Man  of  the  Sea,"  he  said, 

"  About  our  necks  has  hung, 
And  though  we  sought  to  shake  him  off, 

Has  clung,  and  clung,  and  clung. 

"  Must  we  be  bothered  four  more  years 

By  dozes  and  by  dreams  ? 
And  can't  we  swop  such  horses  off, 

Even  in  crossing  streams  ? " 

«« O,  think,  thou  broker  of  the  stocks, 

What  fate  must  yet  be  ours, 
If  we  must  still  be  swayed  and  spoiled 

By  dull  and  drowsy  powers  ! " 

I  left  that  ancient  mariner, 

Swift  to  the  Board  I  ran  ; 
But  stocks  were  down,  and  I  was  then 

A  wiser,  poorer  man. 

Anthracite  Hill  (of  the  Board  of  Brokers). 


INCIDENT  OF  CORINTH.  —  A  correspondent 
who  visited  Corinth  after  the  evacuation  in  1862 
writes  as  follows : 

"  Among  the  few  inhabitants  found  in  Corinth 
was  an  elderly  female,  decidedly  rebellious  in 
ber  disposition,  having  all  the  prominent  facial 
(symptoms  of  the  most  abhorrent  freak  of  nature 
—  an  ill-tempered  woman.  An  Illinois  soldier 
advanced  towards  her  as  she  stood  on  the 
doorstep  of  her  residence,  and  addressed  her 
thus : 

"  '  Well,  misses,  them  ere  fellers  got  away,  eh  ? 
Wish  we'd  caught  'em.  We'd  gin  'em  the  wust 
whippin'  they  ever  got.  Which  way  did  the  d — d 
hounds  go,  anyhow  ?  ' 

"Lady  (indignant)  —  <I  reckon  you  don't 
know  who  you're  talking  to.  I've  got  a  son  in 
the  Southern  army,  and  he  ain't  no  d — d  hound. 
He's  a  gentleman,  sir.' 

"  Soldier  — '  Well,  I've  heard  a  good  deal  about 
secesh  gentlemen,  but  I  never  saw  one.  Gen 


tlemen  don't  steal,  as  a  general  thing  ;  but  these 
fellers  live  by  stealin'. ' 

"Lady  (whose  nose  takes  an  upward  tendency^ 
— '  They  never  stole  nothin*  from  you,  I  gnesf. 
What  did  you  ever  lose  by  them,  I'd  like  to 
know  ? ' 

"  Soldier  — '  Lose !  why  the  cussed  thieves 
stole  three  undershirts  and  two  pair  of  drawers 
from  me  at  Pittsburg.  They  stole  all  our  sutler's 
goods,  and  all  the  officers'  clothes  ''n  our  regi 
ment.  I'll  know  my  shirts,  and  if  I  catch  'em 
on  any  butternut,  I'll  finish  him,  sure.  But  you 
see,  misses,  I  t.on't  want  to  talk  saucy  to  a  wo 
man.  I  ju^t  called  to  nsk  you  if  you  had  any 
fresh  bread  to  sell.' 

"  Lady  — f  Nro,  hain't.  I  ain't  no  baker,  and 
don't  keep  no  bake  shop,  neither.  I  guess  you'll 
have  to  go  North  for  fresh  bread.' 

"  Soldier — 'Well,  it's  no  usegittin'  mad  about  it. 
I've  got  money  to  pay  for  what  I  buy.  I  intend  to 
go  North,  after  a  while,  when  we  whip  these  run 
away  fellers,  but  not  before.  If  they  hadn't  run 
off,  secesh  would  have  been  played  out  in  a  week. 
1 1  guess  it's  played  out  anyhovr,  eh? ' 

"  Exit  lady  unceremoniously,  slamming  the 
'  door,  through  which  she  disappears." 


ROUGH  SKETCH  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.  — 
Senator  Sherman  of  Ohio,  in  a  speech  at  San- 
dusky  in  the  fall  of  1864,  drew  this  rough  but 
accurate  outline  of  the  lamented  President's 
character  : 

"  I  know  Ohl  Abe  ;  and  I  tell  you  there  is  not, 
at  this  hour,  a  more  patriotic,  or  a  truer  man 
living  than  that  man,  Abraham  Lincoln.  Some 
say  he  is  an  imbecile  ;  but  he  not  only  held  his  own 
in  his  debates  with  Douglas,  whose  power  is  ad 
mitted,  and  whom  I  considered  the  ablest  intel 
lect  in  the  United  States  Senate,  but  got  a  little 
the  better  of  him.  He  has  been  deliberate  and 
slow,  but  when  he  puts  his  foot  down,  it  is  with 
the  determination  and  certainty  with  which  our 
generals  take  their  steps  ;  and,  like  them,  when 
he  takes  a  city  he  never  gives  it  up.  This  firm 
old  man  is  noble  and  kind-hearted.  He  is  a 
child  of  the  people.  Go  to  him  with  a  story  of 
woe,  and  he  will  weep  like  a  child.  This  man, 
so  condemned,  works  more  hours  than  any  other 
President  that  ever  occupied  the  chair.  Hia 
solicitude  for  the  public  welfare  is  never-ceasing. 
I  differed  from  him  at  first  myself,  but  at  last 
felt  and  believed  that  he  was  right,  and  shall  vote 
for  this  brave,  true,  patriotic,  kind-hearted  man. 
All  his  faults  and  mistakes  you  have  seen.  All 
his  virtues  you  never  can  know.  His  patience  in 
labor  is  wonderful.  He  works  far  harder  than 
any  man  in  Erie  County.  At  the  head  of  this 
great  nation  —  look  at  it  !  He  has  all  the  bills 
to  sign  passed  by  Congress.  No  one  can  be  a 
pointed  to  any  office  without  his  approval. 
one  can  be  punished  without  the  judgment  re 
ceives  his  signature,  and  no  one  pardoned  with 
out  his  hand.  This  man  —  always  right,  always 
just  —  we  propose  to  reeled  now  lo  the  Presi 
dency." 


ap 
No 


450 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND   INCIDENTS. 


LETTER  OF  GENERAL  SEDGWICK.  —  The  fol 
lowing  letter  from  Major-General  John  Sedgwick 
to  Adjutant-General  E.  D.  Townsend,  is  charac 
teristic  of  the  brave  and  honorable  soldier  who 
wrote  it.  It  was  written  in  December,  1863,  at 
the  time  it  was  proposed  to  change  and  consoli 
date  the  army  of  the  Potomac. 

"  MY  DEAR  TOWNSEND  :  There  is  a  change 
proposed  in  the  organization  of  this  army  —  re 
ducing  the  number  of  corps  to  three.  Whether  I 
am  to  be  retained  as  one  of  the  commanders,  I 
do  not  know ;  but  I  write  this  to  ask  you,  when 
the  matter  is  brought  up  in  Washington,  to  retain 
the  number  of  this  corps  —  the  Sixth.  It  is  en 
tirely  harmonious,  and  a  great  deal  of  esprit  du 
corps  is  in  it.  I  do  not  believe  there  is  a  regi 
ment  in  it  that  would  leave  willingly.  Another 
reason  is  —  since  its  organization  there  has  never 
been  a  regiment  added  or  detached.  This  is  not 
the  case  with  the  other  corps.  The  Third  has 
been  made  up  of  the  odds  and  ends  from  several 
armies,  and  this  is  partly  true  of  the  First ;  and 
every  corps  (the  Sixth  excepted)  has  had  several 
regiments  assigned  to  it,  from  time  to  time. 

"  I  am  afraid  the  First,  Second,  and  Third  will 
be  retained,  when  I  should  like  to  see  the  Second, 
Third,  and  Sixth. 

"  I  am  sure  you  will  assist  me  in  this  matter, 
if  in  your  power ;  at  all  events,  I  rely  upon  you 
in  letting  me  know  when  the  subject  comes  up." 


THE   WOOD    OF   CHANCELLORSVILLE. 

BY   DELIA   R.   GEBMAN. 

THE  ripe  red  berries  of  the  wintergreen 
Lure  me  to  pause  a  while 

In  this  deep,  tangled  wood.     I  stop  and  lean 
Down  where  these  wild  flowers  smile, 
And  rest  me  in  this  shade  ;  for  many  a  mile, 

Through  lane  and  dusty  street, 

I've  walked  with  weary,  weary  feet ; 

And  now  I  tarry  'mid  this  woodland  scene, 

'Mong  ferns  and  mosses  sweet. 

Here  all  around  me  blows 

The  pale  primrose. 

I  wonder  if  the  gentle  blossom  knows 

The  feeling  at  my  heart  —  the  solemn  grief 

So  whelming  and  so  deep 
That  it  disdains  relief, 

And  will  not  let  me  weep. 
I  wonder  that  the  woodbine  thrives  and  grows, 
And  is  indifferent  to  the  nation's  woes. 
For   while  these  mornings  shine,  these  blossoms 

bloom, 
Impious  rebellion  wraps  the  land  in  gloom. 

Nature,  thou  art  unkind, 

Unsympathizing,  blind ! 

Yon  lichen,  clinging  to  th'  o'erhanging  rock, 

Is  happy,  and  each  blade  of  grass, 

O'er  which  unconsciously  I  pass, 
Smiles  in  my'faee,  and  seems  to  mock 

Me  with  its  joy.    Alas  !  I  cannot  find 

One  charm  in  bounteous  nature,  while  the  wind 
That  blows  upon  my  cheek  bears  on  each  gust 
The  groans  of  my  poor  country,  bleedjig  in  the 
dust 


The  air  is  musical  with  notes 

That  gush  from  winged  warblers'  throats, 

And  in  the  leafy  trees 

I  hear  the  drowsy  hum  of  bees. 

Prone  from  the  blinding  sky 

Dance    rainbow-tinted    sunbeams,    thick    with 
motes, 

Daisies  are  shining,  and  the  butterfly 
Wavers  from  flower  to  flower  ;  yet  in  this  wood 
The  ruthless  foeman  stood, 
And  every  turf  is  drenched  with  human  blood. 

O  heartless  flowers  ! 

O  trees,  clad  in  your  robes  of  glistering  sheen, 
Put  off  this  canopy  of  gorgeous  green  ! 

These  are  the  hours 

For  mourning,  not  for  gladness.     While  this  smart 

Of  treason  dire  gashes  the  Nation's  heart, 

Let  birds  refuse  to  sing, 

And  flowers  to  bloom  upon  the  lap  of  spring. 

Let  Nature's  face  itself  with  tears  o'erflow, 

In  deepest  anguish  for  a  people's  woe. 

While  rank  rebellion  stands 

With  blood  of  martyrs  on  his  impious  hands ; 

While  slavery,  and  chains, 

And  cruelty,  and  direst  hate, 

Uplift  their  heads  within  th'  afflicted  state, 
And  freeze  the  blood  in  every  patriot's  veins,  — 
Let  the-e  old  woodlands  fair 

Grow  black  with  gloom,  and  from  its  thunder-liir 
Let  lightning  leap,  and  scorch  th'  accursed  air, 
Until  the  suffering  earth, 

Of  treason  sick,  shall  spew  the  monster  forth, 
And  each  regenerate  sod 
Be  consecrate  anew  to  Freedom  and  to  God  ! 


FORREST  ON  FORT  PILLOW. — A  letter  written 
by  Bryan  McAllister  at  Meridian,  Mississippi,  on 
the  13th  of  May,  18G5,  contains  the  following: 

''Before  the  large  chimney-place  of  a  small 
cabin-room,  surrounded  by  a  group  of  Confed 
erate  officers  and  men,  the  room  dimly  lighted 
by  a  small  tallow  candle,  I  first  saw  Lieutenant- 
General  N.  B.  Forrest,  commanding  a  corps  of 
cavalry  in  the  rebel  army.  Forrest  is  a  man  of 
fine  appearance,  about  six  feet  in  height,  having 
dark,  piercing  hazel  eyes,  carefully  trimmed 
mustache,  and  chin-whiskers  dark  as  night,  fine 
ly  cut-features,  and  iron-gray  hair.  His  form  is 
lithe,  plainly  indicating  great  physical  power  and 
activity.  He  was  neatly  dressed  in  citizen's 
clothes  of  some  gray  mixture  —  the  only  indica 
tion  of  military  service  being  the  usual  number 
of  small  staff-buttons  on  his  vest.  I  should  have 
marked  him  as  a  prominent  man  had  I  seen  him 
on  Broadway ;  and  when  I  was  told  that  he  was 
the  'Forrest  of  Fort  Pillow,'  I  devoted  my  whole 
attention  to  him,  and  give  you  the  result  of  our 
conversation.  My  first  impression  of  the  man 
was  rather  favorable  than  otherwise.  Except  a 
guard  of  some  hundred  Federal  soldiers,  more 
than  half  a  mile  away,  I  was,  with  the  exception 
of  another  person,  the  only  Yankee  in  the  room, 
and,  being  dressed  in  citizen's  slothes,  was  never 
suspected,  except  by  the  landlord. 

" « General,'  said  I,  '  I  little  expected  to  b« 
seated  ty  this  fire  with  you.' 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


451 


"  «  Why  so  ? ' 

" '  Well,  because  your  name  has  been  in  the 
mcMth  of  nearly  every  person  for  a  long  time.' 

" '  Yes,'  said "  he,  displaying  the  finest  set  of 
teeth  that  I  think  I  have  ever  seen;  'I  have 
wuked  up  the  Yankees  everywhere,  lately.' 

" '  Now  that  you  have  time,  General,  do  you 
think  you  will  ever  put  upon  paper  the  true  ac 
count  of  the  Fort  Pillow  affair?  ' 

"  '  Well,'  said  he,  '  the  Yankees  ought  to  know. 
They  sent  down  their  best  men  to  investigate  the 
affair.' 

"  '  But  are  we  tc  believe  their  report,  General?  ' 

"  '  Yes,  if  we  are  to  believe  anything  a  nigger 
says.  When  I  went  into  the  war,  I  meant  to 
fight.  Fighting  means  killing.  I  have  lost  twen 
ty-nine  horses  in  the  war,  and  have  killed  a  man 
each  time.  The  other  day  I  was  a  horse  ahead  ; 
but  at  Selma  they  surrounded  me,  and  I  killed 
two,  jumped  my  horse  over  a  one-horse  wagin, 
and  got  away.' 

"  I  began  to  think  I  had  some  idea  of  the  man 
at  last.  He  continued : 

"  '  My  Provost-Marshal's  book  will  show  that 
I  have  taken  thirty-one  thousand  prisoners  during 
the  war.  At  Fort  Pillow  I  sent  in  a  flag  of  truce, 
and  demanded  an  unconditional  surrender,  or  I 
would  not  answer  for  my  men.  This  they  refused. 
I  sent  them  another  note,  giving  them  one  hour 
to  determine.  This  they  refused.  I  could  see, 
on  the  river,  boats  loaded  with  troops.  They 
sent  back,  asking  for  an  hour  more.  I  gave  them 
twenty  minutes.  I  sat  on  my  horse  during-  the 
whole  time. 

"  *  The  fort  was  filled  with  niggers  and  deserters 
from  our  army  —  men  who  lived  side  by  side  with 
my  men.  I  waited  five  minutes  after  the  time,  and 
then  blew  my  bugle  for  the  charge.  In  twenty 
minutes  my  men  were  over  the  works,  and  the  fir 
ing  had  ceased.  The  citizens  and  Yankees  had  bro 
ken  in  the  heads  of  whiskey  and  lager-beer  barrels, 
and  were  all  drunk.  They  kept  up  firing  all  the 
time,  as  they  went  down  the  hill.  Hundreds  of 
them  rushed  to  the  river,  and  tried  to  swim  to  the 
gunboats,  and  my  men  shot  them  down.  The 
Mississippi  River  was  red  with  their  blood  for 
three  hundred  yards.  During  all  this,  their  flag 
was  still  flying,  and  I  rushed  over  the  works  and 
cut  the  halyards,  and  let  it  down,  and  stopped 
the  fight.  Many  of  the  Yankees  were  in  tents 
in  front,  and  they  were  in  their  way,  as  they  con 
cealed  my  men,  and  some  of  them  set  them  on 
fire.  If  any  were  burned  to  death,  it  was  in  those 
tents. 

"  «  They  have  a  living  witness  in  Captain  Young, 
their  Quartermaster,  who  is  still  alive  ;  and  I  will 
leave  it  to  any  prisoner  I  have  ever  taken  if  I  have 
not  treated  them  well.'  '  You  have  made  some 
rapid  marches,  General,'  said  I.  '  Yes,'  said  he, 
*  I  have  five  thousand  men  that  can  whip  any  ten 
thousand  in  the  world.  Sturgis  came  out  to  whip 
me  once,  and  was  ten  thousand  strong.  I  marched 
off  as  if  I  was  going  to  Georgia,  and  fell  upon  the 
nead  of  his  column  when  he  least  expected  me, 
and,  with  two  thousand  three  hundred  men,  killed 
over  three  thousand,  captured  as  many  more,  with 


all  the  trains  and  mules,  and  drove  him  back.  I 
meant  to  kill  every  man  in  Federal  uniform,  un 
less  he  gave  up.'  He  spoke  of  capturing  a  fort 
from  Colonel  Crawford,  in  Athens,  Alabama,  gar 
risoned  by  oi\e  thousand  five  hundred  men.  Said 
he :  '  I  took  him  out  and  showed  him  my  forces,  — 
some  brigades  two  or  three  times,  —  and  one  bat 
tery  I  kept  marching  around  all  the  time.  My 
men  dismounted,  leaving  every  fourth  man  to  hold 
the  horses,  an  1  formed  che  rest  in  front  as  infan 
try  ;  and  the  darL.  fool  gave  up  without  firing  a 
shot.' 

"  Speaking  of  S'reight's  capture,  he  said  it  was 
almost  a  shame.  '  My  men  rode  among  them  and 
shot  them  down  like  cattle.  They  were  mounted 
on  sharp-edged  saddles,  and  were  worn  out,  and 
I  killed  several  of  them  myself.  Didn't  hardly 
know  what  to  do  with  them.'  But  the  heart  sick 
ens  at  the  infamous  conduct  of  this  butcher.  He 
is  one  of  the  few  men  that  are  general  '  blowers,' 
and  yet  will  fight.  Forrest  is  a  thorough  bravo  — 
a  desperate  man  in  every  respect.  He  was  a  ne 
gro-trader  before  the  war,  and  in  '  personal  affairs,' 
as  he  calls  them,  had  killed  several  men. 

"  He  had  a  body  guard  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  picked  men.  These  he  placed  in  the  rear, 
with  orders  to  shoot  any  one  that  turned  back.  I 
have  spoken  to  numbers  of  Confederate  officers, 
and  they  speak  of  him  with  disgust,  though  all 
admit  his  bravery  and  fitness  for  the  cavalry  ser 
vice.  He  has  two  brothers  living,  one  of  whom 
is  spoken  of  as  being  a  greater  butcher  than  the 
Lieutenant-General.  He  is  a  man  without  edu 
cation  or  refinement,  married,  I  believe,  to  a  very 
pretty  wife.  Any  one  would  call  him  handsome. 

"Any  one  hearing  him  talk  would  call  him  a 
braggadocio.  As  for  myself,  I  would  believe  one 
half  he  said,  and  only  dispute  with  him  with  my 
finger  upon  the  trigger  of  my  pistol.  When  I 
told  him  I  was  a  Yankee,  and  late  upon  a  promi 
nent  General's  staff,  he  looked  about  him,  and 
among  his  staff,  for  corroborative  proof.  Volleys 
of  this,  ready  prepared,  poured  forth  upon  his 
order.  My  not  being  a  short-hand  writer  neces 
sarily  deprived  me  of  the  pleasure  of  a  further 
contribution  to  this  true  story. 

"  Two  young  Kentuckians  were  walking  along 
the  road,  when  Forrest  came  up ;  he  called  them 
deserters,  and  deliberately  shot  them.  It  appears 
that  these  young  men  were  upon  legitimate  duty, 
and  one  of  them  under  military  age.  The  fathers 
of  these  youths  are  upon  Forrest's  track,  sworn 
to  kill  him.  Poetic  justice  requires  that  he  should 
meet  with  a  violent  death.  Probably  one  hun 
dred  men  have  fallen  by  his  hand.  He  says  *  the 
war  is  played  out ; '  that,  where  he  lives,  there  are 
plenty  of  fish  ;  and  that  he  is  going  tc  take  a  tent 
along,  and  don't  want  to  see  any  one  for  twelve 
months."  

A  ROMANTIC  INCIDENT.  —  Governor  Curtin, 
of  Pennsylvania,  while  sojourning  in  Philadelphia, 
was  called  upon  by  a  young  woman,  who,  when 
she  was  introduced,  expressed  her  great  joy  at 
seeing  the  Governor,  at  the  same  time  imprint 
ing  a  kiss  upon  his  foi  ehead. 


452 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


"  Madam,"  said  he,  "to  whom  am  I  indebted 

for  this  unexpected  salutation  ?  " 

"  Sir,  do  you  not  know  me  ?  " 

"  Take  a  chair,"  said  the  Governor,  at  the  same 
time  extending  one  of  the  handsomest  in  the  par 
lor. 

"  Shortly  after  the  battle  of  Antietam,  you 
were  upon  that  bloody  field,"  said  she  to  the  Gov 
ernor. 

"  I  was,"  replied  the  Governor. 

"  You  administered  to  the  wants  of  the 
wounded  and  the  dying." 

"  It  was  my  duty  as  a  feeling  man." 

"  You  did  your  duty  well.  Heaven  alone 
will  reward  you,  sir,  for  in  this  life  there  is  no 
reward  adequately  expressive  of  your  deserts. 
You,  sir,  imparted  consolation  and  revived  the 
hopes  of  a  dying  soldier  of  the  Twenty-eighth 
Ohio."  He  was  badly  wounded  in  the  arm ;  you 
lifted  him  into  an  ambulance,  and  the  blood 
dripping  from  him  stained  your  hands  and  your 
clothing.  That  soldier  wras  as  dear  to  me  as  life 
itself. 

"  A  husband  ?  "  said  the  Governor.    "  No,  sir." 

"  A  brother  perhaps  ?  "     "  No,  sir." 

"A  father?"     "  No,  sir." 

"  A  son  ?  "     "  No,  sir." 

"A  lover?"     "No,  sir." 

"  If  not  a  husband,  father,  brother,  son,  or 
lover,  who,  then,  could  it  be  P "  said  the  Gov 
ernor,  at  length  breaking  the  silence :  '  this  is  an 
enigma  to  me*.  Please  explain  more  about  the 
gallant  soldier  of  Ohio." 

"  Well,  sir,  that  soldier  gave  you  a  ring.  C. 
E.  1).  were  the  letters  engraved  on  the  interior. 
That  is  the  ring  now  upon  your  little  finger.  He 
told  you  to  wear  it,  and  carefully  have  you  done 
so."  " 

The  Governor  pulled  the  ring  off,  and  sure 
enough  the  letters  were  there. 

"The  finger  that  used  to  wear  that  ring  will 
never  wear  it  any  more.  The  hand  is  dead,  but 
the  soldier  still  lives." 

The  Governor  was  now  more  interested  than 


"  Well,  madam,"  said  he,  "  tell  me  all  about 
it.  Is  this  ring  yours  ?  Was  it  given  to  you  by 
a  soldier  whom  you  loved  ?  " 

"  I  loved  him  as  I  loved  my  life  ;  but  he  never 
returned  that  love.  He  had  more  love  for  his 
country  than  for  me  ;  I  honor  him  for  it.  That 
soldier  who  placed  that  little  ring  upon  your  fin 
ger  stands  before  you."  So  saying  the  strange 
lady  arose  from  her  chair,  and  stood  before  the 
Governor. 

The  scene  that  now  ensued  we  leave  to  the 
imagination  of  the  reader.  A  happy  hour  passed. 
The  girl  who  had  thus  introduced  herself  was 
Catharine  E.  Davidson,  of  Sheffield,  Ohio.  She 
was  engaged  to  be  married,  but  her  future  hus 
band  responded  to  the  call  of  the  President,  and 
she  followed  him  by  joining  another  regiment. 
He  was  killed  in  the  same  battle  where  she  fell 
wounded.  She  is  alone  in  the  world,  her  father 
and  mother  having  departed  this  life  years  ago. 
She  was  the  soldier  of  the  Twenty-eighth  Ohio 


who  had  placed  the  ring  upon  the  finger  of  Gov 
ernor  Curtin,  for  the  kind  attention  given  her 
upon  the  bloody  field  of  Antietam. 


INCIDENTS  OF  LEESBURG.  —  A  Southern  let- 
ter  writer  gives  the  following  incidents  of  the 
battle  of  Ball's  Bluff,  called  by  the  Confederates 
the  battle  of  Leesburg  : 

"  One  personal  encounter  is  worthy  of  record. 
As  Captain  Jones,  of  company  B,  Seventeenth 
Mississippi,  was  passing  through  the  woods  at 
the  head  of  his  men,  he  met  another  party  headed 
by  an  officer.  The  two  halting  instantly  upon 
discovering  their  close  proximity,  Jones  ex 
claimed,  "  For  God  Almighty's  sake,  tell  me 
quick — friends  or  enemies  —  who  are  you?' 
The  other  replied, 'We  are  friends,' and  at  the 
same  time  advanced.  A  little  boy  named  Joseph 
Ware,  who  was  behind  the  Mississippian,  in 
stantly  cried  out,  '  Captain,  they  are  not  friends; 
don't  you  see  they  have  not  guns  like  ours. 
They  are  Yankees  :  let  me  shoot.'  Again  Jones 
exclaimed,  '  Who  are  you  ?  Speak  quick,  for  I 
can't  keep  my  men  from  firing.'  ' I'll  let  you 

know  who  we  are,  you  d d  rebel,'  said  the 

Yankee  officer,  —  for  such  he  was,  —  and  suiting 
the  action  to  the  word,  he  sprang  upon  and  seized 
Captain  Jones  by  the  collar.  For  a  second  or 
two  a  scuffle  ensued  between  the  officers,  when 
the  latter  broke  loose.  At  the  same  instant  one 
of  the  Mississippians  dashed  out  the  Yankee's 
brains  with  the  butt  of  his  musket.' 

"  Frequently  the  ladies  are  ;n  the  habit  of  vis 
iting  the  prisoners,  but  oftener  from  curiosity 
than  sympathy.  Another  incident  is  told  of 
an  encounter  between  teveral  of  them  and  an 
Irishman. 

"  It  had  become  a  matter  of  habit  with  the 
fair  ones  to  open  conversation  with  the  very  nat 
ural  inquirv,  'Where  are  you  wounded?'  and 
accordingly  when  a  party  of  three  or  four,  the 
other  day,  approached  our  cell,  they  launched  out 
in  the  usual  way.  Paddy  made  believe  that  he 
didn't  hear  distinctly,  and  replied,  '  Pretty  well, 
I  thank  yez.'  'Where  were  you  wounded?' 
again  fired  away  one  of  the  ladies.  '  Faith,  I'm 
r.  ot  badly  hurt,  at  all.  I'll  be  travelling  to  Rich 
mond  in  a  wake,'  replied  Pat,  with  a  peculiarly 
distressing  look,  as  if  he  was  in  a  tight  place. 
Thinking  that  he  was  deaf,  one  of  the  old  ladies 
in  the  background  put  her  mouth  down  to  his 
ear,  and  shouted  again, '  We  want  to  know  where 
you  are  hurt.' 

"  Pat,  evidently  finding  that  if  the  bombard 
ment  continued  much  longer  he  would  have  to 
strike  his  flag  anyhow,  concluded  to  do  so  at 
once,  and  accordingly,  with  a  face  as  rosy  as  a 
boiled  lobster,  and  with  an  angry  kind  of  energy, 
he  replied  :  '  Sure,  leddies,  it's  not  dafe  that  I  am  ; 
but,  since  you  are  determined  to  know  where  I 
have  been  wounded,  it's  on  my  sate.  The  bullet 
entered  behind  ov  me  breeches.  Plase  to*excuse 
me  feelings  and  ax  me  no  more  questions.' 

"  I  If.  ave  it  to  you  to  imagine  the  blushing  con 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


453 


sternation  of  the  inquisitors  and  sudden  locomo 
tion  of  the  ci  incline  out  of  the  front  door." 


ANECDOTE     OF     PRESIDENT     LINCOLN.  —  The 

fallowing  transpired  at  the  Executive  Mansion  in 
Washington.  Its  moral  will  be  appreciated  by 
all  thoughtful  men.  Some  gentlemen  were  present 
from  the  West,  excited  and  troubled  about  the 
commissions  or  omissions  of  the  Administration. 
The  President  heard  them  patiently,  and  then  re 
plied  :  "  Gentlemen,  suppose  all  the  property  you 
were  worth  was  in  gold,  and  you  had  put  it  in 
the  hands  of  Blondin  to  carry  across  the  Niagara 
River  on  a  rope ;  would  you  shake  the  cable,  or 
keep  shouting  out  to  him  —  Blondin,  stand  up  a 
little  straighter  —  Blondin,  stoop  a  little  more  — 
go  a  little  faster —  lean  a  little  more  to  the  north 
—  lean  a  little  more  to  the  south  ?  No,  you  would 
hold  your  breath  as  well  as  your  tongue,  and 
keep  your  hands  off  until  he  was  safe  over.  The 
Government  are  carrying  an  immense  weight. 
Untold  treasures  are  in  their  hands.  They  are 
doing  the  very  best  they  can.  Don't  badger 
them.  Keep  silence,  and  we'll  get  you  safe 
across."  This  simple  illustration  answered  the 
complaints  of  half  an  hour,  and  not  only  silenced 
but  charmed  the  audience. 


AN  INCIDENT.  —  As  the  fleet  of  transports  of 
the  great  expedition  for  the  reduction  of  the  forts 
ft  Hilton  Head  was  passing  down  the  Chesapeake 
Bay  on  that  beautiful  day  in  October,  1861,  a 
large  bald  eagle  came  sweeping  out  from  the 
shore  of  Maryland,  and,  soaring  high  in  air  over 
the  fleet,  finally  alighted  on  the  masthead  of  the 
Atlantic,  the  headquarters  of  the  army.  In  an 
instant  all  eyes  were  on  him,  and  conjecture  was 
busy  as  to  whether  he  were  a  loyal  bird  come  to 
give  his  blessing  at  parting,  or  a  secession  rooster, 
intent  on  spying  out  the  nation's  strength.  "  We 
gave  the  bird  the  benefit  of  the  doubt,"  said  one 
present  ;  "  an  officer  peremptorily  stayed  the 
hand  of  a  soldier  who  would  have  shot  him,  and 
we  accepted  the  omen  as  auguring  the  full  suc 
cess  of  our  enterprise." 


THE  FIGHT  AT  BRANDY  STATION.  —  "  We  were 
lying  at  Warrenton  Junction,  making  ourselves 
as  comfortable  as  possible  after  the  raid,  when, 
on  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  June,  1863,  the 
whole  division  was  ordered  out  in  the  very  lightest 
marching  order.  That  night  we  lay  close  to  Kel 
ly's  Ford  in  column  of  battalions,  the  men  hold 
ing  their  horses  as  they  slept,  and  no  fires  being 
lighted. 

"  At  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  9th  we 
were  again  in  motion,  and  got  across  the  ford 
without  interruption  or  discovery.  Yorke,  with 
the  third  squadron,  was  in  advance,  and  as  we 
movud  he  managed  so  well  that  he  bagged  every 
picket  on  the  road.  Thus  we  had  got  almost 
upon  the  rebel  camp  before  we  were  discovered. 
We  rode  right  into  Jones'  brigade,  the  First  New 


Jersey  and  First  Pennsylvania  charging  together ; 
and  before  they  had  recovered  from  the  alarm  we 
had  a  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners.  The  rebels 
were  then  forming  upon  the  hill-side  by  the  sta 
tion,  and  they  had  a  battery  playing  upon  us  like 
fun.  Martin's  New  York  "battery,  on  our  side, 
galloj  ed  into  position,  and  began  to  answer  them. 
Then  Wymlham  formed  his  whole  brigade  for  a 
charge,  except  a  squadron  of  the  First  Maryland, 
left  to  support  the  battery.  Our  boys  went  in 
splendidly,  keeping  well  together,  and  making 
straight  for  the  rebel  battery  on  the  hill  behind 
the  station.  Wyndham  himself  rode  on  the 
right,  and  Broderick  charged  more  towards  the 
left,  and  with  a  yell  we  were  on  them.  We  were 
only  two  hundred  and  eighty  strong,  and  in  front 
of  us  was  White's  battalion  of  five  hundred.  No 
matter  for  that.  Wyndham  and  Broderick  were 
leading,  and  they  were  not  accustomed  to  count 
odds.  As  we  dashed  fiercely  into  them,  sabre  in 
hand,  they  broke  like  a  wave  on  the  bows  of  a 
ship,  and  over  and  through  them  we  rode,  sabring 
as  we  went.  We  could  not  stop  to  take  prison 
ers,  for  there  in  front  of  us  was  the  Twelfth  Vir 
ginia,  six  hundred  men,  riding  down  to  support 
White.  By  Jove,  sir,  that  was  a  charge ! 

"  They  came  up  splendidly,  looking  steadier  than 
we  did  ourselves  after  the  shock  of  the  first 
charge.  I  do  not  know  whether  Wyndham  was 
still  with  us,  or  if  he  had  gone  to  another  regi 
ment  ;  but  there  was  Broderick,  looking  full  of 
fight,  his  blue  eyes  in  a  blaze,  and  his  sabre 
clinched,  riding  well  in  front.  At  them  we  went 
again,  and  some  of  them  this  time  met  us  fairly. 
I  saw  Broderick's  sabre  go  through  a  man,  and 
the  rebel  gave  a  convulsive  leap  out  of  his  sad 
dle,  falling  senseless  to  the  ground.  It  seemed 
but  an  instant  before  the  rebels  were  scattered  in 
every  direction,  trying  now  and  then  to  rally  in 
small  parties,  but  never  daring  to  await  our  ap 
proach.  Now  there  were  the  guns  plain  before 
us,  the  drivers  yelling  at  their  horses,  and  trying 
to  limber  up.  We  caught  one  gun  before  they 
could  move  it,  and  were  dashing  after  the  others, 
when  I  heard  Broderick  shouting  in  a  stormy 
voice.  I  tell  you,  it  was  a  startling  sight.  The 
fragments  of  White's  battalion  had  gathered  to 
gether  towards  the  left  of  the  field,  and  were 
charging  in  our  rear.  The  First  Maryland  was 
there,  and  Broderick  was  shouting  at  them,  in 
what  their  Colonel  considered  a  4  very  ungen- 
tlemanly  manner,'  to  move  forward  to  the  charge. 
At  the  same  time  two  fresh  regiments,  the  Elev 
enth  Virginia  and  another,  were  coming  down  on 
our  front.  Instead  of  dashing  at  White's  men, 
the  First  Maryland  wavered  and  broke,  and  then 
we  were  charged  at  the  same  time  front  and  rear. 
We  had  to  let  the  guns  go,  and  gather  together 
as  well  as  possible  to  cut  ourselves  out.  Gallantly 
our  fellows  met  the  attack.  We  were  broken,  of 
course,  by  the  mere  weight  of  the  attacking  force  ; 
but,  breaking  them  up  too,  the  whole  field  was 
covered  with  small  squads  of  fighting  men.  I 
saw  Broderick  ride  in  with  a  cheer  and  open  a 
way  for  the  men.  His  horse  went  down  in  the 
:nelee;  but  little  Weed,  the  bug'er  of  company 


454 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


G,  sprai  g  down  and  gave  him  his  animal,  setting 
off  himself  to  catch  another. 

"  A  rebel  rode  at  the  bugler,  and  succeeded  in 
getting  away  his  arms  before  help  came.  As 
Wood  still  went  after  a  horse  another  fellow  rode 
at  him.  The  boy  happened  at  that  moment  to  see 
a  carbine  where  it  had  been  dropped  after  firing. 
He  picked  up  the  empty  weapon,  aimed  it  at  the 
horseman,  made  him  dismount,  give  up  his  arms, 
and  start  for  the  rear.  Then  he  went  in  agiin. 
Lucas,  Hobensack/Brooks,  and  Beekman  charged 
with  twelve  men  into  White's  battalion.  Fight 
ing  hand  to  hand,  they  cut  their  way  through,  but 
left  nine  of  the  men  on  the  ground'behind  them. 
Hughes  was  left  almost  alone  in  a  crowd,  but 
brought  himself  and  the  men  with  him  safe 
through.  Major  Shelmire  was  last  seen  lying 
across  the  dead  body  cf  a  rebel  cavalryman. 
None  of  us  thought  anything  of  two  to  one  odds, 
as  long  as  we  had  a  chance  to  ride  at  them.  It 
was  only  when  we  got  so  entangled  that  we  had  to 
fight  hand  to  hand  that  their  numbers  told  heav 
ily.  It  was  in  such  a  place  that  I  lost  sight  of 
Broderick.  The  troop  of  horse  that  he  was  rid 
ing  was  not  strong  enough  to  ride  through  a  knot 
of  men,  so  that  he  had  to  fight  them.  He  struck 
one  so  heavily  that  he  was  stunned  by  the  blow, 
but  his  horse  was  still  in  the  way  ;  swerving  to 
one  side,  he  escaped  a  blow  from  another,  and, 
warding  off  the  thrust  of  a  third,  managed  to 
take  him  with  his  point  across  the  forehead.  Just 
as  he  did  so,  however,  his  sabre,  getting  tangled 
with  the  rebel's,  was  jerked  from  his  hand.  Draw 
ing  his  pistol,  he  fired  into  the  crowd,  arid  put 
spurs  to  his  horse.  The  bullet  hit  a  horse  in  front 
of  him,  which  fell.  His  own  charger  rode  at  it, 
but  stumbled,  and  as  it  did  Broderick  himself  fell, 
from  a  shot  fired  within  arm's  length  of  him  and 
a  sabre  stroke  upon  his  side. 

"  I  saw  all  this  as  a  man  sees  things  at  such 
times,  and  am  not  positive  even  that  it  all  oc 
curred  as  I  thought  I  saw  it ;  for  I  was  'in  the 
naidst  of  confusion,  and  only  caught  things 
around  by  passing  glimpses.  You  see  I  was  my 
self  having  as  much  as  I  could  do.  The  crowd 
with  whom  Broderick  was  engaged  was  a  little 
distance  from  me  ;  and  I  had  just  wheeled  to  ride 
up  to  his  help  when  two  fellows  put  at  me.  The 
first  one  fired  at  me  and  missed.  Before  he  could 
again  cock  his  revolver  I  succeeded  in  closing  with 
him.  My  sabre  took  him  just  in  the  neck,  and 
must  have  cut  ih.  jugular.  The  blood  gushed 
out  in  a  black-looking  stream  ;  he  gave  a  horri 
ble  yell  and  fell  over  the  side  of  his  horse,  which 
galloped  away.  Then  I  gathered  up  my  reins, 
spurred  my  horse,  and  went  at  the  other  one.  I 
was  riding  that  old  black  horse  that  used  to  be 
long  to  the  signal  sergeant,  and  it  was  in  fine  con 
dition.  As  I  drove  in  the  spurs  it  gave  a  leap 
high  in  the  air.  That  plunge  saved  my  life.  The 
rebel  had  a  steady  aim  at  me  ;  but  the  ball  went 
through  the  black  horse's  brain.  His  feet  never 
touched  ground  again.  With  a  terrible  convul 
sive  contraction  of  all  his  muscles,  the  blac<. 
turned  over  in  the  air,  and  fell  on  his  head  an  I 
side  stone  deid,  pitching  me  twenty  feet.  I 


alighted  on  my  pistol,  the  butt  forcing  itself  far 
into  my  side  ;  my  sabre  sprung  out  of  my  hand, 
and  I  lay  with  arms  and  legs  all  abroad,  stretched 
out  like  a  dead  man.  Everybody  had  something 
else  to  do  than  to  attend  to  me,  and  there  I  lay 
where  I  had  fallen. 

"  It  seemed  to  mo  to  have  been  an  age  before 
I  began  painfully  t.  come  to  myself;  but  it  could 
not  have  been  mar. 3-  minutes.  Every  nerve  was 
shaking ;  there  ivas  a  terrible  pain  in  my  head, 
and  a  numbness  in  my  side,  which  was  even  worse. 
Fighting  was  still  going  on  around  me,  and  my 
first  impulse  was  to  get  hold  of  my  sword.  I 
crawled  to  it,  and  sank  down  as  I  grasped  it  once 
more.  That  was  only  for  a  moment,  for  a  rebel 
soldier,  seeing  me  move,  rode  at  me.  The  pres- 
ei  .e  of  danger  roused  me,  and  I  managed  to  get 
to  my  horse,  behind  which  I  sank,  resting  my  pis 
tol  on  the  saddle,  and  so  contriving  to  get  an  aim. 
As  soon  as  the  man  saw  that,  he  turned  off  with 
out  attacking  me.  I  was  now  able  to  stand  and 
walk  ;  so,  holding  my  pistol  in  one  hand  and  my 
sabre  in  the  other,  I  made  my  way  across  the 
fields  to  where  our  battery  was  posted,  scaring 
some  with  my  pistol  and  shooting  others.  No 
body  managed  to  hit  me  through  the  whole  fight. 
When  I  got  up  to  the  battery  I  found  Wood 
there.  He  sang  out  to  me  to  wait  and  he  would 
get  me  a  horse. 

"  One  of  the  men,  who  had  just  taken  one, 
was  going  past ;  so  Wood  stopped  him  and  got  it 
for  me.  Just  at  that  moment  White's  battalion 
and  some  other  troops  came  charging  at  the  bat 
tery.  The  squadron  of  the  First  Maryland,  who 
we're  supporting  it,  met  the  charge  well  as  far  as 
their  numbers  went,  but  were,  of  course,  flanked 
on  both  sides  by  the  heavy  odds.  All  of  our  men 
who  were  free  came  swarming  up  the  hill,  and  the 
cavalry  were  fighting  over  and  around  the  guns. 
In  spite  of  the  confusion,  and  even  while  their 
comrades  at  the  same  piece  were  being  sabred, 
the  men  at  that  battery  kept  to  their  duty.  They 
did  not  even  look  up  or  around,  but  kept  up 
their  fire  with  unwavering  steadiness.  There 
was  one  rebel,  on  a  splendid  horse,  who  sabred 
three  gunners  while  I  was  chasing  him.  He 
wheeled  in  and  out  —  would  dart  away  and  then 
come  sweeping  back  and  cut  down  another  man 
in  a  manner  that  seemed  almost  supernatural.  We 
at  last  succeeded  in  driving  him  away,  but  we 
could  not  catch  or  shoot  him,  and  he  got  off  with 
out  a  scratch. 

"  In  the  mean  time  the  fight  was  going  on  else 
where.  Kilpatrick's  brigade  charged  on  our 
right.  The  Second  New  York  did  not  behave  as 
well  as  it  has  sometimes  done  since,  and  the  loss 
of  it  weakened  us  a  great  deal.  The  Tenth  New 
York,  though,  went  in  well,  and  the  First  Maine 
did  splendidly,  as  it  always  does.  In  spite  of 
their  superior  numbers  (Stuart  had  a  day  or  two 
before  reviewed  thirty  thousand  cavalry  at  Cul- 
pepper,  according  to  the  accounts  of  rebel  offi 
cers)  we  beat  them  heavily,  and  would  have  routed 
them  completely  if  Dufiie's  brigade  had  come 
up.  He,  however,  was  engaged  with  two  or 
three  hundred  men  on  he  left ;  -  he  aid-de-camp 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


455 


sent  to  him  with  orders  was  wounded  and  ta 
ken  prisoner,  and  he  is  not  the  sort  of  man  to 
find  out  the  critical  point  in  a  fight  of  his  own 
accord.  * 

"  So  now,  they  bringing  up  still  more  reserves, 
and  a  whole  division  of  theirs  coming  on  the 
field,  M  e  began  to  fall  back.  We  had  used  them 
up  so  severely  that  they  could  not  press  us  very 
close,  except  in  the  neighborhood  of  where  the 
Second  New  York  charged.  There  some  of  our 
men  had  as  much  as  they  could  do  to  get  out,  and 
the  battery  had  to  leave  three  of  its  guns.  We 
formed  in  the  woods  between  a  quarter  and  half 
a  mile  of  the  field  ;  another  moved  back  to  cover 
the  left  of  Buford,  who  was  in  retreat  towards 
Beverly  Ford.  Hart  and  Wynkoop  tried  hard  to 
cover  the  guns  that  were  lost ;  but  they  had  too 
few  men,  and  so  had  to  leave  them.  The  rebels 
were  terribly  punished.  By  their  own  confession 
they  lost  three  times  as  many  as  we  did.  In  our 
regiment  almost  every  soldier  must  have  settled 
his  man.  Sergeant  Craig,  of  company  K,  I  be 
lieve,  killed  three.  Slate,  of  the  above  com 
pany,  also  went  above  the  average.  But  we  lost 
terribly.  Sixty  enlisted  men  of  the  First  New 
Jersey  were  killed,  wounded,  or  missing.  Col 
onel  Wyndham  was  wounded,  but  kept  his  sad 
dle;  Lieutenant-Colonel  Broderick  and  Major 
Shelmire  were  killed  ;  Lieutenant  Brooks  was 
wounded  ;  Captain  Sawyer  and  Lieutenant  Crocker 
were  taken  prisoners  ;  and  I,  as  you  see,  have  had 
to  come  in  at  last  and  refit." 


THE  CAVALRY  CHARGE. 

BY   EDMUND    C.    STEDMAN. 

OUR  good  steeds  snuff  the  evening  air, 
Our  pulses  with  their  purpose  tingle; 
The  foeman's  fires  are  twinkling  there ; 
He  leaps  to  hear  our  sabres  jingle  I 

Halt ! 

Each  carbine  sent  its  whizzing  ball : 
Now,  cling  !  clang  !    Forward,  all, 
Into  the  fight ! 

Dash  on  beneath  the  smoking  dome  : 

Through  level  lightnings  gallop  nearer  ! 
One  look  to  Heaven  !    No  thoughts  of  home  j 
The  guidons  that  we  bear  are  dearer. 

Charge  ! 

Cling  !  clang  !    Forward,  all ! 
Heaven  help  those  whose  horses  fall  — 
Cut  left  and  right ! 

They  flee  before  our  fierce  attack ! 

They  fall !  they  spread  in  broken  surges. 
Now,  comrades,  bear  our  wounded  back, 
And  leave  the  foeman  to  his  dirges. 

Wheel ! 

The  bugles  sound  the  swift  recall : 
Cling  !  clang  !    Backward,  all ! 
Home,  and  good-night  I 


FREEDOM  OF  SPEECH.  —  An  editor  of  a  West 
ern  journal  narrates  the  following:      "  At  D 

dwells  a  rabid  secessionist,  we   are  sorry  to  say, 


for  the  honor  of  the  town.  This  man,  it  seems,  ia 
a  person  of  substance,  having  considerable  means 
invested  in  Southern  State  stocks.  He  has  a 
dog  '  Shep,'  as  intelligent  and  obedient  as  his 
master  is  bigoted  and  dunder-headed.  'Tis  some- 
times  said  the  master  is  only  tolerated  on  tho 
dog's  account,  as  the  quadruped  is  much  the 
more  :  espected  of  the  two. 

"O  e  day  Mr.  Secesh  \\asholdingforth  on  the 
right  of  speech,  the  freedom  of  the  press,  and  all 
that  kind  of  *hing,  averring  that  every  man  had  a 
right  to  say  what  he  pleased,  where  'he  pleased, 
[  and  when  he  pleased,  and  no  one  had  a  right  to 
molest  him  or  make  him  afraid.  Just  then  a  big 
bull  dog  walked  past  the  door.  He  was  a  tre 
mendously  savage  dog,  the  terror  of  all  the 
canines  in  town,  and  able  to  clean  out  and  chaw 
up  fourteen  dozen  such  dogs  as  '  Shep.'  A 
young  fellow,  who  had  listened  to  the  man's  stuff 
..ong  enough,  determined  to  give  him  a  practical 
illustration  of  his  own  doctrine :  so  he  sprang 
towards  the  door,  and  pointing  towards  the  big 
dog,  said,  'Lick  him,  Shep!  Seize  him,  Shep! 
Pitch  into  him,  and  lick  him.  Seize  him,  Shep  ! ' 
Obedient  to  the  lightest  command,  the  faithful 
dog  started  as  he  was  bidden,  and  but  for  his 
master's  interference  would  have  been  badly 
torn. 

"  Full  of  wrath,  he  turned  to  the  young  man  who 
had  incited  his  dog  to  fight  the  bull  dog,  and  said, 
4  What  did  you  do  that  for,  you  rascal  ?  Set 
Shep  on  to  a  dog  that  would  tear  him  to  pieces  ?  ' 

" '  O,  I  was  only  exercising  your  freedom  of 
speech.  It's  nobody's  business  what  I  say  to  any 
dog.'  The  way  the  thing  was  done  created  an 
immense  laugh,  and  effectually  dried  up  the  rebel 
gentleman.  He  hadn't  a  word  to  say." 


CONSERVATIVE   CHORUS. 

ABRAHAM,  spare  the  South, 

Touch  not  a,  sinerie  slave  ; 
Nor  e'en  by  word  of  mouth 

Disturb  the  thing,  we  crave. 
'Twas  our  forefathers'  hand 

That  Slavery  begot ; 
There.  Abraham,  let  it  stand ; 

Thine  acts  shall  harm  it  not. 


INCIDENTS  OF  BELMONT. —  Major  Bledsoe 
Harmon,  of  the  Confederate  army,  relates  the  fol 
lowing  incidents  of  the  battle  at  Belmont : 

"  During  the  battle  many  incidents  occurred, 
many  acts  of  heroism  were  performed,  that  will  be 
told  only  when  the  war  shall  have  ended,  and 
when  the  patriot  has  returned  to  his  home  to  en 
joy  the  fruits  of  the  independence  his  \alor  has 
helped  to  win.  Then,  beside  the  hearth-stone, 
tales  of  chivalry  and  daring  will  be  told,  ancJ 
handed  down  from  father  to  son  to  the  remotest 
generations. 

"  Among  the  many  acts  of  heroism  told  of  those 
engaged,  is  that  of  a  m?re  ycuth,  a  little  boy  who 
was  attached  to  Tapran's  Arkansas  regiment, 
and  carried  two  mimic  flags,  one  in  each  hand. 


456 


ANECDOTES..    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


The  regiment  was  driven  to  the  water's  edge,  and 
th9  enemy  poured  in  a  terrific  volley,  killing 
many  of  them,  who  fell  into  the  river,  and  such  as 
were  not  instantly  killed  met  a  watery  grave. 
Among  those  struck  was  the  little  boy  who  bore 
the  flags.  Giving  one  last  hurrah,  which  was 
cut  short  by  the  ebbing  flood  of  his  young  life,  he 
waved  the  flags  over  his  head,  tottered  into  the 
river,  and  was  seen  no  more.  The  incident  was 
witnessed  by  a  whole  regiment  that  was  crossing 
the  river  at  the  time,  and  not  one  member  of  it 
but  shed  a  tear  at  the  sight. 

"  When  General  Pillow's  brigade  first  discovered 
the  enemy,  Colonel  Pickett's  regiment  was  ordered 
to  charge.  They  commenced  it  at  double-quick, 
when  they  were  met  by  a  withering  volley,  which 
prostrated  about  forty  of  the  men.  Of  those 
wounded  was  Lieutenant  Jesse  Tate,  who  was 
.struck  in  the  knee,  and  fell.  Colonel  Pickett's 
horse  was  shot  in  three  different  places,  and 
killed  under  him.  Major  J.  C.  Cole's  horse  was 
shot  dead.  Lieutenant  Hiram  Tilman,  although 
a  prominent  mark  and  in  the  thickest  of  the 
fight,  encouraging  on  his  men,  escaped  unhurt. 
Colonel  Pickett  acted  like  a  veteran.  Cool  and 
undismayed,  he  saw  his  men  fall  beside  him ;  but 
the  carnage  seemed  to  inspire  him  to  greater 
deeds.  In  fact,  the  utmost  gallantry  was  dis 
played  by  all  the  field  and  commissioned  officers 
and  men  in  the  regiment. 

"  Perhaps  the  most  unflinching  determination 
and  courage  upon  the  part  of  the  men  in  Colonel 
Pickett's  regiment  was  displayed  by  Captain  J. 
1).  Layton,  of  the  Liberty  Guards.  In  the  first 
charge,  while  standing  in  front  of  his  men,  who 
were  loading  and  firing  as  fast  as  possible,  he  re 
ceived  a  severe  wound  just  beneath  his  left  arm, 
the  ball  lodging  in  his  body.  His  sword  fell  from 
his  grasp,  but  he  quickly  recovered  it,  and,  not 
withstanding  the  severity  of  his  hurt,  fought  the 
battle  through  ;  nor  did  he  leave  his  men  until  he 
saw  that  his  wounded  were  properly  cared  for  at 
night.  Such  acts  entitle  a  man  to  the  name  of 
hero. 

"  The  gallant  conduct  of  Captain  Frazier,  also  of 
Pickett's  regiment,  is  highly  spoken  of.  We 
must  not  omit  Captain  Dashiell,  whose  praises  are 
sounded  by  all.  James  B.  Hatcher,  a  not  very 
old  nor  remarkably  large  young  gentleman,  who 
was  in  the  battle  as  an  amateur  fighter,  succeeded 
in  '  surrounding '  a  Lincolnite  twice  his  size,  and 
disarmed  him  of  his  gun  and  knife,  besides  one 
of  the  Roman  sabres  he  had  captured  from  one 
of  our  men  m  Watson's  battery.  The  last-named 
weapon  he  carried  home  with  him,  but  was  not 
permitted  to  take  away  the  rest. 

"  Captain  J.  Welby  Armstrong  was  struck  full 
in  the  breast  by  two  six-pounder  canister  shots, 
and  of  course  death  was  instantaneous. 

"  From  Columbus  the  fight  could  be  witnessed 
with  ease.  As  our  men  retired  to  the  river  for 
ammunition,  gallantly  contesting  every  inch  of 
ground,  the  Federals  in  pursuit  could  be  seen 
oayoneting  the  wounded  left  upon  the  field. 
Not  only  this,  they  set  fire  to  the  tents  used  as 
lospitals,  and  many  of  the  poor  fellows  confined 


in  them  were  consu  ned  by  the  flames.  These 
acts  of  barbarity  did  not  lessen  the  already 
awakened  vengeance  of  our  men,  and  we  h(iar  jt 
stated  that  the  nost  ample  retaliation  was 
made."  

A  BELLIGERENT  WOMAN.  —  At  Branchville, 
S.  C.,  in  the  days  when  the  Confederate  rule  was 
strictest,  a  lady  presented  herself  at  the  platform 
of  a  passenger  car  going  to  Charleston,  where  a 
guard  with  fixed  bayonet  was  standing,  and  de 
sired  to  enter. 

The  guard  :old  her  it  was  contrary  to  orders, 
ard  raised  h.s  piece  in  a  position  that  indicated 
clearly  that  he  meant  to  obey  instructions.  She 
oidored  him  to  lower  his  musket.  He  refused. 

She  then  drew  a  revolver,  and  pointing  it  at 
him,  threatened  to  shoot  if  he  did  not  let  her 
pass.  With  some  surprise  he  demanded  :  "  Are 
you  a  man  in  woman's  clothes  ?  "  "  No,"  was  the 
reply,  "  I  am  a  woman."  "  Then  come  in,"  said 
the  sentinel,  "  for  hang  me  if  I  fight  a  woman,  or 
be  killed  by  one.  You  can't  be  classed  with  non- 
combatants,  and  they  are  the  only  persons  I  am 
ordered  to  keep  out  of  this  car."  So  she  was 
classed  as  a  "  belligerent  power,"  and  allowed  to 


THE  MARCH  TO  NASHVILLE.  —  A  solditr- 
writer,  on  the  march  to  Nashville,  in  the  autumn 
of  .1862,  narrates  the  following:  "  I  engaged  in  a 
pleasant  two  hours'  chat  with  General  Rousseau, 
and  found  him  an  agreeable  ar.d  entertaining 
conversationist.  There  is  no  compromise  in  him, 
except  in  the  Union.  He  holds  that  a  rebel  has 
no  rights  under  our  Constitution.  Eight  or  ten 
of  the  gentry  called  on  him  near  Mitchellville, 
and  commenced  using  treasonable  language.  The 
General  peremptorily  ordered  them  to  cease,  as 
he  had  heard  all  be  wanted  of  such  talk. 

"  '  Well,  but,  General,  I  understand  you  are  a 
Kentuckian  ;  you  don't  go  in  foi  any  abolition 
document  like  Lincoln  has  just  issued,  do  you?1 

"  '  No  matter,  sir,  what  I  like ;  you  have  no 
right  to  complain.' 

«  « Why,  you  don't  approve  of  their  stealing 
our  negroes,  do  you?' 

"  '  I  approve,  sir,  of  anything  my  Government 
does  to  put  down  the  rebellion,;  and  anything 
you  love  I  hate.' 

" « Well,  why  don't  you  take  our  houses  and 
lands?' 

" '  Well,  sir,  if  we  wanted  them,  I  go  in  for 
that,  too ;  take  everything  you  have,  and  drive 
you  to  the  dominions  of  Jeff  Davis,  whom  you 
love  so  much ;  and,  so  far  as  lies  in  my  power,  I 
will  drive  every  one  of  you  beyond  our  lines,  ac 
cording  to  all  rules  of  war,  where  you  cannot  do 
us  injury  as  spies.  Yes,  sir,  I  would  send  you  all 
to  Jeff  Davis,  or  hell.' 

"  Soon  after  the  above,  a  tattered  specimen  of 
gawky  ignorance  entered  the  General's  tent. 

"  '  Well,  sir,'  said  the  General,  'what  will  you 
hav.P' 

"  '  I  kem  over  here  for  pertection.' 

"    Are  you  a  Union  man  ?     However    contia- 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


457 


aed  he,  « you  are  all  Union  men  now ;  it  is 
scarcely  worth  asking  the  question.' 

"  •  Well,  General,'  said  the  Tennesseean,  '  I'm 
not  an  aberlitionist ;  I  don't  go  in  for  — ' 

l' '  O,  go  to  my  Adjutant,  Captain  Pohrman. 
I'm  tired  of  such  evasions.  If  you  deserve  pro 
tection,  you  shall  have  it ;  if  not,  you  must  ac 
cept  the  consequences  of  the  calamity  you  have 
aided  in  bringing  upon  your  own  head.' 

"  I  heard  a  good  story  told  of  a  joke  played 
off  by  a  secession  wag,  a  short  time  since,  upon 
General  Negley.  A  whiskey-drinking,  facetious 
joker,  residing  in  the  town  of  Gooletsville,  a 
strong  secesh  hole,  in  which  there  never  was  but 
one  Union  man,  and  lie  died.  Well,  this  wag 
wagered  a  gallon  of  whiskey  that  he  could  go 
into  Nashville,  and  go  all  over  the  city,  notwith 
standing  the  strictness  of  General  Negley's  or 
ders  ;  further,  that  he  would  see  Negley  person 
ally,  and  talk  with  him.  The  bet  was  taken,  and 
this  fellow,  whose  name  is  Paul,  well  known 
in  Nashville  as  a  violent  secessionist,  the  next 
day  took  a  flag  of  truce,  rode  into  the  city,  saw 
crowds  of  his  friends,  rode  up  to  the  headquar 
ters  of  General  Negley,  and  demanded  the  sur 
render  of  the  city,  stating  that  he  was  Assistant 
Adjutant  Paul,  and  that  there  was  an  immense 
quantity  of  troops  ready  to  enforce  the  demand. 
General  Negley  refused  to  entertain  the  thought 
of  a  surrender,  and  Paul  returned  to  Goolets 
ville,  having  won  his  bet. 

"  General  Negley  found  it  out  when  too  late. 
It  wouldn't  do  to  try  that  game  again  in  Nash 
ville." 


ANECDOTE  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.  —  Some 
one  was  smoking  in  the  presence  of  the  President, 
and  complimented  him  on  having  no  vices,  neither 
drinking  nor  smoking.  "  That  is  a  doubtful  com 


pliment,"  answered 
once  being  outside 


the  President.     "  I  recollect 
stage  in  Illinois,  and  a  man 


bitting  by  me  offered  me  a  cigar.  I  told  him  I 
had  no  vices.  He  said  nothing,  smoked  for  some 
time,  and  then  grunted  out,  "  It's  my  experience 
that  folks  who  have  no  vices  have  plaguy  few 
virtues." 


A  SOLDIER'S  LAST  LETTER.  —  John  Moseley, 
a  youth  who  fell  at  Gettysburg  on  the  Southern 
side,  wrote  the  following  touching  but  manly  let 
ter,  from  his  death-bed,  to  his  parents  in  Ala 
bama  : 

"  BATTLE-FIELD,  GETTYSBURG,  July  4, 18G3. 

"  DEAR  MOTHER  :  I  am  here  a  prisoner  of 
war,  and  mortally  wounded,  I  can  live  but 
a  few  hours,  at  farthest.  I  was  shot  fifty  yards 
from  the  enemy's  line.  They  have  been  exceed 
ingly  kind  to  me.  I  have  no  doubt  as  to  the  final 
result  of  this  battle,  and  I  hope  I  may  live  long 
enough  to  hear  the  shouts  of  victory  before  I 
die,  I  am  very  weak.  Do  not  mourn  my  loss. 
I  had  hoped  to  have  been  spared ;  but  a  righteous 
God  has  ordered  it  otherwise,  and  I  feel  prepared 
to  trust  my  case  in  his  hands.  Farewell  to  you 
all!  Pray  that  God  may  receive  my  soul. 

"  Your  unfortunate  son,  JOHN." 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  ANTIETAM.  —  One  of  the  ccr- 
respondents  who  was  with  the  division  of  Gen 
eral  Sturgis  at  the  battle  of  Autietam  gives  the 
following  account  of  the  part  taken  by  thai  di 
vision  in  the  c^"  test : 

"Our  division,  under  General  Sturgis>  wrpre  on 
the  extreme  left,  and  were  not  pi-iced  in  i  ne  until 
about  five  o'clock  P.  M.,  when  a  double-quick 
movement  took  place,  and  the  whole  division 
•started  like  Bengal  tigers  let  loose  for  prey. 
They  ran  tin -, ugh  a  galling  fire  of  shot  and  shell 
until  they  were  within  reach  of  the  enemy's 
musketry,  when  a  heavy  fire  opened  on  us,  which 
General  Nagle  (commanding  our  brigade)  saw  at 
once  would  decimate  the  brigade,  arid  so  the 
order  came  to  charge  bayonets.  Promptly  the 
glistening  steel  was  placed  in  position  ;  and  here 
one  of  the  most  brilliant  bayonet  charges  took 
place  that  has  been  seen  during  the  war.  The 
brigade  had  to  charge  up  hill,  over  stone  walls 
and  other  obstructions,  and  met  the  enemy  at 
great  disadvantage.  The  Massachusetts  Thirty- 
fifth  regiment  was  put  in  order  of  battle,  and  did 
great  execution  at  the  first  onset.  In  General 
Nagle's  brigade  and  Sturgis'  division  was  alsc 
the  Ninth  regiment  New  Hampshire  volunteers, 
Colonel  Fellows,  one  of  the  moat  experienced 
Colonels  in  the  army.  It  was  a  handsome  sight 
to  see  him  put  his  regiment  into  action.  \Yhen 
the  clear,  sonorous  order  came  from  Colonel  Fel 
lows,  '  Charge  bayonets  ! '  every  eye  gleamed  in 
the  '  Bloody  Ninth,'  as  the  brigade  now  call  the 
regiment.  Every  man  threw  away  his  knapsack, 
blanket,  and  haversack,  and  leaped  over  a  stone 
wall  six  feet  high  with  a  yell  that  fairly  sent  terror 
through  the  rebel  ranks  opposite.  With  eyes 
gleaming  with  joy  and  determination,  and  every 
bayonet  fixed,  they  charged  up  the  hill  and 
through  the  cornfield  at  double-quick  with  a  yell 
of  perfect  triumph.  Colonel  Fellows  and  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Titus  astonished  the  old  veterans 
in  the  service  by  the  manner  in  which  they 
brought  the  Ninth  New  Hampshire  volunteers 
into  the  action.  It  was  a  grand  and  magnificent 
sight,  and  one  seldom  seen  in  battle.  The  rebels 
iled  before  them,  and  every  rebel  regiment  broke 
and  ran.  General  Reno  fell  beside  the  Ninth 
New  Hampshire  volunteers  and  the  Thirty-fifth 
Massachusetts  about  dark,  just  in  the  moment 
of  victory." 


AN  IMPRESSIVE  SCENE.  —  A  most  interesting 
and  eloquent  episode  occurred  at  Trinity  Church, 
Washington,  in  May,  1861.  The  rector,  Pvev.  Dr. 
Butler,  began  his  sermon  with  the  remark  that 
the  discourse  he  was  about  to  deliver  was  preached 
by  himself  here  twelve  years  ago,  and  he  should 
repeat  it  verbatim.  It  was  a  lucid  and  effective  ar 
gument  to  prove  that  the  popular  idea  of  govern 
ment  among  us  is  held  in  a  too  loose  and  secular 
estimation ;  while  the  fact  is,  that,  however  care 
lessly  we  may  regard  it,  as  merely  a  contract  with 
ministerial  agents,  and  however  inadrquate  our 
respec  for  law  and  constituted  authorities,  it  is  a 
divine  institution. 

The  peroration  was  powerful.     Said  the  rcver- 


458 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


end  gentleman :  "  Twelve  years  ago,  after  I  had 
finished  this  course,  I  met  the  lamented  Daniel 
Webster  just  outside  the  church.  He  said  to  me, 
'  Sir,  you  are  right ;  it  is  the  true  doctrine.'  In 
this  view,  my  brethren,  I  see  in  the  awakened 
strength  of  the  Government  the  glittering  sword 
of  almighty  vengeance  suspended  over  its  ene 
mies.  In  tl  is  view  alone  do  I  descry  the  only 
hope  for  my  glorious,  my  beloved  country  ;  "  and, 
at  t};e.se  words,  the  tears  streaming  down  the 
pr^a-her's  face,  in  a  voice  choked  with  inexpres 
sible  emotion,  he  raised  his  eyes  towards  Heaven, 
and,  hesitating  to  receive  utterance,  he  concluded, 
in  faltering,  though  articulate,  tones,  "  Esto  per 
petual  The  effect  was  electrical ;  all  eyes  were 
suffused  with  tears,  and  the  quiet  of  the  sanctuary 
was  broken  only  by  sobs  and  weeping. 


INCIDENTS  OF  BEAUFOUT.  —  A  soldier,  who  was 
present  at  the  capture  of  Beaufort,  South  Caro 
lina,  relates  the  following : 

"  A  black  fellow  was  reported  to  our  Colonel, 
and  taken  to  general  headquarters.  Ho  was  very 
communicative.  *  Massa.'  he  inquired,  '  is  Abe 
Lincoln  here  P '  He  seemed  at  fault  when  in 
formed  he  had  not  come.  It  seems  he  was  pres 
ent  duf ing  the  bombardment,  and  nearer  than  ha 
liked  to  be.  (  What  did  it  look  like  P  '  asked  Col 
onel  L.  '  It  looked  as  if  de  fire  and  brimstoqe 
was  comin'  down,  and  de  yearth  was  agwine  up.' 
The  sand  that  flew  as  every  discharge  came  down 
filled  the  description  perfectly. 

"  One  of  these  negroes  reports  that  when  Major 
Lee,  the  Confederate  commander,  finished  the 
fort,  he  said,  profanely,  '  The  devil  couldn't  take 
it; — God  Almighty  himself  couldn't  take  it.'  On 
the  day  of  the  battle,  when  his  black  body  servant 
get  out  his  horse  for  him,  and  saw  him  mounted, 
and  they  both  ran  together  for  their  lives  to  get 
out  of  range  of  the  merciless  storm  of  shot  and 
shell  falling  around  them,  the  negro  said, '  O  mas- 
sa,  God  Almighty  come,  and  de  Yankees  come 
wid  him,'  —  seeming  to  imply  that  such  a  union 
of  forces  had  not  been  contemplated  when  his 
master  had  concluded  upon  the  impregnability  of 
his  fortifications." 


A  BRAVE  WOMAN.  —  Mrs.  John  F.  Phelps  is 
the  wife  of  the  Colonel  of  a  loyal  Missouri  regi 
ment,  and  resided  at  a  point  about  one  mile  and 
a  half  from  Springfield.  On  the  afternoon  after 
the  battle  of  Wilson's  Creek,  it  was  noised  that 
the  rebels  had  determined  to  cut  out  the  heart  of 
General  Lyon,  and  preserve  it  as  a  trophy  over 
the  United  States  army.  Mrs.  Phelps,  learning 
of  this  outrage  on  the  slain  General,  armed  her 
self,  as  she  was  accustomed  to  do  for  some  time, 
in  order  to  preserve  her  life  and  the  lives  of  her 
family  from  the  murderous  assaults  of  the  se 
cessionists.  Thus  armed,  she  drove  to  Price's 
camp  by  nightfall,  and  there,  all  alone,  guarded 
the  body  of  General  Lyon.  When  ordered  by 
the  rebels  to  give  up  the  body,  she  positively  re 
fused,  and  declared  they  must  cut  out  her  heart 


before  they  could  get  the  heart  of  the  General. 
There,  all  alone,  she  stood  guard  during  "he  whole 
night,  with  her  arms  in  readiness  to  defend  her 
charge,  regardless  of  her  own  life, -—thus  fear 
lessly  passing  the  dreary  night  amk  >.t  the  associ 
ations  of  the  dead,  the  wounded,  and  the  blood 
thirsty  men  who  were  awaitii:g  an  opportunity  to 
obtain  the  coveted  heart  of  the  noble  Lyon. 

After  daylight,  having  made  arrangements  in 
reference  to  her  precious  charge,  she  repaired  to 
her  home,  and  sent  a  colored  servant  with  a  wagon 
and  two  horses  to  bring  the  remains  of  General 
Lyon  to  her  residence,  in  order  to  burial  in  her 
garden  or  on  her  farm,  with  all  the  respect  in 
her  power  towards  the  commander  of  the  loyal 
army.  But  as  the  wagon  had  not  returned  in  due 
time,  she  drove  again  to  Price's  camp,  found 
her  wagon  had  been  seized  for  the  use  of  the 
rebel  army,  and  her  servant  confined  in  it  and 
gagged.  As  the  horses  had  been  unhitched  from 
the  wagon,  with  her  own  hands  she  again  hitched 
them.  When  resistance  was  again  offered  to  her 

arse  she  fearlessly  declared  she  would  deal 
death  with  her  revolver  to  any  one  who  molested 
her.  About  the  time  she  had  released  the  ser 
vant,  and  got  her  precious  treasure  in  the  wagon, 
resistance  was  again  threatened.  She  then  pressed 
her  way  to  the  presence  of  General  Price,  who, 
at  h.-;r  pressing  instance,  ordered  her  to  have  the 
body  of  the  slain  General,  without  further  inter- 


Having  thus  obtained  her  cherished  object, 
more  dear  to  her  than  life,  she  accompanied  it  to 
her  residence,  and  there  interred  it  in  the  best 
manner  she  could.  And  all  this  was  done  in  the 
absence  of  her  loyal  husband,  who,  in  consequence 
of  his  duties  as  Colonel,  could  not  be  present  to 
accompany  his  noble  wife  in  performing  this  work 
of  loyalty  and  humanity. 


A  CONTRABAND'S  DESCRIPTION.  —  A  letter 
from  a  soldier  at  Newport  News  relates  the  fol 
lowing  incident,  giving  a  slave  woman's  account 
of  the  capture  of  the  rebel  batteries  on  General 
McCleilan's  advance  upon  Yorktown  :  '•  The  at 
tack  on  the  batteries  cannot  be  better  described 
than  in  the  words  of  an  old  contraband  \\hom  I 
fell  in  with,  while  on  a  scout  to  Young's  Mills, 
the  day  after  its  capture.  She  was  secesh,  and 
took  us  to  belong  to  the  same  race.  On  asking 
her  if  there  was  much  fighting  at  the  battery,  she 
replied :  '  Why,  lordy,  you  won't  blebe  me,  massjy, 
but  de  Yankee  he  fire  jes  one  round,  den  com 
mence  hollering  like  de  debbel,  and  frew  rite  ober 
de  breastworks ;  but  dey  couldn't  ketch  our  folks 
(secesh),  dey  run  so  fast.'  The  vi.-ger  explained 
in  thirty-seven  words  what  a  '  special  correspond 
ent'  would  have  found  impossible,  probably,  in 
half  a  column."  

SECESSION  CATECHISED.  —  Colonel  Tom  Ford, 
of  the  Thirty-second  Ohio  regiment,  while  at  New 
Creek,  Virginia,  in  June,  1862,  ei.gagnd  in  conver 
sation  with  an  old  resident,  who  had  taken  a  seat 
on  the  ber  ch  beside  Mm. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


459 


"  Have  you  lived  long  about  here  ?  "  inquired 
the  Colonel. 

"  Yes,"  said,  tha  }ld  man.  "  I  have  lived  in  this 
(Hampshire)  county  all  my  life." 

"  I  suppose,  then,"  said  the  Colonel,  "  you  know 
all  about  how  secession  commenced  here,  who 
commenced  it,  and  how  it  has  been  carried  on." 

"  Yes,"  again  said  the  old  man,  "  and  I  will  tell 
you  how  I  tried  to  expose  it  at  the  start  to  the 
people.  My  opinion  did  not  pass  for  much 
at  the  time,  as  I  owned  no  big  farm  nor  any 
niggers,  but  I  think  it  would  pass  for  something 


"  Well,  how  was  it  ?  "  inquired  the  Colonel. 

"  Colonel  Parsons  was  one  of  the  main  getters 
up  of  it.  He  advertised  to  make  a  speech  over 
in  Ilomney,  after  the  ordinance  passed,  and  I  and 
several  of  my  neighbors  went  over  to  hear  him 
speak.  Just  as  he  was  about  to  commence,  I  took 
the  liberty,  as  I  was  an  old  acquaintance  of  the 
Colonel's,  to  ask  him  a  question.  So  I  said  :  '  Col 
onel  Parsons,  we  have  come  over  here  to-night  to 
hear  you  make  your  speech  in  favor  of  secession  ; 
and  before  you  begin.  I  want  you  to  tell  me  and 
my  friends  here  one  thing.'  *  What  is  it  ?  '  said 
the  Colonel.  '  Why,  I  want  you  to  make  a  speech 
to-night,  without  ever  mentioning  the  nigger  once. 
Me  and  my  friends,  who  own  no  niggers,  want  to 
know  why  we  should  be  secessionists.  Will  you 
please  tell  us,  Colonel,  why  men  who  own  no  nig 
gers  should  be  secessionists  ?  ' 

"  Well,  what  did  Colonel  Parsons  say?  "  asked 
Colonel  Ford  of  the  old  man. 

"Why,  he  came  the  nearest  to  saying  noth 
ing  that  ever  I  saw,"  said  the  old  man.  "  At 
last  he  said  that  he  wouldn't  speak  on  such 
terms  ;  that  he  was  going  to  speak  on  the  whole 
subject." 

"  Well,  what  did  you  say  then  ?  "  asked  Colonel 
Ford. 

"  1  said,"  continued  the  old  man,  "  '  Now,  Col 
onel  Parsons,  you  know  that  aside  from  the  nig 
ger  there  is  nothing  in  this  secession  ;  and  you 
ought  to  know  that  all  the  slaves  that  now  live  in 
the  country,  live  in  the  slave  States,  and  that  you 
will  not  increase  their  number  a  single  one  by  se 
cession,  but  on  the  contrary  that  you  will  bring 
about  the  escape  of  hundreds  of  them,  before 
you  get  through  with  the  job  .you  are  under- 
taking  !  '  " 

"  Well,  how  did  Colonel  Parsons  take  your 
talk?  "asked  Colonel  Ford. 

"Why,"  said  he,  "  he  got  mad,  like  all  the  se 
cessionists  did  in  those  days,  when  Union  men 
opposed  them  —  told  me  1  was  an  abolitionist, 
and  that  the  South  was  going  to  have  her  rights. 
And  now,  hasn't  it  come  out  as  I  told  Colonel 
Parsons  ?  "  asked  the  old  man.  "  Hasn't  the  South 
lost  more  niggers  since  this  war  commenced  than 
she  ever  lost  in  the  whole  time  before?  and  isn't 
she  in  a  fair  way  to  lose  them  all  ?  And  here," 
said  he,  "  we  people  who  have  always  lived  by  our 
own  work  have  had  to  bear  the  ruin  that  these 
pride-swelled  nigger  aristocrats  have  brought  upon 
as.  I  have  had  to  bear  it,  and  my  Union  friends 
who  were  with  me  that  night  have  had  to  bear  it. 


And  all  for  what?  Why,  because  these  nigger- 
owners  wanted  to  break  up  a  government  in  w'lich 
people  like  me,  who  owned  no  niggers,  and  had  to 
work  for  a  living,  were  on  an  equality  with  th(;,m. 
I  tell  you,"  continued  the  old  man,  "  I  owe 
them  nothing  but  curses  and  war,  and  they  are 
getting  plenty  of  1,he  first  now,  from  hundreds  of 
their  miserable  d  .pes  around  here,  and  plenty  of 
the  other  from  tti  Federal  Government." 

Colonel  Ford,  getting  up  and  taking  the  old 
man  by  £he  hand,  said  that  he  had  to  acknowledge 
that  much  as  he  had  heard  against  secession,  he 
had  never  heard  it  as  completely  and  strongly  ex 
pressed  in  so  few  words  before. 


I  ICKET  CONVERSATION.  —  In  the  summer  of 
1862,  the  national  pickets  at  the  Mechanicsville 
Bridge,  "Virginia,  had  a  conversation  with  the  rebel 
pickets,  and  under  a  newspaper  flag  of  truce,  ex 
changed  the  Baltimore  Clipper  for  the  Richmond 
Examiner.  The  colloquy  was  substantially  as  fol 
lows  : 

Rebel.  (Waving  his  hat.)  Three  cheers  for 
General  Jackson ! 

Union  Soldier.  (Also  waving  his  hat.)  Three 
cheers  for  Burnside ! 

[It  had  been  ascertained  that  the  rebels  were 
North  Carolinians.] 

Rebel.     Have  you  any  Baltimore  Clippers? 

Union.     Ye-as  ;  do  you  wish  to  swap  ? 

Rebel.     How '11  yer  trade  fur  the  Examiner  ? 

Union.     Even,  and  you  do  the  toting. 

Rebel.     Come  over  yer,  all  on  yer !    "  , 

Union.     I'll  come  half  way. 

[Meanwr.ile  both  parties  had  dropped  their 
guns,  and  with  papers  waving,  passed  down  to 
the  bridge.] 

Union.     How  do  you  like  soldiering? 

Rebel     We've  enlisted  for  life. 

Union.     Then  you  don't  expect  to  live  long  ? 

Rebel.  Yo<i  whipped  us  at  Hanover,  but  yer 
wouldn't  if  O'Brien  Branch  wasn't  drunk.  We 
give  you  just  the  best  flogging  yer  ever  had  tha' 
at  Fail  Oaks.  Tuk  one  hundred  yer  guns,  all  yer 
amnitkn,  and  everything,  and  two  thousand  pris 
oners. 

Union.  And  we  drove  you  back  to  Richmond, 
and  had  to  bury  your  dead.  We  whipped  you 
awfully. 

Rebel.  And  General  McClellan  was  wounded, 
and  two  of  yer  Generals  killed.  Yer  all  going 
back  to  Yorktown,  ain't  yer  ?  We  are  coming 
over  your  side  to-morrow. 

Union.    How  many  troops  you  got  over  there  ? 

Rebel.     Fifty  thousand  right  yerabov.ts ! 

Union.     How  many  had  you  at  Fair  Oaks? 

Rebel.  Yer  had  near  two  hundred  thousand, 
and  we  but  sixty  thousand,  but  we  whipped  yer. 

The  Unionist  was  less  communicative  than  in 
quisitive,  but  thinking  it  hardly  proper  to  con 
tinue  the  conversation,  bade  th^  rebel  good  day, 
and  retraced  his  steps.  But  the  rebel  still  kept  his 
place,  notwithstanding  he  was  *equested  to  face 
back,  until  a  bullet  and  a  flash,  and  q'lick  report, 
suddenly  hastened  his  steps. 


460 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


BROTHER    JONATHAN'S    LAMENT   FOE, 
SISTER    CAROLINE.* 

BY    OLIVER   WENDELL    HOLMES. 

SHI  Las  gone,  —  she  has  left  us  in  passion   and 

pride,  — 

Ou?  stormy-browed  sister,  so  long  ;it  our  c-ide  ! 
She  has  torn  her  own  star  iron,  cur  firmament's 

glow, 
And  turned  on  her  brother  the  face  of  a  foe  ! 

O  Caroline,  Caroline,  child  of  the  sun, 

We  can  never  forget  that   our   hearts  have  been 

one,  — 

Our  foreheads  both  sprinkled  in  Liberty's  name, 
From  the  fountain  of  blood  with  the  finger  of  flame 

You  were  always  too  ready  to  fire  at  a  touch; 

But  we  said,  "  She  is  hasty,  —  she  does  not  mean 
much." 

We  have  scowled  when  you  uttered  some  turbulent 
threat ; 

But  Friendship  still  whispered,  "Forgive  and  for 
get  ! " 

Has  our  love  all  died  out  ?  Have  its  altars  grown 
cold? 

Has  the  curse  come  at  last  which  the  fathers  fore 
told  ? 

Then  Nature  must  teach  us  the  strength  of  the  chain 

That  her  petulant  children  would  sever  in  vain. 

They  may  fight  till  the  buzzards  are  gorged  with 

their  spoil, 

Till  the  harvest  grows  black  as  it  rots  in  the  soil, 
Till  the  wolves  and  the  catamounts  troop  from  their 

caves, 
And  the  shark  tracks  the  pirate,  the  lord  of  the 

waves. 

In  vain  is  the  strife  !     When  its  fury  is  past, 
Their  fortunes  must  flow  in  one  channel  at  last, 
As  the  torrents  that  rush  from  the  mountains  of 

snow 
Roll  mingled  in  peace  through  the  valleys  below. 

Our  Union  is  river,  lake,  ocean,  and  sky : 

Man  breaks  not  the  medal  when  God  cuts  the  die  ! 

Though  darkened  with  sulphur,  though  cloven  with 

steel, 
The  blue  arch  will  brighten,  the  waters  will  heal ! 

O  Caroline,  Caroline,  child  of  the  sun, 
There  are  battles  with  Fate  that  can  never  be  won ! 
The  star-flowering  banner  must  never  be  furled, 
For  its  blossoms  of  light  are  the  hope  of  the  world  ! 

Go,  then,  our  rash  sister  !  afar  and  aloof,  — 
Run  wild  in  the  sunshine,  away  from  our  roof; 
But  when   your  heart  aches  and  your  feet  have 

grown  sore, 
Remember  the  pathway  that  leads  to  our  door  ! 


HEROISM  OF  A  BOY.  —  The  following  very  in 
teresting  incident  is  related  in  connection  with 
the  attack  by  the  United  States  gunboat  Galena 

*  Written  upon  the  announcement  of  the  passage 
of  the  "  Ordinance  of  Secession,"  on  the  20th  of  De 
cember,  1860,  by  the  Convention  of  South  Carolina, 
the  first  State  whi  ;h  attempted  to  secede. 


upon  Fort  Darling :  A  youth,  about  thirteen  years 
old,  who  was  in  the  service  of  Lieutenant  Nau« 
man,  as  a  messenger  boy,  seeing  one  of  the  pow 
der  boys  wounded,  immediately  volunteered  to 
take  his  place.  The  services  of  the  young  ?c.- 
unteer  were  accepted,  and  he  set  to  work  with  a 
spirit  to  fill  his  new  position,  rendering  great  as 
sistance  to  the  officers  and  crew.  The  poor  little 
fellow's  career  of  glory  was  destined  to  be  short 
lived^  Only  a  few  hours  later,  while  engnged  in 
carrying  a  quantity  of  powder,  a  shell  came  tear  - 
ing  along,  burst  right  over  the  boy,  and  killel 
him  in  an  instant.  The  poor  little  fellow's  suffer 
ings  were  soon  over ;  but  the  sight  was  too  much 
for  many  of  the  rough  Jack  Tars,  down  whose 
bronzed  cheeks  the  big  tears  rolled  in  abundance. 
The  boy's  name  was  James  Weber. 


COLONEL  RISER,  of  the  Anderson  Zouaves, 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks.  He  was 
shot  in  the  right  side,  while  turning  around  to 
cheer  on  his  men,  the  ball  coming  out  in  front. 
Riker  rode  upon  a  white  horse,  and  was  a  prom 
inent  figure  for  the  enemy's  marksmen.  He  had, 
previous  to  going  into  action,  a  presentiment  that 
he  was  to  meet  his  death.  He  gave  to  Lieutenant 
Bradley,  his  aid,  some  tokens  of  love  for  the 
friends  at  home,  and  went  bravely  into  the  fight. 
When  the  fatal  shot  was  fired,  he  had  just  turned 
around  to  the  Zouaves,  who  were  hemmed  in,  and 
cried  out,  "  Boys,  we  are  surrounded  —  give  them 
cold  steel  now."  Suddenly  dropping  from  his 
horse,  the  gallant  spirit  had  fled  forever. 


AN  INCIDENT  op  MOBILE.  —  A  letter  writer  re- 
ates  the  following  recollections  of  the  wounded  at 
Mobile  :  "  They  all  bore  their  sufferings  with  the 
nost  unexampled  heroism.  One,  a  Captain  from 
Wisconsin,  shot  through  the  back  so  that  he  could 
not  be  turned,  and  scarcely  taken  up  on  his  bed, 
breathed  only  as  he  could  catch  a  breath,  while 
an  attendant  fanned  him.  I  awoke  during  the 
night,  and  found  the  attendant,  weary,  had  fallen 
asleep.  I  took  the  fan  and  sat  by  him.  '  Thank 
you,  you  are  kind ;  it  is  so  hot ; '  and  he  looked 
up,  so  heroic  in  his  agony,  and  not  one  word  of 
complaint.  Arrived  at  New  Orleans,  where  he 
could  and  would  have  been  carefully  and  kindly 
:ared  for,  he  died,  and  his  last  words  were :  '  Tell 
he  boys  not  to  shrink,  not  to  flinch.  Fight  on 
—  it  will  soon  be  over.'  Poor  fellow ;  young  and 
jrave,  it  is  too  soon  over  with  thee ! 

"  Another.  Passing  along  through  the  cabin, 
the  wounded  stretched  on  each  side  of  me,  on  mat 
tresses  ranged  in  rows  on  the  floor,  I  saw  —  will 
you  believe  it  ?  —  one  man  who  had  had  his  leg 
imputated  but  three  days  before,  braced  up 
.vita  pillows  and  playing  a  violin,  while  a  com- 
•acle,  with  one  of  his  arms  shot  off,  was  playing 
'he  castanets  with  the  other.  There's  pluck  for 
you."  

A  CATHOLIC  PRIEST'S  WAR  SPEECH.  —  Tha 
Sunday  after  President  Lincoln  8  proclamation 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


461 


calling  for  seventy-five  thousand  troops,  Father 
Creedon,  the  priest  of  the  Catholic  Church  at 
Auburn,  New  York,  preached  a  war  sermon,  as 
did  other  clergymen  in  Auburn.  The  other  ser 
mons  were  said  to  be  up  to  the  times,  but  Father 
Crsedon's  was  conceded  to  be  the  most  pertinent. 
He  said,  substantially : 

'« I  wish  every  man  who  can  leave  his  family  to 
enlist.  This  is  the  first  country  the  Irishman  ever 
had  that  he  could  call  his  own  country.  The  flag 
of  the  Stars  and  Stripes  is  the  only  flag  he  can 
fight  under  arid  defend  as  his  own  flag.  Now, 
in  the  time  of  the  nation's  peril,  let  every  Irish 
man  show  that  he  is  worthy  to  be  part  of  this 
great  and  glorious  nation.  Now,  when  the  Amer 
ican  flag  is  bombarded  and  struck  down  by  trai 
tors,  let  every  Irishman  show  that  he  is  true  to 
tho  flag  which  always  protects  him.  I  wish  every 
Irishman  who  hears  me  to  enlist  if  he  can.  There 
are  two  classes  whom  I  most  despise  —  cowards 
and  traitors ;  and  those  who  can  enlist,  and  do 
not,  are  either  one  or  the  other." 


THE  CHARGE  AT  ANTIETAM  BRIDGE.  —  There 
have  been  many  deeds  of  heroism  recounted  of 
the  troops  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Antietam  ; 
but  those  of  the  Second  Maryland  infantry  have 
been  overlooked,  though  equal  to  any  achieved 
by  their  fathers  in  the  Revolution. 

The  Second  Maryland  was  the  heroic  regi 
ment  of  that  bloody  field,  so  prolific  in  heroes. 
It  belonged  to  the  corps  of  the  gallant  Eurnside, 
had  been  with  them  at  Newbern,  and  now  the 
duty  of  storming  the  Ute  du  pont>  at  Antietam 
Creek,  had  devolved  upon  it ;  and  never  did  vet 
erans  move  forward  with  steadier  step  to  a  more 
perilous  enterprise,  or  one  in  which  the  chances  of 
surviving  it  were  so  fearfully  few.  All  the  bluster, 
bravado,  and  recklessness,  supposed  to  be  the 
distinguishing  characteristics  of  V enfant  perdu 
of  Baltimore  had  given  place  to  a  sober  and  sol 
emn  gravity,  in  keeping  with  the  awful  struggle 
that  was  impending.  There  was  no  noise,  no 
cheering  in  the  ranks  ;  but,  on  the  other  hand, 
there  was  no  wavering  or  faltering,  as  they  moved 
sternly  and  silently  forward  into  the  conflict.  The 
measured  and  heavy  tread  of  the  battalion,  fall 
ing  in  dull  cadence  on  the  ear,  was  the  only 
sound  audible  as  it  entered  the  head  of  the  bridge. 
Suddenly  the  enemy's  cannon  opened  at  short 
range,  pouring  upon  it  a  tempest  of  round  shot 
and  shell,  sweeping  away  whole  files,  and  plough 
ing  bloody  furrows  through  the  ranks.  But  it 
faltered  not.  At  the  sharp,  short  order  of  the 
oiHcers,  "  Close  up,  boys,"  the  bloody  gaps  were 
filled,  and  the  heroic  battalion  pressed  on.  Stan 
dard-bearer  after  standard-bearer  went  down  be 
fore  the  iron  hurricane  ;  but  scarcely  was  he  down 
when  the  standard,  wrenched  from  his  dying  grasp, 
was  borne  aloft  by  his  nearest  comrade  in  the 
strife . 

The  way  over  the  bridge  was  filled  with 
corpses,  Most  of  the  officers  had  fallen.  Cap 
tain  Wilson,  of  a  family  that  had  sent  five  broth 
ers  to  the  war,  for  the  moment  commanding  the 


regiment,  had  gone  down,  pierced  through  the 
middle  of  his  forehead  by  a  minie  ball.  Captain 
Martin,  succeeding  him,  fe~  mortally  wounded  ; 
but  there  was  no  check,  no  faltering  or  sign  of 
confusion  or  hesitation.  With  their  heads  bent, 
their  shoulders  a  little  forward,  at  the  charge 
step,  they  moved  steadily  en,  until  the  bridge 
was  cleared,  and  the  way  opened  to  the  regiments 
in  the  rear.  I*;  was  only  when  the  bridge  was 
won,  and  room  obtained  to  deploy  the  column, 
that  the  old,  lusty  Maryland  ch?er  \vhich  more 
than  eighty  years  before  had  been  heard  at  Bran 
dy  wine,  at  Guilford  and  Eutaw,  rang  out  on  the 
sulphureous  air  of  that  dread  September  day, 
attesting  that  those  who  sent  it  were  the  legiti 
mate  sous  of  sires  who  had  fought  for  freedom, 
and  won  immortal  fame  under  Howard  and  Wil 
liams.  They  are  no  more  forever  the  despised 
"  Plug  Ugiies  "  of  Baltimore,  but  a  "  new  Mary 
land  line,"  indomitable  as  the  "  eld,"  baptized 
anew  in  fire  and  blood,  which  has  washed  away 
all  former  transgressions. 

A  great  thing  had  been  done  by  these  daring 
men  —  a  second  bridge  of  Lodi  had  been  carried  ; 
but  no  Napoleon  was  there  to  take  advantage  of 
the  brave  and  glorious  deed.  It  will,  neverthe 
less,  live  in  history  as  a  deed  of  pride  and  glory, 
achieved  by  the  soldiers  of  noble  old  Maryland, 
in  a  war  to  put  down  treason,  in  which  every  art 
had  been  used  by  the  traitors  to  induie  her  to 
take  a  part.  

WAR  SPIRIT  or  A  SOLDIER.  —  It  was  imme 
diately  after  the  battle  of  the  Hatchie.  The  dead 
in  that  terrible  conflict  had  been  laid  beneath  the 
mould,  while  the  wounded  had  been  brought  to  the 
church-building,  or  placed  in  the  spacious  apart 
ments  of  wealthy  disloyalists  of  Bolivar.  Among 
the  number  of  unfortunates  wras  W.'lliam  C.  Now- 
lon,  a  Sergeant  in  company  G,  of  the  Third  Iowa 
infantry.  His  leg  has  been  so  badly  shattered 
and  torn  by  a  musket  shot  as  to  render  an  ampu 
tation  unavoidable.  He  was  informed  of  such  a 
necessity  ;  but  not  a  murmur  or  word  of  com 
plaint  escaped  his  lips ;  nor  did  the  intelligence 
seem  to  cast  over  his  face  the  least  perceptible 
shade  of  seriousness.  The  table  was  prepared  — 
the  instruments  were  placed  conveniently,  and 
everything  was  put  in  readiness  for  the  opera 
tion.  He  was  brought  out  upon  the  veranda, 
and  placed  upon  the  table  —  his  poor,  shattered, 
torn,  and  half  fleshless  leg  dangling  around  as  if 
only  an  extraneous  and  senseless  appendage. 
There  was  no  sighing,  no  flinching,  no  drawing 
back  or  holding  in.  There  was  not  a  simple  feel 
ing  of  dumb  resignation,  nor  yet  of  brute  indif 
ference,  but  a  soldierly  submission  —  an  heroic 
submission,  without  a  question  or  a  sigh.  He  in 
dulged  freely  in  conversation  respecting  the  op 
eration,  until  the  chloroform  was  applied.  From 
the  waking  and  rational  state  he  glided  into  the 
anaesthetic  without  the  convulsive  motion  of  a 
single  muscle,  and  without  the  utterance  of  a 
single  incoherent  sentence,  but  glided  into  it  as 
the  innocent  and  weary  child  glides  into  the  sweet 
embrace  of  a  healthful  and  restoring  sleep.  The 


462 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


operation  was  performed ;  the  arteries  all  liga 
tured,  the  stump  cleansed,  and  the  last  suture 
just  in  that  instant  applied.  During  the  entire 
operation  he  had  scarcely  nioved  a  muscle. 
Just  at  this  time  the  large  body  of  prisoners  taken 
in  ths  engagement  were  marched  up  the  street, 
and  were  nearing  the  house  where  the  maimed 
and  bleeding  soldier  lay.  The  streets  were  all 
thronged  by  soldiery,  and  hundreds  of  them 
rusheu.  to  get  a  near  sight  of  the  vanquished, 
while  they  rent  the  heavens  with  their  loud  huz 
zas.  A  full  regiment  preceded  the  column  of 
prisoners ;  »>icl  when  just  opposite,  the  band 
struck  up  in  force  the  inspiring  air  of  "  Hail  Co 
lumbia."  In  a  moment,  upon  the  very  instant, 
the  color  mounted  to  his  lace !  He  opened  his 
eyes  half  wondermgly,  and  raised  his  head  from 
tne  pillow  with  the  steadiness  and  dignity  of  a 
god !  The  scenes  of  the  conflict  came  back  to 
him,  and  he  thought  that  his  noble  regiment  was 
again  breasting  towards  the  enemy  through  a 
shower  of  shot  and  shell.  His  brave  comrades, 
he  deemed,  were  falling  one  by  one  around  him, 
just  as  they  had  done  in  that  dreadful  hour  of 
fratricide  and  carnage.  The  spirit  of  the  time 
came  over  him.  and  his  features  assumed  an  air 
of  bold,  fierce,  fiery,  and  unyielding  determina 
tion,  and  he  broke'  forth  into  exclamations  the 
most  terrible  and  appalling  I  had  ever  listened  to 
in  all  my  life. 

"  Louder  with  the  music  !  louder !  louder ! 
louder !  Burst  the  heavens  with  your  strains ! 
Sweeter  !  softer  !  sweeter  !  Charm  the  blessed 
angels  from  the  very  courts  of  heaven  !  Victory ! 
victory!  Onward!  onward!  No  flagging!  no. 
flinching!  No  faltering  !  Fill  up!  fill  up  !  Step 
forward  !  press  forward!  Your  comrades'  graves! 
The  fresh  graves  of  your  slain !  Remember  the 
graves  of  your  comrades !  Blue  Mills !  Blue 
Mills!  Shelbina!  Shelbina!  Hager  Wood! 
Shiloh !  Shiloh  !  For  God's  sake,  onward !  On 
ward,  in  heaven's  name  !  onward  !  onward !  on 
ward  !  See  the  devils  waver !  See  them  run ! 
See !  see  !  see  them  fly !  fly  !  fly ! " 

During  the  outburst  of  passion,  his  countenance 
kindled  and  grew  purple,  till  his  look  seemed 
that  of  diabolism  !  Such  a  fury  marked  his  linea 
ments  that  I  instinctively  drew  back.  But  there 
was  "  method  in  his  madness."  He  only  erred 
in  mistaking  time,  and  in  misplacing  himself,  and 
in  misplacing  his  position;  facts  which  the  martial 
music  and  the  "  pomp  and  circumstance  of  war," 
in  the  public  streets,  would  have  a  natural  ten 
dency  towards  producing.  In  the  very  middle 
of  his  fury  he  seemed  suddenly  to  comprehend 
his  mistake.  He  ceased  abruptly,  his  whole 
frame  in  a  tremor  of  emotion.  He  looked  around 
upon  the  faces  present,  and  without  a  word,  qui 
etly  laid  down  his  head.  He  grew  meditative  as 
ha  seemed  to  realize  a  full  sense  of  his  unhappy 
s'.'uation.  At  length  his  eyes  gradually  filled  with 
t:<irs,  and  his  lips  grew  slightly  tremulous.  He 
quietly  ]  emarked,  "  Well,  boys,  good  by,  good  by ; 
1  should  do  but  sorry  fighting  on  a  wooden  leg." 
Ha  again  relapsed  into  silence,  and  was  shortly 
afterwards  carried  away  to  his  room. 


HEROISM  OF  THE  MA  INE  SEVENTH.  —  At  the 
battle  of  Antietam,  Ca  pta.n  J.  W.  Walcott,  of  the 
First  Maryland  regiment,  was  stationed  on  a 
ridge  near  the  jridge  over  the  river.  In  front  of 
him  some  hundred  yards  rose  another  ridge, 
along  which  ran  a  stone  wall  parallel  with  his  po 
sition.  His  pieces  were  trained  obliquely,  firing 
at  objects  off  one  side  from  *lie  last-named  ridge. 
Meantime  the  enemy's  sharpshooters  crept  up  to 
the  stone  wall  and  opened  fire  on  his  gunners ; 
in  a  very  few  minutes  one  of  his  pieces  was  be 
reft  of  all  his  men,  and  the  regularity  of  the  ser 
vice  of  the  others  much  impeded.  Still  he  held 
his  ground  with  the  obstinacy  that  characterized 
all  our  troops  on  that  eventful  day. 

Just  then,  when  he  was  thinking  on  the  neces 
sity  for  changing  his  line  of  fire,  he  saw  a  battal 
ion  of  some  two  hundred  men,  bearing  regimental 
colors  and  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  moving  laterally 
along  the  hollow  intervening  between  him  and 
the  foe. 

They  deployed  rapidly,  and  went  up  the  oppo 
site  hill,  towards  the  stone  wall,  at  a  charge,  with 
wild  hurrahs. '  Suddenly  the  stone  wall  became 
alive  with  rebels ;  it  seemed  as  if  a  thousand  trai 
tors  sprang  from  behind  the  cover  of  the  wall,  and 
poured  a  devouring,  deadly  discharge  full  into 
the  bosoms  of  the  charging  Union  battalion. 
Half  of  the  battalion  fell  on  the  spot,  and  the 
rest  hurriedly  retired  before  the  pursuing  rebels. 

Meantime  Captain  Walcott  had  turned  his 
whole  battery  in  that  direction,  and  the  single 
gun  that  had'lost  its  men  he  manned  with  team 
sters  and  others,  and  himself  took  charge  of  it, 
aiming  and  firing.  From  all  his  pieces  he  now 
poured  grape,  canister,  and  shell  into  the  rebel 
column,  while  the  enemy's  sharpshooters  from 
the  stone  wall  still  sent  their  messengers  of  death 
at  his  battery  ;  but  under  the  fire  from  his  pieces 
the  enemy's  column  wavered ;  it  halted,  it  broke 
and  fled.  The  shattered  Union  battalion  in  the 
valley  had  formed  again,  and  now,  with  scarcely 
a  hundred  men,  swept  up  the  hill  once  more, 
drove  the  lingering  foe  from  the  stone  wall,  and 
sent  volley  after  volley  after  the  rebels,  while  the 
shells  from  Walcott's  guns  swept  far  beyond  the 
ridge  into  the  groves  among  which  the  traitors 
were  retreating. 

The  little  Union  battalion  that  thus  so  daringly 
mounted  the  hill  a  second  time  under  cover  of 
Walcott's  fire,  was  the  remnant  of  Colonel  Mason's 
Seventh  Maine  regiment. 


THE   FRIST    MASSACHUSETTS   MAN   IN  THE 
WAR.  —  Colonel  Edward  W.  Hinks,  in  a  letter 
to   the  Editor  of  the  Boston   Journal,   Novem- 
|  ber  17,   1865,   makes  the  following   statement  : 
"  The  particulars  given  in  the  article  headed  '  Ilie 
first  Massachusetts  man  in  the  war,'  which  was 
!  copied  from  the  Newburyport  Herald   into  the 
!  Journal  of  this  morning,  are  not  strictly  in  ac- 
|  cordance  with  the  facts  ;  and  wi:h  your  indulgence 
I  will  attempt  —  without  detra  ting  from  the  no 
ble  record  of  Captain  Bartlett,  who  for  a  time 
served  with  credit  under  iny  command,  and  who 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


463 


gallantly  yielded  up  his  young  life  upon  the 
bloody  field  of  Antietam  —  to  vindicate  the  truth 
of  history. 

"  On  Monday,  April  15,  1861,  at  quarter  past 
two  o'clock,  in  reply  to  an  offer  of  my  service* 
made  in  the  morning  of  that  day,  I  received 
from  Governor  Andrew  a  verbal  command  to 
summon  the  companies  of  the  Eighth  regiment, 
by  his  authority,  to  rendezvous  at  Faneuil  Hal] 
at  the  earliest  possible  hour.  Leaving  Boston  on 
the  half  past  two  o'clock  train,  I  proceeded  to  Lynn, 
and  personally  notified  the  commanding  officers  of 
the  two  companies  in  that  city,  and  from  thence 
telegraphed  to  Captain  Bartlett,  at  Newburyport, 
and  Captain  Centre,  of  Gloucester,  and  then 
drove  to  Beverly,  and  summoned  the  company 
there,  and  from  thence  hastened  to  Marblehead, 
TV  here  I  personally  notified  the  commanding  offi 
cers  of  the  three  Marblehead  companies.  1  found 
Captain  Martin  in  his  slaughter-house  with  the 
carcass  of  a  hog  just  killed  and  in  readiness  for 
the  '  scald.'  On  communicating  to  the  Captain 
my  orders,  I  advised  him  to  immediately  cause 
the  bells  of  the  town  to  be  rung,  and  to  get  all 
the  recruits  he  could.  Taking  his  coat  from  a 
peg,  he  seemed  for  a  moment  to  hesitate  about 
leaving  his  business  unfinished,  and  then  turning 
to  me,  and  exclaiming,  '  Dom  the  hog,'  put  the 
garment  on,  with  his  arms  yet  stained  with  blood 
and  his  shirt  sleeves  but  half  rolled  down,  and 
with  me  left  the  premises  to  rally  his  company. 

"'On  Tuesday,  April  16,  I  was  directed  to  re 
main  on  duty  at  Faneuil  Hall,  and  during  the 
forenoon  the  following  named  companies  arrived 
there,  and  reported  for  duty,  to  wit : 

"  1.  Companies  C,  Eighth  regiment,  forty 
muskets,  Captain  Knott  V.  Martin,  and  H, 
Eighth  regiment,  twenty-six  guns,  Captain 
Francis  Boardman,  both  of  Marblehead,  which 
place  they  left  at  half  past  seven  o'clock  A.  M., 
and  arrived  in  Boston  at  about  nine  o'clock. 

"  2.  Company  D,  Fourth  regiment,  thirty-two 
muskets,  Sergeant  H.  F.  Wales,  of  Randolph, 
left  home  at  nine  o'clock,  and  arrived  at  about 
ten  A.  M. 

"  3.  Company  B,  Eighth  regiment,  forty  mus 
kets,  Captain  Richard  Phillips,  of  Marblehead,  left 
home  at  nine  o'clock,  and  arrived  in  Faneuil  Hall 
about  eleven  A.  M. 

"4.  Companies  D,  Eighth  regiment,  sixty-five 
muskets,  Captain  George  F.  Newhall,  and  F, 
Eighth  regiment,  seventy  muskets,  Captain  James 
Hudson,  both  of  Lynn,  left  home  at  quarter  past 
nine  o'clock,  and  reached  Faneuil  Hall  a  little 
after  eleven  o'clock,  accompanied  by  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Timothy  Monroe,  subsequently  Colonel 
of  the  Eighth  regiment. 

<k  At  about  twelve  o'clock  several  companies, 
belonging  to  different  regiments,  arrived  at  Fan 
euil  Hall;  and  among  them  was  Company  A', 
Lighth  regiment,  nineteen  muskets,  Captain  A. 
W.  Bartlett,  of  Newburyport,  which  company,  as 
I  then  understood,  and  have  since  been  informed, 
left  Xewburyport  at  about  nine  o'clock  A.  M., 
and  I  think  that  Company  E,  Eighth  regiment, 
Captain  Porter,  of  Beverly,  arrived  at  about  the 


!  same  time,  and  that  Company  G,  Captain  Centre, 
'  of  Gloucester,  also  arrived  early  in  the  afternoon 
of  the  same  day. 

"  The  several  companies  of  the  Eighth  regi 
ment  were  recruited  during  Tuesday  and  Wednes« 
day,  April  16  and  17,  to  an  average  of  about  eighty 
men. 

"  The  above  is  substantially  a  true  record,  as 
will  appear  by  reference  to  the  files  of  the  Jour 
nal  of  that  date,  and  is  prompted  only  by  a  de 
sire  to  do  justice  to  Captain  Martin  and  the 
patriotic  men  of  Marblehead,  who,  on  the  out 
break  of  the  rebellion,  were  the  first  to  leave 
home,  the  first  to  arrive  in  Boston,  and  subse 
quently,  under  my  command,  the  first  to  leave 
the  yard  of  the  Naval  Academy  of  Annapolis,  to 
seize  the  depot  and  railroad,  and  to  repair  and 
relay  the  track  in  the  march  through  Maryland 
to  relieve  the  beleaguered  capital  of  the  nation." 


THE  HERO  OF  CORINTH.  —  Private  Orrin  B. 
Gould,  of  company  G,  Twenty-seventh  Ohio,  was 
the  hero  of  the  battle  of  Corinth.  The  following 
letter  to  Governor  Tod,  from  Colonel  John  W. 
Fuller,  commanding  the  Ohio  Brigade,  embodies 
a  history  of  young  Gould's  resplendent  conduct. 

HEADQUARTERS,  FIRST  HRIOADE,  SECOND         ) 
DIVISION,  ARMY  OK  THE  MISSISSIPPI, 

KKAU  K 1 1' LEY,  Miss.,  Oct.  u,  1*62.  y 

To  the  Governor  of  Oliio: 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  of  forwarding  to  your 
Excellency  the  "  Battle-Flag"  of  the  Ninth  Texas 
regiment,  which  was  captured  by  a  private  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Ohio  infantry,  at  the  battle  of 
Corinth,  Oct.  4,  1862. 

The  rebels,  in  four  close  columns,  were  press 
ing  with  gallantry,  amounting  to  recklessness, 
upon  the  Ohio  brigade,  with  the  evident  intention 
of  breaking  our  lines,  when  the  terrible  and  in 
cessant  fire  of  our  men  drove  them  back  in  the 
utmost  confusion. 

The  Sixth  Texas  bore  down  upon  the  left  cen 
tre  of  the  27th  Ohio,  with  this  Hag  at  the  head 
of  tneir  column,  and  advanced  to  within  six  or 
eight  yards  of  our  lines,  when  Orrin  B.  Gould,  a 
private  of  company  G,  shot  down  the  color- 
bearer,  and  rushed  forward  for  the  rebel  flag.  A 
rebel  officer  shouted  to  his  men  to  "  save  the  col 
ors,"  and  at  the  same  moment  put  a  bullet  into 
the  breast  of  Gould  ;  but  the  young  hero  was  not 
to  be  intimidated.  Witl  the  flags talf  in  his 
hand  arid  the  bullet  in  his  breast,  he  returned  to 
lis  regiment,  waving  the  former  defiantly  in  the 
faces  of  the  enemy. 

After  the  battle,  when  visiting  the  hospitals,  I 
found  young  Gould  stretched  upon  a  cot,  evident- 
y  in  great  pain.  Upon  seeing  me,  his  pale  face 
was  instantly  radiant  with  smiles,  and  pointing 
to  his  wound,  he  said,  "  Colonel,  I  don't  care  for 
this,  since  I  got  their  flag." 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  your  Excellency's  obe 
dient  servant,  JOHN  W.  FULLER. 

Colonel   Twenty-seventh   Ohio,   commanding 
First  Brigade,  Second  Division. 

Hon.  DAVID  TOD,  Governor  of  Ohio. 


464 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


. —  As  the  Seventeenth  regiment 
of  Massachusetts  was  marching  through  Acco- 
rnac  County,  Va.,  with  the  Stars  and  Stripes  float 
ing  above  them,  a  wayside  looker-on  was  heard  to 
say  —  "  I  hope  it  will  rain  everywhere  it  gees." 
There  was  an  instantaneous  wish  to  immolate  the 
author  of  so  inclement  an  aspiration.  They  im 
mediately  took  him  to  account  for  it,  calling  him 
a  "  secesh."  "  Thunder !  no,  I  ain't,"  said  he. 
'•  Didn't  you  soy  you  hoped  it  might  rain  wher 
ever  it  went  ?  "  he  was  asked.  "  Yes,  and  so  I 
do  ;  I  want  it  to  rule  everywhere."  They  imme 
diately  let  him  go,  as  the  fault  was  in  the  diction 
ary,  that  made  two  words  to  sound  alike. 


ANECDOTE  OF  A  CONTRABAND.  —  A  Captain  in 
one  of  the  Maine  regiments  at  Port  Royal  had  a 
colored  servant  named  Tally,  who  talked  very 
bravely  when  spoken  to  about  joining  the  colored 
brigade.  To  test  his  courage,  the  Captain  told 
him  that  he  was  about  to  visit  the  main  land,  and 
asked  Tally  if  he  would  go  with  him  and  help 
fight  the  rebels.  Tally,  after  scratching  his  head 
and  rubbing  his  shins  a  few  moments,  replied, 
"  Dun  know  'bout  dat,  boss  ;  I'se  ober  on  de  main 
a  short  spell  ago,  an'  trus'  de  Lord  ter  get  me 
ober  here,  an'  he  dun  it ;  but  I  dun  dare  risk  him 
again,  boss."  

BROWNLOW  passed  a  high  eulogy  on  General 
Zollicoffer.  Brownlow,  who  knew  him  intimately 
for  twenty-five  years,  says  :  "  He  was  a  man  who 
never  wronged  an  individual  out  of  a  cent  in  his 
life ;  never  told  a  lie  in  his  life  ;  as  brave  a  man 
personally  as  Andrew  Jackson  ever  was ;  and  the 
only  mean  thing  I  ever  knew  him  to  do  was  to 
join  the  Southern  Confederacy." 


WORTHY  or  RECORD.  —  A  letter  from  an  offi 
cer  who  was  with  Burn  side's  expedition  at  the 
battle  of  Camden,  North  Carolina,  says : 

"  I  met  Colonel  Robie,  of  Bingho,mton;  dur 
ing  the  battle,  with  his  cap  stuck  on  the  hack  part 
of  his  head,  looking  the  happiest  man  I  ever  saw. 
I  remember  meeting  him  as  he  was  leading  the 
centre  of  the  regiment  over  a  heavy  ditch,  with 
sword  drawn,  and  hearing  him  speak  to  and  en 
courage  the  boys  on.  Just  then  a  tremendous 
volley  was  poured  into  the  rebel  nest.  '  That's 
it !  —  a  good  one ! '  he  cried.  They  returned  a 
perfect  shower  of  grape  and  canister,  tearing 
through  and  over  us.  Colonel  Robie's  counte 
nance  was  beaming,  and  turning  to  the  men,  he 
called  out,  '  Come  on,  my  children,  I'll  die  with 
you!  Press  on,  my  boys !  Now  is  the  time  to 
show  yourselves ! '  And  as  a  rifled  shell  goes 
singing  byr  his  head,  he  cries,  in  his  joy,  '  Ye 
gods  !  isn't  this  a  handsome  fight  ?  '  " 


THE  DYING  PATRIOT.  —  A  correspondent  men 
tions  the  following  incident  of  the-' bombardment 
of  Fort  Henry : 

"  Of  course  the  Essex  was  thenceforth  unman 


ageable,  and  slowly  drifted  down  the  main  chan 
nel,  and  was  soon  'after  met  by  a  steamer,  which 
towed  her  down  to  the  place  occupied  by  the 
boats  before  starting.  The  last  ball  took  effect 
in  the  Essex  about  fifteen  minutes  before  the  rebel 
flag  came  down,  and,  consequently,  she  failed  to 
be  in  at  the  death.  One  of  the  scalded  men, 
being  told  by  the  physician,  as  they  were  drifting 
down,  that  he  could  not  live,  asked  how  the  fight 
went  on.  *  They  have  surrendered,'  was  the  re 
ply.  4  Glory  to  God  ! '  said  he,  in  a  feeble  voice, 
and  at  the  same  time  trying  to  wave  his  hand. 
'  Glory  to  God ! '  he  repeated ;  '  I  can  die  now, 
and  don't  care  ! '  In  a  few  moments  he  was  dead." 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  KIRKSVILLE.  —  When  Col 
onel  McNeil's  forces  approached  within  cannon 
shot  of  the  place,  it  was  apparently  deserted. 
Not  a  soul  could  be  seen  in  the  streets  or  about 
the  place.  This  fact,  together  with  the  previous 
information  received,  that  Porter  had  drawn  up 
his  men  west  of  the  town,  convinced  Colonel  Mc 
Neil  that  a  trap  had  been  set  for  him.  He  in 
quired  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Shaffer,  of  Merrill's 
Horse,  if  he  would  furnish  a  squad  of  ten  volun 
teers  from  his  detachment  to  reconnoitre  the 
town.  The  number  at  once  came  forward,  and 
under  command  of  a  Lieutenant  they  approached 
the  place,  —  at  first  at  a  moderate  pace  ;  then,  in 
creasing  in  speed,  they  dashed  boldly  and  directly 
into  the  town.  No  sooner  had  they  come  into 
musket  range,  than  from  every  door  and  window, 
and  from  behind  every  fence,  chimney,  and  build 
ing  upon  the  route,  poured  a  fearful  tornado  of 
bullets.  The  leaden  messengers  of  death  whizzed 
around  the  heroic  ten  like  falling  hail.  But  on 
they  went.  Death  had  no  terrors  for  them.  In 
breathless  anxiety  the  whole  army  gazed  after 
them  as  they  rapidly  receded  from  sight,  accom 
panied  by  an  incessant  roar  of  guns.  On  they 
dashed  through  the  principal  streets  of  the  town, 
straight  through,  coming  out  on  the  open  ground 
on  the  west  side  ! 

Here  they  were  beyond  the  range  of  the  rebel 
rifles  ;  they  were  now,  however,  between  the  reb 
els  in  the  town  and  the  rebels  on  the  west.  To 
return  in  safety,  they  must  execute  a  wide  circuit 
to  the  north  or  south.  But  did  they  choose  this 
method?  Nay.  But  turning  southward  one 
street,  they  plunged  once  more  into  the  deadly 
storm  —  this  time  in  a  new  street,  where  the  rifles 
had  not  been  unloaded  during  their  first  passage. 
Forward  they  went,  following  their  brave  leader, 
fearless  and  undaunted,  straight  through  the 
street,  back  to  the  army. 

One  killed,  one  wounded,  and  one  horse  killed, 
were  the  only  injuries  sustained.  Nothing  short 
of  an  almost  direct  interposition  of  Providence 
prevented  the  death  of  every  rider  and  horse.  A 
feat  of  more  brilliant,  heroic,  and  sublime  daring 
has  not  marked  the  history  of  the  war. 


GOOD  FOR  THE  AGUE. — A  Southern  paper  gave 
the  following  novel  treatment  for  curing  chills : 


A>Js,o.t»UJ'fiS,    POHTRY,    ANP    INCIDENTS. 


465 


"  It  is  stated  that  a  soldier  of  a  Mississippi  regi 
ment  at  Pensacola  went  to  his  tent  and  blankets, 
the  other  day,  to  fight  through  an  ague.  A  bottle 
df  hot  water  to  his  feet  not  being  convenient, 
gome  of  his  comrades  went  out  and  picked  up  one 
r.i'  the  numerous  shells  Colonel  Brown  sent  over 
1  n-iug  the  bombardment,  heated  it  at  the  fire, 
ft:  id  put  it  to  bed  with  the  sick  man's  feet.  Un 
happily,  the  shell  had  lost  its  cap,  but  had  not 
exploded.  The  heat  of  the  camp  fire  accomplished 
what  Lincoln  pyroteclmy  had  failed  in,  to  wit, 
an  explosion.  The  tent  was  blown  to  pieces,  and 


some    of    the 
astonished." 


men    a    little  hurt  and    greatly 


DISCIPLINE.  —  A  captain,  in  one  of  the 

regiments,  who  had  been  drinking  quite  freely, 
met  a  private  of  his  company  in  the  same  condi 
tion.  The  captain  ordered  him  to  "  halt,"  and 
endeavoring  in  vain  to  assume  a  firm  position  on 
his  feet,  and  to  talk  with  dignified  severity,  ex 
claimed,  "Private  Smith,  I'll  give  you  t'l  (hie) 
four  o'clock  to  gissober  in."  "  Cap'n,"  replied 
the  soldier,  "  as  you're  (hie)  —  sight  drunkerniam, 
I'll  give  you  t'l  five  o'clock  to  gissober  in." 


A  BEAUTIFUL  INCIDENT.  —  There  are  bright 
spots  in  the  darkness  of  war.  Deeds  of  mercy 
by  an  enemy  shed  lustre  on  our  common  hu 
manity.  They  have  been  commemorated  in  the 
heroic  song  of  Homer,  and  have  been  eagerly 
caught  and  honored  in  every  age  by  the  human 
heart. 

The  following  was  written  by  a  lady  of  Stock- 
bridge,  Massachusetts,  and  commemorates  an 
incident  very  touching  and  beautiful,  which  rests 
upon  the  best  authority,  and  which  ought  to  be 
known  : 

"  Colonel  Mulligan  refused  his  parole  at  Lex 
ington,  and  his  wii'e  resolved  to  share  his  captivity. 
Accordingly  she  left  her  infant,  fourteen  months 
old,  in  the  care  of  one  of  the  strongest  secession 
ist  women  in  the  town.  That  woman  assumed 
the  charge  of  the  little  child,  and  dressed  it  in  the 
captured  American  flag.'* 


BEAURF.GARD'S  BELLS.  —  At  East  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  on  the  29th  of  July,  1862,  four 
hundred  and  eighteen  bells,  sent  to  that  place 
by  Major-General  Butler,  were  sold  at  public  auc 
tion.  These  bells  were  sent  in  to  New  Orleans 
by  Southerners,  in  response  to  Beauregard's  call 
for  brass  with  which  to  fabricate  cannon  for  use 
against  Union  men.  When  Butler  captured  New 
Orleans,  these  fell  into  his  hands,  and  Boston  be 
came  the  recipient  of  the  trophies. 

There  were  bells  from  church  spires  that  had 
called  the  lords  of  the  manor  to  Sabbath  prayers; 
bells  from  plantation  sheds  that  once  summoned 
the  sable  bondmen  to  unrequited  labor ;  school 
boils,  and  steamboat  bells,  and  factory  bells,  large 
and  small ;  many  of  them  in  the  best  order  and 
of  the  finest  tones. 

These  four  hundred  bells  bore  upon   them  a 


Sonthern  tribute  to  Northern  labor.     There  were 

no  ancient  bells,  no  bells  of  historic  worth,  no  old 

I  Spanish  or  French  relics  —  those  the  Southerners 

j  had  kept,  and  contributed  instead  the  products  of 

|  Northern  skill.     With  only  a  dozen  exceptions, 

{ the  bells  had  upon  their  rims  or  tops   the  names 

of  Northern  makers  — of -the  Buckeye  Works  of 

Cincinnati,  the  Allaire  Works  of  New  York,  of 

Fulton  Foundery,  Pittsburg,  and  of  the  founders 

of  Troy,  of  Louisville,  and   other  places.     How 

suggestive  is  all  this,  and  what  ar  added  interest 

it  gives  to  the  poet's  words  ! 

O,  swing  them  merrily  to  and  fro  ; 
They'll  not  boom  with  a  traitorous  blow. 

Shaped  into  cannon,  not  one  —  they  lie 
Eloquent  tokens  of  victory. 

Sing  out,  O  bells,  on  the  summer  wind  ; 
Farragut's  name  with  thy  music  twined. 

The  Crescent  slips  from  the  serpent's  hold, 
Though  bound  in  many  an  angry  fold. 

Oft  ye  have  pealed  for  the  bridal  morn, 
Tolled  for  souls  into  mystery  born, 

Roused,  on  plantation,  master  and  slave ; 
Yet,  ye  were  doomed,  till  won  by  the  Brave . 

O,  ring  ere  long  for  the  shout  of  peace ; 
Jubilant  ring  when  this  strife  shall  cease. 

Ring  out  Rebellion,  dark  as  a  pall ; 

King  for  Stars  and  Stripes  floating  o'er  all. 

.Laugh  out  on  the  Northern  winds,  I  pray ; 
Peal  out,  for  this  is  your  marriage  day. 

Wedded  to  Freedom,  'mid  hills  and  dells, 
Ye  are  no  longer  Beauregard's  bells. 

Previous  to  the  sale,  Mr.  N.  A.  Thompson,  the 
auctioneer,  made  a  most  eloquent  and  patriotic 
speech,  which  was  warmly  applauded,  showing 
how  deeply  in  earnest  the  South  were  in  this  war, 
as  was  instanced  in  the  bells  before  us,  and  calling 
for  an  equal  earnestness  on  our  part,  if  we  would 
hope  to  preserve  our  country  in  its  integrity. 


CHRISTMAS  WITH  THE  SLAVES.  —  A  letter 
writer  at  Port  Royal,  South  Carolina,  gives  the 
following  account  of  the  way  in  which  the  slaves 
kept  the  first  Christmas  after  the  Proclamation 
of  Emancipation  : 

"  Christmas  Eve  was  celebrated  by  the  colored 
people  at  General  Drayton's  plantation.  About 
half  past  eleven  o'clock  a  bell  was  rung,  and  pre 
cisely  at  twelve  a  pine  fire  was  kindled  in  front 
of  the  cabin  where  the  meeting  was  to  be  held. 
They  called  the  festival  a  serenade  to  Jesus.  One 
of  the  leaders,  of  which  there  were  three,  was 
dressed  in  a  red  coat  with  brass  buttons,  wearing 
white  gloves.  The  females  wore  turbans  made  of 
cotton  handkerchiefs.  All  ages  were  represented, 
from  the  child  of  one  year  to  the  old  man  of 
ninety. 

11  The  first  exercise  consisted  in  singing  hymne- 


466 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


and  spiritual  songs,  among  which  were  those  be 
ginning,  '  Salvation  !  O,  the  joyful  sound  ; '  '  The 
voice  of  r~ee  grace ; '  •  Come,  humble  sinner,  in 
who^e  breast;'  '  O,  poor  sinner,  can't  stand  de 
fire,  can't  stand  de  fire  in  dat  great  day ; '  and  a 
Christmas  song  containing  a  medley  of  everything 
the  fruitful  mind  of  the  leader  could  suggest,  with 
the  refrain,  '  We'll  wait  till  Jesus  comes.'  One  of 
the  leaders  lined  the  hymns,  and  though  none  of 
them  could  read,  it  was  remarkable  with  what 
correctness  they  gave  the  words.  Their  Scripture 
quotations  were  also  correct  and  appropriate,  not 
only  having  the  exact  words,  but  naming  the  chap 
ter  and  verse  where  they  could  be  found. 

"  After  singing  for  some  time,  a  prayer-meeting 
was  held.  The  prayers  were  fervent  and  power 
ful,  and  when  an  allusion  would  be  made  to  the 
soldiers  who  had  come  from  their  distant  homes, 
in  the  North  country,  to  '  help  and  save  de  poor 
slave,  and,  like  Jesus,  bring  dem  good  tidings  of 
great  joy,'  a  shout  went  up  that  sent  its  notes  on 
the  still  night  air  to  the  distant  pickets  in  the  sur 
rounding  pines.  When  asked,  as  they  could  not 
read,  how  they  could  quote  the  Scriptures,  they 
Kplied :  '  We  have  ears,  massa,  and  when  de 
preacher  give  out  his  texts,  den  we  remeiribers 
and  says  dem  over  and  over  till  we  never  forgets 
dem  ;  dat's  de  way,  massa,  we  poor  people  learns 
dc  Word  of  God.'  ^ 

"  The  next  exercise  consisted  of  speaking  and 
singing,  at  intervals.  While  one  was  speaking*, 
another  would  take  a  blazing  pine  torch  from  the 
fire,  and  hold  it  up,  so  that  all  might  see  the 
speaker.  At  two  o'clock,  a  recess  was  had,  and 
ail  were  invited  to  partake  of  coffee,  which  luxury 
they  can  now  purchase  without  any  difficulty,  as 
they  have  plenty  of  money,  obtained  of  the  sol 
diers  for  vegetables  and  poultry. 

"  After  this  came  what  they  called  the  shout 
ing  exercise.  It  was  introduced  by  the  beating  of 
time  by  three  or  four,  with  the  feet.  Soon  the  whole 
company  formed  into  a  circle,  and  commenced 
jumping  and  singing  to  the  time  and  tune  of 

«  Say,  brothers,  will  you  meet  me, 

Say,  brothers,  will  you  meet  me, 

Say,  brothers,  will  you  meet  me, 

On  Canaan's  happy  shore  ? ' 

This  was  continued  until  the  most  fertile  imagi 
nation  was  exhausted,  embracing  an  invitation  to 
sisters,  soldiers,  preachers,  &c.,  to  meat  them  on 
Canaan's  happy  shore. 

"  Never  did  these  poor  slaves  celebrate  a  Christ- 
ma."!  Eve  under  such  circumstances  before.  What 
ever  may  be  their  future,  they  are  now,  '  to  all 
intents,  purposes,  and  constructions  whatever,' 
free  ;  that  they  may  '  choose  it  rather'  is  beyond 
question  more  certain." 


FIGHTING  MINISTERS.  —  The  editor  of  a  re 
ligious  newspaper  says  that  a  Louisiana  clergy 
man,  writing  over  his  own  name,  remarks: 

"  1  am  one  of  five  ministers,  of  three  different 
denominations,  in  a  single  company,  armed  for  the 
tefence  of  our  rights  and  liberties,  three  of  whom 


are  between  fifty  and  sixty  years  old.  And  I  tell 
yon  in  candor,  and  in  the  fear  of  God,  that  if  you 
or  Hny  of  the  brethren  who  have  urged  on  thia 
diabolical  war,  come  on  with  the  invading  army, 
I  would  slay  you  with  as  hearty  a  good-will,  and 
with  as  clear  a  conscience,  as  I  would  the  mid 
night  assassin. 

"  In  the  name  of  God,  I  conjure  you,  lei  us 
alone.  I  speak  the  spontaneous  sentiment  of 
every  Southern  heart  —  man. -\voman,  and  child. 
We  will  never  submit.  We  will  shed  the  last  drop 
of  blood  in  defence  of  our  rights.  You  are  my 
enemy,  and  I  am  yours." 


INCIDENTS  or  FORT  DONELSON. —  "On  the 
two  battle-grounds  the  scenes  were  fearful.  The 
snow  was  so  thoroughly  saturated  with  blood, 
that  it  seemsd  like  red  mud  as  you  walked  around 
in  it.  Men  writhing  in  agony,  with  their  feet, 
arms,  or  legs  torn  off,  many  begging  to  be  killed, 
and  one  poor  fellow  was  delirious,  who  laughed 
hideously  as  he  pointed  to  a  mutilated  stump, 
which  an  hour  ago  had  been  his  arm.  One  old 
man,  dressed  in  homespun,  with  hair  white  as 
snow,  was  sitting,  moaning  feebly,  against  a  wall. 
A  fragment  of  shell  had  struck  him  upon  the 
head,  bruising  off  his  scalp  as  if  detadied  from 
the  skull  by  a  knife,  and  causing  it  to  hang  sus 
pended  from  the  forehead  over  his  face.  In 
stances  of  suffering  were  on  every  hand,  and  added 
to  the  revolting  horrors  of  the  two  fields.  A 
young  Southern  officer,  who  gave  his  name  as 
Charles  C.  Seymour,  of  Memphis,  was  found  on 
the  side  of  a  ravine.  A  ball  had  passed  through 
'his  breast,  and  he  had  a  finger  upon  the  wound, 
vainly  endeavoring  to  stop  the  life  which  was 
issuing  out.  He  gave  to  one  of  us  a  little  square 
block  of  dark  wood,  set  in  a  frame  of  gold,  and 
requested  it  to  be  sent  to  his  mother  in  Memphis. 
Some  event  long  past,  a  hidden  history  perhaps, 
was  connected  with  the  strange  memento." 


A  UNION  MAN.  —  During  the  combined  expe 
dition  of  General  Sherman  and  Admiral  Porter, 
up  the  Sunflower  Iliver,  Steele's  Bayou,  and  the 
Black  Bayou,  which  failed  in  its  purpose,  Admiral 
Porter's  guide  was  a  negro,  the  same  who  carried 
the  despatch  to  General  Sherman  through  the 
rebel  lines.  When  the  national  forces  arrived  in 
the  midst  of  the  rebel  lines,  a  scouting  party 
came  suddenly  upon  a  house  which  belonged  to 
the  sheriff  of  the  county  from  whom  the  negro 
had  escaped.  He  ordered  his  old  servant  to  get 
his  horse,  as  the  Yankees  were  coming.  "  Couldn't 
tink  of  it  —  wouldn't  do  it  for  a  tousand  dollars. 
Ise  a  Union  man,  now,  massa."  The  horse  was 
not  got,  but  the  sheriff  was. 


THE  MISSILES  AT  ANTIETAM. — Broken  rail 
road  iron  and  blacksmiths'  tools,  hammers,  chis- 
2ls,  &c.,  were  fired  from  rebel  cannon.  Some  of 
'.hese  missiles  made  a  peculiar  noise,  resemr. ling 
*  which  away,  which  away,"  by  which  the  na- 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


467 


tional  troops  came  to  distinguish  them  from  the 
regular  shot  and  shell,  and  as  they  heard  them 
approaching,  would  cry,  "  Turkey  !  turkey  com 
ing  !"  and  fall  fiat  to  avoid  them.  An  artille 
rist,  a  German,  when  he  saw  the  tools  falling 
around  him,  exclaimed,  "  My  Got!  we  shall  have 
the  blacksmith's  shop  to  come  next ! " 


DIRGE 

FOR   ONE   WHO    FELL   IN   BATTLE. 

ROOM  for  a  soldier  !  lay  him  in  the  clover ; 
He  loved  the  fields,  and  they  shall  be  his  cover; 
Make  his  mound  with  hers  who  called  him  once  her 
lover ; 

Where  the  rain  may  rain  upon  it, 

Where  the  sun  may  shine  upon  it, 

Where  the  lamb  hath  lain  upon  it, 

And  the  bee  will  dine  upon  it. 

Bear  him  to  no  dismal  tomb  under  city  churches ; 
Take  him   to   the  fragrant  fields,    by   the    silver 

birches, 
Where  the  whip-poor-will  will  mourn,  where  the 

oriole  perches ; 

Make  his  mound  with  sunshine  on  it, 
Where  the  bee  will  dine  upon  it, 
Where  the  lamb  hath  lain  upon  it, 
And  the  rain  will  rain  upon  it. 

Busy  as  the  busy  bee,  his  rest  should  be  the  clover  ; 
Gentle  as  the  lamb  was  he,  and  the  fern  should  be 

his  cover ; 
Fern  and  rosemary  shall  grow  my  soldier's  pillow 

over  ; 

Where  the  rain  may  rain  upon  it, 
Where  the  sun  may  shine  upon  it, 
Where  the  lamb  hath  lain  upon  it, 
And  the  bee  will  dine  upon  it. 

Sunshine  in  his  heart,  the  rain  would  come  full 

often 
Out  of  those  tender  eyes   which  ever  more   did 

soften ; 
He  never  could  look  cold  till  we  saw  him  in  his 

coffin. 

Make  his  mound  with  sunshine  on  it, 
Wliere  the  wind  may  sigh  upon  it, 
Where  the  moon  may  stream  upon  it, 
And  memory  shall  dream  upon  it. 

«*  Captain,"  or  "  Colonel,"  —  whatever  invocation 
Suit  our  hymn  the  best,  no  matter  for  thy  station,  — 
On  thy  grave  the  rain  shall  fall  from  the  eyes  of  a 

mighty  nation  ! 

Long  as  the  sun  doth  shine  upon  it 
Shall  grow  the  goodly  pine  upon  it, 
Long  as  the  stars  do  gleam  upon  it 
Shall  memory  come  to  drcarn  upon  it. 


INCIDENT  OF  DRANESVILLE.  —  During  a  skir 
mish  near  Dranesville,  \rirginia,  Colonel  Jackson, 
of  the  Ninth  Pennsylvania  regiment,  left  his  negro 
servant  in  charge  of  his  horse,  while  he  advanced 
towards  the  enemy.  Seeing  two  rebels,  who  had 
discharged  their  Dmskets,  approaching  him,  the 


boy  drew  his  carbine  and  threatened  to  shoot  them 
if  they  did  not  surrender  at  once.  This  they  did, 
and  marched  before  him  to  the  camp. 


A  CONTRABAND  INCIDENT.  —  A  correspond 
ent,  writing  from  Munfordville,  Kentucky,  gb  t  * 
the  following : 

"  While  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  my  at 
tention  was  attracte.l  to  a  quiet  group  coming 
up  the  hill.  First  were  two  intelligent-looking 
contrabands,  next  a  little  '  go-cart,'  drawn  by  a 
mule,  in  which  was  a  female  slave  and  about  a, 
dozen  little  negroes,  carefully  wrapped  in  sundry 
and  divers  coats.  An  Uncle  Tom  sort  of  a  chap, 
with  a  Miss  Dinah,  brought  up  the  rear.  As 
they  came  by  I  addressed  Tom : 

" '  We'.,  Uncle,  where  did  your  party  come 
from?' 

' '  Wefs  from  de  town,  dar,  sah.' 

'  *  And  where  are  you  going  ? ' 

' '  Gwine  home,  sah.' 

* '  Then  you  do  not  live  in  the  village  ? ' 

' '  No  ;  we  lib  right  ober  yonder,  'bout  a  mile  ; 
de  secesh  druv  us  from  home.' 

"  « Ah  !  well,  now  stop  a  minute,  and  tell  me 
all  about  it.' 

"  '  Dat  I  do,  sure,  massa.  Jim  [to  the  leader 
of  the  mule  cart],  you  go  on  wid  de  wagon,  an' 
I  kotch  you  fore  you  gits  home.  Now,  I  tells  you, 
massa,  all  about  'um.  My  massa  am  Union,  an' 
so  is  all  de  niggers.  Yesterdr.y,  massa  wor 
away  in  de  town,  an*  de  firs'  'ting  we  know,  'lon<>; 
come  two  or  free  hundred  ob  dem  seceshers,  on 
horses,  an'  lookin'  like  cutfroats.  Golly,  but  de 
gals  wor  scared.  Jus'  right  back  ob  us  wor  de 
Union  soldiers  —  God  bless  [reverentially],  for 
dey  keep  de  secesh  from  killin'  nigger.  De  gals 
know  dat,  an'  when  dey  see  de  secesh  comin'  dey 
pitch  de  little  nigger  in  de  go-cart,  an'  den  we  all 
broke  for  de  Union  soldiers.' 

"  *  So  you  are  not  afraid  of  the  Union  sol 
diers •?' 

"  '  God  bless  you,  massa,  nebber.  Nigger  gets 
ahind  dem  Union  soldiers,  secesh  nebber  gets 
'um.  Secesh  steal  nigger  —  Union  man  nebber 
steal  'um.  Dat's  a  fac',  massa/ 

"  And,  with  a  smile  on  his  face,  the  clever  old 
darky  bade  me  good  morning,  and  trotted  on  af 
ter  the  go-cart." 


BORDER,  SCOUTS.  —  Among  the  most  active 
and  daring  of  the  Union  scouts  in  the  South 
west  were  four  young  men,  known  as  the  Nor- 
rises  and  Breedms.  Acquainted  with  every  cross 
road  and  by-way,  they  scoured  the  country  for  a 
radius  of  seventy-miles  south  and  east  of  Fcrt 
Scott.  Their  very  names  were  a  terror  to  se 
cession,  and  every  plan  that  ingenuity  could  de 
vise  was  resorted  to  to  effect  their  destruction. 
At  one  time  the  younger  Norris  was  wounded  in 
a  skirmish,  near  Shanghai,  in  which  six,  out  of  a 
party  of  twelve,  under  Lieutentint  Lewis,  met 
with  a  similar  fat 3  while  contending  against  tre 
ble  :heir  number  if  the  enemy.  He  was  soon  in 


468 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


the  saddle  again,  however,  and  ready  for  the 
field.  These  men  formerly  lived  in  Golden 
Grove.  Missouri,  fifteen  miles  beyond  Lamar,  in 
the  direction  of  Greenfield.  The  elder  Breedin 
had  a  wife  and  family  living  there ;  and  being 
anxious  to  visit  them,  he  took  with  him  a  party 
jf  six  well-armed  and  determined  men,  and  went 
down.  Their  arrival  in  the  settlement  became 
known  to  some  of  his  secession  neighbors,  and 
a  plan  was  instantly  set  on  foot  to  "  take  them 
in."  On  the  third  night,  being  apprehensive  of 
an  attack,  they  assembled  at  a  house  in  the  set 
tlement,  where,  after  making  all  necessary  prepa 
rations,  they  betook  themselves  to  sleep.  About 
two  o'clock  they  were  awakened  by  the  approach 
of  the  enemy,  and  quietly  took  their  places  be 
hind  the  fence  surrounding  the  house,  ready  to 
give  the  foe  a  warm  reception.  The  secession 
force  approached  to  within  thirty  yards,  halted, 
and  most  of  them  dismounted  for  the  attack. 
"  Now,"  said  the  Captain,  "  creep  up  cautiously, 
and  when  I  fire  the  signal  gun,  make  a  rush  for 
the  house  and  surround  it."  Breedin  and  his 
comrades  lay  quietly  in  their  corners  until  the 
enemy  were  within  a  few  yards  of  them,  when 
they  delivered  their  fire  with  terrible  effect,  just 
as  the  secesh  Captain  was  about  to  fire  his  "  sig 
nal  gun."  A  prisoner,  whom  the  attacking  party 
had  with  them,  shouted  as  he  heard  the  discharge, 
"  Gentlemen,  there's  a  good  many  signal  guns 
there."  For  a  few  minutes  the  skirmish  was  a 
hct  one,  when  four  of  the  men,  having  emptied 
all  their  rifles  and  pistols,  and  fearing  that  they 
might  be  surrounded,  retired  past  the  house  into 
the  timber,  and  made  their  way  to  Fort  Scott,  on 
foot,  leaving  Breedin,  Carpenter,  and  Jones  still 
at  the  fence  fighting.  Jones  had  nothing  but  a 
musket,  but  he  made  every  shot  tell.  Carpen 
ter,  a  boy  of  eighteen  or  nineteen  years,  had  left 
his  revolver  in  the  house.  After  firing  his 
Sharpe's  rifle,  he  threw  it  down,  ran  into  the 
house,  got  his  revolver,  and  coolly  closing  the 
door  after  him,  returned  to  his  post  at  the  fence. 
Astonished  at  the  telling  and  rapid  fire  from  the 
fence,  the  enemy  became  panic-stricken,  and 
lushing  to  their  horses  with  loud  cries  of  "  We're 
whipped,"  "  We  can't  stand  the  minies,"  &c.,  fled 
in  utter  confusion  on  the  Greenfield  road,  leaving 
two  dead  and  six  wounded  —  two  of  whom  after- 
warda  died  on  the  field.  They  continued  their 
flight  about  three  miles,  when  the  Captain  suc 
ceeded  in  stopping  a  few  of  them  ;  but  the  bark 
ing  of  some  dogs  started  them  again,  and  no 
more  halts  were  made  until  they  reached  Green 
field.  A  messenger  was  immediately  sent  to 
Price  for  a  regiment  of  troops  to  come  and 
drive  Breedin  out  of  the  country. 

Eight  horses  were  left  by  the  enemy  in  their 
flight ;  these  were  captured  by  Breedin  and  his 
companions,  and  after  scouring  the  country  two 
days  longer,  they  returned  to  Fort  Scott,  bring 
ing  two  prisoners,  the  eight  secession  horses,  and 
the  horses  left  by  their  own  party.  The  distance 
is  about  seventy  miles.  The  secession  party,  by 
their  own  account,  numbered  not  less  than  one 
hundred  and  thirty  men. 


WHAT   ARE    TRUMPS? 

i 

BY   JAMES   R.    RANDALL.* 

NOT  Diamonds !  treason  breaks  bedight 
Beyond  their  leprosy  of  light, 
And  all  that's  chivalric  and  fair 
Is  gorgoned  by  their  stony  glare. 
Not  Diamonds  !  for  the  glut  of  gain 
Is  but  the  Diamond's  frosty  brain, 
Bespread  in  golden  beads  of  rain. 
Kentucky  feels  the  golden  gust  enow; 
It  galleth  her  bewildered  brow. 
My  Maryland  !  ah,  where  art  thou  ? 
No  !  Freedom  is  not  won.  with  them. 
Down,  Diamond  !  down,  perfidious  gem ! 

Not  Hearts !  —  let's  keep  our  Hearts  at  home ; 

They'll  wreck  us  'mid  the  battle-foam. 

We  wrant  no  Hearts  to  marshal  forth 

Against  the  Vikings  of  the  North. 

No  !  we  will  make  reverberate 

The  death- dirge  of  the  fools  of  Fate. 

Hearts,  ye  have  ever  thugged  and  swirled 

The  hurly-'curlies  of  the  world  ! 

If  Sherman  comes  to  cut  our  throats, 

What  '.hen  ?     Why,  send  his  horses  oats ! 

Pooh,  pooh  !  he  did  not  couch  the  blow 

Which  laid  poor  Beaufort  sacked  below. 

The  darkies  did  it  all ;  just  so ! 

If  Grant  swoops  down  o'er  Belmont  plain, 

And  cumbers  bluff  and  wood  with  slain,  — 

Good  fellow !     Swill  him  with  champagne  I 

Hearts,  ye  would  gild  the  robber's  bier  1 

Down !  down !  ye  are  betrayers  here  ! 

Not  Spades  !  we  are  but  too  expert 

In  technicalities  of  dirt. 

Scarp,  redan,  bastion,  and  lunette 

But  make  our  native  valor  fret. 

If  Courage  imps  an  eyrie  pitch, 

Dear  Courage,  you  must  dig  a  ditch. 

With  bloody  signs  the  welkin 's  big  — - 

Portentous  symbols  !  we  must  dig ! 

Sangrado,  M.  D.,  famed  in  Seville, 

Dosed  generations  to  the  Devil. 

He  killed,  like  any  Pottowatomie, 

With  tepid  \vater  and  phlebotomy. 

He  knew  his  shocking  thaumaturgy 

Was  death  to  laymen  and  to  clergy. 

But  then  the  Doctor  wrote,  with  travail, 

A  tome,  to  prove,  above  all  cavil, 

That  his  curriculum  —  his  plan  — 

Was  Gilead's  balm  to  damaged  man ; 

And  not  by  any  hook  or  crook 

Would  old  Sangrado  snub  his  book. 

O,  "  burn  the  books,"  and  down  mud-lumps  ! 

We  scoop  our  graves  when  Spades  are  trumps  ! 

*  Mr.  Randall's  poetry  is  too  curiously  phraser!  to 
please  the  lover  of  plain,  pure  English ;  but  his  tribute 
to  the  King  of  Trumps  —  nay,  the  very  Ace  of  all  the 
Face  Cards  in  the  Pack  of  War  —  is  so  well-timed,  and 
so  full  of  sensible  suggestions  to  the  dirt-diggers, 
dilly-dalliers,  delayers,  defensive  policists,  and  do- 
iiothing-ites  of  the  West  Point  school,  that  we  are  glad 
to  insert  it  in  our  Table.  Price  may  be  snubbed  by 
the  powers  that  be  ;  but  the  poetb  will  immortalize?  him. 
He  may  be  defeated;  b\it  the  people  will  io»e  him,  ex 
alt  him,  honor  him,  and  \vear  him  forever  in  their 
heart  of  hearts,  because  he  dared  to  do.  —  Southem 
paper. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


469 


Yes,  Clubs !     One's  inspiration  jumps, 
And  cuts  a  caper !     Clubs  and  trumps ! 
Di'monds  will  not  appease  the  dead 
That  shake  beneath  the  brigand's  tread, 
Under  the  sands  of  Hilton  Head. 
ItO  I  Carolina  is  ablaze  ! 
Bold  beauty  !  loveliest  of  our  days  ! 
Her  fruitful  fields  one  scorching  pyre  — 
She's  shrined  the  very  Queen  of  Fire  ! 
Hearts!  would  ye  give  invaders  tears? 
Clubs  are  the  Hearts  for  buccaneers. 
Spades  !  would  ye  nest  them  in  the  earth, 
Rotting  the  spring's  emblossomed  birth  ? 
No  !  let  the  buzzard  kiss  his  kind, 
As  they  bloat  in  the  nostrils  of  the  wind  ; 
Each  corpse  "a  black  flag,"  mightier  far 
Than  the  rags  that  token  the  hell  of  war ! 

Lo  !  for  a  trump  to  beat  them  all  — 
A  trump  beyond  a  system's  thrall. 
Advance,  thou  worthiest  and  best — 
Our  grim  old  Scipio  of  the  West ! 
Thou  wast  not  suckled  in  the  schools ; 
But  thou  canst  conquer  in  spite  of  rules. 
'Gainst  thee  Red-Tape  is  all  aglow  ; 
But  mark  his  legions  !  how  they  go, 
Hounding  the  haunches  of  the  foe ! 
With  havoc  still  the  clouds  are  dun 
That  crouched  o'er  fallen  Lexington; 
Yet  cleaves  his  ever-sheathless  blade 
'Yond  Osage  and  the  Gasconade, 
Soon  will  the  thunder  of  his  bands 
Boom  through  the  lusty  prairie  lands, 
Thick  with  the  lightning  of  their  brands. 
On,  hero  !  for  the  Southern  heart 
Knows  thee  and  loves  thee  as  thou  art ! 
Thou  Trump  of  Trumps  !  anointed  thrice  ! 
Our  Sword  and  Buckler — Sterling  Price! 


THE  STORY  OF  ANTIETAM. 
BY  GEORGE  W.  SMALLEY. 

BATTLE-FIELD  OF  ANTIETAM,  ) 

WEDNESDAY  EVENING,  Sept.  17, 1802.  \ 

FIERCE  and  desperate  battle  between  two  hun 
dred  thousand  men  has  raged  since  daylight,  yet 
night  closes  on  an  uncertain  field.  It,  is  the 
greatest  fight  since  Waterloo,  all  over  the  field 
contested  with  an  obstinacy  equal  even  to  Water 
loo.  If  not  wholly  a  victory  to-night,  I  believe 
it  is  the  prelude  to  a  victory  to-morrow.  But 
what  can  be  foretold  of  the  future  of  a  fight  in 
which  from  five  in  the  morning  till  seven  at  night 
the  best  troops  of  the  continent  have  fought  with 
out  decisive  result? 

After  the  brilliant  victory  near  Middletown, 
General  McClellan  pushed  forward  his  army  rap 
idly,  and  reached  Keedysville  with  three  corps  on 
Monday  night.  That  march  has  already  been  de 
scribed.  On  the  day  following  the  two  armies 
faced  each  other  idly  until  night.  Artillery  was 
busy  at  intervals,  once  in  the  morning  opening 
with  spirit,  and  continuing  for  half  an  hour  with 
vigor,  till  the  rebel  battery,  as  usual,  was  si 
lenced. 

McClellan  was  on  the  hill  where  Benjamin's 
battery  was  stationed,  and  found  himself  sudden 
ly  under  a  rather  heavy  fire.  It  was  still  uncer 


tain  whether  the  rebels  were  retreating  or  reen- 
forcing.  Their  batteries  would  remain  in  posi 
tion  in  either  case  ;  and  as  they  had  withdrawn 
nearly  all  their  troops  from  view,  there  was  only 
the  doubtful  indication  of  columns  of  dust  to  the 
rear. 

On  the  evening  of  Tuesday,  Hooker  was  or 
dered  to  cross  the  Antietam  Creek  with  his  corps, 
and,  feii  ng  the  left  of  the  enemy,  to  be  ready  to 
attack  nest  morning.  During  the  day  of  appar 
ent  inactivity,  McClellan,  it  n'.oy  be  supposed, 
had  been  maturing  nis  plan  of  battle,  of  which 
Hooker's  movement  was  one  development. 

The  position  on  either  side  was  peculiar. 
When  Richardson  advanced  on  Monday,  he  found 
the  enemy  deployed  and  displayed  in  force  on  a 
crescent-shaped  ridge,  the  outline  of  which  fol 
lowed  more  or  less  exactly  the  course  of  Antie 
tam  Creek.  Their  lines  were  then  forming,  and 
the  revelation  of  force  in  front  of  the  ground 
which  they  really  intended  to  hold,  was  probably 
meant  to  delay  our  attack  until  their  arrange 
ments  to  receive  it  were  complete. 

During  that  day  they  kept  their  troops  exposed, 
and  did  not  move  them  even  to  avoid  the  artil 
lery-fire,  which  must  have  been  occasionally  annoy 
ing.  Next  morning  the  lines  and  columns  which 
had  darkened  cornfields  and  hill-crests  had  been 
withdrawn.  Broken  and  wooded  ground  behind 
the  sheltering  hills  concealed  the  rebel  masses. 
What  from  our  front  looked  like  only  a  narrow 
summit  fringed  with  woods  was  a  broad  table 
land  of  forest  and  ravine  ;  cover  for  troops  every 
where,  nowhere  easy  access  for  an  enemy.  The 
smoothly  sloping  surface  in  front  and  the  sweep 
ing  crescent  of  slowly  mingling  lines  was  all  a 
delusion.  It  was  all  a  rebel  stronghold  beyond. 

Under  the  base  of  these  hills  runs  the  deep 
stream  called  Antietam  Creek,  fordable  only  at 
distant  points.  Three  bridges  cross  it;  one  on 
the  Hagerstown  road,  one  on  the  Sharpsburg 
pike,  one  to  the  left  in  a  deep  recess  of  steeply- 
tailing  hills.  Hooker  passed  the  first  to  reach 
the  ford  by  which  he  crossed,  and  it  was  held  by 
Pleasanton  with  a  reserve  of  cavalry  during  the 
battle.  The  second  was  close  under  the  rebel 
centre,  and  no  way  important  to  yesterday's  fight. 
At  the  third  Burnside  attacked,  and  finally  crossed. 
Between  the  first  and  third  lay  most  of  the  battle- 
lines.  They  stretched  four  miles  from  right  to 
left. 

Unaided  attack  in  front  was  impossible.  Mc- 
Clellan's  forces  lay  behind  low,  disconnected 
ridges  in  front  of  the  rebel  summits,  all,  or  nearly 
all,  unwooded.  They  gave  some  cover  for  artil 
lery,  and  guns  were  therefore  massed  on  the  cen 
tre.  The  enemy  had  the  Shepherdstown  road,  and 
the  Hagerstown  and  Williampsoit  road,  both 
open  to  him  in  rear  for  retreat.  Along  one  or 
the  other,  if  beaten,  he  must  fly.  This,  among 
other  reasons,  determined,  perhaps,  the  plan  of 
battle  which  McClellan  finally  resolved  upon. 

The  plan  was  generally  as  follows :  Hooker 
was  to  cross  on  the  right,  establish  himself  on  the 
enemy's  left  if  posi- ^ble,  flanking  his  position,  and 
to  ope:^  3ie  fight.  Sumner,  Franklin,  and  Mans- 


470 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


field  were  to  send  their  forces  also  to  the  right,  co 
operating  with  and  sustaining  Hooker's  attack, 
while  advancing  also  nearer  the  centre.  The 
neavy  work  in  the  centre  was  left  mostly  to  the 
batteries,  Porter  massing  his  infantry  supports  in 
the  hollows.  On  the  left,  Burnside  was  to  carry 
the  bridge  already  referred  to,  advancing  then  by 
a  road  which  enters  the  pike  at  Sharpsburg,  turn 
ing  at  once  the  rebel  flank,  and  destroying  his 
line  of  retreat.  Porter  and  Sykes  were  held  in  j 
reserve.  It  is  obvious  that  the  complete  success  ' 
of  a  plan  contemplating  widely  diverge *vt  move 
ments  of  separate  corps,  must  largely  depend  on 
accurate  timing  —  that  the  attacks  should  be  sim 
ultaneous,  and  not  successive. 

Hooker  moved  Tuesday  afternoon  at  four,  cross 
ing  the  creek  at  a  ford  above  the  bridge  and  well 
to  the  right,  without  opposition.  Fronting  south 
west,  his  line  advanced  not  quite  on  the  rebel 
flank,  but  overlapping  and  threatening  it.  Turn 
ing  otf  from  the  road  after  passing  the  stream,  he 
sent  forward  cavalry  skirmishers  straight  into  the 
woods  and  over  the  fields  beyond.  Rebel  pick 
ets  withdrew  slowly  before  them,  firing  scattering 
and  harmless  shots.  Turning  again  to  the  left, 
the  cavalry  went  down  on  the  rebel  flank,  coming 
suddenly  close  to  a  battery  which  met  them  with 
unexpected  grape  and  canister.  Jt  being  the  na 
ture  of  cavalry  to  retire  before  batteries,  this  com 
pany  loyally  followed  the  law  of  its  being,  and 
came  swiftly  back  without  pursuit. 

Artillery  was  sent  to  the  front,  infantry  was 
rapidly  deployed,  and  skirmishers  went  out  in 
iVont  and  on  either  flank.  The  corps  moved  for 
ward  compactly.  Hooker,  as  usual,  reconnoitring 
in  person.  They  came  at  last  to  an  open  grass- 
sown  field  enclosed  on  two  sides  with  woods,  pro 
tected  on  the  right  by  a  hill,  and  entered  through 
a  cornfield  in  the  rear.  Skirmishers  penetrating 
these  woods  were  instantly  met  by  rebel  shots, 
but  held  their  ground,  and,  as  soon  as  supported, 
advanced  and  cleared  the  timber.  Beyond,  on 
the  left  and  in  front,  volleys  of  musketry  opened 
heavily,  and  a  battle  seemed  to  have  begun  a 
little  sooner  than  it  was  expected. 

General  Hooker  formed  his  lines  with  precision 
and  without  hesitation.  Eickett's  division  went 
into  the  woods  on  the  left  in  force.  Meade,  with 
the  Pennsylvania  reserves,  formed  in  the  centre. 
Uoubleday  was  sent  out  on  the  right,  planting 
his  guns  on  the  hill,  and  opening  at  once  on  a 
rebel  battery  that  began  to  enfilade  the  central 
line.  It  was  already  dark,  and  the  rebel  position 
could  only  be  discovered  by  the  flashes  of  their 
guns.  They  pushed  forward  boldly  on  the  right, 
after  losing  ground  on  the  other  flank,  but  made 
no  attempt  to  regain  their  hold  on  the  woods. 
The  fight  flashed,  and  glimmered,  and  faded,  and 
finally  went  out  in  the  dark. 

Hooker  had  found  out  what  he  wanted  to  know. 
When  the  firing  ceased,  the  hostile  lines  lay  close 
to  each  other  —  their  pickets  so  near  that  six 
rebels  were  captured  during  the  night.  It  was 
inevitable  that  the  fight  should  recommence  at 
daylight.  Neither  side  had  suffered  considerable 
loss ;  it  was  a  skirmish,  not  a  battle.  "  We  are 


through  for  to-night,  gentlemen,"  remarked  tli€ 
General ;  "  but  to-morrow  we  fight  the  battle  that 
will  decide  the  fate  of  the  republic." 

Not  long  after  the  firing  ceased,  it  sprang  up 
again  on  the  left.  General  Hooker,  who  had 
taken  his  headquarters  in  a  barn,  which  had 
be*n  nearly  the  foe  is  of  the  rebel  artillery,  was 
out  at  once.  Fir«'.  came  rapid  and  unusually 
frequent  picket-she  ts  then  several  heavy  volleys. 
The  Gereral  listened  a  moment,  and  smiled  grira- 
.y.  "  We  have  no  troops  there.  The  rebels  are 
shooting  eacli  other.  It  is  Fair  Oaks  over  again." 
So  everybody  lay  down  again,  but  all  the  night 
through  there  were  frequent  alarms. 

McClellan  had  been  informed  of  the  night's 
work,  and  of  the  certainties  awaiting  the  dawn. 
Sumner  was  ordered  to  move  his  corps  at  once, 
and  was  expected  to  be  on  the  ground  at  daylight. 
From  the  extent  of  the  rebel  lines  developed  in 
the  evening,  it  was  plain  that  they  had  gathered 
their  whole  army  behind  the  heights,  and  were 
waiting  for  the  shock. 

The  battle  began  with  the  dawn.  Morning 
found  both  armies  just  as  they  had  slept,  almost 
close  enough  to  look  into  each  other's  eyes.  The 
left  of  Meade's  reserves  and  the  right  of  Ricketts' 
line  became  engaged  at  nearly  the  same  moment, 
one  with  artillery,  the  other  with  infantry.  A 
battery  was  almost  immediately  pushed  forward 
beyond  the  central  woods,  over  a  ploughed  field, 
near  the  top  of  the  slope  where  the  cornfield  be 
gan.  On  this  open  field,  in  the  corn  beyond,  and 
in  the  woods,  which  stretched  forward  into  the 
broad  fields,  like  a  promontory  into  the  ocean, 
were  the  hardest  and  deadliest  struggles  of  the 
day. 

For  half  an  hour  after  the  battle  had  grown  to 
its  full  strength,  the  line  of  fire  swayed  neither 
way.  Hooker's  men  were  fully  up  to  their  work. 
They  saw  their  General  everywhere  in  front,  never 
away  from  the  fire  ;  and  all  the  troops  believed  in 
their  commander,  and  fought  with  a  w'U.  Two 
thirds  of  them  were  the  same  men  who,  under 
McDowell,  had  broken  at  Manassis. 

The  half  hour  passed  ;  the  rebels  began  to  give 
way  a  little  —  only  a  little  ;  but  at  the  first  indi 
cation  of  a  receding  fire,  Forward,  wus  the  word, 
and  on  went  the  line  with  a  cheer  and  a  rush. 
Back  across  the  cornfield,  leaving  dead  and 
wounded  behind  them,  over  the  fence,  and  across 
the  road,  and  then  back  again  into  the  dark  woods, 
which  closed  around  them,  went  the  retreating 
rebels. 

Meade  and  his  Pennsylvanians  followed  hard 
and  fast  —  followed  till  they  came  within  easy 
range  of  the  woods,  among  wbich  they  saw  their 
beaten  enemy  disappearing  —  followed  still,  with 
another  cheer,  and  flung  themselves  against  the 
cover. 

But  out  of  those  gloomy  woods  came  suddenly 
and  heavily  terrible  volleys  —  volleys  which  smote, 
and  bent,  and  broke  in  a  moment  that  eager  front, 
and  hurled  them  swiftly  back  for  half  the  distance 
they  had  won.  Not  swiftly,  nor  in  panic,  any  far 
ther.  Closing  up  their  shattered  lines,  they  came 
slowly  away;  a  regiment  tvhere  a  brigade  had 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.   AND    INCIDENTS. 


471 


been ;  hardly  a  brigade  where  a  whole  division 
had  been  victorious.  They  had  met  at  the  woods 
the  first  volleys  of  musketry  from  fresh  troops  — 
had  met  them  and  returned  them  till  their  line 
had  yielded  and  gone  down  before  the  weight  of 
fire,  and  till  their  ammunition  was  exhausted. 

In  ten  minutes  the  fortune  of  the  day  seemed 
to  have  changed  ;  it  was  the  rebels  now  who  were 
advancing,  pouring  out  of  the  woods  in  endless 
lines,  sweeping  through  the  cornfield  from  which 
their  comrades  had  just  fled.  Hooker  sent  in  his 
nearest  brigade  to  meet  them,  but  it  could  not  do 
the  work.  He  called  for  another.  There  was 
nothing  close  enough,  unless  he  took  it  from  his 
right.  His  right  might  be  in  danger  if  it  was 
weakened  ;  but  his  centre  was  already  threatened 
with  annihilation.  Not  hesitating  one  moment, 
he  sent  to  Doubleday,  "  Give  me  your  best  bri 
gade  instantly." 

The  best  brigade  came  down  the  hill  to  the 
right  on  the  run,  went  through  the  timber  in 
front,  through  a  storm  of  shot  and  bursting  shell, 
and  crashing  limbs,  over  the  open  field  beyond, 
and  straight  into  the  cornfield,  passing,  as  they 
went,  the  fragments  of  three  brigades  shattered  by 
the  rebel  fire,  and  streaming  to  the  rear.  They 
passed  by  Hooker,  whose  eyes  lighted  as  he  saw 
these  veteran  troops,  led  by  a  soldier  whom  he 
knew  he  could  trust.  "I  think  they  will  hold 
.it,"  he  said. 

General  Hartsuff  took  his  troops  very  steadily, 
but,  now  that  they  were  under  fire,  not  hurriedly, 
up  the  hill  from  which  the  cornfield  begins  to  de 
scend,  and  formed  them  on  the  crest.  Not  a  man 
who  was  not  in  full  view  —  not  one  who  bent  be 
fore  the  storm.  Firing  at  first  in  volleys,  they 
fired  then  at  will  with  wonderful  rapidity  and 
effect.  The  whole  line  crowned  the  hill,  and 
stood  out  darkly  against  the  sky,  but  lighted  and 
shrouded  ever  in  flame  and  smoke.  They  were 
the  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  Massachusetts,  and 
another  regiment  which  I  cannot  remember  —  old 
troops  all  of  them. 

There  for  half  an  hour  they  held  the  ridge, 
unyielding  in  purpose,  exhaustless  in  courage. 
There  were  gaps  in  the  line,  but  it  nowhere  bent. 
Their  General  was  severely  wounded  early  in  the 
fight,  but  they  fought  on.  Their  supports  did  not 
come  —  they  determined  to  win  without  them. 
They  began  to  go  down  the  hill  and  into  the  corn  ; 
they  did  not  stop  to  think  that  their  ammunition 
was  nearly  gone ;  they  were  there  to  win  that 
field,  and  they  won  it.  The  rebel  line  for  the 
second  time  fled  through  the  corn  and  into  the 
woods.  I  cannot  tell  how  few  of  Hartsuff's  bri 
gade  were  left  when  the  work  was  done  ;  but  it 
was  done.  There  was  no  more  gallant,  deter 
mined,  heroic  fighting  in  all  tbis  desperate  day. 
General  Hartsuff  is  very  severei/  wounded  ;  but 
I  do  not  believe  he  counts  his  success  too  dearly 
purchased. 

'1  he  crisis  of  the  fight  at  this  point  had  arrived. 
Kicketts'  division,  vainly  endeavoring  to  advance, 
and  exhausted  by  the  effort,  had  fallen  back. 
Part  of  Mansfield's  corps  was  ordered  in  to  their 
relief;  but  Mansfield's  troops  came  back  again 


and  their  General  was  mortally  wounded.  The 
left  nevertheless  was  too  extended  to  be  turned, 
and  too  strong  to  be  broken.  Ricketts  sent  word 
he  could  not  advance,  but  could  hold  his  ground. 
Doubleday  had  kept  his  guns  at  work  on  the 
right,  ind  had  finally  silenced  a  .ebel  battery 
that  foj  half  an  hour  had  poured  in  a  galling  en 
filading  fire  along  Hooker's  central  line.  Theie 
were  woods  in  front  of  Doubleday's  hill  which 
the  rebe.s  held  but  so  long  as  those  guns  pointed 
towards  them  Jiey  did  not  care  to  attack. 

With  his  left,  then,  able  to  take  care  of  itself, 
with  his  right  impregnable,  with  two  brigades  of 
Mansfield  still  fresh  and  coming  rapidly  up,  and 
with  his  centre  a  second  time  victorious,  General 
Hooker  determined  to  advance.  Orders  were 
sent  to  Crawford  and  Gordon  —  the  two  Mans 
field  brigades  —  to  move  forward  at  once,  the  bat 
teries  in  the  centre  were  ordered  to  advance ;  the 
whole  line  was  called  on,  and  the  General  himself 
went  forward. 

To  the  right  of  the  cornfield  and  beyond  it 
was  a  point  of  woods.  Once  carried  and  firmly 
held,  it  was  the  key  of  the  position.  Hooker  de 
termined  to  take  it.  He  rode  out  in  front  of  his 
farthest  troops  on  a  hill  to  examine  the  ground 
for  a  battery.  At  the  top  he  dismounted  and 
went  forward  on  foot,  completed  his  reconnois- 
sance,  returned,  and  remounted.  The  musketry 
fire  from  the  point  of  woods  was  all  the  while 
extremely  hot.  As  he  put  his  foot  in  the  stirrup 
a  fresh  volley  of  rifle  bullets  came  whizzing  by. 
The  tall,  soldierly  figure  of  the  General,  the  white 
horse  which  he  rode,  the  elevated  place  where  he 
was,  all  made  him  a  most  dangerously  conspic 
uous  mark.  So  he  had  been  all  day,  riding  often 
without  a  staff  officer  or  an  orderly  near  him, — 
all  sent  off  on  urgent  duty,  —  visible  everywhere  on 
the  field.  The  rebel  bullets  had  followed  him  all 
day,  but  they  had.  not  hit  him,  and  he  would  not 
regard  them. 

Remounting  on  this  hill,  he  had  not  ridden 
five  steps  when  he  was  struck  in  the  foot  by  a 
ball.  Three  men  were  shot  down  at  the  same 
moment  by  his  side.  The  air  was  alive  with 
bullets.  He  kept  on  his  horse  a  few  minutes, 
though  the  wound  was  severe  and  excessively 
painful,  and  would  not  dismount  till  he  had  given 
his  last  order  to  advance.  He  was  himself  in  the 
very  front.  Swaying  unsteadily  on  his  horse,  he 
turned  in  his  seat  to  look  about  him.  "  There  is 
a  regiment  to  the  right.  Order  it  forward  !  Craw 
ford  and  Gordon  are  coming  up.  Tell  tlrcm  to 
carry  those  woods  and  hold  them  —  and  it  is  our 
fight ! " 

It  was  found  that  the  bullet  had  passed  com 
pletely  through  his  foot.  The  surgeon,  who  ex 
amined  it  on  the  spot,  could  give  r.o  opinion 
whether  bones  were  broken  ;  but  it  was  afterwards 
ascertained  that  though  grazed  they  were  not 
fractured.  Of  course  the  severity  of  the  wound 
made  it  impossible  for  him  to  keep  the  field, 
which  he  believed  already  won,  so  far  as  it  be 
longed  to  him  to  win  it.  It  was  nine  o'clock. 
The  fight  had  been  furious  since  five.  A  large 
part  of  his  command  was  broken,  but  with  his 


472 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


right  still  untouched,  and  with  Crawford's  and 
Gordon's  brigades  just  up,  above  all,  with  the 
advance  of  the  whole  central  line,  which  the  men 
had  heard  ordered  with  cheers,  and  with  a  regi 
ment  already  on  the  edge  of  the  woods  he  wanted, 
he  might  well  leave  the  field,  thinking  the  battle 
was  won  —  that  his  battle  was  won,  for  I  am 
vrriUng  only  about  the  attack  on  the  rebel  left. 

I  see  no  reason  why  I  should  disguise  my  ad 
miration  of  General  Hooker's  bravery  and  sol 
dierly  ability.  Remaining  nearly  all  the  morning 
on  the  i  ight,  I  could  not  help  seeing  the  sagacity 
and  promptness  of  his  movements,  how  com 
pletely  his  troops  were  kept  in  hand,  how  devot 
edly  they  trusted  him,  how  keen  was  his  insig  ;t 
into  the  battle,  how  every  opportunity  was  seized, 
and  every  reverse  was  checked  and  turned  into 
another  success.  I  say  this  the  more  unreservedly, 
because  I  have  no  personal  relation  whatever  with 
him,  never  saAv  him  till  the  day  before  the  fight, 
and  don't  like  his  politics  or  opinions  in  general. 
But  what  are  politics  in  such  a  battle? 

Sumner  arrived  just  as  Hooker  was  leaving, 
and  assumed  command.  Crawford  and  Gordon 
had  gone  into  the  woods,  and  were  holding  them 
stoutly  against  heavy  odds.  As  I  rode  over 
towards  the  left  I  met  Sumner  at  the  head  of  his 
column,  advancing  rapidly  through  the  timber, 
opposite  where  Crawford  was  fighting.  The  vet 
eran  General  was  riding  alone  in  the  forest,  far 
ahead  of  his  leading  brigade,  his  hat  ofT,  his  graV 
hair,  and  beard,  and  mustache  strangely  con- 
traisting  v  ith  the  fire  in  his  eyes  and  his  mar 
tial  air,  as  he  hurried  on  to  where  the  bullets  were 
thickest. 

Sedgwick' s  division  was  in  advance,  moving 
forward  to  support  Crawford  and  Gordon.  Rebel 
reinforcements  were  approaching  also,  and  the 
struggle  for  the  roads  was  again  to  be  renewed. 
Sumner  sent  forward  two  divisions  —  Richardson 
and  French  —  on  the  left.  Sedgwick,  moving  in 
column  of  divisions  through  the  woods  in  rear, 
deployed  and  advanced  in  line  over  the  cornfield. 
There  was  a  broad  interval  between  him  and  the 
nearest  division,  and  he  saw  that  if  the  rebel  line 
were  complete,  his  own  division  was  in  immediate 
danger  of  being  iianked.  But  his  orders  were  to 
advance,  and  those  are  the  orders  which  a  soldier 
—  and  Sedgwick  is  every  inch  a  soldier  —  loves 
best  to  hear. 

To  extend  his  own  front  as  far  as  possible,  he 
ordei^d  the  Thirty-fourth  New  York  to  move  by 
the  lert  ilank.  The  manoeuvre  was  attempted  un 
der  a  fire  of  the  greatest  intensity,  and  the  regi 
ment  broke.  At  the  same  moment,  the  enemy, 
perceiving  their  advantage,  came  round  on  that 
flank.  Crawford  was  obliged  to  give  way  on  the 
right,  and  his  troops,  pouring  in  confusion  through 
the  ranks  of  Sedgwick's  advance  brigade,  threw 
it  into  disorder,  and  back  on  the  second  and  third 
lines.  The  enemy  advanced,  their  fire  increasing. 

General  Sedgwick  was  three  times  wounded,  in 
the  shoulder,  leg,  and  wrist,  but  he  persisted  in 
remaining  on  the  field  so  long  as  there  was  a 
chance  of  saving  it.  His  Adjutant-General,  Major 
Sedgwick,  bravely  rallying  and  trying  to  re-form 


|  the  troops,  was  shot  through  the  body,  the  bullet 

|  lodging  in  the  spine,  and  fell  from  his  horse,    ^e- 

!  vere  as  the  wound  is,  it  is  probably  not  mortal. 

j  Lieutenant  Howe,  of  General  Sedgwick  >s  rtiUV. 
endeavored  vainly  to  rally  the  Thirty  -four;  h  New 
York.  They  wer'A  badly  cut  up,  and  would  not 
stand.  Half  theii  officers  were  killed  or  wounded, 
their  cc  lors  shot  to  )ieces,  the  color-sergeant  killed, 
every  one  of  the  :olor-guard  wounded.  Only 
thirty-two  were  afterwards  got  together. 

The  Fifteenth  Massachusetts  went  into  action 
w.th  *eventeen  officers  and  nearly  six  hundred 
men.  Nine  officers  were  killed  or  wounded,  and 
some  of  the  latter  are  prisoners.  Captain  Simons, 
Captain  Saunders  of  the  sharpshooters,  Lieuten- 

( ant    Derby,    and   Lieutenant   Berry   are   killed. 

j  Captain  Bartlett  and  Captain  Jocelyn,  Lieuten 
ant  Spurr,  Lieutenant  Gale,  and  Lieutenant  Brud- 

j  ley  are  wounded.  One  hundred  and  thirty-four 
men  were  the  only  remains  that  could  be  collected 
of  this  splendid  regiment. 

General  Dana  was  wounded.  General  How 
ard,  who  took  command  of  the  division  after 
General  Sedgwick  was  disabled,  exerted  himself 
to  restore  order  ;  but  it  could  not  be  done  there. 
General  Sumner  ordered  the  line  to  be  re-formed. 
The  test  was  too  severe  for  volunteer  troops  under 
such  a  fire.  Sumner  himself  attempted  to  arrest 
the  disorder,  but  to  little  purpose.  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Revere  and  Captain  Audenried,  of  hiy 
start',  were  wounded  severely,  but  not  dangerously. 
It  was  impossible  to  hold  the  position.  General 
Sumner  withdrew  the  division  to  the  Tear,  and 
once  more  the  cornfield  was  abandoned  to  tb1 
enemy. 

French  sent  word  he  could  hold  his  ground. 
Richardson,  while  gallantly  leading  a  regiment 
under  a  heavy  fire,  was  severely  wounded  in  the 
shoulder.  General  Meagher  was  wounded  at  the 
head  of  his  brigade.  The  loss  in  general  officers 
wa~  becoming  frightful. 

At  one  o'clock  affairs  on  the  right  had  a  gloomy 
look.  Hcoker's  troops  were  greatly  exhausted, 
and  their  General  away  from  the  field.  Mans 
field's  were  no  better.  Sumner's  command  had 
lost  heavily,  but  two  of  his  divisions  were  still 
comparatively  fresh.  Artillery  was  yet  playing 
vigorously  in  front,  though  the  ammunition  of 
many  of  the  batteries  was  entirely  exhausted, 
and  they  had  been  compelled  to  retire. 

Doubleday  held  the  right  inflexibly.  Sumner's 
headquarters  were  now  in  the  narrow  field  where, 
the  night  before,  Hooker  had  begun  the  fight. 
All  that  had  been  gained  in  front  had  been  lost. 
The  enemy's  batteries,  which,  if  advanced  and 
served  vigorously,  might  have  made  sad  work 
with  the  closely-massed  troops,  were  fortunately 
either  part-Jolly  disabled  or  short  of  ammunition. 
Sumner  was  confident  that  he  could  hold  his 
own,  but  another  advance  was  out  of  the  ques 
tion.  The  enemy,  on  the  other  hand,  p^emed  cj 
be  too  much  exhausted  to  attack. 

At  this  crisis  Franklin  came  up  witn  fresh  troops 
and  formed  on  the  left.  Slocum,  commanding  one 
division  of  the  corps,  was  sent  forward  along  the 
slopes  lying  ur.der  the  first  ranges  of  the  rsbe 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


473 


hills,  while  Smith,  with  the  other  division,  was  or 
dered  to  retake  the  cornfields  and  woods  which  | 
all  day  had  been  so  hotly  contested.  It  was  done 
in  the  handsomest  style.  His  Maine  and  Vermont 
regiments,  and  the  rest,  went  forward  on  the  run, 
and  cheering  as  they  went,  swept  like  an  ava 
lanche  through  the  cornfields,  fell  upon  the  woods, 
cleared  them  in  ten  minutes,  and  held  them. 
They  were  not  again  retaken. 

The  field  and  its  ghastly  harvest  which  the  j 
Reaper  had  gathered  in  those  fatal  hours  re-  j 
raained  finally  with  us.  Four  times  it  had  heen 
lost  and  won*.  The  dead  are  strewn  so  thickly 
that  as  you  ride  over  it  you  cannot  guide  your 
horse's  steps  too  carefully.  Pale  and  bloody  faces 
are  everywhere  upturned.  They  are  sad  and  ter 
rible  ;  but  there  is  nothing  which  makes  one's 
heart  beat  so  quickly  as  the  imploring  look  of 
sorely  wounded  men,  who  beckon  wearily  for  help 
which  you  cannot  stay  to  give. 

General  Smith's  attack  was  so  sudden  that  his 
success  was  accomplished  with  no  great  loss.  He 
had  gained  a  point,  however,  which  compelled 
him  to  expect  every  moment  an  attack,  and  to 
hold  which,  if  the  enemy  again  brought  up  re 
serves,  would  task  his  best  energies  and  best 
troops.  But  the  long  strife,  the  heavy  losses,  in 
cessant  fighting  over  the  same  ground  repeatedly 
lost  and  won  inch  by  inch,  and  more  than  all,  per 
haps,  the  fear  of  Burnside  on  the  left  and  Porter 
in  front,  held  the  enemy  in  check.  For  two  or 
three  hours  there  was  a  lull  even  in  the  cannon 
ade  on  the  right,  which  hitherto  had  been  inces 
sant.  McClellan  had  been  over  on  the  field  after 
Siimner's  repulse,  but  had  speedily  returned  to 
bis  headquarters.  Sumner  again  sent  word  that 
lie  was  able  to  hold  his  position,  but  could  not 
advance  with  his  own  corps. 

Meantime  where  was  Burnside,  and  what  was 
he  doing  ?  On  the  right,  where  I  had  spent  the 
day  until  two  o'clock,  little  was  known  of  the 
general  fortunes  of  the  field.  We  had  heard  Por 
ter's  guns  in  the  centre,  but  nothing  from  Burn- 
side  on  the  left.  The  distance  was,  perhaps,  too 
great  to  distinguish  the  sound  of  his  artillery 
from  Porter's.  There  was  no  immediate  prospect 
of  more  fighting  on  the  right,  and  I  left  the  field 
which  all  day  long  had  seen  the  most  obstinate 
contest  of  the  war,  and  rode  over  to  McClellan's 
headquarters.  The  different  battle-fields  were 
shut  out  from  each  other's  view,  but  all  partially 
visible  from  the  central  hill,  which  General  Mc- 
Ciellan  had  occupied  during  the  day.  But  I  was 
more  than  ever  impressed,  on  returning,  with  the 
completely  deceitful  appearance  of  the  ground 
the  rebels  had  chosen,  when  viewed  from  the 
front. 

H.ioker's  and  Sumner's  struggle  had  been  car 
ried  on  over  an  uneven  and  wooded  surface, 
their  own  line  of  battle  extending  in  a  semicir- 
clo  not  less  than  a  mile  and  a  half.  Perhaps  a 
better  notion  of  their  position  can  be  got  by  con 
sidering  their  right,  centre,  and  left  as  forming 
three  sides  of  a  square.  So  long,  therefore,  as 
either  wing  was  driven  back,  the  centre  became 
exposed  to  a  very  dangerous  enfilading  fire,  and 


the  farther  the  centre  was  advanced  the  worse 
off'  it  was,  unless  the  lines  on  its  side  and  rear 
were  firmly  held.  This  formation  resulted  origi 
nally  from  the  effci'ts  of  the  enemy  to  turn  both 
flanks.  Hooker  a:  the  very  outset  threw  his 
column  so  far  into  the  heart  of  the  rebel  line? 
that  they  were  compelled  to  threaten  him  on  the 
flank  to  secure  their  own  centre. 

Nothing  of  all  this  was  perceptible  from  the 
hills  in  front.  Some  directions  of  the  rebel  lines 
had  been  disclosed  by  the  smoke  of  their  guns, 
but  the  whole  interi:.r  formation  of  the  country 
beyond  the  hills  was  completely  concealed. 
When  McClellan  arranged  his  order  of  battle,  it 
must  have  been  upon  information,  or  have  been 
left  to  his  corps  and  division  commanders  to  dis 
cover  for  themselves. 

Up  to  three  o'clock  Burnside  had  made  little 
progress.  His  attack  on  the  bridge  had  been 
successful,  but  the  delay  had  been  so  great  that 
to  the  observer  it  appeared  as  if  McClellan's  plans 
must  have  been  seriously  disarranged.  It  is  im- 
pos^ible  not  to  suppose  that  the  attacks  on  right 
and  left  were  meant  in  a  measure  to  correspond, 
for  otherwise  the  enemy  had  only  to  repel  Hooker 
on  the  one  .hand,  then  transfer  his  troops,  and 
push  them  against  Burnside. 

Here  was  the  difference  between  Smith  and 
Burnside.  The  former  did  his  work  at  once,  and 
lost  all  his  men  at  once  —  that  is,  all  whom  he 
lost  at  all;  Burnside  seems  to  have  attacked  cau 
tiously  in  order  to  save  his  men,  and  sending 
successively  insufficient  forces  against  a  position 
of  strength,  distributed  his  loss  over  a  great 
er  period  of  time,  but  yet  lost  none  the  less  in 
the  end. 

Finally,  at  four  o'clock,  McClellan  sent  simul 
taneous  orders  to  Burnside  and  Franklin  —  to 
the  former  to  advance  and  carry  the  batteries  in 
his  front  at  all  hazards  and  at  any  cost ;  to  the 
latter  to  carry  the  woods  next  in  front  of  him  to 
the  left,  which  the  rebels  still  held.  The  order 
to  Franklin,  however,  was  practical1  y  counter 
manded,  in  consequence  of  a  message  from  Gen 
eral  Sumner  that,  if  Franklin  went  on  and  was 
repulsed,  his  own  corps  was  not  yet  sufficiently 
reorganized  to  be  depended  on  as  a  reserve. 
Franklin,  thereupon,  was  directed  to  run  no  risk 
of  losing  his  present  position,  and,  instead  of 
sending  his  infantry  into  the  woods,  contented 
himself  with  advancing  his  batteries  over  the 
breadth  of  the  fields  in  front,  supporting  them 
with  heavy  columns  of  infantry,  and  attacking 
with  energy  the  rebel  batteries  immediately  op 
posed  to  him.  His  movement  was  a  success,  so 
far  as  it  went,  the  batteries  maintaining  their  new 
ground,  and  sensibly  affecting  the  steadiness  of 
the  rebel  fire.  That  being  once  accomplished, 
and  all"  hazard  of  the  right  being  again  forced 
back  having  been  dispelled,  the  movement  of 
Burnside  became  at  once  the  turning-point  of 
success,  and  the  fate  of  the  day  depended  on 
him. 

How  extraordinary  the  situation  was  may  be 
judged  from  a  moment's  consideration  of  the 
facts.  It  is  understood  that  from  the  outfet 


474 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Burnside's  attack  was  expected  to  be  decisive,  as 
it}  certainly  must  have  been  if  things  went  well 
elsewhere,  and  if  he  succeeded  in  establishing 
himself  on  the  Sharpsburg  road  in  the  rebel  rear. 
Yrt  Hooker  and  Sunnier  and  Franklin  and  Mans 
field  were  all  sent  to  the  right  three  miles  away, 
while  Porter  seems  to  have  done  double  duty 


with  his  single  corps  in  front,  both  supporting  the   soon  entirely  controlled  and  silenced  the  enemy' 

?»a  1 1  ovioo     on/1     Vif\1rMYirv     nirvicolf*    in     VOCPWO  Yvitn      !3rt"il  low          fPl"»c*     ir*f*nntvtr   nat^o     /MI     of   /Mirvo     «irli»<-sr»! 


batteries  and  holding  himself  in  reserve.  With 
all  this  immense  force  on  the  right,  but  sixteen 
thousand  men  wefe  given  to  Burnside  for  the 
decisive  movement  of  the  day. 

Still  more  unfortunate  in  its  results  was  the 
total  failure  of  these  separate  attacks  on  the  right 
and  left  to  sustain,  or  in  any  manner  cooperate 
with,  each  other.  Burnside  hesitated  for  hours 
in  front  of  the  bridge,  which  should  have  been 
carried  at  once  by  a  coup  de  main.  Meantime 
Hooker  had  been  fighting  for .  four  hours,  with 
various  fortune,  but  final  success.  Simmer  had 
come  up  too  late  to  join  in  the  decisive  attack 
which  his  earlier  arrival  would  probably  have 
converted  into  a  complete  success  ;  and  Franklin 
reached  the  scene  only  when  Sumner  had  been 
repulsed.  Probably  before  his  arrival  the  rebels 
had  transferred  a  considerable  number  of  troops 
to  their  right  to  meet  the  attack  of  Burnside,  the 
direction  of  which  was  then  suspected  or  devel 
oped. 

Attacking  first  with  one  regiment,  then  with 
t.vo,  and  dehrying  both  for  artillery,  Burnside  was 
not  over  the  bridge  before  two  o'clock  —  perhaps 
not  till  three.  He  advanced  slowly  up  the  slopes 
in  Irs  front,  his  batteries  in  rear  covering,  to 
some  extent,  the  movements  of  the  infantry.  A 
desperate  fight  was  going  on  in  a  deep  ravine  on 
his  right ;  the  rebel  batteries  were  in  full  play, 
and  apparently  very  annoying  and  destructive, 
while  heavy  columns  of  rebel  troops  were  plainly 
visible,  advancing,  as  if  careless  of  concealment, 
along  the  road  and  over  the  hills  in  the  direction 
of  Burnside's  forces.  It  was  at  this  point  of 
time  that  McClellan  sent  him  the  order  above 


the   hour  —  could   any  ,teie  be  insensible    Df  its 
grandeur  ? 

There  are  two  hills  on  the  left  of  the  road,  the 
farthest,  the  lowest.  The  rebels  have  batteries  on 
both.  Burnside  is  ordered  to  carry  the  nearest 
to  him,  which  is  ;l.e  farthest  from  the  road.  His 
guns,  op  E,ning  fii  >t  from  this  new  position  in  front, 


given. 

Burnside   obeyed  it  most   gallantly. 


Getting 


his  troops  'well  in  hand,  and  sending  a  portion  of 
his  artillery  to  the  front,  he  advanced  with  rapid 
ity  and  the  most  determined  vigor  straight  up  the 
hill  in  front,  on  top  of  which  the  rebels  had  main 
tained  their  most  dangerous  battery.  The  move 
ment  was  in  plain  view  of  McClelian's  position; 
arc1  °*  Franklin,  on  the  other  side,  sent  his  bat 
teries  into  the  field  about  the  same  time,  the  bat 
tle  seemed  to  open  in  all  directions  with  greater 
activity  than  ever. 

•  The  fight  in  the  ravine  was  in  full  progress,  the 
batteries  in  the  centre  were  firing  with  new  vigor, 

Franklin    was   blazing   away  on   the   right,  and  j  one  may  believe  that  the  same  thought  is  passing 
every  hill-top,  ridge,  and  woods  along  the  whole  j  through  the  minds  of  both  generals.     "  They  are 


artillery.  The  infantry  came  on  at  once,  advan 
cing  rapidly  and  steadily,  their  long,  dark  lines 
and  broad  masses  plainly  visible  without  a  glass 
as  they  moved  over  the  green  hill-side. 

The  next  moment,  the  road  in  which  the  rebel 
battery  was  planted  was  canopied  with  clouds  of 
dust  swiftly  descending  into  the  valley.  Under 
neath  was  a  tumult  of  wagons,  guns,  horses,  and 
men,  flying  at  speed  down  the  road.  Blue  flashes 
of  smoke  burst  now  and  then  among  them ;  a 
horse  or  a  man,  or  half  a  dozen,  went  down,  and 
then  the  whirlwind  swept  en. 

The  hill  was  carried  ;  but  could  it  be  held  ?  The 
rebel  columns,  before  seen  moving  to  the  left,  in 
crease  their  pace.  The  guns  on  the  hill  above 
send  an  angry  tempest  of  shell  down  among 
Burnside's  guns  and  men.  He  has  formed  his 
columns  apparently  in  the  near  angle?  of  two 
fields  bordering  the  road  —  high  ground  about 
them  everywhere  except  in  rear. 

In  another  moment  a  rebel  battle-line  appears 
on  the  brow  of  the  ridge  above  them,  moves 
swiftly  down  in  the  most  perfect  order,  and 
though  met  by  incessant  discharges  of  musketry, 
of  which  we  plainly  see  the  flashes,  does  not  fire 
a  gun.  White  spaces  show  where  men  are  fall 
ing,  but  they  close  up  instantly,  and  still  the  line 
advances.  The  brigades  of  Burnside  are  in 
heavy  column ;  they  will  not  give  way  before  a 
bayonet  charge  in  line,  and  the  rebels  think  tvr'c-e 
before  they  dash  into  those  hostile  masses. 

There  is  a  halt ;  the  rebel  left  gives  way,  and 
scatters  over  the  field  ;  the  rest  stand  fast  and  fire. 
More  infantry  comes  up  ;  Burnside  is  outnum 
bered,  flanked,  compelled  to  yield  the  hill  he  took 
so  bravely.  His  position  is  no  longer  one  of  at 
tack  ;  he  defends  himself  with  unfaltering  firm 
ness,  hut  he  sends  to  McClellan  for  help. 

McClelian's  glass  for  the  last  half  hour  has  sel 
dom  been  turned  away  from  the  left.  He  sees 
clearly  enough  that  Burnside  is  pressed  —  needs 
no  messenger  to  tell  him  that.  His  face  grows 
darker  with  anxious  thought.  Looking  down 
into  the  valley  where  fifteen  thousand  troops  are 
lying,  he  turns  a  half-questioning  look  on  Fitz- 
John  Porter,  who  stands  by  his  side,  gravely 
scanning  the  field.  They  are  Porter's  troops  be 
low,  are  fresh,  and  only  impatient  to  share  in  this 
fight.  But  Porter  slowly  shakes  his  head,  and 


line  was  crested  and  veiled  with  white  clouds  of 
smoke.  All  day  had  been  clear  and  bright  since 
'(h*  early  cloudy  morning ;  and  now  this  whole 
magnificent,  unequalled  scene  shone  with  the 
splendor  of  an  afternoon  September  sun.  Four 
miles  of  battle,  its  glory  all  visible,  its  horrors 
all  hidden,  the  fate  of  the  republic  hanging  on 


the  only  reserves  of  the  army ;  they  cannot  be 
spared." 

McClellan  remounts  his  horse,  and  with  Porter 
and  a  dozen  officers  of  his  staff  rides  away  to  the 
left  in  Burnside's  direction.  Sykes  meets  them 
on  the  road  —  a  good  sold'sr,  whose  opinion  is 
worth  taking.  The  thre3  3enerals  talk  briefly 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


475 


together.  It  is  easy  to  see  that  the  moment  has 
.some  when  everything  may  turn  on  one  order 
given  or  withheld,  when  the  history  of  the  Dattle 
is  only  to  be  written  in  thoughts  and  purposes 
and  words  of  the  General. 

Burnsicle's  messenger  rides  up.  His  message 
is  :  "  I  want  troops  and  guns.  If  you  do  not 
send  them,  I  cannot  hold  my  position  half  an 
hour."  McClellan's  only  answer  for  the  moment 
is  a  glance  at  the  western  sky.  Then  he  turns 
and  speaks  very  slowly  :  "Tell  General  Burnside 
tliis  is  the  battle  of  the  war.  He  must  hold  his 
ground  till  dark  at  any  cost.  I  will  send  him 
Miller's  battery.  I  can  do  nothing  more.  I  have 
no  infantry."  'Then,  as  the  messenger  was  riding 
away,  he  called  him  back.  "  Tell  him  if  he  can 
not  hold  his  ground,  then  the  bridge,  to  the  last 
man ! —  always  the  bridge  !  If  the  bridge  is  lost, 
all  is  lost." 

The  sun  is  already  down ;  not  half  an  hour  of 
daylight  is  left.  Till  Burnside's  message  came  it 
had  seemed  plain  to  every  one  that  the  battle 
could  not  'be  finished  to-day.  None  suspected 
how  near  was  the  peril  of  defeat,  of  sudden  attack 
on  exhausted  forces  —  how  vital  to  the  safety  of 
the  army  and  the  nation  were  those  fifteen  thou 
sand  waiting  troops  of  Fitz-John  Porter  in  the 
hollow.  But  the  rebels  halted  instead  of  push 
ing  on  ;  their  vindictive  cannonade  died  away  as 
the  light  faded.  Before  it  was  quite  dark  the 
battle  was  over.  Only  a  solitary  gun  of  Burn- 
side's  thundered  against  the  enemy,  and  presently 
this  also  ceased,  and  the  field  was  still. 

The  peril  came  very  near  ;  but  it  has  passed, 
and  in  spite  of  the  peril,  at  the  close  the  day 
was  partly  a  success ;  not  a  victory,  but  an  ad 
vantage,  had  been  gained.  Hooker,  Sumner,  and 
Franklin  held  all  the  ground  they  had  gained, 
and  Burnside  still  held  the  bridge  and  his  posi 
tion  beyond.  Everything  was  favorable  for  a  re 
newal  of  the  fight  in  the  morning. 


THE  BIBLE  IN  WAR.  — At  the  meeting  of  the 
Christian  Commission  in  Philadelphia,  January 
28,  1864,  the  following  occurred  in  the  address 
of  the  Itev.  Dr.  Taylor: 

"  Nothing  has  more  touched  my  soul  than  when 
I  heard  of  that  poor  rebel  dying,  stretched  out 
upon  one  of  the  battle-fields*  of  the  Peninsula, 
with  the  Bible  open  beneath  his  hand,  and  his 
skeleton  fingers  pressed  upon  the  words,  '  Yea. 
though  I  walk  through  the  valley  pf  the  shadow 
of  death,  I  will  fear  no  evil,  for  Thou  art  with  me  ; 
Thy  rod  and  Thy  staff,  they  comfort  me.'  Often 
times,  sir,  this  Bible  has  been  the  only  grave 
stone  that  has  marked  the  resting-place  of  many 
an  unknown  soldier.  Many  could  be  known  in 
no  other  way  than  by  their  Testaments  in  their 
pockets,  saturated  with  their  patriot  blood ;  and 
sometimes  the  story  of  domestic  grief  has  been 
uttered  first  in  the  solemn,  silent  sentences  of 
that  precious  Word.  I  could  tell  you  of  an  offi 
cer's  wife  from  New  England  receiving  a  box 
from  her  husband  in  the  army  South,  and  when 
she  came  to  open  it,  there  was  nothing  .there  to 


tell  why  it  was  sent.  There  were  the  c!ofhea, 
and  the  sword,  and  many  little  relics  he  had  car 
ried  in  his  bosorn.  There  was  no  letter  *here  to 
tell  the  story  ;  but  there  was  the  Bible  !  Whori 
it  was  opened,  there  were  found,  heavily  ureter- 
scored,  '-imply  these  words  :  '  Woman,  why  weep- 
estthov.P'  and,  «  Why  should  it  be  thought  an 
incredible  thing  with  you  that  God  should  raise 
the  dead  ? '  That  was  all ;  but  it  was  enough.  It 
was  the  story  of  ieath!  —  it  was  the  note  of 
resurrection ! "  

"E  1LURIBU3  UNUM." 

BY   JOHN    IIERPONT. 


THE  harp  of  the  minstrel  with  melody  rings 

When  the  Muses  have  taught  him  to  touch  and 

to  tune  it ; 

But  though  it  may  have  a  full  octavo  of  strings, 
To  both  maker  and  minstrel  the  harp  is  a  unit. 
So  the  power  that  creates 
Our  republic  of  States, 

Into  harmony  brings  them  at  different  dates; 
And  the  thirteen  or  thirty,  the  Union  once  done, 
Are  "  E  Pluribus  Ununi "  — of  many  made  one. 

n. 

The  science  that  weighs  in  her  balance  the  spheres, 
And  has  watched  them  since  first  the  Chaldean 

began  it, 
Now  and  then,  as  she  counts  them  and  measure 

their  years, 

Brings  into  our  system  and  names  a  new  planet. 
Yet  the  old  and  new  stars  — 
Venus,  Neptune,  and  Mars, 

As  they  drive  round  the  sun  their  invisible  cars, 
Whether  faster  or  slower  their  races  they  run  — 
Are  "  E  Pluribus  Unum  "  —  of  many  made  one. 

in. 

Of  that  system  of  spin  res  should  but  one  fly  the 

track, 

Or  with  others  conspire  for  a  general  dispersion, 
By  the  great  central  orb  they  would  all  be  brought 

back, 

And  held  each  in  her  place  by  a  wholesome  co 
ercion. 

Should  one  daughter  of  light 
Be  indulged  in  her  flight, 
They  would  all  be  ingulfed  by  old  Chaos  and 

Night : 

So  must  none  of  our  sisters  be  suffered  to  run, 
For,  "  E  Pluribus- Unum,"  we  all  go  if  one. 


Let  the  demon  of  discord  our  melody  mar, 

Or  treason's  red  hand  rend  our  Union  asunder, 
Break  one  string  from  our  harp,  or  extinguish  one 

star, 

The  whole  system's  ablaze  with  its  lightning  and 
thunder. 

Let  the  discord  be  hushed  ! 
Let  the  traitors  be  crushed. 
Though   "  Legion  "  their  name,  all  with  victory 

flushed  ! 

Fir  aye  must  c'ir  motto  stand,  fronting  the  sun  : 
"  E  Pluribus  Ujiu.n  "  —  though  many  we're  ONE. 


476 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY     AND    INCIDENTS. 


ADVENTURES  OF  AX  IOWA  BOY.  —  Among  the 
most  remarkable  adventures  perpetrated  during 
ihe  war,  is  that  related  of  Charles  H.  Smith,  a 
orivjite  of  the  Fourth  Iowa  cavalry,  which  is  as 
JUlovvs: 

Ho  staited  with  his  regiment  on  Colonel  Wins- 
Jow's  expedition  to  Grenada,  and  was  captured 
by  the  rebels  at  that  place.  He  remained  their 
prisoner  for  four  days,  walking  in  that  time  a  dis 
tance  of  eighty  miles  in  a  state  of  semi-starvation. 
One  evening  they  halted  about  sundown,  and  put 
up  for  the  night  in  an  old  school-house,  situated 
ten  miles  west  of  West  Point,  on  the  road  lead 
ing  from  West  Point  to  Grenada.  The  school- 
house  had  a  door  on  each  side,  a  chimney  in  one 
end,  and  a  window  without  frame  or  shutter  in 
the  other.  They  barricaded  the  window  with  a 
desk  convenient,  barred  the  eastern  door,  and 
stationed  a  guard  in  the  other. 

When  it  had  come  sleeping  time  the  Yankees 
—  six  in  all  —  were  allotted  that  portion  next  the 
chimney,  while  the  Butternuts  —  twenty  in  num 
ber  —  occupied  the  other  end  ;  a  line  was  desig 
nated  across  which  no  one  must  pass.  Charlie 
lay  down  without  removing  any  of  his  clothes,  in 
tending  to  lie  awake  arid  watch  for  an  oppor 
tunity  to  escape,  but  weariness  of  body  overcame 
the  resolution,  and  he  fell  asleep.  But  he  awa 
kened  between  one  and  two  o'clock,  and  saw  the 
guard  sitting  in  the  door  smoking  his  pipe  and 
conversing  with  the  corporal  of  the  guard,  who 
was  sitting  by  the  fire  outside.  Slipping  off  his 
boots,  and  gathering  his  hat,  haversack, and  can 
teen,  he  crept  over  the  sleeping  "  chivalry  "  up  on 
to  trwdesk,  and  let  himself  quietly  down  and  out 
at  the  window,  reaching  terra  jirma  in  safety. 
A  splendid  horse  was  tied  to  a  tree  at  the  end  of 
the  house,  six  or  seven  feet  from  where  his 
doughty  master  and  several  companions  were 
sleeping.  A  saddle  and  bridle  were  found  on  the 
window  after  considerable  feeling  around,  which 
a  few  moments  sufficed  to  put  in  their  place, 
a  moment  more  to  lead  the  horse  thirty  yards  and 
mount  him.  Six  days  sufficed  to  place  him  in 
side  the  Yankee  lines  at  Lagrange,  Tennessee, 
nearly  two  hundred  miles  being  travelled  in  that 
tima.  In  passing  through  the  Confederacy  he 
avoided  all  towns  and  stations  at  which  troops 
were  quartered,  though  with  all  his  precaution  he 
several  times  came  near  running  into  their  camps, 
or.ly  escaping  by  the  greatest  good  fortune.  He 
met  small  squads  of  shot-gun  gentlemen  nearly 
every  day.  To  these  and  to  the  citizens  he 
passed  himself  off  for  a  paroled  prisoner  belong 
ing  to  McCulloch's  command  (Second  Missouri), 
end  going  home  to  see  his  old  mother  for  the  first 
time  since  the  war  broke  out.  Charlie  considered 
the  capture  of  the  horse  a  capital  joke.  Its  pro 
prietor  belonged  to  the  Fifteenth  Mississippi  regi 
ment,  and  was  home  on  a  furlough. 


BUENSIDE  AT  THE  BRIDGE.  —  An  eye- witness 
gives  the  following  account  of  the  fight  at  An- 
tietani  Bridge : 

"The  bridge  across  Antietam    Creek,  which 


General  Burnside  was  ordered  to  take,  arid  which 
was  so  stubbornly  held  by  the  rebels,  is  situ 
ated  in  a  deep  ravine.  The  faoe  of  the  hill  on  the 
opposite  side  cf  ,he  bridge  is  too  steep  (o  be 
ascended  by  a  hcrs'j,  and  must  be  literally  climbed 
to  be  surmounted  by  man.  The  roadway  from 
the  bridge  turns  abruptly  to  the  right  and  left, 
and  rises  the  Irll  along  its  side  \  ery  gradually 
The  -ebel  infa.itry  at  first  occupied  the  bridge 
itself,  and  the  bank  of  the  creek  on  our  side,  and 
a  rebjl  battery  was  post  d  on  the  opposite  hill 
directly  above  the  bridge,  so  as  to  play  upon  our 
infantry  as  it  approached  the  bridge,  either  from 
directly  before  it  or  from  our  right  of  the  bridge. 
Some  trees  intervened  on  our  left  of  the  bridge 
immediately  down  upon  the  creek,  but  the  ap 
proach  down  the  hill  on  our  side  was  bare  in  all 
directions,  and  exposed  to  the  view  of  the  enemy's 
gunners.  The  bridge  is  a  stone  arched  and  stone 
parapeted  structure,  a  strong,  rough,  country 
bridge. 

"  The  rebel  prisoners  state  the  number  sta 
tioned  to  hold  the  bridge  against  us  at  from  one 
hundred  and  fifty  to  three  hundred  infantry.  It 
is  hardly  credible  that  a  point  to  which  any  im 
portance  was  attached  on  either  side  should  be 
intrusted  to  so  small  a  force  ;  and  the  incredi 
bility  is  heightened  by  the  havoc  that  was  made 
among  at  least  four  of  our  regiments  ;  yet  I  ain 
inclined  to  believe  that  a  not  much  higher  figure 
than  the  last  would  cover  the  actual  number.  I 
think  there  was  not  more  than  one  regiment  as  • 
signed  to  that  duty  ;  and  as  regiments  go  in  ar 
mies  that  have  been  over  a  year  in  service,  it  did 
not  probably  number  more  than  five  hundred 
men  ;  the  chance  is  less.  I  notice  that  both  our 
officers  and  men  engaged  in  that  contest  are  to 
tally  wanting  in  their  usual  claim  of  superior 
numbers  against  them  —  a  claim  •  commonly 
enough  true  whenever  they  have  found  much 
difficulty  in  making  head  agair  st  the  foe,  and,  in 
fact,  seem  to  concur  in  repeating  what  the  rebels 
state,  and  there  significantly  letting  the  matter 
drop.  On  our  part,  Burnside  had  a  couple  of 
batteries  on  a  hill  on  our  left  of  the  bridge  at 
something  less  than  a  right  angle  with  it,  and  a 
very  little  to  our  right  of  the  bridge  was  another 
battery  on  another  point  of  the  same  range  of 
hills,  just  opposite  to  the  enemy's  battery.  The 
parapets  formed  excellent  breastworks  against  our 
batteries  on  either  hand,  and  were  protection 
against  our  small  arms  from  the  same  direction. 
The  creek  was  fordable  hereabout —  ithasrairec. 
since — in  several  places;  some  of  them,  how 
ever,  necessitating  waist-deep  wading.  It  was  at 
tempted  to  cross  in  this  manner,  as  well  as  by  the 
bridge.  The  Second  Indiana,  who  was  first  or 
dered  to  the  attack,  did  not  get  down  to  the 
water.  That  regiment  and  the  Sixth  New  Hamp 
shire  were  repulsed,  but  not  until  they  had  madi3 
some  impression  on  the  rebel  defence,  and  left  it 
weaker  against  succeeding  regime-its.  The  Fifty- 
first  Pennsylvania  was  the  first  to  cross.  The 
Fifty-first  New  York  supported  its  Pennsylvania 
namesake,  or  numbersake,  and  was  close  with  it, 
but  a  little  less  forward.  The  bridge  itself  was 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


477 


not  the  only  part  of  the  creek  defended  against 
our  attempt  to  cross.  Our  left  was  resisted  all 
along  its  banks  for  many  rods  above  and  below. 
The  enemy  selected  this  as  the  front  of  this  part 
of  his  line  for  its  strong  natural  defences,  and  also 
having  reference  to  the  line  of  woods  a  mile  or  so 
in  his  rear  for  a  hiding-place  and  an  intrenchment, 
in  case  he  was  driven  back  in  spite  of  his  best 
bona  jide  efforts  to  stand  firm  ;  or  having  refer 
ence  to  the  woods  as  his  real  battle-line,  into 
which  he  hoped  to  decoy  us  in  pursuit  of  what 
ever  success  we  might  obtain,  either  in  spite  of 
him  or  in  pursuance  of  his  strategy.  The  bridge 


its  owner's  manhood.  Tl  e  features  were  too 
small,  and  the  character  of  the  face  of  too  small 
<md  delicate  an  order,  to  answer  the  requiremeni.3 
;f  masculine  beauty.  In  death  his  eye  was  the 
clearest  blue,  and  would  not  part  with  its  sur 
passingly  gentle,  amiable,  good,  and  charming 
expression.  The  face  was  like  a  piece  of  wax,  im\y 
that  it  surpassed  any  piece  of  wax-work. 

"One  other  young'mun,  beardless,  yet  but  cf  a 
brawnier  type,  furnished  another  example  of  ^low 
decomposition.  His  face  was  not  quite  as  life 
like  ;  still  one  could  easily  fancy  him  alive  to  see 
him  anywhere  else  than  on  the  field  of  carnage  ; 


is  no  more  noticeable  than  any  other  portion  of  and  strange,  his  face  wore  an  expression  of  mirth, 


the  creek  on  our  left  wing,  excepting 
parapets  added  so  much  artificial  d( 


g  that  its  stone 
defence  to  the 


natural  defence  of  the  abrupt  and  rough  line  of 
hill  and  wood  along  the  stream.  The  movement 
for  the  capture  of  this  line  of  position  was  com 
menced  between  ten  and  eleven  in  the  morning, 
and  it  was  not  crowned  with  success,  throughout, 
until  between  three  and  four  in  the  afternoon  ;  but 
the  wonder  is  that  it  was  taken  at  all.  It  was 
while  crossing  this  creek,  up  to  his  waist  in  water, 
that  Captain  Griswold  received  his  death-wound. 
His  regiment  (Connecticut  Eleventh)  was  one  of 
the  regiments  under  General  Rodman  that  at 
tempted  to,  and  finally  succeeded  after  several 
hours'  fighting,  in  crossing,  half  a  mile  or  so  be 
low  the  bridge.  Our  cannonading  on  our  left  so 
far  exceeded  the  anticipations  of  our  Generals  in 
japidity  and  duration  (it  will  do  now  to  say),  that 
General  Burnside  exhausted  all  his  ammunition 
for  some  of  his  guns  before  the  day  was  fairly 
done.  As  for  the  rebels,  they  probably  could  not 
have  fought  a  general  battle  at  all,  and  would  not 
have  made  a  stand,  but  for  their  immense  acquisi 
tions  at  Harper's  Ferry.  Whatever  of  mourning 
this  battle  has  caused  in  the  hundreds  and  thou 
sands  of  families  in  the  land  for  those  who  may 
never  return  to  them ;  whatever  of  discomfort 
they  may  suffer  from  the  death  or  disabled  condi 
tion  often  thousand  husbands  and  fathers;  what 
ever  of  these,  and  a  train  of  evils,  may  flow  from 
this  greatest  and  bloodiest  of  the  battles  of  this 
unparalleled,  preposterous  revolution,  it  is  all  im 
mediately  chargeable  to  the  surrender  of  Harper's 
Ferry. 

"  It  is  strange  what  a  difference  there  is  in  the 
composition  of  human  bodies,  with  reference  to 
the  rapidity  that  change  goes  on  after  death. 
Several  bodies  of  rebels  strewed  the  ground  on 
the  bank,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  bridge.  They 
fought  behind  trees,  and  fence-rail  and  stone-heap 
barricades,  as  many  a  bullet  mark  in  all  these  de 
fences  amply  attested  ;  but  all  that  availed  not  to 
avert  death  from  these  poor  creatures.  They  had 

been  dead  at  least  forty-eight  hours  when  I  chivalry,  but  afterward  had  been  obliged  to  retire 
looked  at  them.  Almost  all  of  them  had  become  before  the  enemy's  batteries,  leaving  their  fallen 
discolored  in  the  face  and  much  swollen  ;  but  I  comrades  on  the  ground.  Every  dead  man's  feet 
there  was  one  young  man  with  his  face  so  life-  1 1  saw  were  robbed  of  their  shoes,  and  there  were 
like,  and  even  his  eye  so  bright,  it  seemed  almost  |  instances  of  our  heroic  boys  being  stripped  of 
impossible  that  he  could  be  dead.  It  was  the  |  their  pantaloons.  Their  arms  and  accoutrement! 
loveliest  looking  corpse  I  ever  beheld.  He  was  a  |  were  invariably  taken,  of  course.  On  the  othei 
voung  man,  not  twenty-five,  the  soft,  unshaved,  j  hand  —  I  record  it  with  a  sense  of  relief  from 
brown  beard  hardly  asserting  yet  the  fulness  of  |  disgust  at  my  kind  —  the  enemy's  dead  within 


if  he  had  just  witnessed  something  amusing. 
A  painful  sight  especially  was  the  body  of  a  rebel 
who  had  evidently  died  of  his  wound's,  after  lin 
gering  long  enough  at  least  to  apply  a  handker 
chief  to  his  thigh  himself,  as  a  tourniquet  to  stop 
the  bleeding.  His  comrades  were  obliged  to 
leave  him,  and  our  surgeons  and  men  had  so 
much  else  to  do  that  they  could  not  attend  to  hira 
in  time.  Perhaps  nothing  would  have  saved  him ; 
but  perhaps,  again,  a  little  surgical  aid  was  all 
he  needed.  How  long  he  dragged  out  his  lessen 
ing  pulse  in  pain  no  one  can  tell. 

"  Subsequently,  I  visited  the  ground  interven 
ing  between  our  pickets  and  the  pickets  of  the 
enemy,  after  the  fight  was  done.  It  was  the 
ground  over  which  our  troops  had  driven  the 
enemy,  but  which  they  failed  to  hold ;  and  it  had 
since  been  jealously  watched  by  both  parlies, 
each  prohibiting  the  other  from  entering  upon  it 
even  to  care  for  his  wounded  or  to  bury  his  dead, 
if  the  skirmishing  sharpshooters  of  either  could 
prevent  it.  Numerous  shots  were  exchanged 
yesterday  between  them  in  this  spirit ;  but  to-day 
the  rebel  skirmishers  had  left  ours  sole  occupants 
of  the  field,  and  we  civilians  even  felt  free  and 
safe  to  wander  over  the  entire  battle-ground 
without  restriction.  Our  men  have  been  engaged 
to-day  in  looking  up  their  dead  comrades,  and 
possibly  here  and  there  a  surviving  wounded  one, 
over  this  inhibited  district,  and  this  afternoon 
your  correspondent  visited  it  himself.  Had  I 
seen  it  before  jotting  down  my  observations  just 
concluded,  it  is  questionable  whether  I  should 
have  had  the  spirit  of  charity  enough  to  mention 
the  rebels,  living  or  dead,  for  anything  but  male 
diction. 

"  One  field  especially  was  thickly  strewn  with 
our  dead,  in  which  the  Hawkins  Zouaves  (Ninth 
New  York  volunteers)  were  largely  represented. 
Several  members  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Third 


New   York   lay   there    also.     Away 


the 


fields,  for  a  mile  within  the  enemy's  battle-line, 
our  gallant  soldiers  had  charged  and  chased  the 


478 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


our  reach  lay  just  as  they  fell,  untouched,  except-  |  the  camp  and  the  battle-field  for  religion;  but, 
ing  as  their  names  might  be  sought  after  c..  their  j  strange  as  it  may  seem,  we  are  to-day  turning 
clothes,  or  the  buttons  might  be  cut  off  by  the  from  our  cities  to  the  camps  and  battle-fiehb  for 
soldiers  for  trophies  or  remembrancers  of  the  j  revivals  of  religicn,  and  for  the  noblest  forms  of 


field.  God  only  knows  what  some  of  our  poor 
men  have  suffered  before  they  died.  It  is  to  be 
hoped  that  none,  or  few,  at  worst,  died  lingering 
deaths. 

"  Some  of  the  rebel  missiles  are  military  curiosi 
ties.  One  of  the  Hawkins  Zouaves  showed  me  a 
great  big  striped  white  marble  that  had  hit  him 
after  it  was  spent  from  a  cannon.  Another  sol 
dier,  a  cultivated  young  man,  known  to  literary 
friends  of  mine,  told  me  of  a  comrade  picking  up 
the  sheet-iron  plate  of  a  door-lock,  all  rolled  up, 
keyhole  perfect  in  it,  no  mistake,  which  had  fallen 
near  him  from  a  rebel  cannon.  The  key  had 
probably  been  sent  in  another  direction. 

"  A  nervous,  big-headed,  little-bodied,  amiable- 
faced  rebel  lay  in  the  same  barn  with  Dr.  Bowen 
and  the  others  named.  He  told  me  his  name,  but 
I  reserve  it.  He  said  he  was  worn  out  and  sick, 
and  when  his  army  moved  to  retire  across  the 
Potomac  he  fell  out,  on  a  natural  pretext  enough, 
and  lay  down  to  rest.  His  own  regiment  passed 
on  and  left  him.  He  then  moved  farther  out  of 
sight,  and  lay  down  in  some  straw,  and  finally 
went  into  that  barn,  when  our  troops  had  ad 
vanced  far  enough  to  protect  him.  He  hoped 
he  should  not  be  exchanged.  He  wanted  to  ba 
paroled,  so  that  he  could  not  fight  any  more.  He 
said  he  would  not  continue  with  the  army  another 
four  months  for  ten  thousand  dollars.  He  joined 
it  by  conscription  in  North  Carolina,  where  he 
resides."  

COMPENSATIONS  OF  WAR.  —  In  the  address  of 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Eddy,  at  the  meeting  of  the  Chris 
tian  Commission,  in  January,  1864,  the  following 


passages  occur : 

"  This  hour  has  its  compensations. 


It  has  oriin- 


has  inspired  the  purest  patri 
ever  seen ;  and  it  has  devel 


nated  some  of  the  noblest,  grandest  charities.  It 
atriotism  that  earth  has 
developed  piety  in  many 
places,  resplendent  as  the  noonday  sun.  I  re 
member  hearing  of  the  interview  you  [addressing 
Mr.  George  H.  Stuart,  the  president]  had  with  a 
patriotic  woman  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  on 
whom  you  called  to  make  known  the  work  of  the 
Christian  Commission.  Her  grandson,  wrapped 
in  the  Stars  and  Stripes  as  his  shroud,  had  just 
been  brought  to  her,  and  as  the  clergyman  en 
deavored  to  offer  to  her  the  consolations  of  reli 
gion,  did  she  mourn  in  bitterness  the  loss  of  that 
child  ?  did  she  mourn  because  he  had  done  and 
suffered  so  much  for  his  country  ?  O,  no  !  'I 
have  given,'  she  says, '  two  sons,  Commodore  Ellet, 
of  the  Navy,  and  'Brigadier-General  Ellet,  of  the 
Marine  Brigade,  and  four  grandsons,  to  the  coun 
try.'  And  was  this  all  P  No  ;  but, '  If  I  had  twenty 
sons,  I'd  give  them  all  for  my  country  and  theirs, 
for  it  must  be  preserved  ;  (applause)  and  if  I  was 
twenty  years  younger,  I  would  go  myself,  woman 
though  I  am  ! '  (Protracted  applause.) 

"Out  of  this  war  comes  piety  as  well  as  patri- 


gospel  evangelization.  Ne^  ?r,  since  the  Star  cf 
Bethlehem  went  marching  jp  the  skies,  has  a 
nobler,  grander,  holier  sight  been  seen  than  that 
at  Shiloh,  so  often  quoted.  When  that  terrible 
day  was  done,  and  the  sun  had  gone  to  rest,  and 
the  two  armies  had  rolled  back  to  prepare  for 
another  bloody  struggle,  all  was  still  and  si.'ent, 
save  the  moans  of  the  wounded  and  the  groans 
of  the  dying.  By  and  by  there  peered  through 
a  rift  in  the  clouds  a  single,  solitary  star,  and  it 
caught  the  eye  of  a  dying  soldier.  It  awakened 
the  holiest  memories  of  his  heart,  and  he  began 
to  sing,  — 

«  When,  marshalled  on  the  nightly  plain, 

The  glittering  hosts  bestud  the  &ky, 
One  star  alone,  of  all  the  train, 
Can  fix  a  dying  soldier's  eye,'  — 

and  ere  he  had  reached  the  end  of  the  first  verse, 
another  voice  had  taken  up  the  strain,  and  another, 
and  another,  and  another,  until  that  gory  field  re 
sounded  with  salvation's  holiest  notes,  and  that 
solitary  star  that  had  shone  alone,  was  joined  by 
all  the  glittering  sisterhood  of  heaven,  and  the 
countless  constellations  of  the  skies  sent  back 
the  melody  of  that  bleeding  soldier's  song ! " 


UNACQUAINTED  WITH  THE  ROPES.  —  Western 
officers  were  proverbial  for  shocking  bad  uni 
forms,  and,  in  a  majority  of  instances,  it  was 
rather  difficult  to  distinguish  them  from  the  pri 
vates.  Among  this  class  was  a  brigadier-general 
named  James  Morgan,  who  looked  more  like  a 
wagon-master  than  a  soldier.  On  a  certain  occa 
sion,  a  new  recruit  had  just  arrived  in  camp,  lost 
a  few  articles,  and  was  inquiring  around  among 
the  "  Vets "  in  hopes  of  finding  them.  An  old 
soldier,  fond  of  his  sport,  told  the  recruit  the  only 
thief  in  the  brigade  was  in  Jim  Morgan's  tent. 
The  recruit  immediately  started  for  "  Jim's  "  quar 
ters,  and  poking  his  head  in,  asked  : 

"  Does  Jim  Morgan  live  here  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  was  the  reply,  "  my  name  is  James 
Morgan." 

"  Then  1  want  you  to  hand  over  those  books 
you  stole  from  me !  " 

"  I  have  none  of  your  books,  my  man." 

"  It's  an  infernal  lie,"  indignantly  exclaimed 
the  recruit.  "  The  boys  say  you  are  the  only 
thief  in  the  camp ;  turn  out  them  books,  or  I'll 
grind  your  carcass  into  apple  sass." 

The  General  relished  the  joke  much,  but  ob 
serving  the  sinewy  recruit  peeling  off  his  coat,  in 
formed  him  of  his  relations  to  the  brigade,  and 
the  recruit  walked  off,  merely  remarking  :  "  Wall, 
blast  me  if  I'd  take  you  for  a  Brigadier.  Excuse 
me,  General,  I  don't  know  the  ropes  yet." 


GENEROSITY.  —  A  sick  soldier  on  his  way  to 


otism.     We  have  not  been  accustomed  to  look  to  his  home  in  Georgia,  while  p(ssing  through  the 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


479 


streets  of  Selma,  Alabama,  weary  with  his  long 
inarch,  seated  himself  beside  the  pavement  to  rest. 
ILis  pale  face  and  emaciated  frame  elicited  much 
sympathy  from  the  passers  by,  and  a  proposition 
was  started  to  raise  a  purse  for  his  benefit.  But 
'*  dbre  there  was  time  to  carry  it  into  effect,  a 
|8t»(ieraan  stepped  up  to  the  poor  sick  soldier,  and 
with  the  remark,  "  I  will  give  him  something  to 
help  him  along,"  handed  him  a  one  hundred  dol 
lar  note.  Such  acts  are  as  certainly  applauded 
by  men  as  they  are  approved  of  Heaven.  — 
{Southern  paper. 

JEFF  DAVIS  ON  HIS  ELECTION  AS  PRES 
IDENT  FOR  SIX  YEARS.* 

BY   LUCIUS   MANLIUS    SARGEXT. 

SATAN  was  chained  a  thousand  years, 

We  learn  from  Revelation, 
That  he  might  not,  as  it  appears, 

Longer  "  deceive  the  nation." 
'Tis  hard  to  say,  between  the  two, 

Which  is  the  greater  evil, 
Six  years  'of  liberty  for  you  — 

A  thousand  for  the  devil ! 
'Tis  passing  strange  if  you've  no  fears 
Of  being  hanged  within  six  years ! 

A  hundred  thousand  rebels'  ears 

Would  not  one  half  repay 
The  widows'  and  the  orphans'  tears 

Shod  for  the  slain-  to-day : 
The  blood  of  all  those  gallant  braves, 

Whom  Southern  traitors  slew, 
Cries  sternly,  from  their  loyal  graves, 

For  vengeance  upon  you  ; 
And  if  you're  not  prepared  to  die 
The  death  of  Hainan,  fly,  Jeff,  fly  I 

Fly,  traitor,  to  some  lonely  niche, 

Far,  far  beyond  the  billow  ; 
Thy  grave  an  ill-constructed  ditch, 

Thy  sexton  General  Pillow. 
There  may  you  turn  to  rottenness, 

By  mortal  unannoyed, 
Your  ashes  undisturbed,  unless 

Your  grave  is  known  by  Floyd. 
He'll  surely  trouble  your  repose, 
And  come  to  steal  your  burial-clothes. 

EPITAPH. 

Pause  for  an  instant,  loyal  reader. 
Here  lies  Jeff,  the  great  seceder. 
Above,  he  always  lied,  you  know, 
And  now  the  traitor  lies  below. 
His  bow  was  furnished  with  two  strings  : 
He  flattered  crowds,  and  fawned  on  kings ; 
Repaid  his  country's  care  with  evil, 
And  prayed  to  God,  and  served  the  devil. 
The  South  could  whip  the  Yankee  nation, 
So  he  proposed  humiliation  ! 
Their  blessings  were  so  everlasting, 
'Twas  just  the  time  for  prayer  and  fasting  ! 
.   The  record  may  be  searched  in  vain, 
From  West  Point  Benedict  to  Cain, 
To  find  a  more  atrocious  knave, 
Unless  in  Cjesar  Borgia's  grave. 

*  November  9,  1861. 


THE  STORY  OF  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. —  The 
month  cf  Maicii,  1864,  is  memorable  in  Rich 
mond  for  one  of  the  grandest  Union  raids  that, 
up  to  that  time,  had  menaced  the  Confederate  cap 
ital  —  a  raid  which  was  the  immediate  precursor 
of  General  Grant's  famous  eampaign  from  lite 
Wilderness  to  Jame  s  lliver. 

The  history  of  this  raid  is  too  familiar  to  the 
minds  of  all  our  readers  to  make  necessary  any 
recapitulation  of  it,  even  if  it  comported  witb 
our  space.  It  is  known  that  Colonel  Dahlgren, 
after  the  attack  on  Richmond  on  Tuesday,  the  1st 
of  March,  did  not  succeed  in  forming  a  junc 
tion  with  General  Kilpatrick,  and  while  pushing 
through  King  and  Queen  County,  towards  Glou 
cester  Point,  was  killed  on  the  night  of  Wednes 
day,  March  2,  near  Walkerton.  It  is  also  known 
that  his  body  was  brought  to  Richmond ;  but 
what  disposition  was  made  of  it  by  the  Confed 
erate  authorities  was  kept  a  mystery  at  the  time, 
and  the  facts,  even  to  this  day,  have  never  been 
published.  We  purpose  to  give  them  to  the  pub 
lic  for  the  first  time,  vouching  for  their  entire 
authenticity.* 

When  intelligence  was  received  in  Richmond 
of  the  death  of  Colonel  Dahlgren,  messengers 
were  despatched  to  bring  the  remains  to  the  city 
for  identification.  They  reached  the  city  on  Mon 
day,  March  7,  by  the  York  River  Railroad,  and 
lay,  during  that  day  at  the  depot,  where  they 
were  examined  by  large  numbers  of  persons. 
His  death  had  been  caused  by  a  gun-shot  wound 
in  the  head.  The  little  finger  of  one  hand  had 
been  cut  off  on  the  field  where  he  fell  by  some 
one  anxious  to  secure,  with  the  least  trouble,  a 
valuable  diamond  ring.  That  night  the  body 
was  carried  to  General  Elzy's  office,  in  Belvin's 
block ;  and  the  next  day,  having  been  placed  in 
a  common  pine  coffin,  of  the  kind  then  used  for 
the  burial  of  soldiers,  —  which,  in  turn,  was  placed 
in  a  box,  —  was  transferred  to  Oakwood  Ceme 
tery,  a  mile  east  of  the  city.  The  hearse  used  on 
this  occasion  was  a  four-mule  street  wagon,  and 
the  attendants  consisted  of  a  Confederate  officer 
of  inferior  rank  and  two  soldiers.  Arriving  at 
Oakwood,  which  was  the  burial-place  of  all  sol 
diers  who  died  at  Chimborazo,  Howard's  Grove, 
and  other  hospitals  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the 
city  and  suburbs,  the  negro  grave-diggers  and 
other  attendants  about  the  cemetery  were  driven 
off  and  ordered  to  absent  themselves  until  noti 
fied  that  they  might  return.  One  of  the  negroes, 
now  living  in  the  city,  having  his  curiosity  excited, 
secreted  himself  in  the  woods  near  by,  determined 
to  see  what  was  to  be  done.  The  two  soldiers 
dug  a  grave,  placed  the  box  in  it,  and  covered  it 
up.  They  then  shouted  to  recall  the  attendants 
of  the  cemetery,  and,  getting  into  the  wagon, 
returned  to  the  city. 

The  only  circumstance  in  the  proceedings  that 
struck  the  negro  as  unusual,  was  the  mystery 
observed,  and  the  circumstance  of  the  box, — no 
corpse  ever  having  been  brought  there  before, 
except  in  a  pine  coffin ;  but,  there  having  been  a 
great  deal  of  talk  as  to  what  was  to  bs  done 

*  See  page  291,  ante. 


480 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


with  fhe  body  of  Colonel  Dahlgren,  he  at  once 
,'lecided  that  this  could  be  no  other  than  the 
corpse  of  that  officer.  He,  however,  kept  his 
opinion  to  hirr.self  at  the  time. 

The  question,  What  has  been  done  with  the 
body  of  Dahlgren  ?  was  the  subject  of  inquiry  and 
Conversation  for  many  days  in  Richmond,  to  be 
revived  from  time  to  time  up  to  the  day  of 
the  evacuation.  And  there  were  many  stories 
on  the  subject  —  that  it  had  been  burnt,  sunk 
in  the  river,  &c.  A  city  paper  of  that  day 
announced,  with  a  solemn  and  knowing  air,  that 
it  would  never  be  found  until  the  trump  of  doom 
should  sound.  A  number  of  Union  men  of  the 
city,  believing  it  possible  that  it  might  be  recov 
ered,  were  anxious  to  secure  and  preserve  it  for 
the  family  of  the  deceased.  Prominent  among 
them  was  Mr.  F.  W.  E.  Lohman,  a  grocer,  doing 
business  near  the  New  Markf*.  Mr.  Lohman  at 
at  once  began  his  inquiries  and  investigations,  — 
which,  in  the  then  state  of  popular  feeling,  it  was 
necessary  to  conduct  with  great  caution,  —  and 
determined,  at  whatever  cost  and  risk,  to  ascer 
tain  its  fate.  After  nearly  a  month's  patient  and 
untiring  inquiry,  he,  with  the  assistance  of  Mr. 
Martin  Meredith  Lipscomb,  whose  business  it  was 
to  attend  the  interment  of  all  the  Union  prison- 
em  who  died  at  this  post,  made  the  acquaint 
ance  of  the  negro  grave-digger,  whom  we  have 
mentioned  as  being  the  sole  spectator  of  the 
burial  of  Colonel  Dahlgren.  They  found  him  at 
Oakwood,  pursuing  his  regular  business.  When 
first  approached  on  the  subject,  the  negro  was 
very  much  alarmed,  and  protested  he  would  have 
nothing  to  do  with  the  matter.  But  after  re 
peated  assurance  by  Mr.  Lipscomb,  whom  he 
knew  well,  that  he  might  rely  upon  Mr.  Lohman, 
and  that  no  harm  should  befall  him,  he  consented, 
on  Mm  Lehman's  giving  him  a  hundred  dollar 
note,  to  point  out  the  grave.  This  he  did  by  walk 
ing  near  and  casting  a  stone  upon  it,  while  Loh 
man  and  Lipscomb  stood  at  a  distance.  He  was 
afraid  to  employ  any  other  method,  lest  he  might 
excite  the  suspicion  of  the  superintendent  of  the 
cemetery,  or  some  of  the  attendants.  The  grave 
lay  among  thousands  of  those  of  Confederate  sol 
diers.  Subsequently,  after  a  great  deal  of  per 
suasion,  and  the  promise  of  a  liberal  reward,  the 
negro  agreed  to  meet  Mr.  Lohman  at  the  ceme 
tery  on  the  night  of  the  Gth  April,  at  ten  o'clock, 
and  exhume  the  body. 

The  appointed  night  having  arrived,  Mr.  Loh 
man,  his  brother,  John  A.  Lohman,  and  Mr. 
Lipscomb,  started  for  the  cemetery  in  a  cart 
drawn  by  a  mule.  The  night  was  dark  and 
stormy,  and  well  suited  to  conceal  their  move 
ments.  The  party  left  the  city  at  nine  o'clock, 
and  reached  their  destination  about  ten,  and  there 
found  waiting  for  them  the  grave-digger  and  two 
assistants.  The  negroes,  being  assured  that  all 
\>as  right,  began  their  work  of  exhumation,  the 
three  white  men  remaining  with  the  cart  outside 
the  enclosure  of  the  cemetery.  The  heavens  were 
hung  with  their  deepest  black  ;  no  object  ten  feet 
distant  could  be  distinguished,  and  no  sounds 
broke  upon  the  loneliness  of  the  place,  save  the 


howling  of  the  winds  and  the  chopping  of  the 

resurrectionist's  spade.  Once  the  mule,  snuffing 
the  tainted  air  of  the  city  of  the  dead,  attempted 
to  break  away,  but  was  quickly  quieted  b}'  a  firm 
hand. 

In  twenty  minutes  from  the  time  the  negroes 
began  their  work  they  approached  the  cart,  bear 
ing  between  them  the  coffin,  which,  being  badly 
made,  fell  to  pieces  as  they  rested  it  on  the 
ground.  It  was  then  discovered  that  the  body 
had  not  decomposed  in  any  perceptible  degree. 
Mr.  Lohman  satisfied  himself  of  the  identity  of 
the  corpse  by  passing  his  hand  over  it.  The  little 
finger,  torn  off  to  secure  the  je\vel  it  bore,  and  the 
leg,  lost  in  battle,  were  missing.  He  paid  the  negro 
with  whom  he  had  contracted  fifteen  hundred  dol 
lars,  and  placing  the  body  in  the  cart,  the  party 
started  on  their  return.  The  mule,  alarmed  as 
animals  frequently  are  when  drawing  a  dead  body 
for  the  first  time,  became  difficult  of  manage 
ment,  and,  with  the  darkness  of  the  night,  made 
the  first  part  of  the  expedition  one  of  no  little 
peril.  More  than  one  hour  was  spent  in  reach 
ing  the  gas  lights  of  the  city  on  Church  Hill.  It 
was  part  of  the  plan  to  convey  the  body  to  the 
house  of  William  S.  Rowlett,  a  Union  man,  liv 
ing  on  Chelsea  Hill,  a  half  mile  north-east  of  the 
city,  there  to  remain  until  a  metallic  case  could  be 
procured  for  it.  From  Church  Hill,  Mr.  Lohman 
drove  down  Broad  Street  to  Seventeenth  Street, 
thence  up  Seventeenth  Street  to  its  northern  ter 
minus,  and  thence  up  the  hill  to  Mr.  Hewlett's, 
reaching  the  last  place  at  two  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  7th  of  April.  Here  the  body  was 
wrapped  in  a  blanket,  and  Mr.  Lohrnan  came  to 
the  city  in  search  of  a  coffin,  which  he  obtained 
by  the  aid  of  Mr.  Lipscomb.  On  his  way  into 
the  city  from  Hewlett's,  Lohman  notified  a  num 
ber  of  persons  of  Union  sentiments,  among  whom 
were  several  ladies,  where  the  body  had  been 
placed,  and  they  hurried  out  to  see  it.  Several 
of  these  persons  had  seen  Colonel  Dahlgren  while 
he  was  exposed  at  the  York  Biver  Railroad  depot, 
and  immediately  recog-nized  the  body  as  his.  The 
metallic  coilin  having  been  procured,  and  tb3  body 
placed  in  it,  the  two  Lohmans,  at  noon,  on  the 
7th,  set  out  with  it,  concealed  in  a  wagon  loaded 
with  young  fruit  trees,  for  the  farm  or'  Robert 
Orricks,  a  Union  man,  living  in  Henrico,  two 
miles  from  Hungary  Station. 

At  four  o'clock  that  evening  they  reached  Or 
ricks',  and  buried  the  body  under  an  ar.  pie  tree, 
in  a  field,  avoiding  the  graveyard  for  fear  of  ey- 
citing  inquiry,  which  might  lead  to  discoveiy. 

The  rest  of  this  story  may  be  told  in  a  few 
words.  Orricks,  some  months  after  the  second 
burial  of  Colonel  Dahlgren,  succeeded  in  getting 
through  the  Confederate  lines,  and,  seeking  an 
interview  with  Commodore  Dahlgren,  informed 
him  of  what  had  been  done  to  secure  the  body 
of  his  son.  The  corpse  of  the  soldier  lay  in  this 
its  second  grave  until  the  evacuation  of  Rich 
mond,  when,  an  order  having  been  sent  for  it  by 
the  War  Department,  it  was  again  disinterred  by 
the  two  Lohmans,  and  sent  to  Washington. 

It  has  been  our  object  to  lift  the  veil  of  mvs- 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


481 


tery  from  an  obscure  and  interesting  event.  In 
doing  so,  \ve  have  confined'  ourselves  to  facts 
strictly  relative  to  the  secret  fate  of  Colonel  Pahl- 
gren's  body  from  the  time  of  its  arrival  in  Rich 
mond,  which,  until  after  the  capture  of  the  city, 
remained,  to  all  except  the  few  individuals  named 
by  us  in  the  course  of  our  narrative,  one  of  the 
niUst  impenetrable  mysteries  of  the  war.  Many 
Confederate  officials  knew  that  the  body  had  been 
deposited  at  Oakwood,  but  they  were  ignorant  to 
the  last  that  it  had  ever  been  removed.  It  has  at 
length  found  its  last  earthly  resting-place.  —  Rich 
mond  Republic.  

AN  EVEN  CHANCE.  —  "Travelling  in  the  County 
of  Sevier,  Arkansas,"  says  an  editor,  "  the  stage 
was  stopped  on  some  trilling  business  at  a  house 
where  lived  one  of  the  merriest  and  prettiest  of 
the  beautiful  damsels  of  that  highly  favored  coun 
try.  She  came  out  to  the  stage  looking  as  fresh 
as  Hebe,  and  we,  having  known  her  before,  and 
presuming  on  the  privileges  of  a  paterfamilias, 
asked  her  if  it  were  possible  she  had  not  married 
yet? 

"  '  No,  sir,'  she  answered  ;  '  and  what's  more 
than  that,  I  don't  intend  to,  until  the  very  last 
one  of  the  volunteers  gets  back.  I  mean  to  wait, 
and  let  them  have  an  even  chance.'  " 


PRICE'S   APPEAL  TO   MISSOURI. 

BY    M.    JEFF.    THOMPSON. 

MISSOURI  !  Missouri !    Awake  from  thy  slumbers  : 
Canst  thou  not  hear  the  hammer  that  rivets  thy 

chains  ? 
Can't  the  death-shriek  of  fathers,  the  wail  of  thy 

mothers, 

The  tears  of  thy  daughters,  arouse  thee  again  ? 
Come !   rise  in  thy  might,  shake  the  dewdrops  of 

•    morning 

From  thy  limbs,  and  walk  forth  as  a  lion  to  war, 
For  fanatics  are  forging  bonds  stronger  than  iron, 
To  bind  thee  forever  to  a  conqueror's  car. 

Can  thy  slumbering  senses  be  so  callqus  and  dead 
That  even  in  dreams  thou  canst  hear  not  nor  see 
That  the  chains  they  are  striking  from  Afric's  black 

sons 

Are  being  wreldcd  again  to  be  placed  upon  thee  ? 
Canst  thou  not  see  through  the  world  the  ringer  of 

scorn 

Is  pointed  at  those  who  submissively  stand 
Beneath   the  foul   yoke,   while   their   brothers  are 

striking 

For  the  freedom  and  glory  of  our  dearly  loved 
land  ? 

O,  rise  in  thy  might ;  drive  the  "Huns"  from  thy 

borders, 

And  stand  by  thy  Southern  sons  in  the  fight ; 
Pour  forth  all  thy  men  to  help  them  to  battle 

For  Freedom,  for  Glory,  for  Justice,  for  Right ! 
Let  thy  watch-fires  glow,  and  thy  bugles  blast  high 
O'er  th)-  mountains  and  valleys,  o'er  woodland 

and  lea. 
Then  the  glad  shout  shall  ring  o'er  thy  prairies  and 

streams, 

"  Hail !  brothers,  hail !  Missouri  is  free ! " 
31 


A  NEGRO  from  Williarnsburg,  who  went;  into 
Fortress  Monroe  in  company  w'lh  one  of  th« 
Union  chaplains,  says  that,  before  the  national 
troops  left  Williarnsburg,  the  slaves  in  that  vicin 
ity  were  told  to  beware  of  the  "  horrible  Yankees, 
who  had  very  small  bodies,  but  great  large  heads, 
with  front  teeth  like  horses,  and  were  known  to 
eat  human  flesh."  Upon  being  asked  whether  the 
slaves  believed  this,  he  replied :  "  Dun'no  ;  reckon 
not,  massa.  Dem  Yankees  has  got  no  horns,  but 
fights  like  de  debble  !  " 


MAJOR  WINTIIROP,  killed  at  Great  Bethel,  was 
shot  by  a  negro.  The  writer  says:  "I  have  it 
from  a  member  of  the  Wylhe  Rifles,  of  Hampton, 
Virginia,  who  was  present  at  the  fight,  and  saw 
Winthrop  fall,  that  he  was  shot  by  a  negro  at  the 
suggestion  and  command  of  the  Captain  of  thj 
Rifles,  who  said  to  him  substantially :  '  These 
Yankees  will  take  you  to  Cuba,  and  sell  you.  If 
you  wish  to  stay  with  your  wife  and  children, 
diive  them  out  of  Virginia.'  The  negro  fired, 
and,  unconsciously  to  him,  there  fell  one  cf  the 
earliest  and  best  friends  of  the  race  to  which  he 
belonged."  


THE  ESCAPE  OF  J.  P.  BENJAMIN.  —  A  corre 
spondent  at  Havana  relates  the  following  story  of 
the  escape  of  the  Confederate  Secretary  of  State, 
Judah  P.  Benjamin : 

Early  in  May  he  separated  from  the  President 
(Davis)  near  Washington,  Georgia,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  making  his  way  to  Nassau  and  Havana 
from  some  point  on  the  Florida  coast.  He  was 
to  attend  to  some  public  business  at  these  ports, 
and  then  to  rejoin  the  President  in  the  trans- 
Mississippi  via  Matamoras  and  Texas.  He  trav 
elled  directly  south,  through  Georgia  and  Florida, 
on  horseback,  disguised  as  a  farmer  in  search  of 
lands  on  which  to  settle,  and  passed  through  the 
country  without  exciting  suspicion  or  attracting 
attention,  until  he  reached  the  lower  side  of  the 
Peninsula  of  Florida.  He  \vas  informed  that  no 
boats  were  to  be  found  on  the  eastern  coast,  and 
went  thence  to  the  Gulf  shore,  where  after  a 
month's  delay  he  succeeded  in  getting  a  ship's 
yawl-boat  and  two  men  who  were  willing  to  risk 
their  lives  upon  the  sea  in  it.  The  open  boat  was 
about  fifteen  feet  in  length,  in  which  they  coasted 
the  Peninsula  until  they  reached  one  of  the  keys 
of  the  Florida  Reef,  where  they  succeeded  in  pro 
curing  a  boat  somewhat  larger,  but  still  an  open 
boat,  in  which  they  put  to  sea  to  cross  the  Gulf 
Stream,  and  fortunately  reached  the  Bimines  upon 
the  Banks,  after  a  passage  of  sixty  hours.  On 
Monday,  the  l()th  of  July,  after  an  unsuccessful 
attempt  to  reach  Nassau,  in  which  he  wras  baffled 
by  head  winds  and  heavy  weather,  he  put  back  to 
the  Bimines.  On  the  13th  he  took  passage  from 
the  Bimines  for  Nassau  in  a  small  sloop  of  nine 
tons  burden,  loaded  with  sponges,  and  on  Friday, 
the  14th,  this  sloop  foundered  at  sea,  when  thirty 
miles  distant  from  the  nearest  land.  The  vessel 
wput  down  so  rapidly  that  he,  with  the  colored 
men  who  formed  the  crew,  had  barely  time  to 


482 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


jump  into  a  skiff  in  tow  of  the  sloop  before  she 
sank.  In  this  boat,  with  a  light  mast,  sails,  and 
compass,  and  their  only  provisions  a  pot  of  boiled 
rice,  which  the  negroes  had  cooked  for  their 
breakfast, —  in  this  leaky  and  overloaded  boat, 
and  having  but  one  oar,  they  made  for  land,  and, 
as  the  weather  was  calm  and  a  vessel  in  sight,  by 
ili.nt  of  energetic  sculling,  they  reached  the  light 
house  vessel  at  five  P.  M.,  and  were  cordially  re 
ceived,  by  Captain  Stewart,  on  board  the  Georgia, 
Her  Britannic  Majesty's  light-house  yacht,  and 
were  warmly  and  most  cordially  entertained. 
This  vessel  was  on  an  official  tour  of  light-house 
inspection  upon  the  banks,  and  at  the  request  of 
Mr.  Benjamin,  returned  him  once  more  to  the 
Bimines.  There  Mr.  Benjamin  chartered  another 
vessel  on  the  2<3th  of  July,  and  arrived  at  Nassau, 
Friday,  the  21st.  On  Saturday,  the  22d,  he  sailed 
on  board  the  good  schooner  Britannia,  and  ar 
rived  at  Havana  on  the  25th,  safe  and  sound. 

His  whole  trip  occupied  the  best  part  of  three 
months,  out  of  which  thirty  days  were  passed  at 
s»ei  in  miserable  open  boats ;  at  least,  twenty-two 
days  in  the  smallest  crafts  that  lioat. 


AN  INCIDENT  AT  CHATTANOOGA.  —  Stepping 
to  my  door  one  evening,  to  take  a  view  of  the 
varied  life  of  Market  Street,  I  saw  a  refreshing 
j;rectade.  Coming  down  the  centre  of  that  broad 
thoroughfare,  with  musket  at  right  shoulder  shift, 
Lead  bent  slightly  forward,  and  the  step  and  air 
cf  a  veteran,  was  a  negro  boy  of  about  twenty 
years,  wearing  the  army  blue.  'Following  behind, 
crowding  close  up  around,  and  in  a  line  extending 
far  behind  him,  were  about  two  hundred  officers 
and  soldiers  of  the  so-called  Confederate  States 
army.  On  passed  the  colored  Sergeant —  such 
was  his  rank  —  and  cnward  crowded  and  fol 
lowed  the  late  Southern  warriors.  Not  another 
guard  about  them,  not  another  menacing  bayo 
net  in  sight.  The  gleam  of  the  negro's  bayonet 
told  them  of  rations  and  quarters  ahead,  and  of 
danger  behind.  I  saw  him  pass  on  with  his 
charge,  never  looking  behind  him,  yet  losing 
none,  until  he  handed  them  over  to  the  authori 
ties  at  the  military  prison,  from  which  they  were 
next  day  paroled.  — Letter  from  a  Soldier. 


GENERAL  LOGAN  AND  THE  IRISHMAN. — Just 
ber'ure  the  capture  of  Savannah,  General  Logan, 
wuh  two  or  three  of  his  stall',  entered  the  depot 
at  Chicago  one  fine  morning,  to  take  the  cars  east, 
on  his  way  to  rejoin  his  command.  The  General, 
lining  a  short  distance  in  advance  of  the  others, 
stepped  upon  the  platform  of  a  car,  and  was  about 
to  enter  it,  but  was  stopped  by  an  Irishman  with  : 

"  Ye'll  not  be  goin'  in  there." 

"  Why  not,  sir?  "  asked  the  General. 

41  Because  them's  a  leddies'  caer,  and  no  gentle- 
tnan'll  be  goin'  in  there  without  a  leddy.  There's 
wan  sate  in  that  caer  over  there,  ef  yees  want  it," 
at  the  same  time  pointing  to  it. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  General,  "  I  see  there  is  one 
«>eat,  but  what  shall  I  do  with  my  staff?  " 


"  O,  bother  yer  staff !  "  was  the  petulant  re 
ply.  "  Go  you  and  take  the  sate,  and  stick  yer 
staff  out  of  the  windy." 


TAKING  THE  OATH. —  At  Richmond,  Virginia, 
a  modest  young  country  girl,  on  applying  for  ra 
tions  lo  one  of  the  relief  agents,  was  asked  if  she 
had  erer  taken  the  oath.  "  No,  indeed,  sir,"  was 
her  terrified  reply;  "I  never  swore  in  all. my 
life."  "  But  you  must  take  the  oath,  my  good 
girl,"  said  the  agent,  "  or  1  cannot  give  you  the  ra 
tions."  "  No,  indeed,  I  can't,  sir,"  said  the  girl ; 
"  mother  always  taught  me  never  to  swear."  The 
agent  mildly  persisted,  and  the  maiden  as  perti 
naciously  refused  all  attempts  at  persuasion,  until, 
overcome  at  List  by  the  dreadful  conflict  between 
necessity  and  her  high  sense  of  moral  duty,  she 
stammered  out  with  downcast  lids,  "  Well,  sir,  if 
you  will  make  me  do  such  a  horrid,  wicked  thing, 
then  d — n  the  Yankees  !  " 


REMINISCENCES  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.  — 
"It  was  not  our  good  fortune  to  know  much, 
personally,  of  the  late  President,"  says  the  editor 
of  the  Lowell  Citizen.  "  In  fact,  the  only  time 
we  ever  saw  him  was  on  the  occasion  of  a  busi 
ness  visit  to  Washington,  in  the  last  days  of 
March,  just  before  the  fall  of  Richmond.  Our 
special  errand  related  to  an  unfinished  matter  al 
ready  in  his  hands,  and,  a  moment's  attention  to 
it  being  all  that  was  required,  we  made  our  way 
to  the  White  House,  fully  resolved  not  to  be  in 
trusive,  nor  to  worry  him  with  impertinent  mat 
ters,  of  which  he  had  already  more  than  enough. 
Our  card  was  passed  in,  and  we  awaited  our 
chances  in  the  anteroom,  with  a  dozen  comers, 
perhaps,  among  whom  were  recognized  senators 
and  members  of  the  '  popular  branch.'  One  of 
the  latter,  coming  from  the  President's  own  State, 
gave  us  a  hint  that  this  waiting  for  '  an  audience ' 
was  a  decided  uncertainty,  often  resulting  in  hope 
deferred.  Our  friend  added  that  he  had  been  him 
self  waiting  and  watching  for  his  chance  nearly 
three  weeks.  His  case  was  simply  that  of  a  wid 
ow's  son,  who  had  deserted,  and  who  was  there 
fore  liable  to  be  shot. 

"  The  mother  was  half  dis  tracted  with  grief,  and 
her  petition  for  pardon  was  to  be  urged.  Pres 
ently  walked  in,  with  nimble  step,  a  middle-sized, 
well-built,  stern-visaged  man,  with  his  budget  of 
papers,  and  who,  as  if  at  home,  was  immediately 
ushered  into  the  President's  room.  That  was  Sec 
retary  Stan  ton.  The  waiting  gentlemen,  who  rec 
ognized  the  Secretary  of  War,  here  gave  know 
ing  winks  of  discouragement,  as  much  as  to  say, 
'  It's  an  all-night  business ;  Stanton  has  impor 
tant  despatches  from  the  front.'  But  a  half  hour 
sufficed,  and,  when  the  Secretary  passed  out,  the 
gray-haired  messenger,  whose  open,  pleasant  Irish 
countenance  has  been  familiar  to  callers  at  the 
White  House  since  it  was  occupied  by  President 
Jackson,  notified  the  gentlemen  in  waiting  —  the 
Illinois  member  was  now,  unluckily,  not  among 
them  —  that  the  President  we  uld  now  see  them 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


483 


all  at  once ;  and  all  were  ushered  in.  This  was 
our  first  and  only  view  of  Abraham  Lincoln  face 
to  face.  His  countenance  bore  that  open,  benig 
nant  outline  we  had  expected;  but  what  struck 
us  especially  was  its  cheerful,  wide-awake  ex 
pressiveness,  which  we  had  never  met  with  in  the 
pictures  of  our  beloved  chief.  The  secret  of  this 
may  have  been  that  he  had  just  been  hearing 
good  news  from  Grant  —  for  such  was  the  fact. 

"  But  our  chief  purpose  in  this  sketch  is  to 
describe,  in  brief,  the  bearing  of  the  President  in 
this  short  interview.  After  saluting  his  little 
circle  of  callers,  they  were  seated,  and  attended 
to  in  turn.  First  in  order  was  a  citizen  of  Wash 
ington,  praying  for  pardon  in  the  case  of  a  de 
serting  soldier. 

"  '  Well,'  said  the  President,  after  carefully  read 
ing  the  paper,  '  it  is  only  natural  for  one  to  want 
pardon ;  but  I  must  in  such  a  case  have  a  respon 
sible  name  that  I  know.  I  don't  know  you.  Do 
you  live  in  the  city?'  'Yes.'  'Do  you  know 
the  Mayor  ? '  '  Yes.'  '  Well,  bring  me  his  name, 
and  I'll  let  the  boy  off.'  The  soldier  was  pardoned. 

"  Next  came  a  well-developed  man  of  French 
accent,  from  New  Orleans,  lie  was  evidently  a 
diffident  person,  not  knowing  precisely  how  to 
state  his  case  ;  but  the  burden  of  it  was,  that  he 
was  a  real-estate  holder  in  New  Orleans,  and  since 
the  advent  of  military  rulers  there,  he  could  not 
collect  his  rents,  which  were  his  living.  '  Your 
case,  my  friend,'  said  the  President,  '  may  be  a 
hard  one,  but  it  might  have  been  worse.  If,  with 
your  musket,  you  had  taken  your  chance  with 
oar  boys  before  Richmond,  you  might  have  found 
your  bed  before  now.  But  the  point  is,  what  would 
you  have  me  do  for  you  ?  I  have  much  to  do, 
and  the  courts  have  been  opened  to  relieve  me  in 
this  regard.'  The  applicant,  still  embarrassed, 
said,  '  I  am  not  in  the  habit  of  appearing  before 
big  men.'  '  And  for  that  matter,'  it  was  quickly 
responded,  '  you  have  no  need  to  change  your 
habit,  for  you  are  not  before  very  big  men  now ; ' 
playfully  adding,  *  I  can't  go  into  the  collection 
business.'  The  New  Orleans  man  was  finally  sat 
isfied  that  a  President  cannot  do  everything  that 
ought  to  be  done  to  redress  individual  grievances. 
These  instances,  though  not  specially  remarkable 
in  themselves,  serve  to  set  off  in  a  strong  light 
those  traits  of  character  which  shed  such  a  radi 
ance  over  the  life  of  Mr.  Lincoln.  He  studied 
intently  the  grievances  of  the  humblest.  There 
was  no  appearance  of  affected  dignity  on  account 
of  the  high  post  which  he  filled.  He  had  a  fel 
low-feeling  for  his  countrymen  —  a  love  for  jus 
tice— -above  all,  a  true  fear  of  God — a  sacred 
regard  for  the  rights  of  all.  These  were  our  first- 
vsight  impressions  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  They  are 
likely  to  be  lasting."  

A  VERSE  OF  WELCOME.  —  A  clergyman  in  Il 
linois  wrote  an  ode  of  welcome  for  a  returning 
regiment.  The  first  verse  ran  thus : 

"And  O,  come  home,  thou  wondrous  man, 

Who  never  said.  '  I  can't '  — 
We  wait,  we  look,  we  long  for  you : 
Come  back,  Ulysses  Grant !  " 


THE    SOUTHERN    CROSS. 

BY    ST.    GEORGE    TUCKER. 

O,  SAY,  can  you  see,   through  the  gloom  and  the 

storm, 

More  bright  for  the  darkness,  that  pure  constel 
lation  ? 

Like  the  symbol  of  love  ml  redemption  its  form, 
As  it  points  to  the  haven  of  hope  for  the  nation. 

How  radiant  each  star  !  as  they  beacon  afar, 

jiving  promise  of  peace,  or  assurance  in  war ; 

Tis   the  Cross  of  the   South,  which  shall  ever  re 
main 

To  light  us  to  Freedc  m  and  Glory  again. 

How  peaceful  and  blest  was  America's  soil, 

Till  betrayed  by  the  guile  of  the  Puritan  demon, 
Vhich  lurks  under  Virtue,   and  springs  from  its 

coil, 

To  fasten  its  fangs  in  the  life-blood  of  freemen  ! 
Then  loudly  appeal  to  each  heart  that  can  feel, 
And  crush  the  foul  viper  'neath  Liberty's  heel ; 
And  the  Cross  of  the  South  shall  forever  remain 
To  light  us  to  Freedom  and  Glory  again. 

'Tis  the  emblem  of  peace,  'tis  the  day-star  of  hope, 
Like  the  sacred  Labarum,  which  guided  the  Ro 
man  : 
From  the  shores  of  the  Gulf  to   the  Delaware's 

slope, 

'Tis  the  trust  of  the  free,  and  the  terror  of  foemen. 
Fling  it*  folds  to  the  air,  while  we  boldly  declare 
The  rights  we  demand,  or  the  deeds  that  we  dare  ; 
And  the  Cross  of  the  South  shall  forever  remain 
To  light  us  to  Freedom  and  Glory  again. 

But,  if  peace  should  be  hopeless,  and  justice  de 
nied, 

And  war's  bloody  vulture  should  flap  his  black 
pinions, 

Then  gladly  to  arms  !  while  we  hurl,  in  our  pride, 
Defiance  to  tyrants,  and  death  to  their  minions, 

With  our  front  to  the  field,  swearing  never  to  yield, 

Or  return  like  the  Spartan  in  death  on  our  shield  ; 

And  the  Cross  of  the    South   shall   triumphantly 
wave 

As  the  flag  of  the  free,  or  the  pall  of  the  brave. 


A  PATRIOTIC  FAMILY.  —  John  Fon  Rodd  is  a 
German,  and  a  son  of  William  Henry  Fon  Rodd, 
Esq.,  of  Butztown,  Pa.  The  father  is  eighty-nine 
years  of  age,  and  has  lost  nine  sons  in  the  war  for 
the  Union.  Eight  of  these  were  killed  in  battle, 
and  the  other  died  of  starvation  in  the  rebel  pens 
at  Salisbury.  While  a  prisoner,  the  son  last  re 
ferred  to  actually  ate  his  right  hand,  so  great  was 
his  hunger.  John,  from  whom  we  have  obtainil 
our  information,  is  the  tenth  and  youngest  of  iLs 
brothers, 'and  he  bears  the  scars  of  eight  wounds 
received  in  battle.  He,  too,  was  for  a  time  a 
prisoner  at  Salisbury,  and  was  only  released  at 
the  close  of  the  war.  His  recital  of  the  treat 
ment  of  the  starving  prisoners  fully  confirms  all 
the  accounts  that  have  heretofore  been  published 
of  the  Southern  barbarism  under  which  our  men 
suffered.  Upon  inquiry,  we  learn  from  other 
sources,  that  Henry  William  Fon  Rodd,  the 
father  of  the  ten  heroes,  has  fur  many  years  been 


484 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


one  of  the  most  highly  respected  citizens  of  Butz- 
town.  Ls  there  another  man  in  the  world  who 
has  sacrificed  more  sons  upon  the  altar  of  our 
country  than  this  aged  German  ?  —  llarrisbury 
Telegraph.  

FAITHFUL  UNTO  DEATH.  —  In  the  year  1861, 
when  the  first  call  for  troops  was  made,  James 
Her.drick,  a  young  man  of  eighteen,  resolved  to 
lea^e  his  father's  roof,  in  Wisconsin,  and  go  forth 
to  battle  for  the  flag.  At  the  time  mentioned  he 
was  attached  to  a  young  girl  of  nearly  the  same 
age  as  himself,  whose  parents  were  rated  among 
the  "  rich  ones  "  in  that  section  of  the  country. 
Her  name  was  Ellen  Goodridge.  Previous  to 
leading  for  the  seat  of  war  he  informed  her  of 
his  intentions,  promising  to  return  in  a  few 
months.  After  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run  his 
regiment  was  ordered  to  Washington,  and  receiv 
ing  a  Lieutenant's  commission,  Hendrick  resolved 
to  enter  the  service  for  three  years,  and  wrote  to 
his  parents  and  sweetheart  to  that  effect.  The 
news  was  received  by  the  girl  with  foreboding, 
and  she  resolved  to  accompany  him.  She  imme 
diately  acquainted  her  parents  with  her  resolve, 
who,  in  reply,  turned  her  from  the  house,  and 
bade  her  never  come  back. 

She  went,  and  finding  out  her  lover's  regiment, 
obtained  permission  to  do  the  cooking  at  the  Col 
onel's  headquarters.  She  followed  the  regiment 
through  the  battles  of  Gettysburg,  An  tie  tarn. 
Frederick sburg,  the  Wilderness,  Cold  Harbor, 
Petersburg,  and  Richmond,  and  in  the  interven 
ing  time  went  out  with  young  Hendrick  in  many 
skirmishes  and  raids,  in  one  of  which  she  wa*s 
wounded  in  the  arm,  the  ball  making  a  very  bad 
flesh  wound.  After  Lee  surrendered,  the  object 
of  her  choice  was  taken  deathly  sick,  and  was 
forwarded  in  an  ambulance  to  Washington,  where 
he  was  placed  in  the  hospital.  Here,  again,  her 
noble  heart  showed  itself.  She  watched  over 
him,  bathed  his  fevered  brow,  read  to  him,  wrote 
home  letters  for  him,  and  finally,  wdth  a  broken 
heart,  closed  his  eyes  in  death.  The  day  before 
his  death  an  Episcopal  minister  joined  the  two 
in  marriage  —  he  dying  with  a  painful  disease, 
and  she  nearly  crazed  with  the  thought  that,  after 
four  long  years  of  suffering,  he  for  whom  she  had 
given  up  home,  friends,  everything  dear  on  earth, 
and  for  whom  she  had  braved  every  danger,  was 
going  to  another  world. 


GOVERNOR  ANDREW  AS  A  WAG  AND  A  PA 
TRIOT.  —  Military  necessity  prevented  two  young 
lovers  from  joining  hands  in  marriage.  The  sol 
dier  was  four  times  prevented  from  getting  his 
leave  of  absence.  The  War  Department  did  not 
find  it  consistent  with  its  duty  to  permit  the  lady 
and  her  brother  to  go  to  the  distant  front  to  have 
the  rite  duly  solemnized,  so  that  the  wife  might 
share  the  lot  of  the  husband. 

At  last  an  appeal  was  made  to  the  heart  of 
His  Excellency  the  Governor  of  Massachusetts, 
and  with  the  success  that  attends  such  an  appeal 
when  official  obligation  allows  the  indulgence  of 


his  kindly  sensibilities  and  gentle  sympathies, 
The  letter  of  his  fair  correspondent  moved  the 
Executive  and  the  man,  and  he  at  once  forwarded 
it  to  Washington  with  the  following  indorsement, 
which  succeeded  in  smoothing  the  course  of  true 
love,  and  melting  Mars  to  tenderness.  This  was 
not  the  first  or  on1}'  instance  in  which  the  Gov 
ernor  brought  aho  it  other  unions,  in  the  midst 
of  his  endeavors  to  preserve  the  Union  of  the 
States. 

"  To  the  lion.  E.  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of 
War : 

"This  case  appeals  to  a'l  our  sympathies  as 
patriots  and  as  gentlemen,  and  I  appeal  to  the 
chivalry  of  the  Department  of  War,  which  pre 
sides  over  more  heroes  than  Homer  ever  dreamed 
of,  and  better  and  braver  than  his  Muse  ever 
sung  —  I  pray  you  to  grant  this  request  of  my 
fair  correspondent,  and  gen3rations  will  rise  up 
and  call  us  blessed.  J.  A.  A." 


UNCLE  SAM  EVERYWHERE.  —  A  soldier  of  a 
Pennsylvania  regiment,  who  was  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Chancellorsville,  and  left  on  the  field, 
afterwards  related  his  adventures  to  the  Colonel. 
When  the  tide  of  battle  had  swept  past  the  spot 
where  he  lay,  a  rebel  soldier  came  to  him,  and 
took  away  his  canteen,  haversack,  musket,  and 
accoutrements,  and  finally  demanded  his  coat  and 
shoes.  At  this  the  Pennsylvania!!  at  first  de 
murred,  but  was  forced  to  submit.  Thereupon 
ensued  a  conversation : 

"  Where  do  you  belong  ?  "  asked  the  rebel. 

"  To  Pennsylvania,"  was  the  reply. 

"  And  what  are  you  doing  down  here  in  Vir 
ginia  ?  " 

"  Veil,  I  comes  down  hrre  to  fight,"  said  the 
unlucky  Buck  County  man. 

"To  fight,  eh?"  said  the  Virginian;  "why 
don't  you  fight  in  your  own  State,  if  you  want 
to  fight :  what  business  have  you  here  in  Vir 
ginia  ?  " 

The  question  might  have  been  a  poser  for 
some,  but  the  brave  Dutchman  replied  : 

"  Vel,  I  fights  mit  Uncle  Sam,  and  Uncle  Sam 
he  goes  efryvere." 


GENERAL  GRANT'S  WAR  HORSE.  —  The  Gen 
eral  was  peculiarly  proud  of  his  stud,  but  partic 
ularly  so  of  his  war  charger.  To  the  few  friends 
to  whom  he  unbends  he  took  great  delight  in  ex 
hibiting  his  horses.  A  friend  was  with  Grant  one 
day,  and  the  conversation  turned  upon  horses. 
"  Perhaps,"  said  the  General,  "  you  would  like  to 
see  the  horse  I  have  ridden  during  all  the  cam 
paigns  that  I  have  commanded."  The  General 
ordered  his  horse  to  be  brought  out.  To  the  sur 
prise  of  the  gentleman,  the  animal  seemed  no 
more  than  a  lady's  palfrey.  Small,  slender,  with 
agile  limbs,  black  as  a  coal,  an  eye  like  a  hawk, 
intelligent,  but  mild,  with  the  unmistakable  "lick" 
on  each  side  of  the  mane,  net  unlike  the  "  cow 
lick  "  on  a  boy's  aead,  lookir  g,  for  all  the  world, 
like  a  family  pet  for  women  and  children.  The 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


485 


visitor  uttered  his  astonishment  by  saying : 
"  Beautiful,  hut  no  endurance."  "  Endurance  !" 
said  General  Grant ;  "  this  animal  exceeds  any 
horse  flesh  I  ever  saw  for  endurance.  1  have 
taken  this  horse  out  at  daylight,  and  kept 
in  the  saddle  till  dark,  and  he  came  in  as  fresh 
when  I  returned  as  when  I  saddled  him  in  the 
morning.  Gold  could  not  buy  him.  He  was  im 
ported  from  a  rare  breed  by  Jeff  Davis  himself. 
He  was  taken  from  Jeff  Davis'  plantation."  This 
conversation  was  held  just  before  Davis  was 
caught.  "  I  suppose,"  said  the  visitor,  "  you 
would  exchange  this  horse  for  Jeff  Davis  ? " 
"  You  have  said  it,"  said  the  General.  "  I  would 
exchange  it  for  the  rebel  chief,  but  for  nothing 
ebe  under  heaven." 


THE  PRESIDENT  AND  AN  OHIO  BOY.  —  A  cor 
respondent,  describing  the  throng  of  visitors 
who  crowded  President  Johnson's  office,  said  : 

"  Among  those  favored  with  an  interview  was 
high  private  G.  Van  Zant,  of  the  Seventy-ninth 
Ohio,  thirteen  years  old,  a  clean-faced  and  bright- 
eyed  youth,  who  has  made  the  entire  campaign 
from  Atlanta  with  the  regiment,  acting  part  of 
the  time  as  drummer-boy,  and  part  as  Orderly 
to  General  Ward.  '  Well,  my  son,'  said  the 
President,  'what  do  you  want?  A  Brevet,  I 
suppose.  Brevet  Corporal  ?  how  will  that,  do  ?' 
'  No,  sir,  I  don't  care  for  rank.  I  have  a  pony 
brought  all  the  way  through,  and  they  are  going 
to  take  him  from  me,  and  I  want  to  take  him 
home  and  keep  him.'  '  You  shall  have  him  '  — 
and  writing  an  order  for  transportation,  directed 
the  officers  to  let  him  have  the  pony.  '  Now  I 
am  all  right  again  ; '  and  with  a  '  Thank,  you,'  he 
left  the  President." 


WANDERERS.  —  A  large  number  of  Ex-Con 
federate  officers  and  soldiers  were  wandering 
about  the  Northern  cities  in  a  disconsolate  sort  of 
way,  their  "  occupation  gone." 

A  gentleman  met  one  of  them  in  the  street. 
They  had  known  each  other  in  the  old  days,  and 
the  following  conversation  ensued  : 

Confederate  Colonel  —  "Halloa,  Jones!  how 
are  you  ?  " 

Union  Gentleman  —  "Is  that  you,  Harry? 
What  are  you  doing  here  ?  You've  no  business 
here  ;  I'll  have  you  arrested." 

Confederate  —  (throwing  his  arms  wildly  in 
the  air)  —  "  Great  heavens  !  where  am  I  to  go  ? 
There's  no  North,  no  South,  no  East,  no  West, 
for  me ;  where  am  I  to  go  ?  I'm  subjugated, 
whipped,  conquered  —  anything  you  please.  I'm 
a  deuced  sight  better  Union  man  than  you.  I'm 
for  Andy  Johnson,  Lloyd  Garrison,  Wendell  Phil 
lips  ;  am  in  favor  of  the  abolition  of  slavery,  and 
that  sort  of  thing." 

Union  —  "  Well !  I'll  have  you  arrested,  any 
how.  You're  a  rebel !  " 

Confederate  —  "  Arrested  !  Look  a  here  — 
(pulling  out  a  package  of  papers)  —  there's 
twenty  oaths  I've  taken,  besides  being  paroled. 


Why,  I've  sworn  myself  into  another  Tophet  to 
get  out  of  that  infernal  Confederacy.  Here's  my 
brother,  who  has  always  been  a  Union  man,  and 
now  furnishes  me  with  the  funds  for  speculation 
South.  I  am  going  down  to  Savannah  to  see  if 
I  can't  buy  my  farm  back  again.  Good  by  ! " 


INCIDENTS  OF  ANTIETAM. —  My  confrere  and 
myself  were  within  a  few  yard*  of  Hooker.  It 
was  a  very  hot  place.  We  could  not  distinguish 
the  "  ping "  of  the  individual  bullets,  but  their 
combined  and  mingled  hum  was  like  the  din  of  a 
great  Lowell  factory.  Solid  shot  and  shell  came 
shrieking  through  the  air,  but  ever  our  heads,  as 
we  were  on  the  extreme  front. 

Hooker  —  commonplace  before  —  the  moment 
he  heard  the  guns,  loomed  up  into  gigantic  stat 
ure.  His  eye  gleamed  with  the  grand  anger  of 
battle.  He  seemed  to  know  exactly  what  to  do, 
to  feel  that  he  was  master  of  the  situation,  and 
to  impress  every  one  else  with  the  fact.  Turning 
to  one  of  his  staff,  and  pointing  to  a  spot  near 
us,  he  said : 

"  Go,  and  tell  Captain to  bring  his  bat 
tery  and  plant  it  there  at  once  !  " 

The  Lieutenant  rode  away.  After  giving  one 
or  two  further  orders  with  great  clearness,  rapid 
ity,  and  precision,  Hooker's  eye  turned  again  to 
that  mass  of  rebel  infantry  in  the  woods,  and  he 
said  to  another  officer,  with  great  emphasis : 

"  Go,  and  tell  Captain to  bring  his  bat 
tery  here  instantly ! " 

Sending  more  messages  to  the  various  divisions 
and  batteries,  only  a  single  member  of  the  staff 
remained.  Once  more  scanning  the  woods  with 
his  eager  eye,  Hooker  directed  the  aid : 

"  Go,  and  tell  Captain to  bring  that  bat 
tery  here  without  one  second's  delay.  Why,  my 
God,  how  he  can  pour  it  into  their  infantry  ! " 

By  this  time  several  of  the  body-guard  had 
fallen  from  their  saddles.  Our  horses  plunged 
wildly.  A  shell  ploughed  the  ground  under  my 
rearing  steed,  and  another  exploded  near  Mr. 
Smalley,  throwing  great  clouds  of  dust  over  both 
of  us.  Hooker  leaped  his  white  horse  over  a 
low  fence  into  an  adjacent  orchard,  whither  we 
gladly  followed.  Though  we  did  not  move  more 
than  thirty  yards,  it  took  us  comparatively  out 
of  range. 

The  desired  battery,  stimulated  by  three  suc 
cessive  messages,  came  up,  with  smoking  horses, 
at  a  full  run,  was  unlimbered  in  the  twinkling  of 
an  eye,  and  began  to  pour  shots  into  the  enemy, 
who  were  also  suffering  severely  from  our  infan 
try  discharges.  It  was  not  many  seconds  before 
they  began  to  waver.  Through  the  rifting  smoke, 
we  could  see  their  line  sway  to  and  fro  ;  then  it 
broke  like  a  thaw  in  a  great  river.  Hooker  rose 
up  in  his  saddle,  and,  in  a  voice  of  suppressed 
thunder,  exclaimed: 

"  There  they  go,     .     .     .     Forward ! " 

Our  whole  line  moved  on.  It  was  now  nearly 
dark.  Having  shared  the  expedience  of  "Fight 
ing  Joe  Hooker"  quite  long  enough,  I  turned 
towards  the  rear.  Fresh  troops  were  pressing 


488 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


forward,  and  stragglers  were  ranged  in  long  lines 
behind  rocks  and  trees. 

Riding  slowly  along  a  grassy  slope,  as  I  sup 
posed  quite  out  of  range,  my  meditations  were 
disturbed  by  a  cannon  ball,  whose  rush  of  air 
fanned  my  face,  and  made  my  horse  shrink  and 
rear  almost  upright.  The  next  moment  came 
another  behind  me,  and  by  the  great  blaze  of  a 
fire  of  rails,  which  the  soldiers  had  built,  I  saw  it 
ricochet  down  tl^g  slope,  like  a  foot-ball,  and  pass 
right  tl  rough  a  column  of  our  troops  in  blue,  Avho 
were  marching  steadily  forward.  The  gap  which 
it  made  was  immediately  closed  up. 

Men  with  litters  were  groping  through  the  dark 
ness,  bearing  the  wounded  back  to  the  ambu 
lances. 

At  nine  o'clock  I  wandered  to  a  farm-house 
occupied  by  some  of  our  pickets.  We  dared  not 
light  candles,  as  it  was  within  range  of  the  enemy. 
The  family  had  left.  I  tied  my  horse  to  an  apple 
tree,  and  lay  down  upon  the  parlor  floor,  with  my 
saddle  for  a  pillow.  At  intervals  during  the 
night,  we  heard  the  popping  of  musketry,  and  at 
the  first  glimpse  of  dawn  the  picket  officer  shook 
me  by  the  arm. 

"  My  friend,"  sa'J  he,  "  you  had  better  go  away 
as  soon  as  you  can ;  this  place  is  getting  rather 
hot  for  civilians." 

I  rode  around  through  the  field,  for  shot  and 
shell  were  already  screaming  up  the  narrow  lane. 

Thus  commenced  the  long,  hotly-contested  bat 
tle  of  Antietam.  Our  line  was  three  miles  in 
length,  with  Hooker  on  the  right,  Burnside  on 
the  left,  and  a  great  gap  in  the  middle,  occupied 
only  by  artillery  ;  while  Fitz-John  Porter,  with 
his  fine  corps,  was  held  in  reserve.  From  dawn 
until  nearly  dark,  the  two  great  armies  wrestled 
like  athletes,  straining  every  muscle,  losing  here, 
gaining  there,  and  at  many  points  fighting  the 
same  ground  over  and  over  again.  It  was  a  fierce, 
sturdy,  indecisive  conflict. 

Five  thousand  spectators  viewed  the  struggle 
from  a  hill  comparatively  out  of  range.  Not  more 
than  three  persons  were  struck  there  during  the 
day.  McClellan  and  his  staff  occupied  another 
ridge  half  a  mile  in  the  rear. 

"  By  Heaven  !  it  was  a  goodly  sight  to  see, 
For  one  who  had  no  friend  or  brother  there." 

No  one  who  looked  upon  that  wonderful  pan 
orama  can  describe  or  forget  it.  Every  hill  and 
valley,  every  cornfield,  grove,  and  cluster  of  trees, 
was  fiercely  fought  for. 

The  artillery  was  unceasing ;  we  could  often 
count  more  than  sixty  guns  to  the  minute.  It 
was  like  thunder;  and  the  musketry  sounded 
like  the  patter  of  rain-drops  in  an  April  shower. 
On  the  great  field  were  riderless  horses  and  scat 
tering  men,  clouds  of  dirt  from  solid  shot  and 
exploding  shells,  long,  dark  lines  of  infantry  sway 
ing  to  and  fro,  with  columns  of  smoke  rising  from 
their  muskets,  red  flashes  and  white  puffs  from 
the  batteries  —  with  the  sun  shining  brightly  on 
ail  this  scene  of  tumult,  and  beyond  it,  upon  the 
dark,  rich  woods,  and  the  clear  blue  mountains 
south  of  the  Potomac.  —  A.  D.  Richardson. 


A  SPUNKY  PRISONER.  —  A  Captain  of  one  of 
the  New  York  companies  said  he  was  exceed 
ingly  anxious  to  be  exchanged  and  return  home ; 
but  if  he  thought  such  exchange  would  enure  to 
the  benefit  of  the  Confederate  States,  and  lead  to 
their  recognition  by  foreign  powers,  he  would  re 
fuse  it.  He  preferred  rather  that  both  sidea 
should  shoot  or  J  ang  all  the  prisoners  that  should 
be  taken,  and  ht  would  willingly  stand  his  chance 
with  the  rest.  —  Southern  paper. 


AT  THE  FRON  r.  —  On  the  day  of  President 
Lincoln's  funeral,  a  bronzed  and  weather-beaten 
soldier,  anxious  to  obtain  a  better  view  of  the 
procession,  happened  to  step  before  a  party  of 
ladies  and  gentlemen.  One  of  the  gentlemen 
nudged  him  on  the  elbow,  at  the  same  time  ob 
serving.  "  Excuse  me,  sir,  but  you  are  right  in 
front  of  us."  Bowing  handsomely  in  return,  the 
soldier  replied,  "  That  is  nothing  remarkable  for 
me,  sir;  1  have  been  in  front  of  you  for  three 
years."  So  these  iron  men,  marching  with  the 
nonchalance  of  veterans,  are  the  men  who  ha\e 
stood  in  "  front  of  us  for  three  years." 


NOBLE  SOUTHERN  WOMEN.  —  Much  has  been 
wTritten  about  Spartan  women  of  old,  —  much 
about  the  noble  Roman  matron,  —  much  about 
our  excellent  "  foremothers  of  the  Revolution  ;  " 
but  it  has  been  reserved  for  the  women  of  our 
Sunny  South  to  blend  the  virtues  of  these  hero 
ines  all  in  one,  and  present  to  the  world  the 
brightest  example  of  firmness,  courage,  and  pa 
triotism.  Look  at  the  hundreds  of  women  all 
over  our  land  —  delicate  ones,  who  have  been 
reared  in  the  lap  of  luxury ;  who  have  heretofore 
been  shielded  from  every  rough  blast ;  women 
who,  a  year  ago,  were  lingering  over  the  ivory 
keys  of  their  pianos,  or  discussing  with  their 
dressmakers  the  shade  of  silk  which  became  their 
complexion  best ;  and  see  how  they  have  risen, 
without  a  dissenting  voice,  to  meet  the  exigencies 
of  the  times.  "  What  shall  I  wear  ?  "  is  now  a 
question  seldom  asked.  The  only  attention  that 
dress  demands  is  the  consideration,  "  Will  it  be 
a  piece  of  economy  to  purchase  this  or  that?" 
and  daily  we  hear  the  remark,  "  I  want  homespun 
dresses,  —  they  are  the  best  for  us  now."  In 
stead  of  finding  our  women  at  the  piano,  or  on 
the  fashionable  promenade,  we  find  them  busy  at 
their  looms,  busy  at  their  wheels,  busy  making 
soldiers'  uniforms,  busy  making  bandages,  busy 
in  hospitals,  busy  girding  up  their  sons,  their  hus 
bands,  and  their  fathers  for  the  battle-field.  Tell 
me,  are  they  not  a  noble  race  ?  Luxury  has  not 
enervated  them;  adversity  has  not  depressed 
them.  There  was  once  a  French  queen,  who,  sur 
rounding  herself  by  her  maids  of  honor,  wrought, 
day  after  day,  on  delicate  tapestry,  with  which  the 
churches  in  her  realm  were  afterwards  hung.  It 
was  thought  to  be  an  act  of  great  virtue  in  her. 
The  fact  was  registered  upon  the  page  of  history; 
and  she  has  been  held  up  to  her  sex  as  a  "  shin- 
i  ing  example."  But  she  did  not,  as  the  wife  of 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


487 


our  Governor  has  done,  set  herself  down  to  sew 
on  heavy  woollen  goods  for  soldiers ;  she  did  not 
throw  aside  the  silken  robe  and  the  golden  chain, 
and  apply  herself,  day  after  day,  with  unwearied 
assiduity,  over  stiff  fabrics,  which  make  the- shoul 
ders  and  the  fingers  alike  ache.  Nearly  all  the 
bandages  that  were  used  on  the  bloody  field  of 
M^nassas,  between  the  21st  and  23d  of  July,  1861, 
were  made  and  forwarded  by  two  Georgia  women, 
Mrs.  Robert  Hardaway  and  her  sister,  who  reside 
near  Columbus.  Southern  matrons  are  indeed 
the  jewels  of  our  land.  —  Southern  Field  and 
Fireside. 

UNITED    STATES   NATIONAL  ANTHEM. 

BY    WILLIAM   ROSS    WALLACE. 

GOD  of  the  Free  !  upon  Thy  breath 
Our  Flag  is  for  the  Right  unrolled 

As  broad  and  brave  as  when  its  Stars 
First  lit  the  hallowed  time  of  old. 

For  Duty  still  its  folds  shall  fly,. 

For  Honor  still  its  glories  burn, 
Where  Truth,  Religion,  Valor,  guard 

The  patriot's  sword  and  martyr's  urn. 

No  tyrant's  impious  step  is  ours; 

No  lust  of  powrer  on  nations  rolled  : 
Our  Flag — for  friends,  a  starry  sky  ; 

For  traitors,  storm  in  every  fold. 

O,  thus  we'll  keep  our  Nation's  life, 
Nor  fear  the  bolt  by  despots  hurled  ; 

The  blood  of  all  the  world  is  here, 

And  they  who  strike  us  strike  the  world ! 

God  of  the  Free  !  our -Nation  bless 
In  its  strong  manhood  as  its  birth, 

And  make  its  life  a  Star  of  Hope 
For  all  the  struggling  of  the  earth. 

Then  shout  beside  thine  Oak,  O  North  ! 

O  South,  wave  answer  with  thy  Palm  ! 
And  in  our  Union's  heritage 

Together  sing  the  Nation's  Psalm  ! 


THE  COLORED  SCHOOL  AT  DANVILLE.  —  A 
correspondent  relates  the  following  in  a  letter 
from  Danville,  North  Carolina  :  A  negro  school 
had  been  established  here  in  one  of  the  hospital 
buildings  for  the  benefit  of  the  junior  portion  of 
the  colored  population.  This  morning  I  paid  it  a 
visit,  and  found  that  it  numbered  some  two  hun 
dred  and  fifty  scholars,  and  that  there  has  been, 
until  recently,  a  night  school,  with  an  attendance 
of  about  two  hundred  and  sixty.  The  present 
teacher  is  a  member  of  the  Eighth  Pennsylvania 
cavalry,  who  has  been  detailed  for  the  duty.  I 
could  not  help  feeling  amused  at  his  style  of 
teaching.  An  orthography  class,  consisting  of 
two  members,  was  reciting  as  I  entered.  The 
teacher  was  seated  behind  a  square  pine  table. 
The  pupils  were  in  front  of  it,  reclining  on  it  with 
their  elbows,  and  leaning  half  way  across.  One 
of  them  was  a  tall,  listless-looking  girl  of  about 
thirteen ;  her  wool  was  gathered  into  sections  and 
twisted  into  "  pig  tails,"  two  of  which  were  tied 


!  under  the  chin,  while  the  seams  that  marked  the 

j  several    partings    looked     like     rivers    winding 

;  through  a  cane-brake.     In  her  hand  she  held  a 

!  peach-tree  switch,  one  end  of  which  she  chewed 

with  commendable   assiduity.     "  Goat,"  shoutod 

the  teacher.     "  Dat's  not  de  word,"  said  the  giil ; 

"  I  jest  done  spelled  dat."     "  Well,  boat,  then  ; 

spell  that.     Say,  yi  u  boys  on  those  back  benches, 

are  you  going  to  keep  quiet  there,  hey  ?     Look 

at  your  books,  now,  and  don't  stare  at  me.     Sit 

up   there,  yon !     '  Moat,  mo-o-a-t,  moat.'     Say, 

yon,  there,  better  raise  yourselves  up   on   them 

seats,  else  you'll   git   raised   purty   soon.     Stop 

that  noise,  there,  you  boys,  or  I'll  give  you  a  dose 

of  hickory  oil." 

The  next  recitation  was  by  a  class  of  small 
children,  spelling  on  cards.  "  Where's  that  pint- 
er  of  mine?"  demands  the  teacher.  "It's  done 
broke,  sah,"  shouted  half  a  dozen  piccaninnies. 
"Who  broke  it?"  (in  a  stentorian  voice.)  Si 
lence  is  the  only  response.  "  Can  none  on  you 
tell  me  who  broke  it  ?  It'll  be  a  dear  break  for 
them,  if  I  find  'em  out ;  I'll  try  how  this  hickory 
will  break  over  their  backs." 

These  illustrations  are  sufficient  to  show  that 
the  colored  school  at  Danville  is  conducted  in  a 
style  now  nearly  obsolete  in  more  favored  locali 
ties.  

LUCKY  AND  UNLUCKY.  —  A  young  man  front 
Worcester,  Massachusetts,  a  private  in  the  Fifty- 
seventh  regiment,  in  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor, 
was  hit  by  a  ball  in  the  chin,  which  badly  frac 
tured  the  bone,  and  tore  out  several  teeth.  An 
other  ball  hit  the  right  shoulder,  fractured  the 
shoulder-blade,  and  remains  undiscovered.  The 
third  ball  passed  through  his  abdomen,  and 
brought  him  to  the  ground.  His  companions 
dragged  him  to  a  hole,  where  his  body  and  head 
could  not  be  seen  by  the  enemy  ;  but  his  legs  be 
ing  exposed,  one  ball  passed  through  the  calf  of 
his  leg,  another  cut  a  deep  groove  through  his 
shin,  another  cut  through  the  top  of  the 
instep,  and  another  carried  away  the  next  to  the 
great  toe.  He  lay  in  the  hole  all  day,  and  was 
then  taken  prisoner,  and  starved  for  several 
months ;  yet  this  young  man  returned  to  Worces 
ter  erect  and  in  good  health,  and  not  perceptibly 
lame.  His  name  is  E.  P.  Rockwood. 


INCIDENTS  OF  THE  SOUTH.  —  "A  Southerner" 
relates  the  following  amusing  affairs  : 

"  A  certain  General  of  brigade,  who  was  mor 
tally  wounded  at  Gettysburg,  and  who  died 
within  our  lines,  was  rather  fond  of  the  good 
whiskey  for  which  the  Old  Dominion  is  famous. 
He  rarely  appeared  on  parade  without  being  well 
fortified  with  a  fair  potion  of  it.  As  soon  as  the. 
business  of  the  parade  was  ended,  it  was  his  cus 
tom  to  dismount,  and  proceed  to  the  front  of  the 
line,  and  dare  any  officer  or  man  who  thought  he 
could  whip  him,  to  come  out  and  fight  him,  ac- 
.companying  his  challenge  with  a  volley  of  drunk 
en  abuse  of  the  whole  command.  After  keeping 
up  this  display  for  some  time,  without  finding 


488 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


any  one  willing  to  accept  his  invitation,  he  would 
dismiss  the  parade,  and  return  to  his  quarters 
very  well  pleased  with  the  proceeding. 

"With  a  favorite  General  the  men  took  many 
liherties,  and  this  very  popularity  seemed  to  de 
stroy  the  deference  usually  paid  to  such  high  offi 
cers.  A  laughable  occurrence  of  this  kind  took 
i)lace  during  the  retreat  of  the  Confederates  from 
Yorktown,  in  1862. 

"Just  after  the  battle  of  Williamsburg,  General 
Magruder  and  his  staff  stopped  at  the  house  of  a 
widow  lady  on  the  road,  and  engaged  dinner. 
Soon  after  their  arrival  a  Louisiana  soldier  came 
up,  and  accosted  the  landlady  with : 

" '  Madam,  can  I  get  dinner?  ' 

"  '  Yes,  sir,'  was  the  reply  ;  '  but  as  I  am  pre 
paring  dinner  for  General  Magruder  and  staff, 
and  have  not  room  at  my  table  for  more,  you  will 
have  to  wait  for  a  second  table.' 

"  '  Very  well,  ma'am.  Thank  you,'  said  the 
soldier,  taking  his  seat  in  a  position  to  command 
a  view  of  the  dining-room.  Watching  the  move 
ments  of  the  servants,  he  waited  until  the  feast 
was  on  the  table,  and  while  his  hostess  proceeded 
to  the  parlor  to  announce  dinner  to  her  distin 
guished  guests,  he  entered  the  dining-room,  and, 
seating  himself  at  the  table,  awaited  further  de 
velopments,  trusting  to  his  impudence  to  get  him 
out  of  the  scrape. 

"  Upon  the  entrance  of  the  party  of  officers, 
there  was  found  to  be  seats  for  all  but  one,  and 
one  politely  returned  to  the  parlor  to  wait.  The 
General  took  a  seat  next  to  the  soldier,  and,  after 
the  first  course  was  finished,  turned  to  him,  and 
asked : 

" '  Sir,  have  you  any  idea  with  whom  you  are- 
dining  ?  ' 

" '  No,'  coolly  replied  the  soldier ;  '  I  used  to  be 
very  particular  on  that  score  ;  but  since  1  turned 
soldier,  I  don't  care  whom  I  eat  with,  so  that  the 
victuals  are  clean.' 

"  The  joke  was  so  good  that  Magruder  laughed 
heartily  at  it,  and  even  paid  for  the  soldier's  din 
ner,  and  sent  him  on  his  way." 


AMONG  THE  REBELS.  —  Camp  Dennison,  about 
twenty  miles  from  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  says  a  corre- 
spond'ent  writing  in  the  summer  of  1862,  was  the 
first  in  that  State,  and  very  soon  after  the  begin 
ning  of  the  war  assumed  the  proportions  of  a 
military  city.  Of  late  it  has  been  used  only  for 
the  sick  and  wounded,  a  few  regiments  being  un 
der  instructions  there.  Since,  however,  the  new 
call  for  troops,  it  has  been  again  full  of  activity 
and  intei  ist. 

Among  those  who  have  been  devoting  much 
labor  to  both  the  physical  and  spiritual  wants  of 
the  sufferers  there,  the  Reverend  Mr.  Clayton,  an 
earnest  Methodist,  formerly  of  the  Bethel  in  this 
city,  has  been  prominent.  '  All  the  sufferers  there 
have  learned  to  look  for  his  visits  with  anxiety. 
In  the  language  of  the  Dutch  doctor  there,  the 
general  opinion  is,  "  If  preacher  Clayton  ain't 
a  Christian,  then  t'ain't  vort  a  tarn  to  be  a 
Christian." 


Few  things  are  more  interesting  thin  the  re 
sults  of  his  visits  through  the  various  wards,  but 
I  shall  confine  myself  to  some  notes  I  have  of  con 
versations  of  his  with  wounded  rebels,  of  whom 
we  have  thirty-four  there.  They  are  all  from 
somewhere  in  the  south-west,  and  have  all  applied 
to  the  Government  for  permission  to  take  the  oath, 
and  be  released  thereon. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  cases  was  a  \outh, 
whose  heart  was  evidently  busy  doing  poetic  jus 
tice  to  the  Yankees  he  had  been  taught  to  hate, 
though  he  still  was  anxious  about  Southern  rights. 
Mr.  Clayton  talked  tc  him  for  some  time  concern 
ing  religious  mi  tters,  tnd  the  young  man  at  last 
broke  in  by  sayir  4,  "  AVve  talked  about  religion 
long  enough;  now  let's  talk  politics."  There  was 
a  peculiar  Southernism  ah  )ut  his  look  and  tone 
that  excited  a  smile  all  arcund.  "  Well,"  replied 
Mr.  Clayton,  "  I'm  not  much  on  politics ;  I'd 
rather  not  talk  about  them  ;  tell  me  how  you  felt 
when  you  were  wounded."  "  Thought  it  would 
be  a  sharp  pain,  sir,  but  it  wasn't ;  I  was  wounded 
in  the  legs,  and  it  was  just  like  being  knocked 
of]'  my  pins  by  a  strong  blow  from  a  log  of  wood. 
Fell  flat  on  my  belly,  and  my  knees  drew  them 
selves  up  under  my  chin.  Made  sure  I  was  dead, 
but  thought  it  didn't  make  much  difference,  for  I 
saw  our  men  retreating,  and  knew  the  Yankees 
would  get  me  and  kill  me  sure ;  always  told,  sir, 
the  Yankees  had  horns.  Well,  there  I  lay  ;  »nJ 
up  came  a  Colonel  leading  his  men  —  he  was  in 
front,  sir;  he  jumped  down  from  his  horse,  and 
ran  to  me,  drawing  something  from  his  belt;  sol 
gave  up  ;  but  it  wasn't  a  pistol,  sir  " —  and  here 
the  boy's  eyes  moistened  —  "  it  was  a  canteen  ! 
He  put  it  to  my  lips.  I  drank.  He  jumped  on  his 
horse  again,  and  said,  '  Charge,  boys  ;  they're  flee 
ing  !'  Then  some  sole '.ers  on  foot  came  towards 
me,  and  I  thought  they  were  not  all  like  that  offi 
cer,  and  I  gave  up  again.  But,  sir,  they  said,  '  Com 
rade,  get  up.'  They  lifted  me  up,  and  said,  '  Put 
your  arms  around  our  necks,  and  we'll  lead  you 
away  from  these  bullets;  '  and  these  were  the 
'  damned  Yankees  ! '  I  tell  you,  sir,  no  man  ever 
hugged  his  sweetheart  more  friendly  than  I 
hugged  these  Yankees'  necks," 

After  a  few  more  remarks  the  youth  showed  a 
determination  to  "  talk  politics,"  and  asked  Mr. 
Clayton,  "  What  are  you  fighting  for  ?  "  Mr.  Clay 
ton  calmly,  and  in  good  humor,  gave  him  his  ideas 
of  the  issue,  and  in  ending  asked  him  what  they 
were  fighting  for.  "  To  hold  property,  sir,"  re 
plied  the  youth  —  "  our  slave  property."  "  Plow 
many  slaves  did  you  have  ?  "  "  None."  "And 
you  ? "  to  the  next.  "  None."  He  then  went 
around  to  all  the  thirty-four  rebels,  and  but  one 
was  found  who  had  owned  a  slave.  "  Now,"  said 
Mr.  Clayton,  "  where  are  the  men  who  have  these 
slaves  which  they  are  so  afraid  of  losing?"  Here 
a  man  named  McClellan,  who  has  since  died, 
rose  up  on  his  cot,  and  stretching  out  his  thin 
hand,  said,  in  a  sepulchral  voice,  "  They  are  at 
home  enjoying  themse.ves,  and  have  sent  us  to 
die  for  them  and  theirs."  And  to  this  the  echoes 
around  ihe  room  were,  "  That's  50 ;  that's  God's 
truth." 


*'  Sir,  have  you  any  idea  with  whom  you  are  dining  ?  "—Page  488. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


489 


Lying  near  this  one  is  an  Irishman.  "  Well, 
sir,"  says  the  genial  Mr.  Clayton,  "  what's  the 
matter  with  you  ?  "  "  Wounded,  sir ;  slight  wound 
in  the  groin  —  worse  one  in  the  heel."  "  Where 
w  ere  you  wounded  P  "  "  Pittsburg  Landing,  sir." 
"  What  part  of  tlie  battle  ?  "  "  Second  fire  of  the 
last  round,  sir."  "  What,  Monday  ?  Why,  it 
was  rather  hard,  wasn't  it,  to  fight  two  days  and 
then  get  hurt  at  the  very  last  P  "  "  Devil  a  two 
days  did  I  fight  at  all,  sir."  "  Why,  how  was 
that  ?  "  "  Why,  you  see,  sir,  I  didn't  know  what 
I  was  fighting  for,  and  I  didn't  want  to  blow  a  fel 
low-creature's  brains  out  without  knowing  what  I 
was  blowing  'em  out  for  —  d'ye  see  P  No  more  did 
I  want  a  fellow-creature  to  blow  my  brains  out 
without  knowing  what  they  was  blown  out  for; 
so,  sir,  I  just  snaked  away,  sir.  But  on  Monday 
they  found  me,  sir,  and  drummed  me  in."  He 
was  from  Texas. 

The  only  man  among  these  who  has  held  slaves 
is  a  man  named,  if  I  remember,  Staten  ;  he  is  not 
only  very  anxious  to  take  the  oath,  but  prays  fer 
vently  that  our  Government  will  bring  peace  by 
taking  away  the  negroes  from  the  Southerners. 
"  I'm  \\illing  never  to  see  mine  again,"  said  he, 
"  and  rely  on  it,  it  is  the  only  way  to  bring  peace, 
the  only  way." 

WHAT  SHALL  WE  DO  FOR  JEFF  DAVIS? 

WEAVE  him  a  mantle  of  burning  shame! 
Stamp  on  his  forehead  that  dreadful  name 
Which  deeds  like  his  inscribe  in  blood  — 
A  Traitor  to  man  !  a  Traitor  to  God  ! 

Plait  him  a  crown  of  the  flower  that  comes 
In  the  ashes  that  lie  o'er  buried  homes  ! 
Let  his  sceptre  be  the  smoking  brand 
Which  his  fiat  sent  throughout  the  land  I 

Let  his  paeans  be  the  bitter  cries 
From  millions  of  anguished  hearts  that  rise, 
Beth  day  and  night,  to  that  listening  ear 
Which  ever  stoops  their  plaints  to  hear. 

'Mid  the  ruin  dire  his  hands  have  wrought, 
Let  him  find  the  Throne'he  long  has  sought, 
While  starving  croxvds,  in  hoarse  notes  ring, 
Not  Cotton,  but  grim  old  Death  is  king  1 


QUALITIES  OP  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.  —  The 
most  marked  characteristic  of  Mr.  Lincoln's 
manner  was  his  simplicity  and  artlessness.  This 
immediately  impressed  itself  upon  the  observa 
tion  of  those  w).';:  met  him  for  the  first  time,  and 
each  successive  interview  deepened  the  impres 
sion,  People  seemed  delighted  to  find  in  the 
ruler  of  the  nation  freedom  from  pomposity  and 
affectation,  mingled  with  a  certain  simple  dignity 
that  never  forsook  nim.  Though  pressed  with 
tin;  weight  of  responsibility  resting  upon  him  as 
] 'resident  of  the  United  States,  he  shrank  from 
assuming  any  of  the  honors,  or  even  titles,  of  the 
position.  After  years  of  intimate  acquaintance 
with  Mr.  Lincoln,  the  writer  cannot  now  recall  a 
single  instance  in  which  he  spoke  of  himself  as 


President,  or  used  that  title  of  himself,  except 
when  acting  in  an  official  capacity.  He  always 
spoke  of  his  position  and  office  vaguely,  as  "  this 
place,"  "  here,"  or  other  modest  phrases.  Once, 
speaking  of  the  room  in  the  Capitol  used  by  the 
Presidents  of  the  United  States  during  the  close 
cf  a  session  of  Congress,  he  said,  "That  room, 
you  know,  that  they  call"  —  dropping  his  voice 
and  hesitating  —  "the  President's  room."  To  an 
intimate  friend  who  addressed  him  always  by  his 
own  ^roper  title,  he  said,  "  Now  call  me  Lincoln, 
and  I'll  promise  not  to  tell  of  the  breach  of  eti 
quette —  if  you  won't — and  I  shall  have  a  rest 
ing  spell  from  Mister  Lincoln." 

With  all  his  simplicity  and  unacquaintance  with 
courtly  manners,  his  native  dignity  never  forsook 
him  in  the  presence  of  critical  or  polished  stran 
gers  ;  but  mixed  with  his  angularities  and  bon 
homie  was  something  which  spoke  the  fine  fibre 
of  the  man  ;  and,  while  his  sovereign  disregard  of 
courtly  conventionalities  was  somewhat  ludicrous, 
his  native  sweetness  and  straightforwardness  of 
manner  served  to  disarm  criticism,  and  impress 
the  visitor  that  he  was  before  a  man  pure,  self- 
poised,  collected,  and  strong  in  unconscious 
strength.  Of  him  an  accomplished  foreigner, 
whose  knowledge  of  the  courts  was  more  perfect 
than  that  of  the  English  language,  said,  "  He 
seems  to  me  one  grand  gentilhomme  in  disguise." 


THREE  WEEKS  AT  GETTYSBURG.  —  This  elo 
quent  and  earnest  sketch  was  written  by  an 
accomplished  lady  of  New  York,  to  whom  the 
entire  loyal  people  of  the  country  are  personally 
indebted  for  her  devotion  in  her  labors  for  the 
Sanitary  Commission  during  the  war : 

"  What  we  did  at  Gettysburg,  for  the  three 
weeks  we  were  there,  you  will  want  to  know. 

'  We '  are  Mrs. and  myself,  who,  happening 

to  be  on  hand  at  the  right  moment,  gladly  fell 
in  with  the  proposition  to  do  what  we  could  at 
the  Sanitary  Commission  Lodge  after  the  battle. 
There  were,  of  course,  the  agents  of  the  Commis 
sion,  already  on  the  field,  distributing  supplies  to 
the  hospitals,  and  working  night  and  day  among 
the  wounded.  I  cannot  pretend  to  tell  you  what 
was  done  by  all  the  big  wheels  of  the  concern, 
but  only  how  two  of  the  '  smallest  ones  went 
round,  and  what  turned  up  in  the  going. 

"  Twenty-four  hours  we  were  in  making  the 
journey  between  Baltimore  and  Gettysburg,  places 
only  four  hours  apart  in  ordinary  running  time  ; 
and  tins  will  give  you  some  idea  of  the  difficulty 
there  was  of  bringing  up  supplies  when  the  fight 
ing  was  over,  and  the  delays  in  transporting 
wounded.  Coming  towards  the  town  at  this 
crawling  rate,  we  passed  some  fields  where  the 
fences  were  down,  and  the  ground  slightly  tossed 
up.  '  That's  where  Kilpatrick's  cavalrymen  fought 
the  rebels,'  some  one  said  ;  '  and  close  by  that 
barn  a  rebel  soldier  was  found  day  before  yester 
day,  sitting  dead  ; '  no  one  to  help,  poor  soul, 
'  near  the  whole  city  full.'  The  railroad  bridge, 
broken  up  by  the  enemy,  Government  had  not 
rebuilt  as  yet,  and  we  st(  ^ped  two  miles  from  the 


4'JO 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


town,  to  find  that,  as  usual,  just  where  the  Gov-  I  the  track,  with  unlimited  supply  of  delicious,  cool 


ernment  had  left  oft',  the  Commission  had  come  in. 
There  stood  their  temporary  lodge  and  kitchen, 
and  here,  hobbling  out  of  their  tents,  came  the 
wounded  men  who  had  made  their  way  down 
fiom  the  corps  hospital,  expecting  to  leave  at 
once  in  the  return  cars. 

"  This  is  the  way  the  thing  was  managed  at 
first  :  The  surgeons,  left  in  care  of  the  wounded 
three  or  four  miles  out  from  the  town,  went  up 
and  down  among  the  men  in  the  morning,  and 
said,  *  Any  of  you  boys  who  can  make  your  way 
to  the  cars,  can  go  to  Baltimore.'  So  off  start  all 
who  think  they  feel  well  enough,  anything  being 
better  than  the  '  hospitals,'  so  called,  for  the  first 
few  days  after  a  battle.  Once  the  men  have  the 
surgeon's  permission  to  go,  they  are  off;  and 
there  may  be  an  interval  of  a  day,  or  two  days, 
should  any  of  them  be  too  weak  to  reach  the 
train  in  time,  during  which  these  poor  fellows 
belong  to  no  one,  the  hospital  at  one  end,  the 
railroad  at  the  other,  with  far  more  than  chance 
of  tailing  through  between  the  two.  The  Sani 
tary  Commission  knew  this  would  be  so  of  ne 
cessity,  and,  coming  in,  made  a  connecting  link 
between  these  two  ends. 

"  For  the  first  few  days  the  worst  cases  only 
came  down  in  ambulances  from  the  hospitals  ; 
hundreds  of  fellows  hobbled  along  as  best  they 
could,  in  heat  and  dust,  for  hours,  slowly  toiling, 
and  many  hired  farmers'  wagons,  as  hard  as  tlite 
farmers'  fists  themselves,  and  were  jolted  down 
to  the  railroad,  at  three  or  four  dollars  the  man. 
Think  of  the  disappointment  of  a  soldier,  sick, 
body  and  heart,  to  find,  at  the  end  of  this  miser 

into 
remainin  stock  of 


water.  Here  we  set  up  two  stoves,  with  foui 
large  boilers,  always  kept  full  of  soup  and  coffee, 
watched  by  four  or  five  black  men,  who  did  the 
cooking  under  our  direction,  and  sang  (not  uncle* 
our  Jrection)  at  the  tops  of  their  voices  all  day, 

'  O  darkies,  hab  you  seen  my  massa.' 
'  When  this  cruel  war  is  oveT.' 

Then  we  had  three  large  hospital  tents,  holding 
about  thirty-five  each,  a  large  camp-meeting  sup 
ply  tent,  where  barrels  of  goods  were  stored,  and 
our  own  smaller  tent  fitted  up  with  tables,  where 
jelly-pots  and  bottles  of  all  kinds  of  good  sirups, 
blackberry  and  black  currant,  stood  in  rows. 
Barrels  were  ranged  round  the  tent  walls ;  shirts, 
drawers,  dressing-gowns,  socks,  and  slippers  (1 
wish  we  had  had  more  of  the  latter),  rags  and 
bandages,  each  in  its  own  place  on  one  side  ;  on 
the  other,  boxes  of  tea,  coffee,  soft  crackers,  tama 
rinds,  cherry  brandy,  &c.  Over  the  kitchen,  and 
over  this  small  supply  tent,  we  women  rather 
reigned,  and  filled  up  our  wants  bv  requisitions 
on  the  Commission's  depot.  By  this  time  there 
had  arrived  a  '  delegation  '  of  just  the  right  kind 
from  Canandaigua,  New  York,  with  surgeon, 
dressers,  and  attendants,  bringing  a  first-rate  sup 
ply  of  necessaries  and  comforts  for  the  wounded, 
which  they  handed  over  to  the  Commission. 

"Twice  a  day  the  trains  left  for  Baltimore  or  Har- 
risburg,  and  twice  a  day  we  fed  all  the  wounded  who 
arrived  for  them.  Things  were  systematized  now, 
and  the  men  came  down  in  long  ambulance  trains 
to  the  cars  ;  baggage  cars  they  were,  fitted  with 
straw  for  the  wounded  to  lie  on,  and  broken  open 
at  either  end  to  let  in  the  air.  A  Government 
surgeon  was  always  present  to  attend  to  the  care 
ful  lifting  of  the  soldiers  from  ambulance  to  car. 
Many  of  the  men  could  get  along  very  nicely, 
holding  one  foot  up,  and  taking  great  jumps  on 
their  crutches.  The  latter  were  a  great  comfort ; 
we  had  a  nice  supply  at  the  Lodge,  and  they  trav 
elled  up  and  down  from  the  tents  to  the  cars 
daily.  Only  occasionally  did  we  dare  let  a  pair 
go  on  with  some  very  lame  soldier,  who  begged 
for  them ;  we  needed  them  to  help  the  new  ar 
rivals  each  day,  and  trusted  to  the  men  being 
supplied  at  the  hospitals  at  the  journey's  end. 
Pads  and  crutches  are  a  standing  want  —  pads 
particularly.  We  manufactured  them  out  of  the 
rags  we  had,  stuffed  with  sawdust  from  brandy 
boxes  ;  and  with  half  a  sheet,  and  some  soft  straw, 

Mrs.' made  a  poor  dying  boy  as  easy  as  his 

sufferings  would  permit.  Poor  young  fellow  !  he 
was  so  grateful  -  ••>  her  for  washing,  and  feeding, 
and  comforting  him !  He  was  too  ill  to  bear  the 
journey,  and  went  from  our  tent  to  the  church 
hospital,  and  from  the  church  to  his  grave,  which 
would  have  been  coflinless  but  for  the  care  of 

,  for  the  Quartermaster's   Department  was 

overtaxed,  and  for  many  days  our  dead  \\ere  sim 
ply  wrapped  in  their  blankets  and  put  into  the 
earth.  It  is  a  soldierly  way,  after  all,  of  lying 
wrapped  in  the  old  war-worn  blanket,  —  the  h'ttle 

town,  and  had  things  in  perfect  order  ;    a  first-  !  dust  returned  to  dv.st. 

rate  camping  ground,  in  a  large  field  directly  by  I      "  WLen    the   surgeons   had   the   wounded   all 


able  jouruey,  that  his  effort  to  get  away 
which  he  had  put  all  his  remaining  sto 
strength,  was  useless  ;  that  '  the  cars  had  gone,' 
or  '  the  cars  were  full  ;  '  that  while  he  was  com 
ing  ethers  had  stepped  down  before  him,  and  that 
he  must  turn  all  the  weary  way  back  again,  or 
sleep  on  the  roadside  till  the  next  train  '  to-mor 
row.'  Think  what  this  would  have  been,  and 
you  are  ready  to  appreciate  the  relief  and  comfort 
that  v.  as.  No  men  were  turned  back.  You  fed 
and  you  sheltered  them  just  when  no  one  else 
could  have  done  so  ;  and  out  of  the  boxes  and 
barrels  of  good  and  nourishing  things,  which  you, 
people  at  home,  had  supplied,  we  took  all  that 
was  needed.  Some  of  you  sent  a  stove  (that  is, 
the  money  to  get  it),  some  of  you  the  beef  stock, 
some  of  you  the  milk  and  fresh  bread  ;  and  all 
of  you  would  have  been  thankful  that  you  had 
done  so,  could  you  have  seen  the  refreshment 
and  comfort  received  through  these  things. 

"  As  soon  as  the  men  hobbled  up  to  the  tents, 
good  hot  soup  was  given  all  round  ;  and  that  over, 
their  wounds  were  dressed,  —  for  the  gentlemen 
of  the  Commission  are  cooks,  or  surgeons  as  oc 
casion  demands,  —  and,  finally,  with  their  blan 
kets  spread  over  the  straw,  the  men  stretched 
themselves  out,  and  were  happy  and  contented  till 
morning,  and  the  next  train. 

"  On  the  day  that  the  railroad  bridge  was  re 
paired  we  moved  up  to  the  depot,  close  by  the 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


49. 


placed,  with  as  much  comfort  as  seemed  possi- 
ole  under  the  circumstances,  on  board  the  train, 
our  detail  of  men  would  go  from  car  to  car,  with 
soup  made  of  beef-stock  or  fresh  meat,  full  of 
potatoes,  turnips,  cabbage,  and  rice,  with  fresh 
bread  and  coffee,  and,  when  stimulants  were 
needed,  with  ale,  milk  punch,  or  brandy.  Water 


good  it  all  was,  and  how  lucky  we  felt  ourselves 

in  having  the  immense  satisfaction  of  distributing 
these  things,  which  all  of  you,  hard  at  work  in 
villages  and  citip"i,  were  getting  ready  iiid  smil 
ing  off,  in  faith. 

"  Canandaigua  sent  cologne  with  its  other  .sup 
plies,  which  went  right  to  the  noses  and  hearts  cf 

pails  were  in  great  demand  for  use  in  the  cars  on  j  the  men.  '  That  is  good,  now  ; '  '  I'll  take  some 
the  journey,  and  also  empty  bottles,  to  take  the  j  of  that;'  'worth  a  pei. ay  a  sniff;'  'that  kinder 
place  of  canteens.  All  our  whiskey  and  brandy  gives  one  life  ; ;  and  so  en,  all  round  the  tentt,  as 
bottles  were  washed  and  filled  up  at  the  spring,  !  we  tipped  the  oottles  up  on  the  clean  handker- 
and  the  boys  went  off,  carefully  hugging  their  j  chiefs  some  one  had  sent,  and  when  they  wrere 
extemporized  canteens,  from  which  they  would  j  gone,  over  squares  of  cotton,  on  which  the  per- 
wet  their  wounds,  or  refresh  themselves,  till  the  fume  took  the  place  of  hem,  —  'just  as  good, 
journey  ended.  I  do  not  think  that  a  man  of  !  ma'am.'  We  varied  our  dinners  with  custard  and 
the  sixteen  thousand,  who  were  transported  dur-  |  baked  rice  puddings,  scrambled  eggs,  codfish 
ing  our  stay,  went  from  Gettysburg  without  a  I  hash,  corn  starch,  and  always  as  much  soft  bread, 
good  meal  —  rebels  and  Unionists  'together,  they  j  tea,  coffee,  or  milk  as  they  wanted.  Two  Massa- 
all  had  it  —  and  were  pleased  and  satisfied.  !  chusetts  bovs  I  especially  remember,  for  the  sat- 


'Have  you  friends  in  the  army,  madam? '  a  rebel 
soldier,  lying  on  the  floor  of  the  car,  said  to  me, 


as  I  gave 
is  on 


him  some  milk.     '  Yes ;   my  brother 

5  staff.'     '  I  thought  so,  ma'am.     You 


isfaction  with  which  they  ate  their  pudding.     I 
carried  a  second  plateful  up  to  the  cars,  after  they 


had  been  put  in,  and  fed  one  of  them  till  he  was 
sure  he  had  had  enough.     Young  fellows  they 

can  always  tell ;  when  people  are  good  to  soldiers  .  were,  lying  side  by  side,  one  with  a  right  and  one 

they  are  sure  to  have  friends  in  the  army.'    '  We  I  with  a  left  arm  gone. 

are  rebels,  you  know,  ma'am,'  another  said ;  '  do 

you  treat  rebels  so  P '     It  was  strange  to  see  the 

good  brotherly  feeling  come  over  the  soldiers  — 

our  own  and  the  rebels,  when  side  by  side  they 

lay  in  our  tents.    '  Hallo,  boys  !  this  is  the  pleas- 

antest  way  to  meet,  —  isn't  it  ?     We  are  better 

friends  when  we  are  as  close  as  this,  than  a  little 

farther  off.'     And  then  they  would  go  over  the 

battles  together  —  '  We  were  here,'  and   '  You 

were  there,'  in  the  friendliest  way. 

"  After  each  train  of  cars,  daily,  for  the  three 

weeks  we  were  in  Gettysburg,  trains  of  ambu 
lances  arrived  too  late  —  men  who  must  spend  the 

day  with  us  until  the  five  P.  M.  cars  went,  and 


gone. 

"  The  Gettysburg  women  were  kind  and  faithful 
to  the  wounded  and  their  friends,  and  the  town 
was  full  to  overflowing  of  both.  The  first  day, 
when  Mrs. and  I  reached  the  place,  we  lit 
erally  begged  our  bread  from  door  to  door ;  but 
the  kind  woman  who  at  last  gave  us  dinner  would 
take  no  pay  for  it.  'No,  ma'am,  I  shouldn't  wish 
to  have  that  sin  on  my  soul  when  the  war  is  over.' 
She,  as  well  as  others,  had  fed  the  strangers 
flocking  into  town  daily ;  sometimes  over  fifty  of 
them  for  each  meal,  and  all  for  love,  and  nothing 
for  reward ;  and  one  night  we  forced  a  reluctant 
confession  from  our  hostess  that  she  was  meaning 
to  sleep  on  the  floor  that  we  might  have  a  bed 


men  too  late  for  the  five  P.  M.  train,  who  must !  her  whole  house  being  full.    Of  course  we  couldn't 


spend  the  night  till  the  ten  A.  M.  cars  went.  All 
the  men  who  came  in  this  way,  under  our  own 
immediate  and  particular  attention,  were  given 


the  best  we  had  of  care  and 


The  surgeon 


allow  this  self-sacrifice,  and  hunted  up  some  other 
place  to  stay  in.  We  did  her  no  good,  however, 
for  we  afterwards  found  that  the  bed  was  given 
up  that  night  to  some  other  stranger  who  arrived 


in  charge  of  our  camp,  with   his  most  faithful  j  late   and  tired  :  '  An  old  lady,  you  know,  and  I 
dresser   and   attendants,  looked   after   all   their   couldn't  let  an  old  lady  sleep  on  the  floor.'    Such 


wounds,  which  were  often  in  a  most  shocking 
state,  particularly  among  the  rebels.  Every  even 
ing  and  morning  they  were  dressed.  Often  the 
men  would  say,  '  That  feels  good.  I  haven't  had 
my  wound  so  well  dressed  since  I  was  hurt.' 
Something  cool  to  drink  is  the  first  thing  asked 
for,  after  the  long,  dusty  drive,  and  pailfuls  of  tam 
arinds  and  water  —  'a  beautiful  drink,'  the  men 
used  to  say  —  disappeared  rapidly  among  them. 

"  After  the  men's  wounds  were  attended   to, 
we  went  round  giving  them  clean  clothes ;  had 


acts  of  kindness  and  self-denial  were  almost  en 
tirely  confined  to  the  women. 

"  Few  good  things  can  be  said  of  the  Gettysburg 
farmers,  and  I  only  use  Scripture  language  in 
calling  them  '  evil  beasts.'  One  of  this  kind 
came  creeping  into  our  camp  three  weeks  after 
the  battle.  He  lived  five  miles  only  from  the 
town,  and  had  '  never  seen  a  rebel.'  He  heard 
we  had  some  of  them,  and  came  down  to  see 
them.  '  Boys,'  we  said,  marching  him  into  the 
tent,  which  happened  to  be  full  of  rebels  that 


basins  and  soap  and  towels  ;  and  followed  these  I  day  waiting  for  the  train,  '  boys,  here's  a  man 
with  socks,  slippers,  shirts,  drawers,  and  those  who  never  saw  a  rebel  in  his  life,  and  wants  to 
coveted  dressing-gowns.  Such  pride  as  they  felt  look  at  you ; '  and  there  he  stood  with  his  mouth 
in  them  —  comparing  colors,  and  smiling  all  over  |  wide  open,  and  there  they  lay  in  rows,  laugh- 
as  they  lay  m  clean  and  comfortable  rows  ready  j  ing  at  him,  stupid  old  Dutchman.  'And  why 

for  supper,  «  on  dress  parade,'  they  used  to  say.  [  haven't  you  seen  a  rebel  ?  '  Mrs. said ;  '  why 

And  then  the  milk,  particularly  if  it  were  boiled  j  didn't  you  take  your  gun  and  help  to  drive  them 
and  had  a  little  whiskey  and  sugar,  and  the  bread,  out  of  your  to  ira  ?  '  'A  feller  might'er  got  hit ' 
with  butter  on  it,  and  jelly  on  the  butter  —  how  — which  reply  was  quite  too  m  ich  for  the  rebels; 


492 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


(triumphantly)  I  left  my  bread  in  the  oven.' 
id    why    didn't  you   go    before?'     '  O,  you 


they  roared  with  laughter  at  him,  up  and  down 
the  tent.  One  woman  w«  saw,  who  was  by  no 
means  Dutch,  and  whose  pluck  helped  to  redeem 
the  other  sex.  She  lived  in  a  little  house  close  up 
by  the  field  where  the  hardest  fighting  was  done, 
a  red-checked,  strong,  country  girl.  '  Were  you 
frightened  when  the  shells  began  flying  P  '  '  Well, 
no  ;  you  see  we  was  all  a  baking  bread  round  here 
fo?  the  soldiers,  and  had  our  dough  a  rising. 
The  neighbors  they  ran  into  their  cellars,  but  I 
couldn't  leave  my  bread.  When  the  first  shell 
came  in  at  the  window,  and  crashed  through  the 
room,  an  officer  came  and  said,  "  You  had  better 
get  out  of  this,"  but  I  told  him  I  could  not  leave 
my  bread,  and  I  stood  working  it  till  the  third 
shell  came  through,  and  then  I  went  down  cellar, 
but 

'And  why  didn't  you  go 
see,  if  I  had,  the  rebels  would  have  come  in  and 
daubed  the  dough  all  over  the  place.'  And  here 
she  had  stood,  at  the  risk  of  unwelcome  plums 
in  her  loaves,  while  great  holes,  which  we  saw, 
were  made  by  shot  and  shell  through  and  through 
the  room  in  which  she  was  working. 

"  The  streets  of  Gettysburg  were  filled  with  the 
battle.  People  thought  and  talked  of  nothing 
else  ;  even  the  children  showed  their  little  spites 
by  calling  to  each  other,  '  Here,  you  rebel  ! '  and 
mere  scraps  of  boys  amused  themselves  with  per 
cussion  caps  and  hammers.  Hundreds  of  old 
m  iskets  were  piled  on  the  pavements,  the  meiT 
who  shouldered  them  a  week  before  lying  under 
ground  now,  or  helping  to  fill  the  long  trains  of 
Ambulances  on  their  way  from  the  field.  The  pri 
vate  houses  of  the  town  were,  many  of  them, 
hospitals ;  the  little  red  flags  hung  from  the  up 
per  windows. 

"  Besides  our  own  men  at  the  Lodge,  we  all  had 
soldiers  scattered  about  whom  we  could  help 
from  our  supplies ;  and  nice  little  puddings  and 
jellies,  or  an  occasional  chicken,  were  a  great 
treat  to  men  condemned  by  their  wounds  to  stay 
in  Gettysburg,  and  obliged  to  live  on  what  the 
empty  town  could  provide.  There  was  a  Colonel 
in  a  shoe  shop,  a  Captain  just  up  the  street,  and 
a  private  round  the  corner  (whose  young  sister 
had  possessed  herself  of  him,  overcoming  the 
military  rules  in  some  way,  and  carrying  him  off 
to  a  little  room,  all  by  himself,  where  I  found  her 
doing  her  best  with  very  little).  She  came  after 
wards  to  our  tent,  and  got  for  him  clean  clothes 
and  good  food,  and  all  he  wanted,  and  was  per 
fectly  happy  in  being  his  cook,  washerwoman, 
medical  cadet,  and  nurse.  Besides  such  as  these, 
we  occasionally  carried  from  our  supplies  some 
thing  to  the  churches,  which  were  filled  with  sick 
and  wounded,  and  where  men  were  dying,  —  men 
whose  strong  patience  it  was  very  hard  to  bear,  — 
dying  with  thoughts  of  the  old  home  far  away, 
saying,  as  last  words  for  the  woman  watching 
there,  and  waiting  with  a  patience  equal  in  its 
strength,  '  Tell  her  I  love  her  ! ' 

"  Late  one  afternoon  —  too  late  for  the  cars  —  a 
train  of  ambulances  arrived  at  our  lodge  with 
over  one  hundred  wounded  rebels  to  be  cared  for 
through  the  night.  Only  one  among  them  seemed 


too  weak  and  faint  to  take  anything.  He  wis 
badly  hurt  and  failing.  I  went  to  him  after  his 
wound  was  dressed,  and  found  him  hing  on  his 
blanket,  stretched  over  the  straw  —  a  fair-haired, 
blue-eyed  young  Lieutenant  —  a  face  innocent 
enough  for  one  of  cur  own  New  England  boys.  1 
could  not  think  of  him  as  a  r^bel.  He  was  too 
near  heaven  for  that.  He  we  a  ted  nothing  —  had 
not  been  willing  to  eat  for  days,  his  comrades 
said  —  but  I  coaxed  him  to  try  a  little  milk  gruel, 
flavored  nicely  with  lemon  and  brandy;  and  one 
of  the  satisfactions  of  our  three  weeks  is  the 
remembrance  of  the  empty  cup  I  took  away 
afterwards,  and  his  perfect  enjoyment  of  that 
supper.  '  It  was  so  good  —  the  best  thing  he 
had  had  since  he  was  wounded  ; '  and  he  thanked 
me  so  much,  and  talked  about  his  '  good  supper ' 
for  hours.  Poor  creature !  he  had  had  no  care, 
and  it  was  a  surprise  and  pleasure  to  find  himself 
thought  of;  so,  in  a  pleased,  child-like  way,  he 
talked  about  it  till  midnight,  the  attendant  told 
me,  —  as  long  as  he  spoke  of  anything ;  for  at 
midnight  the  change  came,  and  from  that  time  he 
only  thought  of  the  old  days  before  he  was  a  sol 
dier,  when  he  sang  hymns  in  his  father's  church. 
He  sang  them  now  again,  in  a  clear,  sweet  voice : 
'  Lord,  have  mercy  upon  me;'  and  then  songs 
without  words  —  a  sort  of  low  intoning.  His 
father  was  a  Lutheran  clergyman  in  South  Caro 
lina,  one  of  the  rebels  told  us  in  the  morning, 
when  we  went  into  the  tent  to  find  him  gliding 
out  of  our  care.  All  day  long  we  watched  him  — 
sometimes  fighting  his  battles  over  —  oftener 
singing  his  Lutheran  chants  —  till  in  at  the  tent 
door,  close  to  which  he  lay,  looked  a  rebel  soldier, 
'just  arrived  with  other  prisoners.  He  started 
when  he  saw  the  Lieutenant,  and,  quickly  kneel 
ing  doAvn  by  him,  called,  '  Henry  !  Henry  ! ' — 
but  Henry  was  looking  at  some  one  a  great  way 
off,  and  could  not  hear  him. 

"  '  Do  you  know  this  soldier  ? '  we  said. 

"  '  O,  yes,  ma'am  !  and  his  brother  is  wounded, 
and  a  prisoner,  too,  in  the  cars  now.' 

"Two  or  three  men  started  after  him,  found  him, 
and  half  carried  him  from  the  cars  to  our  tent. 
'  Henry'  did  not  know  him,  though,  and  he 
threw  himself  down  by  his  side  on  the  straw,  and 
for  the  rest  of  the  day  lay  in  a  sort  of  apathy, 
without  speaking,  except  to  assure  himself  that 
he  could  stay  with  his  brother  without  the  risk 
of  being  separated  from  his  fellow-priscnerV 

"And  there  the  brothers  lay,  and  there  we, 
strangers,  sat  watching,  and  listening  to  the 
strong,  clear  voice,  singing,  '  Lord,  have  mercy 
upon  me.'  The  Lord  had  mercy,  and  at  sunsel  I 
put  my  hand  on  the  Lieutenant's  heart  to  find  it 
siill! 

"  All  night  the  brother  lay  close  against  (Ike 
coffin,  and  in  the  morning  he  went  away  with  bis 
comrades,  leaving  us  to  bury  Henry,  having  'con 
fidence,'  but  first  thanking  us  for  what  we  hud 
done,  and  giving  us  all  that  he  had  to  show  hia 
gratitude  —  the  palmetto  ornament  from  Jus 
brother's  cap,  and  a  button  from  his  coat. 

"Dr.  W.  read  the  burial  service  that  morning  at 
the  grave,  an  1 wrote  hia  name  on  the  little 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


493 


head-board :  '  Lieutenant.  Rauch,  Fourteenth  Ee- 
giment  South  Carolina  Volunteers.' 

"  In  the  field  where  we  buried  him,  a  number  of 
colored  freedmen,  working  for  Government,  on 
the  railroad,  had  their  camp,  and  every  night 
they  took  their  recreation,  after  the  heavy  work 
of  the  day  was  over,  in  prayer  meetings.  Such 
an  « inferior  race/  you  know !  We  went  over 
one  night  and  listened  for  an  hour,  while  they 
sang,  collected  under  the  fly  of  a  tent,  a  table  in 
the  middle,  where  the  leader  sat,  and  benches 
all  round  the  sides  for  the  congregation,  —  men 
only,  —  all  very  black  and  very  earnest.  They 
prayed  with  all  their  souls,  as  only  black  men  and 
slaves  can,  for  themselves  and  for  the  dear  white 
people,  who  had  come  over  to  the  meeting,  and 
for  '  Massa  Lincoln,'  for  whom  they  seemed  to 
have  a  reverential  affection,  some  of  them  a  sort 
of  worship,  which  confused  Father  Abraham  and 
Massa  Abraham  in  one  general  call  for  blessings. 
Whatever  else  they  asked  for,  they  must  have 
strength  and  comfort  and  blessing  for  '  Massa 
Lincoln.'  Very  little  care  was  taken  of  these 
poor  men.  Those  who  were  ill,  during  our  stay, 
were  looked  after  by  one  of  the  officers  of  the 
Commission.  They  were  grateful  for  every  little 

thing.  Mrs. went  into  the  town  and  hunted 

up  several  dozen  bright  handkerchiefs,  hemmed 
them,  and  sent  them  over  to  be  distributed  the 
next  night  after  meeting.  They  were  put  on  the 
table  in  the  tent,  and  one  by  one  the  men  came 
up  to  get  them.  Purple,  and  blue,  and  yellow, 
the  handkerchiefs  were,  and  the  desire  of  every 
man's  heart  fastened  itself  on  a  yellow  one  ; 
they  politely  made  way  for  each  other,  one 
man  standing  back  to  let  another  pass  up  first, 
although  he  ran  the  risk  of  seeing  the  particular 
pumpkin  color  that  riveted  his  eyes  taken  from 
before  them.  When  the  distribution  was  over, 
each  man  tied  his  head  up  in  his  handkerchief 
and  sang  one  more  hymn,  keeping  time  all  round, 
with  blue  and  purple  and  yellow  nods,  and  thank 
ing  and  blessing  the  white  people,  in  *  their  bas 
ket  and  in  their  store,'  as  much  as  if  the  cotton 
handkerchiefs  had  all  been  gold  leaf.  One  man 
came  over  to  our  tent  next  day  to  say  :  '  Missus, 
was  it  you  who  sent  me  that  present  ?  I  never 
toad  anything  so  beautiful  in  all  my  life  before  ; ' 
and  he  only  had  a  blue  one,  too. 

"  Among  our  wounded  soldiers,  one  night,  came 
an  elderly  man,  sick,  wounded,  and  crazy,  singing 
and  talking  about  home.  We  did  what  we  could 
for  him,  and  pleased  him  greatly  with  a  present 
of  a  red  flannel  shirt,  drawers,  and  red  calico 
dressing-gown,  all  of  which  he  -needed,  and  in 
which  he  dressed  himself  up,  and  then  wrote  a 
letter  to  his  wife,  made  it  into  a  little  book  with 
gingham  covers,  and  gave  it  to  one  of  the  gentle 
men  to  mail  for  him.  The  next  morning  he  was 
sent  on  writh  the  company  from  the  Lodge,  and 
that  evening  two  tired  women  came  into  our 
camp  —  his  wife  and  sister,  who  hurried  on  from 
their  home  to  meet  him,  arriving  just  too  late. 
Fortunately  we  had  the  queer  little  gingham  book 
to  identify  him  by,  and  when  some  one  said,  '  It 
is  the  man,  you  know,  who  screamed  so,'  the  poor 


wife  was  certain  about  him.     He  had  been  crazy 
before  the  war,  but  not  for  two  years,  now,  she 
i  said.     He  had  been  fretting  for  home  since  he 
!  was  hurt,  and  when  the  doctor  told  him  there  W,T« 
i  no  chance  of  being  sent  there,  he  lost  heart,  and 
wrote  to  his  wife  to  come  and  carry  him  a^x  ay. 
It  seemed  almost  hopeless  for  two  lone  women, 
who  had  never  been  out  of  t'leir  own  little  town, 
to  succeed  in  finding  a  sohLer  among  so  many, 
sent  in  so  many  different  directions  ;  but  we  helped 
them  as  we  could,  and  started  them  on  their  jour 
ney  the  next  morning,  back  on  their  track,  to  use' 
their  common   sense   and  Yankee   privilege   of 
questioning. 

"  A  week  after,  Mrs. had  a  letter,  full  of 

gratitude,  and  saying  that  the  husband  was  found 
and  secured  for  home.  That  same  night  we  had 
in  our  tents  two  fathers,  with  their  wounded  sons, 
and  a  nice  old  German  mother  with  her  boy.  She 
had  come  in  from  Wisconsin,  and  brought  with 
her  a  patch-work  bed-quilt  for  her  son,  thinking 
he  might  have  lost  his  blanket ;  and  there  he  lay, 
all  covered  up  in  his  quilt,  looking  so  home-like, 
and  feeling  so  too,  no  doubt,  with  his  good  old 
mother  close  at  his  side.  She  seemed  bright  and 
happy  —  had  three  sons  in  the  army,  one  had 
been  killed,  this  one  wounded  —  yet  she  was  so 
pleased  with  the  tents,  and  the  care  she  saw  taken 
there  of  the  soldiers,  that  while  taking  her  tea 
from  a  barrel-head  as  table,  she  said,  '  Indeed, 
if  she  was  a  man,  she'd  be  a  soldier  too, 
right  off.' 

"  For  this  temporary  sheltering  and  feeding  of 
all  these  wounded  men,  Government  could  make 
no  provision.     There  was  nothing  for  them,  if 
too  late  for  the  cars,  except  the  open  field  and 
hunger,  in  preparation  for  their  fatiguing  journey. 
It  is  expected,  when  the  cars  are  ready,  that  the 
men  will  be  promptly  sent  to  meet  them ;  and 
Government  cannot  provide  for  mistakes  and  de 
lays  ;  so  that,  but  for  the  Sanitary  Commission's 
Lodge  and  comfortable  supplies,  for  which  the 
wounded  are  indebted  to  the  hard    workers   at 
home,  men  badly  hurt  must  have  suffered  night 
and  day  while  waiting  for  the  '  next  train.'     We 
had,  on  an  average,  sixty  of  such  men  each  night, 
for  three  weeks,  under  our  care ;  sometimes  one 
hundred,  sometimes  only  thirty;    and   with   the 
'  delegation,'  and   the   help  of  other   gentlemen 
volunteers,  who  all  worked  devotedly  for  the  men, 
the  whole  thing  was  a  great  success  ;  and  you,  and 
I  all  of  us,  can't  help  being  thankful  that  we  had  a 
share,  however  small,  in  making  it  so.     Sixteen 
thousand  good  meals  were  given;  hundreds  of  men 
kept  through  the  day,  and  twelve  hundred  shel 
tered  at  night,  their  wounds  dressed,  their  supper 
<  and  breakfast  secured,  rebels  and  all.     You  will 
!  not,  I  am  sure,  regret  that  these  most  wretched 
:  men,    these    *  enemies,'    •  sick,   and    in   prison,' 
!  were  helped  and  cared  for,  through  your  Biipplis*, 
,  though  certainly  they  were  not  in  your  minds 
j  when  you  packed  your  barrels  and  boxes.     The 
•  clothing  we  reserved  for  our  own  men,  except, 
now  and  then,  when  a  shivering  rebel  needed  it  j 
but  in  feeding  them,  we  could  make  no  distinc- 
:  tion.     It  was  curious  to  see,  amc  ng  our  workers 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


at  the  Lodge,  the  disgust  and  horror  felt  for  reb 
els  giving  place  to  the  kindest  feeling  for  wounded 
men. 

"  Our  three  weeks  were  coming  to  an  end  ;  the 
work  of  transporting  the  wounded  was  nearly 
over  ,•  twice  daily  we  had  filled  and  emptied  our 
f  ints,  and  twice  fed  the  trains  before  the  long 
•ourney.  The  men  came  in  slowly  at  the  last,  a 
Lieutenant,  all  the  way  from  Oregon,  being  among 
the  very  latest.  He  came  down  from  the  corps 
hospitals  (now  greatly  improved),  having  lost  one 
foot,  poor  fellow,  dressed  in  a  full  suit  of  the 
Commission's  cotton  clothes,  just  as  bright  and 
as  cheerful  as  the  first  man,  and  all  the  men  that 
we  received,  had  been.  We  never  heard  a  com 
plaint.  '  Would  he  like  a  little  nice  soup  P ' 
4  Well,  no,  thank  you,  ma'am ; '  hesitating  and 
polite.  'You  have  a  long  ride  before  you,  and 
had  better  take  a  little ;  I'll  just  bring  it,  and 
you  can  try.'  So  the  good  thick  soup  came.  He 
took  a  very  little  in  the  spoon  to  please  me,  and 
afterwards  the  whole  cupful  to  please  himself. 
He  '  did  not  think  it  was  this  kind  of  soup  I 
meant.  He  had  some  in  camp,  and  did  not  think 
he  cared  for  any  more  ;  his  "  cook "  was  a  very 
email  boy,  though,  who  just  put  some  meat  in  a 
little  water,  and  stirred  it  round.'  *  Would  you 
like  a  handkerchief  ?'  and  I  produced  our  last  one, 
with  a  hem  and  cologne  too.  '  O,  yes  ;  that  is 
what  I  need ;  I  have  lost  mine,  and  was  just  bor 
rowing  this  gentleman's.'  So  the  Lieutenant,  the 
last  man,  was  made  comfortable,  thanks  to  all  of 
you,  though  he  had  but  one  foot  to  carry  him  on 
nb  long  journey  home. 

:<  Four  thousand  soldiers,  too  badly  hurt  to  be 
mjved,  were  still  left  in  Gettysburg,  cared  for 
kindly  and  well  at  the  large  new  Government  hos 
pital,  with  a  Sanitary  Commission  attachment. 
Our  vrork  was  over,  our  tents  were  struck,  and 
we  came  away  after  a  flourish  of  trumpets  from 
two  military  bands,  who  filed  down  to  our  door, 
and  gave  us  a  farewell —  '  lied,  white,  and  blue.'  " 


FAREWELL  TO  BROTHER   JONATHAN.* 

BY    CAROLINE. 

FAREWELL  !  we  must  part ;  we  have  turned  from 

the  land 

Of  our  cold-hearted  brother  with  tyrannous  hand, 
Who  assumed  all  our  rights  as  a  favor  to  grant, 
And  whose  smile  ever  covered  the  sting  of  a  taunt ; 

Who  breathed  on  the  fame  he  was  bound  to  de 
fend,  — 

Still  the  craftiest  foe,  'neath  the  guise  of  a  friend,  — 

Who  believed  that  our  bosoms  would  bleed  at  a 
touch, 

Yet  could  never  believe  he  could  goad  them  too 
much  ; 

Whose  conscience  affects  to  be  seared  with  our  sin, 
Yet-  is  plasti  j  to  take  all  its  benefits  in  ; 
The  mote  in  our  eye  so  enormous  has  grown, 
That  he  never  perceives  there's  a  beam  in  his  own. 

*  A  reply  to  "Brother  Jonathan's  Farewell  to  Sis 
ter  Caroline."    See  ante. 


O,  Jonathan,  Jonathan  !  vassal  of  pelf, 
Self-righteous,  self- glorious,  yes,  every  inch  sel£ 
Your  loyalty  now  is  all  bluster  and  boast, 
But  was  dumb  when  the  foeraen  invaded  our  coast, 

In  vain  did  your  country  appeal  to  you  then  ; 
You  coldly  refused  her  your  money  and  men  ; 
Your  trade  interrupted,  you  slunk  from  her  wars, 
And  preferred  British  gold  to  the  Stripe?   and  the 
Stars ! 

Then    our   generous   blood  was  as  water    poured 

forth, 
And  the  sons  of  the  South  were  the  shields  of  the 

North  ; 

Nor  our  patriot  ardor  one  moment  gave  o'er, 
Till  the  foe  you  had  fed  we  had  driven  from  the 

shore  ! 

Long   years    we   have    suffered    opprobrium    and 

wrong, 

But  we  clung  to  your  side  with  affection  so  strong, 
That  at  last,  in  mere  wanton  aggression,  you  broke 
All  the  ties  of  our  hearts  with  one  murderous 

stroke. 

We  are  tired  of  contest  for  what  is  our  own  ; 
We  are  sick  of  a  strife  that  could  never  be  done  ; 
Thus  our  love  has  died  out,  and  its  altars  are  dark, 
Not  Prometheus'  self  could  rekindle  the  spark. 

0,  Jonathan,  Jonathan  !  deadly  the  sin 
Of  your  tigerish  thirst  for  the  blood  of  your  kin  ; 
And  shameful  the  spirit  that  gloats  over  wives 
And  maidens  despoiled  of  their  honor  and  lives  ! 

Your  palaces  rise  from  the  fruits  of  our  toil ; 
Your  millions  are  fed  from  the  wealth  of  our  soil ; 
The   balm    of   our   air  brings  the  health  to   your 

cheek, 
And  our  hearts  are  aglow  with  the  welcome  we 

speak. 

O  brother  !  beware  how  you  seek  us  again, 

Lest  you   brand   on  your  forehead  the  signet  of 

Cain  ; 
That  blood  and  that  crime  on  your  conscience  must 

sit: 
We  may  fall  —  we  may  perish  —  but  never  submit ! 

The  pathway  that  leads  to  the  Pharisee's  door 
We  remember,  indeed,  but.  we  tread  it  no  more  ; 
Preferring  to  turn,  with  the  Publican's  faith, 
To    the  path  through   the  valley  and  shadow  of 
death ! 


A  SAMTAEY  INCIDENT. — A  member  of  one  of 
the  Hospital  Aid  Societies  called  upon  an  elderly 
widow  lady,  and,  stating  the  object  of  her  mission, 
was  responded  to  in  the  following  words  :  ".It  is 
but  little  I  can  do  for  you,  but  1  have  an  old 
sheet  that  has  been  used  but  very  little,  although 
it  was  woven  with  my  own  hands  more  than  sixty 
years  ago,  which,  if  torn  up  properly,  will  make 
excellent  bandages.  The  amount  of  the  gift  is 
not  much,  but  it  is  my  desire  that  this  relic  of 
my  earlier  days  shall  be  used  for  that  purpose." 
Although  the  day  of  the  spinning-wheel  and 
hand-loom  has  vanished,  yet  how  clearly  one  is 
remVded  of  old  r evolutionary  times,  when  our 


ANECDOTES     POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


495 


mothers  part  with  some  trivial  article  which  they 
have  so  long  treasured,  that  il  may  bind  up  the 
bleeding  wounds  of  our  brave  comrades  in  battle. 


THF  CHRISTIAN  SOLDIER.  —  After  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg,  a  soldier  lay  in  a  house  by  the 
roadside,  dying.  A  Major-General  drove  up  to 
ihe  door.  His  orderly  took  his  horse.  He  got 
off,  went  in,  and  sat' down  by  the  dying  man's 
side.  Taking  out  a  little  book,  he  read  from  it, 
"  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled  :  ye  believe  in 
God,  believe  also  in  me  :  in  my  Father's  house  are 
many  mansions."  He  then  knelt  down  and 
offered  up  a  prayer  to  God  for  that  dying  soldier. 
Arising  from  his  knees,  he  bent  over  and  kissed 
him,  and  said,  with  loving  accents,  "  Captain  G — , 
we  shall  meet  in  heaven."  He  then  rode  off. 
That  General  was  Major-General  Howard,  of 
Maine ! 

A  LETTER  FROM  FLORIDA.  —  The  following 
letter  from  a  gentleman  of  high  standing,  and  de 
cidedly  the  most  able  lawyer  in  Florida,  humor 
ous  and  unguarded  as  it  is,  casts  much  light  on 
the  state  of  feeling  and  condition  of  things  in  the 
South  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1861  : 

"JACKSONVILLE,  FLA.,  Oct.  Ifi,  18f,l. 

"  MOST  HIGH,  MOST  MIGHTY,  AND  MOST  PUIS 
SANT  ANTirouE :  Sometimes  a  vessel  manages 
to  run  over  from  Savannah  or  elsewhere  to  Nas 
sau,  New  Providence,  and  with  the  expectation 
tbat  one  will  be  going  from  thence  in  a  few  days, 
1  think  proper  to  try  and  report  myself.  If  there 
fore  this  should  ever  reach  you,  be  pleased  to 
understand  that  I  and  all  my  household  are  well. 
Notwithstanding  the  whole  South  seems  to  be 
turned  into  a  military  camp,  I  have  been  of  late, 
and  still  am,  much  occupied  in  professional  mat 
ters,  and  I  write  this  under  the  influence  of  whip 
and  spur,  for  I  am  to  be  off  to-morrow  morning 
to  St.  Augustine  to  attend  the  Confederate  court, 
where  divers  cases  and  questions  of  prize,  seques 
tration.  <£:c.,  must  be  discussed  and  disposed  of; 
and  as  there  is  now  not  a  solitary  lawyer  re 
maining  there,  no,  not  even  ,  there  is  no  libra 
ry,  and  I  must  select  my  books  and  authorities, 
and  lug  them  along,  for  in  these  days  of  distrust 
and  conceit,  no  court  is  going  to  believe  the  law 
is  so  and  so,  merely  because  I  say  so.  It  must 
be  read  from  a  book,  printed  paper,  bound  in 
sheep  or  calf,  manufactured  by  asses  ;  becomes  an 
oracle,  and  reason,  principle,  and  common  sense 
are  silenced  and  laughed  out  of  countenance. 
Well,  I  am  in  a  hurry,  but  I  write  you  a  line  to 

say  G'M!  bless  you.     I  hope  you  and    Mrs.  

are  well,  and  I  want  to  propose  to  you,  if  this  d — d 
war  continues,  to  go  out  to  Nassau  this  winter  to 
avoid  the  cold;  and  if  you  will,  I  will  promise 
positively  to  go  over  from  here  and  visit  you. 
Now  do  it.  The  British  steamers,  you  know,  be 
tween  Havana  and  New  York,  stop  at  Nassau 
twice  a  month  ;  and  I  need  not  tell  you  how  much 
ifiore  comfortable  they  are  in  every  way  than  an 


American  steamer.  Pray  take  my  advice  for 
once  ;  and  do  another  thing ;  write  me  when  you 
get  this,  and  as  often  as  you  may  find  time,  and 

enclose  your  letter  for  me  to  Mrs. ,  Nassau, 

New  Providence.  She,  Mrs. ,  with  all  her 

family,  removed  there  last  winter ;  and  she  will 
always  know  when  any  vessel  is  leaving  there  for 
any  part  of  the  Southern  coast,  especially  Florida, 
and  will  forward  any  letters  to  me. 

"  The  last  I  heard  from  you  was  yours  of  the 
16th  July,  enclosed  to  Mr.  Reed.  How  many 
times,  and  when,  I  wrote  you  I  have  no  recollec 
tion,  and  whether  any  of  them  got  through  no 
body  knows.  Your  kind  solicitude  for  me  moved 
me  greatly ;  but  it  should  not,  for  it  was  only  the 
expression  of  a  warm  and  generous  friendship 
which  I  knew  you  entertained  for  me  as  well  be 
fore  as  then.  Alas  !  I  have  nothing  to  offer  you. 
All  that  I  could,  at  any  time,  was,  indifferent  ac 
commodations,  with  a  better  climate  than  you 
had  at  home.  Fate,  Providence,  or  the  devil,  in 
terfered  last  year,  and  retained  you  in  arctic 
quarters.  Now  take  my  advice :  take  the  reins 

into  your  own  hands,  or  let  Mrs. have  them, 

which  is,  perhaps,  still  better,  and  pack  up  early, 
and  go  out  to  Nassau.  I  don't  know  much  about 
the  place ;  but  I  do  know  the  climate  is  warm 
there  ;  and,  moreover,  it  is  English,  and  accord 
ing  to  my  experience  it  is  more  safe,  comfortable, 
respectable,  and  quiet  among  the  English,  wher 
ever  they  govern,  than  with  any  other  people  on 
the  earth.  And,  although  that  is  a  matter  of 
little  consequence,  I  presume  living  in  Nassau  is 
cheap.  I  should  like  to  live  there  a  while,  how 
ever,  just  for  economy's  sake.  Pray,  have  you 
any  idea  of  our  prices  here  ?  Pork  fifty  dollars 
per  barrel ;  butter  fifty  cents  per  pound  ;  lard  forty 
cents.  I  have  paid  these  prices  this  day.  Soap 
also  thirty-five  cents  per  pound  ;  and,  in  short, 
pretty  much  everything  else  in  the  same  ratio, 
except,  perhaps,  flour.  But  we  don't  seern  to 
mind  it  —  except  that  it  seems  to  me  it  makes 
us  hungry,  for  I  can  swear  we  eat  more  than  we 
ever  did  in  peaceable  times.  We  have  raised 
this  season  abundant  crops  of  all  kinds  of  pro 
visions  in  the  South.  This  is  attributed  to 
Providence ;  but  I  understand  He  has  done  the 
same  thing  for  our  enemies.  His  position,  there 
fore,  is  not  very  well  defined.  Although  I  am 
well  satisfied,  if  the  real  truth  could  be  got  at, 
He  is  on  our  side,  still  I  am  inclined  to  think 
that  the  making  of  our  crop  for  this  year  He  left 
pretty  much  to  our  niggers.  I  mean  to  say,  that 
if  it  hadn't  been  for  the  niggers,  I  don't*  think 
much  of  a  crop  would  have  been  made. 

"  Well,  1  cannot  tell  you  how  much  I  wish  that 
you  and  Mrs. could  come  and  pass  the  win 
ter  with  us.  We  could  go  boating  (when  there 
was  no  wind).  We  could  go  down  to  the  bar,  or 
to  Indian  lliver,  or  to  Cedar  Keys,  and  eat  oys 
ters,  and  do,  in  fact,  whatever  we  pleased.  As 
it  is,  I  don't  believe  this  war  can  last  till  spring ; 
now  mark  my  word.  It  can't  last,  and  there  is 
no  reason  on  earth  why  it  should.  No  matter  — 
you  and  I  cannot  now  discuss  it ;  but  the  fact  is, 
it  cannot  in  my  judgment  last." 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.* 


BY    JOHN    G.    WHITTIER. 

UP  from  the  meadows  rich  with  corn, 
Clear  in  the  cool  September  morn, 

The  clustered  spires  of  Frederick  stand 
Green.- walled  by  the  hills  of  Maryland. 

Round  about  them  orchards  sweep, 
Apple  and  peach  .tree  fruited  deep, 

Fair  as  the  garden  of  the  Lord, 

To  the  eyes  of  the  famished  rebel  horde, 

On  that  pleasant  morn- of  the  early  fall 
When  Lee  marched  over  the  mountain  wall, 

Over  the  mountains  winding  down, 
Horse  and  foot,  into  Frederick  town. 

Forty  flags  with  their  silver  stars, 
Forty  flags  with  their  crimson  bars, 

Flapped  in  the  morning  wind  :  the  sun 
Of  noon  looked  down  and  saw  not  one. 

Up  rose  Barbara  Fritchie  then, 

Bowed  with  her  fourscore  years  and  ten  ; 

Bravest  of  all  in  Frederick  town, 

She  took  up  the  flag  the  men  hauled  down ; 

In  her  attic-window  the  staff  she  set, 
To  show  that  one  heart  was  loyal  yet. 

Up  the  street  came  the  rebel  tread, 


Under  his  slouched  hat  left  and  right 
He  glanced  :  the  old  flag  met  his  sight. 

'«  Halt !  "  —  the  dust-brown  ranks  stood  fast. 
"  Fire  ! '* —  out  blazed  the  rifle-blast. 

It  shivered  the  window,  pane,  and  sash  ; 
It  rent  the  banner  with  seam  and  gash. 

Quick,  as  it  fell,  from  the  broken  staff 
Dame  Barbara  snatched  the  silken  scarf; 

She  leaned  far  out  on  the  window  sill, 
And  shook  it  forth  with  a  royal  will. 

"  Shoot,  if  you  must,  this  old  gray  head, 
But  spare  your  country's  flag,"  she  said. 

A  shade  of  sadness,  a  blush  of  shame, 
Over  the  face  of  the  leader  came ; 

The  nobler  nature  within  him  stirred 
To  life  at  that  woman's  deed  and  word : 

"  Who  touches  a  hair  of  yon  gray  head 
Dies  like  a  dog  !    March  on  !  "  he  said. 

All  day  long  through  Frederick  street 
Sounded  the  tread  of  marching  feet. 

All  day  long  that  free  flag  tost 
Over  the  heads  of  the  rebel  host. 

+  The  incident  upon  which  this  ballad  is  founded 
took  place  literally  as  it  is  told  by  the  poet  upon  the 
occupation  of  Frederick,  in  Maryland,  on  the  second 
march  northward  of  the  insurgent  forces. 


Ever  its  torn  folds  rose  and  fell 

On  the  loyal  winds  that  loved  it  well ; 

And  through  the  hill-gaps  sunset  light 
Shone  over  it  with  a  warm  good  night. 

Barbara  Fritchie's  work  is  o'er, 

And  the  rebel  rides  on  his  raids  no  more. 

Honor  to  her  !   and  let  a  tear 

Fall  for  her  sake  on  Stonewall's  bier. 

Over  Barbara  Fritchie's  grave, 
Flag  of  Freedom  and  Union,  wave  ! 

Peace  and  order  and  beauty  draw 
Round  thy  symbol  of  light  and  law  ; 

And  ever  the  stars  above  look  down 
On  thy  stars  below  in  Frederick  town ! 


INCIDENT  OF  SHERMAN'S  MARCH. —  General 
Howard,  in  a  speech  at  the  celebration  of  the 
Christian  Commission,  related  the  following  little 
occurrence  after  the  battle  of  Chattanooga.  "  My 
corps,  with  Sherman's,"  said  he,  "  had  been  in 
pursuit  of  the  enemy  three  days.  We  had 
marched  nearly  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles, 
and  then  marched  back  again.  The  result  of  it 
was,  that  our  clothes  and  our  shoes  were  worn 
out ;  the  men  had  scarcely  any  blankets  to  cover 
them,  or  pants  to  wear.  They  were  toiling  along 
on  their  journey  home.  Just  as  we  had  passed 
through  the  mountain  ridge,  the  division  com 
mander,  thinking  that  the  men  had  marched  far 
enough  for  one  day,  put  them  comfortably  into 
camp,  told  them  to"  make  their  coffee,  and'  then 
sent  word  to  me  to  know  if  they  had  permission 
to  remain  there  during  the  night.  It  was  raining 
hard,  very  hard.  It  was  a  severe  storm.  But  I 
knew  the  position  was  an  improper  one.  It  was 
not  the  fulfilment  of  my  orders.  I  sent  back 
word.  '  No  ;  march  forward  to  Tungsten's  Sta 
tion.  March!'  It  was  dark  —  it  was  cold  —  it 
was  stormy.  The  poor  men  had  to  be  turned  out 
once  more,  to  march.  Notwithstanding  their 
labor,  notwithstanding  their  toil  and  fatigue,  they 
marched.  '  What  did  they  do  ?  how  did  they 
take  it  ? '  do  you  ask  ?  They  took  it  as  I  hope 
you  will  take  my  speech.  They  went  singing, 
singing,  singing  along  the  route  —  noble,  patient 
fellows !  —  without  a  complaining  word." 


PUT  IT  IN  GOLD  LETTERS.  —  A  few  day?  af 
ter  the  fight  at  Skerry,  near  Charleston,  Kanaw- 
ria,  Virginia,  two  or  three  Yankee  officers  visited 
ihe  house  of  a  Mr.  Fry,  who  had  been  driven 
?rom  his  home  by  the  enemy.  A  daughter  of 
Mr.  Fry  saw  them  approaching  through  the  gate,, 
and  confronted  them  in  the  porch,  with  a  demand 
;o  know  their  business.  They  stated  they  were 
.ooking  for  secession  flags,  and  heard  there  M  ere 
some  there. 

'Brave  men,"  said  she  in  scorn,  "take  flags 
on  the  field  of  battle  —  cowards  only  hunt  them 
at  the  houses  of  defenceless  women.  Mine  is  in 
;he  hands  of  our  brave  volunteers ;  go  and  take 
"t  from  them."  —  Southern  paper. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


497 


A  TRUE   EXPERIENCE. 

BT    FRANK    CAIIILL. 

I  HAD  thoroughly  made  up  my  mind  to  enlist. 
The  bounty  may  have  tempted  me ;  my  young 
affections  may  have  been  blighted  ;  or,  which  is 
th?  most  likely  case,  a  friend  of  mine,  then  a 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  commanding  a  regiment,  may 
have  written  me  to  come  out,  as  promotion  was 
speedy  and  sure. 

I  knew  if  I  told  any  of  my  friends  of  my  de 
termination  to  enlist,  they  would  endeavor  to 
persuade  me  from  it  ;  so  I  kept  it  a  profound 
secret  from  all  —  at  least  all  save  two  ;  and 
how  I  came  to  tell  them  will  be  explain-ed  in 
due  time. 

I  had  a  just  appreciation  of  glory,  and  knew 
exactly  what  it  meant,  viz.,  hard  tare,  much  dis 
comfort,  and  the  chances  of  being  shot.  So  I 
shivered  on  the  brink  of  Uncle  Sam's  servitude, 
hesitating  to  take  the  final  plunge. 

Visiting  one  of  my  friends  at  his  place  cf  busi 
ness,  I  told  him  in  the  most  mysterious  manner 
that  I  wanted  to  talk  to  him  on  a  most  important 
matter. 

"  Hold  on  a  few  minutes,"  said  he.  "  I  shall 
be  through  directly." 

I  thought  those  few  minutes  were  the  longest 
I  had  ever  experienced,  so  anxious  was  I  to  make 
known  my  intention  of  enlisting.  At  last  I  heard 
the  sharp  click  of  the  clasps  of  his  ledger,  which 
he  placed  in  the  safe,  turned  the  key,  put  that  in 
his  pocket,  changed  his  coat,  —  his  hat  was  al 
ready  on,  —  and  said  he  was  ready. 

1  mentally  determined  to  defer  telling  him  till 
later  in  the  evening. 

Talking  of  almost  everything  but  soldiering, 
we  walked  about  the  streets  for  hours,  occasion 
ally  stopping  at  a  wayside  inn  to  refresh. 

At  last  Smith —  for  that  was  my  friend's  name 
—  said :  "  What  do  you  want  to  see  me  about  ?  1 
must  be  going ;  rny  wife  is  expecting  me." 

"  O,  nothing,"  I  replied  ;  "  I  just  wanted  to 
see  you,  and  have  a  little  talk ;  that  was  all  " 

But  .Smith  knew  better.  He  could  tell  by  my 
face  that  this  was  not  all ;  so  we  continued  our 
perambulations,  and  occasional  halts  for  refresh 
ments. 

Ten  o'clock  came,  and  I  was  no  nearer  telling 
him  my  intention.  I  was  so  sure  he  would  dis 
suade  me  from  it.  Smith  said  he  must  really  go  ; 
it  was  getting  so  late.  He  shook  me  by  the 
hand,  at  the  corner  of  his  block,  arid  left  me. 

"  Smith,"  I  cried,  calling  after  him  ;  "  one  mo 
ment.  I  may  not  see  you  again.  I'm  —  Tin 
going  to  enlist." 

"  Are  you  ?  "  was  all  he  said,  not  at  all  startled 
by  my  announcement.  "I  should  have  done  the 
same?  thing  myself  long  ago,  if  I  were  not  mar 
ried  " 

"  My  county  bounty,"  1  continued,  "  I  will  &end 
to  you." 

"  All  right ;  I'll  take  care  of  it." 

**  And  if  anything  happens  to  me — "  here  my 
voice  became  somewhat  emotional  —  "  give  it  to 
32 


your  little  girl,  and  tell  her  to  sometimes  think 
of  me." 

"  There'll  be  no  occasion  to  tell  her  that. 
You'll  come  back  safe  enough.  Write  often,  and 
let  me  know  how  you  are  getting  along." 

"  I  will  do  so.  Good  by ;  "  and  I  held  out  my 
hand. 

"  Good  by,"  he  responded,  shaking  it.  "  I 
wish  I  was  single,  so  1  could  accompany  you." 

"  Don't  tell  anybody  \\liere  1  have  gone." 

"  Of  course  not,  if  you  wish  me  not  to  ;  "  and 
he  was  away. 

The  next  morning  I  pr.  cerdod  to  the  recruit 
ing  office  in  the  City  Hall  Park,  ISTew  York,  for 
the  express  purpose  of  enlisting.  But  somehow 
or  other  the  bustle  and  confusion  in  Mr.  Orison 
Blunt's  recruiting  office  unnerved  me,  and  I 
thought  a  little  walk  would  do  me  good. 

My  little  walk  meant  a  tramp  to  Central  Park 
and  back,  and  occupied  seme  three  or  four  hours. 
When  I  returned  it  was  past  three:  much  to  my 
regret,  the  office  was  c.osed,  and  I  had  to  wait 
till  the  following  morning. 

This  annoyed  me  exceedingly  ;  when  I  found 
it  was  impossible  to  be  enlisted  that  day,  I  was 
the  more  anxious  to  become  a  wearer  of  the  army 
blue,  and  left  highly  irate  at  the  policy  that  closed 
a  recruiting  station  at  such  an  early  hour  in  the 
day,  thus  preventing  any  number  of  brave  de 
fenders  rushing  to  the  protection  of  their  country. 

"  It  is  an  outrage  upon  the  nation,"  I  said, 
"  and  I  will  write  to  the  papers  about  the  mat 
ter." 

But  I  didn't. 

Having  left  my  boarding-house  a  day  or  two 
before,  that  night  I  slept  at  Tammany  Hal),  and 
had  serious  thoughts  of  lying  on  the  floor,  in 
stead  of  on  the  bed,  so  as  to  accustom  myself 
to  the  hardships  of  the  tented  field.  After  try 
ing  the  iloor  for  a  few  minutes  I  concluded  that 
the  bed  was  the  more  comfortable  ;  so  into  it  I 
turned. 

At  the  time  I  enlisted,  fifteen  dollars  hand, 
money  was  given  to  all  who  brought  a  recruit. 
Laboring  under  the  impression  I  should  prefer 
a  friend  receiving  the  money,  rather  than  a. 
stranger,  I  hunted  one  up,  and  told  him  I  wished 
to  put  fifteen  dollars  in  his  pocket. 

"  You're  just  the  man  I  wanted  to  see,"  said: 
he;  "but  how?" 

"  I  am  going  to  enlist." 

"  You  don't  tell  me !  My  gracious  !  "  exclaimed, 
Jim,  opening  his  eyes  with  astonishment.  "  Let 
us  have  a  drink." 

"  What  I  want  you  to  do,  is  to  take  me  O7er  to 
the  recruiting  office  and  receive  fifteen  dollars 
hand  money." 

"  I  can't  do  that,  old  fellow." 

"  Why  not?  " 

"  Well,  you  may  get  killed,"  asserted  Jim,  in 
the  most  matter-of-fact  way. 

"  That's  true,"  I  somewhat  ruefully  agreed. 

"  If  you  were  to,  and  I  had  taken  any  money  for 
your  enlistment,  I  should  never  forg'ive  myself*. 
It  would  be  1'ke  receiving  compensation  for 
death." 


498 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


"  But  some  one  will  have  to  get  it." 
«  "  That  some  one  will  not  be  me.     So  it's  no 
use  talking  any  more  about  it." 

I  tried  to  reason  him  into  it ;  but  it  was  of  no 
use,  Jim  was  determined.  So,  after  enjoining 
him  to  secrecy,  we  shook  hands  and  parted,  he 
much  the  sadder  man  of  the  two. 

Immediately  on  leaving  Jim,  I  went  to  the  re 
cruiting  office,  and  made  known  my  desire  to  en 
list.  "  But,"  said  I,  "  I  have  no  one  to  receive 
the  hand  money.  As  I  have  brought  myself,  1 
suppose  it  will  be  paid  to  me." 

"  No.  You  can't  enlist  yourself;  you'll  have 
to  get  somebody  to  bring  you  here." 

"  But  I  haven't  any  one  to  bring  me." 

"  We  can't  help  that ;  you  can't  be  enlisted, 
then." 

"  That  appears  to  me  to  be  a  strange  proceed 
ing.  The  Government  wants  soldiers  I  offer 
myself,  and  you  Avon't  accept  me." 

The  officer  beckoned  to  a  policeman,  who  at 
once  advanced,  and  requested  me  to  move  on.  1 
did  so. 

As  I  was  leaving  the  building,  a  dean-shaven, 
mild-spoken,  gentlemanly-looking  man  approached 
me,  and  asked  if  I  wanted  to  enlist. 

I  answered  in  the  affirmative. 

"  Then  111  make  out  your  papers,  and  put  you 
through  in  no  time." 

He  was  as  good  as  his  word.  In  a  few  min 
utes  he  had  recorded  my  age,  height,  occupation, 
and  personal  description,  handing  me  over  to  the 
examining  Surgeon  when  he  had  done  so. 

This  last-named  personage  told  me  to  strip  my 
self,  which  I  speedily  did.  lie  then  put  me 
through  my  paces,  as  though  I  were  a  horse  he 
wished  to  purchase.  First,  he  went  to  the  farther 
end  of  the  room,  and  taking  up  a  pack  of  playing 
cards,  selected  one.  Holding  it  up,  he  asked, — 

"  What  card  is  this  ?  " 

"  The  nine  of  clubs." 

"  And  this  P  " 

"  The  ten  of  hearts." 

"  Right.     Now  come  here." 

I  went  to  him,  and  he  pounded  me  on  the  chest 
and  bade  me  cough ;  he  made  me  run,  walk, 
stretch  my  legs  as  far  apart  as  I  possibly  could, 
put  my  hands  as  high  above  my  head  as  they 
could  reach,  and  strike  out  in  the  most  approved 
shoulder-hitting  fashion. 

Just  as  he  was  about  to  pass  me,  he  espied  a 
small  varicose  vein  in  my  left  leg ;  so  he  hesitated. 

"  That's  nothing,"  said  the  clean-shaven,  mild- 
spoken  gentleman,  who  was  interested  in  me  to 
the  extent  of  fifteen  dollars. 

"  I  don't  know  about  that.  Wait  a  moment ; 
and  he  left  the  room,  but  quickly  returned,  fol 
lowed  by  another  Surgeon,  who  pronounced  my 
varicose  vein  as  nothing;  so  I  passed. 

He  then  led  the  way  to  the  muster-in  officer, 
who  told  me  to  place  my  left  hand  on  a  Bible  that 
lay  upon  the  table,  and  hold  up  my  right  hand. 
He  then  recited  something,  which  was  just  as  in 
telligible  to  me  as, 

"  Mumble,  mumble,  mumble,  mumtle,  So  help 
you  God." 


I  nodded.  That  nod  made  me  a  soldier  for 
three  years  or  during  the  war. 

Having  been  paid  my  county  bounty  of  three  hun 
dred  dollars,  I  was  placed  on  a  sort  of  revolving 
niche  and  turned  into  another  room,  where  some 
twenty-five  or  thirty  other  recruits,  who  had  pre 
ceded  me,  were  in  waiting.  Many  of  them  were 
engaged  playing  cards,  already  gambling  away  the 
bounty  they  had  just  received. 

I  was  taken  in  charge  by  a  couple  of  men,  who 
furnished  lie  with  a  uniform,  a  knapsack,  a  hav 
ersack,  a  'in  plate  and  cup,  and  knife,  fork,  and 
spoon.  Bringing  me  in  debtor  to  the  United 
States  Government  to  the  amount  of  twenty-seven 
dollars  and  twenty-six  ctnts. 

About  four  o'clock  a  detachment  of  men  be 
longing  to  the  Invalid  corps  came  to  escort  us  to 
the  Provost  Marshal's  office,  situated  on  Broad 
way,  between  Thirty-sixth  and  Thirty-seventh 
Streets. 

Arriving  there, — forty-two  of  us  in  all,  —  we 
were  placed  in  a  filthily  bare  room  on  the  third 
floor,  measuring  about  seventeen  feet  long  and 
fourteen  feet  wide.  The  windows  were  barred, 
and  the  invalid  soldier  who  kept  guard  over  us, 
with  a  cocked  navy  revolver  in  his  hand,  sternly 
forbade  any  one  approaching  them.  One  man,  a 
little  intoxicated,  who  insisted  on  looking  out,  he 
threatened  to  shoot. 

We  were  kept  confined  in  this  room  until  near 
ly  three  o'clock  the  following  day.  There  were 
no  seats ;  neither  was  there  sufficient  room  to  lie 
down.  Sleep  was  out  of  the  Question.  Though, 
it  is  true,  1  did  once  drop  into  a  fitful  doze,  in 
which  I  was  strangely  mixed  up  with  the  hold  of 
a  slave  ship  and  the  Black  Hole  of  Calcutta. 

Coffee,  bread,  and  meat,  wholesome  and  good, 
were  given  the  men,  which  they  threw  at  one 
another  and  trampled  under  foot.  They  had  too 
much  money  in  their  pockets  to  eat  such  plebeian 
food  as  beef.  So  they  bribed  the  Sergeant  of  the 
guard  to  procure  them  ham  and  eggs,  and  such 
like  delicacies,  from  a  neighboring  restaurant. 

Whiskey,  too,  was  in  great  request.  The  de 
mand  far  exceeded  the  supply,  for  the  risk  to 
procure  it  was  great,  and  the  price  high  —  ten, 
fifteen,  even  twenty  dollars  being  paid  for  a 
bottle. 

Much  to  my  relief,  we  were  at  last  driven  out 
of  this  room  like  so  many  wild  beasts,  and  con 
veyed  to  Hiker's  Island. 

When  I  enlisted,  Hart's  Island,  with  its  com 
modious  and  clean  barracks,  was  not  the  rendez 
vous  for  troops. 

I  was  kept  on  Hiker's  Island  for  six  weeks,  — 
though  I  made  several  appeals  to  be  sent  to  my 
regiment, —  doing  nothing,  eating  the  bread  of 
idleness,  not  even  being  taught  the  common  rudi 
ments  of  drill,  subjected  to  the  mean  and  petty 
extortions  of  the  non-coramissioned  officers,  and 
treated,  as  a  rule,  like  an  ill-bred  dog. 

Twenty-three  of  us  were  the  occupants  cf  one 
Sibley  tent ;  the  necessary  caloric  was  provided 
through  the  means  of  a  small  stove  —  value  three 
dollars.  This  stove  was  the  property  of  the  Gov 
ernment.  The  sergeant  who  had  our  street  in 


Through  shako  and  gaudy  plume  shiver.— Page  499. 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


499 


charge  came  one  day,  and  took  it  away.  We  re 
monstrated  ;  he  told  us  we  could  get  it  back  by 
paying  a  dollar  each  —  total,  twenty-three  dollars. 
As  it  was  bitter  cold  weather,  we  were  only  too 
glad  to  do  so.  Such  swindling  was  commonly 
practised. 

"  The  men  belonging  to  the  army  of  the  Cum 
berland  leave  the  day  after  to-morrow." 

This  announcement,  while  it  elated,  also  de 
pressed  me.  I  had  been  wire-pulling  for  a  pass 
to  visit  the  city ;  now  I  was  ordered  away  with 
out  that  wish  being  consummated. 

However,  as  luck  would  have  it,  my  pass  was 
handed  to  me  that  same  morning  ;  so  by  the  first 
boat  I  returned  to  the  city. 

On  my  departure  this  time,  I  took  leave  of  all 
my  friends.  One  of  them,  as  I  kissed  her  good 
by,  gave  symptoms  of  a  tear  or  two  ;  but  chan 
ging  her  mind,  she  gave  a  little  laugh,  and  looking 
up  in  my  face,  said  : 

"  O,  you'll  come  back.  You're  too  homely  to 
get  shot." 

This  remark  may  have  been  truthful ;  it  was 
anything  but  flattering. 


SYMPATHIES.  —  An  impromptu  toast  given  in 
a  saloon  in  New  York,  in  June,  1861,  by  a  loyal 
Canadian  —  present  several  Americans  and  Nova 
Bcotians : 

"  May  the  Rose  of  England  never  blow, 
The  Thistle  of  Scotland  never  grow, 
May  the  Harp  of  Ireland  never  play, 
Till  the  Stars  and  Stripes  have  won  the  day." 


DURING  the  battle  of  Tranter's  Creek,  N.  C., 
Lieutenant  A  very,  of  the  Marine  Artillery,  thought 
he  discovered  rifle  shots  coming  from  the  leafy 
boughs  of  a  tall  elm,  not  very  far  distant  from 
the  field  of  battle.  He  accordingly  filled  his 
howitzer  with  grape,  and  elevated  it  with  a  very 
satisfactory  result,  tumbling  half  a  score  of  the 
rebels  to  the  ground. 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  DRANESVILLE.  —  After  the 
prisoners  were  taken  into  the  cavalry  camp  of 
the  nationals,  an  inquisitive  young  man,  a  mem 
ber  of  a  Wisconsin  regiment,  who  wished  to  get 
a  glimpse  of  them,  went  to  the  guard-house  ir 
which  they  were  confined,  where  he  immediate!) 
laid  eyes  on  an  overcoat  which  looked  familiar  to 
him.  He  walked  up  to  the  prisoner,  turned  up 
the  collar,  and  found  the  name  of  his  brothei 
sewed  in  the  cloth.  The  young  man  became  so 
enraged,  that  he  would  have  immediately  taken 
the  life  of  the  prisoner,  had  not  the  guards  been 
there  to  prevent  him.  It  appeared  that  Ids  brothei 
was  in  the  fight  at  Bull  Run,  where  he  was  killed 
and  this  miseiable  secessionist  had  robbed  him  of 
his  clothing.  The  bullet-hole  in  the  coat  hac 
been  sewed  up  so  as  to  prevent  it  from  tearin 
any  further. 


AT  GETTYSBURG. 

LIKE  a  furnace  of  fire  blazed  the  midsummer  sun 

When  to  saddle  we  leaped  at  the  order, 
Spurred  on  by  the  boom  of  the  deep- throated  gim, 

That  told  of  the  foe  on  our  border. 
A  mist  in  our  rear  lay  Antietam's  dark  plain, 

And  thoughts  of  its  carnage  canie  o'er  us  ; 
But  smiling  before  us  surged  fields  of  ripe  grain, 

And  we  swore  none  should  reap  it  before  us. 

That  night,  with  the  Er  sign  who  rode  by  my  side, 

On  the  camp's  dreary  edge  I  stood  picket ; 
Our  ears  intent,  lest  every  wind-rustle  should  hide 

A  »py's  stealthy  tread  in  the  thicket ; 
And  there,  while  we  watched  the  first  arrows  of 
dawn 

Through  the  veil  of  the  rising  mist's  quiver, 
He  told  how  the  foeman  had  closed  in  upon 

His  home  by  the  Tennessee  River. 

He  spoke  of  a  sire  in  his  weakness  cut  down, 

With  last  breath  the  traitor  flag  scorning 
(And  his  brow  at  the  memory  grew  dark  with  a 
frown 

That  paled  the  red  light  of  the  morning). 
For  days  he  had  followed  the  cowardly  band  ; 

And  when  one  lagged  to  forage  or  trifle, 
Had  seared  in  his  forehead  the  deep  minie  brand, 

And  scored  a  fresh  notch  on  his  rifle. 

"  But  one  of  the  rangers  had  cheated  his  fate  —  • 

For  him  he  would  search  the  world  over." 
Such  cool-plotting  passion,  such  keenness  of  hate, 

Ne'er  saw  I  in  woman-scorned  lover. 
O,  who  would  have  thought  that  beneath  those  dark 
curls 

Lurked  vengeance  as  sure  as  death-rattle  ? 
Or  fancied  those  dreamy  eyes  —  soft  as  a  girl's  — 

Could  light  with  the  fury  of  battle  ? 

To  horse !  pealed  the  bugle,  while  grape-shot  and 
shell 

Overhead  through  the  forest  were  crashing. 
A  cheer  for  the  flag  !  and  the  summer  light  fel) 

On  the  blades  from  a  thousand  sheaths  flashing. 
As  mad  ocean  waves  to  the  storm-revel  flock, 

So  on  we  dashed,  heedless  of  dangers  ; 
A  moment  our  long  line  surged  back  at  the  shock 

Then  swept  through  the  ranks  of  the  Rangers., 

I  looked  for  our  Ensign  :  ahead  of  his  troop, 

Pressing  on  through  the  conflict  infernal, 
His  torn  flag  furled  round  him  in  festoon  and  loop, 

He  spurred  to  the  side  of  his  Colonel. 
And  his  clear  voice  rang  out,  as  I  saw  his  bright 
sword 

Through  shako  and  gaudy  plume  shiver, 
With,  "This  for  the  last  of  the  murderous  horde!" 

And,  "  This  for  the  home  by  the  river!  " 

At  evening,  returned  from  pursuit  of  the  foe, 

By  a  shell-shattered  caisson  we  found  him  ; 
And  we  buried  him  there  in  the  sunset  glow, 

With  the  dear  old  flag  knotted  around  him. 
Yet  how   could  we    mourn,    when    every  proud 
strain 

Told  of  foemen  hurled  back  in  disorder  ! 
When  we  knew  that  the  North  reaped  her  rich  har 
vest  grain. 

Unharmed  by  a  foe  :t  her  Border  I 


500 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY.    AND    INCIDENTS. 


A  STRANGE  INCIDENT.  —  Nine  or  ten  years 
ago,  a  citizen  of  one  of  the  towns  in  the  eastern 
part  of  Massachusetts  was  unjustly  suspected  of  a 
crime  which  the  statute  cannot  easily  reach,  but 
which  deservedly  brings  upon  him  guilty  of  it 
the  indignation  of  upright  men.  There  were 
circumstances  which  gave  color  to  the  suspicion, 
and  the  unfortunate  gentleman  suffered  the  mis 
ery  of  loss  of  friends,  business,  and  reputation. 
His  sensitive  nature  could  not  face  these  trials, 
and  he  fell  into  a  condition  of  body  and  mind 
which  alarmed  his  family.  At  length,  having  in 
vested  his  property  where  it  could  be  easily  man 
aged  by  his  wife,  he  suddenly  disappeared,  leav 
ing  her  a  comfortable  home  and  the  care  of  two 
boys,  ten  and  twelve  years  old.  The  first  fear 
that  he  had  sought  a  violent  death  was  partly 
dispelled  by  the  orderly  arrangement  of  his  af 
fairs,  and  the  discovery  that  a  daguerreotype  of 
the  family  group  was  missing  from  the  parlor 
table.  Not  much  effort  was  made  to  trace  the 
fugitive.  When,  afterwards,  facts  were  developed 
which  established  his  innocence  of  the  crime 
charged,  it  was  found  impossible  to  communicate 
with  him  ;  and  as  the  publication  of  the  story  in 
the  columns  of  seveial  widely-circulated  journals 
failed  to  recall  him,  he  was  generally  supposed 
to  be  dead. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  present  civil  war,  his 
eldest  son,  now  a  young  man,  was  induced  by  a 
friend,  a  captain  in  a  Western  regiment,  to  enlist 
in  his  company.  He  carried  himself  well  through 
campaigns  in  Missouri  and  Tennessee,  and  after 
the  capture  of  Fort  Donelson  was  rewarded  with 
a  First  Lieutenant's  commission.  At  the  battles 
of  Murfreesboro'  he  was  wounded  in  the  left  arm, 
but  so  slightly  that  he  was  still  able  to  take 
charge  of  a  squad  of  wounded  prisoners.  While 
performing  this  duty,  he  became  aware  that  one 
of  them,  a  middle-aged  man,  with  a  full,  heavy 
beard,  was  looking  at  him  with  fixed  attention. 
The  day  after  the  fight,  as  the  officer  was  passing, 
the  soldier  gave  the  military  salute,  and  said  : 

"  A  word  with  you,  if  you  please,  sir.  You 
remind  me  of  an  old  friend.  Are  you  from  New 
England?" 

"  I  am." 

"  From  Massachusetts  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  And  your  name  ?  " 

The  young  Lieutenant  told  his  name,  and  why 
he  came  to  serve  in  a  Western  regiment. 

"  I  thought  so,"  said  the  other,  and  turning 
away,  he  was  silent.  Although  his  curiosity  was 
much  excited  by  the  soldier's  manner,  the  officer 
forbcre  to  question  him,  and  withdrew.  But  in 
the  afternoon  he  took  occasion  to  renew  the  con 
versation,  and  expressed  the  interest  awakened 
in  him  by  the  incident  of  the  morning. 

"  I  knew  your  father,"  said  the  prisoner.  "  Is 
ue  well?" 

"  We  have  not  seen  him  for  years.  We  think 
he  is  dead." 

Then  followed  such  an  explanation  of  the  cir 
cumstances  of. his  disappearance  as  the  young 
man  could  give.  He  had  never  known  the  pre 


cise  nature  of  the  charges  against  his  father,  but 
was  able  to  make  it  quite  clear  that  his  innocence 
had  been  established. 

"  I  knew  your  mother,  also,"  continued  the 
soldier.  "  I  was  in  love  with  her  when  she  mar 
ried  your  father." 

"  I  have  a  letter  from  her,  dated  ten  days  ago. 
My  brother  is  a  nine  me  nths'  man  at  New  Or 
leans." 

After  a  little  desultory  conversation  the  sol- 
dier  took  from  under  his  coat  a  leather  wallet, 
and  disclosed  a  daguerreotype  case.  The  hasp 
was  gone,  and  the  corners  were  rounded  by  wear. 

"  Will  you  oblige  me,"  he  said,  "  by  looking 
at  this  alone  in  your  ten*!;  ? "  Agitated  almost 
beyond  control,  the  young  officer  took  the  case 
and  hurried  away.  He  hail  seen  the  picture  be 
fore  !  It  represented  a  man  and  a  woman,  sitting 
side  by  side,  with  a  boy  at  the  knee  of  each. 

The  romantic  story  moved  the  commander  of 
the  division  to  grant  the  youth  a  furlough ;  and 
both  father  and  son  reached  home  soon  after. 


THE  LITTLE  FLAG-BEARER.  —  Among  the 
many  acts  of  heroism  told  of  those  engaged  in 
the  fight  up  the  Arkansas  River  is  that  of  a 
mere  youth,  a  little  boy,  who  was  attached  to 
Tappan's  Arkansas  resin 


nment,    and  carried    two 


mimic  flags,  one  in  each  hand.  The  regiment 
was  driven  to  the  water's  edge,  and  the  enemy 
poured  in  a  terrific  volley,  killing  many  of  them, 
who  fell  into  the  river  ;  and  such  as  were  not  in 
stantly  killed  met  a  watery  grave.  Among  those 
struck  was  the  little  boy,  who  bore  the  flags. 
Giving  one  last  hurrah,  which  was  cut  short  by 
the  ebbing  flood  of  his  young  life,  he  'vaved  the 
flags  over  his  head,  tottered  into  the  river,  and 
was  seen  no  more.  Ths  incident,  says  the  nar 
rator,  was  witnessed  by  a  whole  regiment  that 
was  crossing  the  river  at  the  time,  and  not  one 
member  of  it  but  shed  a  tear  at  the  sight. 


COFFEE  FOR  THE  SOUTHERNERS.  —  "  The  time 
is  coming  when  every  woman  should  do  her  duty 
in  this  struggle  for  our  country's  independence," 
said  a  "  wife  and  mother  "  in  Richmond,  in  May, 
1861.  "  There  are  many  things  her  hands  can 
do  which  will  as  materially  aid  our  cause  as  if  she 
were  a  soldier  with  musket  in  hand.  The  battle 
will  be  brought  right  to  our  doors.  Let  every 
woman,  then,  in  this  city,  who  possesses  the  abil 
ity,  prepare  coffee,  bread,  and  whatever  else  she 
may  have  to  give,  for  our  dear  loved  ones,  who 
offer  their  precious  bodies  a  wall  of  defence  for 
our  homes. 

"  One  third  pure  coffee,  the  rest  wheat  or  rye, 

rightly  prepared,    will    furnish   a   strengthening 

dr.nk  which  will   add  greatly  to  their  comfort. 

Let  the  coffee  be  browned  a  little,  then  add  the 

wheat  or   rye,  toasting  them  together.     In  this 

way  the  taste  of  the  cofi'ee  is  imparted  to  the 

,  grain.     Grind  or  pound  well.     To  one  measure 

j  of  coffee  add  eight  of  boiling  water.     Let  it  boil 

1  well,  stirring  it  down  until  the  entire  mass  disap- 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


501 


pears,  wher  it  will  look  clear.  Add  a  little  cold 
water,  let  it  stand  until  it  settles,  and  you  have 
quite  nice  coffee. 

"  Now,  will  not  every  woman  at  once  toast  her 
cr  ffee,  grind  it,  and  have  it  ready  for  use  ?  Surely 
all  the  milk  carts,  molasses  barrels  on  carts,  and 
any  conveyance  one  may  think  of,  can  carry  it  to 
some  places  designated ;  when  some  persons, 
whose  business  it  shall  be,  may  portion  it  out.^  If 
a  regiment  were  detailed  for  this  business  it  would 
do  good  service.  Let  no  one  begrudge  her  little 
mite  of  coffee.  There  are  some  persons  who  have 
not  the  material,  but  who  would  gladly  prepare  it. 
Let,  then,  her  more  fortunate  neighbor,  who  can 
spare  of  her  little,  pass  it  over  to  willing  hands, 
longing  to  do  something  for  our  noble  cause. 
Bid  the  men  go  —  'be  courageous  and  fear  not.' " 


THE  FEAT  OF  THE  "ARKANSAS."  —  A  corre 
spondent  states  that  after  the  ram  Arkansas  had 
successfully  run  the  blockade  of  the  national  ves 
sels  and  arrived  off  Vicksburg,  she  was  boarded 
by  General  Van  Dorn,  who  approached  her  com 
mander,  Captain  Brown,  and  the  following  con 
versation  was  had : 

General  —  "  Captain  Brown,  allow  me  to  con- 
gratuhite  you  on  your  success  in  reaching  us." 

Captain  Brown  —  "  Thank  you,  General ;  it  was 
a  desperate  undertaking  ;  but  I  knew  what  my 
vessel  was  made  of." 

General  —  "I  hardly  expected  that  you  would 
corne  through  them  without  making  them  more 
conscious  of  your  superiority.  It  seems  to  me 
you  might  have  sunk  or  disabled  half  a  dozen  of 
them.  Why  under  heaven  didn't  you  try  it  on  ?  " 

Captain  Brown —  "  General  Van  Dorn,  I  have 
accomplished  what  no  naval  officer  in  the  Confed 
erate  service  would  have  dared  attempt,  and  what 
no  one  conversant  with  naval  warfare  would  have 
supposed  possible.  The  bare  achievement  of  get 
ting  this  vessel  through  that  fleet  is  glory  enough 
for  one  day." 

General — "Fie!  fie!  Captain,  that's  all  very 
well ;  you've  done  well,  but  might  have  done  bet 
ter.  Get  up  steam  again,  and  run  up  and  try 
them  a  turn.  When  you  have  sunk  six  or  eight 
of  their  turtles,  you  can  come  back  and  let  the 
peoph  cheer  you." 

Captain  Brown  —  "  Sir,  I  know  what  I  have 
done.  Nor  do  I  propose  to  risk  the  reputation 
I've  won  by  encountering  that  fleet  again,  espe 
cially  now* that  they  have  all  got  steam  up  and 
are  prepared  to  meet  me.  I  shall  not  ^.'isk  my 
laurels  by  renewing  the  content  to-day." 

General — "I  can  see  no  reason  why  you  should 
not  go  cut  again.  They'll  hardly  expect  you 
now  ;  and  if  they  do,  you  know  your  vessel  is  a 
match  for  them.  You  hear  my  orders  to  go." 

Captain  Brown— "  General  Van  Dorn,  this 
boat  is  without  a  commander.  I  shall  forward 
my  resignation  to  Richmond  immediately.  In 
the  mean  time  please  consider  the  vessel  in  your 
possession.  You  are  at  liberty  to  send  her  out 
under  any  commander  you  can  find  here  to  take 
her  out,  or  you  may  take  her  out  yourself." 


The  General  turned  away  chagrined  and  mor 
tified.  Captain  Brown  also  left  the  boac  almost 
immediately,  and,  although  urgently  requested 
to  withdraw  his  resignation,  obstinately  refused 
to  do  so.  Lieutenant  Stevens  was  left  in  com 
mand,  and  it  was  under  his  direction  that  the 
second  and  last  chapter  in  her  career  was  enacted. 


READING  IN  i  IE  AP.MY.  —  George  H.  Stuart, 
the  President  cf  the  Christian  Commission,  in  * 
speech  at  the  anniversary  of  that  noble  institu 
tion  related  the  following  interesting  incident : 
"  There,  is  a  very  large  distribution  of  reading 
matter.  The  question  sometimes  arises,  '  Is  it  all 
read  ? '  You  cannot,  my  friends,  have  any  concep 
tion  of  the  avidity  with  wluch  these  publications 
are  received  and  read,  and  treasured  up.  Thou 
sands  of  them  are  sent  back,  after  being  well 
worn,  to  their  homes,  the  soldier  writing  his 
name  upon  them,  thus  marking  them  with  the 
evidence  of  his  value  of  the  possession.  I  have 
visited  many  of  the  hospitals,  and  some  of  the 
camps,  and  distributed  many  of  these  religious 
books,  and  I  can  testify  that  from  the  beginning 
until  now  I  have  never  met  a  man  who  refused 
my  books,  save  only  one,  and  he  was  from  my 
own  city  of  Philadelphia.  I  do  not  believe  in 
being  conquered.  I  do  not  give  up  anything  if 
it  is  practicable,  and  can  be  effected.  But  here  was 
a  case  for  me.  The  man  told  me  that  he  was  an 
infidel,  that  he  did  not  believe  in  my  books,  that 
he  did  not  need  them.  Said  he, '  I  am  from  Phil 
adelphia  ;  I  live  at  such  a  number  Callowhill 
Street;  if  you  will  go  there  you  will  find  out  my 
character,  and  that  I  am  as  good  a  man  as  you 
are.'  '  I  trust  a  great  deal  better,'  said  I.  But 
the  case  did  seem  a  difficult  one.  *  Stuart,'  said 
a  friend  to  whom  I  related  the  incident,  '  you 
are  beaten  for  once.'  *  No,'  I  replied,  '  I  am  not 
done  with  that  man  yet.'  I  approached  him  a 
short  time  afterwards,  and  he  said  to  me,  *  What 
is  the  book  you  wanted  to  give  me  ? '  It  was  a 
selection  from  the  Scriptures  called  Cromwell's 
Bible.  '  O,'  said  he, '  I  don't  want  your  Bible ;  I've 
no  need  of  it ;  I'm  a  good  enough  man  without 
it ; '  and  with  a  motion  of  supreme  indifference  he 
turned  his  head.  Said  I,  '  My  friend,  I'm  from 
Philadelphia,  too ;  I  know  where  you  live,  can  find 
the  exact  house.  On  next  Sunday  evening,  if 
God  spares  my  life,  I  expect  to  speak  for  the 
Christian  Commission  in  the  Church  of  the 
Epiphany.'  He  looked  at  me  with  an  inquisitive 
air — 'And  what  are  you  going  to  say  ? '  'I  am 
j  going  to  tell  the  people  that  I  had  been  distribu 
ting  tracts  all  day  all  through  the  hospitals  and 
camps  I  had  visited,  and  that  I  found  but  one 
man  who  refused  to  take  them,  and  he  was  from 
Philadelphia.'  '  Well,  what  more  are  you  going 
to  say  ? '  the  man  asked  with  a  steady  gaze,  ap 
parently  defying  my  attempts  to  move  him. 
'  Well,  I'll  tell  them  that  I  commenced  my  tract 
distribution  this  morning  at  the  White  House,  in 
Washington,  and  the  first  gentleman  I  offered 
one  of  these  little  books  to  was  one  Abraham  Lin 
coln  ;  that  he  rose  from  his  chair,  read  the  title, 


502 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


expressed  great  pleasure  in  receiving  it,  and 
promised  to  read  it ;  but  that  I  came  to  one  of 
nis  cooks,  here  in  these  quarters,  and  he  was  so 
exceedingly  good  that  he  didn't  need  a  copy  of 
the  "Word  of  God,  and  wouldn't  have  one!' 
'  Well,*  said  the  man,  completely  conquered,  '  if 
the  President  can  take  one  I  suppose  I  can,'  as  he 
reached  out  his  hand  and  received  it." 


INCIDENT  OF  FAIR  OAKS.  —  Edmund  Q.  An 
drews,  of  the  Fortieth  Nev\  York  regiment,  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  while  in  the 
act  of  taking  aim  at  a  rebel  soldier.  The  ball 
entered  the  left  side,  striking  a  daguerreotype 
(on  iron)  of  his  wife,  which  he  carried  in  his  vest 
pocket,  completely  demolishing  the  picture,  and 
cutting  off  the  top  of  the  bowl  of  a  wooden  pipe, 
which  was  also  in  his  pocket.  The  ball  then  con 
tinued  its  course,  entered  the  flesh,  and,  passing 
across  the  pit  of  his  stomach,  came  out  of  his  side. 

The  sudden  and  strong  concussion  of  the  ball 
doubled  him  up,  and  it  was  a  long  time  before  he 
was  able  to  regain  his  breath.  As  soon  as  he 
again  found  himself  capable  of  standing  on  his 
feet,  he  raised  his  musket,  and  fired  at  the  man 
who  had  shot  him,  when  he  once  more  fell  upon 
the  ground  from  pain  and  exhaustion. 

Soon  after,  he  discovered  that  the  enemy  were 
approaching  him,  whe.i  he  managed  to  crawl  off 
the  field  on  his  hands  and  knees.  He  remarked 
ill-it  he  "thought  he  made  good  time,  considering 
bfc  was  not  used  to  walking  on  all  fours." 


A  ^THOUGHT. 

FALLING  leaves  and  falling  men  ! 

When  the  snows  of  winter  fall, 
And  the  winds  of  winter  blow, 

Will  be  woven  Nature's  pall. 

Let  us,  then,  forsake  our  dead ; 

For  the  dead  will  surely  wait 
While  we  rush  upon  the  foe, 

Eager  for  the  hero's  fate. 

Leaves  will  come  upon  the  trees ; 

Spring  will  show  the  happy  race  j 
Mothers  will  give  birth  to  sons  — 

Loyal  souls  to  fill  our  place. 

Wherefore  should  we  rest  and  rush  ? 

Soldiers,  wo  must  fight  and  save 
Freedom  now,  and  give  our  foes 

All  their  country  should — a  grave  ! 


THINGS  ABOUT  GENERAL  GRANT.  —  Rev.  J.  L. 
Crane,  the  chaplain  of  the  regiment  of  which 
Lieutenant-General  Grant  was  Colonel,  gives  the 
following  interesting  reminiscences  of  his  private 
and  military  character : 

"  Grant,"  he  says,  "  is  about  five  feet  ten  inches 
in  height,  and  will  weigh  one  hundred  and  forty 
or  forty-five  pounds.  He  has  a  countenance  in 
dicative  of  reserve,  and  an  indomitable  will,  arid 
persistent  purpose. 


"  In  dress  he  is  indifferent  and  careless,  making 
no  pretensions  to  style  or  fashionable  military 
display.  H  id  he  continued  Colonel  till  now,  I 
think  his  un.form  would  have  lasted  till  this  day 
for  he  never  used  it  except  on  dress  parade,  and 
then  seemed  to  regard  it  a  good  deal  as  l)aviu 
did  Saul's  armor. 

" '  His  body  is  a  vial  of  intense  existence ; '  and 
yet  when  a  stranger  ^-.mld  see  him  in  a  crowd  he 
would  never  think  of  asking  bis  name.  He  is  no 
dissembler.  He  is  a  sincere,  thinking,  real  man. 

"  He  is  always  cheerful.  N"o  toil,  cold,  heat, 
hunger,  fatigue,  «>r  want  of  it.oney  depresses  him. 
He  does  his  woi  i  at  the  time,  and  he  requires  all 
under  his  command  to  be  equally  prompt.  I  was 
walking  over  the  camp  with  him  one  morning 
after  breakfast.  It  was  usual  for  each  company 
to  call  the  roll  at  a  given  hour.  It  was  now  prob 
ably  a  half  hoirr  after  the  time  for  that  duty.  The 
Colonel  was  quietly  smoking  his  old  meerschaum, 
and  talking  and  walking  along,  when  he  noticed 
a  company  drawn  up  in  line  and  the  roll  being 
called.  He  instantly  drew  his  pipe  from  his 
mouth  and  exclaimed,  '  Captain,  this  is  no  time 
for  calling  the  roll.  Order  your  men  to  their 
quarters  immediately.'  The  command  was  in 
stantly  obeyed,  and  the  Colonel  resumed  his  smok 
ing  and  walked  on,  conversing  as  quietly  as  if 
nothing  had  happened.  For  this  violation  of 
discipline  those  men  went  without  rations  that 
day,  except  what  they  gathered  up  privately  from 
among  their  friends  of  other  companies.  Such 
a  breach  of  order  was  never  witnessed  in  the  regi 
ment  afterwards  while  he  was  its  Colonel.  This 
promptness  is  one  of  Grant's  characteristics,  and 
it  is  one  of  the  secrets  of  his  success. 

"  On  one  of  our  mauhes,  when  passing  through 
one  of  these  small  towns  where  the  grocery  is 
the  principal  establishment,  some  of  the  lovers 
of  intoxication  had  broken  away  from  our  lines 
and  filled  their  canteens  with  whiskey,  and  were 
soon  reeling  and  ungovernable  under  its  influ 
ence.  While  apparently  stopping  the  regiment 
for  rest,  Grant  passed  quietly  along  and  took  each 
canteen,  and  wherever  he  detected  the  fatal  odor, 
emptied  the  liquor  on  the  ground  with  as  much 
nonchalance  as  he  would  empty  his  pipe,  and  had 
the  offenders  tied  behind  the  baggage  wagons  till 
they  had  sobered  into  soldierly  propriety.  On  this 
point  his  orders  were  imperative :  no  whiskey  nor 
intoxicating  beverages  were  allowed  in  his  camp. 

"  In  the  afternoon  of  a  very  hot  day  in  July, 
1861,  while  the  regiment  was  stationed  in  the 
town  of  Mexico,  Missouri,  I  had  gone  to  the  cars 
as  they  were  passing,  and  procured  the  daily 
paper,  and  seated  myself  in  the  shadow  of  my 
tent  to  read  the  news.  In  the  telegraphic  column 
I  soon  came  to  the  announcement  that  Grant, 
with  several  others,  was  made  Brigadier-General. 
In  a  few  minutes  he  came  walking  that  way,  and 
I  called  to  him  : 

" '  Colonel,  I  have  some  news  here  that  will  in 
terest  you.' 

"  *  What  have  you,  Chaphi  i  ?  * 

"'I  see  that  you  are  madfc  Brigadier-General. 

"  He  seated  himself  Ly  m/  side  and  remarked: 


So  I  tuk  me  goon  by  the  middle."— Page  503. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


503 


" '  Well,  sir,  I  had  no  suspicion  of  it.  It  never 
came  from  any  request  of  mine.  That's  some  of 
Washburne's  work.  I  knew  Washburne  in  Galena. 
He  was  a  .strong  Republican,  and  I  was  a  Demo 
crat,  and  I  thought  from  that  he  never  liked  me 
veiy  well.  Hence  we  never  had  more  than  a 
business  or  street  acquaintance.  But  when  the 
war  broke  out  I  founcl  he  had  induced  Governor 
Yates  to  appoint  me  mustering  officer  of  the 
tllinois  volunteers,  and  after  that  had  something 
to  do  in  having  me  commissioned  Colonel  of  the 
Twenty-first  regiment ;  and  I  suppose  this  is  some 
of  his  work.' 

"  And  he  very  leisurely  rose  up  and  pulled  his 
black  felt  hat  a  little  nearer  his  eyes,  and  made  a 
few  extra  passes  at  his  whiskers,  and  walked 
away  with  as  much  apparent  unconcern  as  if  some 
one  had  merely  told  him  that  his  new  suit  of 
clothes  was  finished. 

"  Grant  belongs  to  no  church,  yet  he  entertains 
and  expresses  the  highest  esteem  for  all  the  en 
terprises  that  tend  to  promote  religion.  When 
at  home  he  generally  attended  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  While  he  was  Colonel  of 
the  Twenty-first  regiment,  he  gave  every  encour 
agement  and  facility  for  securing  a  prompt  and 
uniform  observance  of  religious  services,  and  was 
generally  found  in  the  audience  listening  to 
preaching. 

"  Shortly  after  I  came  into  the  regiment  our 
mess  were  one  day  taking  their  usual  seats 
around  the  dinner  table,  when  he  remarked  : 

"  '  Chaplain,  when  I  was  at  home,  and  ministers 
were  stopping  at  my  house,  I  always  invited  them 
to  ask  a  blessing  at  the  table.  I  suppose  a 
blessing  is  as  much  neede*d  here  as  at  home ;  and 
if  it  is  agreeable  with  your  views,  I  should  be 
glad  to  have  you  ask  a  blessing  every  time  we  sit 
down  to  eat.' "  

A  GENTLEMAN,  about  whose  Teutonic  origin 
there  could  be  but  one  opinion,  was  passing 
along  the  street,  when  he  came  to  a  halt  before 
one  of  the  huge  posters,  announcing  the  coming 
of  the  Panorama  of  Paradise  Lost.  He  read 
this  line,  "A  Rebellion  in  Heaven,"  when  he 
broke  forth  as  follows :  "  A  Rebellion  in  Heaven  : 
mine  Got  [  that  lasts  not  long  now  —  Onkel  Abe 
ish  tare."  

ADVENTURES  OF  AN  IRISHMAN.  —  Sitting  in  a 
rainy  tent  at  Centreville,  1  overheard  the  follow 
ing  fragment  of  a  conversation  between  a  party 
of  Irish  soldiers,  which,  for  richness  and  raciness, 
Charles  Lever  would  have  immortalized  himself 
by  frescoing  in  one  of  his  inimitable  stories.  The 
company  were  detailing  their  experiences,  "  hair 
breadth  escapes  by  flood  and  field,"  spinning  Mun- 
chausian  yarns  and  cracking  wonderful  jokes, 
when  one  Pat  Mullooney,  a  genuine  son  of  the 
sod,  broke  in  with  an  account  of  his  adventures 
d  11  ring  the  battle  of  Bull  Run.  I  give  you  the 
ebullition  entire,  though  half  its  fun  and  force 
are  lost  by  its  tran-  i'er  to  paper : 

'  Ye  see,  gintlemm,"  said  Pat  ("  God  forgeve 
jr  ^  for  calling  such  spalpeens  out  uv  yer  names  "), 


"  that  time  whin  the  ould  Major  came  down  like 
a  flyin'  divil  on  his  chisnut  mare  with  his  illigant 
sword,  that,  be  jabers,  is  like  a  scythe  blades  a 
wavin'  about  his  hid,  and  yelled  to  us  to  come 
on,  and  charge  the  bloody  Yankees,  be  gona,  it 
was  to  Washington  we  thought  we  were  goin'  all 
the  way,  and  the  divil  a  time  we  were  to  stop  at 
all,  at  all,  on  the  road,  not  aven  for  a  dhrap  of 
wather. 

"  Well,  sure  enough,  the  ould  feller  wint  in  him 
self,  and  I  after  him,  not  thinking 'about  anything 
at  al_,  but  jist  goin'  on.  I  jumped  over  a  mite  of 
a  fence  as  tight,  as  a  toad,  and  took  to  the  wather 
[Bull  Run]  like  a  duck ;  and  whin  I  got  to  the 
middle  of  the  strame  I  looked  around,  and  the 
divil  resave  the  one  uv  yez  near  me,  I  was  alone 
intirely  sure.  Thin  I  thought,  big  fools  as  ye  all 
are,  that  I  was  a  bigger  wan  for  not  sthaying  in 
the  woods,  like  the  rist  of  yez,  and  waiting  for 
the  spalpeens  to  come  over.  But  as  I  was  out 
there,  I  thought  to  meself,  I'll  take  a  look  at  how 
things  is,  how  things  is  beyant,  and  p'raps  I'll 
have  a  crack  o'  me  goon.  But  divil  uv  a  thing 
could  I  say.  Jist  as  I  was  makin'  up  me  mind 
to  return  to  ye  all,  a  big  Yankee,  who  looked  as 
if  he  was  seventeen  feet  high,  livilled  his  musket 
at  me  and  fired.  The  bullet  whistled  by  me  ear 
wid  a  shrake  worse  than  Tim  Flangan's  fife. 

" '  Bad  luck  to  ye,  ye  thafe  o'  the  wurrld,'  says 
I,  '  what  are  ye  thrying  to  shoot  me  fur  ?  sure  I 
niver  done  nothing  to  yez  ; '  and  thin  I  aimed 
shtraight  betwane  his  eyes,  and  fired  at  him ;  but 
the  murtherin'  ball  didn't  tuch  a  hair  uv  his  head 
that  I  mist.  'Begorra,'sez  I  to  meself, 'now  I'll  take 
ye  a  prisoner,  anyhow  ; '  and  I  put  meseli*  across 
the  river  as  hard  as  iver  I  could.  I  joomped  up 
the  bank,  and  lookin'  mighty  fierce  at  'im,  I  sed, 
'  Surrender,  ye  divil,  or  I'll  blow  yer  brains  out.' 
The  fun  uv  it  was,  I'd  forgot,  in  me  charge  upon 
the  spalpeen,  to  load  me  goon  at  all,  at  all,  and 
the  bloody  thafe  must  av  knew  it,  for  he  made  at 
me  wid  his  bay'net,  like  a  two-legged  locomotive. 
By  the  powers  but  I  was  frightened.  As  he  was 
coming  down,  lapin'  several  fate  at  a  time,  says 
I  to  meself,  *  Pat,  me  boy,  mind  yer  eye ;  now's 
yer  time  to  kape  wide  awake,  or  you'll  have  a 
gimlet  hole  through  yer  valuable  bow'lls,  and 
Biddy  Mullooney  will  be  a  widder.'  Bad  luck  to 
the  drillin',  sure  it's  meself  forgot  to  come  to  the 
charge.  So  I  tuk  me  goon  by  the  middle,  just  as 
ye  wud  hould  a  good  ould-fashioned  black-thorn 
shillaly,  and  balanced  meself  fur  'im.  As  he  come 
down,  the  divil  take  me  if  I  knew  how  to  git  that 
bay'net  point  out  o'  the  way.  I  twirled  me  mus 
ket  aroun'  me  head  till  me  fingers  ached ;  but 
suddenly,  bliss  all  the  Hooly  Saints  fur  it,  a  root 
tuk  the  fut  uv  the  bloody-minded  rascal,  and  he 
went  a  sprawlin'  on  the  turf,  lookin'  as  pretty  a 
lether  X  as  ye  iver  signed  to  yer  name  ;  at  the 
same  time  that  his  bay'net  shtruck  a  fut  in  the 
ground,  I  gin  a  yell,  and  was  on  him  before  a 
pig  could  grunt,  and  put  me  fut  on  his  neck. 
'  Surrender,  ye  divil,'  said  I ;  but  the  divil  a  word 
did  he  spake. 

"  I  thought  I  had  his  throat  too  tight,  an'  I  let 
him  go,  to  give  him  a  fair  chance  to  utther  his 


504 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


spalpeen  thried 
iket  out 


sentiments.  What  d'ye  think  the  s; 
to  do  ?  Sure  it  was  to  git  his  musket  out  uv  the 
gronnd  an'  shtruck  me  wid  it  agin.  But  shtill  1 
didn't  want  to  hurt  fliGJba&te ;  so  I  jist  hit  'im  a 
little  crack  in  the  head  vfTd.  the  butt  o'  me  goon, 
an'  broke  his  jaw.  Then  he  became  quiet,  an'  I 
made  'im  take  his  musket  and  cross  the  crake, 
when  I  druv  'im  to  the  hospital,  an'  the  divil  uv 
a  dacenter,  betther-behaved  feller  ye  niver  saw 
afther  that,  lie  laid  in  bed  six  wakes,  and  didn't 
spake  nary  word.  That's  what  I  did  at  Bull  Hun. 
Who'll  give  me  a  poteen  o'  whiskey  ?  " 


CAMP  LIFE. 

DESCRIBED    BY    A    SOLDIER. 

can  realize  the  real  character  of  camp  life, 
lint  .1  they  have  tried  its  stern  realities,  until  they 
forsake  their  brick  and  wooden  walls  for  those  of 
cotton.  At  home,  where  men  only  hear  the  roar 
of  the  storm,  as  its  tones  are  muiiled  by  the  com 
fortable  protections  around  them,  and  know  of 
the  rain  only  as  it  patters  on  the  window  panes, 
they  can  realize  very  little  what  it  is  to  have  the 
walls  and  roof  of  their  dwellings  shake,  and  quiv 
er,  and  crack  like  the  report  of  musketry,  and 
not  only  hear  the  cold  blast  without,  but  feel  it 
Creeping  in  at  many  openings  it  is  quite  impossi- , 
ble  to  close.  At  home,  locks  and  bars  keep  away 
intruders,  and  we  lie  down  and  sleep  in  stillness 
end  safety.  In  camp,  our  locks  are  made  of 
rops,  and  no  other  means  are  needed  to  open  our 
doors  than  to  untie  a  knot.  Here,  wake  at  what 
hour  you  may,  and  you  hear  the  dull  tread  of  the 
sentry,  or  are  startled  by  the  sharp  challenge 
which  he  gives  to  some  luckless  wight,  whose  ne 
cessities  have  called  him  abroad  at  an  unsea 
sonable  hour.  At  home,  the  wakeful  cock,  or 
speaking  bell  from  the  neighboring  steeple,  tells 
you  of  the  early  dawn,  and  that  the  time  has  come 
to  begin  the  duties  of  the  rising  day.  Here,  the 
sharp  twang  and  roll  of  the  martial  drum  start 
you  into  wakefuiness,  and  make  you  feel  the  full 
reality  of  the  strange  and  awful  scenes  which  have 
been  preaood  upon  the  land  by  this  most  unnat 
ural  rebellion.  At  our  fireside  we  hear  only  the 
peaceful  hum  of  agriculture,  or  the  arts  ;  but  here 
none  of  those  things  are  seen  or  heard  ;  their 
place  is  taken  by  the  shrill  tones  of  the  fife,  the 
stirring  notes  of  the  bugle,  as  its  blasts  reverber 
ate  among  the  hills,  the  almost  constant  roll  of 
the  drum,  the  firing  of  musketry,  and  the  roar  of 
cannon.  These,  with  the  long  ranks  of  martial 
men  passing  from  point  to  point,  the  tread  of 
horsemen,  and  the  sharp,  quick  voice  of  those  in 
command,  are  scenes  ail  new  and  strange  to  our 
land  of  peace  and  thriftfui  enterprise.  All  these 
are  scenes  most  intimately  connected  with  camp 
life. 

Every  plain  is- covered  with  tents,  nearly  every 
eminence  with  fortifications,  bristling  with  cannon. 
An  evening  or  two  since,  we  saw  several  regi 
ments  on  their  respective  grounds,  at  what  is 
styled  "  dress  parade  j "  the  day  had  teen  cloudy ; 


just  at  this  moment  the  sun  looked  brightlj 
through  a  rift  in  the  clouds,  and  threw  a  flood  of 
brightness  over  the  scene.  Each  regiment  was 
formed  in  two  lines,  drawn  with  military  precis 
ion.  As  the  light  fell  upon  their  thousand  glit 
tering  bayonets,  they  presented  above  their  heads 
a  line  of  the  most  spot.^ss  white  ;  then,  as  they 
changed  the  position  of  the  weapon  to  a  charge, 
the  line  changed  from  above  the  dark  mass  of 
men  to  their  front,  the  rays  of  the  sun,  in  the 
mean  time,  glancing  from  each  weapon,  and  quiv 
ering  in  the  quarter  of  a  circle  formed  in  the 
movement,  until  it  settled  again  into  one  .long, 
bright  line  of  spotless  white,  the  whole  forming 
one  of  the  most  fairy  scenes  on  which  the  eye 
could  rest.  One  finds  it  hard  to  believe  that  such 
a  scene,  so  much  like  the  moving  of  the  wing  of 
that  angel  who  is  clothed  in  light,  is  really  the 
solemn  waving  of  the  wing  of  the  angel  of  death. 

When  leaving  home,  some  of  our  "friends  said 
to  ns,  "  Tell  us  of  the  camp,  and  how  you  live 
there."  There  is  some  difficulty  in  doing  this. 
If  our  friends  were  at  our  elbow,  asking  us  ques 
tions  about  what  they  were  curious  to  know,  then 
we  could  answer  them  ;  as  it  is,  we  will  do  the 
best  we  can  to  meet  their  wishes. 

Every  camp  should  have  a  parade  ground.  Thia 
forms  the  front.  Beginning  with  this,  and  going 
backwards,  you  have  the  tents  of  the  men,  each 
company  having  their  tents  arranged  in  lines 
facing  on  a  street  where  the  company  forms,  pre 
paratory  to  marching  on  to  the  parade  ground, 
and  where  they  also  meet  for  roll  call,  which  UG~ 
curs  three  times  each  day —  at  sunrise,  at  sunsof, 
and  at  eight  in  the  evening.  Next,  after  the  tcnta 
of  the  men,  come  those  of  the  commissioned  offi 
cers  of  the  companies.  These  face  on  a  street 
which  runs  at  right  angles  with  the  company 
streets.  In  this  broad  aisle  the  men  do  their 
cooking  and  have  their  company  fires.  Here  they 
meet  of  evenings  to  smoke,  and  talk,  and  sing. 
Still  back  of  these  are  the  tents  of  the  Colonel 
and  staff.  This  is  composed  of  the  Colonel,  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel,  Major,  Adjutant,  Quartermaster, 
Chaplain,  and  Surgeons,  the"  tent  of  the  Colonel 
forming  the  centre.  The  Hag-staff  is  at  the  edge 
of  the  parade  ground,  immediately  in  front  of  the 
Colonel's  tert.  In  the  rear  of  the  whole  may  be 
found  the  Quartermaster,  Commissary,  and  Sut 
ler's  departments. 

When  the  ground  has  been  marked  off,  the  men 
proceed  to  pitch  their  tents,  which,  when  raised 
and  spread,  are  fastened  to  their  places  by  cords 
and  stakes ;  then  a  shallow  trench  is  usually  dug 
!  around  each,  to  carry  away  the  water  which  may 
drip  from  the  roof.  The  dirt  from  this  trench  is 
sometimes  thrown  into  the  middle  of  the  tent  to 
raise  the  ground,  thus  avoiding  the  collection  of 
water  under  the  cloth.  When  this  is  done,  the 
occupant  gets  some  boards  for  a  floor,  if  he  can  ; 
if  this  cannot  be,  he  uses  the  ground.  He  makes 
his  bed  by  putting  some  stakes  in  the  ground,  on 
which  he  makes  a  platform,  spreads  it  over  with 
some  boughs  of  evergreen  or  straw,  rolls  himself 
in  his  blanket,  and  sleeps  sweetly,  dreaming,  it 
may  be,  of  home  and  glory. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


505 


The  soldier  generally  cooks  his  rations  in  the 
open  air.  Then  sitting  iu  his  tent,  or  under  the 
shade  of  some  neighboring  tree,  with  his  plate 
upon  his  lap,  he  enjoys,  with  a  soldier's  zest,  his 
fi  ugal  meal. 

The  signal  for  retiring  is  given  by  the  drum  — 
tho  ever-present  drum.  And  when  the  morning 
breaks,  again  the  roll  of  the  stirring  drum  shakes 
sleep  from  his  drowsy  eyelids,  arid  calls  him 
forth,  with  his  musket  and  his  belt,  to  duty  and 
to  drill. 

Each  day  the  Colonel  selects  an  officer,  who  is 
styled  the  officer  of  the  day.  He  is  known  by  his 
wearing  his  sash  over  his  shoulder,  the  ordinary 
way  of  wearing  it  being  around  the  waist.  He 
has  charge  of  the  guard  and  the  police  of  the 
camp.  The  guard  is  detailed  for  twenty-four 
hours  by  the  Adjutant,  each  sentry  being  changed 
once  in  two  hours.  The  guard  entirely  surrounds 
the  camp,  so  that  no  one  can  leave,  or  come  on 
the  ground,  without  their  notice  and  permission. 
Then  when  you  retire  to  rest,  you  may  be  assured 
that  these  men  are  encamped  round  about  you, 
and  that  they  will  be  faithful ;  for  if  found  asleep 
on  his  post,  the  sentry  may  be  shot,  or  such  other 
penalty  as  the  court  martial  may  inilict. 

Such  is  the  camp  life  of  our  noble  soldiery. 
Near  half  a  million  of  our  fellow-citizens  are  daily 
meeting  these  fatigues  for  the  weal  of  our  nation. 
Let  the  whole  church  pray  for  them. 


THE    FREEDMAN'S    SONG. 


DE  Lord  He  make  us  free  indeed 

In  His  own  time  an'  way ; 
We  plant  de  rice  an'  cotton  seed, 

An'  see  de  sprout  some  day ; 
"We  know  it  come,  but  not  de  why  — 

De  Lord  know  more  dan  we ; 
\Ve  'spected  freedom  by  an.'  by, 

An'  now  we  all  are  free. 

Praise  de  Lord  !     Praise  de  Lord  ! 
For  now  we  all  are  free. 

Be  Norf  is  on  de  side  ob  right, 

An'  full  of  men,  dey  say ; 
An'  dere,  when  poor  man  work,  at  night 

He  sure  to  get  his  pay ; 
De  Lord,  He  glad  dcy  are  so  good, 

An*  make  dem  bery  strong  ; 
An'  when  dey  called  to  gib  deir  blood, 

Dey  all  come  right  along. 

Praise  de  Lord  !     Praise  de  Lord ! 
Dey  all  come  right  along. 

Deir  blue  coats  cover  all  de  groun', 

An'  make  it  like  de  sky  ; 
An'  ebery  grayback  loaiin'  roun*, 

He  tink  it  time  to  fly ; 
We  not  afraid ;  we  bring  de  child, 

An'  stan'  beside  de  door  ; 
An'  O,  we  hug  it  bery  wild, 

An'  keep  it  ebermore. 

Praise  de  Lord  !     Praise  de  Lord ! 
We  keep  it  ebermore. 

De  massa's  come  back  from  his  tramp ; 

'Pears  he  is  broken  quite; 
He  takes  de  basket  to  de  camp 

For  rations  ebery  night ; 


Dey  fought  him  when  he  loud  an'  strong, 

Dey  feed  him  when  he  low  ; 
Dey  say  dey  will  forgive  de  wrong, 
An'  bid  him  'pent  an'  go. 

Praise  do  Lord  !     Praise  de  Lord  1 
Dey  bid  him  'pent  an'  go. 

D°  rice  i7  higher  far  dis  year, 

De  cotton  taller  grow; 
Do  lowest  corn-silk  on  r*e  ear 

Ls  higher  dun  de  hoe  ; 
De  Lord  He  lift  up  eberyting 

'Cept  rebel  in  his  grabe  ; 
De  negro  bress  de  Lord  an.'  sing 

He  is  no  longer  slabe. 

Praise  de  Lord  !     Praise  d3  Lsrd  I 
De  negro  no  more  slabe. 


THE  STORY  OF  PRAIRIE  GROVE. 

EAIILY  in  the  month  of  December,  General 
Blunt,  commanding  the  Union  forces  in  Arkansas, 
was  encamped  at  Cane  Hill,  in  the  north-western 
part  of  the  State,  not  far  from  Van  Buren,  and  u 
few  miles  north  of  the  Boston  Mountain. 

Across  that  mountain,  twenty  days  before,  he 
had  driven  Marmaduke,  who  commanded  all  the 
irregular  and  roving  bands  of  horsemen  that  in 
fested  that  part,  of  the  State. 

His  own  force  was  about  ten  thousand  strong. 
One  hundred  arid  twenty  miles  north  of  him,  in 
Missouri,  General  Herron  was  encamped  with  a 
force  about  six  thousand  strong.  On  the  3d  of 
December,  he  learned  that  all  the  rebel  force  in 
Arkansas  had  been  assembled  on  the  south  side 
of  the  Mountain,  and  amounted  to  some  twenty 
or  twenty-five  thousand,  commanded  by  Hind- 
man,  a  prominent  rebel  politician,  who  had  now 
become  a  prominent  rebel  General.  The  position, 
numbers,  and  commanders  of  the  Union  armies 
were  well  known  to  him,  and  his  plan  of  opera 
tions  was  obvious,  and  apparently  very  dangerous 
to  the  Union  cause  in  Arkansas.  If  he  should 
advance  at  once  across  Boston  Mountain,  fall 
upon  Blunt  with  double  his  force,  there  was  a 
flattering  probability  that  he  would  crush  him. 
Then  continuing  his  march  north,  he  proposed  to 
launch  his  flushed  columns  at  Herron,  and  wiping 
him  out,  leave  no  organized  and  adequate  force 
between  him  and  St.  Louis.  Flushed  with  these 
anticipations,  and  confident  by  a  few  days'  fight 
ing  to  make  himself  the  hero  of  the  Trans-Mis 
sissippi  Department,  he  advanced  with  confidence 
against  Blunt,  and  crossed  Boston  Mountain. 
Blunt  saw  his  whole  danger,  and  grasped  his  ene 
my's  plan.  Couriers  were  at  once  despatched  to 
Herron  to  come  with  all  haste  to  his  relief,  as  the 
enemy,  with  numbers  double  his  own,  was  advan 
cing  upon  him  from  the  South.  Nobly  and  with 
the  promptitude  of  a  true  soldier  did  Herron  re 
spond  to  the  summons.  The  annals  of  the  w:ar 
hardly  furnish  an  instance  of  swifter  movement. 
On  the  noon  of  Wednesday,  the  3d,  he  broke 
camp  at  Springfield,  Missouri,  and  headed  his 
column  for  the  Arkansas  line. 

In  three  days  he  had  marched  erg  hundred  and 
ten  miles,  and  was  in  'he  vicinity  cf  Fayettevilie, 


506 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


and  near  the  enemy.  Hindman  had  in  some 
manner  contrived  to  steal  a  march  on  Blunt,  and 
had  passed  him  on  his  left  flank,  and  was  making 
for  Ilerron  as  rapidly  as  possible.  This  startling 
intelligence  reached  Blunt  about  ten  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  the  7th,  and  he  of  course 
made  his  movements  with  the  utmost  rapidity 
to  meet  this  new  phase  of  affairs.  Herron  mean 
while,  pushing  on  south  as  rapidly  as  possible, 
expected  to  form  a  junction  with  Blunt,  and  had 
no  idea  that  he  should  be  the  first  to  engage  the 
enemy.  He  was  about  eight  miles  south  of  Fay- 
etteville,  when  his  cavalry  came  dashing  back  in 
great  disorder,  having  met  the  enemy  advancing 
in  great  numbers.  He  rallied  them  and  led  them 
on  against  the  foe,  at  the  same  time  hurrying 
forward  his  artillery  and  his  infantry.  By  ten 
o'clock  he  found  himself  on  the  north  bank  of 
Illinois  Creek,  the  enemy  on  the  other  side 
strongly  posted  on  a  long  ridge  with  magnificent 
positions  for  his  batteries. 

From  a  prisoner  he  learned  that  Hindman  was 
on  the  ridge  with  his  whole  force,  and  expected  to 
whip  him  out  before  Blunt,  who  was  ten  miles 
distant,  could  come  up.  There  were  but  two 
courses  for  Herron.  One  was  to  retreat  at  once, 
give  up  his  trains  to  the  enemy,  and  abandon 
Blunt  tc  his  fate,  without  the  power  to  assist  him. 
The  other  was  to  move  promptly  across  the  creek, 
engage  the  enemy,  and  hope  that  Blunt,  hearing 
tliB  cannon,  would  make  all  haste  to  his  relief. 
lie  was  too  good  a  soldier  to  hesitate  as  to  which 
to)  n  of  this  dilemma  to  take,  and  riding  forward 
to  view  the  ground,  decided  at  once  on  a  plan  of 
operations. 

Under  a  steady  artillery  fire  from  the  enemy 
<ve  crossed  the  creek,  got  all  his  guns  in  position, 
and  threw  out  his  infantry  in  line  of  battle.  Find 
ing  his  batteries  were  telling  upon  the  enemy's 
lir  e,  he  moved  up  the  infantry,  and  in  a  few  min- 
ut3s  the  whole  of  his  left  wing  was  engaged. 
The  battle,  commencing  thus  on  the  part  of  Gen 
eral  Herron,  lasted  some  three  hours,  till  the 
middle  of  the  afternoon,  his  force  holding  their 
original  position,  but  suffering  terribly  under  the 
galling  fire  and  frequent  charges  of  the  enemy, 
who  made  two  vigorous  efforts  to  turn  his  left  by 
massing  his  forces  on  that  wing. 

It  was  now  past  three  o'clock,  and  nothing 
from  Blunt.  All  of  Herron's  force  had  been  en 
gaged,  and  some  of  his  regiments  were  badly  cut 
up.  He  told  all  his  officers  they  must  hold  out 
till  night ;  and  there  wras  no  thought  of  anything 
else,  though  the  case  seemed  a  tough  one.  At 
four  o'clock  a  battery  opened  on  his  extreme 
right.  The  shell  came  over  and  fell  among  his 
skirmish  line.  What  could  it  mean  P  The  fire 
soon  grew  hotter,  and  presently  the  ground  was 
trembling  with  the  heavy  cannonade  of  seventy 
pieces,  all  actively  worked.  The  roar  of  the  first 
discharge  had  hardly  died  away,  when  a  thrilling 
cheer  went  up  from  the  whole  of  Herron's  line. 
Belief  had  come  at  last.  It  was  Blunt's  guns 
thundering  on  the  right.  He  had  heard  the  sound 
of  the  battle,  and  his  men,  leaving  the  main  road, 
had  taken  a  straight  shoot  through  fields  of  thorn 


brush,  and  over  fences  and  ditches,  until  Blunt 
found  himself  coming  directly  upon  the  enemy's 
left  wing.  Halting  only  to  place  his  batteries,  hp 
at  once  opened  fire,  and  from  four  o'clock  till  dark 
the  battle  raged  along  the  whole  of  the  now  ex 
tended  line,  from  Herron's  left  to  Blunt's  rii^ht. 
It  was  one  of  the  loveliest  days  that  ever  beamed 
on  a  field  of  blood.  In  that  mellow  climate  De 
cember  often  gives  a  day  as  clear  and  warm  as 
the  loveliest  of  an  Indian  summer. 

As  Hindman  saw  his  plan  had  failed,  he  fought 
with  desperation. 

His  line  was  covered  with  a  small  growth  of 
timber,  and  occupied  a  moderate  elevation,  which 
commanded  an  open  country  in  front,  called 
Prairie  Grove. 

He  had  the  advantage  in  position,  as  well  as 
numbers.  Again  and  again  the  Union  infantry 
would  charge  into  the  woods,  and  drive  the  reb 
els  ;  and  then,  again,  they  would  rally  and  charge, 
driving  the  Union  force  back  into  the  open  prai 
rie.  Thus  back  and  forth  the  battle  wavered,  till 
the  sun  set  through  lurid  smoke,  and  darkness 
settled  upon  the  scene.  Blunt  then  ordered  hia 
forces  to  withdraw  in  good  order. 

Hindman,  considering  this  a  repulse,  ordered  a 
general  charge  all  along  the  line.  Expecting  this, 
Blunt  had  stationed  his  artillery,  and  the  pieces 
were  loaded  with  grape  and  canister.  The  rebel 
line  advanced  to  within  sixty  yards,  when  the  fifty 
Federal  cannon  opened  all  along  the  line  —  a  fire 
before  which  nothing  human  could  stand. 

A  few  desperate  regiments  rallied  after  the  first 
discharge,  and  rushed  almost  to  the  cannon's 
mouth  ;  but  a  second  discharge  tore  the  bleeding 
lines  into  flying  fragments,  and  they  ran  howling 
into  the  cover  of  the  forest  from  which  they  had 
emerged. 

This  closed  the  day.  The  Federal  army  biv 
ouacked  on  their  arms,  expecting  a  renewal  of  the 
contest  at  daylight.  But  Hindman  now  thought 
discretion  was  the  better  part  of  valor,  and  taking 
his  men's  blankets  to  muffle  his  artillery  wheels, 
he  stole  away  so  quietly,  under  cover  of  night, 
that  by  morning  he  had  placed  Boston  Mountain 
between  Blunt  and  the  greater  part  of  his  force. 

Never  was  a  reverse  more  complete.  On  the 
morning  of  the  7th,  he  had  the  Union  force 
divided,  and  was  confident  that  he  could  whip 
each  division  separately.  As  some  of  his  officers 
expressed  it  in  the  elegant  vernacular  of  the 
South-west,  "  He  would  chaw  up  Herron  for  his 
breakfast,  and  then  turn  and  gobble  up  Blunt  at 
dinner."  He  had  not  calculated  upon  such  ob 
stinate  resistance  from  one,  nor  such  swift  march 
ing  from  the  other. 

Midnight  saw  his  defeated  and  bleeding  col 
umn,  stealthily,  and  with  muffled  cannon  wheels, 
moving  away  through  the  gorges  of  Boston 
Mountain.  

DESOLATICNS  OF  WAR.  —  A  Federal  cavalry 
man,  writing  from  the  vicinity  of  Fredericksburg, 
where  Burnside  was  encamped  in  December,  1862, 
gives  the  following  account  of  the  utter  desola 
tion  that  overtook  so  many  of  the  old  Virginia 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


507 


families,  and  the  promptness  with  which  even  the 
kindest  slaveholders  were  deserted  by  the  negroes 
upon  the  advent  of  the  Union  armies : 

"  While  on  a  scout  after  my  breakfast  on  Satur 
day  morning  last,  I  galloped  up  to  a  fine-looking 
house,  and  as  no  one  appeared,  I  shouted  loudly 
for  some  one  to  come  forth.  I  knew  by  the  smoke 
from  the  chimney  that  it  had  an  occupant  j  and 
directly  an  aged  lady  made  her  appearance,  and 
I  was  invited  to  dismount  and  enter  the  house, 
which  invitation  I  gladly  accepted,  and  visions  of 
hot  corn  cake,  bacon  and  eggs,  flitted  before  my 
fancy.  These  are  no  trifles  to  a  hungry  soldier, 
though  of  little  interest  to  you,  or  your  readers, 
perhaps.  Not  a  soul  was  in  sight  or  hearing  but 
this  poor  old  lady,  every  slave,  out  of  one  hun 
dred  and  sixty-five,  having  left  her.  Though  the 
owner  of  thirty-five  hundred  acres  of  beautiful 
cleared  land,  she  was,  she  said,  '  the  .nost  un 
happy  wretch  on  earth.'  Of  all  her  s.aves,  not 
one  could  be  induced  to  remain  with  her.  Even 
those  she  loved  as  her  own  children,  and  reared 
as  tenderly,  were  the  first  to  desert  her,  though 
o fibred  their  freedom  and  liberal  wages.  The 
tears  trickled  down  her  furrowed  cheeks,  and  her 
gray  head  was  bowed  in  anguish,  as  she  told  me 
the  story  of  her  last  year's  experience  ;  and  I  shed 
a  sympathizing  tear  with  her,  and  with  a  saddened 
heart  mounted  my  horse  and  rode  away,  my 
appetite  for  hot  corn  cake  and  fried  bacon  having 
failed  me.  So  it  is  with  hundreds  of  others ;  but 
of  all  the  tales  I  have  listened  to,  this  affected  me 
most."  

EXPLOITS  OF  A  FORAGING  PARTY.  —  A  soldier 
in  the  Fifty-sixth  New  York  volunteers  was  en 
gaged  in  one  of  those  excursions  —  partly  mili 
tary  and  partly  predatory  —  which  characterized 
the  earlier  years  of  the  war.  Just  after  his  first 
exploits  in  that  line  in  the  winter  of  1862,  he 
wrote  home  to  his  father  the  following  account 
from  Yorktown,  Virginia : 

"  In  order  to  make  my  promise  good  to  you, 
I  will  now  endeavor  to  pen  you  a  short  sketch  of 
our  expedition  to  Gloucester  Court  House. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  llth  of  December, 
our  regiment  was  drawn  up  in  line  at  daylight, 
and  a  few  minutes  after,  we  started  towards  the 
fort.  There  was  but  little  said  by  any  of  us  as 
we  marched  along,  keeping  step  to  the  beat  of 
the  drum.  Every  man's  mind  was  busy ;  for 
none  of  us  knew  where  we  were  to  go.  Some 
thought  we  were  going  to  join  Burnside's  army ; 
others,  that  we  were  going  to  Richmond  direct ; 
and  none  liked  the  idea  of  leaving  our  cheerful 
quarters  for  the  fierce  and  bloody  fight,  and  the 
hardships  of  a  winter  campaign. 

"  Well,  we  trudged  along,  entered  the  fort, 
and  went  down  to  the  river,  where  we  found  a 
boat  waiting  to  take  us  over  to  Gloucester  Point. 
We  found  out,  soon  after  crossing  the  river,  that 
we  were  to  go  to  Gloucester  Court  House  to  drive 
out  some  rebels,  who,  it  was  said,  were  fortifying 
themselves  there.  We  started  a  liltle  after  seven, 
and  one  hour  later,  had  passed  the  outer  pickets, 
and  were  fairly  in  Secessia.  The  people  were 


surprised  at  the  display  we  made.  There  had 
never  been  any  soldiers  through  there  before  us. 
The  darkies  were  overjoyed  at  our  coining,  and 
kindly  gave  us  all  the  eggs,  milk,  and  hoe-cake 
we  wanted.  Tl. ;  country  we  passed  through  was 
a  rich  one.  No  army  had  been  there  to  destroy 
their  crops  and  cattle,  and  they  possessed  abun 
dance. 

"At  three  P.  M.  we  entered  the  town.  Our 
cavalry  had  driven  off  a  few  stray  rebels,  and  we 
took  peaceable  possession.  There  was  no  visible 
evidence  of  the  rebels'  intending  to  fortify  the 
town.  Not  kncM-ing  but  that  we  might  be 
attacked  d.iring  the  night,  General  Naglee  had 
the  battery  planted  in  a  good  position,  a  strong 
picket  posted,  and  issued  orders  to  have  every 
mar.  ready  -.o  fall  in  at  a  minute's  notice. 

"  Our  regiment  lay  on  their  arms  all  night  on 
the  roadside.  We  Buffered  some  from  cold.  The 
boys  could  not  stand  that ;  so  they  commenced 
prowling  about  the  place  for  plunder.  There  was 
soon  a  great  uproar  among  the  fowls.  Chickens 
cackled,  geese  and  ducks  quacked,  and  turkeys 
gobbled ;  but  'twas  no  use.  It  was  too  near 
Christmas  to  give  them  a  chance  for  their  lives. 
Consequently  the,y  lost  their  heads  and  feathers, 
and  soon  found  themselves  boiling  in  the  camp- 
kettles. 

"  A  good  old  Secesh  dominie,  living  in  the  up 
per  part  of  the  town,  heard  a  great  racket  in  the 
neighborhood  of  his  hennery.  He  poked  his 
head  out  of  the  window  to  see  what  was  going 
on.  He  saw  three  or  four  blue-jackets.  One 
was  lugging  ofT  a  skip  of  honey. 

"  '  Stop  !  stop  !  I  command  you ! '  roared  out 
the  old  fellow. 

"  His  wife  (who,  no  doubt,  had  been  in  Rich 
mond,  and  learned  the  military)  told  him  to  call, 
'  Corporal  of  the  guard.'  He  did  so,  when  a  fel 
low  jumped  into  the  yard,  saying  he  was  a  Cor 
poral,  and  wanted  to  know  what  was  the  matter. 
Dominie  toM  liim  how  he  had  been  robbed,  and 
asked  him  to  take  care  of  his  honey. 

"  '  To  be  sure  I  will,'  says  the  willing  Corporal ; 
and  he  picks  up  a  skip,  and  starts  off  with  it. 

"'  But  where  are  you  going  with  that  skip?' 
says  dominie. 

"  '  O,  I  am  going  to  take  care  of  it  for  you,'  says 
Bogus  ;  and  ofi'  he  goes. 

"The  dominie  hauls  in  his  head,  and  the  boys 
hard  in  the  rest  of  his  honey  and  fowls. 

"At  noon  we  pitched  our  camp  in  a  gentle 
man's  door-yard.  We  did  nothing  more  to-day, 
and  had  a  bully  night's  rest.  Next  morning  the 
General  gave  orders  for  the  Fifty-sixth  to  go  out 
foraging.  Captain  Smith  headed  the  party,  num 
bering  forty  or  fifty.  We  started  for  the  planta 
tion  of  a  Mr.  Field,  a  strong  secessionist.  On 
arriving  at  his  house  the  Captain  halted  and 
fronted  us,  and  then  went  up  to  Field  and  told 
him  that  we  wanted  some  of  his  stock  for  Govern 
ment  use.  He  told  the  Captain  to  help  himself 
to  what  he  wanted.  The  Captain  then  divided 
the  squad  into  two  equal  parts,  one  to  capture 
and  bring  in  stock,  the  other  party  to  act  as  re- 
ser<  e  and  guard.  'Well,  tkia  fun  lasted  about  on 


508 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


hour,  and  I  caught  but  one  old  setting  hen,  and 
my  sides  ached  with  laughter.  The  ground  was 
thickly  strewn  with  dead  poultry,  for  the  boys 
noon  learned  to  kill  their  birds,  and  they  now  set 
uboat  picking  them  up.  The  Captain  started 
twenty  men  back  to  camp  with  the  plunder.  The 
rest  of  us  went  to  another  house,  but  luckily  for 
somebody,  it  was  deserted.  Farther  on  was  to 
be  seen  another  house.  The  first  glance,  on  ar 
riving  at  the  place,  told  us  that  these  folks  were 
poor.  Captain  went  to  speak  to  an  old  woman, 
who  came  to  the  door.  I  went  to  the  negro 
quarters,  and  found  by  inquiry,  that  the  old  lady 
had  long  been  a  widow,  that  she  was  very  poor, 
and  had  three  sons  in  the  rebel  army.  One  had 
been  killed  in  the  battle  before  Richmond.  The 
boys  now  commenced  a  war  on  the  poultry,  and 
I  was  determined  that  all  the  fowls  should  be 
spared  to  the  old  lady.  There  she  stood  in  the 
door  with  clasped  hands,  her  gray  hair  looking 
out  from  underneath  the  wide  border  of  her  cap. 
A  pretty  little  girl  of  five  or  six  years  (a  grand 
child),  with  golden  hair  in  curls,  stood  near,  cling 
ing  to  the  old  lady's  skirt,  and  trying  to  get  her 
in  and  shut  the  door.  The  boys  were  bent  on 
having  the  poultry,  and  as  Captain  Smith  had  not 
forbidden  it,  they  took  everything.  Here  I  did 
one  of  the  meanest  acts  that  I  ever  did  in  all  my 
life.  It  was  this  :  after  trying  to  save  the  old 
lady's  property,  I  caught  a  duck  and  wrung  its 
neck  before  her  eyes.  Never  shall  I  forget  tlie 
iook  she  gave  me.  She  thought  me  to  be  her 
only  friend  before  this  ;  but  now  I,  too,  had  proved 
an  enemy.  O,  how  her  heart  sunk  within  her  ! 
She  sank  down  into  a  chair,  and  gave  herself  up 
to  the  loudest  lamentations.  I  can  reconcile  my 
self  to  take  property  from  rich  secessionists  for 
the  Government,  but  now  I  am  down  on  robbing 
poor  people's  hen-roosts.'* 


OBEYING  ORDERS.  —  While  in  front  of  Peters 
burg,  General  Butler  received  information  that 
his  favorite  horse,  "  Almond  Eye,"  had  been  ac 
cidentally  killed  by  falling  into*  a  ravine.  Upon 
the  departure  of  his  informant,  he  ordered  an 
Irishman  to  go  and  skin  him. 

"  What !     Is  Almond  Eye  dead  ?  "  asked  Pat. 

"What's  that  to  you?  Do  as  I  bid  you,  and 
ask  no  questions." 

Pat  went  about  his  business,  and  in  an  hour  or 
two  returned. 

"  Well,  Pat,  where  have  you  been  all  this 
time  ?  " 

"  Skinning  the  horse,  yer  honor." 

"  Does  it  take  nearly  two  hours  to  perform 
such  an  operation  ?  " 

"  No,  yer  honor  ;  but  then,  you  see,  it  tuck 
'bout  half  an  hour  to  catch  him." 

"  Catch  him !    Fire  and  furies !    Was  he  alive?  " 

"  Yes,  yer  honor ;  and  you  know  I  could  not 
skin  him  alive.'' 

'*  Skin  him  alive !     Did  you  kill  him  ?  " 

"  To  be  sure  I  did.  You  know  1  must  obey 
orders,  without  asking  any  questions." 

General  Butler  eyed  his  servant  with  such  a 


malicious  look,  that  Pat  thought  he  meditated 
skinning  an  Irishman,  in  revenge  for  the  death 
of  his  horse.  

INCIDENTS   OF   TFIE  CHRISTIAN  COMMISSION. 

—  At  the  m  eting  of  this  noble  institution,  at 
Washington,   in  February,  1864,  the  Ilev.  Rob 
ert  J.  Parvin,  in  stating  the  practical  operations 
of  the  Commission  on  the  battle-fields  and  in  the 
hospitals,  said : 

"At  Gettysburg,  in  the  Fifth  Corps  Hospital, 
of  which  I  had  charge  in  the  Christian  Commis 
sion's  work  for  a  few  weeks,  I  had  many  such 
home  links  fastened  to  the  last  hours  of  dying 
soldiers.  I  remember  well  a  Captain  of  your  own 
State,  sir  [addressing  Mr.  George  H.  Stuart,  the 
President],  of  the  20th  Maine  volunteers,  who 
was  brought  into  that  old  barn,  where  were  six 
ty-five  of  the  worst  cases  in  the  whole  corps.  O, 
they  were  all  sadly  wounded.  The  brave  fellow 
had  some  of  his  own  men  lying  on  the  floor  not 
far  from  him.  He  loved  them  with  a  fathers 
love.  As  one  after  another  they  died  around 
him,  it  worked  so  upon  his  mind,  that  he  became 
a  raving  maniac,  until  it  took  four  or  five  to  hold 
him.  With  great  difficulty  we  got  him  away 
from  his  men  who  were  dying,  —  in  a  room  by 
himself,  —  and  he  rallied,  became  a  little  better. 
The  Surgeon  went  in  to  see  him.  He  came  out,  and 
I  passed  in.  The  Surgeon  had  told  me  he  could 
not  live.  If  he  had  had  a  primary  amputation, 

—  an  amputation,  that  is,  on  the  field,  —  he  might 
have  recovered,  but  he  could  not  now.     I  took 
him  by  the  hand.     His  first  words  were,  '  Chap 
lain'  (for  such  they  call  us),  '  what  did  the  Sur 
geon  say  ?  '     '  Why,  Captain,  you  are  in  a  criti 
cal  case.'     *  I  know  that,  Chaplain,  but  does  the 
Surgeon   think   I   can   live  ?  '     '  He  thinks  it  is 
hardly  possible  that  you  will  live,  Captain.'    «  My 
wife,  Chaplain  —  have  you  heard  from  her  since 
your   message  yesterday  ? '     *  No,   we   have   re 
ceived  no  answer.     The  lines  are  in  the  hands  of 
the  Government,  who  needs  them  ;  perhaps  that 
is  the  reason  we  cannot  get  an  answer  at  once. 
We  hope  she  will  be  here.'     '  Does  the   Surgeon 
say  I  cannot  live  long,  Chaplain  ?  '     *  Yes  ;  but 
you   are    a   Christian   man,    Captain    Billings?' 
'  Yes,  Chaplain,  I  have  no  fears.     I  left  my  place 
in  the  Sabbath  school  for  my  place  in  the  army. 
My  hope  is  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.     I  have 
tried  to  serve  him  in  the  army,  and  he  will  not 
forsake  me  now.     I  would  like  to  see  my  wife,' 
he  continued,   as  his  thoughts  recurred  to  that 
dear  one.     «  Well,  Captain,  if  you  have  anything 
to  say,  will  you  give  the  message  to  me  ?'     He 
asked  me  to  give  her  his  knapsack  and  swoid, 
and  other  little  things  that  he  mentioned  ;  and  if 
she  came,  the  message  he  wished  me  to  deliver ; 
and  then  he  seemed  to  dismiss  all  these  things 
from  his  mind,  as  he  lay  there  calm,  peaceful, 
a  dying   man,  as  well  as  a  dying  soldier,  and, 
above  all.  a  dying  Christia  i.     *  Now,'  said  he  at 
length,  *  don't  stay  longer  with  me.    Go  and  min 
ister  to  the  boys,  and  run  in  here  as  you  can   to 
read  a  few  words  of  Scripture  to  me,  and  kneel 
down  and  pray  with  nie.'    After  I  had  prayed 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


509 


with  him  he  said  to  me,  « Could  you  have  my 
body  embalmed  and  sent  home  ?  I  lost  my  money 
on  the  field.'  *  Certainly,  Captain,  it  shall  be 
done ;  give  yourself  no  further  thought  about 
that.'  Not  another  time  did  he  refer  to  it,  but  he 
passed  away  a  dying  Christian,  triumphing  over 
ill  the  horrors  of  war,  over  all  the  sad  circum 
stances  surrounding  him.  It  was  in  the  morning 
at  eleven  o'clock  that  he  passed  away.  At  five 
o'clock  that  afternoon  his  body  was  sent  to  the 
embalmers.  At  ten  o'clock  that  night,  as  I  was 
busy  writing  letters  from  memoranda  taken 
through  the  day*  a  knock  was  heard  at  my  door. 
'  Walk  in,'  I  responded.  In  stepped  a  man,  in 
quiring,  '  Is  Captain  Billings,  of  the  20th  Maine, 
here?'  What  a  question  for  us  to  meet!  But 
I  thought  of  the  home-link.  *  Who  are  you  ?  '  I 
asked.  '/  am  his  brother.  I  have  his  wife  with 
me.  I  have  buoyed  liar  up  this  long  ivay  with 
the  hope  that  we  would  find  the  Captain  in  good 
condition.  WHERE  is  HE,  SIR  ?  '  '  You  have 
not  brought  the  Captain's  wife  out  here  with  you 
to-night?'  The  corps  hospital  was  four  miles 
from  Gettysburg.  '  No  ;  I  left  her  in  town  for 
to-night.'  '  O,  it  is  well  ;  the  body  of  your 
brother  was  sent  to  the  embalmers  at  five  o'clock 
this  afternoon!'  'O!  O!'  said  he,  'I  cannot 
tell  her  !  /  cannot  tell  her!  I  cannot  trust  my 
self  to  tell  her,  or  even  to  see  her  again,  to 
night !'  The  poor  man  seemed  overcome.  'I 
cannot  see  her,'  he  continued  ;  '  I  have  brought 
her  on  all  the  way  to  Gettysburg,  and  now  you 
must,  you  must  tell  her  all'  And  so  our  duty 
was  to  see  the  wife,  and  deliver  to  her  the  mes 
sages  and  the  tokens  of  the  dying  love  of  her 
husband,  and  speak  to  her  words  of  comfort  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord !  His  body  was  carried  on 
to  the  State  of  Maine,  to  repose  with  those  of  his 
kindred  there." 

FEMALE  PATRIOTISM.  —  A  Southern  officer  re 
lates  the  following :  "  Let  me  now  tell  the  story 
of  a  Kentucky  lady.  It  was  related  to  rne  by  one 
in  whom  implicit  confidence  can  be  placed.  Some 
time  ago  the  hirelings  of  Lincoln  went  to  Cyn- 
thiana,  Ky.,  in  search  of  '  arms '  and  '  secession 
ists.'  A  gentleman  whom  I  will  call  Smith  was 
a  strong  Southern  man,  and  feeling  that  he  would 
be  among  the  first  to  be  arrested,  hastened  away 
at  dead  of  night.  He  was  a  man  of  wealth  and  in 
fluence  ;  but  such  was  the  precipitancy  with  which 
he  left  his  home  and  his  all,  that  he  could  carry 
nothing  with  him.  He  hurriedly  escaped  in  his 
shirt  sleeves  to  a  widow's  house  in  the  neighbor 
hood,  with  whom  he  was  well  acquainted,  and 
stated  his  condition.  The  lady,  who  was  herself 
wealthy,  instantly  and  intuitively  conceived  a 
plan  to  relieve  him.  And  what  does  the  reader 
suppose  that  plan  was  ?  She  ordered  a  horse  to 
be  saddled,  took  a  servant  behind  her,  went  to 
Cynthiana,  six  miles  distant,  procured  money  for 
her  friend,  bought  cloth,  returned  home,  had  the 
cloth ^eut  and  made  into  garments  by  the  next 
morning,  and  started  Smith  off  bright  and  early!" 

Here  is  another:  General  Marshall  sent  his 
Quartermaster  h^re  for  the  artillery  destined  for 


his  command.  There  was  n^t  a  sufficient  number 
of  horses  to  be  bought  in  t  ic  ordinary  way,  and 
the  Quartermaster  was  empowered  to  impress. 
He  met  with  a  lady  on  a  splendid  gray  horse. 
She  was  visiting  some  of  her  friends  during  the 
Christmas,  arid  wras  twenty  miles  from  home. 
She  was  asked  the  price  at  which  she  would  sell 
her  horse.  She  replied  it  was  the  only  horse  she 
had,  and  she  had  refused  two  hundred  dollars  for 
him  frequently.  The  Quartermaster  informed 
her  that  one  hundred  and  fifty  was  as  much  as 
the  Government  could  give,  and  he  thought  that 
the  horse  was  necessary  to  aid  in  the  defence  of 
the  country.  Her  reply  was  characteristic  of  the 
ladies  in  this  country.  "  Kentuckian,  take  him." 


JOHN    BROWN'S    SONG. 

JOHN  BROWN'S  body  lies  a-mouldering  in  the  grave; 
John  Brown's  body  lies  a-mouldering  in  the  grave; 
John  Brown's  body  lies  a-mouldering  in  the  grave; 
His  soul  is  marching  on ! 

CHORUS. 

Glory,  halle—  hallelujah ! 
Glory,  halle  — hallelujah! 
Glory,  halle  —  hallelujah  ! 

His  soul  is  marching  on  ! 

He's  gone  to  be  a  soldier  in  the  army  of  the  Lord  ! 
He's  gone  to  be  a  soldier  in  the  army  of  the  Lord  ! 
He's  gone  to  be  a  soldier  in  the  army  of  the  Lord  ! 

His  soul  is  marching  on  ! 
Glory,  halle  —  hallelujah!  &c. 

John  Brown's  knapsack  is  strapped  upon  his  back! 
John  Brown's  knapsack  is  strapped  upon  his  back  1 
John  Brown's  knapsack  is  strapped  upon  his  back! 

His  soul  is  marching  on ! 
Glory,  halle  —  hallelujah!  &c. 

The  pet  lambs  and  angels  will  meet  him  on  the  way, 
The  pet  lambs  and  angels  will  meet  him  on  the  way, 
The  pet  lambs  and  angels  will  meet  him  on  the  way, 

As  they  go  marching  on ! 
Glory,  halle  —  hallelujah  !  &c. 

We'll  hang  Jeff  Davis  to  a  sour  apple-tree  ! 
We'll  hang  Jeff  Davis  to  a  sour  apple-tree! 
We'll  hang  JelF  Davis  to  a  sour  apple-tree! 

As  we  go  marching  on ! 
Glory,  halle  —  hallelujah !  &c. 

Now,  three  rousing  cheers  for  the  Union  ! 
Now,  three  rousing  cheers  for  the  Union  ! 
Now,  three  rousing  cheers  for  the  Union  ! 

As  we  are  marching  on  ! 
Glory,  halle  —  hallelujah  !  &c. 

Hip,  hip,  hip,  hip,  hurrah ! 


INCIDENTS  OF  FREDERICKSBURG.  —  The  fol 
lowing  are  from  letters  of  soldiers  wrritten  soon 
ifter  the  repulse  of  Burnside  :  "  One  man  showed 
limself  a  hero.  On  tae  top  of  a  house,  apparently 
indisrnayed  by  the  shells  and  bullets  crashing 
around,  above,  and  below  him,  Ftood  &  signal 
officer  all  day  long ;  he  calirly  looked  through  his 


510 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


glass,  and  signalled  with  his  flags.  Fortunately 
he  escaped  unhurt." 

A  Lieutenant  tells  the  following  :  "  On  passing 
through  a  street  of  the  town,  while  in  the  heat 
of  the  engagement,  my  horse  suddenly  reared, 
and  I  could  distinctly  hear  the  shell  whizzing 
either  directly  in  front  or  under  his  fore  feet. 
Looking  down,  I  saw  an  artillery  driver,  of  whom 
I  was  just  asking  a  question,  picking  himself  out 
of  the  mud,  the  shell  having  passed  through  both 
of  his  horses :  fortunately  he  was  unhurt. 

" '  Be  jabers,  Liftinant,  but  that  was  a  close 
call  for  you  and  me,'  said  he. 

"  I  replied,  '  Are  you  hurt  P  ' 

"  '  No,  sir  j  I  b'lieve  Ise  only  scared.' " 


PRESIDENT  LINCOLN  AND  THE  FARMER. — 
A  Western  farmer  sought  the  President  day  after 
day  until  he  procured  the  much  desired  audience. 
He  had  a  plan  for  the  successful  prosecution  of 
the  war,  to  which  Mr.  Lincoln  listened  as  patiently 
as  he  could.  When  he  was  through,  he  asked 
the  opinion  of  the  President  upon  his  plan. 
"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  "  I'll  answer  by  tolling 
you  a  story.  You  have  heard  of  Mr.  Blank,  of 
Chicago  ?  He  was  an  immense  loafer  in  his  way 
—  in  fact,  never  did  anything  in  his  life.  One 
day  he  got  crazy  over  a  great  rise  in  the  price  of 
wheat,  upon  which  many  wheat  speculators  gained 
.arge  fortunes.  Blank  started  off  one  morning 
to  one  of  the  most  successful  of  the  wheat  spec- 
uhtors,  and  with  much  enthusiasm  laid  before 
him  a  plan  by  which  he  (the  said  Blank)  was  cer 
tain  of  becoming  independently  rich.  When  he 
had  finished,  he  asked  the  opinion  of  his  hearer 
upon  his  plan  of  operations.  The  reply  came  as 
follows :  '  My  advice  is  that  you  stick  to  your 
business.'  *  But,'  asked  Blank,  « what  is  my 
business ? '  'I  don't  know,  I  am  sure,  what  it  is,' 
says  the  merchant ;  '  but  whatever  it  is,  I  advise 
you  to  stick  to  it.'  And  now,"  said  Mr.  Lincoln, 
"  I  mean  nothing  offensive,  for  I  know  you  mean 
well,  but  I  think  you  had  better  slick  to  your 
business,  and  leave  the  war  to  those  who  have 
the  responsibility  of  managing  it." 


UNCLE  SAM  IN  VIRGINIA.  —  In  the  early  part 
of  the  war,  some  four  or  live  of  the  Union  cavalry 
were  out  towards  the  Blackwater,  on  a  scout. 
They  called  at  a  large,  nice-looking  farm-house, 
and  asked  the  matron  to  get  them  some  dinner. 
While  they  were  eating,  the  old  lady  asked  them 
if  they  knew  a  man  in  Suffolk  called'"  Uncle  Sam 
uel."  They  told  her  they  did,  they  were  very 
well  acquainted  with  him.  She  then  said,  "  I 
did  not  know  but  they  had  played  a  Yankee 
trick  on  me.  Some  of  your  riien  came  here  a 
fsw  days  ago,  and  bought  all  my  turkeys  and 
chickens ;  and  when  they  had  them  all  put  up, 
ready  to  take  away,  they  told  me  to  come  down 
to  Suffolk,  and  Uncle  Sam  would  pay  for  them." 
The  old  lady  said  she  had  lived  within  ten  miles 
of  Suffolk  all  her  life,  and  had  never  heard  of  \ 


that  man  before.  She  asked  if  he  was  a  North 
ern  man,  and  belonged  to  the  Northern  army. 
The  cavalry  told  her  that  he  was  a  very  generous 
old  gentleman,  and  if  she  would  come  down  to 
Suffolk,  he  would  not  only  pay  her  for  her  poultry, 
but  pay  her  for  their  dinner  beside. 


A  COLONEL  ON  GUARD.  —  A  Lieutenant  In  one 
of  the  Ohio  regiments  was  making  a  detail  of 
men  to  guard  a  lot  of  army  stores  captured  from 
the  enemy.  He  approached  a  crowd  of  men  all 
wearing  overcoats  such  as  Uncle  Sam  gives  his 
boys,  and  selected  four  or  five  for  special  duty. 
It  happened  that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Gazley,  of 
the  Thirty-seventh  Indiana,  was  in  the  crowd, 
and  was  selected  by  the  Lieutenant.  This  was  fun 
for  the  Colonel,  and  without  a  word  he  shouldered 
his  gun  and  went  to  his  post  of  duty.  Not  long 
afterwards,  the  Lieutenant,  going  his  rounds,  dis 
covered  by  the  firelight  the  bugie  upon  Gazley's 
cap.  He  rather  authoritatively  inquired  where  he 
got  that  bugle.  The  Colonel  said  he  "  must 
have  picked  up  an  officer's  cap  somewhere,"  and 
the  Lieutenant  passed  on. 

The  Colonel  stood  his  turn  all  night  long,  and 
was  found  in  the  morning  walking  Ids  post.  Hav 
ing  laid  off  his  overcoat,  his  shoulder-straps  ap 
peared  very  conspicuously  in  connection  with  the 
musket  on  his  shoulder.  As  soon  as  the  Lieuten 
ant  discovered  a  Colonel  on  guard,  he  approached 
him,  and  courteously  inquired  how  he  came  to  be 
there  upon  guard  ?  "  Well,  sir,  you  placed  me 
here."  With  no  little  agitation  the  Lieutenant 
inquired  who  he  was.  "  My  name  is  Carter 
Gazley,  and  I  am  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the 
Thirty-seventh  Indiana  regiment."  The  Colonel 
was  speedily  "  released,"  but  the  Lieutenant  was 
not  yet  relieved  from  his  embarrassment. 


INCIDENTS  OF  GRIERSON'S  RAID. — While  sev 
eral  of  the  Union  scouts  were  feeding  their  horses 
at  the  stables  of  a  wealthy  planter  of  secession 
proclivities,  the  proprietor  looking  on,  apparently 
deeply  interested  in  the  proceeding,  suddenly 
burst  out  with  :  "  Well,  boys,  I  can't  say  I  have 
anything  against  you.  I  don't  know  but  that,  on 
the  whole,  I  rather  like  you.  You  have  not  taken 
anything  of  mine  except  a  little  corn  for  your 
horses,  and  that  you  are  welcome  to.  I  have 
heard  of  you  all  over  the  country.  You  are 
doing  the  boldest  thing  ever  done.  But  you'll  be 
trapped,  though  ;  you'll  be  trapped,  mark  me." 

At  another  place,  where  the  men  thought  it 
advisable  to  represent  themselves  as  Jackson's 
cava'ry,  a  whole  company  was  very  graciously 
entertained  by  a  strong  secession  lady,  who  in 
sisted  on  whipping  a  negro  because  he  did  not 
bring  the  hoe-cakes  fast  enough. 

On  one  occasion,  seven  of  Colonel  Griei  son's 
scouts  stoppecf  at  the  house  of  a  wealthy  planter 
to  feed  their  jaded  horses.  Upon  ascertaining 
that  he  had  been  doing  a  little  guerrilla  business 
on  his  own  account,  our  men  encouraged  him  to 
the  belief  that,  as  they  were  the  invincible  Van 


ANECDOTES.    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


511 


Dorn  cavalry,  they  would  soon  catch  the  Yankees. 
The  secession  gentleman  heartily  approved  of 
what  he  supposed  to  be  their  intentions,  and  en 
joined  upon  them  the  necessity  of  making  as 
rapid  marches  as  possible.  As  the  men  had 
discovered  two  splendid  carriage  horses  in  the 
planter's  stable,  they  thought,  under  the  circum 
stances,  they  would  be  justified  in  making  an 
exchange,  which  they  accordingly  proceeded  to 
do.  As  they  were  taking  the  saddles  from  their 
own  tired  steeds,  and  placing  them  on  the  backs 
of  the  wealthy  guerrilla's  horses,  the  proprietor 
discovered  them,  and  at  once  objected.  He  was 
met  with  the  reply  that,  as  lie  was  anxious  the 
Yankees  should  be  speedily  overtaken,  those  after 
them  should  have  good  horses.  "All  right,  gen 
tlemen,"  said  the  planter  ;  "  I  will  keep  your  ani 
mals  until  you  return.  I  suppose  you'll  be  back 
in  two  or  three  days,  at  the  i'arthest.  When  you 
return,  you'll  find  they  have  been  well  cared  for." 
The  soldiers  were  sometimes  asked  where  they 
got  their  blue  coats.  They  always  replied,  if  they 
were  travelling  under  the  name  of  Van  Dorn's 
cavalry,  that  they  took  them  at  Holly  Springs  of 
the  Yankees.  This  always  excited  great  laughter 
among  the  secessionists."  The  scouts,  however, 
usually  wore  the  regular  "  secesh"  uniforms. 


A  SOUTHERN  CONUNDRUM.  —  Which  action 
of  the  Confederates  was  the  most  liberal  towards 
the  Yankees,  but  which  they  disliked  the  most? 

The  battle  of  Manassas,  where  they  received  a 
Confederate  check,  on  which  they  made  a  run  on 
the  Bull  Run  banks,  and  drew  more  metallic  cur 
rency  than  they  wanted. 


DRIVING  HOME  THE  COWS. 

OUT  of  the  clover  and  blue-eyed  grass, 
He  turned  them  into  the  river-lane ; 

One  after  another  he  let  them  pass, 
Then  fastened  the  meadow  bars  again. 

Under  the  willows  and  over  the  hill, 
He  patiently  followed  their  sober  pace  ; 

The  merry  whistle  for  once  was  still, 

And  something  shadowed  the  sunny  face. 

Only  a  boy  !  and  his  father  had  said 
He  never  could  let  his  youngest  go  : 

Two  already  were  lying  dead 

Under  the  feet  of  the  trampling  foe. 

But  after  the  evening  work  was  done, 

And  the  frogs  were  loud  in  the  meadow-swamp, 
Over  his  shoulder  he  slung  his  gun, 

And  stealthily  followed  the  foot-path  damp,  — 

Across  the  clover  and  through  the  wheat, 
With  resolute  heart  and  purpose  grim, 

Though  cold  was  the  dew  on  his  hurrying  feet, 
And  the  blind  bats  flitting  startled  him. 

Thrice  since  then  had  the  lanes  been  white, 
And  the  orchards  sweet  with  apple-bloom  ; 

And  now,  when  the  cows  came  back  at  night, 
The  feeble  father  drove  them  home. 


For  news  had  come  to  the  lonely  farm 

That  three  were  ly*ng  where  two  had  lair  ; 

And  the  old  man's  tremulous,  palsied  aria 
Could  never  lean  on  a  son's  again. 

The  summer  day  grew  cool  and  late  ; 

He  went  for  the  cows  when  the  work  was  ionr  ; 
But  down  the  lane,  as  he  opened  the  gate, 

He  saw  them  coming,  one  by  one,  — 

Brindle,  Ebony,  Speckle,  and  Bess, 

Shaking  their  horns  in  the  evening  wind, 

Cropping  the  buttercups  out  of  the  grass  — 
But  who  was  it  following  close  behind  f 

Loosely  swang  in  the  idle  air 

The  empty  sleeve  of  army  blue ;    • 
And  worn  and  pale,  from  the  crisping  hair, 

Looked  out  a  face  that  the  father  knew  ;  — 

For  Southern  prisons  will  sometimes  yawn, 
And  yield  their  dead  unto  life  again  ;  * 

And  the  day  that  comes  with  a  cloudy  dawn 
In  golden  glory  at  last  may  wane. 

The  great  tears  sprang  to  their  meeting  eyes ; 

For  the  heart  must  speak  when  the  lips'are  dumb, 
And  under  the  silent  evening  skies 

Together  they  followed  the  cattle  home. 


THE  CHRISTIAN  COMMISSION.  —  The  Rev. 
George  J.  Mingins,  in  an  address  delivered  at  the 
great  meeting  of  the  Christian  Commission  at 
Washington,  on  the  2d  day  of  February,  1864, 
spoke  as  follows : 

"When,  in  1861,  in  the  month  of  November, 
the  various  representatives  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Associations  of  the  loyal  North  met  to 
gether  to  organize  this  United"  States  Christian 
Commission,  they  asked  and  answered  one  simple 
question.  It  was  this :  What  can  we,  who  are 
at  home,  surrounded  by  home  comforts,  the  recip 
ients  of  every  blessing,  living  in  peace  with  each 
other,  who  have  the  liberty  of  worshipping  God 
beneath  our  own  vine  and  fig  tree,  —  what  can  we 
do  for  those  brave  men  who  have  left  their  homes 
and  all  that  is  near  and  dear  to  them,  to  sacrifice 
and  suffer,  that  we  may  be  blessed  with  the  bless 
ings  of  peace  and  safety  ?  This  was  the  simple 
question.  For  this  these  meetings  have  been 
held.  For  this  we  are  gathered  to-night,  that 
you  may  understand  precisely  the  simple,  practi 
cal  workings  of  this  Commission.  They  are  held 
that  the  loyal  people  of  the  North  may  be  aroused 
to  a  due  sense  of  their  own  responsibility  in  this 
matter.  We  desire  that  every  man  and  every 
woman  belonging  to  the  loyal  North  may  look  at 
this  matter  aright,  and  be  prepared  to  do  their 
duty,  so  that  our  national  existence  may  be  sus 
tained,  and  we  may  go  on,  a  brighter,  grander, 

*  Yet  there  are  twelve  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
nineteen  graves  of  Union  soldiers  at  the  one  rebel 
prison  pen  of  Andersonville  ;  while  from  the  comfort 
able  quarters  in  which  the  rebel  prisoners  were  kept, 
there  went  back  into  the  rebel  armies  some  of  "  the 
finest  fighting  material"  the  rebel  Commissioner  of 
Exchange  ever  saw. 


512 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


nobler,  truer  nation  in  the  future  than  we  have 
been  in  the  past. 

"I  have  riot  the  honor  to  be 'native  to  this 
manor  born.'  I  first  saw  the  light  in  good  old 
Scotland.  Her  sunlight  first  slanted  adown  the 
hill-side  into  the  valley  where  my  mother's  cot 
was  nestled ;  and  I  am  ready  to  confess,  sir,  that 
when  this  great  and  gigantic  war  burst  over  our 
land,  I  used  to  look  on  coldly,  not  understanding 
thoroughly  the  great  principle  which  prompted 
men  to  leave  their  homes  and  carry  their  lives  in 
their  hands,  that  they  might  save  the  land  of 
Washington ;  and  when  I  used  to  see  soldiers 
going  to  the  war,  I  used  to  indulge  in  a  sort  of 
vain  philosophy,  that  I  know  a  great  many  men 
indulge  in  to-day.  I  used  to  say,  '  Now,  these 
men  like  to  fight :  I  don't.  Therefore  they  are 
right  in  going  to  fight,  and  I  am  right  in  staying 
at  home.'  Or  I  used  to  say,  '  Now,  these  men 
want  fame,  they  want  a  name,  they  want  position. 
I  am  perfectly  satisfied  \vith  what  I  have  and 
what  I  am.  It  is  right  for  them  to  battle  for 
fame  ;  it  is  right  for  me  to  live  quietly  in  all  hu 
mility.'  And  I  used  to  fling  around  my  shoulder 
the  philosopher's  robe,  and  stand  unmoved,  as  I 
saw  men  passing  before  me,  going  to  .battle  and 
to  death,  and  quiet  my  conscience  with  this  mis 
erable  philosophy,  that  will  never  stand  before 
the  intelligent,  the  great,  and  the  noble,  and  that 
the  very  devil  dqspises  ! 

"  A  touching  little  incident,  Mr.  President,  con 
verted  me  from  the  error  of  my  way ;  and  if  you 
will  permit  me,  I  will  relate  it,  for,  I  confess,  it 
was  a  great  turning-point  in  ray  life ;  I  feel  it  so 
now.  I  happened  to  be  in  attendance  on  a  meet 
ing  or  Synod  in  the  city  of  Easton,  at  the  time 
when  our  honorable  Chief  Magistrate  called  out 
seventy-five  thousand  men  to  beat  back  the  foe  that 
was  plunging  onward  to  desecrate  this  holy  tem 
ple.  I  stood  in  the  street,  one  day,  and  heard  the 
sound  of  martial  music.  I  saw  the  men  march 
ing  down.  I  knew  who  they  were  the  moment  I 
saw  them  —  sturdy  yeomen,  who  had  left  the  hills 
of  Pennsylvania  and  poured  along  her  valleys ; 
who  had  left  their  fields,  and  looms,  and  benches, 
their  wives  and  little  ones,  their  homes,  and  all 
that  they  held  dear,  to  stand  in  front  of  the  foe 
that  had  risen  up  against  us.  When  I  saw  them 
my  old  philosophy  came  up,  because  I  must  have 
something  to  comfort  me,  you  know. 

"  Just  then  I  saw  a  little  girl  standing  on  the 
doorstep.  She  was  ten  or  twelve  years  of  age,  I 
should  judge.  As  I  looked  in  her  face  my  atten 
tion  was  arrested.  I  thought  I  saw  a  deep  cloud 
of  sorrow  come  over  and  rest  upon  that  little 
brow.  She  stood  with  her  little  hands  clasped 
tightly,  and  her  little  face  seemed  pinched  with 
very  agony.  And  I  thought,  Well,  now,  what 
can  be  the  matter  -with  the  child  ?  I  determined 
to  watch  her  ;  so  I  took  my  stand  near  by.  The 
sound  of  the  music  drew  nearer  and  nearer.  By 
and  by  the  heavy  tramp  of  men  was  heard.  As 
they  drew  near  to  us,  I  saw  that  little  form  be 
coming  more  fixed  and  rigid  ;  the  little  hands 
began  to  quiver,  her  neck  was  stretched  out  with 
eager  inten&ity,  and  she  stood  with  eyes  fairly 


riveted  upon  the  men  as  they  came  marching 
slowly  by  the  door.  At  last  I  was  startled  with 
the  penetrating  little  voice,  as  it  cried  out,  '  0, 
that's  him  !  that's  him  !  It's  pa!  it's  pa!  He's  go 
ing  !  he's  going  !  He's  gone ! '  and  with  loud  sob 
bing  she  turned  away  and  entered  into  the  house. 

"  Now  conscience,  just  at  that  time,  asked  me 
one  or  two  very  ugly  questions.  One  question  that 
it  asked  me  was,  *  Well,  what  was  the  matter  M  ith 
the  child  ? '  The  answer  was  at  hand.  I  knew 
that  that  man  who  had  marched  to  defend  the 
Union  was  her  father ;  that  he  was  her  all ;  that 
he  was  her  comfort,  her  joy,  her  support,  her  sus 
tenance  ;  and  when  that  little  one  had  given  up 
that,  she  had  given  up  the  very  sunlight  of  her 
little  existence,  literally  her  all.  And  then  con 
science  asked  me  another  question.  It  said, '  Well, 
sir,  what  have  YOU  done  for  your  country  ?  '  I 
whispered,  '  Well —  but  —  but  I  don't  really  be 
long  to  the  country ! '  '  Don't  belong  to  the 
country  ?  '  said  conscience  ;  '  don't  belong  to  the 
country  ?  —  then,  you  infernal  scamp,  get  out  of 
it !  Get  out  of  it !  This  is  not  the  country  for 
men  who  belong  nowhere  —  it's  somewhere  else  ! 
Don't  belong  to  it?'  and  then  memory  carried 
me  back  many  a  year,  when  I  first  landed  upon 
these  hospitable  shores,  a  poor,  unknown  lad, 
when  year  after  year  I  struggled,  and  at  every 
step  1  took  I  met  sunlight,  and  warm  hearts,  and 
generous  natures  ;  and  all  the  high  road  to  an 
honest  and  a  true  ambition  opened  up  before  me. 
And  '  not  belong  to  the  country  ?  Then  quit  it ! 
and  give  up  all  you  have  received  from  it  and 
have  in  it ! '  '  Well,  but,'  conscience  interposed, 
'  you  got  a  wife  here.'  '  Yes  ;  and  I  would  not 
give  her  up  for  a  great  deal.'  I  thought,  '  No,  I 
cannot  quit  it;'  and  then  the  blush  of  very 
shame  mantled  my  cheek ;  and  standing  in  that 
street  in  Easton,  "as  I  looked  back  at  the  silent, 
dumb  door  that  had  closed  upon  that  brave  and 
God -like  little  patriot,  I  determined  that,  though 
not '  native  to  the  manor  born,'  1  would  allow  no 
man  living  here  to  outdo  me,  so  far  as  I  had  the 
ability,  in  upholding,  and  sustaining,  and  defend 
ing  the  nation  that  had  been  my  generous  and  my 
noble  benefactor. 

"  But  conscience  was  not  done  with  me  yet. 
I  walked  down  the  street.  I  saw  the  same  com 
pany  of  men  drawn  up  in  line.  I  saw  an  old 
woman  who  was  pulling  a  thin  shawl  about  her. 
Ah,  she  was  one  of  the  poor  of  the  earth.  She 
hurried  on,  eagerly,  anxiously  scanning  the  faces 
of  the  men  as  she  came.  At  last  she  stopped  be 
fore  a  great,  tail,  raw-boned  fellow  wlio  was  jok 
ing  with  his  companions.  '  Wei?,  boys,'  he  said, 
'we're  going  off — ar'n't  we?'  And  they  said, 
'  Yes,  we  are.'  He  had  a  little  bundle,  tied  up 
with  a  red  handkerchief,  in  his  arm.  '  When  we 
get  down  there,  maybe  we  won't  give  them  fits, 
eh  ?  '  They  said,  '  Maybe  we  won't.'  They  seemed 
to  be  making  the  same  mistake  with  some  of  us 
just  about  that  time,  for  we  none  of  us  had  an 
idea  that  such  a  terrible  desolating  shadow  was 
rising  up  in  our  midst. 

"  J  ust  then  the  old  woman  pushed  her  way 
through  the  crowd,  and  stood  before  this  man. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


513 


His  eyes  dropped  in  a  moment,  and  his  face  was 
covered  with  a  flush,  and  as  he  turned  his  head 
he  lifted  his  finger  to  his  eyes,  and  shook  it  with 
a  twirl  — '  Now,  mother,  mother !  You  promised 
me  that  you  wouldn't  come  out,  didn't  ye  ?  Now 
you  promised  me.  When  I  said  "  good  by  "  to 
ye,  mother,  I  told  ye  I  didn't  want  you  to  come 
out  here  and  unman  me ;  and  here  you've  done  it ! 
Now  I  wish  you  hadn't ! '  The  old  woman  lifted 
her  hands  up,  and  putting  them  on  the  great 
high  shoulders  of  her  son,  as  the  tears  streamed 
down  her  furrowed  cheeks,  she  said,  '  O  Jack, 
don't  scold  me  ;  don't  scold  your  poor  old  mother, 
Jack :  you  know  ye're  all  I  have,  Jack  ;  and  I 
didn't  come  out  to  unman  ye,  I  didn't  come  out 
to  unman  ye  —  I  have  come  to  say,  God  bless  ye, 
Jack,  God  bless  ye  ! '  and  folding  the  thin  shawl 
over  her  bosom  she  went  away.  The  big  .fellow 
drew  the  sleeve  over  his  face,  and  bringing  down 
his  arm  with  a  sort  of  vexed  emphasis,  as  if  to 
defy  the  emotion  he  could  not  control,  turning  to 
the  men,  he  said,  '  Hang  it,  boys,  she's  mother, 
you  know ! '  There,  I  felt,  will  be  a  brave  man  in 
the  field.  He's  a  noble,  a  true  fellow.  Men  who 
have  a  right  and  true  appreciation  of  their  coun 
try's  cause  are  lovers  of  their  home  and  of  their 
mother.  It  is  unnecessary  to  say  that  conscience 
had  done  its  work  faithfully  with  me  that  time  ! 

"  And  now,  when  I  heard,  Mr.  Chairman,  that 
the  Christian  Commission  designed  to  follow  these 
men  wherever  they  go,  with  their  homes  and  the 
influences  of  the  loved  ones  there,  that  it  was  to 
be,  as  you  have  heard,  a  home-link  of  the  war,  I 
could  not  but  admire  and  support  it.  When 
this  Christian  Commission  was  organized,  many 
said,  '  Now  I  hope  you  will  stick  to  your  legiti 
mate  business.'  Well,  we  say,  *  Pray  what  is 
the  legitimate  business  of  the  Christian  Commis 
sion  ? '  '  Well,  it  is  the  giving  of  tracts,  and 
prayer-books,  and  Testaments,  and  all  sorts  of 
good  books ;  it  is  preaching,  and  praying,  and 
talking  with  the  men,  arid  it  is  not  anything  else.' 
Now,  I  was  sent  out  by  the  worthy  Chairman  of 
this  Christian  Commission  in  May,  1861,  to  see 
if  there  was  anything  to  do  for  an  organization 
like  this  within  the  lines  of  the  army  ;  and  in  the 
second  place,  if  there  was,  to  see  how  we  could  do 
it.  We  found  there  was  plenty  to  do ;  and  I 
found  that  there  was  only  one  way  of  doing  it, 
and  that  was  by  following  the  example  set  us  by 
the  Master.  Now,  I  have  not  the  slightest  re 
spect  for,  nor  the  slightest  faith  in,  that  Chris 
tianity  that  goes  into  the  deepest  cellar  or  into  the 
highest  garret,  and  beholds  the  poor,  wretched 
beings  there,  dressed  in  rags,  and  shivering  in  the 
cold,  and  pitches  a  sermon  at  the  poor  things' 
heads.  It  is  not  the  religion  of  my  Lord  and 
Master  that  does  this.  For  I  remember  that 
when  he  stood  upon  the  earth,  his  hands  were  al 
ways  busy,  and  his  great  heart  was  always  drawn 
out  in  sympathy  for  the  poor  and  lowly  ;  and  he 
ministered  to  their  bodies  as  well  as  to  their  j 
souls.  When  the  poor  leper  came  to  him,  say 
ing",  'Lord,  if  thou  wilt  thou  canst  make  me 
clean,'  he  first  healed  the  man's  body,  and  then 
*,alked  to  him  of  his  soul's  welfare,  flowever,  in 
33 


this  work  in  the  army  we  soon  find  out  from  the 
soldier  himself  the  kind  of  religion  he  wants. 
The  soldier  is  the  best  judge,  after  all,  of  tlifi. 
One  of  our  delegates,  in  the  early  history  of  lh« 
Commission,  approached  a  soldier  who  seemed 
very  tired  and  worn,  and  holding  in  his  hand  o 
tract,  he  said,  extending  it  to  him,  '  My  good 
friend,  will  you  have  a  tract?'  '  No,  but  Fllhaoe 
a  cracker ! '  was  the  quick  reply ;  and  the  delegate 
said,  '  Pardon  me,  I  did  not  know  you  were  hun 
gry,  my  good  fellow,  or  I  would  not  have  offered 
you  the  tract  first; '  and  putting  his  hand  in  his 
satchel,  he  pulled  out  a  nice  Boston  cracker,  and 
said,  '  Take  this ;  and  if  that  is  not  sufficient,  if 
you  will  wait  ten  minutes,  till  I  run  over  to  the 
Christ:an  Commission's  tent,  I  will  bring  you  as 
much  as  you  want.'  The  fellow's  eyes  bright 
ened  ;  he  was  moved ;  and  he  said,  *  Well,  stranger, 
excuse  me;  I  didn't  want  to  be  impertinent,  but  1 
tell  you  I  was  hungry,  that's  a  fact;  and  when  you 
offered  me  that  tract,  I  thought  I  would  much 
rather  have  a  cracker,  and  I  said  so.  But  give 
me  the  tract,  too,  stranger ;  give  it  to  me.  I 
promise  you  I  will  read  it,  and  keep  it;  for  if  this 
is  the  kind  of  religion  you  men  of  the  Christian 
Commission  bring  down  to  the  soldiers  in  the 
army,  it's  just  what  they  want.'  And  frc  m  the 
first  time  that  its  delegates  have  set  out  for  the 
lines  of  the  army,  up  to  this  present  time,  the  uni 
versal  testimony  —  I  say  it  boldly  --  of  every  mar. 
who  has  come  in  contact  with  the  Christian  Cora- 
mission,  has  been,  'THAT  IT'S  JUST  THE  vnii 

THING  FOR  TUP:  ARMY.' 

"  The  Rev.  Mr.  I'arvin  has  given  you  some  idea 
as  to  how  the  Commission's  delegate  goes  to 
work.  Out  of  these  twelve  hundred  delegates 
every  man  has  acted  upon  the  simple  principle 
of  the  organization,  that  it  is  the  duty  of  every 
man  to  do  something  for  his  country.  I  suppose 
I  have  what  you  may  consider  a  curious  definition 
of  patriotism.  I  believe  that  the  word  '  patriot ' 
means  '  one  who  is  willing  to  make  sacrifices  for 
his  country.'  But  you  know  there  are  '  many 
men  of  different  minds,'  and  I  have  met  some 
who  would  come  down  to  the  breakfast  table  at 
the  hotel,  with  the  luxuries  of  life  spread  out  be 
fore  them,  and  with  their  newspapers  in  hand, 
very  complacently  lean  back,  and  with  pompous 
air  bolt  out  an  oath  from  their  unclean  throats, 
'  By  George,  I  told  you  so ;  the  Government  is 
going  to  smash ;  it  is  a  wreck  already  ! '  and 
they  would  grumble  and  growl,  and  yet  think 
themselves  true  patriots  ;  indeed,  if  you  doubted 
their  patriotism  they  would  become  excessively 
angry !  I  may  be  mistaken,  but  the  only  patri 
otism  it  is  right  to  acknowledge,  in  my  opinion, 
in  presenting  this  cause  before  the  people  of  the 
North,  is  this :  that  whether  this  war  be  right  or 
wrong,  every  man  is  bound  to  do  what  he  can 
to  relieve  the  sufferings  of  those  men  who  are 
fighting  for  him,  to  bind  up  their  broken  bodies, 
and  pour  the  oil  of  soothing  upon  the  weak  and 
weary  wounded  soldiers. 

"  You  may  ask  me,  How  are  these  ministrations 
of  delegates  reef  ived  by  the  soldiers  ?  I  have 
been  out  several  times  as  delegate,  and  I  testify 


514 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


that  I  have  always  been  received  most  kindly  by 
them.  I  met  with  but  one  exception.  He  was 
an  Irishman.  I  do  not  say  this  to  cast  any  re 
flection  upon  our  Irish  fellow-citizens ;  for  I  re 
member  well  when  I  stood  at  the  battle-field  of 
Antietam,  that  I  was  pointed  out  a  ditch  which 
lay  full  of  the  rebel  dead,  and  when  I  asked, 
'  Whose  work  is  this  ? '  I  was  answered,  '  The 
Irish  brigade,  sir ! '  and  I  said  then,  '  God  bloss 
them ! '  and  so  1  say  now,  if  that  is  the  way  they 
do  !  (Applause.)  And  I  say,  God  bless  all  whom 
America  has  received  from  foreign  countries,  and 
made  them  sons ;  and  may  he  confound  all  who, 
walking  and  living  in  the  sunlight  of  its  prosper 
ity,  defile  her  with  curses  and  trample  upon  the 
bosom  that  has  nourished  them. 

"  Well,  notwithstanding  that,  this  was  a  very 
tough  old  Irishman,  I  assure  you.  It  was  at  a 
time  when  a  great  many  were  sick,  at  Yorktown, 
with  the  typhoid  fever  'and  chronic  dysentery  — 
men  who  had  marched,  and  marched,  and  dug 
and  delved,  and  marched  again,  until  they  were 
completely  broken  down.  A  great  many  of  them 
had  no  clean  shirts  on  —  for  they  had  worn  them 
long.  I  had  got  a  large  supply,  and  was  going 
through  the  tent  giving  them  to  the  poor  fellows. 
And  here  let  me  illustrate  the  Commission's  pro 
ceeding  in  such  cases.  When  word  came  that  the 
men  wanted  shirts,  we  did  not  go  back  to  the  tent 
and  hold  a  council  of  war  over  it.  One  did  not 
rise  and  say,  '  Now,  do  you  think  that  man  has  a 
shirt  ?  Do  you  really  think  it  P '  And  after  con 
sidering  a  while,  and  discussing  the  point,  they 
conclude  he  has  not.  '  Well,  do  you  think  we 
hud  better  give  him  one  ?  '  is  asked  ;  and  it  is 
agreed  that  it  would  be  advisable  to  do  so.  ''  I 
propose,  then,  that  we  give  him  a  shirt/  says  one. 
1  Is  it,  seconded  ? '  'It  is.'  '  It  is  moved  and  sec 
onded  that  this  man  have  a  shirt.  All  in  favor, 
say  ay.'  They  say  ay,  and  the  shirt  is  procured. 
'  But,'  says  one,  '  how  long  have  you  been  here, 
my  friend  ?  '  '  Seven  weeks.'  '  O,  then,  you  must 
give  the  man  the  shirt,  because  you  are  the  senior 
officer  here ! '  And  at  last  the  poor  man  gets  the 
needed  garment. 

"  No,  no  ;  it  is  nothing  like  this  that  the  Com 
mission  goes  to  work.  I  had  gone  to  the  needy 
men  and  distributed  what  I  had.  I  came  to  this 
Irishman.  '  My  dear  friend,'  said  I, '  how  are  you  ? 
You  seem  to  be  an  old  man.'  '  Shure  and  I  am 
an  ould  mon,  sir ! ' ,  *  Well,  how  came  you  here, 
in  the  army,  old  as  you  are  ?  '  '  Och,  sir,  I'm  not 
only  an  ould  mon,  but  an  ould  soldier,  too,  I'd 
have  ye  know.'  He  had  been  twenty  years  in  the 
British  service  in  the  East  Indies,  and  had  fought 
America's  foes  in  Mexico.  *  Yes,  sir,'  he  contin 
ued,  '  I'm  ould,  and  I  know  it ;  but  I'm  not  too  ould 
to  shoulder  a  musket  and  hit  a  rap  for  the  ould 
flag  yet ! '  (Applause.)  «  You're  a  brave  fellow,' 
said  I,  '  and  I've  brought  these  things  to  make 
you  comfortable,'  as  I  held  out  to  him  a  shirt  and 
drawers.  He  looked  at  me.  Said  he,  'What, 
thim  things?'  '  Yes,  I  want  to  give  them  to  you 
to  wear.'  '  Well,  I  don't  want  them ! '  '  You  do 
want  them.'  '  Well,  I  don't ! '  and  he  looked  at 
ma  and  then  at  the  goods,  and  sail  somewhat 


sharply  as  I  urged  them  agfiin,  '  Niver  mind,  sir, 
I  don't  want  them,  and  I  tell  ye,  I  won't  have 
them ! '  '  Why  ? '  '  Shure,'  said  he,  < do  ye  take 
me  for  an  object  of  charity?  '  That  was  a  kind 
of  poser.  I  looked  at  him.  '  No,  sir,'  said  I,  '  L 
do  not  take  you  for  an  object  of  charity,  and  I 
don't  want  you  to  look  upon  me  as  a  dispenser 
of  charity,  either,  for  I  am  not.'  '  Well,  what  are 
you,  thin  ? '  *  I  am  a  delegate  of  the  United  States 
Christian  Commission.  I  have  left  my  home  and 
my  church,  and  I  have  come  down  here  to  serv*1 
the  brave  fellows.  I  have  washed  their  feet,  and 
have  dressed  them,  and  done  eveiy thing  that  a 
nurse  could  do,  for  the  tick  and  suffering  men 
here.  I  came  as  a  delegate  from  the  loyal  North, 
bearing  the  thank-offerings  of  mothers,  and  wives, 
and  sisters,  to  you,  brave  defenders  of  the  Stars 
and  Stripes.'  And  I  thought,  surely,  after  such 
a  speech  as  that,  I  would  get  hold  of  the  old  fel 
low's  heart.  But  he  looked  at  me  and  said,  '  Any 
how,  I  won't  have  thim!'  (Laughter.)  I  felt 
really  wounded.  I  did  not  at  all  like  it.  I  have 
told  you  he  was  an  Irishman,  and  I  happened  to 
be  a  Scotchman,  and  somehow  you  scarcely  ever 
see  an  Irishman  and  Scotchman  meet  without 
there  is  a  row.  I  couldn't  help  it,  but  it  is  so, 
that  I  didn't  like  the  idea  of  that  old  Irishman's 
bluffing  me  off  so.  I  was  determined  not  to  be 
conquered.  I  meant  to  try  further  ;  and  when  a 
Scotchman  means  to  try  a  thing,  he  will  come  very 
near  doing  it.  (Laughter.)  I  didn't  forget  my 
obligations,  however,  the  cause  I  was  serving,  an  1 
that  I  was  a  Christian  man.  I  didn't  talk  any  fur 
ther  then,  but  determined  to  prove  by  my  acts, 
my  deeds,  that  I  had  come  down  to  do  this  old 
man  and  his  fellows  good.  So  day  after  day  I 
went  about  my  work,  nursing,  giving  medicines, 
cleaning  up  the  tent,  and  doing  anything  and 
everything  that  I  could. 

"  One  day,  as  I  went  in,  a  soldier  said,  *  There's 
good  news  to-diy,  chaplain.'  *  Ah,  what  is  it  ? ' 
1  The  paymaster  's  come.'  *  Well,  that  is  good 
news.'  •  Yes,  but  not  to  me,  chaplain.'  '  How  is 
that?'  'I've  not  got  my  descriptive  list,  and  if 
a  fellow's  not  got  that,  the  paymaster  may  come 
and  go,  and  he's  none  the  better  off  for  it.'  '  Well, 
why  don't  you  get  it ? '  'I  can't  write,  chaplain ; 
I  am  suffering  from  chronic  rheumatism.'  '  Shall 
I  write  for  you  ? '  'If  you  only  would,  chaplain ! ' 
I  hauled  out  paper  and  pencil,  asked  the  number 
of  his  regiment,  name  of  his  Captain,  his  company, 
&c.,  and  sent  a  simple  request  that  the  descriptive 
list  might  be  remitted  to  that  point.  When  1  had 
done  this  I  found  a  good  many  who  wanted  their 
lists,  and  I  went  on  writing  them  until  I  came  to 
the  cot  next  to  the  old  Irishman's.  It  was  occu 
pied  by  another  Irishman.  I  said  to  him,  '  My 
friend,  have  you  your  descriptive  list?'  'No.' 
'  Shall  I  write  to  your  Captain  for  it ?  '  'If  you 
please;'  and  I  began  to  write.  I  noticed  the  old 
Irishman  stretching  over,  all  attention,  listening 
to  what  I  was  saying.  I  spoke  now  and  then  a 
word  meant  for  him,  though  I  affected  not  to  no 
tice  him.  After  I  had  written  the  request,  I  said 
to  the  young  man,  «  Shall  I  read  it  to  you  ?  '  'If 
you  pie  ase,  sir ; '  and  I  read  aloud  the  simple  note, 


ANECDOTES,   POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


515 


|  something  the  matter  with  him.     He  was  rubbing 
i  his   hands  through   his  hair,  pulling  his  beard. 


When  I  ha:!  done  the  old  Irishman  broke  out 

with,  '  Upon  my  sowl,  sir,  you  write  the  natest 

letther  for  a  descriptive  list  that  I  ever  heard  in  j  and  acting  otherwise  very  strangely  ;  but  I  didn't 

my  life!     Shure,  and  a  man  would  think  ye  had  |  take  much  notice  of  him,  as  I  had  been  so  sol- 


boen  a  roidier  all  your  days,  you  do  write  so  nate  a 
Jetther  for  a  descriptive  list!'  I  turned  around 
arid  said, '  Have  you  got  yours  ?  '  *  An'  I  haven't, 
sir.'  'l)o  you  want  it?'  'To  be  shure  I  do,' 
he  said,  flaring  up;  'an'  that's  a  queer  question 
to  ax  a  man,  does  he  want  his  descriptive  list, 
does  he  want  his  pay  to  buy  some  little  delicacies 
to  send  home  to  the  ould  woman  and  the  childer ! 
I  do  want  it,  an'  if  you  will  lend  us  the  shtroke 
of  your  pen,  chaplain,  you'll  oblige  us.'  I  sat 
down  and  wrote  the  letter,  and  when  I  had  done, 
said, '  Now,  boys,  give  me  your  letters,  and  I'll 
have  them  post-paid  and  sent  for  you.' 

"  When  I  returned  sad  work  awaited  me,  for  a 
delegate  meets  shadows  as  well  as  sunshine  in 
his  work.  In  that  tent  were  several  of  the  brave 
sons  of  New  England.  One  of  Massachusetts' 
sons  lay  there  dying.  You  could  tell  it  by  the 
pale  face,  the  sunken  eye,  and  the  pale,  quivering 
lip.  Then  came  the  delegate's  work  as  the  min 
ister  of  Christ.  This  Christian  Commission,  Mr. 
Chairman,  believes  that  men  are  immortal,  and 
that  all  the  patriotism  on  God's  earth  will  not 
open  the  gates  of  eternal  glory  to  any  soul  unless 
it  be  saved  by  the  great  mercy  of  God,  through 
Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord  ;  and  then  trembling,  re 
membering  the  terrible  responsibility  that  rests 
upon  the  living  minister  standing  by  a  dying 
man,  we  try  to  preach  the  gospel  to  him. 

"  I  spoke  to  the  dying  hoy  of  mother,  of  Jesus, 
of  home,  of  heaven.  O,  mothers  who  are  here 
to-night,  let  me  say  to  you  that  whatever  else  a 
soldier  forgets,  he"  never,  never,  NEVER  forgets 
his  mother.  And  I  will  tell  you,  my  friends,  that 
is  one  of  the  things  I  have  noticed  in  an  Ameri 
can  army  that  I  believe  is  a  great  characteristic 
of  the  American  heart,  that  it  clings  to  home  and 
mother.  I  have  stood  by  the  cot  of  a  dying  sol 
dier,  and  stooping  down  to  catch  his  last  breath, 
have  heard  him  whisper  « mother.'  I  remember 
passing  over  a  battle-field  and  seeing  a  man  just 
dying.  His  mind  was  wandering.  His  spirit  was 
no  longer  on  that  bloody  field ;  it  was  at  his  home, 
far  away.  I  stood  and  looked  upon  the  poor  fel 
low.  A  smile  passed  over  his  face  —  a  smile,  O, 
of  so  much  sweetness,  as,  looking  up,  he  said,  '  O 
mother,  O  mother!  I  am  so  glad  you  have 
come.'  And  he  seemed  as  if  she  was  there  by 
his  side.  By  and  by  he  said  again,  '  Mother,  it's 
cold,  it's  cold ;  won't  you  pull  the  blanket  over 
me  ?  '  I  stooped  down  and  pulled  the  poor  fel 
low's  ragged  blanket  closer  to  his  shivering  form. 
And  he  smiled  again.  'That  will  do,  mother,  that 
will  do ! '  and  he  turned  over  and  passed  sweetly 
to  his  rest,  and  he  was  borne  up  to  the  presence 
of  God  on  the  wings  of  a  pious  mother's  prayers. 

"  But  to  come  to  the  case  in  the  tent.  After  I 
had  done  all  I  could  for  the  Massachusetts  boy, 
and  had  shook  his  hand  in  parting,  I  turned  to 
leave  the  tent,  when  just  as  I  was  going  out  of 
the  door  I  happened  to  see  the  old  Irishman. 
He  looked  very  queerly.  There  was  certainly 


emnly  engaged.  Then  he  came  up  to  me,  and 
clasping  my  hands,  he  said,  '  Be  me  sowl,  sir,  you 
are  no  humbug,  anyhow  ! '  '  What  do  you  mean  ? ' 
I  said.  '  O,'  said  he,  '  haven't  I  watched  you  as 
day  by  day  ye've  been  going  through  the  tent 
caring  for  the  boys  ?  Why,  ye've  been  like  a 
mother  to  iv'ry  one  of  them.  Thanks  to  ye,  chap 
lain,  thanks  to  ye,  an'  may  God  bless  ye,'  he  re 
peated,  as  ie  again  wrung  my  hand.  '  And,'  said 
he,  '  ye  do  this  all  for  nothing ;  the  boys  have 
been  telling  me  about  ye.'  *  O,'  said  I,  '  that's  a 
mistake.'  '  Well,  now',  how's  that  ?  They  been 
tellin'  me  that  ye  were  a  Presbyterian  minister, 
and  that  ye  came  away  from  yer  home,  down 
here,  for  the  love  ye  had  for  the  boys.  But  ye 
don't  do  it  for  nothing,  eh  ?  Who,  thin,  pays  ye  ? 
the  Government?'  'No.  If  it  means  to  pay 
me,  it  would  take  a  great  deal  more  money  than 
it  can  spa're.  I  would  not  sell  my  experience  to 
day  for  any  price.'  '  Well,  does  the  Commission 
pay  ye  ?  '  '  No.'  «  Well,  thin,  if  the  Government 
doesn't  pay  ye,  and  the  Commission  doesn't,  who 
does  pay  ye  P  '  I  looked  the  man  straight  in  the 
face,  and  I  said,  '  That  honest,  hearty  grasp  of  the 
hand,  and  that  hearty  "  God  bless  ye,"  is  ample 
reward  for  all  that  I  have  done  for  you.  Remem 
ber,  my  brave  fellow,  that  you  have  suffered  and 
sacrificed  for  me,  and  I  couldn't  do  less  for  you 
now.'  He  was  broken  down.  He  bowed  'his 
head  and  wept,  and  then,  taking  me  by  the  hand 
again,  said,  '  Shure,  an'  if  that's  the  pay  ye  take, 
why,  God  bless  ye,  God  bless  ye,  God  bless  ye ! 
Ye'll  be  rich  of  the  coin  of  me  heart  all  your 
days.'  And  after  a  few  moments'  pause,  he  said, 
'  And  now,  chaplain,  if  ye  will  just  give  us  the 
shirt  and  the  drawers,  Til  wear  them  till  there's 
not  a  thread  of  them  left ! '  (Cheers  and  laugh 
ter.) 

"  This  incident  will  illustrate  how  we  approach 
the  soldier,  what  we  try  to  do  for  him,  and  how 
it  is  received  by  him.  I  have  already  occupied 
my  full  time  ;  but  if  you  will  permit  me,  Mr. 
Chairman,  I  want  to  say  a  word  as  to  the  great 
work  of  the  Commission,  after  all.  It  sends  its 
stores  and  cares  for  the  bodies  of  men  because 
it  is  Christ-like  to  do  it,  and  because  it  gives  it  the 
key  to  the  men's  hearts  ;  and  this  is  its  grand 
aim,  to  benefit  and  save  the  soal  —  to  teach  the 
men  that  it  is  '  not  all  of  life  to  live,  nor  all  of 
death  to  die.' 

"  Let  me  say,  first,  that  the  soldiers  are  accessible 
to  this  work.  A  great  many  seem  to  believe  that 
the  moment  they  put  on  the  uniform  of  their 
country,  they  are  left  at  once  free  of  all  moral 
obligations  ;  and  I  tell  you  that  I  have  seen  in 
this  city  of  Washington  more  wretched  wicked 
ness  amongst  our  soldiers  than  I  ever  saw  down 
in  the  lines  of  the  army.  The  men  there  will 
come  out  to  hear  the  gospel.  I  have  preached 
night  after  night,  within  four  miles  of  this  city,  to 
soldier  audiences  larger,  I  am  safe  in  saying,  than 
I  ever  saw  a  minister  of  the  gospel  address  on 


516 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


any  special  religious  subject  in  any  church  in  this 
country.  And  these  men  came  voluntarily  to 
gether.  The  Christian  Commission  have  a  chapel 
capable  of  holding  a  thousand  men,  within  four 
miles  of  this  city,  and  it  is  better  attended,  far 
better,  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say,  than  the  majority 
of  the  churches  here.  And  let  me  also  say, 
though  do  not  let  it  startle  you  when  I  tell  you, 
that  the  soldiers  are  not.  only  more  accessible  to 
the  gospel  than  the  young  men  are  at  home,  but 
that  there  are  more  brought  to  Christ,  more  are 
converted  to  God,  in  our  armies,  than  there  are 
at  home !  I  will  say  even  more  —  that,  humanly 
speaking,  there  is  more  likelihood  of  your  son's 
becoming  a  soldier  of  the  cross  down  in  the  lines 
of  the  army  than  there  is  at  home.  '  How  do 
you  make  it  out?  '  some  may  ask.  I  answer,  be 
cause  the  prayers  of  the  people  of  the  North  are 
centring  on  that  mighty  and  majestic  host ;  be 
cause  there  is  no  mother  in  the  land  who  does 
not  lift  up  holy  hands  unto  God,  and  beseech  that 
victory  may  perch  upon  the  banner  of  this  nation, 
and  that  her  son  may  return  to  her  home  a  child 
of  the  eternal  God  ;  because  there  is  not  a  wife 
or  a  sister  in  the  land  but  who  asks  that  the  shad 
ow  of  the  Almighty's  wings  may  be  flung  over 
their  loved  ones  who  have  left  them. 

"  I  know,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  we  have  all  suf 
fered  in  this  war  ;  but  it  seems  to  me  that  those 
who  suffer  most  are  the  Christian  fathers  jand 
mothers  of  the  soldiers.  In  conclusion,  just  let 
me  give  you  an  instance  of  a  mother's  keen  and 
deep-felt  anxiety  about  the  welfare  of  her  boy. 
Over  a  year  ago,  I  sawr  a  scene  in  an  out  hospital, 
near  my  own,  as  I  was  looking  through  the  veran 
da,  which  I  shall  never  forget.  On  a  couch  lay 
a  young  man  of  twenty  or  twenty-two  years,  just 
hovering  between  time  and  eternity. 

"  Bending  over  his  couch  in  an  attitude  of  ago 
ny,  O,  how  intense !  stood  a  woman.  Her  pale 
face  has  seemed  to  haunt  me  ever  since.  Her 
eye  was  fixed  upon  her  dying  boy  before  her. 
Ever  and  anon  she  would  stoop  «clown,  and  her 
lip  would  quiver  as  she  whispered  over  that  dull 
ear ;  and  then  she  would  noiselessly  slip  away 
from  his  side  to  get  him  some  little  delicacy,  and 
swiftly  coming  back,  would  gently,  gently  steal  her 
arm  under  his  head,  and  minister  to  hi'm.  Then 
she  would  lay  the  head  softly  back  again  upon  the 
pillow,  and  folding  her  hands,  would  watch,  watch, 
watch,  O,  how  long !  how  anxiously ! 

"  I  entered  the  room.  She  motioned  to  me.  I 
approached  and  told  her  who  I  was  ;  that  I  was  a 
delegate  of  the  Christian  Commission. 

"  '  What  is  it  you  do,  sir  ?  ' 

" '  I  came  down  here  as  a  minister  of  the  as 
cended  Jesus,  to  speak  to  sinners  of  the  Lamb  of 
God,  that  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world ;  to 
tell  the  living  and  the  dying  soldier  that  there  is 
a  holier,  a  brighter,  better  home  above.' 

"  She  put  her  hand  in  mine  in  a  moment.     '  0 
eir,'  said  she,  '  I  am  so  glad  to  see  you ! '  and 
pointing  to  the  cot,  she  said,  '  Do  you  see  that  ?  I 
d  o  you  see  him,  sir  ?  ' 

"'Yes,  I  do/ 

"  *  Well,  that  is  Joseph.     O,  that  is  my  Joseph  | 


—  all  I  have,  sir  —  all  that  God  ever  gave  me, 
sir  —  my  comfort,  my  joy,  my  support!  —  and 
lie's  dying,  sir!  —  lie's  dying!' 

" '  O,  my  dear  friend,  it  may  not  be  so  bad  as 
you  think.  He  may  get  better.' 

"  '  Ah,'  she  replied,  '  I  wish  you  could  comfort 
me ;  but  the  doctors,  who  have  been  so  kind  to 
me,  tell  me  that  he  must  die.  Why,  sir,  a  bullet 
went  crashing  through  his  lung.  If  you  will 
come,  I  will  show  you,  sir.' 

"  '  No,  I  do  not  want  to  see  it.' 

"After  a  moment,  she  said,  as  if  to  herself, 
'  It's  hard  ;  isn't  it  ?  You  know  he's  all  I've  got. 
I  know  that  we  must  sacrifice  for  this  war,  and  I 
know  that  many  have  given  one  son,  and  more ; 
but  they  had  somebody  left  behind  to  love  them- 
But  O !  my  Joseph !  my  Joseph !  O  sir,  he 
came  to  me  and  said,  "  I  must  go,  mother.  My 
friends  are  going,  ind  I  cannot  stay  behind ! " 
And  he  put  his  arms  around  my  neck,  and  begged 
me  so.  "I  will  come  back  again,  mother  —  O, 
yes,  I  will  —  all  safe;  and  you  will  be  pioud  of 
me,  mother,  and  glad  you  let  me  go."  And  I 
said,  "  Well,  go,  Joseph,  my  son  ;  and  Go  I  bless 
you  !  "  And  ever  since  that  day,  I've  been  asking 
God  to  shield  the  widow's  son,  sir.  But,  sir,  He 
has  done  what  seemed  well  in  His  sight,  and  it  is 
all  well.' 

"  And  she  paused  a  moment.  I  could  but  wit 
ness  that  sacred  grief  in  silence.  She  then  turned 
to  me  with  even  deeper  grief,  as  she  said :  '  And 
that  is  only  half  the  sacrifice.'  Ah,  I  kn«w  what 
was  coming  —  I  feared  it.  '  O  sir,  if  his  country 
only  asked  his  body,  I  could  give  it.  Yes,  I  ooulc1 
give  it ;  for  I  could  take  his  poor,  cold  body  home, 
and  lay  it  to  rest  with  his  father;  but  0  ''' — and 
with  a  look  of  unutterable  woe  she  said  it  — «  O 
my  God !  I  cannot  give  up  his  soul !  O,  save  his 
soul  for  Christ's  salve  ! ' 

"  Then,  turning  more  composedly  to  me,  she 
continued  :  *  Joseph  is  not  a  Christian,  sir.  Won't 
you  come  and  speak  to  him  cf  Jesus?  ' — and  she 
brought  me  to  the  bedside.  I  spoke  to  Joseph. 
He  was  conscious.  I  found  that  he  was  like  hun 
dreds  and  thousands  of  others  who  had  gone  up 
from  their  mothers'  knees  to  war  —  had  been 
tossed  about  by  temptation,  and  at  last  had  fallen 
into  grievous  sin.  He  said,  '  Chaplain,  I  have 
been  a  wicked  fellow.  Is  there  any  use  in  mj 
hoping  ? ' 

"  Then  came  the  grand  mission  of  the  cross  of 
Jesus.  Ah  !  I  sat  in  this  gallery  yesterday,  and 
in  the  gallery  of  the  Senate-house,  and  I  heard 
the  men  of  the  nation  standing  up  pleading  for 
their  country's  good ;  and  I  was  proud  of  them, 
and  I  thought,  *  O  that  I  could  have  such  a  posi 
tion!' — when  something  whispered,  'Hush!  thou 
hast  a  higher  and  a  holier  one ! '  and  I  felt  it ; 
and  I  felt,  '  May  God  give  me  strength  to  fill  it 
faithfully.'  (Amen !  amen !)  O,  how  glorious  was 
my  commission  to  that  dying  man,  that  seeking 
soul !  To  tell  him  that  Jesus  was  ready  to  save 
to  the  uttermost  —  that  God  had  no  pleasure  in 
the  death  of  him  that  dieth.  I  delivered  my  mes 
sage.  '  Will  you  pray  for  me,  chaplain  ? '  the 
dying  boy  aske  1.  We  knelt  dc  i#it,  I  on  one  side, 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


517 


and  his  mother  on  the  other,  and  he  stretched  out 
his  thin  hand,  and  took  one  hand  of  mine,  and 
one  hand  of  his  mother's,  and  I  prayed  for  him. 
When  I  had  done,  he  let  go  my  hand,  and  took 
both  his  mother's  in  one  hand,  and  covered  them 
with  the  other,  and  looked  up  into  her  face  as  the 
trars  streamed  down,  and  said,  «  Mother,  mother 
ckar ! ' 

"  '  Well,  Joseph,  what  is  it  ?  ' 

•' '  O  mother,  you  know  you  will  never  take 
me  home  alive.  Noio  I  think,  mother,  of  what 
,you  used  to  tell  me  long  ago,  when  I  was  at 
home.  Mother,  this  man  says  that  God  loves  us 
all,  that  Jesus  is  willing  to  receive  us  all,  that  I 
need  not  be  cast  out,  mother,  that  I  may  see  you 
again.  Mother,  I  am  going  to  try  to  love  Jesus  ; 
I  am  going  to  trust  him.' 

"  I  had  never  seen  a  tear  upon  that  mother's 
face  until  Joseph  uttered  that  sentence,  and  then 
the  fountains  of  her  soul  seemed  to  be  broken  up. 
The  tears  rolled  down  her  cheeks,  as  she  clasped 
her  hands,  and  said,  *  Thank  God!  Thank  God  ! 
Thank  God!  Now,  Joseph,  I  can  give  you  up. 
You  are  dying  in  the  cause  of  your  country,  Jo 
seph,  and  you're  going  home  to  Jesus.  Thank 
God  !  Thank  God ! '  And  murmuring,  '  Thank 
God  ! '  as  she  kissed  him,  she  pillowed  her  face 
upon  his  bosom  heaving  in  death. 

"  Now,  my  friends,  we  owe  a  man  in  this  Chris 
tian  country  two  things.  We  owe  our  brave  sol 
diers  two  things.  We  owe  them  food  for  the 
body  and  sympathy  for  the  heart,  and  food  for 
the  soul.  We  owe  them  the  message  of  Christ 
and  him  crucified,  that  they  may  be  led  to  live 

S3dly  and  sober  lives,  to  the  honor  and  glory  of 
od.  To  my  mind,  Mr.  President,  this  war  hath 
been  conducted  by  the  Great  Jehovah.  He  hath 
unsheathed  the  sword  of  his  might,  and  he  hath 
been  stripping  off'  from  us  our  hideous  sins  that 
have  made  us  deformeu  and  hateful  in  his  sight, 
and  he  hath  stood  us  upon  the  platform  of  the 
great  truth  of  equal  liberty  to  all  his  creatures ! 
(Long  and  loud  cheers  and  applause.)  In  my 
mind  he  is  crying  out  from  the  hill-tops,  and  the 
mighty  voice  is  resounding  from  one  hill-top  to 
the  other,  '  Ye  are  my  people,  and  they  who  fol 
low  in  my  paths,  and  care  for  my  words,  shall 
never  be  destroyed,  for  the  Word  of  the  Lord 
hath  declared  it!'"  

RATHER  FUNNY.  —  A  company  of  some  thirty 
or  forty  Union  men  were  trying  to  make  their 
escape  to  Kentucky,  to  join  the  Northern  army. 
They  came  to  a  creek  which  they  were  compelled 
to  wade.  Not  wishing  to  get  their  clothes  wet, 
they  shelled  off'  all  to  their  shirts,  and  while  in  this 
condition  they  were  surprised  by  a  company  of 
Jeff's  cavalry  boys,  who  were  in  hot  pursuit  of 
them.  Being  somewhat  frightened,  they  fled  in 
double-quick,  making  a  "  straight  shirt  sail  "up  hill 
and  down  hill,  leaving  their  clothing  in  the  pos- 
&f  ssion  of  our  boys,  who,  of  course,  took  posses 
sion  and  appropriated  the  same.  What  became 
o(  the  tories  we  are  unable  to  say,  but  rather 
suppose  they  are  in  a  poor  condition  for  the  cold 
weather. 


THE   HEART   OF  THE   WAR. 

PEACE  in  the  clover-scented  air, 

And  stars  within  the  dome, 
And  underneath,  in  dim  repose, 

A  vlain  New  England  home. 
With  n,  a  murmur  of  low  tones 

An!  sighs  from  hearts  oppressed, 
Merging  iu  prayer  at  last,  that  brings 

The  balm  of  silent  rest. 

I've  closed  a  hard  day's  work,  Marty  — 

The  evening  chores  are  done  ; 
And  you  are  weary  with  the  house 

And  with  the  little  one. 
But  he  is  sleeping  sweetly  now, 

With  all  our  pretty  brood ; 
So  come  and  sit  upon  my  knee, 

And  it  will  do  me  good. 

0  Marty  !  I  must  tell  you  all 
The  trouble  in  my  heart, 

And  you  must  do  the  best  you  can 

To  take  and  bear  your  part. 
You've  seen  the  shadow  on  my  face, 

You've  felt  it  day  and  night ; 
For  it  has  filled  our  little  home, 

And  banished  all  its  light. 

1  did  not  mean  it  should  be  so, 
And  yet  I  might  have  known. 

That  hearts  that  live  as  close  as  ouia 

Can  never  keep  their  own. 
But  we  are  fallen  on  evil  times, 

And,  do  whate'er  I  may, 
My  heart  grows  sad  about  the  war, 

And  sadder  every  day. 

I  think  about  it  when  I  work, 

And  when  I  try  to  rest, 
And  never  more  than  when  your  head 

Is  pillowed  on  my  breast ; 
For  then  I  see  the  camp-fires  blaze, 

And  sleeping  men  around, 
Who  turn  their  faces  towards  their  honies 

And  dream  upon  the  ground. 

I  think  about  the  dear,  brave  boys, 

My  mates  in  other  years, 
Who  pine  for  home  and  those  they  love, 

Till  I  am  choked  with  tears. 
With  shouts  and  cheers  they  marched  away 

On  glory's  shining  track, 
But,  ah  !  how  long,  how  long  they  stay  ! 

How  few  of  them  come  back ! 

One  sleeps  beside  the  Tennessee* 

And  one  beside  the  James, 
And  one  fought  on  a  gallant  ship, 

And  perished  in  its  flames. 
And  some,  struck  down  by  fell  disease, 

Are  breathing  out  their  life ; 
And  others,  maimed  by  cruel  wounds, 

Have  left  the  deadly  strife. 

Ah,  Marty  !  Marty  !  only  think 

Of  all  the  boys  have  dene 
And  suffered  in  this  weary  wai  I 

Brave  heroes,  every  one  I 
O,  often,  often  in  the  night, 

I  hear  their  voices  call : 
(   Come  on  :ind  help  us  !     Is  it  right 

That  we  tliciild  bear  it  allV* 


518 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


And  when  I  kneel  and  try  to  pray, 

My  thoughts  are  never  free, 
But  cling  to  those  who  toil  and  fight 

And  die  for  you  and  me. 
And  when  I  pray  for  victory, 

It  seems  almost  a  sin 
To  fold  my  hands  and  ask  for  what 

I  will  not  help  to  win. 

O,  do  not  cling  to  me  and  cry, 

For  it  will  break  my  heart  ; 
I'm  sure  you'd  rather  have  me  die 

Than  not  to  bear  my  part. 
You  think  that  some  should  sta 

To  care  for  those  away  ; 
But  still  I'm  helpless  to  decide 

If  I  should  go  or  stay. 


home 


For,  Marty,  all  the  soldiers  love, 

And  all  are  loved  again  ; 
And  I  am  loved,  and  love,  perhaps, 

No  more  than  other  men. 
I  cannot  tell  —  I  do  not  know  — 

Which  way  my  duty  lies, 
Or  where  the  Lord  would  have  me  build 

My  fire  of  sacrifice. 

I  feel  —  I  know  —  I  am  not  mean  ; 

And  though  I  seem  to  boast, 
I'm  sure  that  I  would  give  my  life 

To  those  who  need  it  most. 
Perhaps  the  Spirit  will  reveal 

That  which  is  fair  and  right  ; 
So,  Marty,  let  us  humbly  kneel 

And  pray  to  Heaven  for  light. 


Peace  in  the  clover- scented  air. 

And  stars  within  the  dome  ; 
And,  underneath,  in  dim  repose, 

A  plain  New  England  home. 
Within^  a  widow  in  her  weeds, 

From  whom  all  joy  is  flown, 
Who  kneels  among  her  sleeping  babes, 

And  weeps  and  prays  alone  ! 


SCOUTING  ADVENTURES. — The  following  sto 
ry  of  hair-breadth  'scapes  along  the  border  is 
told  by  a  Federal  cavalryman,  who  was  scouting 
in  the  winter  of  1862: 

"  We  had  a  scout,  on  Monday  last,  towards  the 
Is.?e  of  Wight,  and  an  exciting  one  it  was.  Four 
companies  of  our  regiment  were  detailed  to  carry 
ballot-boxes  to  Smithfielcl,  about  twenty-two 
miles  south  of  this  place  ;  and  on  our  return  to 
camp  we  were  almost  entrapped  by  a  large  force 
cf  rebels,  who  had  crossed  the  Blackwater  on  a 
foraging  expedition  ;  but  we  escaped  after  a  des 
perate  chase  of  five  miles,  and  a  little  hard  fight 
ing.  Your  correspondent,  in  company  with  a 
friend,  came  near  taking  their  Christmas  dinners 
in  Richmond ;  but,  thanks  to  the  pluck  of  friend 
Rogers,  and  the  speed  of  our  noble  horses,  we 


ened  hostess  to  provide  us  with  the  Virginian's 
favorite  breakfast — corn-cake,  bacon,  and  fried 
eggs.  In  a  few  minutes  we  were  discussing  these 
delicious  dishes,  forgetting,  for  the  time,  that  we 
were  in  the  heart  of  Rebeldom,  and  only  three 
miles  from  the  famous  Blackwater,  where  a  large 
force  of  rebel  cavalry  was  known  to  be  posted 
the  day  previous.  We  had  finished  our  break 
fast,  and  were  'quietly  wending  our  way  to  the 
stable,  where  o  ir  horses  had  been  taken,  when 
our  attention  WLS  drawn  to  the  fair  hostess,  who 
appeared  to  je  telegraphing  to  some  unseen  ob 
ject  in  the  pLie  swamp  in  the  rear  of  the  house. 
Not  liking  to  be  inquisitive  yet,  desiring  to  know 
the  meaning  of  these  strange  movements,  we  kept 
our  eyes  upon  the  thicket,  and  we  soon  had  the 
sequel.  Two  forms  were  there,  each  signalling 
in  opposite  directions ;  and  soon  five  rebels  stepped 
out  from  the  shaded  -grove,  and  came  slowly  and 
cautiously  towards  the  house.  But  we  were  not 
idle.  With  quickened  steps  we  went  towards  the 
stable,  and  reached  it  just  in  the  nick  of  time. 
We  had  barely  entered,  when  our  ears  were  sa 
luted  by  the  crack  of  a  rifle,  and  a  yell  that  made 
even  our  horses  shudder.  One  moment  more, 
and  we  were  in  the  saddle,  bounding  over  fences, 
fallen  trees,  and  deep  trenches,  while  the  speed 
of  our  noble  horses  was  accelerated  by  an  occa 
sional  shot  from  our  pursuers  ;  but  not  a  hair 
was  injured,  and  with  a  defiant  shout  we  were 
about  to  leap  the  fence  that  separated  us  from  ths 
main  road,  when  two  rebels  darted  from  behind 
the  fence,  and  shouted  to  us :  '  Surrender,  yon 

Yankee  sons  of '     But  Rogers'  fight  was  up, 

and  quickly  drawing  his  sabre,  he  made  a  dash 
at  the  foremost  of  the  two,  and  wounded  him  in 
the  shoulder,  while  your  correspondent  unslung 
his  trusty  carbine,  and  as  the  rebel  was  in  the  act 
of  discharging  his  rifle,  took  deliberate  aim,  and 
lifted  his  hat  into  the  air.  But  we  were  not  yet 
out  of  danger,  for  we  had  barely  recovered  our 
composure,  ere  we  had  a  new  danger  to  contend 
with.  At  least  twenty  rebels  were  in  pursuit  of 
us ;  and  putting  spurs  to  our  horses,  we  dashed 
away  towards  our  picket  at  full  speed,  and  reached 
it,  fifty  yards  ahead  of  our  pursuers,  who,  think 
ing  *  discretion  the  better  part  of  valor,'  in  their 
turn  took  to  flight,  and  were  soon  hidden  by  the 
pine  forest.  We  slipped  into  camp  as  quietly  as 
we  had  left ;  but  our  foaming  horses  betrayed  us, 
and  the  Colonel  demanded  an  explanation,  which 
we  were  compelled  to  give.  He,  thinking  our  po 
sition  rather  a  dangerous  one,  ordered  an  imme 
diate  move  towards  camp,  on  a  different  road 
from  that  on  which  we  had  been  riding ;  but  we 
had  not  proceeded  three  miles  before  an  attack 
was  made  on  our  advance  guarcl,  and  learning 
from  a  prisoner  we  had  taken  that  the  rebels  were 
in  large  force,  the  order  to  retreat  was  given  ;  but 
we  had  gone  but  a  short  distance,  when  the  whole 

escaped.  We  had*  become  hungry  from  long  |  rebel  force  of  cavalry,  nine  hundred  strong,  came 
fasting,  and,  mounting  our  chargers,  we  slipped  I  up  with  our  rear,  and  attacked  it.  But  they  were 
out  of  our  camping-grounds  to  look  for  a  warm  j  kept  at  bay  until  the  main  body  got  out  of  range 
breakfast,  arid  feed  for  our  jaded  horses.  After  of  their  guns,  and  we  returned  to  camp  at  a  much 
riding  two  or  three  miles  we  came  to  a  comforta-  more  rapid  pace  than  we  left  it,  with  only  two 
ble-looking  farm-house,  and  requested  the  fright-  |  slightly  wounded  j  while  the  enemy's  loss  is 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


519 


known  to  be  eight  killed  and  as  many  wounded. 
This  was  the  first  '  skedaddle  '  I  ever  witnessed, 
and  I  sincerely  hope  it  may  be  the  last." 


SUDDENLY  WAKED  UP.  —  "  Some  time  ago  there 
was  published  in  this  paper,"  says  the  Richmond 
Dispatch,  "  a  revolutionary  reminiscence,  wherein 
allusion  was  made  to  the  sufferings  of  General 
Greene's  army,  in  the  early  struggle  for  indepen 
dence,  for  the  want  of  suitable  clothing,  which 
in  many  instances  rendered  the  men  unfit  for  ser 
vice.  It  chanced  that  a  copy  of  the  paper  fell 
into  the  hands  of  a  wealthy  citizen  of  Alabama, 
who  had  previously  resisted  all  the  appeals  of 
patriotism  to  his  purse.  We  don't  know  hoAv  it 
happened  that  he  put  such  a  novel  interpretation 
upon  the  revolutionary  article,  but  after  he  got 
through  he  exclaimed,  '  By  Jove !  that  will  never 
do  in  the  world !  *  So  he  collected  together  a 
considerable  quantity  of  clothing  and  other  arti 
cles  requisite  for  the  comfort  of  the  soldier,  and 
packing  the  whole  securely,  directed  the  box  to 
1  General  Greene,  of  the  Confederate  army,'  and 
started  it  off  to  Richmond.  It  arrived  here  in 
due  season,  and  as  a  matter  of  course  the  depot 
agent  was  puzzled  to  find  '  General  Greene ; '  but 
it  was  finally  turned  over  to  the  military  authori 
ties,  who  distributed  the  contents  where  they 
were  needed.  Whether  the  Alabamian  had  been 
asleep  ever  since  the  revolutionary  war  or  not,  we 
don't  undertake  to  say;  but  we  give  him  credit 
for  doing  a  good  thing,  even  though  we  could  not 
liejp  laughing  when  we  heard  the  story." 


INCIDENTS  OF  TTIE  BATTLE  OF  BELMOXT. — 
A, correspondent,  giving  an  account  of  the  burial 
of  the  Union  dead  upon  the  field  of  battle  at  Bel- 
mont,  by  a  party  which  returned,  after  the  battle, 
with  a  flag  of  truce,  relates  the  following  incidents : 

"  Our  dead  were  mostly  lying  upon  their  backs, 
and  everything  taken  from  their  bodies  that  conlcL 
be  of  value  to  the  enemy.  The  countenances  of 
the  dead  were  mostly  expressive  of  rage»  One 
or  two  features  were  expressive  of  fear.  One 
poor  fellow,  after  he  was  wounded,  bethought 
himself  to  take  a  smoke.  He  was  found  in  a 
sitting  position,  against  a  tree,  dead,  with  his 
pipe  in  one  hand,  his  knife  in  the  other,  and  his 
tobacco  on  his  breast. 

"A  young  lad  about  sixteen  was  found  lying 
across  a  log,  just  as  he  fell,  grasping  his  musket 
in  both  hands. 

"  A  wounded  man,  with  both  legs  nearly  shot 
off,  was  found  in  the  woods,  singing  the  Star- 
spangled  Banner ;  but  for  this  circumstance  the 
surgeons  say  they  would  not  have  discovered  him. 

"  A  Captain  of  one  of  the  regiments  was  look 
ing  at  the  prisoners  captured  at  Belmont,  and 
recognized  one  as  his  own  brother." 


AN  ELOQUENT  PERORATION.  —  Governor  John 
A.  Andrew,  in  his  address  to  the  Legislature  of 
Massachusetts,  Jan.  8, 18G4,  concluded  as  follows  : 


"  The  heart  swells  with  unwonted  emotion  when 
we  remember  our  sons  and  brothers,  whose  con 
stant  valor  has  sustained  on  the  field,  during 
nearly  three  years  of  war,  the  cause  of  our  coun 
try,  of  civilization,  and  liberty.  Our  volunteers 
have  represented  Massachusetts,  during  the  year 
just  ended,  on  almost  svery  field,  arid  in  every 
department  of  the  ai  my  where  our  flag  has 
been  unfurled.  At  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg, 
Vicksburg,  .Port  Hudson,  and  Fort  Wagner;  at 
Chickamauga,  Knoxville,  and  Chattanooga,  under 
Hooker,  and  Meade,  and  Banks,  and  Gillmore, 
and  Rosecrans,  and  Burnside,  and  Grant ;  in 
every  scene  of  dangpr  and  of  duty,  —  along  the 
Atlantic,  and  the  Gulf;  on  the  Tennessee,  the 
Cumberland,  the  Mississippi,  and  the  liio  Grande, 
under  Du  Pont,  and  Dahlgren,  and  Foote,  and 
Farragut,  and  Porter,  —  the  sons  of  Massachu 
setts  have  borne  their  part,  and  paid  the  debt  of 
patriotism  and  valor.  Ubiquitous  as  the  stock 
they  descend  from,  national  in  their  opinions,  and 
universal  in  their  sympathies,  they  have  fought, 
shoulder  to  shoulder,  with  men  of  all  sections  and 
of  every  extraction.  On  the  ocean,  on  the  rivers, 
on  the  land,  on  the  heights  where  they  thundered 
down  from  the  clouds  of  Lookout  Mountain  the 
defiance  of  the  skies,  they  have  graven  with  their 
swords  a  record  imperishable. 

"  The  Muse  herself  demands  the  lapse  of  silent 
years  to  soften,  by  the  influence  of  time,  her  too 
keen  and  poignant  realization  of  the  scer.es  of 
war  —  the  pathos,  the  heroism,  the  fierce  joy,  the 
grief  of  battle.  But  during  ages  to  come  she 
will  brood  over  their  memory,  and  into  the  hearts 
of  her  consecrated  priests  will  breathe  the  inspi 
rations  of  lofty  and  undying  beauty,  sublimity 
and  truth,  in  all  the  glowing  forms  of  speech,  of 
literature,  and  plastic  art.  By  the  homely  tra 
ditions  of  the  fireside,  by  the  head-stones  in  tht 
churchyard  consecrated'to  those  whose  forms  re 
pose  far  off  in  rude  graves  by  the  Rappahannock 
or  sleep  beneath  the  sea,  embalmed  in  the  memo 
ries  of  succeeding  generations  of  parents  and  chil 
dren,  the  heroic  dead  will  live  on  in  immortal 
youth.  By  their  names,  their  character,  their 
service,  their  fate,  their  glory,  they  cannot  fail : 

'  They  never  fail  who  die 
In  a  great  cause.     The  block  may  soak  their  gore ; 
Their  heads  may  sodden  in  the  sun,  their  limbs 
Be  strung  to  city  gates  and  castle  walls  ; 
But  still  their  spirit  walks  abroad.     Though  years 
Elapse,  and  others  share  as  dark  a  doom, 
They  but  augment  the  deep  and  sweeping  thoughts 
Which  overpower  all  others,  and  conduct 
The  world  at  last  to  freedom.' 

"  The  edict  of  Nantes,  maintaining  the  religious 
liberty  of  the  Huguenots,  gave  lustre  to  the  fame 
of  Henry  the  Great,  whose  name  will  gild  the 
pages  of  philosophic  history  after  mankind  may 
have  forgotten  the  martial  prowess  and  the  white 
plume  of  Navarre.  The  great  proclamation  01 
liberty  will  lift  the  ruler  who  uttered  it,  our  na 
tion  and  our  age,  above  all  vulgar  destiny. 

"  The  bell  which  rang  out  the  Declaration  of  In 
dependence  has  found  at  last  a  voice  articulate,  to 
proclaim  iberty  throughout  all  the  land  and  to 


520 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


all  the  inhabitants  thereof.'  It  has  been  heard 
across  oceans,  and  has  modified  the  sentiments 
of  cabinets  and  kings.  The  people  of  the  old 
world  have  heard  it,  and  their  hearts  stop  to 
catch  the  last  whisper  of  its  echoes.  The  poor 
slave  has  heard  it;  and  with  bounding  joy,  tem 
pered  by  the  mystery  of  religion,  he  worships  and 
adores.  The  waiting  continent  has  heard  it,  and 
already  foresees  the  fulfilled  prophecy,  when  she 
will  sit  ;  redeemed,  regenerated,  and  disinthralled 
by  tho  genius  of  universal  emancipation.' " 


THE  SONG  OF  THE  SOUTH. 

BY    CAPTAIN    R.    M.    ANDERSON.* 

ANOTHER  star  arisen,  another  flag  unfurled ; 
Another  name  inscribed  among  the  nations  of  the 

world ; 

Another  mighty  struggle  'gainst  a  tyrant's  fell  decree, 
And  again  a  burdened  people  have  uprisen,  and 

are  free. 

The   spirit  of  the  fathers   in   the   children   liveth 

yet,  — 

Liveth  still  the  olden  blood  that  hath  dimmed  the 

bayonet ; 
And  the  fathers  fought  for  freedom,  and  the  sons 

for  freedom  fight ; 
1  heir  God  was  with  their  fathers,  and  is  still  the 

God  of  right. 

Behold,  the  skies  are  darkened  !  a  gloomy  cloud 
hath  lowered ! 

Shall  it  break  in  happy  peacefulness,  or  spread  its 
rage  abroad  ? 

Shall  we  have  the  smiles  of  friendship,  or  feel  the 
fierce,  foul  blow, 

And  bare  the  red  right  hand  of  war  to  meet  an  in 
sulting  foe  ? 

In  peacefulness  we  wish  to  live,  but  not  in  slavish 

fear; 
In  peacefulness  we  dare  not  die,  dishonored  on  our 

bier ; 
To  our  allies  of  the  Northern  land  we  offer  heart 

and  hand ; 
But  if  they  scorn  our  friendship,  then  the  banner 

and  the  brand. 

Honor  to  the  new-born  nation  !  honor  to  the  brave  ! 

A  country  freed  from  thraldom,  or  a  soldier's  hon 
ored  grave ! 

Every  rock  shall  be  a  tombstone,  every  rivulet  run 
red, 

An  1  the  invader,  should  he  conquer,  find  the  con 
quered  in  the  dead. 

But  victory  shall  follow  where  the  sons  of  freedom 

g°. 
And  the  signal  for  the  onset  be  the  death-knell  of 

the  foe  ; 
And  hallowed  be  the  sacred  spot  where  they  have 

bravely  met, 
And  the  star  that  rises  yonder  shall  never,  never  set. 

*  Captain  11.  M.  Anderson,  of  Loiiisville,  Kentucky, 
offered  his  whole  command,  consisting  of  ninety  rifles, 
to  the  Governor  of  South  Carolina,  stipulating  that 
they  would  bear  their  own  expenses  in  going  to 
Charleston  and  returning  to  Kentucky.  —  Southern 
IMerwy  Messenger. 


THE  REBELS  OVER  THE  BORDER.  —  On  the 
16th  of  June,  1883,  it  was  first  known  in  Cham- 
bersburg,  Pa.,  that  Milroy  had  been  defeated  at 
Winchester,  and  that  the  rebel  General  Rhoads 
was  advancing  across  the  Potomac,  and  approach 
ing  the  Pennsylvania  line. 

On  the  morning  of  Monday,  June  17,  the 
flood  of  rumors  from  the  Potomac  fully  con 
firmed  the  advance  of  the  rebels ;  and  the  citi 
zens  of  Chamhcrsbnrg  and  vicinity,  feeling  unable 
to  resist  the  rcbe.  columns,  commenced  to  make 
prompt  preparation  for  the  movement  of  stealable 
property.  Nearly  every  horse,  good,  bad,  and  in 
different,  was  started  for  the  mountains  as  early 
on  Monday  as  possible,  and  the  negroes  dark 
ened  the  different  roads  northward  for  hours, 
loaded  with  household  effects,  sable  babies,  &c., 
and  horses  and  wagons  and  cattle  crowded  every 
avenue  to  places  of  safety.  About  nine  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  the  advance  of  Milroy's  retreat 
ing  wagon  train  dashed  into  town,  attended  by  a 
few  cavalry,  and  several  affrighted  wagon-mas 
ters,  all  of  whom  declared  that  the  rebels  were  in 
hot  pursuit ;  that  a  large  portion  of  the  train  was 
captured,  and  that  the  enemy  was  about  to  enter 
Chambersburg.  This  startling  information,  com 
ing  frorn  men  in  uniform,  who  had  fought  val 
iantly  until  the  enemy  had  got  nearly  within  sight 
of  them,  naturally  gave  a  fresh  impetus  to  ib* 
citizens,  and  the  skedaddle  commenced  in  mngrrrl- 
cent  earnestness  and  exquisite  confusion.  Mei.v 
women,  and  children,  who  seemed  to  think  th« 
rebels  so  many  cannibals,  rushed  out  on  the  turn 
pike,  and  generally  kept  on  the  leading  thorough 
fares,  as  if  they  were  determined  to  be  captured, 
if  the  rebels  were  anywhere  within  range  and 
wanted  thtrn.  The  motley  cavalcade  rushed 
along  for  a  few  hours,  when  it  seems  to  have  oc 
curred  to  some  one  to  inquire  whether  the  rebels 
were  not  some  distance  in  the  rear ;  and  a  few 
moments  of  reflection  and  dispassionate  inquiry 
satisfied  the  people  that  the  enemy  could  not  be 
upon  them  for  several  hours  at  least.  The  rail 
road  men  were  prompt  and  systematic  in  their 
efforts  to  prepare  for  another  fire ;  and  by  noon 
all  the  portable  property  of  the  company  was 
safely  under  control,  to  be  hauled  and  moved  at 
pleasure.  The  more  thoughtful  portion  of  the 
people,  who  felt  it  a  duty  to  keep  out  of  rebel 
hands,  remained  until  the  cutting  of  telegraph 
communication  south,  and  the  reports  of  reliable 
scouts  rendered  it  advisable  to  give  way  to  the 
guerrilla  army  of  plunderers. 

Greencastle,  being  but  five  miles  north  of  the 
Maryland  line,  and  in  the  direct  route  of  the  reb 
els,  was  naturally  enough  in  the  highest  state  of 
excitement  on  Sunday  night  and  Monday  morning. 
Exaggerated  rumors  had  of  course  flooded  them, 
and  every  half  hour  a  stampede  was  made  before 
the  imagined  rebel  columns.  Hon.  John  Rowe 
at  last  determined  to  reconnoitre ;  and  he  mounted 
a  horse,  and  started  out  towards  Hagerstown. 
A  little  distance  beyond,  he  was  captured  by  a 
squad  of  rebels,  and  held  until  the  rebel  cavalry 
leader.  General  Jerkins,  came  up.  Jenkins,  asked 
Howe  his  name,  and  was  auswered  correctly 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


521 


He  eibsequf,ntly  asked  Mr. ,  who  was  with 

Rowe,  what  Howe's  name  was,  and  upon  being 
told  that  the  name  had  been  given  to  him  cor 
rectly,  he  insisted  that  the  Major  had  been  an 
officer  in  the  United  States  service.  Mr.  — 
ussured  Jenkins  that  the  Major  had  never  been 
in  tli3  service,  and  he  was  satisfied.  (Jenkins 
had  evidently  confounded  Major  Howe  with  his 
son,  the  gallant  Lieutenant-Colonel  Howe,  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth.)  Jenkins  then 

asked  Mr. whom  he  had  voted  for  at  the 

last  Presidential  election.  He  answered  that  he 
had  voted  for  Lincoln.  To  which  Jenkins  gave 
the  following  chaste  and  classic  reply  —  "  Get  off 
that  horse,  you  d — d  Abolitionist."  The  horse 
was  surrendered,  and  the  same  question  was  pro 
pounded  to  Major  Howe,  who  answered  that  he 
had  voted  for  Douglas,  and  had  scratched  every 
Breckinridge  man  off  his  ticket.  Jenkins  an 
swered —  "You  can  ride  your  horse  as  long  as 
you  like  —  I  voted  for  Douglas  myself."  He 
then  demanded  to  know  what  forces  were  in 
Greencastle,  and  what  fortifications.  Major  Rowe 
told  him  that  the  town  was  defenceless  ;  but  Jen 
kins  seemed  to  be  cautious  lest  he  might  be 
caught  in  a  trap.  He  advanced  cautiously,  re- 
conno'.ired  all  suspicious  buildings,  and  finally, 
being  fully  satisfied  that  there  was  not  a  gun  in 
position,  and  not  a  man  under  arms,  he  resolved 
upon  capturing  the  town  by  a  brilliant  charge  of 
cavalry.  He  accordingly  divided  his  forces  into 
two  columns,  charged  upon  the  vacated  streets, 
and  reached  the  centre  of  the  town  without  the 
loss  of  a  man  ! 

The  rebels  were  evidently  under  the  impression 
that  forces  would  be  thrown  in  their  way  at  an 
early  hour,  and  they  pushed  forward  for  Cham 
bersburg.  About  eleven  o'clock,  on  Monday 
night,  they  arrived  at  the  southern  end  of  the 
town,  and  the  same  intensely  strategic  move 
ments  exhibited  at  Greencastle  were  displayed 
here.  Several  were  thrown  forward  cautiously 
to  reconnoitre,  and  a  few  of  the  Union  boys  cap 
tured  them  arid  took  their  horses.  This  taste  of 
war  whetted  the  appetite  of  Jenkins,  and  he  re 
solved  to  capture  the  town  by  a  brilliant  dash, 
without  so  much  as  a  demand  for  surrender.  He 
divided  his  forces  into  several  columns  —  about 
two  hundred  in  advance  as  a  forlorn  hope,  to 
whom  was  assigned  the  desperate  task  of  char 
ging  upon  the  empty  and  undefended  streets, 
store  boxes,  mortar-beds,  &c.,  of  the  ancient  vil 
lage  of  Chambersburg. 

Every  precaution  that  strategy  could  invent 
was  taken  to  prevent  failure.  Men  were  detailed 
to  ride  along  the  columns  before  the  charge  was 
made,  bawling  out  as  loudly  as  possible  to  plant 
artillery  at  different  points,  although  the  redoubt 
able  Jenkins  had  not  so  much  as  a  swivel  in  his 
army.  The  women  and  children  having  been  suf 
ficiently  frightened  by  the  threatened  booming  of 
artillery,  and  all  things  being  in  readiness,  the 
forlorn  hope  advanced,  and  the  most  desperate 
charge  ever  known  in  the  history  of  war  —  in 
Chambersburg  at  least — was  made.  Down  the 
street  came  the  iron  clatter  of  hoofs  like  the  tem 


pest  with  a  thousand  thunderbolts  ;  but  the  great 
plan  had  failed  in  one  particular,  and  the  column 
recoiled  before  it  reacheu  the  Diamond.  A  mor 
tar-bed  on  the  street,  in  front  of  Mr.  White's 
new  building,  had  not  been  observed  in  the  re 
connoitring  of  the  town,  nor  had  willing  sympa 
thizers  advised  him  of  it.  His  force  was  hurled 
against  i^ ;  down  went  some  men,  and  bang  went 
a  gun.  To  strike  a  LiDrtar-bed  and  have  a  gun 
fired  at  the  same  time,  was  more  than  the  stra-tegy 
of  Jenkins  had  bargained  for ;  and  the  charge 
was  broken  and  fell  back.  A  few  moments  of 
fearful  suspense,  and  the  mortar-bed  was  carefully 
reconnoitred,  and  the  musket  report  was  found  to 
be  an  accidental  discharge  of  a  gun  in  the  hands 
of  one  of  his  own  men  who  had  fallen.  With 
a  boldness  and  dash  worthy  of  Jenkins,  it  was 
resolved  to  renew  the  attack  without  even  the 
formality  of  a  council  of  war.  Again  the  steeds 
of  war  thundered  down  the  street,  and  there  be 
ing  nothing  in  the  way,  overcame  all  opposition, 
and  the  borough  of  Chambersbnrg  was  under  the 
rule  of  Jenkins.  Having  won  it  by  the  most  de 
termined  and  brilliant  prowess,  Jenkins  resolved 
that  he  would  be  magnanimous,  and  would  allow 
nothing  to  be  taken  from  the  people  —  excepting 
such  articles  as  he  and  his  men  wanted. 

Jenkins  had  doubtless  read  the  papers  in  his 
day,  and  knew  that  there  were  green  fields  in  the 
"  Green  Spot ;  "  and  what  is  rather  remarkable, 
at  midnight  he  could  start  for  a  forty-acre  clover 
patch  belonging  to  the  editor  of  the  Repository 
without  so  much  as  stopping  to  ask  where  the 
gate  might  be  found.  Not  even  a  halt  was  called 
to  find  it;  but  the  march  was  continued  until  the 
gate  was  reached,  when  the  order,  "  File  right  " 
was  given,  and  Jenkins  was  in  clover.  Happy  fel 
low,  thus  to  find  luxuriant  and  extensive  clover  as 
if  by  instinct !  By  way  of  giving  the  devil  his 
due,  it  must  be  said  that,  although  there  were 
over  sixty  acres  of  wrheat,  and  eighty  acres  of 
corn  and  oats,  in  the  same  field,  he  protected  it 
most  carefully,  and  picketed  his  horses  so  that  it 
could  not  be  injured.  And  equal  care  was  taken 
of  all  other  property  about  the  place,  excepting 
half  a  dozen  of  the  fattest  Cotswold  sheep,  which 
were  necessary,  it  seems,  to  furnish  chops,  &c., 
for  his  men.  No  fences  were  wantonly  destroyed ; 
poultry  was  not  disturbed,  nor  did  he  compli 
ment  the  blooded  cattle  so  much  as  to  test  the 
quality  of  their  steak  and  roasts.  Some  of  his 
men  cast  a  wistful  eye  upon  the  glistening  trout 
in  the  spring  ;  but  they  were  protected  by  volun 
tary  order,  and  save  a  few  quarts  of  delicious 
strawberries  gathered  with  every  care,  after  first 
asking  permission,  nothing  in  the  gardens  or 
about  the  grounds  was  taken. 

However  earnest  an  enemy  Jenkins  may  be,  he 
don't  seem  to  keep  spite,  but  is  capable  of  being 
very  jolly  and  sociable  when  he  is  treated  hospi 
tably.  For  prudential  reasons,  the  editor  was  not 
at  home  to  do  the  honors  at  his  own  table ;  but 
Jenkins  was  not  particular,  nor  was  his  appetite 
impaired  thereby.  He  called  upon  the  ladies  of 
the  house,  shared  their  hospitality,  behaved  in  all 
respect*  like  a  gentleman,  and  expressed  very 


522 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


earnest  regrets  that  he  had  not  been  able  to  make 
the  personal  acquaintance  of  the  editor.  We  beg 
to  say  that  we  reciprocate  the  wish  of  the  Gen 
eral,  and  shall  be  glad  to  make  his  acquaintance 
personally  —  "  when  this  cruel  war  is  over."  Col 
onel  French  and  Surgeon  Bee  spent  much  of  their 
time  with  Mrs.  McClure,  and  the  former  showed 
his  appreciation  of  her  hospitality  by  taking  her 
revolver  from  her  when  ne  left.  An  order  having 
been  made  for  the  citizens  to  surrender  all  the 
guns  ar  d  pistols  they  had,  Colonel  French  took 
the  pistol  of  his  hostess. 

Horses  seemed  to  be  considered  contraband  of 
war,  and  were  taken  without  the  pretence  of  com 
pensation  :  but  other  articles  were  deemed  legiti 
mate  subjects  of  commerce  even  between  ene 
mies,  and  they  were  generally  paid  for  after  a 
fashion.  True,  the  system  of  Jenkins  would  be 
considered  a  little  informal  in  business  circles  ; 
but  it's  his  way,  and  the  people  agreed  to  it,  per 
haps  to  some  extent  because  of  the  novelty,  but 
mainly  because  of  the  necessity  of  the  thing'.  But 
Jenkins  was  liberal  —  eminently  liberal.  He 
didn't  stop  to  higgle  about  a  few  odd  pennies  in 
making  a  bargain.  For  instance,  he  took  the 
drugs  of  Messrs.  Miller,  Spangler,  Nixon,  and 
Ileyser,  and  told  them  to  make  out  a  bill,  or,  if 
they  could  not  do  that,  to  guess  at  the  amount, 
and  the  bills  were  paid.  Doubtless  'merchants 
and  druggists  would  have  preferred  "  green 
backs  "  to  Confederate  scrip  that  is  never  payable, 
ftnd  is  worth  just  its  weight  in  old  paper;  Tbut 
Jenkins  hadn't  "  greenbacks,"  and  he  had  con 
federate  scrip,  and  such  as  he  had  he  gave  unto 
them.  Thus  he  dealt  largely.  To  avoid  the 
jealousies  growing  out  of  rivalry  in  business,  he 
patronized  all  the  merchants,  and  bought  pretty 
much  even  thing  he  could  conveniently  use  and 
carry.  Some  people,  with  the  antiquated  ideas 
of  business,  might  call  it  stealing,  to  take  goods 
and  p-iy  for  them  in  bogus  money  ;  but  Jenkins 
calls  it  business,  and  for  the  time  being  what  Jen 
kins  (called  business,  was  business.  In  this  way 
he  robbed  all  the  stores,  drug  shops,  &c.,  more 
or  less,  and  supplied  himself  with  many  articles 
of  great  value. 

Jenkins,  like  most  doctors,  don't  seem  to  have 
relished  his  own  prescriptions.  Several  horses 
had  been  captured  by  some  of  the  Union  boys, 
and  notice  was  given  by  the  General  commanding 
that  they  must  be  surrendered  or  tin  town  would 
be  destroyed.  The  city  fathers,  commonly  known 
as  the  town  council,  were  appealed  to  in  order  to 
avert  the  impending  fate  threatened.  One  of 
the  horses,  and  some  of  the  equipments,  were 
found  and  returned,  but  there  was  still  a  balance 
in  favor  of  Jenkins.  It  was  finally  adjusted  by 
the  council  appropriating  the  sum  of  nine  hun 
dred  dollars  to  pay  the  claim.  Doubtless  Jen 
kins  hoped  for  nine  hundred  dollars  in  "  green 
backs,"  but  he  had  Hooded  the  town  with  Confed 
erate  scrip,  pronouncing  it  better  than  United 
States  currency,  and  the  council  evidently  be 
lieved  him,  and  desiring  to  be  accommodating  with 
a  conqueror,  decided  to  favor  him  by  the  pay 
ment  of  his  bill  in  Confederate  scrip.  Tt  was  so 


done,  and  Jenkins  got  just  nine  hundred  dollars 
worth  of  nothing  for  his  trouble.  He  took  it, 
however,  without  a  murmur,  and  doubtless  con 
sidered  it  a  clever  joke. 

Sore  was  the  disappointment  of  Jenkins  at  the 
general  exodus  of  horses.  It  limited  his  booty 
immensely.  Fully  five  hundred  had  been  taken 
from  Chambersburg  md  vicinity  to  the  moun 
tains,  and  Jenkins'  plunder  was  thus  made  jusl 
so  much  less.  But  he  determined  t  j  make  up 
for  it  by  stealing  all  the  arms  in  the  town.  He 
therefore  issued  an  order  requiring  the  citizens  to 
bring  him  all  the  arms  they  had,  public  or  pri 
vate,  within  two  hours  ;  and  search  and  terrible 
vengeance  were  threatened  in  case  of  disobe 
dience.  Many  of  the  citizens  complied  with  the 
order,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  take  a 
list  of  the  persons  presenting  arms.  Of  course 
very  many  did  not  comply ;  but  enough  did  so  to 
avoid  a  general  search,  and  probable  sacking  of 
the  town.  The  arms  were  assorted  —  the  indif 
ferent  destroyed,  and  the  good  taken  along. 

On  the  following  day,  a  few  of  Milroy's  cavalry, 
escaping  from  Martinsburg,  were  seen  by  the  re- 
doubtabie  Jenkins  hovering  in  his  front.  Al 
though  but  thirteen  in  number,  and  without  the 
least  appetite  for  a  battle  with  his  two  thousand 
men,  he  took  on  a  fright  of  huge  proportions,  and 
prepared  to  sell  his  command  as  dearly  as  possi 
ble.  Like  a  prudent  general,  however,  he  pro 
vided  fully  for  his  retreat.  The  shrill  blast  of  the 
bugle  brought  his  men  to  arms  with  the  utmost 
possible  alacrity  :  his  pickets  were  called  in  to 
swell  the  ranks  ;  the  horses  and  baggage,  con 
sisting  principally  of  stolen  goods,  were  sent  to 
the  rear,  south  of  the  town ;  the  surgeon  took 
forcible  possession  of  all  the  buildings,  houses, 
barns,  sheds,  &c.,  to  be  used  as  hospitals,  and 
especially  requested  that  their  wounded  should  be 
humanely  treated  in  case  of  their  sudden  retreat 
without  being  able  to  take  them  along. 

The  hero  of  two  brilliant  cavalry  charges  upon 
undefended  towns  was  agitated  beyond  endur 
ance  at  the  prospect  of  a  battle  ;  and  instead  of 
charging  upon  a  little  squad  of  men,  who  were 
merely  observing  the  course  of  his  robberies,  he 
stood  trembling  in  battle  array  to  receive  the 
shock.  No  foe  was  nearer  than  the  State  capital, 
over  fifty  miles  distant,  and  there  the  same  scene 
was  being  presented.  Jenkins  in  Chambersburg, 
and  the  militia  at  Harrisburg,  were  each  momen 
tarily  expecting  to  be  cut  to  pieces  by  the  other. 
But  these  armies,  alike  terrible  in  their  heroism, 
were  spared  the  deadly  clash  of  arms,  inasmuch 
as  even  the  most  improved  ordnance  is  not 
deemed  fatal  at  a  range  of  fifty  miles.  Both 
armies,  as  the  usual  reports  go,  "  having  accom 
plished  their  purpose,  retired  in  good  order." 

As  a  rule,  private  houses  were  not  sacked  by 
Jenkins'  forces  ;  but  there  were  some  exceptions. 
The  residences  of  Messrs.  Dengler  and  Gipe,  near 
Chambersburg,  were  both  entered  (the  families 
being  absent),  and  plundered  of  clothing,  kettles, 
and  other  articles.  Bureaus  and  cupboards  were 
all  emptied  of  their  contents,  anl  such  articles  as 
they  wanted  were  taken. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


523 


A  very  few  of  the  citizens  exhibited  the  spirit 
of  the  genuine  "  sympathizers  ; "  hut  Jenkins  and 
his  men  in  no  instance  treated  them  even  with 
courtesy.  That  they  made  use  of  some  such 
creatures  to  obtain  information,  cannot  be  doubt 
ed  ;  but  they  spurned  all  attempts  to  claim  then- 
respect  because  of  professed  sympathy  with  their 
cause.  To  one  who  desired  to  make  fair  weather 
with  Jenkins,  by  ardent  professions  of  sympathy 
with  the  South,  he  answered  :  "  Well,  if  you  be 
lieve  we  are  right,  take  your  gun  and  join  our 
ranks  !  "  It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  cowardly 
traitor  did  not  obey.  To  another  he  said  —  "  If 
we  had  such  men  as  you  in  the  South  we  would 
hang  them ! "  They  say,  on  all  occasions,  that 
there  are  but  two  modes  of  peace,  —  disunion  or 
subjugation,  —  and  they  stoutly  deny  that  the  lat 
ter  is  possible. 

General  Jenkins  was  fully  informed  as  to  the 
movements  of  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of 
Chambersburg,  and  described  the  horse  he  rode, 
and  added  that  there  were  people  in  Chambers- 
burg  sufficiently  cowardly  and  treacherous  to 
give  such  information  of  their  neighbors.  When 
it  was  suggested  that  such  people  should  be  sent 
within  the  rebel  lines,  he  insisted  that  the  South 
should  not  be  made  a  Botany  Bay  for  Northern 
scoundrels. 

Quite  a  number  of  negroes,  free  and  slave, — 
men,  women,  and  children,  —  were  captured  by 
Jenkins,  and  started  South  to  be  sold  into  bon 
dage.  Many  escaped  in  various  ways,  and  the 
people  of  Greencastle  captured  the  guard  of  one 
negro  train,  and  discharged  the  negroes ;  but, 
perhaps,  full  fifty  were  got  off  to  slavery.  One 
negro  effected  his  escape  by  shooting  and  seriously 
•wounding  his  rebel  guard.  He  forced  the  gun 
from  the  rebel  and  fired,  wounding  him  in  the 
head,  and  then  skedaddled.  Some  of  the  men 
were  bound  with  ropes,  and  the  children  were 
mounted  in  front  or  behind  the  rebels  on  their 
horses.  By  great  exertions  of  several  citizens, 
some  of  the  negroes  were  discharged. 

The  southern  border  of  the  county  was  literally 
plundered  of  everything  in  the  stock  line,  except 
ing  such  as  could  be  secreted.  But  it  was  dilfi- 
cult  to  secrete  stock,  as  the  rebels  spent  a  full 
week  in  the  county,  and  leisurely  hunted  out 
horses  and  cattle  without  molestation.  Among 
many  unfortunate,  perhaps  the  greatest  sufferer 
was  Ex-Sheriff  Taylor,  from  whom  the  rebels  cap 
tured  a  drove  of  fat  cattle  in  Fulton  County. 

The  route  of  Jenkins  was  through  the  most 
densely  populated  and  wealthiest  portion  of  the 
county.  From  this  point  he  fell  back  to  Green- 
castle  and  south  of  it ;  thence  he  proceeded  to 
Mercersburg,  from  where  a  detachment  crossed 
the  Cove  Mountain  to  McConnellsburg,  and  struck 
down  the  valley  from  there.  The  main  body, 
however,  was  divided  into  plundering  parties,  and 
scoured  the  whole  southern  portion  of  the  county, 
spending  several  days  in  and  about  Greencastle, 
fend  Waynesboro',  and  giving  Welsh  Run  a  pretty 
intimate  visitation. 

The  rebels  seemed  omnipresent,  according  to 
reports.  They  were,  on  several  occasions,  after 


their  departure,  just  about  to  reenter,  and  the 
panic-stricken  made  a  corresponding  exit  at  the 
other  side.  On  Thursday,  the  18th,  they  were 
reported  within  two  miles  in  large  force,  and  a 
general  skedaddle  took  place  ;  and  again  on  Sun 
day,  the  21st,  they  were  reported  coming  with 
reenfor^ements.  A  few  ran  off,  but  most  of  the 
people,  knowing  that  t'/ere  was  a  military  force  to 
fall  bacrf:  upon  b-itween  Chambersburg  and  Scot 
land,  shouldered  their  guns  and  fell  into  ranks  to 
give  battle.  Prominent  among  these  was  Rev. 
Mr.  Niccolls,  whose  people  missed  a  sermon  in 
his  determination  to  pop  a  few  rebels. 

One  of  the  first  acts  done  by  the  rebels  was  to 
march  down  to  the  railroad  bridge  at  Scotland, 
and  burn  it.  The  warehouse  of  Mr.  Criswell,  and 
several  cars,  were  spared  upon  satisfactory  assur 
ance  that  they  were  private  property.  As  soon 
as  the  rebels  fell  back,  the  Railroad  Company 
commenced  to  rebuild  the  bridge,  and  on  Sunday 
evening,  the  21st,  trains  passed  over  it  again. 
The  only  other  instance  of  firing  property  was  the 
warehouse  of  Oaks  &  Linn.  It  was  fired  just  as 
they  left  the  town  ;  but  the  citizens  extinguished 
it. 

General  Jenkins  received  his  education  at 
Jefferson  College,  in  Pennsylvania,  in  the  same 
class  with  J.  McDowell  Sharpe,  Esq.,  and  gave 
promise  of  future  usefulness  and  greatness.  His 
downward  career  commenced  when,  in  an  evil  hour, 
he  became  a  member  of  Congress  from  Western 
Virginia,  and  from  thence  may  be  dated  his  de 
cline  and  fall.  From  Congress  he  naturally 
enough  turned  fire-eater,  secessionist,  and  guer 
rilla.  He  is  of  medium  size,  has  a  flat  but  good 
head,  light  brown  hair,  blue  eyes,  immense  flow 
ing  beard  of  a  sandy  hue,  and  rather  a  pleasant 
face.  He  professes  to  cherish  the  utmost  regard 
forthe  humanity  of  war,and  seemed  sensitive  on  the 
subject  of  his  reputation  as  a  humane  military  lead 
er.  He  pointed  to  the  raids  of  Union  troops,  who 
left,  in  many  instances,  wide-spread  and  total  deso 
lation  on  their  tracks,  and  expressed  the  hope  that 
henceforth  the  Union  raids  would  do  no  more 
damage  to  citizens  than  he  does.  He  takes 
horses,  cattle,  and  articles  necessary  for  the  army, 
as  both  sides  treat  them  as  contraband  of  war, 
and  help  themselves  on  every  occasion  offered. 
He  pointed  with  bitter  triumph  at  the  raid  of 
Montgomery  in  South  Carolina,  and  at  the  de 
struction  of  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  and  Jackson,  Mis 
sissippi,  by  the  national  troops,  and  reminded 
the  people  that  his  actions  were  in  accordance 
with  civilized  warfare,  while  those  referred  to 
of  the  Union  troops  were  barbarous. 

On  Sunday,  28th,  the  Eighth  New  York  militia 
arrived  at  Chambersburg,  having  marched  from 
Shippensburg,  and  they  were  received  with  the 
wildest  enthusiasm.  Considering  that  they  were 
on  the  border  in  advance  of  any  Pennsylvania 
regiments,  they  merit,  as  they  will  receive,  the 
lasting  gratitude  of  every  man  in  the  border. 

The  old  men  of  the  town  organized  a  company, 
headed  by  Hen.  George  Chambers,  for  the  de 
fence  of  the  town.  None  were  admitted  under 
forty-five.  On  Monday  every  man  capable  of 


524 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


bearing  arms  had  his  gun,  and  was  in  some  or 
ganization  to  resist  the  rebels. 

The  ladies  of  Chambersburg  gave  the  rebels 
rather  a  jolly  time  while  they  were  there.  They 
did  not  imitate  the  wives  and  daughters  of  the 
chivalry  by  spitting  in  the  faces  of  soldiers,  poi- 
snnirg  their  meat  and -drink,  flaunting  flags  in 
thf ir  faces,  and  unsexing  themselves  generally  : 
but  they  did  give  them  rather  an  unwelcome  taste 
of  their  heroism  and  strategy.  One  lady  took 
her  chickens  from  the  rebels  after  they  had  killed 
them,  and  dined  sumptuously  at  home  at  least 
one  day  under  rebel  rule.  Another  arrested  Dr. 
Todd  in  his  insolence  by  informing  him,  in  rather 
an  earnest  manner,  that  further  searches  in  her 
house  would  result  in  the  splitting  of  his  head 
with  her  hatchet.  The  valiant  doctor  subsided. 
Another  amused  herself  by  running  rebel  desert 
ers  out  of  the  lines  dressed  in  hoops  and  calico  : 
and  generally  the  ladies  resented  the  arrogance 
of  the  rebel  hosts  with  such  spirit  and  determi 
nation  as  to  astound  them.  In  many  instances 
the  ladies  prevented  the  boldest  thieving  by  res 
olutely  resisting,  and  shaming  the  rebels  out  of 
their  purpose.  Those  who  were  so  fortunate  as 
to  return  to  Virginia  must  carry  with  them  the 
liveliest  appreciation  of  the  heroism  and  intelli 
gence  of  Pennsylvania  ladies. 

Some  of  the  border  State,  and  most  of  the 
more  Southern  rebels,  had  rather  peculiar  concep 
tions  of  the  Pennsylvania  Dutch.  Quite  a  num 
ber  were  astonished  to  find  the  people  speaking 
English,  as  they  supposed  that  the  prevalent  lan 
guage  was  the  German.  At  first,  when  they  at 
tempted  derisive  remarks,  they  would  imitate  the 
broken  English  of  the  Germans ;  and  judging 
from  Swell's  demand  for  twenty-five  barrels  of 
Bourkrout  at  a  season  when  it  is  unknown  in  any 
country,  even  the  commanding  officers  must  have 
considered  the  Chambersburg  people  as  profound 
ly  Dutch.  It  would  require  an  intensely  Dutch 
community  to  supply  sourkrout  in  July.  The 
farm  buildings,  and  especially  the  large  and  fine 
barns  all  through  the  valley,  at  once  excited  their 
astonishment  arid  admiration.  Quite  a  number 
of  officers  visited  the  barn  of  the  editor  as  a 
matter  of  curiosity,  although  there  are  many  in 
the  valley  much  larger  and  quite  as  well  finished. 
The  private  soldiers  generally  concluded  that  it 
must  be  the  church  of  some  very  large  denomi 
nation  in  this  community  ;  and  the  out-buildings 
about  it,  such  as  chicken-house,  hog-pen,  carriage- 
house,  &c.,  were  generally  supposed  to  be  ser 
vants'  houses,  and  very  neat  ones  ! 

Clean  as  General  Lee  has  kept  his  record  by 
his  human0  orders,  his  army  did  the  most  gigan 
tic  and  systematic  stealing.  They  stole  every 
thing  they  could  possibly  use,  or  hope  to  use  ; 
and  when  their  little  remnant  of  shame  compelled 
them  to  offer  some  apology  for  it,  they  invariably 
answered  that  the  Union  troops  had  done  so,  and 
much  more,  in  their  country.  Every  rebel  who 
wanted  to  steal  a  chicken,  or  a  hat,  or  a  watch, 
insisted  that  he  was  a  most  generous  and  humane 
conqueror  —  that  his  home  had  been  burned 
down  over  the  heads  of  his  family  by  the  Yan 


kees,   while  he  generously   spared  their  homes 
fr°m  the  torch. 

Never  was  an  army  more  confident  and  jubi 
lant  than  were  the  rebels  while  in  Chambersburg, 
and  the  officers  evidently  appreciated  the  neces 
sity  of  keeping  their  h'oj.*j8  up  to  the  highest 
point.  The  Richmond  papers  were  received  al 
most  daily  during  their  stay,  and  the  men  were 
inspii  -;d  by  the  sensation  lies  published  represent 
ing  r(  bel  success  in  almost  every  portion  of  the 
South ;  and  the  universal  demand  made  by  the 
rebel  press  for  a  general  devastation  of  the  North 
induced  the  soldiers  to  believe  that  as  soon  as 
their  lodgment  was  made  safe,  they  would  be  at 
liberty  to  occupy  or  sack  houses  at  pleasure. 
One  edition  of  the  Richmond  papers  received  at 
Chambersburg  announced  that  General  Johnson 
had  defeated  General  Grant  and  raised  the  siege 
of  Vicksburg.  It  was  read  to  the  army  when  on 
parade,  and  they  cheered  themselves  hoarse  over 
their  imaginary  triumph.  They  were  inspired 
by  every  conceivable  falsehood.  Not  a  rebel  in 
the  ranks  doubted  that  Lee  had  from  a  hundred 
and  twenty-five  thousand  to  a  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  men,  while  he  had  not  over  eighty 
thousand,  all  told  ^  and  they  were  all  firmly  con 
vinced  that  they  had  eluded  General  Meade'a 
army,  and  that  it  was  in  search  of  them  in  the 
valley  of  Shenandoah,  while  nothing  but  the  mi 
litia  stood  between  them  and  Harrisb;irg,  Balti 
more,  and  Washington.  Their  rather  sudden  re 
treat  from  York  and  Carlisle  threw  a  shadow  of 
doubt  over  their  high  expectations,  and  their  con 
fidence  was  not  strengthened  any  by  the  defiant 
and  jubilant  tone  of  the  Pennsylvania  people, 
who  confronted  them  at  every  step  with  the  as 
surance  that  they  were  marching  to  defeat,  and 
many  to  death. 

The  only  private  property  destroyed  by  the 
order  of  an  officer  in  the  Cumberland  Valley  was 
the  extensive  iron  works  of  Hon.  Thaddeus  Ste 
vens,  ten  miles  east  of  Chambersburg.  They 
consisted  of  a  large  charcoal  furnace,  forge,  roll 
ing-mill,  coal-house,  shops,  &c.  On  Tuesday, 
the  23d,  a  portion  of  Jenkins'  cavalry  came  upon 
the  works  by  an  unfrequented  mountain  road 
from  Hughes'  works,  and  demanded  the  horses, 
and  especially  the  two  riding  horses,  which  they 
described.  They  threatened  that  they  would  de 
stroy  the  buildings  if  the  horses  were  not  given 
up.  Mr.  Sweeney,  who  had  charge  of  the  works, 
agreed  to  deliver  up  the  riding  horses  if  the  prop 
erty  should  be  protected.  This  they  agreed  to  ; 
but  on  going  for  the  riding  horses,  they  met  the 
teamsters,  and  compelled  them  to  produce  all  the 
horses  and  mules,  nearly  forty  in  all,  with  gears, 
harness,  &c.  They  had  evidently  been  minutely 
informed  of  the  whereabouts  of  Mr.  Stevens' 
horses,  as  they  described  them,  and  knew  exactly 
where  to  go  after  them.  The  day  after,  General 
Early  rode  up  to  the  works,  accompanied  by  his 
staff,  and  avowed  his  intention  to  destroy  them. 
Mr.  Sweeney  reminded  him  that  he  would  inflict 
a  much  more  serious  injury  upon  some  hundred 
poor  laborers  who  worked  there  than  upon  Mr. 
Stevens.  General  Early  replied  that  Mr.  Stevens 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS, 


525 


was  "  an  enemy  of  the  South,  in  favor  of  confis 
cating  their  property,  and  arming  their  negroes, 
and  the  property  must  he  destroyed."  He  then 
placed  a  guard  around  it,  and  gave  special  in 
structions  that  it  should  not  he  destroyed  until 
he  gavre  the  order.  He  seemed  exceedingly 
fearful  that  he  might  miss  the  delightful  spec 
tacle  of  Mr.  Stevens'  works  in  flames.  He 
then  returned  to  Greenwood,  where  he  had  his 
headquarters,  but  returned  the  next  day,  and  per 
sonally  detailed  Colonel  French,  of  Jenkins'  guer- 
lillas,  with  his  command,  to  illustrate  Southern 
chivalry  and  humanity  by  applying  the  torch  to 
the  private  property  of  Mr.  Stevens  because  he 
was  guilty  of  the  crime  of  defending  the  Repub 
lic.  The  work  of  destruction  was  well  done,  and 
soon  all  the  works  were  in  ashes.  The  houses  oc 
cupied  by  families  were  not  fired.  Some  three 
thousand  dollars  worth  of  charcoal  was  destroyed, 
seven  thousand  pounds  of  bacon  stolen,  leaving 
the  families  of  the  laborers  without  food,  in  spite 
of  the  earnest  representations  made  by  Mr.  Swee 
ney  as  to  their  necessitous  condition. 

When  the  rebel  horde  first  entered  the  State, 
flushed  with  the  hope  of  easy  victories  on  the 
field,  and  boundless  plunder  in  Harrisburg,  Phil 
adelphia,  Baltimore,  and  Washington,  they  would 
yell  insolently  at  every  man  or  woman  they  met : 
"  Well,  Yank,  how  far  to  Harrisburg?  "  "  How 
far  to  Baltimore?  "  "What's  the  charge  at  the 
Continental  ?  "  "  How  do  you  like  our  return  to 
the  Union  ?  "  "  Which  is  the  way  to  Washing 
ton  ?  "  "  How  do  you  like  Lincoln's  Devils  ?  " 
These  and  similar  inquiries  were  made  with  a  de 
gree  of  arrogance  and  confidence  that  clearly  be 
tokened  their  expectations  to  see,  as  conquerors, 
all  the  cities  named  during  their  stay.  When, 
however,  their  shattered  and  bleeding  columns 
commenced  their  retreat  on  Saturday,  after  bat 
tle,  there  was  but  one  inquiry  made,  alike  by  offi 
cers  and  men:  " How  far  to  the  Potomac ?" 
"How  far  to  the  Potomac?"  And  thus  their 
broken,  decimated  ranks  straggled  along  the 
mountain  passes,  grasping  for  the  last  hope  left 
them  —  the  Potomac  ! 

The  only  engagement,  beyond  the  skirmishing 
of  scouts  in  the  Cumberland  Valley,  was  at  Car 
lisle.  General  Lee  had  recalled  his  troops  from 
York,  Carlisle,  and  other  points  north,  to  join 
him  at  Gettysburg.  General  Fitzhugh  Lee,  with 
his  division  of  cavalry,  had  crossed  from  Hano 
ver  Station  to  join  General  Ilhodes  at  Carlisle ; 
but^vhen  he  reached  that  point,  he  found  General 
Smith  in  the  town  with  several  thousand  Union 
troops.  Lee  was  evidently  disconcerted  ;  and  in 
order  to  lead  General  Smith  to  suppose  that  he 
had  purposely  advanced  to  engage  him,  and  thus 
enable  him  to  make  his  escape  should  Smith's 
force  be  very  large,  he  at  once  demanded  an  im 
mediate  surrender  of  the  town.  This  General 
Smith  emphatically  refused  ;  and  when  a  second 
demand  for  his  surrender  was  sent  him,  he  noti 
fied  Lee  that  he  would  receive  no  more  such  com 
munications  from  him.  Twenty  minutes  were 
generously  allowed  by  the  son  of  the  rebel  Com- 
mander-in-Chief  for  women  and  children  to  get 


out  of  the  town.  Of  course  but  few  got  away, 
as  't  was  after  night,  and  the  chivalric  Lee  opened 
his.  guns  upon  the  town.  He  threw  nearly  two 
hundred  shells,  most  of  which  did  not  explode, 
and  but  little  damage  was  done.  Several  houses 
were  penetrated,  but  none  of  the  citizens  were  in 
jured.  Lee  then  retreated  to  M-itness  his  father's 
Waterloo  at  Gettysburg.  —  Franklin  Depository. 


THE  SONG  OF  THE  CAMPS. 

BY   J.    R.   M. 

FAR  away  in  the  piny  woods, 

Where  the  dews  fall  heavy  and  damp, 

A  soldier  sat  by  the  smouldering  fire, 
And  sang  the  song  of  the  camp. 

"  It  is  not  to  be  weary  and  worn, 

It  is  not  to  feel  hunger  and  thirst, 
It  is  not  the  forced  march,  nor  the  terrible  fight, 

That  s-jcms  to  the  soldier  the  worst ; 

"  Bvit  to  sit  through  the  comfortless  hours,  — 
The  lonely,  dull  hours  that  will  come,  — 

With  his  head  in  his  hands,  and  his  eyes  on  the  firej 
And  his  thoughts  on  visions  of  home ; 

»'  To  wonder  how  fares  it  with  those 
Who  mingled  so  late  with  his  life,  — 

Is  it  well  with  my  little  children  three  ? 
Is  it  well  with  my  sickly  wile  ? 

««  This  night-air  is  chill,  to  be  sure, 

But  logs  lie  in  plenty  around ; 
How  is  it  with  them  where  wood  is  so  dear, 

And  the  cash  for  it  hard  to  be  found  ? 

"  O,  that  north  air  cuts  bitterly  keen, 
And  the  ground  is  hard  as  a  stone; 

It  would  comfort  me  just  to  know  that  they  sit 
By  a  fire  as  warm  as  my  own. 

"  And  have  they  enough  to  eat  ? 

May  lads  are  growing  boys, 
And  my  girl  is  a  little  tender  thing, 

With  her  mother's  smile  and  voice. 

"  My  wife  she  should  have  her  tea, 

Or  maybe  a  sup  of  beer; 
It  went  to  my  heart  to  look  on  her  face, 

So  white,  with  a  smile  and  a  tear. 

"  Her  form  it  is  weak  and  thin,  — 

She  would  gladly  work  if  she  could,  — 

But  how  can  a  woman  have  daily  strength 
Who  wants  for  daily  food  ? 

"  My  oldest  boy  he  can  cut  wood, 

And  Johnny  can  carry  it  in  ; 
But  then,  how  frozen  their  feet  must  be 

If  their  shoes  are  worn  and  thin ! 

"  I  hope  they  don't  cry  with  the  cold  — 
Are  there  tears  in  my  little  girl's  eyes  ? 

0  God !  say  peace  !  to  these  choking  fears, 
These  fears  in  my  heart  that  rise. 

"  Many  rich  folks  are  round  them,  I  know, 
And  their  hearts  are  not  hard  nor  cold  ; 

They  would  give  to  my  wife  if  they  only  knew, 
And  my  little  one  three  years  old. 


526 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


"  They  would  go,  like  God's  angels  fair, 

And  enter  the  lowly  door, 
And  make  the  sorrowful  glad  with  gifts 

From  their  abundant  store. 

«« In  this  blessed  Christmas-time, 

When  the  great  gift  came  to  men, 
They  would  show,  by  their  gentle  and  generous 

deeds, 
How  He  cometh  in  hearts  again. 

««  And  my  sickly,  patient  wife, 

And  my  little  children  three, 
Would  be  kindly  warmed  and  fed  and  clothed 

As  part  of  Christ's  family. 

"  Well,  I  leave  it  all  with  God, 

For  my  sight  is  short  and  dim  ; 
He  cares  for  the  falling  sparrow  ; 

My  dear  ones  are  safe  with  Him." 

So  the  soldier  watched  through  the  night, 
Through  the  dew-fall,  heavy  and  damp ; 

And  as  he  sat  by  the  smouldering  fire, 
He  sang  the  song  of  the  camp. 


How  "PAT"  ENTRAPPED  AN  OFFICER.  —  The 
Confederate  pickets  had  stationed  themselves  on 
the  road  from  Warrington,  Virginia,  through  New 
Baltimore,  a  mile  or  two  beyond  the  latter  point. 
Seeing  a  mounted  soldier  approaching  from  be 
low,  they  supposed  him  to  be  an  enemy,  and  sent 
forward  one  of  their  number,  an  Irish  boy,  newly 
recruited,  to  blarney  him  within  reach.  Patrick 
sauntered  along  on  his  mission,  and  when  met  by 
the  Federal  soldier  was  asked  to  what  service  he 
belonged.  "And  it's  Mister  Linkin,  sure,"  an 
swered  Pat,  "  for  it's  a  good  Union  boy  I  am." 
The  other  responded  that  he  was  the  same. 
"  Come  wid  me,  then,"  says  Pat,  "  and  I'll  take  ye 
to  the  camp  and  show  you  to  the  boys,  and  ye 
shall  have  something  to  eat."  On  they  moved,  till 
the  Federalist  came  near  enough  to  see  the  home 
spun  uniform  of  one  of  our  men.  This  opened 
his  eyes.  He  stopped,  and  said  he  had  forgotten 
his  pipe,  and  would  go  back  for  it.  "  Niver  mind 
the  pipe,  man,"  said  Pat;  "  sure  and  we'll  give  you 
a  pipe."  The  Yankee,  however,  insisted  that  he 
must  go  back,  and  started  to  execute  his  pur 
pose.  "  You  are  my  prisoner  !  "  said  Pat,  "  and  if 
you  move  a  foot  I'll  kill  ye  ! "  The  Yankee,  how 
ever,  resolved  to  take  the  chances  of  running  the 
blockade,  and  had  already  gained  some  rods,  when 
young  Ireland  fired  upon  him,  killing  him  in 
stantly.  On  examining  the  papers  upon  his  per 
son,  he  proved  to  be  a  Sergeant  of  a  New  York 
company.  Accompanying  the  Sergeant  rode  a 
negro,  who  also  led  a  third  horse.  All  the  horses 
were  seturcd,  but  the  negro  escaped. 


FARRAGUT  AND  ins  SON.  —  They  were  on  the 
Mississippi,  and  Farragut's  fleet  was  about  to  pass 
Port  Hudson,  which  was  then  held  by  the  Con 
federates.  Farragut's  son,  a  lad  of  about  twelve, 
had  been  importuning  his  father  that  he  might 
be  sent  to  West  Point,  where  the  military  cadets 


are  educated.  Old  Farragut  said  :  "  I  don't  know 
how  that  would  do ;  I  am  not  sure  whether  you 
would  stand  fire."  "O,  yes,  father,  I  could  do 
that."  "\'3ry  well,  my  boy,  we'll  try;  come  up 
with  me  here."  The  Admiral  and  his  son  went 
up  together  into  the  maintop ;  the  old  man  Lad 
himself  and  th-;  boy  lashed  to  it,  and  in  this  way 
they  passed  Port  Hudson.  The  boy  never  flinched, 
while  the  shot  and  shell  were  flying  past  him. 
"  Very  well,  my  boy,  that  will  do  ;  you  shall  go 
to  West  Point"  

AN  INCIDENT.  —  On  the  evening  previous  to 
the  battle  of  Sunday,  at  Bull  Run,  two  of  the 
Minnesota  boys  took  it  into  their  heads  to  for 
age  a  little,  for  amusement  as  well  as  eatables. 
Striking  out  from  their  encampment  into  the 
forest,  they  followed  a  narrow  road  some  distance, 
until,  turning  a  bend,  five  secession  pickets 
appeared  not  fifty  yards  distant.  The  parties 
discovered  each  other  simultaneously,  and  at 
once  levelled  their  rifles  and  fired.  Two  of  the 
Confederates  fell  dead,  and  one  of  the  Minneso- 
tians,  the  other  also  falling,  however,  but  with  the 
design  of  trapping  the  other  three,  who  at  once  came 
up,  as  they  said,  to  "  examine  the  d — d  Yankees." 
Drawing  his  revolver,  the  Minnesotian  found  he 
had  but  two  barrels  loaded,  and  with  these  he 
shot  two  of  the  pickets.  Springing  to  his  feet,  and 
snatching  his  sabre  bayonet  from  his  rifle,  he 
lunged  at  the  survivor,  who  proved  to  be  a  stal 
wart  Lieutenant,  armed  only  with  a  heavy  sword. 
The  superior  skill  of  the  Southerner  was  taxed 
to  the  utmost  in  parrying  the  vigorous  thrusts 
and  lunges  of  the  brawny  lumberman,  arid  for 
several  minutes  the  contest  waged  in  silence, 
broken  only  by  the  rustle  of  the  long  grass  by 
the  roadside,  and  the  clash  of  their  weapons. 
Feigning  fatigue,  the  Minnesotian  fell  back  a  few 
steps,  and  as  his  adversary  closed  upon  him  with 
a  cat-like  spring,  he  let  his  sabre  come  down  on 
the  head  of  his  antagonist,  and  the  game  was  up. 
Collecting  the  arms  of  the  secessionists,  he  re 
turned  to  the  camp,  where  he  obtained  assistance, 
and  buried  the  bodies  of  his  companions  and  his 
foes  in  one  grave.  

PICTURE  OF  ROBERT  E.  LEE — "  General  Lee  is, 
almost  without  exception,  the  handsomest  man  of 
his  age  I  ever  saw,"  says  an  English  writer,  who 
passed  some  time  with  him  in  the  field.  "  He  is 
fifty-six  years  old,  tall,  broad-shouldered,  very 
well  made,  well  set  up  —  a  thorough  soldier  in 
appearance  ;  and  his  manners  are  most  courteous, 
and  full  of  dignity.  He  is  a  perfect  gentleman 
in  every  respect.  I  imagine  no  man  has  so  fe\v 
enemies,  or  is  so  universally  esteemed.  Through 
out  the  South,  all  agree  in  pronouncing  him  to 
be  as  near  perfection  as  a  man  can  be.  He  Las 
none  of  the  small  vices,  such  as  smoking,  drink 
ing,  chewing,  or  swearing ;  and  his  bitterest  ene 
my  never  accused  him  of  any  of  the  greater  ones. 
He  generally  wears  a  well-worn  long  gray  jacket, 
a.  high  black  felt  hat,  and  blue  trousers  tucked 
into  his  Wellington  boots.  I  never  saw  him 
carry  arms,  and  the  orly  mark  of  his  military 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


527 


rank  are  the  three  stars  on  his  collar.  He  rides 
a  handsome  horse,  which  is  extremely  well 
groomed.  He  himself  is  very  neat  in  his  dross 
and  person,  and  in  the  most  arduous  marches  he 
always  looks  smart  and  clean. 

"  In  the  old  army  he  was  always  considered  one 
of  its  b?°f  officers/ and  at  the  outbreak  of  these 
troubles  he  was  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Second 
cavalry.  He  was  a  rich  man,  but  his  fine  estate 
was  one  of  the  first  to  fall  into  the  enemy's  hands. 
I  believe  he  has  not  slept  in  a  house  since  he  has 
commanded  the  Virginian  army,  and  he  invariably 
declines  all  offers  of  hospitality,  for  fear  the  per 
son  offering  it  may  afterwards  get  into  trouble 
for  having  sheltered  the  rebel  General.  The  rela 
tions  between  him  and  Longstreet  are  quite 
touching.  They  are  almost  always  together. 
Longstreet's  corps  complain  of  this  sometimes, 
as,  they  say,  they  seldom  get  a  chance  of  detached 
service,  which  falls  to  the  lot  of  Ewell.  It  is 
impossible  to  please  Longstreet  more  than  by 
praising  Lee.  I  believe  these  two  Generalsto  be 
as  little  ambitious,  and  as  thoroughly  unselfish,  as 
any  men  in  the  world.  Both  long  for  a  success 
ful  termination  of  the  war,  in  order  that  they 
may  retire  into  obscurity.  Stonewall  Jackson 
(until  his  death  the  third  in  command  of  their  army) 
was  just  such  another  simple-minded  servant  of 
his  country.  It  is  understood  that  General  Lee 
is  a  religious  man,  though  not  as  demonstrative 
in  that  respect  as  Jackson ;  and,  unlike  his  late 
brother  in  arms,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Church 
of  England.  His  only  faults,  so  far  as  I  can  learn, 
aiise  from  his  excessive  amiability." 


MARCHING    ALONG. 

BY    WILLIAM    B.    BRADBURY. 

TUB  army  is  gathering  from  near  and  from  far ; 
The  trumpet  is  sounding  the  cal]  for  the  war ; 
For  Grant  is  our  leader  —  he's  gallant  and  strong  ; 
We'll  gird  on  our  armor  and  be  marching  along  ! 

CHORUS. 

-Marching  along,  we  are  marching  along, 
Gird  on  the  armor  and  be  marching  along; 
For  Grant  is  our  leader  —  he's  gallant  and  strong; 
For  God  and  our  country  we  are  inarching  along ! 

The  foe  is  before  us  in  battle  array, 
But  let  us  not  waver,  nor  turn  from  the  way  ! 
The  Lord  is  our  strength,  and  the  Union's  our  song ; 
With  courage  and  faith  we  are  marching  along  ! 
Marching  along,  &c. 

Our  wives  and  our  children  we  lea-»e  in  your  care ; 
We  feel  you  will  help  them  with  sorrow  to  bear ; 
'Tis  hard  thus  to  part,  but  we  hope  't won't  be  long; 
We'll  keep  up  our  hearts  as  we're  marching  along  ! 
Marching  along,  &c. 

We  sigh  for  our  country  —  we  mourn  for  our  dead  ! 
For  them,  now,  our  last  drop  of  blood  we  will  shed ! 
Our  cause  is  the  right  one  —  our  foe's  is  the  wrong ; 
Then  gladly  we'll  sing  as  we're  marching  along. 
Marching  along,  &c. 


The  flag  of  our  country  is  floating  on  1  igh ; 
We'll  stand  by  <hat  flag  till  we  conquer  or  die! 
For  Grant  is  on:  leader  —  he's  gallant  and  stroi  .g  ; 
We'll  gird  on  our  armor  and  be  marching  along  ! 
Marching  along,  &c. 


INCIDENT  OF  PIIATRIE  GROVE.  —  The  following 
is  related  by  Lieutenant  William  S.  Brooks,  of 
the  Nineteenth  Iowa  regiment :  "  T,he  fight  was 
most  determined,  and  the  slaughter  immense.  1 
was  struck  at  four  o'clock  P.  M.,  while  we  were 
being  driven  back  from  a  too  far  advanced 
position.  We  were  outflanked,  and  had  to  run 
three  hundred  yards  over  open  ground,  and  ex 
posed  to  a  murderous  fire  from  the  right,  left, 
and  centre,  or  rear.  Here  we  lost  our  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  McFarland.  We  lost  one  half  our 
regiment,  and  in  company  D  more  than  half  our 
effective  men.  I  was  hit  at  the  commencement 
of  the  retreat,  and  was  near  being  captured,  as  I 
could  not  run.  When  more  than  half  way  to  our 
battery,  our  color-sergeant  fell,  and  I  received  the 
colors.  The  pursuing  rebel  Colonel  shouted: 
4  Blast  them,  take  their  colors ! '  This  enraged 
me,  and  I  hallooed  back,  «  You  can't  do  it.'  The 
cowardly  scoundrels  did  not  dare  to  close  on  me, 
but  let  go  a  volley,  which  left  nine  holes  in  the 
Hag,  and  eighteen  in  my  clothes.  Four  bullets 
passed  through  the  cuff  of  my  shirt  sleeve,  but 
they  could  not  wound  the  hand  that  held  the 
'Old  Flag.'"  

A  SOUTHERN  ANECDOTE.  —  An  English  officer, 
who  passed  some  time  with  the  army  of  General 
Lee,  writes  the  following,  in  the  pages  of  Black- 
wood  : 

"  As  we  were  riding  back  to  Hagerstown,  we 
fell  in  with  Colonel  Wickham,  who  commands  a 
brigade  of  Stuart's  cavalry,  in  connection  with 
whom  the  following  story  was  told  me :  — 

"  It  will  be  remembered  that  Virginia  was  one 
of  the  last  States  to  secede,  and  did  not  do  so 
until  she  had  exhausted  every  effort  to  effect  a 
compromise ;  and  when  she  did  so,  the  few 
Southern  States  that  were  still  hesitating  followed 
her  example,  and  the  war  became  inevitable. 

"  Matters  were  coming  to  a  crisis,  when  the 
leading  men  of  Virginia  sent  a  deputation  of  three 
of  their  number  to  wait  on  the  President,  Mr. 
Lincoln.  They  tried  to  impress  him  with  a  sense 
of  the  gravity  of  the  situation,  and  urgently  en 
treated  that  "he  would  do  something  to  calm  the 
excitement  amongst  the  pec  pie,  whose  irritation 
at  the  threats  of  the  Administration,  and  of  the 
Northern  States,  was  getting  beyond  control. 

"  It  was  just  after  the  taking  of  Fort  Sumter 
and  Lincoln's  having  called  out  seventy-five 
thousand  men  to  coerce  the  South. 

"  « But  what  would  you  have  me  do  ? '  said  Mr. 
Lincoln. 

"  '  Mr.  President,'  replied  one  of  the  deputation, 
'I  would  beg  you  to  lend  me  your  finger  and 
thumb  for  five  minutes '  —  meaning,  of  course, 
that  he  wished  to  write  something  that  should 
allay  the  prevailing  excitement. 


528 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


"But  Mr.  Lincoln  did  not  choose  to  under 
stand  him.  *  My  finger  and  thumb  ! '  he  repeated, 
'  My  finger  and  thumb  !  What  would  you  do 
with  them  ?  Blow  your  nose  ?  ' 

"  The  deputation  retired  in  disgust,  and  Vir 
ginia  seceded ! "  

CAMP  JEWELRY.  —  " '  Jewelry,'  you  think  and 
wonder,  and  perhaps  it  may  be  worth  an  explana 
tion,"  says  B.  F.  Taylor,  in  one  of  his  inimitable 
letters  from  the  army  of  the  Cumberland.  "  The 
Tennessee  and  Stone  Rivers  are  strewn  with 
shells  of  rare  beauty  and  exquisite  coloring  ; 
blue,  green,  pink,  and  pure,  clear  pearl.  If  you 
look  in  any  boy's  knapsack  you  will  be  quite 
sure  to  find  a  shell  in  it.  Of  these  queer,  broken, 
little  chests  of  former  life,  the  soldiers  make  rings, 
pins,  hearts,  arrows,  chains,  crosses;  and  to  see 
the  rough  tools  they  use,  and  then  note  the  ele 
gance  of  form  and  finish  in  the  things  they  make, 
would  set  the  means  and  the  results  incredibly 
apart.  With  a  fiat  stone  for  a  polishing  table, 
they  grind  down  the  shells,  and  then  with  knife 
and  file  shape  little  fancies  that  would  not  be 
out  of  place  on  -a  jeweller's  velvet,  and  beautiful 
souvenirs  of  fields  of  battle.  Every  ring  and 
heart  has  a  bit  of  a  story  the  maker  is  not  reluc- 
tint  to  tell.  This  little  touch  of  fine  arts  gives  to 
camps  a  pleasant,  home-like  look  ;  and  I  have 
Been  many  a  soldier  putting  the  final  polish  to  a 
p^arl  trinket  by  the  light  of  his  inch  of  candle 
tlaring  from  a  bayonet,  as  earnest  over  his  work 
as  if  the  shell  possessed  the  charm  of  Aladdin's 
lamp,  and  rubbing  it  would  summon  spirits  po 
tent  if  not  gray."  

A  SOLDIER'S  ADVENTURE. — William  M.  Heck- 
er,  a  soldier  belonging  to  one  of  the  Indiana  regi 
ments,  gives  the  following  account  of  his  adven 
tures  in  returning  from  the  expedition  to  Grenada, 
Mississippi,  which  destroyed  such  an  immense 
quantity  of  Southern  railroad  stock,  from  which 
will  be  gathered  a  better  understanding  of  what 
the  soldiers  had  often  to  endure  in  service  of  which 
no  mention  is  ever  made,  than  from  the  elaborate 
lamentation's  of  elegant  writers.  After  the  dash 
upon  Grenada,  and  the  destruction  of  the  railroad 
track,  he,  with  seventeen  other  men,  under  Lieu 
tenant  Shaddock,  was  sent  out  to  gather  up 
mules.  Here  his  adventures  begin,  and  he  thus 
tells  them : 

"  We  gathered  up  a  lot  of  mules,  and  when  we 
got  back  to  the  road  we  were  four  hours  behind 
the  column,  with  about  two  hundred  rebels  be 
tween  us.  We  had  arrived  to  within  six  miles 
of  Cold  Water  Springs  before  we  knew  of  this. 
Here  the  rebels  had  a  skirmish  with  the  rear  of 
our  advance  column,  and  we  took  a  side  road, 
intending  to  go  around  them  and  cross  the 
river  at  another  place.  When  we  reached  there, 
however,  the  bridge  had  been  burned,  the  river 
was  full  of  snags,  very  deep,  and  about  five  rods 
wide,  with  a  few  rebels  on  each  side  to  guard  it. 
We  did  not  offer  to  hurt  them  ;  neither  did  they 
propose  to  molest  us.  I  swam  my  horse  across 
first,  being  the  best  swimmer.  Many  of  the  boys 


could  not  get  their  horses  across,  and  called  to 
me  to  help  them.  Charles  Keatch  and  myself 
stripped  off  and  '  went  in,'  and  all  the  horses  but 
one  were  soon  over,  and  the  men  crossed  on  logs, 
about  fifteen  yards  below.  I  swam  back  after 
the  horse  still  remaining,  but  it  would  not  come. 
As  I  was  returning,  about  one  hundred  rebels 
charged  up  the  other  side,  and  fired  at  the  boys 
on  the  side  I  was  going  to.  They  didn't  see  me 
until  I  attempted  to  climb  up  the  bank.  They 
then  began  yelling  at  a  desperate  rate,  and  fired 
twenty  or  thirty  shots  at  me,  the  balls  striking 
all  around.  I  was  an  excellent  mark  for  them. 
I  got  upon  the  bank,  but  could  not  get  to  my 
clothing  or  arms.  I,  however,  saw  a  rifle  lying 
lear,  and  picked  it  up,  and  ran  back  about  two 
rods,  and  stopped.  The  other  boys  had  taken 
cover  behind  trees,  and  the  Lieutenant  ordered 
ne  to  do  the  same.  I  told  him  I  would  not  do 
^t  until  I  got  my  clothes ;  but  the  rebel  bullets 
came  so  thick  and  fast  that  I  was  glad  to  get  out 
of  the  way  the  best  I  could.  I  fired  three  good 
shots  at  them.  Some  of  them  went  up  and  others 
down  the  river,  until  they  got  into  such  shape  as 
to  cross-fire  on  us.  I  was  only  about  three  steps 
from  Tlardu  when  he  was  shot  in  the  breast.  I 
started  to  go  to  him,  but  the  balls  came  so  thick 
I  couldn't. 

"  The  rest  of  the  boys  had  got  back  about 
twenty  rods  by  this  time,  and  called  to  me  to 
come  in  ;  so  I  shouldered  my  rifle  and  followed, 
and  ran  about  a  mile  before  I  stopped.  Here  we 
were  fired  into,  and  ran  another  mile,  and  hid  in 
some  canebrakes,  Keatch  and  I  being  stark  naked. 
I  left  my  horse  and  all  my  equipments,  my  arms, 
consisting  of  a  five-shooting  revolving  rifle  and  a 
Colt's  revolver,  every  bit  of  my  clothing  and  big 
boots.  One  of  the  boys  loaned  me  a  pair  of 
drawers,  and  another  a  blouse,  and  I  tied  a  hand 
kerchief  over  my  head.  We  lay  until  dark,  and 
then  took  a  northerly  course,  directed  by  the 
stars.  We  ran  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  a 
rebel  camp,  and  had  to  back  out ;  went  through 
the  woods,  over  bluffs,  swamps,  brier  patches, 
and  of  all  the  times  you  ever  heard  of,  this  beat 
them.  One  time  we  got  to  a  bluff  where  it  was 
about  twenty-five  feet  perpendicularly  down.  We 
let  ourselves  over  by  the  grubs,  and  travelled 
nearly  all  night  in  the  woods.  About  an  hour 
before  day  we  got  within  four  miles  of  Hernando, 
having  travelled  eight  miles,  and  lay  down  till 
daylight.  There  were  now  only  ten  of  us  to 
gether  ;  some  had  arms,  and  some  hadn't. 

"  After  daylight  the  Lieutenant  and  I  went  out 
to  find  a  road,  so  as  to  get  the  right  start.  We 
got  separated  from  the  rest  of  the  boys,  and,  after 
hunting  about  an  hour,  gave  up.  We  then  lay 
down  again  (it  was  foggy).  Then  we  took  a  due 
north  course  through  the  woods,  and  travelled 
until  noon,  when  we  became  so  weak  that  we 
could  hardly  go  farther,  as  we  had  not  eaten 
anything  since  the  morning  before.  The  Lieu 
tenant  here  lay  in  the  bushes,  and  I  went  up  to 
an  old  log  house,  and  told  the  old  man  there  that 
I  had  been  taken  prisoner  by  the  Yankees  at 
Grenada,  and  had  escaped  from  them  the  night 


ANECDOTES,    POETHY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


529 


before.  He  took  pity  on  me,  and  a  good  meal 
was  provided,  which  I  ate  with  a  good  deal  of 
satisfaction.  I  had  a  long  talk  with  him,  and 
cursed  the  Yankees  up  and  down  at  a  great  rate. 
I  was  furnished  with  a  quantity  of  food  to  eat  on 
the  road,  which  I  gave  to  the  Lieutenant,  and 
also  a  hat  to  keep  the  sun  from  burning  me. 
Boots  and  shoes  he  was  minus  of.  We  kept  in 
the  swamps  all  day. 

"  About  sundown  we  arrived  within  eighteen 
miles  of  Germantown,  and  were  entirely  '  used 
up.'  We  stopped  at  the  house  of  a  half-way 
Union  man,  and  got  supper,  and  revived  so  as 
to  go  on  eight  miles  farther.  Here  we  gave  out 
entirely,  and  lay  down  and  rested  until  morning', 
and  then  started,  and  went  within  two  miles  of 
camp,  and  I  gave  out  again.  The  Lieutenant 
made  out  to  get  in,  and  sent  men  and  a  horse 
out  after  me.  I  reached  there  a  little  before 
noon,  my  feet  swollen  nearly  as  big  as  half 
bushels,  and  all  cut  to  pieces.  I  was  so  sore 
the  next  morning  that  I  couldn't  stir,  but  felt 
well  every  other  way. 

"  The  boys  had  all  given  us  up,  and,  when  I 
went  in,  said  I  was  the  hardest  looking  sight  they 
ever  beheld.  They  did  everything  they  could  for 
my  comfort.  Some  of  the  boys  said  they  were 
so  glad  of  our  safe  arrival,  they  did  not  know 
whether  to  laugh  or  cry." 


NEW  ORLEANS  WON  BACK. 

A  LAY  FOR  OUR  SAILORS. 
BY   ROBERT   LOWELL. 

[The  opening-  words  of  the  burden  are  a  scrap  of  an  old 
song  caught  up.] 

CATCH.     O,  up  in  the  morning,  up  in  the  morning, 

Up  in  the  morning  early  ! 
There  lay  the  town  that  our  guns  looked 

down, 
With  its  streets  all  dark  and  surly. 

God  made  three  youths  to  walk  unscathed 

In  the  furnace  seven  times  hot ; 
And  when  smoky  flames  our  squadron  bathed, 

Amid  horrors  of  shell  and  shot, 
Then,  too,  it  was  God  that  brought  them  through 

That  death-crowded  thoroughfare : 
So  now,  at  six  bells,  the  church  pennons  flew, 

And  the  crews  went  all  to  prayer. 
Thank  God  !  thank  God  !  our  men  won  the  fight, 

Against  forts,  and  fleets,  and  flame  : 
Thank  God !  they  have  given  our  flag  its  right, 
In  a  town  that  brought  it  shame. 

O,  up  in  the  morning,  up  in  the  morning, 

Up  in  the  morning  early  ! 
Our  flag  hung  there,  in  the  fresh,  still  air, 
With  smoke  floating  soft  and  curly. 

Ten  days  for  the  deep  ships  at  the  bar ; 

Six  days  for  the  mortar-fleet, 
That  battered  the  great  forts  from  afar ; 

And  then,  to  that  deadly  street ! 
A  flash  !     Our  strong  ships  snapped  the  boom 

To  the  fire-rafts  and  the  forts, 
34 


i  To  crush  and  crash,  and  flash  and -gloom, 

And  iron  beaks  fumbling  their  ports. 
j  From  the  dark  came  the  raft,  in  flame  and  smoke ; 

In  the  dark  came  the  iron  beak  ; 
;  But  our  sailors'  hearts  were  stouter  than  oak, 
And  the  false  foe's  iron  weak. 

O,  up  in  the  morning,  up  in  the  morning, 

Up  in  the  morning  early  ! 
Before  they    knew,  they 'had   burst    safe 

through, 
An  I  left  the  forts  grim  and  burly. 

Thov  ^h  it  be  brute's  work,  not  man's,  to  tear 

Live  limbs  like  shivered  wood, 
Yet,  to  dare,  anl  to  stand,  and  to  take  death  for 

shave, 

Are  as  much  as  the  angels  could. 
Our  men  towed  the  blazing  raft*  ashore  ; 

They  battered  the  great  rams  cown ; 
Scarce  a  wreck  floated  where  wa  t  a  fleet  before, 

When  our  whips  came  up  to  thu  town. 
There  were  miles  of  batteries  yet  TO  be  dared, 

But  they  quenched  these  all,  as  m  play  ; 
Then  with  their  yards  squared,  thtir  guns'  mouths 

tared, 
They  held  the  great  town  at  bay. 

O,  up  in  the  morning,  up  in  the  morning. 

Up  in  the  morning  early  ! 
Our  stout  ships  came  through  shell,  shot, 

and  flame, 
But  the  town  will  not  always  be  surly; 

For  this  Crescent  City  takes  to  its  breast 

The  Father  of  Waters'  tide ; 
And  here  shall  the  wealth  of  our  world,  in  the 

West, 

Meet  wealth  of  the  world  beside : 
Here  the  date-palm  and  the  olive  find 

A  near  and  equal  sun  ; 
And  a  hundred  broad,  deep  rivers  wind 

To  the  summer- sea  in  one : 
Here  the  Fall  steals  all  old  Winter's  ice, 

And  the  Spring  steals  all  his  snow ; 
While  he  but  smiles  at  their  artifice, 
And  like  his  own  nature  go. 

O,  up  in  the  morning,  up  in  the  morning, 

Up  in  the  morning  early ! 
May  that  flag  float  here  till  the  earth's  last 

year, 
With  the  lake  mists  fair  and  pearly. 


LETTERS  FROM  HOME.  —  Occupation  is  a 
grand  thing,  and  quite  as  important  to  the  tone 
and  heart  of  an  army  as  hard  bread  and  bacon. 
The  monster  against  which  Dr.  Kane  fought  so 
successfully  in  the  Arctic  night,  with  theatre  and 
frolic,  wanders  listlessly  up  and  down  our  camps. 
Would  you  believe  —  and  yet  it  is  true  —  that 
many  a  poor  fellow  in  this  army  of  the  Cun>- 
berland  has  literally  died  to  go  home ;  died  of 
the  terrible,  unsatisfied  longing,  homesickness  ? 
that  it  lies  at  the  heart  of  many  a  disease  bearing 
a  learned  name  ?  It  is  languor,  debility,  low 
fever,  loss  of  appetite,  sleeplessness,  death ;  and 
yet,  through  all,  it  is  only  that  sad  thing  they  call 
Nostalgia.  Who  shall  dare  to  say  that  the  boy 
who  "  lays  him  down  and  dies,"  a-hungered  and 
starving  for  home,  does  not  fall  as  well  and  truly 


51K) 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


for  his  country's  sake  as  if  a  rebel  bullet  had  found 
his  heart  out  ?  Against  it  the  Surgeon  combats 
in  vain,  for  "  who  can  minister  to  a  mind  dis 
eased  ?  " 

The  loved  ones  at  home  have  something  to  an 
swer  for  in  this  business,  and  it  pains  me  to  think 
that  more  than  ope  man  has  let  Iris  life  slip  out 
of  a  grasp  too  weak  to  hold  it,  just  because  his 
dearest  friends  did  not  send  him  a  prescription 
once  a  week  —  price  three  cents — a  letter  from 
home.  Is  some  poor  fellow  sinking  at  heart  be 
cause  you  do  not  write  him?  If  there  is,  lay  my 
letter  down  at  once  and  write  your  own,  and  may 
lie  who  sent  a  messenger  all  the  way  from 
Heaven  to  earth  with  glad  tidings,  forgive  you 
for  deferring  a  hope  to  some  soldier  boy.  You 
would  not  wonder  at  my  warmth  had  you  seen 
that  boy  waiting  and  waiting,  as  I  have,  for  one 
little  word  from  somebody.  Too  proud  to  own, 
and  yet  too  sincere  to  quite  conceal  it,  he  tries  to 
strangle  the  thought  of  home,  and  goes  into  the 
battle,  whence  he  never  comes  forth.  Let  me 
relate  one  incident.  An  Indiana  soldier  was 
struck  in  the  breast  at  Chickamauga  and  fell. 
The  bullet's  errand  was  about  done  when  it 
reached  him ;  it  pierced  coat  and  underclothing, 
and  there  was  force  enough  left  in  it  to  wound, 
if  not  to  kill  him  ;  it  had  to  work  its  way  through 
a  precious  package  of  nine  letters,  indited  by  one 
dear  heart,  and  traced  by  one  dear  hand ;  that 
done,  the  bullet's  power  expended,  there  it  jay 
asleep  against  the  soldier's  breast!  '  Have  you 
been  making  such  a  shield,  dear  lady,  for  any 
body  ?  Take  care  that  it  does  not  lack  one  letter 
of  being  bullet-proof.  —  B.  F.  Taylor. 


INCIDENTS  OF  CHICKAMAUGA. — Colonel  John 
T.  Wilder,  of  Indiana,  who  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga,  relates  these  incidents: 
"  There  was  fearful  slaughter  of  Longstreet's  m.en 
at  the  time  they  were  driving  back  the  left  wing 
of  the  nationals.  This  celebrated  corps,  as  des 
perate  soldiers  as  ever  lived,  attacking  two  divis 
ions,  Van  Cleve's  and  Davis',  to  the  right  and  a 
little  in  front  of  Wilder,  separated  them  and 
pushed  on  through  the  open  space,  yelping  —  the 
rebel  shout  is  a  yelp,  instead  of  a  civilized  hur 
rah  —  and  confident  of  victory.  A  portion  of 
them  had  to  cross  a  small  field,  behind  which,  in 
the  bordering  woods,  Wilder  lay,  and  through 
which  ran  a  ditch  five  or  six  feet  deep,  to  carry 
off  the  water  of  an  adjacent  stream  or  swamp. 

"As  the  rebels  entered  this  field,'  in  heavy 
masses,  fully  exposed,  the  mounted  infantry,  with 
their  seven-shooting  rifles,  kept  up  a  continuous 
blast  of  fire  upon  them,  while  Lilly,  with  his  In 
diana  battery,  hurled  through  them  double-shot 
ted  canister  from  his  ten-j Bounder  rifles,  at  less 
than  five  hundred  yards.  The  effect  was  awful. 
Every  shot  seemed  to  tell.  The  head  of  the 
column,  as  it  was  pushed  on  by  those  behind,  ap 
peared  to  melt  away,  or  sink  into  the  earth,  for 
though  continually  moving  it  got  no  nearer.  It 
broke  at  last,  and  fell  back  in  great  disorder.  It 
was  rallied  and  came  on  again,  and  with  a  des 
perate  resolution  pushed  through  the  solid  fire  to 


the  ditch.  Here  all  who  could  get  in  took  shel 
ter.  Instantly  Lilly  wheeled  two  of  his  guns  and 
poured  right  clown  the  whole  length  of  the  ditch 
his  horrible  double  canister.  Hardly  a  man  got 
out  of  it  alive.  '  At  this  point,'  said  Wilder, '  it,  ac 
tually  seemed  a  pity  to  kil.  them  so.  They  fell 
in  heaps,  and  I  had  it  in  my  heart  to  order  the 
firing  to  cease,  to  end  the  awful  sight.'  But 
the  merciless  seven-shooters  and  canister  would 
not  stop,  and  again  the  boasted  flower  of  Lee's 
army  was  crushed  into  a  disorderly  mob  and 
driven  off. 

"  When  the  firing  :;eased,  one  could  have  walked 
for  two  hundred  yards  down. that  ditch  on  dead 
rebels,  without  ever  touching  the  ground." 


ARMY  DISCIPLINE.  —  A  soldier  of  the  Second 
regiment  of  Rhode  Island,  writing  from  Brandy 
Station,  Virginia,  says:  "Military  discipline, 
though  neither  novel  nor  interesting  in  the  army, 
would  present  many  scenes  and  incidents  of  cu 
rious  interest  to  the  uninitiated.  Let  us  take  a 
short  walk  through  the  regimental  guard-houses 
of  this  brigade.  At  the  first,  which  is  that  of  the 
Second  Rhode  Island,  we  see  one  with  his  knap 
sack  strapped  on  his  back,  and  a  stick  of  wood 
weighing,  say  forty  pounds,  on  his  shoulder. 
With  these  he  walks  a  beat  of  twenty  pacer)  for 
ten  hours.  Crime,  absent  from  duty  without 
leave  and  without  reasonable  excuse.  Another 
walks  a  similar  beat,  with  knapsack  and  musket. 
He  was  corporal  of  guard,  but  was  reduced  to  the 
position  of  private,  and  sentenced  to  walk  his 
beat  twelve  hours,  for  sending  a  private  to  post 
his  guard  while  he  slept.  We  pass  to  another 
guard-house.  Here  we  find  a  man  bucked  and 
gagged.  Crime,  drunkenness.  The  operation 
consists  of  putting  a  stick  in  the  mouth,  with  a 
string  passed  from  each  end  around  the  back  of 
the  head.  The  bucking  process  consists  of  tying 
the  hands  together  securely,  placing  them  o\er 
the  knees,  and  running  a  stick  through  under  the 
knees  and  over  the  arms.  Still  another  has  his 
hands  tied  together  and  fastened  as  far  up  a  tree 
as  he  can  conveniently  reach.  He  also  is  gagged. 
These  have  three  hours  on,  and  one  off  for  twelve 
hours.  We  pass  to  a  third  guard-house.  Here 
is  one  who  has  skulked  from  duty.  He  has  a 
large,  pile  of  stone  to  move  some  twenty  feet,  a 
task  many  times  as  arduous  as  the  fatigue  duty 
he  shirked.  Near  by  is  a  grave  fresh  dug  and 
rounded  up,  with  a  head  sticking  out  at  one  end. 
At  his  head  stands  a  board  prepared  and  marked 
in  large  letters : 

HERE     LIES 
THE  BODY  OF 

GEORGE    MARS, 

WHO  FELL 

DEAD    (DRUNK) 

Nov.  I7tht  1863. 

"  Doubtless  the  good  friends  at  home  would 
think  this  severe,  but  it  is  deemed  necessary  for 
the  discipline  of  the  army,  by  military  command 
ers  at  least." 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


531 


up  into  the  air,  while  another  seemed  to  rush 
across  the  river.  It  was  a  signal  that  we  were 
discovered ;  and  in  a  few  moments  a  sudden  Hash 
appeared  on  the  dark  shore,  a  little  ahead  of  us, 

Then  another  and 


and  bang  went  the  first  gun. 
another,  in  quick  succession. 


It  was  now  just 


THE  FlGHT  AT  PORT  HUDSON.  —  A  citizen  of  |  the  word  from,  Mr.  Terry  (second  Lieutenant), 
New  Orleans,  who  was  on  board  the  Richmond  |  who,  with  heroic  coolness  and  gi\;at  skill,  was  on 
when  she  attempted,  with  the  rest  of  Farragut's  j  the  lookout  forward,  to  the  men  at  the  wheel, 
fleet,  to  pass  the  batteries  at  Port  Hudson,  far-  |  Two  or  three  minutes  after  I  left  there,  a  round 
nishes  the  following  interesting  account  of  the  j  shot  took  off  Mr.  Cummings'  left  leg,  just  above 
fight :  the  ankle,  knocking  him  off  the  bridge  to  the 

"A  minute  after,  fizz  went  a  rocket  from  the  j  deck,  and  he  was  carried  below.  Captain  Alden 
opposite  (west)  bank  of  the  river,  and  shot  away  j  was  also  thrown  down,  but  not  hurt. 

"We  wire  now  abreast  of  the  upper  battery, 
and  nearly  'past  Port  Hudson.'  I  called  out, 
'  There  is  the  low  land  above  the  bluff,'  as  I  caughi 
a  glimpse  of  it,  from  tje  forecastle,  by  the  flash 
of  a  gun.  We  were  just  heading  around  to  turn 
the  point,  and  go  up  the  other  reach  out  of  fire, 
when  a  loud  and  sharp  '  sh-h-h-h '  was  heard 
amidships,  and  a  cloud  of  steam  came  pouring  out 
of  the  steam-pipe,  and  up  from  the  engine-room. 
The  sight  and  sound  of  this  evidently  guided  the 
enemy's  fire,  for  it  was  concentrated  upon  us,  and 
with  redoubled  rapidity.  We  were  evidently  also 
no  longer  making  progress  against  the  mighty 
current  which  sweeps  around  there,  and  were 
therefore  a  stationary  target,  within  short  musket 
range  of  their  biggest  guns.  Besides,  we  could 
scarcely  hear  or  see  anything  on  the  deck  for  the 
steam.  A  moment  more,  and  we  might  have 
drifted  ashore,  and  been  torn  to  pieces  by  shot 
and  shell;  surrender,  I  am  satisfied,  we  never 
should  have  done. 

"  '  Starboard!  '  shouted  Captain  Alden,  and  we 
went  about  rapidly;  and  with  the  steerage-way 
which  the  Genesee  was  able  to  give  us,  we  went 
swiftly  down,  passing  all  the  batteries,  under  this 
terrific  fire,  and  brought  up  at  our  old  Anchorage 
ground.  The  last  I  saw  of  the  Hartford  was  by 
one  of  her  own  illuminations,  as  she  sailed  rap 
idly  up  the  reach  above  Port  Hudson,  looking  as 
stanch  and  stately  as  ever,  from  her  water-line 
to  her  trucks,  and  with  her  cloak  of  battle-smoke 
thrown  around  her  fighting  side. 

"It  was  only  after  we  were  disabled  that  I 
learned  of  Mr.  Cummings'  misfortune,  and  then 


twenty-two  minutes  past  eleven. 

"Ail  at  once  the  Hartford  revealed  herself  just 
ahead  of  us,  a  flood  of  flame  leaping  from  her  side, 
and  a  great  cloud  of  white  smoke  rolling  up,  fol 
lowed  by  a  roar  like  the  loudest  and  sharpest 
thunder,  which  went  rolling  and  echoing  down 
the  river.  From  that  time  her  broadsides  con 
tinued  in  quick  succession.  The  mortar  schoon 
ers,  too,  opened  from  their  station  below  —  a  sul 
len  bellow,  and  then  a  shooting  star  traversing 
the  sky  in  a  vast  curve,  and  dropping  on  the  bluff 
with  a  loud  explosion. 

"  All  was  quiet  and  silent  with  us ;  but  now 
shot  and  shell  began  to  whiz  overhead ;  and  it 
was  plain  that  we,  too,  were  aimed  at  in  the  rapid 
fire  of  the  enemy.  Mr.  Cummings  said,  with  a 
firm,  quiet  voice,  *  Point  your  guns  two  points 
forward  of  the  beam  ;  aim  at  every  flash,  and  give 
them  grape  and  canister  as  fast  as  you  can.  Fire 
coolly,  and  don't  hurry.  Now,  give  them  the  bow 
guns.  Now,  the  whole  broadside.'  The  blaze, 
and  concussion,  and  crash  of  this  last  were  terrific. 
It  took  me  some  minutes  to  comprehend  that  our 
fire,  which  was  most  startling  to  eye  and  ear,  was 
friendly,  and  to  enjoy  and  exult  in  it. 

"  The  real  terrors  were  those  swift  flashes  on 
the  shore,  and  the  missiles  that  went  crashing  and 
hissing  over  and  around  us.  The  first  effective 
shot  that  I  saw  was  a  shell,  which  burst  in  the 
side  near  me,  and  set  it  on  fire  ;  but  this  was  soon 
extinguished.  A  twenty-pounder  Parrott  shot 
had,  however,  already  entered  near  the  after  gun, 
worked  by  marines,  killed  two  men,  and  knocked 
down,  though  with  slight  injuries,  some  twelve 
men  —  in  fact,  demolished  a  whole  gun's  crew. 
Showers  of  splinters  from  the  rigging  fell  all 
over  us.  Our  tremendous  fire,  however,  seemed 
to  silence  the  lower  batteries,  until  our  own  smoke 
enwrapped  the  ship  so  that  we  could  not  see  half 
its  length,  and  had  to  cease  filing  to  let  the  smoke 
clear  away,  for  fear  we  should  go  ashore.  This 
was  done  several  times. 

"  Meanwhile  we  were  slowly  ranging  up,  within 
a  hundred  yards  of  the  batteries  (some  think  less), 
as  I  could  plainly  see  by  the  flashes,  and  also  by 
fires  which  the  enemy  had  kindled  on  the  blufi'. 


from  Captain  Alden,  who  was  greatly  affected  by 
it,  more  even  than  by  his  great  disappointment. 
At  his  request  I  went  below  to  see  Mr.  Cummings, 
and  to  carry  him  a  most  affectionate  message. 
The  mangled  hero,  awaiting  amputation,  asked 
me  what  we  were  doing ;  and  when  I  told  him 
we  were  nearly  out  of  danger,  having  been  dis 
abled  in  our  steam  and  compelled  to  drop  back, 
he  uttered  a  cry  of  disappointment.  '  O,'  said 
he,  *  I  would  have  given  my  other  leg  to  have 
gone  by.'  A  noble  tar  lying  there,  _  terribly 
wounded,  and  who  died  soon  after,  said,  '  Mr. 
Cummings,  don't  give  up  the  ship.'  '  No,  How 
ard,'  said  he,  «  we  won't  give  up  the  ship.'  All 
the  officers  and  men  were  greatly  grieved  at  Mr. 
Cummings'  wound. 

"  We  had  hardly  let  go  the  anchor  when  a  light 
began  to  show  above,  increasing  rapidly. 


We 


The  Hartford,  revealed  at  times  by  her  blazing  feared  it  was  one  of  our  consort  ships,  all  of  which 
guns ;  the  ships  following,  pouring  in  their  fire ;  the  i  we  had  hoped  had  passed  up  successfully.  ^  Con- 
rapid  and  deadly  fire  from  the  shore;  the  cool-  jectures  were  divided  between  the  flag-ship,  the 
ness  and  yet  ardor  of  all  our  people,  officers  and  j  Monongahela,  and  the  Mississippi.  Soon  after  a 
men,  —  all  this  is  more  than  I  can  describe.  At !  boat's  crew  of  the  Mississippi  came  on  board,  and 
this  time  I  went,  at  the  Captain's  request,  to  carry  |  reported  her  hopelessly  aground  and  abandoned. 


532 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


We  still  feared  that  the  fire  might  be  on  another 
ship.  But  soon  the  flames  got  such  headway  that 
they  revealed  the  form  of  that  stanch  and  valiant 
old  ship  ;  and  we  also  learned  that  the  Mononga- 
hela  had  returned  to  her  anchorage,  while  the 
flag-ship  was  doubtless  safe  above.  After  a  while 
the  Mississippi  swung  off,  headed  down  stream, 
and  sailed  right  towards  us,  blazing  to  the  top  of 
her  masts,  a  glorious  but  mournful  and  even  ter 
rible  sight,  for  we  could  not  get  out  of  her  way. 
She  soon,  however,  sheered  off  to  our  port,  and 
swept  down  past,  firing  off  her  port  guns  only  a 
little  before  she  passed  us;  and  so,  amid  ex 
ploding  shells,  she  passed  down  the  river  out 
of  sight,  and  blew  up,  away  below,  about  five 
o'clock. 

"  It  was  half  past  one  when  we  let  go  our  an 
chor,  so  that  we  had  been  nearly  two  hours  under 
fire ;  and  it  was  some  time  before  any  one  could 
compose  himself  to  sleep,  though  I  did  get  some 
three  hours'  rest.  The  next  morning  was  de 
voted  to  cleaning  up  the  soiled  and  blood-stained 
decks,  taking  care  of  the  wounded,  receiving  our 
unlucky  comrades  of  the  Mississippi,  a  noble  set 
of  officers  and  men,  with  the  heroic  Captain  Smith 
at  their  head,  all  worthy  to  be  the  shipmates  of 
the  '  llichmonds  '  (I  could  not  say  more),  prepar 
ing  the  deck  for  burial,  and  writing  home.  A 
heavy  rain  delayed  some  of  these  things. 

"  The  next  morning  (Monday),  having  sent  off 
to  the  city  our  guests  of  the  Mississippi,  with  Mr. 
Cummings  (whose  valuable  life  seemed  about  to 
be  spared  to  us,  to  his  family,  to  his  country),  the 
crew  was  mustered  at  nine.  Captain  Alden  made 
a  pithy  speech  to  them  of  praise  for  their  cool 
ness,  bravery,  and  fidelity,  and  then  prayers  were 
offered  by  the  acting  Chaplain,  and  thanksgiving 
for  our  deliverance.  It  was  a  most  solemn  arid 
beautiful  termination  to  these  transactions.  The 
dead  being  buried  with  all  solemnity,  repairs  were 
at  once  commenced,  and  by  the  next  day  we 
had  steam  up,  and  were  '  ready  for  any  ordinary 
service.' " 

REBEL    ATTEMPT    TO    TAKE     A  TRAIN, 
AND    HOW    IT    CAME    OUT.* 

BT   DANIEL  D.  STEEL,  COMPANY  G,  SEVENTY-EIGHTH 
NEW  YORK  STATE  VETERAN  VOLUNTEERS. 

ATTENTION  to  these  verses, 

And  I  will  tell  no  lies : 
'Tis  ho\v  the  rebels  came  to  take 

The  Yankees  by  surprise. 
They  came  with  empty  haversacks, 

A  victory  for  to  gain  ; 
They  said  they  would  draw  our  rations 

When  they  took  our  wagon  train. 

«  About  midnight  of  October  28,  1863,  the  rebels 
came  oif  from  Lookout  Mountain  into  Lookout  Valley, 
at  Wauhatchie,  Tennessee,  to  capture  the  Eleventh 
corps  supply  train  ;  but,  to  their  mortification  and 
chagrin,  it  proved  to  be  a  part  of  the  White  Star 
division  (Second  division,  Twelfth  corps),  who  gave 
them  a  sound  thrashing,  and  they  lied  back,  helter- 
skelter,  in  dismay,  into  their  lines,  with  considera 
ble  loss. 


They  came  so  close  upon  us, 

So  slyly  they  did  creep, 
They  thought  they  had  surely  caught 

The  Yankee  boys  asleep. 
They  tired  in  upon  us ; 

They  don't  deny  this  tale; 
But  when  they  saw  the  "  White  Star," 

Their  appetites  did  fail. 

They  said  they  never  saw  the  like 

Since  ever  they  vere  born ; 
Before  they  would  Ight  the  White  Star, 

They  would  go  and  live  on  corn. 
Away  they  went  on  double-quick, 

Saying,  "  If  we  come  again, 
We  -will  take  our  rations  with  us, 

For  fear  we  will  miss  the  train." 

It  was  on  the  road  these  graybacks 

Their  comrades  they  did  meet ; 
Some  wanted  Yankee  hard  tack, 

While  others  wanted  meat. 
The  Yankees  would  not  give  it  up, 

As  sure  as  we  are  born ; 
Methinks  we  heard  the  General  say, 

We  would  have  to  live  upon  corn, 

Had  we  have  known  what  we  know  now, 

We  would  never  went  so  far ; 
We  never  thought  the  Yankee  train 

Was  guarded  by  the  Star. 
Where  is  the  rest  of  our  boys  ? 

Why  did  they  not  come  back? 
They  were  taken  sick  upon  tho  field, 

By  receiving  Yankee  tack. 

N"ow  Geary  says,  «« If  that's  their  game, 

We'll  go  and  drive  them  back  ; 
We'll  go  and  take  their  wagon  train, 

And  dine  upon  rebel  tack. 
We'll  charge  up  Lookout  Mountain^  boys, 

Where  they  have  made  a  stand  to  light ; 
We'll  take  them  when  they  are  wide  awake, 

And  not  go  at  night. 

On  November,  the  twenty-fourth, 

General  Geary  took  in  hand 
To  drive  them  off  the  mountain, 

Where  they  have  made  a  stand. 
He  took  with  him  a  little  force, 

Advanced  upon  the  hill ; 
Said  he,  "  My  boys,  we'll  go  and  see 

How  Hardee  likes  his  drill." 

They  looked  upon  our  little  force, 

As  it  was  drawing  nigh  ; 
They  said,  "I  wonder  if  the  Yanks 

Are  coming  up  to  die  ?  " 
They  then  got  in  their  breastworks, 

They  said  they  would  have  some  fun  ; 
For  up  the  mountain  they  were  sure 

The  Yankees  could  not  come. 

They  laid  there  in  their  breastworks, 

But  little  did  they  fear, 
Until  they  saw  the  White  Star 

Advancing  in  their  rear  ; 
It  came  so  close  upon  them, 

It  glittered  like  the  gold, 
Which  sent  a  terror  to  their  hearts, 

Ar.d  made  their  blood  run  cold. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


533 


"  Our  breastworks  arc  not  made  aright," 

The  Johnny  Rebs  did  cry  ; 
While  on  every  side  they  heard  the  word, 

"  Surrender,  Rebs,  or  die !  " 
They  left  their  shoes  and  stockings, 

Throxigh  bushes  they  did  creep, 
While  stones  and  briers  plenty 

Came  in  contact  with  their  feet. 

On  Missionary  Ridge  they  got, 

Determined  not  to  run ; 
The  Stars  followed  after  them, 

And  captured  all  their  guns. 
Now  Johnny  Rebs,  they  felt  so  bad, 

They  knew  not  what  to  do ; 
They  turned  around  to  look  for  Bragg, 

But  he  had  skedaddled  too. 

Now  Johnny  Rebs  have  gone  so  far, 

We  cannot  see  their  flag ; 
Jeff  Davis  says  he'll  have  revenge, 

And  lays  it  all  to  Bragg. 
But  when  he  comes  he'll  find  the  Star  ; 

We'll  meet  him  hand  to  hand. 
Determined  they  will  not  be  whipped 

By  any  such  a  man. 

Here's  health  to  brave  General  Geary,  boys, 

Likewise  to  General  Green  ; 
Success  to  the  Veteran  Volunteers, 

And  Colonel  Hamerstine. 
We  have  showed  the  Rebs  a  Yankee  trick, 

And  will  do  the  same  again 
When  they  come  to  catch  us  Yanks  asleep, 

And  take  our  wagon  train. 


ONE  OF  A  HTJNDIIED.  —  A  rural  conscript  ap 
peared  before  a  Board  of  Enrolment,  and  desired 
to  be  exempted  forthwith,  that  he  might  return 
to  his  country  home.  *'  AVhat  are  your  claims?  " 
demanded  the  Doctor.  "I'm  entirely  dependent 
upon  my  mother  for  support,"  was  the  innocent 
reply.  Whereupon,  thus  the  Doctor,  while  a  smile 
faintly  illumined  the  face  of  the  Board :  "  I  am 
happy  to  assure  you,  my  honest-hearted  friend, 
that  the  government  is  prepared  at  once  to  re 
lieve  your  mother  of  so  unsuitable  a  burden,  and 
assume  your  entire  charge  and  expense  during 
the  next  three  years,  without  the  slightest  re 
course  to  the  maternal  fount  for  support  or  suc 
cor."  The  young  draftee  appeared  a  little  bewil 
dered,  and  referred  to  the  papers  to  ascertain 
what  was  the  matter. 


AN  AFFECTIONATE  HORSE.  — 'Many  instances 
have  been  given  by  travellers  of  the  afi'ection 
shown  by  the  Arabian  horses  towards  their  mas 
ters  ;  and  so  much,  also,  has  been  written  to 
prove  their  sagacity,  as  to  make  one  believe,  at 
times,  that  they  must  be  endowed  with  an  instinct 
which  approaches  nearly,  if  not  quite,  to  the  rea 
soning  faculty  of  a  human  being.  We  very  much 
doubt  if  among  the  feats  narrated  of  the  horses 
of  the  East  any  can  be  found  that  exceeds  in  af 
fectionate  devotion  the  following  incident,  which 
was  told  by  the  soldier  to  whom  it  occurred. 


The  narrator,  a  young  Irishman,  like  many 
others  of  his  nation,  joined,  shortly  after  his  ar 
rival  in  America,  Sheridan's  brigade.  It  was  in 
one  of  those  forced  marches  when  they  had  driven 
back  the  enemy,  and  had  been  in  the  saddle  sev 
eral  consecutive  days  and  nights,  that  this  trooper 
availed  himself  of  a  temporary  halt  to  slip  from 
his  saddle  and  stretch  himself  upon  the  turf — 
his  horse,  meanwhile,  browsing  in  the  immediate 
vicinity.  He  had  slept  for  some  little  time,  when 
he  was  suddenly  awakened  by  tae  frantic  pawing 
of  his  horse  at  his  side.  Fatigued  by  his  long 
ride,  he  did  not  rouse  at  once,  but  lay  in  that 
partially  conscious  state  which  so  frequently  at 
tends  great  physical  prostration.  Soon,  however, 
the  faithful  animal,  perceiving  that  its  efforts  had 
failed  to  accomplish  their  object,  licked  his  face, 
and  placing  its  mouth  close  to  his  ear,  uttered  a 
loud  snort.  Now  thoroughly  awake,  he  sprang 
up,  and  as  the  horse  turned  for  him  to  mount,  he 
saw,  for  the  first  time,  that  his  comrades  had  all 
disappeared,  and  that  the  enemy  were  coming 
clown  upon  him  at  full  gallop.  Once  mounted, 
the  faithful  beast  bore  him  with  the  speed  of  the 
wind  safely  from  the  danger,  and  soon  placed 
him  among  his  companions.  "  Thus,"  he  added, 
with  emotion,  "  the  noble  fellow  saved  ine  from 
captivity,  and  perhaps  from  death." 


STORY  OF  THE  "  ALBEMARLE."  —  On  the  night 
of  the  27th  of  October,  1864,  a  small  steam 
launch  left  Albemarle  Sound,  on  the  coast  of 
North  Carolina,  and  entered  the  mouth  of  the 
Roanoke  River. 

So  small  that  she  looked  more  like  a  yawl  than 
a  war  vessel,  and  with  no  signs  of  armament, 
there  was  nothing  about  her  to  excite  suspicion 
or  to  awaken  hope.  Yet  she  had  been  prepared 
and  fitted  up,  manned  by  a  picked  crew  of  vol 
unteers,  and  furnished  with  a  terrible  engine  of 
destruction,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  fighting  and 
sinking  the  most  formidable  war-vessel,  after  the 
Merrimac,  that  rebel  skill  had  been  able  to  launch 
upon  the  Southern  waters. 

The  Albemarle  had  come  out  from  the  recesses 
of  Roanoke  River  in  April,  and  for  six  months 
had  been  the  champion  of  the  Southern  waters, 
and  the  terror  of  the  North  Carolina  squadron. 

Twice  she  had  fought  long  pitched  battles  with 
some  of  the  best  war-vessels  in  the  United  States 
navy,  and  had  come  out  almost  unscathed  from  a 
fierce  storm  of  hundred  pound  Parrotts,  nine- 
inch  solid  shot,  percussion  shell,  shrapnel,  and  all 
the  formidable  enginery  of  modern  naval  war 
fare. 

Torpedoes  had  been  sunk  for  her,  and  men  had 
swum  the  river  at  midnight  in  the  hope  of  bring 
ing  some  secret  and  sufficiently  destructive  agent 
to  bear  upon  her  mailed  sides..  But  she  had  so 
far  escaped  all  open  attacks,  and  all  secret  tor 
pedo  plots. 

The  little  steam  launch  that  was  now  stealing 
up  to  attack  the  iron-clad  giant  was  commanded 
by  Lieutenant  Gushing,  an  officer  who  brought  tc 
naval  ad  enture  the  headlong  dash  of  the  play- 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


ground,  combined  with  the  coolness  and  skill  of 
an  admiral. 

Of  an  age  and  appearance  that  seemed  to  in 
dicate  an  enthusiast  in  boat-racing,  rather  than 
in  fighting  iron-clads,  he  had  associated  his  name 
with  some  of  the  most  brilliant  exploits,  and  the 
most  fearless  and  clashing  adventures  of  the  war. 

Having  on  previous  occasions  gained  the  ad 
miration  of  the  department  by  his  daring  tnd 
adventurous  heroism,  he  had  been  selected  to 
command  this  picket-boat,  and  use  her  in  apply 
ing  to  the  Albemarle  a  torpedo  of  extraordinary 
power,  which  had  been  invented  by  chief  engi 
neer  W.  W.  Wood,  and  whose  arrangements  and 
application  were  suggested  by  Rear-Admiral  Greg 
ory  and  his  able  assistants.  During  the  summer 
of  1864,  the  gallant  young  officer  had  gone  on  to 
New  York.  Admiral  Gregory  had  explained  and 
illustrated  the  best  manner  of  conducting  this 
novel  but  formidable  mode  of  attack,  but  the 
details  had  been  left  wholly  to  Lieutenant 
Gushing. 

No  service  could  be  more  fraught  with  danger. 
One  discharge  from  the  Whitworth  guns  of  the 
Albemarle  would  shatter  and  pierce  the  little 
pioket-boat,  as  certainly  as  a  minie  ball  shot  at  an 
egg-shell.  And  the  torpedo  was  an  invention 
whose  recoil  might  prove  as  fatal  to  the  vessel 
which  carried  it  as  to  that  to  which  it  was  to  be 
applied. 

The  distance  from  the  mouth  of  the  rivei  to 
vi here  the  ram  was  moored  was  about  eight'  miles. 
'!  ha  stream  was  on  an  average  two  hundred  yards 
wido,  and  lined  with  the  enemy's  pickets. 

The  launch  succeeded  in  passing  the  pickets, 
and  even  the  wreck  of  the  Southfield,  within 
twenty  yards,  without  discovery,  and  the  Lieu 
tenant  was  not  challenged  till  within  hail  of  the 
lookout  on  the  Albemarle. 

One  of  the  Shamrock's  cutters,  which  he  had 
in  tow,  was  then  cast  off  by  Lieutenant  Gushing, 
and  ordered  back  down  the  river,  while  under  a 
full  head  of  steam  he  made  directly  for  the 
enemy. 

The  rebels  sprang  their  rattles,  rang  the  bell, 
and  commenced  firing.  The  light  of  a  fire  burn 
ing  on  the  shore  showed  the  iron-clad  made  fast 
to  the  wharf,  with  a' pen  of  logs  around  her  about 
thirty  feet  from  her  side. 

Passing  close  by  her,  the  launch  made  a  com 
plete  circle,  and  turning  so  as  to  strike  her  fairly, 
went  into  her,  bows  on.  By  this  time  the  enemy's 
fire  was  very  severe  ;  but  the  Lieutenant  returned 
it  vigorously  with  grape.  An  instant  more,  and 
the  launch  had  struck  against  the  logs  of  the 
stockade,  behind  which  her  enemy  was  ensconced, 
breasting  them  in  some  feet,  and  her  bows  rest- 
ng  on  them.  A  storm  of  bullets  now  swept  the 
decks  of  the  launch.  Three  pierced  the  clothing 
of  Lieutenant  Gushing,  and  one  struck  Frank 
Swan,  an  officer  of  the  Otsego,  who  was  standing 
close  beside  the  commander,  wounding  him  se 
verely,  and  rendering  his  escape  impossible. 

Now,  or  not  at  all,  must  the  torpedo  be  ap 
plied.  The  boom  to  which  it  was  attached  was 
lowered,  and  by  a  vigorous  pull  the  deadly  engine 


was  swung  under  the  overhang  of  the  ram,  and 
brought  close  beneath  her  mailed  side. 

Simultaneously  with  its  explosion  came  a 
crashing  bolt  f-  Dm  one  of  the  big  guns  of  the 
Albemarle.  Ai_  immense  wave  from  the  bursting 
of  the  torpedo  can:  i  surging  over  the  little  launch, 
and  in  an  instant  she  was  filled  with  water  and 
wholly  disabled. 

The  enemy  continued  their  fire  at  fifteen  feet 
range,  and  twice  demanded  surrender.  This  was 
refused,  and  Gushing  ordered  his  men  to  save 
themselves  as  best  they  could,  while  he,  throw 
ing  off  his  coat  and  shoes,  sprang  overboard. 

Frank  Swan  was  too  much  hurt  to  follow  him, 
and  soon  became  a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy. 

Most  of  the  party,  of  thirteen  officers  and  men, 
were  captured ;  some  were  drowned,  and  only 
one  besides  the  Lieutenant  made  his  escape. 
Gushing  swam  ashore,  crept  exhausted  into  the 
swamp,  and  the  next  day  succeeded  in  capturing 
a  skiff  from  the  rebel  pickets,  in  which  he  made 
his  way  to  the  Valley  City. 

On  the  30th  he  commenced  his  report  to  Ad 
miral  Porter,  with  this  proud  sentence :  "  Sir,  I 
have  the  honor  to  report  that  the  rebel  iron-clad 
Albemarle  is  at  the  bottom  of  the  Roanoke  River." 


REMINISCENCES  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.  —  A 
correspondent,  writing  from  Springfield,  gives  the 
following  incidents  in  the  qarly  career  of  Mr. 
Lincoln,  obtained  from  his  law  partner,  Mr.  Hern- 
don  : 

"  Mr.  Lincoln  came  to  Sangamon  County  in 
1831.  He  cut  the  timber  for  a  canoe  at  the 
mouth  of  Spring  Creek,  on  which  he  floated  down 
to  Sangamon  town,  seven  miles  north-west  of 
Springfield.  In  April  of  that  year  he  went  to 
New  Orleans  on  a  flat-boat,  and  returned  the  fol- 
loAving  August.  He  was  at  this  time  fine  and 
noble-looking,  weighed  two  hundred  and  ten 
pounds,  was  six  feet  three  or  four  inches  in 
height,  and  of  florid  complexion.  Going  to  the 
town  of  New  Salem,  the  judges  of  election  being 
minus  one  clerk,  and  impressed  with  the  good 
appearance  of  the  young  man,  chose  him  as  the 
clerk  of  election. 

"  Mr.  Herndon  said  that  Mr.  Lincoln  approached 
more  nearly  the  angelic  nature  than  any  person 
he  ever  saw,  women  not  excepted.  He  had,  he 
said,  more  of  the  angel-looking  eye  and  face  than 
he  had  ever  seen.  Yet  he  was  not  without  pas 
sions.  These  in  Lincoln  were  powerful  ;  but 
they  were  held  under  control  by  a  giant  will. 
He  was,  said  Mr.  Herndon,  a  great  animal,  but  a 
great  angel  was  ingrafted  upon  it.  He  had  a 
towering  ambition,  but  that  ambition  was  directed 
to  the  attainment  of  power  with  which  to  elevate 
man. 

"  He  seems  to  have  retained  very  vivid  impres 
sions  of  his  mother's  virtues,  and  a  tender  sense 
of  his  obligations  to  her.  Famiinrly  he  once 
said  to  his  partner,  '  Billy,  all  that  I  am  I  owe  to 
my  blessed  mother. ' 

"Because  of  hi?  transparent  hcnssty,  he  was 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


535 


taken  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  by  a  man  named  Offutt. 
This  Offutt  reposed  all  confidence  in  him,  and  in 
no  point  was  he  deceived. 

"  He  obtained  the  name  of  '  Honest  Abe  *  as 
follows :  A  lady  came  to  pay  him  for  a  dress  she 
had  purchased  of  him ;  and  in  computing  the 
amount,  he  made  it  come  to  two  dollars  and  thir 
ty-seven  arid  a  half  cents  ;  whereas  it  was  six  and 
a  half  cents  too  much.  In  the  evening,  after 
business  hours  were  over,  he  took  the  six  cents 
to  the  woman  and  corrected  the  mistake.  At 
another  time,  a  lady  came  to  buy  a  pound  of  tea. 
By  mistake  a  half  pound  weight  was  placed  in  the 
scale.  After  Lincoln  discovered  the  error,  he 
closed  the  store  about  sunset,,  and  took  the  half 
pound  of  tea  with  him  to  the  lady. 

"In  addition  to  this  business  integrity,  he  was 
extremely  humorous,  sociable,  and  agreeable,  be 
coming  everybody's  friend  and  nobody's  enemy. 
By  these  qualities  people  came  to  know  him 
thoroughly.  He  was  taken  into  every  man's 
house  as  one  of  his  own  household.  From  his 
nature,  honesty,  purity,  Ace.,  people  termed  him 
'Honest  Abe.' 

"  When  he  first  came  to  Springfield,  he  was 
extremely  poor,  having  not  a  shilling  in  his  pocket, 
and  with  but  a  very  scanty  wardrobe.  He  would 
stop  a  while  with  one,  and  then  with  another,  go 
ing  from  neighbor  to  neighbor,  all  esteeming  it  a 
favor  to  have  him  in  their  houses.  At  that  time 
he  had  read  well  and  thoroughly  everything  he 
had  touched,  including  the  Bible  and  Shakspeare, 
"which  were  his  leading  books  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  was,  said  Mr.  Herndon,  a  good  bib 
lical  scholar.  When  he  was  twenty-three  years 
of  age,  he  had  read  history  and  biography  con 
siderably,  and  he  had  mastered  Burns  when  he 
was  twenty-five. 

"  He  never,  while  engaged  in  his  profession, 
accumulated  much  property.  He  seemed  not  to 
have  had  much  care  to  gather  wealth.  When  he 
did  a  service  professionally,  he  would  charge 
accordingly  as  he  estimated  the  value  of  the  work 
done,  and  not  according  to  the  standard  of  other 
men's  fees.  If  he  regarded  a  service  worth  a 
dollar,  he  charged  only  that,  although  other  men 
might  charge  twenty  dollars  for  doing  the  same 
thing. 

"  His  strict  fidelity  to  principle  was  illustrated 
by  his  partner  by  the  following  incident :  He  said, 
when  Mr.  Lincoln  collected  any  money  belonging 
to  the  firm,  he  would  always  take  half  the  amount 
received,  and  fold  up  the  other  half,  write  upon  it 
the  word  '  Billy '  (the  name  he  familiarly  called 
his  partner),  and  lay  it  away  in  his  pocket-book. 
One  time  Mr.  Herndon  said  to  him  : 

"  '  Why  do  you  do  that?  Why  not  take  the 
whole  of  the  money,  and  use  it  ?  ' 

"  •  Because,'  said  Lincoln,  '  I  promised  my 
mother  never  to  use  anybody's  money.  Should 
anything  happen  to  me,  that  money  would  be 
known  to  be  yours.' 

"  Mr.  Herndon  took  me  into  the  law  office 
where  Mr.  Lincoln  used  to  sit  and  toil.  It  is 
plain  and  unpretending.  Indeed,  everything  about 
the  man  was  indicative  of  the  simplicity  of  his 


character.  And  yet,  though  so  transparent  and 
unassuming,  he  was  sagacious.  His  friend  told 
me  that  he  was  a  man  of  profound  policy.  His 
neighbor,  to  whom  1  have  referred,  said  he  was  a 
great  thinker  —  *]*A\  he  was  accustomed  to  think 
much  on  the  aifa  rs  of  the  nation.  Sometimes  he 
would  pass  his  friends  on  the  street  w'thout  a 
sign  of  recognition  —  lost  in  his  deep  musings. 
Again,  as  a  neighbor  approached  him,  he  would 
cast  up  his  eye,  smile,  and  remark,  *  I've  been 
thinking,'  and  then  proceed  to  unfold  the  subject 
of  his  thoughts. 

"  Assassination  cast  its  shadow  on  the  hearts 
of  his  friends  as  early  as  the  Presidential  election 
of  I860.  Mr.  Herndon  told  me  that  himself  and 
two  other  friends  guarded  Mr.  Lincoln  to  the  polls 
in  Springfield  on  that  day  to  prevent  a  stiletto 
from  being  aimed  at  his  heart.  At  length  he  fell, 
but  not  until  his  great  work  was  done,  and  he 
was  enthroned  among  the  chiefest  of  the  illus 
trious  benefactors  of  humanity." 


A  YEAR  AGO. 

THE  grass  was  wet  with  glistening  dew, 

In  the  clear  blue  sky  the  stars  were  glowing, 

Mournfully  cried  the  whip-poor-will, 
Softly  the  mild  bouth  wind  was  blowing. 

He  kissed  me  once,  he  kissed  me  thrice  ; 

"  Sweet,"  said  my  love,  "  time  fast  is  flowing  ; 
My  troopers  wait  —  we  will  meet  again. 

When  the  perfumed  rose  of  June  is  blowing." 

Sharply  his  sabre  rang  as  he  rode, 

In  the  still  night-air  loud  echoes  waking ; 

And  oft  he  turned  to  wave  adieu 

Where  I  stood  with  a  heart  that  was  well  nigh 
breaking. 

The  watch-dog  howled  ar.d  clashed  his  chain  ; 

"  Come  back,"  I  cried,  in  terror  springing  ;  — 
Alas  !  I  could  tut  faintly  hear, 

Far  down  the  road,  his  horse-hoofs  ringing. 

The  roses  of  June  are  withered  and  dead  — 
Their  shrivelled  leaves  on  his  grave  are  lying  ; 

Once  more  cries  sadly  the  whip-poor-will, 
And  softly  the  mild  south  wind  is  sighing. 

Wolverine. 

THE  SIEGE  OF  CINCINNATI. 

BY    T.    BUCHANAN    READ.* 

THE  live  man  of  the  old  Revolution,  the  daring 
Hotspur  of  those  troublous  days,  was  Anthony 
Wayne.  The  living  man  to-day  of  the  great 
North- west  is  Lewis  Wallace.  With  all  the  chi- 
valric  dash  of  the  stormer  of  Stony^  Point,  he  has' 
a  cooler  head,  with  a  capacity  for  larger  plans, 
and  the  steady  nerve  to  execute  whatever  he  con 
ceives.  When  a  difficulty  rises  in  his  path,  the 
difficulty,  no  matter  what  its  proportions,  moves 
aside  ;  he  does  not.  When  a  river,  like  the  Ohio 
at  Cincinnati,  intervenes  between  hin  rid  his 
fie.d  of  operations,  there  is  a  sudden  sc  md  of 

*  Written  m  January,  1863* 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


saws  and  hammers  at  sunset,  and  the  next  morn-  !  self-sacriiicing  spirit  of  a  true  patriot ;  he  did  not 
ing  beholds  the  magic  spectacle  of  a  great  pon-  i  stand  and  wait  until  he  could  find  the  position  to 
toon-bridge  stretching  between  the  shores  of  |  which  his  high  rank  entitled  him,  but  stepped  into 
Freedom  and  Slavery,  its  planks  resounding  to  i  the  place  where  he  couid  best  and  quickest  serve 
the  heavy  tread  of  almost  endless  regiments  and  ;  his  country  in  her  hour  of  peril, 
army  wagons.  Is  a  city  like  Cincinnati  menaced  ;  While  Wallace  was  still  at  the  railway  station. 
by  a  hungry  foe,  striding  on  by  forced  marches  ?  !  he  received  m  order  from  General  Boyle,  putting 
—  that  foe  sets  his  path  suddenly  blocked  by  ten  j  him  in  command  of  all  the  forces  in 'Lexington, 
miles  of  fortifications,  thoroughly,  manned  and  i  Here  was  a  golden  opportunity  for  our  young 
armed,  and  he  finds  it  prudent,  even  with  his  commander.  What  higher  honor  could  be  cov- 
twenty  thousand  veterans,  to  retreat  faster  than 


he  (jame,   strewing  the 
cles  impede  his  haste; 


road  with  whatever  arti- 
Some  few  incidents  in  the 


career  of  such  a  man,  since  he  has  taken  the  field, 
ought  not  to  be  uninteresting  to  those  for  whom 
he  has  fought  so  bravely ;  and  we  believe  his  ser 
vices,  when  known,  will  be  appreciated ;  other 
wise  we  will  come  under  the  old  ban  against  re 
publics,  that  they  are  ungrateful. 

While  returning  from  New  York,  at  the  expi 
ration  of  a  short  leave  of  absence,  the  first  asked 
for  since  the  beginning  of  the  war,  General  Wal 
lace  was  persuaded  by  Governor  Morton  to  stump 
the  State  of  Indiana  in  favor  of  voluntary  en 
listments,  which  at  that  time  were  progressing 
slowly.  Wallace  went  to  work  in  all  earnest 
ness.  His  idea  was  to  obtain  command  of  the 
new  levies,  drill  them,  and  take  them  to  the  field ; 
and  this  idea  was  circulated  throughout  the  State. 
The  result  was,  enlisting  increased  rapidly ;  the 


eted  than  to  relieve  the  brave  Morgan,  pent  up 
as  he  was  with  his  little  army  in  the  mountain 
gorges  of  the  Cumberland?  The  idea  fired  the 
;oul  of  Wallace,  and  he  pushed  on  to  Lexington. 
But  here  le  was  sadly  disappointed.  He  found 
the  forces  waiting  there  inadequate  to  the  task. 
Instead  of  an  army,  there  were  only  three  regi 
ments.  He  telegraphed  for  more  troops.  In 
diana  and  Ohio  responded  promptly  and  nobly. 
In  three  days  he  received  and  brigaded  nine  regi 
ments,  and  started  them  towards  the  Gap. 

No  one  but  an  experienced  soldier,  one  who 
has  indeed  tried  it,  can  conceive  of  the  labor  in 
volved  in  such  an  undertaking.  The  material  in 
his  hands  was,  to  say  the  best  of  it,  magnificently 
raw.  Officers,  from  Colonels  to  Corporals,  brave 
though  they  might  be  as  lions,  knew  literally 
nothing  of  military  affairs.  The  men  had  not 
learned  even  to  load  their  guns.  Companies  had 
to  be  led,  like  little  children,  by  the  hand,  a«  it 


ardor  for  it  rose  shortly  into  a  fever,  and  has  riot   were,  into  their  places  in  line  of  battle.     Th?.i 


yet  abated.  Regiments  are  still  forming,  shed 
ding  additional  lustre  upon  the  name  of  patriotic 
Indiana. 

General  Wallace  was  thus  engaged  when  the 
news  was  received  from  Morgan  of  the  invasion 
of  Kentucky  by  Kirby  Smith.  All  eyes  turned 
at  once  to  Governor  Motion,  many  of  whose  regi 
ments  were  now  ready  to  take  the  field,  if  they 
only  had  officers  to  lead  them.  Wallace  came 
promptly  to  the  Governor's  assistance,  and  ofr 
lered  to  take  command  of  a  regiment  for  the 
crisis.  His  offer  was  accepted,  and  he  was  sent 
to  New  Albany,  where  the  Sixty-sixth  Indiana 
was  in  camp.  In  twelve  hours  he  mustered  it, 


was  no  cavalry,  no  artillery.  It  happened, 
ever,  that  guns,  horses,  and  supplies,  intended  fr  r 
Morgan  at  the  Gap,  were  in  depot  at  Lexing 
ton.  Then  Wallace  began  to  catch  a  glimpse  of 
dawn  thriugh  the  dark  tangle  of  the  wilderness. 
Some  kir.  1  of  order,  prompt  and  immediate,  must 
be  forced  out  of  this  chaos ;  and  it  came,  for  the 
master  spirit  was  there  to  arrange  and  compel. 
He  mounted  several  hundred  men,  giving  them 
rifles  instead  of  sabres.  He  manned  new  guns, 
procuring  harness  and  ammunition  for  them  from 
Louisville.  Where  there  were  no  caissons,  he 
supplied  wagons.  But  his  regiments  were  not  his 
sole  reliance ;  he  is  a  believer  in  riflemen,  a  fight- 


paid  its  bounty  money,  clothed  and  armed  it,  and  j  ing  class  of  which  Kentucky  was  full.  These  he 
marched  it  to  Louisville.  Brigadier-  General  \  summoned  to  his  assistance,  and  was  met  by  a 
Boyle  was  in  command  of  Kentucky.  Wallace,  |  ready  and  hearty  response;  they  came  trooping 
who  is  a  Major-General,  reported  to  him  at  the  j  to  him  by  hundreds.  Among  others,  Garret  Da 


above-named  city,  and  a  peculiar  scene  occurred. 

"  General  Boyle,"  said  Wallace,  "  I  report  to 
you  the  Sixty-sixth  Indiana  regiment." 

"Who  commands  it?"  asked  the  General. 

"  I  have  that  honor,  sir,"  was  the  reply. 

"  You  want  orders,  I  suppose." 

"  Certainly." 

"  It  is  a  difficult  matter  for  me,"  said  Boyle. 
"  I  have  no  right  to  order  you." 

"  That  difficulty  is  easily  solved,"  Wallace  re 
plied,  with  characteristic  promptness.  "  I  come 
to  report  to  you  as  a  Colonel.  I  come  to  take 
orders  as  such." 


vis,  United  States  Senator,  led  a  company  of 
Home  Guards  to  Lexington.  In  this  way,  Gen 
eral  Wallace  composed,  or  rather  improvised,  a 
little  army,  and  all  without  help,  his  staff  being 
absent,  mostly  in  Memphis. 

"  Kentucky  has  not  been  herself  in  this  war," 
exclaimed    General    Wallace ;     "  she    must    be 
aroused;  and  I  propose  to  do  it  thoroughly." 
"  How  will  you  do  it  ?  "  asked  a  sceptic. 
"  Easily  enough,  sir.     Kentucky  has  a  host  of 
j  great    names.      Kentuckians    believe    in    great 
j  names.      It  is   to   this   tune   that    the    traitors 
|  have  carried  them  to  the  field  against   us.     I  will 


General  Boyle  consulted  with  his  Adjutant-  !  take  with  me  to  the  fit-Id  all  the  men  living,  old 
General,  and  the  result  was  a  request  that  Gen-  i  and  young,  who  have  made  those  names  great, 
eral  Wallace  would  proceed  to  Lexington  with  i  Buck  aer  took  the  young  Crittendens  and  Clays  j 
his  command.  Here  was  exhibited  the  ready,  j  by  H  taven,  I'll  ^ake  their  fathers!" 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


537 


"But  they  can't  maren." 

"  I'll  haul  them,  then." 

"  They  can  be  of  no  service  in  that  way." 

"  But  the  magic  of  their  names  !  "  exclaimed 
Wallace.  "  What  will  the  young  Kentuckians 
say,  when  they  hear  John  j.  Crittenden,  Leslie 
Coombs,  Robert  Breckinridge,  Tom  Clay,  Garrett 
Davis,  Judge  Goodloe,  and  fathers  of  that  kind, 
are  going  down  to  battle  with  me  ?  " 

The  sceptics  held  their  peace. 

Gen<ral  Wallace  now  constituted  a  volunteer 
Bta&  Wadsvvorth,  M.  C.  from  Maysville  dis 
trict,  was  his  Adjutant-General.  Brand,  Gratz, 
Goodloe,  and  young  Tom  Clay  were  his  Aids. 
Old  Tom  Clay,  John  J.  Crittenden,  Leslie  Coombs, 
Judge  Goodloe,  Garrett  Davis,  were  all  prepared 
and  going,  when  General  Wallace  was  suddenly 
relieved  of  his  command  by  General  Nelson. 

Without  instituting  any  comparison  between 
these  two  Generals,  it  is  enough  to  say  that  the 
snpersedure  of  Wallace  by  Nelson  at  that  mo 
ment  was  most  unfortunate  and  untimely,  as  the 
sequel  proved,  fraught,  as  it  was,  with  disas 
trous  consequences.  The  circumstances  were 
these : 

Scott's  rebel  cavalry  had  whipped  Metcalf's 
regiment  of  loyalists  at  Big  Hill,  some  twelve  or 
iiiieen  miles  from  Richmond,  Kentucky,  and  fol 
lowed  to  wiUiin  four  miles  of  that  town,  where 
they  were  stopped  by  Lenck's  brigade  of  infantry. 
The  afiair  was  reported  to  Wallace,  with  the 
number  and  situation  of  the  enemy.  He  at  once 
took  prompt  measures  to  meet  the  exigence  of 
the  situation.  He  could  throw  Lenck's  and  Clay's 
brigades  upon  the  rebel  front ;  the  brigade  at 
Nicholasville  could  take  them  in  Hank  by  cross 
ing  the  Kentucky  River  at  Tait's  Ford ;  while, 
by  uniting  Clay  Smith's  command  with  that  of 
Jacob,  then  en  route  for  Nicholasville,  he  could 
plant  seventeen  hundred  cavalry  in  their  rear  be 
tween  Big  Hill  and  Mount  Vernon. 

The  enemy  at  this  time  were  at  least  twenty 
miles  in  advance  of  their  supports,  and  a  night's 
march  would  have  readily  placed  the  several 
forces  mentioned  in  position  to  attack  them  by 
daylight.  This  was  Wallace's  plan  —  simple,  fea 
sible,  and  soldier-like.  All  his  orders  were  given. 
A  supply  train,  with  extra  ammunition  and 
abundant  rations,  was  in  line  on  the  road  to 
Richmond.  Clay's  brigade  was  drawn  up  ready 
to  move,  and  General  Wallace's  horse  was  sad 
dled.  He  was  writing  a  last  order  in  reference 
to  the  city  of  Lexington  in  his  absence,  and  di 
recting  the  officer  left  in  charge  to  forward  regi 
ments  to  him  at  Richmond  as  fast,  as  they  should 
arrive,  when  General  Nelson  came,  and  instantly 
took  the  command.  Fifteen  minutes  more,  and 
General  Wall  nee  would  have  been  on  the  road  to 
Richmond,  to  superintend  the  execution  of  his 
plan  of  attack.  The  supersedure  was,  of  qourse, 
a  bitter  disappointment ;  yet  he  never  grumbled 
or  demurred  in  the  least,  but,  like  a  true  soldier 
who  knows  his  duty,  offered  that  evening  to  serve 
his  successor  in  any  capacity,  a  generosity  which 
General  Nelson  declined.  The  well-conceived 
plan  which  Wallace  had  matured  failed  for  the  j 


simple  reason,  that,  instead  of  marching  lo  exe 
cute  it  that  night,  as  common  sense  would  seem 
to  have  dictated,  Nelson  did  not  leave  Lexington 
until  the  nt  it  day  at  one  o'clock  ,•  and  at  day- 
ligL:,  when  t:ie  attack  was  to  have  been  made, 
the  rebel  leader,  Scott,  discovered  his  danger, 
and  wisely  retreated,  finding  nobody  in  his  rear. 
The  result  was.  Nclsm  wont  to  Richmond,  and 
was  defeated,  '..t  is  \  ossible  that  the  same  result 
might  have  foil  -wed  Wallace ;  but  by  those  com 
petent  to  judge,  it  is  thought  otherwise. 

He  had  a  plan  adapted  to  the  troops  ho  was 
leading,  who,  although  very  raw,  would  have  been 
invincible  behind  breastworks,  as  American  troops 
have  always  shown  themselves  to  be.  Wallace 
never  intended  arraying  these  inexperienced  men 
in  the  open  field  against  the  veteran  troops  of 
the  rebels.  Neither  did  he  intend  they  should 
dig.  He  had  collected  large  quantities  of  in 
trenching  tools,  and  was  rapidly  assembling  a 
corps  of  negroes,  nearly  five  hundred  of  whom 
he  had  already  in  waiting  in  Morgan's  facto 
ry,  all  prepared  to  follow  his  column,  armed 
with  spades  and  picks.  In  Madison  County  he 
intended  getting  at  least  five  hundred  more.  "  I 
will  march,"  he  said,  "  like  Csesar  in  Gaul,  and 
intrench  my  camp  every  night.  If  I  am  attacked 
at  any  time  in  too  great  numbers,  I  can  drop 
back  to  my  nearest  works,  and  wait  for  reen- 
tbrcements."  Such  was  his  plan  ;  and  those  who 
know  him  believe  firmly  that  he  could  have  been 
at  Cumberland  Gap  in  time  not  only  to  succor 
our  little  army  there,  but  to  have  prevented  the 
destruction  and  evacuation  of  that  very  impor 
tant  post. 

Wallace,  finding  himself  thus  suddenly  super 
seded,  his  plans  ignored,  and  his  voluntary  ser 
vices  bluffly  refused,  left  Lexington  for  Cincinnati. 
While  there,  the  battle  of  Richmond  was  fought, 
the  disastrous  results  of  which  are  still  too  fresh 
in  the  public  mind  to  require  repeating.  Nelson, 
who  did  not  arrive  upon  the  field  until  the  day 
was  about  lost,  and  only  in  time  to  use  his  sword 
against  his  own  men  in  a  fruitless  endeavor  to 
rally  them,  received  a  flesh  wound,  and  hastened 
back  the  same  night  to  Cincinnati,  leaving  many 
dead  and  wounded  on  the  field,  and  thousands  of 
our  brave  boys  prisoners,  to  be  paroled  by  the 
rebels.  These  are  simple  matters  of  record,  and 
are  not  here  set  down  in  any  spirit  of  preju 
dice,  or  to  throw  a  shadow  upon  the  memory 
of  the  misguided,  unfortunate,  but  courageous 
Nelson. 

At  this  juncture,  General  Wallace  was  again 
ordered  to  Lexington,  this  time  by  General 
Wright,  a  General  whose  gentlemanly  bearing 
in  all  capacities  makes  him  an  ornament  to  the 
American  army.  Wallace  was  ordered  thither  to 
resume  command  of  the  forces  ;  but  on  arriving 
at  Paris,  the  order  was  countermanded,  and  he 
was  sent  back  to  take  charge  of  the  city  of  Cin 
cinnati.  Shrewdly  suspecting  that  our  forces 
would  evacuate  Lexington,  he  hastened  to  his 
new  post.  General  Wrght  was  at  that  time  in 
Louisville.  On  his  way  rjac«i,  Wai-ace  was  asked 
by  one  of  his  aids : 


538 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    ANi»    INCIDENTS. 


"  Do  you  believe  the  enemy  will  come  to  Cin 
cinnati  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  was  the  reply.  "  Kirby  Smith  will 
first  go  to  Frankfort.  He  must  have  that  place, 
if  possible,  for  the  political  effect  it  will  have.  If 
he  gets  it,  he  will  surely  corne  to  Cincinnati.  He 
is  an  idict  if  he  does  not.  Here  is  the  material 
of  war, — goods,  groceries,  salt,  supplies,  ma 
chinery,  &c.,  —  enough  to  re-stock  the  whole  bo 
gus  Confederacy." 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ?  You  have  noth 
ing  to  defend  the  city  with." 

"  I  will  show  you,"  was  the  reply. 

Within  the  first  half  hour  after  his  arrival  in 
Cincinnati,  General  Wallace  wrote  and  sent  to 
the  daily  papers  the  following  proclamation,  which 
fully  and  clearly  develops  his  whole  plan  : 

"  PROCLAMATION. 

"  The  undersigned/  by  order  of  Major-General 
Wright,  assumes  command  of  Cincinnati,  Coving- 
ton,  and  Newport. 

"  It  is  but  fair  to  inform  the  citizens,  that  an 
active,  daring,  and  powerful  enemy  threatens 
them  with  every  consequence  of  war ;  yet  the 
cities  must  be  defended,  and  their  inhabitants 
must  assist  in  the  preparation. 

"  Patriotism,  duty,  honor,  self-preservation,  call 
them  to  the  labor,  and  it  must  be  performed 
equally  by  all  classes. 

"  First.  All  business  must  be  suspended  at 
nine  o'clock  to-day.  Every  business  house  must 
be  closed. 

"  Second.  Under  the  direction  of  the  Mayor, 
the  citizens  must,  within  an  hour  after  the  sus 
pension  of  business  (ten  o'clock,  A.  M.),  assem 
ble  in  convenient  public  places,  ready  for  orders. 
As  soon  as  possible,  they  will  then  be  assigned  to 
their  work. 

"  This  labor  ought  to  be  that  of  love,  and  the 
undersigned  trusts  and  believes  it  will  be  so. 
Anyhow,  it  must  be  done. 

"  The  willing  shall  be  properly  credited ;  the 
unwilling  promptly  visited.  The  principle  adopt 
ed  is:  Citizens  for  the  labor,  soldiers  for  the 
battle. 

"  Third.  The  ferry-boats  will  cease  plying  the 
river  after  four  o'clock  A.  M.,  until  further  or 
ders. 

"  Ma^ial  law  is  hereby  proclaimed  in  the  three 
cities ;  but  until  they  can  be  relieved  by  the  mili 
tary,  the  injunctions  of  this  proclamation  will  be 
executed  by  the  police. 

"  LEWIS  WALLACE, 
"  Major-General  commanding." 

Could  anything  be  bolder,  and  more  to  the 
purpose  ?  It  placed  Cincinnati  under  martial 
law.  It  totally  suspended  business,  and  sent  every  ' 
citizen,  without  distinction,  to  the  ranks  or  into 
the  trenches.  "  Citizens  for  labor,  soldiers  for 
O'lHle,"  was  the  principle  underlying  the  whole 
plan  —  a  motto  by  which  he  reached  every  able- 
bodied  man  in  the  metropolis,  and  united  the  en 
ergies  of  forty  thousand  people —  a  motto  origi 
nal  with  himself,  and  for  which  he  should  have ' 
the  credit. 


Imagine  the  aston'.shr  ent  that  seized  the  city, 
when,  in  the  morning,  tlis  bold  proclamation  was 
read  —  a  city  unused  tcf  the  din  of  war  and  ita 
impediments.  As  yet  there  was  no  word  of  an 
advance  of  the  enemy  in  the  direction  of  Cincin 
nati.  It  was  a  qi.eition  whether  they  would 
come  or  not.  "thousands  did  not  believe  in  the 
impending  danger;  yet  the  proclamation  was 
obeyed  to  thr  letter,  and  this,  too,  \A  hen  there 
was  not  a  regiment  to  enforce  it.  The  secret  is 
easy  of  comprehension  ;  it  was  the  universal  con 
fidence  reposed  in  the  man  who  issued  the  order  ; 
and  he  was  equally  confident,  not  only  in  his  own 
judgment,  but  in  the  people  with  whom  lie  had 
to  deal. 

"  If  the  enemy  should  not  come  after  all  this 
fuss,"  said  one  of  the  General's  friends,  "  you 
will  be  ruined." 

"  Very  well,"  he  replied  ;  "  but  they  will  come. 
And  if  they* do  not,  it  will  be  because  this  same 
fuss  has  caused  them  to  think  better  of  it." 

The  ten  days  ensuing  will  be  forever  memora 
ble  in  the  annals  of  the  city  of  Cincinnati.  The 
cheerful  alacrity  with  which  the  people  rose  en 
masse  to  swell  the  ranks  and  crowd  into  the 
trenches  was  a  sight  worth  seeing,  and  being 
seen,  could  not  readily  be  forgotten. 

Here  were  the  representatives  of  all  nations 
and  classes.  The  sturdy  German,  the  lithe  and 
gay-hearted  Irishman,  went  shoulder  to  shoulder 
in  defence  of  their  adopted  country.  The  man 
of  money,  the  man  of  law,  the  merchant,  the 
artist,  and  the  artisan,  swelled  the  lines  hasten 
ing  to  the  scene  of  action,  armed  either  with 
musket,  pick,  or  spade.  Added  to  these  was 
seen  Dick  son's  long  and  dusky  brigade  of  colored 
men,  cheerfully  wending  their  way  to  labor  on 
the  fortifications,  evidently  holding  it  their  espe 
cial  right  to  put  whatever  impediments  they  could 
in  the  northward  path  of  those  whom  they  con 
sidered  their  own  peculiar  foe.  But  the  pleasant- 
est  and  most  picturesque  sight  of  those  remarka 
ble  days  was  the  almost  endless  stream  of  sturdy 
men  who  rushed  to  the  rescue  from  the  rural  dis 
tricts  of  the  State.  These  \vere  known  as  the 
"  Squirrel  Hunters."  They  came  in  files  number 
ing  thousands  upon  thousands,  in  all  kinds  of 
costumes,  and  armed  with  all  kinds  of  fire-arms, 
but  chiefly  the  deadly  rifle,  which  they  knew  so 
well  how  to  use.  Old  men,  middle-aged  men, 
young  men,  and  often  mere  boys,  like  the  "  min 
ute-men "  of  the  old  Revolution,  they  left  the 
plough  in  the  furrow,  the  flail  on  the  half-threshed 
sheaves,  the  unfinished  iron  upon  the  anvil  —  in 
short,  dropped  all  their  peculiar  avocations,  and 
with  their  leathern  pouches  full  of  bullets,  and 
their  ox-horns  full  of  powder,  poured  into  the 
city  by  every  highway  and  by-way  in  such  num 
bers  that  it  seemed  as  if  the  whole  State  of  Ohic 
were  peopled  only  with  hunters,  and  that  the 
spirit  of  Daniel  Boone  stood  upon  the  hills  op 
posite  the  town  beckoning  them  into  Kentucky. 
The  pontoon  bridge,  which  had  been  begun  and 
completed  between  sundown  and  sundown, 
groaned  day  and  night  with  the  perpetual  stream 
of  life  all  setting  southward.  In  three  days  there 
were  ten  miles  of  int.'enchments  lining  the  hills, 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


539 


making  a  semicircle  from  the  river  above  the 
city  to  the  banks  of  the  river  below ;  and  these 
were  thickly  manned  from  end  to  end,  and 
made  terrible  to  the  astonished  enemy  by  black 
and  frowning  cannon.  General  Heath,  with  his 
twenty  thousand  rebel  veterans,  flushed  with 
their  late  success  at  Ilichmond,  drew  up  before 
these  formidable  preparations,  and  deemed  it 
prudent  to  take  the  matter  into  serious  consider 
ation  before  making  the  attack. 

Our  men  were  eagerly  awaiting  their  approach, 
thousands  in  rifle  pits,  and  tens  of  thousands 
along  the  whole  line  of  the  fortifications,  while 
our  scouts  and  pickets  were  skirmishing  with 
their  outposts  in  the  plains  in  front.  Should  the 
foe  make  a  sudden  dash,  and  carry  any  point  of 
our  lines,  it  was  thought  by  some  that  nothing 
would  prevent  them  from  entering  Cincinnati. 

But  for  this,  also,  provision  was  made.  The 
river  about  the  city,  above  and  below,  was  well 
protected  by  a  flotilla  of  gunboats,  improvised 
from  the  swarm  of  steamers  which  lay  at  the 
wharves.  A  storm  of  shot  and  shell,  such  as 
they  hud  not  dreamed  of,  would  have  played  upon 
their  advancing  column,  while  our  regiments, 
pouring  down  from  the  fortifications,  would  have 
fallen  upon  their  rear.  The  shrewd  leaders  of 
the  rebel  army  were  probably  kept  well  posted 
by  traitors  within  our  own  lines  in  regard  to  the 
reception  prepared  for  them,  and,  taking  advan 
tage  of  the  darkness  of  night,  and  the  "violence 
of  a  thunder-storm,  made  a  hasty  and  ruinous 
retreat.  Wallace  was  anxious  to  follow  them, 
and  was  confident  of  success,  but  was  overruled 
by  those  higher  in  authority. 

The  address  which  he  now  published  to  the 
citizens  of  Cincinnati,  Covington,  and  Newport, 
was  manly  and  well-deserved.  lie  says : 

"For  the  present,  at  least,  the  enemy  has 
fallen  back,  and  your  cities  are  safe.  It  is  the 
time  for  acknowledgments.  I  beg  leave  to  make 
you  mine.  When  1  assumed  command,  there  was 
nothing  to  defend  you  with,  except  a  few  half- 
finished  works  and  some  dismounted  guns  ;  yet  I 
w.as  confident.  The  energies  of  a  great  city  are 
boundless  ;  they  have  only  to  be  aroused,  united, 
and  directed.  You  were  appealed  to.  The  an 
swer  will  never  be  forgotten.  Paris  may  have 
seer,  something  like  it  in  her  revolutionary  days, 
but  the  cities  of  America  never  did.  Be  proud 
that  you  have  given  them  an  example  so  splen 
did.  The  most  commercial  of  people,  you  sub 
mitted  to  a  total  suspension  of  business,  and 
without  a  murmur  adopted  my  principle,  '  Citi 
zens  for  labor,  soldiers  for  battle.'  In  coming 
time,  strangers,  viewing  the  works  on  the  hills  of 
Newport  and  Covington,  will  ask,  'Who  built 
these  intrenchments  ? '  You  can  answer,  *  We 
built  them.'  If  they  ask,  «  Who  guarded  them  ?  ' 
you  can  reply,  '  We  helped  in  thousands.'  If 
they  inquire  the  result,  your  answer  will  be,  '  The 
enemy  came  and  looked  at  them,  and  stole  away 
in  the  night.'  You  have  won  much  honor.  Keep 
your  organization  ready  to  win  more.  Hereafter 
lie  always  prepared  to  defend  yourselves. 

"  LEWIS  WALLACE,  'Major-General." 


It  can  safely  be  claimed  for  our  young  Gen 
eral,  that  he  was  the  moving  spirit  which  inspired 
and  directed  the  people,  and  thereby  saved  Cin 
cinnati  and  the  surrounding  cities,  and,  in  the 
very  face  of  Heath  and  his  victorious  hordes 
from  Richn.:  nd,  organized  a  new  and  formida 
ble  army,  '.that  the  citizens  fully  indorsed  this, 
was  well  exemplified  on  the  occasion  of  his  lead 
ing  back  into  the  metropolis  a  number  of  her  vol 
unteer  regiments  when  the  danger  was  over. 
They  1'ned  the  streets,  crowded  the  doors  and 
windows,  and  fiLed  the  air  with  shouts  of  ap 
plause  i:i  honor  of  the  great  work  he  had  done. 

In  writing  this  notice  of  Wallace  and  the 
siege,  we  have  had  no  intention  to  overlook  the 
services  of  his  co-laborers,  especially  those  ren 
dered  to  the  West  by  the  gallant  Wright,  who 
holds  command  of  the  department.  The  writer 
has  attempted  to  give  what  came  directly  under 
his  own  observation,  and  what  he  believes  to  be 
the  core  of  the  matter,  and  consequently  most 
interesting  to  the  public. 


CAPTAIN    SEMMES,  C.  S.  A.  N. 
June  19,   1864. 

OUT  of  Cherbourg  harbor,  one  clear 
Sunday  morning,  the  cavalier, 
Captain  Semmes,  with  his  cap  a-cock, 
Sailed  from  the  friendly  Frenchman's  dock. 
Gayly  along  the  rebel  came, 
Under  the  flag  of  the  cross  of  shame ; 
Knight  of  the  handcuff  and  bloody  lash, 
He  twirled  the  point  of  his  red  mustache, 
And  swore,  in  English  not  over  nice, 
To  sink  our  Yankee  scum  in  a  trice, 
Or  burn  our  ship,  as  the  thing  might  bij, 
Where  the  eyes  of  Cherbourg  all  should  see. 

"  Heigh-ho  >  you  don't  say  so  !  " 
Whispered  his  friend,  little .  Jean  Crapeau. 

Semmes  has  been  a  wolf  of  the  deep 

For  many  a  day  to  harmless  sheep ; 

Ships  he  scuttled,  and  robbed,  and  burned, 

Watches  pilft  red,  and  pockets  turned  ; 

And  all  his  plunder,  bonds,  and  gold, 

He  left  for  his  Gallic  friend  to  hold. 

A  little  over-prudent  was  he, 

For  a  cavalier  of  high  decree  ; 

And  Raphael  Semmes  don't  sound,  indeed, 

As  if  it  came  of  the  purple  seed ; 

But  all  the  blood  in  his  veins  was  blue, 

And  his  clay  was  porcelain  through  and 

Heigh-ho  !  the  Lord  doth  know 
We  are  but  dirt,  and  our  blood's  so-so. 

What  will  the  doughty  Captain  do 
With  his  British  ship,  his  British  crew, 
His  gunners,  trained  in  the  "  Excellent," 
The  guns  his  cousin  Blakeley  sent, 
His  shot  and  shell  at  Woolwich  made,  — 
What  will  he  do  with  the  whole  parade  ? 
Up  to  the  top  of  his  cliffs  Crapeau 
Had  clambered  ti  see  the  Sunday  show ; 
And  his  brother  Bull,  in  his  fancy  yacht, 
Stood  off  and  on  towards  the  fated  spot ; 
And  right  across  the  bold  Captain's  way 
The  Kearsarge  steamed  in  her  war  array. 
««  Heigh-ho  !  "  said  Scmnes.    "  Let's 
That  craft  to  splinters  before  we  go." 


540 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Semmts  had  heard,  with  his  lip  a-curl, 

In  Cherbourg,  that  some  Northern,  churl, 

Backed  by  a  gang  of  onion-eaters, 

Waited  the  noble  negro-beaters. 

Shop-keeping,  peddling,  vulgar  knaves, 

To  stick  their  heads  into  open  graves  ! 

•''Sd?ath!    'Sv/'junds!   'Ods  bodikins !  Ha  !  what 

then  ? 

Will  they  dare  to  fight  with  gentlemen  ? 
O,  had  I  my  lance,  and  shield,  and  things, 
With  which  I  tilted  at  Sulphur  Springs  ! 
Or  a  troop  of  rum<e  marines  !     Ot%  course, 
A  knight  is  nothing  without  his  horse." 

Heigh-ho  !  this  seemed  to  show 
Our  hero's  spirits  were  running  low. 

Straight  out  to  sea  the  Kcarsarge  drew, 

And  Semmes,  who  followed  all  that  flew, 

Followed,  perhaps  by  some  mistake, 

Close  in  his  foeman's  frothing  wake  ; 

But  when  three  leagues  were  gained  from  shore, 

Slowly  and  grimly  the  Yankee  wore  ; 

And  our  starry  ensign  leaped  above, 

Round  which  the  wind,  like  a  fluttering  dove, 

Cooed  low,  and  the  sunshine  of  God's  day 

.Like  an  open  blessing  on  it  lay  ; 

So  we  felt  our  friendless  ship  would  fight 

Full  under  the  great  Disposer's  sight. 

Heigh-ho  !  'tis  well  to  know 
Who  looks  on  the  deeds  done  here  below. 

Semmes  led  the  waltz,  and  struck  the  time : 

Shots  at  the  sea  and  at  the  moon 

Tlif  swashing,  wasteful  cavalier 

Scattered  around  him,  far  and  near. 

The  saving  Yankees  squandered  not 

A?\  ounce  of  powder  or  pound  of  shot. 

They  held  their  peace  till  the  guns  would  tell, 

Tb.m  out  they  burst  like  the  mouths  of  hell. 

Terrible,  horrible  !  how  they  tore 

Tho  Alabama,  until  the  gore 

From  her  bursting  scuppers  smoked  and  streatned, 

The  dying  groaned,  and  the  wounded  screamed. 

"  Heigh-ho  !"  said  Semmes  ;  '» let's  show 
The  Yankees  the  heels  we  boast  of  so." 

Seven  times  in  that  deadly  round 
Sped  the  ships  to  the  cannon's  sound. 
The  vulture,  through  the  smoke  and  din, 
Saw  the  eagle's  circles  narrowing  in  ; 
And  every  time  her  pivots  roared 
The  fatal  bomb-shells  came  straight  aboard. 
His  helm  was  useless,  his  engine  failed, 
His  powder  was  wet,  his  Britons  quailed; 
And  in  his  course,  like  a  warning  hand, 
Stretched  forth  the  flag  of  his  outraged  land. 
In  vain  he  hoisted  his  sails  to  flee ; 
For  each  foot  he  sailed,  his  foe  sailed  three. 

Heigh-ho  !   "  Why,  here's  a  blow," 
Said  Semmes,  as  he  hauled  his  flag  below. 

Well  was  it  for  the  cavalier, 

That  brother  Bull  was  lying  near. 

His  vessel  with  a  haughty  curl 

Turned  up  her  nose,  and  in  the  whirl 

Of  the  white  sea,  stem  foremost,  tore 

As  if  in  scorn  of  the  crew  she  bore. 

Then  the  thrifty  Briton  launched  his  boat, 

To  pick  up  aught  that  might  be  afloat, 

And,  among>t  other  less  precious  spoil, 

Fished  swordless  Semmes  from  his  watery  coil  1 


"  Hide  me  !  "  1  ie  gallant  cried  in  affright ; 
*«  Cover  me  up  Crorn  the  Yankee's  sight." 

Heigh-ho  !  they  laid  him  low, 
With  a  bit  of  sail  to  hide  his  woe. 

Safely  they  bore  the  chief  aboard, 
Leaving  behind  his  fame  arid  sword  ; 
Arid  then /the  Deerhound  stole  away, 
Lest  Winslow's  guns  might  have  a  say; 
Landed  him  in  Southampton  town, 
Where  heroes  like  him  have  hand  renown, 
Ever  since  Lawrence,  Perry,  and  Hull, 
Took  hold  of  the  horns  of  great  John  Bull. 
Had  I  been  Winslow,  I  say  to  you, 
As  the  sea  is  green,  the  sky  is  blue, 
Through  the  Deerhound  I'd  have  sent  a  shot, 
And  John,  might  have  liked  the  thing  or  not ! 

Heigh-ho  !  come  soon  or  slow, 
In  the  end  we  are  bound  to  have  a  blow. 

What  said  the  Frenchman  from  his  hill, 

After  the  cannon  shots  were  still  ? 

What  said  the  Briton  from  his  deck, 

Gazing  clown  on  the  sunken  wreck  ? 

Something  was  said  of  guns  like  mortars, 

And  something  of  smooth-bores  at  close  quarters  ; 

Chain  armor  furnished  a  word  or  two, 

But  the  end  of  all  was,  both  looked  blue. 

They  sighed  again  o'er  the  "  Great  Contention," 

But  never  hinted  at  "Intervention." 

One  thing  they  wished,  which  they  dared  not  say  — 

"If  the  fight  had  but  gone  the  other  way ! 

Heigh-ho  !  I  told  you  so  ! 
0,  Semmes  was  a  sorry  fool  to  go  ! " 

George  II.  Boker. 


BRAVE  OFFICERS  MAKE  A  BRAVE  ARMY. — A 
correspondent,  writing  of  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
manga,  says :  "  The  rebel  forces  from  the  East 
fought  with  a  gallantry  allied  to  desperation,  and 
I  do  not  wonder  that  our  boys  were  proud  to  say, 
when  asked  to  whom  they  were  opposed,  '  Long- 
street's  men.'  The  rebel  fashion  of  coming  out  to 
battle  is  peculiar.  Had  you  seen  them  streaming 
out  of  the  woods,  in  long,  gray  lines,  into  the  open 
field,  you  could  have  likened  them  to  nothing  bet 
ter  than  to  streams  of  turbid  water  pouring  through 
a  sieve.  And  writing  of  valor,  let  me  say  that 
the  difference  among  regiments  consists  not  more 
in  the  material  of  the  rank  and  file  than  it  does  in 
the  coolness,  judgment,  and  bravery  of  the  officers, 
and  the  faith  the  soldiers  repose  in  them.  That 
faith  has  a  magic  in  it  that  tones  men  up,  and 
makes  more  and  nobler  of  them  than  there  was 
before.  It  is  the  principle  recognized  by  the 
great  Frederick  when  he  addressed  his  General  — 
' 1  send  you  against  the  enemy  with  sixty  thou 
sand  men.'  '  But,  sire,'  said  the  officer,  '  there  are 
only  fifty  thousand.'  '  Ah,  I  counted  you  as  ten 
thousand,'  was  the  monarch's  wise  and  quick  re 
ply.  I  have  a  splendid  illustration  of  this  in  an 
incident  which  occurred  on  the  Sunday  at  Chick- 
amauga.  It  was  near  four  o'clock  on  that  blazing 
afternoon,  when  a  part  of  General  Steedman's 
division  of  the  lieserve  corps  bowed  their  heads 
to  the  hurtling  storm  of  lead,  as  if  it  had  been 
rain,  and  betrayed  Signs  of  breaking.  The  line 


ANECDOTES,    POET11Y,    AND    INC  [DENTS. 


541 


wavered  like  a  great  flag  in  a  breath  of  wind.  !  resolved  to  do  his  duty,  and  the  more  bent  upon 
They  were  as  splendid  material  as  ever  shouldered  !  searching;  from  the  apparent  dismay  of  the  fair 

girl.      "Indeed  —  indeed,"  she    txdaimed,  "  v;e 
have  only  three  guns  in  'he  housh" 

The    Captain    smiled   incred.vJ  ously.      "  Fetch 
them  to  me,"  said  he,  lemembering  the  fate  of 


a  musket ;  but  then  what  could  they  do  in  such  a 

blinding  tempest !     General  Steedman  rode  up  — 

a  great,  hearty  man,  broad-breasted,  broad-shoul- 

iered,  a  face  written  all  over  with  sturdy  sense 

and  stout  courage  ;  no  lady's  man,  to  make  bou-  i  poor   Ellsworth.      The   young    lady   hurried   up 

quets  for  snowy  fingers,  and  sing,  '  Meet  me  by  j  stairs,  and   returned  with  an  old,  rusty,  doublo- 

moonlight  alone,'  like  some  Generals  I  could  name,  j  barrelled  shot  gun  that  no  prudent  man  would  have 

but  realizing  the  ideal  of  my  boyhood,  when  I    ventured  to  load  and  discharge.    "  The  others  — 

read  of  the  stout  old  Morgan  of  the  Revolution,  j  the  other  two  !  "  demanded  the  officer.     "  O  sir, 

Well,  up  rode  Steedman,  took  the  flag  from  the  j  my  brothers  ! "  sobbed  the  girl.     "  I  cannot  take 

color-bearer,  glanced  along  the  wavering  front,  j  them  from  them  ! " 

and  with  that  voice  of  his  that  could  talk  against  I      The  Captain  pushed  her  r  n  one  side.  "Forward, 

a  small  rattle  of  musketry,  cried  out,  '  Go  back,    men  !  "  he  shouted,  falling  into  the  rear  himself. 

boys,  go  back  ;  but  the  flag  can't  go  with  you,'  —  j  As  the  file  of  soldiers  hastily  mounted  the  stairs, 

Sasped  the  staff,  wheeled  his  horse,  and  rode  on.  I  the  young  lady  clung  to  the  skirts  of  the  officer, 
ust  I   tell  you  that  the  column  closed  up,  and  |  who  was  the  last  to  ascend,  exclaiming  wildly  : 
grew  firm,  and  moved  resistlessly  on  like  a  great        "But  —  but,  sir,  my  brothers  —  you  will  not 
strong  river,  and   swept  down  upon  the  foe,  and  {  harm  my  brothers  : 


made  a  record  that  shall  live  when  their  graves 
are  as  empty  as  the  cave  of  Machpelah?  They 
were,  in  a  sense  nobler  than  Shakspeare's,  they 
were  themselves  again." 


The  Captain  shook  her  off  somewhat  ungal- 
lantly,  and  rushed  up  after  the  soldiers,  who,  by 
this  time,  reached  the  closed  door  of  a  chamber. 
After  a  pause,  the  men  pushed  open  the  door,  and 
rushed  in  with  bayonets  fixed,  when  two  juvenile 
Zouaves,  of  the  ages  of  eight  and  ten  years,  fully 
A  NEW  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GARTER. — "While  armed  and  equipped  with  wooden  guns,  appeared 
the  Seventh  regiment  of  New  York  was  passing  '  drawn  up  in  line  before  them.  At  the  same  mo- 
through  Philadelphia,  a  fine  old  Quaker  lady,  ob-  I  ment  the  silvery  laugh  of  the  black-eyed  beauty 
serving  that  one  of  the  band  was  in  a  state  of  was  heard  on  the  stairs,  echoed  by  a  couple  of 
great  embarrassment  for  the  luck  of  a  string  with  i  chambermaids,  who  were  peeping  over  the  balus- 
which  to  secure  the  mouth  of  his  bag  of  provis- ;  ters  from  above.  The  officer  leat  a  hasty  retrt?at, 
ions,  observed  quietly,  "  Friend,  I  would  not  give  j  without  making  a  seizure  of  the  two  remaining 

thee  an  implement  of  war,  but  thee  shall  have  a  I  guns.  

string  to  preserve  thy  food."     Then  she  turned 

partly  away  for  an  instant,  and  stooped  down,  to       LOVE,   HATE,  AND  PIETY  ON  THE  BATTLE- 

t&  her  shoe,  apparently ;  but  when   she  rose  up  !  FIELD. — A    Rhode   Island   soldier,  utterly    ex- 


she  handed  to  the  blushing  blower  of  brass  a  neat 
green  band,  that  a  moment  before  had  been  doing 
duty  as  a — a — a — well,  garter. 


FORCE  OF  HABIT.  —  A  Captain,  who  had  been 
a  railroad  conductor  before  the  war,  was  drilling 
a  squad,  and  while  marching  them  by  flank,  turned 
to  speak  to  a  friend  for  a  moment.  On  looking 
again  towards  his  squad,  he  saw  they  were  in  the 
act  of  "  butting  up  "  against  a  fence."  In  his  hur 
ry  to  halt  them,  he  cried  out,  "  Down  brakes  ! 
Down  brakes  !  "  

A  LOVER'S  letter  picked  up  at  Laurel  Hill 
Camp,  Va.,  runs  as  follows :  "  I  say  agen  deer 
Melindy  weer  fitin  for  our  liburtis  to  dew  gest  as 
we  pleas,  and  we  wil  fite  fur  them  so  long  as 
goddlemity  give  us  breth." 


A  PRACTICAL  JOKE.  —  A  gallant  volunteer  of 
ficer  was  searching  the  houses  of  citizens  for  arms, 
with  a  squad  of  men,  and  on  arriving  at  trie  resi 
dence  of  an  old  gentleman  named  Hayes,  was  met 
in  the  hall  by  his  daughter,  —  a  beautiful,  black- 


hausted,  stepped  aside  to  rest  a  few  moments 
under  the  shade.  There  he  found  a  gasping'  and 
dying  Southern  soldier,  and  put  his  almost  ex 
hausted  canteen  to  his  parched  lips.  The  dying 
soldier — an  enthusiast  in  his  cause  —  with  high 
excitement  gasped  out :  "  Why  do  you  com  j  to 
fight  us  ?  We  shall  utterly  annihilate  you.  We 
have  ninety  thousand  men.  You  can  never  nub- 
jugate  us.  We  have  a  series  of  batteries  bej  ond 
which  will  destroy  all  the  armies  you  can  bring." 
The  Ilhode  Island  soldier  proceeded  to  state  — 
and  how  strange  and  how  tremendously  real  the 
discussion  then  and  sol  —  that  the  object  of  the 
war  was  not  the  subjugation  of  the  South,  but 
the  preservation  of  the  Union.  "  And  now,"  said 
the  manly  fellow,  "  I  have  given  you  water  from 
my  canteen,  when  its  drops  are  more  precious 
than  diamonds.  If  you  had  found  me  in  this 
state,  what  would  you  have  done  P  "  The  eyes 
of  the  dying  man  gleamed,  as  the  soldier  said, 
like  those  of  a  basilisk,  and  he  replied,  "  I  would 
have  put  my  bayonet  to  your  heart."  In  a  few 
moments  he  went  into  eternity,  and  the  Rhode 
Islander  resumed  his  place  on  the  battle-field. 

But  there  were  also  instances  of  Christian  feel 
ing  exhibited  on  the  battle-field,  one  of  which  IB 


eyed  girl  of  eighteen,  —  who  appeared  deeply  agi-  !  very  affecting.  A  wov.nded  Federal  soldier  was 
tated,  and  implored  the  Captain  not  to  search  !  hastily  carried  to  a  wood,  and  placed  by  the  side 
the  house.  The  officer  was  sternly  immovable,  |  of  a  dying  Georgian.  The  Georgian,  "evidently 


542 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS 


a  gentleman,  said  to  him,  as  they  lay  bleeding 
side  by  side,  "  We  came  on  this  field  enemies  — 
let  us  part  friends ; "  and  extended  to  him  his 
hand,  which  the  other  grasped  with  the  reciprocal 
expression  of  friendly  feeling.  They  were  both 
Christian  men,  and  they  lay  with  clasped  hands 
on  that  bloody  field,  until  the  hand  of  the  noble 
Georgian  was  cold  in  death.  How  beautiful  that 
scene,  amid  the  horrors  of  the  battle-field !  Who 
shall  say,  in  view  of  it,  that  because  of  this  strife 
between  the  North  and  South,  they  can  never 
again  clasp  hands  in  mutual  friendship  and  es 
teem?  Who  shall  say  that  the  time  shall  not 
come,  when,  on  some  well-fought  field,  they  who 
met  as  enemies  shall  part  as  friends,  and  peace 
and  restoration  and  mutual  esteem  ensue  P 

Another  incident  was  sublime,  and  shows  how 
close  Christ  Jesus  is  to  his  people,  wherever  they 
may  be.  A  strong,  tall  man  from  Maine  received 
a  minie  ball  directly  in  his  breast ;  and  with  the 
outstretched  arms  and  the  upward  leap  which  is 
said  often  to  mark  such  a  death,  he  exclaimed, 
"  Lord  Jesus,  receive  my  spirit." 


To  THE  WOMEN  OF  THE  SOUTH.  —  The  Mem 
phis  Appeal  of  April  21,  1861,  contains  the  an 
nexed  communication  : 

"  While  the  men  in  every  part  of  the  country 
are  arming  themselves  and  musteringin  squadrons 
to  resist  the  invasion  and  oppression  threatening 
our  beloved  land,  let  us  emulate  the  enthusiasm 
of  our  husbands,  sons,  and  friends  in  the  cause. 
Many  of  our  daughters  are  already  active  in  the 
service  with  their  needles.  Let  the  matrons  of 


every  cty 


e,  and  hamlet  form  themselves 


into  societies,  called  by  some  appropriate  name, 
pledged  to  take  care  of  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  of  the  Confederate  army,  whenever  the 
changing  drama  of  war  shall  bring  them  in  their 
neighborhood ;  to  take  them,  if  necessary  and 
practicable,  to  their  own  homes.  Let  the  organ 
izations  be  commenced  at  once,  with  officers  ap 
pointed  and  known,  to  whom  the  officers  of  the 
military  companies  may  communicate  the  wants 
of  the  soldiers,  and  call  upon  for  aid  when  the 
time  for  action  shall  come  ;  and  Baltimore  has 
taught  us  how  soon  it  may  come.  I  oiler  myself 
for  the  work.  Will  not  some  matron  with  more 
time  take  the  lead,  and  allow  me  to  serve  in  a 
subordinate  capacity  ?  Let  the  women  of  the 
entire  South  join  and  spread  the  organization 
till  not  a  spot  within  the  Southern  borders  shall 
be  without  its  band  of  sisters,  pledged  to  the 
work  and  rsady  for  it;  and  thus  shall  every  mother  "I  remember,"  he  said,  "how  this  fine  cub  we 
feel  assured,  in  sending  her  sons  to  the  field,  that  I  track 

in  time  of  need  they  shall  have  the  tender  care  I  Has  carried  me  many  a  time  on  his  back!  " 


!  one  of  the  clerks,  "  I  shall  get  my  company  full 

j  pretty   soon;    I   have   sworn   in   three   to-day." 

*•  Sworn  in,"  said  the  clerk  ;  "  how  did  you  do  it  ?  " 

"  I  made  them  hold  up  their  hands  and  say,  '  Glory 

to  God,' "  said  the  incipic  nt  Captain. 

The  following  is  a  counterpart  for  the  above 
story.  A  six-year  old  Bcston  boy,  who  had  be 
come  deeply  imbued  with  the  martial  spirit,  un 
dertook  to  act  as  commander  of  a  diminutive 
company  in  a  New  Hampshire  town,  where  he 
was  spending  his  vacation.  He  somewhat  "  as 
tonished  the  natives"  by  the  following  order, 
given  in  a  very  excited  tone :  "  Company !  Ene 
my's  coming !  Forward,  march !  Amen ! " 


THE  JAGUAR  HUNT. 

BY    J.    T.    TROWBRIDGE. 

THE  dark  jaguar  was  abroad  in  the  land ; 

His  strength  and  his  fierceness  what  foe  could  with- 

,    stand  ? 

The  breath  of  his  anger  was  hot  on  the  air, 
And  the  white  lamb  of  peace  he  had  dragged  to  his 
lair. 

Then  up  rose  the  farmer  ;  he  summoned  his  sons : 
"  Now   saddle   your   horses,    now    look   to    your 

guns ! " 
And  he  called  to  his  hound,  as  he  sprang  from  the 

ground 
To   the  back  of   his  black  pawing   steed   with  a 

bound. 

O,  their  hearts,  at  the  word,  how  they  tingled  and 

stirred  ! 

They  followed,  all  belted,  and  booted,  and  spurred. 
"  Buckle  tight,  boys  !  "  said  he,  "  for  who  gallops 

with  me, 
Such  a  hunt  as  was  never  before  shall  he  see. 

"  This  traitor,  we  know  him  !  for  when  he  was 
younger, 

We  flattered  him,  patted  him,  fed  his  fierce  hun 
ger  : 

But  now  far  too  long  we  have  borne  with  the 
wrong, 

For  each  morsel  we  tossed  makes  him  savage  and 
strong." 

Then  said  one,  "  He  must  die  !  "  And  they  took 
up  the  cry, 

"For  this  last  crime  of  his  he  must  die !  he  must 
die  !  " 

But  the  slow  eldest-born  sauntered  sad  and  forlorn, 

For  his  heart  was  at  home  on  that  fair  hunting- 
morn. 


of  some  other  mother,  whose  loved  ones  are  in 
the  patriot  ranks  at  other  points,  and  our  soldiers 
feel  sure  that  true  hearts  are  near  them  wherever 


And  he  called  to  his  brothers, 
kind 


Fight  gently!  be 


they  may  be. 


MARY  E.  POPE." 


JUVENILE  PATRIOTISM.  —  In  Manchester,  New 
Hampshire,  a  little  fellow  just  past  his  first  de 
cade  stepped  into  his  father's  office,  and  said  to 


And  he  kept  the  dread  hound,  Retribution,  behind. 

The  dark  jaguar,  on  a  bough  in  the  brake, 
Crouched,  silent  and  wily,  and  lithe  as  a  snake : 
They  spied  not  their  game,  but,   as  onward  they 

came. 
Through  the  dense  leafage  gleamed  two  red  eyeballa 

of  flame. 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


543 


Black- spotted,  and   mottled,   and   whiskered,  and 

grim, 

White-bellied,  and  yellow,  he  lay  on  the  limb, 
And  so  still  that  you  saw  but  one  tawny  paw 
Lightly  reach   through  the  leaves,  and  as  softly 

withdraw. 

Then   shrilled  his   fierce   cry,  as  the  riders   drew 

nigh, 

And  he  shot  from  the  bough  like  a  bolt  from  the  sky  : 
In  the  foremost  he  fastened  his  fangs  as  he  fell, 
While  all  the  black  jungle  re-echoed  his  yell. 

O,  then  there  was  carnage  by  field  and  by  flood ! 
The  green  sod  was  crimsoned,  the  rivers  ran  blood, 
The  cornfields  were  trampled,  and  all  in  their  track 
The  beautiful  valley  lay  blasted  and  black. 

Now  the  din  of  the  conflict  swells  deadly  and  loud,- 
And  the  dust  of  the  tumult  rolls  up  like  a  cloud : 
Then  afar  down  the  slope  of  the  Southland  recedes 
The  wild  rapid  clatter  of  galloping  steeds. 

With  wide  nostrils  smoking,  and  flanks  dripping 

gore, 

The  black  stallion  bore  his  bold  rider  before, 
As  onward  they  thundered  through  forest  and  glen, 
A-hunting  the  stark  jaguar  to  his  den. 

In  April,  sweet  April,  the  chase  was  begun  ; 
It  was  April  again  when  the  hunting  was  done  ; 
The  snows  of  four  winters  and  four  summers  green 
Lay  red -streaked  and  trodden,   and  blighted  be 
tween. 

Then  the  monster  stretched  all  his  grim  length  on 

the  ground ; 

His  life-blood  was  wasting  from  many  a  wound  ; 
Ferocious  and  gory,  and  snarling  he  lay, 
Amid  heaps  of  the  whitening  bones  of  his  prey. 

Then  up  spoke  the  slow  eldest  son,  and  he  said, 
«« All  he  needs  now  is  just  to  be  fostered  and  fed ! 
Give  over  the  strife  !     Brothers,  put  up  the  knife  ! 
We  will  tame  him,  reclaim  him,  but  not  take  his 
life ! " 

But  the  farmer  flung  back  the  false  words  in  his 

face : 

41  He  is  none  of  my  race  who  gives  counsel  so  base ! 
Now  let  loose  the  hound!  "     And  the  hound  was 

unbound. 
And  like  lightning  the  heart  of  the  traitor  he  found. 

"So  rapine  and  treason  forever  shall  cease  !  " 
And  they  wash  the  stained  fleece  of  the  pale  lamb 

of  peace ; 

When,  lo  !  a  strong  angel  stands  winged  and  white 
In  a  wondering  raiment  of  ravishing  light ! 

Peace  is  raised  from  the  dead  !     In  the  radiance 

shed 

By  the  halo  of  glory  that  shines  round  her  head, 
Fair  gardens   shall  bloom  where  the  black  jungle 

grew, 
And  all  the  glad  valley  shall  blossom  anew  ! 


A  PATRIOTIC  MARYLAND  LADY.  —  In  making 
the  surveys  for  the  intrenchments  to  be  made 
on  the  northern  and  eastern  sides  of  the  city  of 
Washington,  the  engineer  officers  came  to  a 
lovely  spot  near  Bladensburg.  A  pretty  cottage 


j  stood  on  the  brow  of  the  hil'.,  surrounded  on  all 
sides  by  shrubbery,  grapevines,  orchards,  shade 
trees,  a  superb  lawn,  a  beautiful  flower  garden, 
£c.  It  was,  indeed,  a  little  paradise.  It  was  the 
residence  of  a  lady  and  her  daughters,  whose 
husband  was  uow  away  lighting  in  the  service  of 
his  country.  The  line  of  the  intrenchments,  as 
surveyed,  passed  directly  over  this  spot.  The  hill 
commands  the  surrounding  country  for  miles,  and 
therefore  is  the  proper  spot  for  a  battery.  But 
the  officers  saw  at  a  glance  that  if  a  battery  was 
erected  there,  it  would  be  necessary  to  cut  down 
every  tree  in  the  orchard,  to  clear  away  all  the 
shrubbery,  and  to  make  the  ditch  for  the  par 
apet  in  the  flower  garden.  In  a  word,  the  mili 
tary  works  would  completely  demolish  the  place, 
and  render  it  a  desert.  The  officers  made  sev 
eral  surveys,  in  hopes  of  finding  some  way  in 
which  to  avoid  the  necessity  of  occupying  this 
property  at  all.  But  in  vain.  There  was  no 
other  hill  in  the  neighborhood,  that  possessed  the 
necessary  military  qualifications.  Calling  upon 
the  lady,"  therefore,  the  officers  explained,  in  the 
most  delicate  manner,  the  object  of  their  visit, 
and  the  military  necessity  which  doomed  her 
beautiful  grounds  to  destruction.  The  lady  lis 
tened  in  silence.  Tears  rose  to  her  eyes.  She 
arose,  walked  to  the  open  window,  looked  for  a 
moment  upon  the  lovely  scene,  and  then,  turning 
to  the  officers,  said :  "  If  it  must  be  so,  take  it 
freely.  I  hoped  to  live  here  in  peace  and  quiet, 
and  never  to  leave  this  sweet  spot,  which  my  hus 
band  has  beautified  for  years  past.  But  If  my 
country  demands  it,  take  it  freely.  You  have  my 
consent."  Then  offering  refreshments  to  the  offi 
cers,  she  said  no  more  .on  the  subject.  In  the 
war  of  the  revolution,  in  1777,  a  lady  of  South 
Carolina  brought  to  General  Marion  the  arrows 
with  which  to  set  fire  to  her  own  house.  But 
surely  the  devoted  patriotism  of  this  Maryland 
lady  is  deserving  of  no  less  praise.  —  Washing 
ton  Letter.  

VILLIAM  AND  nis  HAVELOCK. —  The  members 
of  the  Mackerel  Brigade,  says  the  inimitable 
Orpheus  C.  Kerr,  now  stationed  on  Arlington 
Heights,  to  watch  the  movements  of  the  Poto 
mac,  which  is  expected  to  rise  shortly,  desire  me 
to  thank  the  ladies  of  America  for  supplies  of 
havelocks  and  other  delicacies  of  the  season  just 
received.  The  havelocks,  my  boy,  are  rather 
roomy,  and  we  took  them  for  shirts  at  first ;  and 
the  shirts  are  so  narrow-minded  that  we  took 
them  for  havelocks.  If  the  women  of  America 
cnuld  manage  to  get  a  little  less  linen  into  the  col 
lars  of  the  latter,  and  a  little  more  into  the  other 
department  of  the  graceful  "garmint,"  there 
would  be  fewer  colds  in  this  division  of  the 
Grand  Army.  The  havelocks,  as  I  have  said  be 
fore,  are  roomy  —  very  roomy,  rny  boy.  Villiam 
Brown,  of  company  G,  put  one  on  last  night 
when  he  went  on  sentry  duty,  and  looked  like  a 
broomstick  in  a  pillow-case,  for  all  the  world. 
When  the  officer  came  round,  and  caught  sight 
of  Villiarn  in  his  havelock,he  was  struck  dumb  with 
admiration  for  a  moment.  Then  he  ejaculated : 


514 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


"  What  a  splendid  moonbeam  !  " 

Villiam  made  a  movement,  and  the  Sergeant 
came  up. 

"  What's  that  white  object  ?  "  says  the  officer 
to  the  Sergeant.  "  Thunder !  "  roared  the  offi 
cer  ;  "  tell  him  to  go  to  his  tent,  and  take  off  that 
nightgown." 

"  You're  mistaken,"  says  the  Sergeant ;  "  the 
sentry  is  Villiam  Brown,  in  his  havelock,  which 
was  made  by  the  women  of  America." 

The  officer  was  so  justly  exasperated  at  his 
mistake,  that  he  went  immediately  to  his  head 
quarters  and  took  the  oath  three  times  running, 
with  a  little  sugar. 

The  oath  is  very  popular,  my  boy,  and  comes 
in  bottles.  I  take  it  medicinally  myself. 

The  shirts  made  by  the  ladies  of  America  are 
noble  articles,  as  far  down  as  the  collar,  but 
would  not  do  to  use  as  an  only  garment.  Cap 
tain  Mortimer  de  Montague,  of  the  skirmish 
squad,  put  one  on  when  he  went  to  the  Presi 
dent's  reception,  and  the  collar  stood  up  so  high 
that  he  couldn't  put  his  cap  on,  while  the  other 
department  didn't  reach  quite  to  his  waist.  His 
appearance  at  the  White  House  was  picturesque 
and  interesting,  and  as  he  entered  the  drawing- 
room,  General  Scott  remarked  very  feelingly : 

"  Ah !  here  comes  one  of  the  wounded  he 
roes." 

"He's  not  wounded,  General,"  remarked  an 
officer  standing  by. 

"  Then  why  is  his  head  bandaged  up  so  ?  " 
asked  the  venerable  veteran. 

"  O,"  says  the  officer,  "  that's  only  one  of  the 
shirts  made  by  the  patriotic  women  of  America." 

In  about  five  minutes  after  this  conversation  1 
saw  the  venerable  veteran  and  the  wounded  hero 
at  the  office  taking  the  oath  together. 


A  REBEL  KILLED  BY  A  WOMAN.  A  Union 
man  by  the  name  of  Glover,  residing  in  one  of 
the  counties  west  of  Quincy,  Illinois,  owning  a 
number  of  valuable  horses,  and  having  fear  of 
their  appropriation  to  rebel  uses,  concluded  to 
place  them  in  the  hands  of  a  company  of  Home 
Guards  in  the  neighborhood  for  sale  keeping.  A 
day  or  two  afterwards,  while  Glover  was  absent 
from  home,  a  rebel  called  at  his  house  to  inquire 
for  him.  His  wife  was  in  the  garden  adjoining 
a  cornfield,  some  distance  from  the  house,  when 
the  rebel  approached  her,  and  made  several  in 
quiries,  to  which  she  gave  no  very  satisfactory 
answers.  He  then  insisted  on  being  informed 
where  Glover  was,  and,  with  revolver  in  hand, 
threatened  instant  death  if  not  told.  He  also  de 
manded  of  her  to  deliver  up  a  valuable  gun 
owned  by  Glover.  The  two  started  for  the  house 
through  the  cornfield,  and  on  the  way,  Mrs. 
Glover  succeeded,  without  being  observed,  in  get 
ting  possession  of  a  large  corn  knife  that  had  been 
left  in  the  fk'ld,  and  watching  the  opportunity, 
took  a  favorable  moment  for  striking  a  blow, 
v  hich  she  did  most  effectually,  the  knife  severing 
the  skull,  and  killing  the  rebel  instantly.  Mrs. 
Glover  had  a  small  child  with  her  in  the  gar 


den,  which  she  left  when  starting  for  the  house, 
intending  to  return  for  it  immediately.  Having 
despatched  the  rebel,  she  returned  to  the  gar 
den,  when  she  discovered  several  other  rebels  in 
ambush,  a  short  distance  from  her.  She  took  her 
child,  and  being  yet  unperceived  by  them,  sought 
a  place  of  concealment  until  they  should  retire. 
Tney  soon  emerged  from  their  hiding-place,  and 
searching  for  their  companion,  they  found  his 
lifeless  body  where  he  had  been  stricken  down, 
and  bore  it  off,  greatly  to  the  relief  of  Mrs. 
Glover.  

" CONFISCATE  DE  OLE 'OMAN!"  —  One  of  the 
Pike  County  boys  at  Louisiana  (Missouri)  found 
an  old  negro  in  the  woods  who  had  heard  that 
secession  property  was  to  be  confiscated,  and 
therefore  commenced  by  executing  the  order  upon 
himself.  He  surrendered  to  the  invader,  and 
gave  a  history  of  himself,  concluding  by  saying : 
"  Gorry,  massa  !  I'll  brack  your  boots,  brush  your 
close,  bring  your  water  —  do  anything  you  want 
me,  if  you'll  only  confiscate  de  ole  'oman ! " 


A  TOUCHING  INCIDENT.  —  Just  before  the  ad 
vance  of  the  national  army  towards  Richmond, 
General  Sherman's  brigade,  consisting  of  the 
Thirteenth,  Sixty-ninth,  and  Seventy-ninth  New 
York,  and  the  Second  Wisconsin  regiments,  was 
encamped  near  Ball's  Cross-Roads,  not  far  from 
a  church  known  as  Bull's  Church.  In  the  church 
yard  is  the  grave  of  a  little  child  belonging  to  a 
Union  family  by  the  name  of  Osborne.  The 
grave  is  surrounded  by  a  picket  fence,  upon 
which  there  was  no  inscription.  This  being  ob 
served  by  Captain  liaggerty,  of  the  Sixty-ninth, 
he  went  to  the  trouble  of  placing  upon  it  a  board 
bearing  the  age  and  name  of  the  little  one.  In 
a  few  days  the  brigade  marched  for  the  fatal  field 
of  Bull  Run,  where  the  gallant  Haggerty  met  a 
soldier's  fate,  while  acting  as  Lieutenant-Colonel 
of  his  regiment.  After  the  return  of  the  troops 
to  the  Potomac,  Ball's  Cross-Roads  and  the 
Church  were  used  as  outposts,  and  quite  a  num 
ber  of  soldiers  who  were  from  time  to  time  sta 
tioned  in  the  neighborhood,  placed  additional  in 
scriptions  upon  the  fence  commemorative  of  the 
departed  officer.  One  of  these  read  as  follows : 

"  Bull  Run  was  where  liaggerty  was  killed. 
Will  they  do  as  much  for  him  as  he  did  for  this 
poor  child?  " 

The  incident  was  related  by  private  B.  F.  Mor 
gan,  of  company  A,  Thirteenth  regiment.  Mr.  M. 
visited  the  spot  afterwards,  in  company  with  the 
mother  of  the  child,  as  her  escort.  She  was 
greatly  affected  on  seeing  what  had  been  done. 


RATTLESNAKES  vs.  REBELS. — The  best  piece 
of  satire  upon  the  leniency  observed  by  the  au 
thorities,  in  the  early  part  of  the  war,  in  reference 
to  rebels  found  committing  depredations,  is  con 
tained  in  the  following  story :  Some  of  the  sol 
diers  belonging  to  General  Cox's  army,  stationed 
in  Kanawha,  Virginia,  caught  a  large  rattlesnake, 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


545 


which  manifested  a  most  mischievous  disposition, 
snapping  and  thrusting  out  its  forked  tongue  at 
all  who  came  near  it.  The  boys  at  last  got  tired 
of  the  reptile,  and  as  nobody  wanted  such  a  dan 
gerous  companion,  the  question  arose,  "What 
shall  we  do  with  him?"  This  question  was  pro 
pounded  several  times  without  an  answer,  when 
a  hall-drunken  soldier,  who  was  lying  near,  upon 
his  back,  rolled  upon  his  side,  and  relieved  his 
companions  by  quietly  remarking:  "D — n  it! 
swear  him,  ani  let  him  go  ! " 


ONLY    ONE. 

«*  THERE  is  no  cloud  in  all  the  sky ; 

I  hear  the  distant  bugles  play  ; 
You  tremble,  sister — so  do  I. 

Our  soldiers  both  come  home  to-day." 

"  One  cloud  there  is,  Maud,  on  the  blue  ; 

'Tis  but  a  rustic  horn  you  hear. 
I  tremble  ?  —  nay  !  or  if  I  do, 

It  is  not  for  myself  I  fear." 

"Not  for  yourself?     For  whom,  then,  pray? 

For  whom  can  you  have  cause  to  feel  \ 
Those  are  the  bugles,  Anne,  I  say, 

And  —  ha !  I  see  the  flash  of  steel ! " 

The  sabres  glitter  in  the  sun  ; 

The  war-worn  ranks  vide  slowly  past ; 
One  soldier  halts,  —  ah  !  only  one  !  — 

And  cries,  "At  last,  beloved —  at  last !  " 

His  steed  stands,  wistfiil-eyed,  apart, 
And  looks  upon  the  ripening  erain ; 

But  who  is  to  the  rider's  heart 

Thus  pressed  —  again,  and  yet  again  ? 

Alas  !  one  cloud  still  spans  the  sky  ; 

And  still  the  distant  bugles  play. 
Poor  Maud !  the  ranks  have  long  passed  by  ; 

But  only  One  came  home  to-day  ! 


PRACTICAL  PATRIOTISM.  —  In  the  early  part 
of  the  war,  when  patriotic  merchants  and  manu 
facturers  were  sending  their  clerks  and  workmen 
to  the  field,  with  a  promise  to  provide  for  the 
wants  of  their  families,  as  well  as  to  continue 
their  salaries  during  their  absence,  a  very  en 
thusiastic  landlady  of  New  York  offered  to 
allow  her  boarders'  bills  to  run  on,  as  usual, 
should  any  of  them  desire  to  go  for  the  defence 
of  the  nation. 

A  COSMOPOLITAN  HIBERNIAN.  —  A  son  of  the 
Emerald  Isle,  but  not  himself  green,  was  taken 
up  (for  he  was  at  the  time  down)  near  a  rebel  en 
campment,  not  far  from  Manassas  Junction.  In 
a  word,  Pat  was  taking  a  quiet  nap  in  the  shade, 
and  was  roused  from  his  slumber  by  a  scouting 
party.  He  Avore  no  special  uniform  of  either 
army,  but  looked  more  like  a  spy  than  an  alliga 
tor,  and  on  this  wus  arrested. 

"Who  are   you?"     ""What  is  your  name?" 
and    "  Where    are   you    from  ? "    were   the  first 
Questions  put  to  him  by  the  armed  party. 
35 


"  We  belong  to  Gen- 


Pat  rubbed  his  eyes,  scratched  his  head,  and 
answered : 

"  Be  me  faith,  gentlemen,  them  is  ugly  ques 
tions  to  answer,  anyhow  ;  an'  before  I  answer 
any  o'  them,  I'd  be  afther  axin'  ye,  byyer  lave,  the 
same  thing." 

"  Well,"  said  the  leader,  "we  are  of  Scctt's 
army,  and  belong  to  Washington." 

"All  right,"  said  Pat;  "  ]  know'd  ye  tvas  gin- 
tlemen,  for  I  am  that  san.e.  Long  life  to  Gen 
eral  Scott." 

"  Aha  !  "  replied  the  scout,  "  now,  you  rascal, 
you  are  our  prisoner,"  and  seized  him  by  the 
shoulder. 

"How  is  that,"  inquired  Pat;  "are  we  not 
friends  ?  " 

"  No,"  was  the  answer, 
eral  Beauregard's  army." 

"  Then  ye  tould  me  a  lie,  me  beys  ;  and  think- 
in'  it  might  be  so,  I  tould  you  another.  And 
now  tell  me  the  truth,  an'  I'll  tell  the  truth,  too." 

"  Well,  we  belong  to  the  State  of  South  Caro 
lina." 

"  So  do  I,"  promptly  responded  Pat,  "  arid  to 
all  the  other  States  uv  the  country,  too  ;  and  there, 
I'm  thinkin',  I  bate  the  whole  uv  ye.  Do  ye 
think  I  would  come  all  the  way  from  Ireland  to 
belong  to  one  State,  when  I  had  a  right  to  be 
long  to  the  whole  uv  'em?" 

This  logic  was  rather  a  stumper ;  but  they  took 
him  up,  as  before  said,  and  carried  him  for  fur 
ther  examination.  

INCIDENTS  OF  YORKTOWN.  —  The  following 
stories  by  an  officer  show  the  temper  and  spirit 
with  which  the  advent  of  the  Yankees  was  looked 
for  by  the  negroes.  A  couple  of  officers  were 
advancing  some  distance  apart  from  then  men, 
when  they  were  hailed  by  an  old  negro  woman 
standing  in  the  door  of  her  rude  cabin.  "  Bless 
de  Lord,  bless  de  Lord,"  she  exclaimed  as  loud 
as  she  could,  "  yer's  come  at  last,  yer's  come 
at  last !  I've  looked  for  yer  these  many 
years,  and  now  yer's  come.  Bless  de  Lord." 
Nothing  could  exceed  the  old  woman's  de 
light  at  seeing  the  Yankees.  This  means 
something,  and  how  much !  In  the  childish  de 
light  of'  that  old  woman  what  a  history  is 
suggested.  Long  years  she  had  waited  to  see 
this  deliverance.  Slave  she  was,  and  the  slow 
years  dragged  their  weary  lengths  past  her  youth, 
and  still  hope  whispered  that  the  hour  would 
come  when  the  bondage  would  be  broken.  At 
last  it  comes,  when  the  spring  of  life  is  gone,  and 

yet  her  aged  lips  are  eloquent  with  joy. 

****** 

The  battery  of  which  I  spoke  is  in  charge  of 
the  First  Connecticut  artillery,  and  is  built  iii 
front  of  a  large  and  stately  brick  mansion,  which 
is  surrounded  by  peach  orchards.  It  is  the  prop 
erty  of  Mrs.  Farrenholt,  whose  sou  and  husband 
are*  in  the  rebel  army. 

Mrs.  Farrenholt  is  a  lady  somewhat  advanced 
in  years,  very  secesh  in  opinion,  who  has  re 
mained  on  her  estate  ;  but  she  is  now  dwelling 
in  a  small  house  removed  from  the  danger  result- 


546 


ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


ing  from  the  guns  of  her  own  friends.  The  other 
day  an  officer  belonging  to  the  artillery  corps  had 
some  little  conversation  with  the  lady,  to  the  fol 
lowing  effect : 

Federal  Officer.  —  Madam,  good  morning  ;  I 
desire  to  purchase  a  horse  from  you. 

Secesh  Lady.  —  I  require  what  horses  I  have 
to  plough  ;  I  cannot  spare  one. 
'    F.  0.  —  (Referring  to  the  shells  from  the  ene 
my.)     That  will  he  quite  unnecessary ;  your  peo 
ple  are  ploughing  up  your  ground  for  you. 

S.  L.  —  Are  they  planting  also  ? 

F.  0.  —  They  haven't  planted  any  of  us  yet. 
But  as  they  have  not  concluded  their  work  yet,  I 
cannot  tell  you  what  they  will  do. 

S.  L. — Ah!  well,  if  they  plant  any  of  your 
Hue-coated  comrades,  I  hope  they  wont  sprout. 
Good  morning. 

The  officer  withdrew.  Evidently  the  secesh 
lady  thought  Uncle  Sam's  sprouts  were  quite 
thick  enough  on  her  estate. 


THE  EFFECT  OF  Music.  —  A  correspondent, 
writing  from  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  in  June, 
1802,  says  :  "  Speaking  of  the  spirit  of  the  men 
reminds  me  of  an  incident,  both  grand  and  beau 
tiful,  which  took  place  in  Butterfield's  brigade. 
For  months  there  has  been  a  standing  order 
against  the  playing  of  bands  in  camp,  and  in  not 
one  instance  of  the  numerous  late  battles  have 
our  splendid  bands  been  allowed  to  inspire  the 
heart  of  the  brave  soldier  by  the  strains  of  patri 
otic  music.  A  great  mistake,  all  will  say.  J)ur- 
h»g  the  fijjht  yesterday  afternoon,  an  order  came 


for  Mortal's  division  to  repair  to  the  hill  near 
where  the  battle  was  going  on,  and  act  as  a  sup 
port  for  the  resorve  artillery.  The  men  obeyed 
the  order  to  faL  in  promptly,  though  the  weather 
was  scorching  hot,  and  they  had  been  four  days 
without  rest  or  sleep. 

"  A  happy  thought  struck  Captain  Thomas  J. 
Hoyt,  of  General  Butterfield'a  staff,  who  saw  that 
the  men  looked  weary  and  exhausted.  He  im 
mediately  gathered  all  the  regimental  bands, 
placed  them  at  the  head  of  the  brigade,  and  or 
dered  them  to  play.  They  started  the  « Star- 
spangled  Bam  er  ; '  and  the  first  note  had  hardly 
been  struck  when  the  men  caught  the  spirit,  and 
cheer  after  cheer  arose  from  regiment  after 
regiment,  and  was  borne  away  upon  the  bosom 
of  the  placid  river.  The  band  continued  to 
play,  and  other  regiments  and  other  brigades 
caught  the  spirit,  and  the  air  resounded  with  tu 
multuous  applause  at  the  happy  hit,  until  all  the 
columns  on  that  vast  plain  were  vying  with  each 
other  to  do  homage  to  the  inspiriting  strains  of 
the  band.  After  several  tunes,  Major  Welch,  of 
the  Sixteenth  Michigan,  in  a  brief  speech,  pro 
posed  three  cheers  for  the  hero  of  the  command, 
General  Daniel  Butterfield,  which  were  given  m 
magnificent  style.  To  add  to  the  enthusiasm, 
General  McClellan  happened  to  ride  through  tho 
field  just  then,  and  was  received  with  an  out 
burst  that  fairly  astonished  him. 

"  The  scene  was  continued,  the  brigade  mored 
off  with  the  band  playing,  and  had  there  been  a 
fight  in  the  next  field,  the  men  would  have  gone 
into  action  on  the  double-quick  to  the  tune  of 
Yankee  l)ood;e,  if  every  one  had  known  that 
death  would  ne  his  fate. " 


INDEX. 


M  A  Baptist,  an'  alters  was,"  an  anecdote,  .....  253 
A  battle  within  a  battle,  a  scene  at  Fair  Oaks,  ...  218 
A  beautiful  incident  of  the  surrender  of  Lexington,  465 
A  belligerent  woman  at  Branchville,  S.  C.,  ....  45fl 

Abou  Ben  Adhem,  the  other  one, 73 

Abou  Ben  Butler,  a  poem, 23 

A  cr.se  of  affection,  the  old  woman  and  her  mule, .  .  318 
A  chaLeuge  from  the  Pillow  Guards  to  the  Pren- 

tiss  Guards, 160 

A  classic  soldier, 289 

A  contraband  refrain, 31 

Adams,  H.  A.,  Lieutenant  Commander,  incident  un 
der  a  flag  of  truce, 225 

Adams,  Lymau  Beecher,  an  anecdote, 354 

A  dinner  party  broken  up,  an  incident  of  Vicks- 

turg, 435 

"  Advance,  ass,  and  give  the  countersign,"  ....    145 

Adventure  with  an  alligator, 303 

Adventures  of  a  despatch-bearer, 50 

Adventures  in  the  South, 105 

Adventures  in  Virginia, 133 

Adventures  of  a  spy,  Dan.  R.  Cole, 398 

Adventures  of  an  Jowa  boy, 476 

A  frightened  contraband, 141 

After  the  tight,  a  poem, 375 

A  good  ruse,  an  anecdote  of  Kentucky, 440 

"  A  Griswold  for  an  Alabama," 145 

Ague,  a  Southern  cure  for,    .  .  . 464 

A  heroic  chaplain, 370 

A  hospital  incident, "  legs  versus  souls," 329 

A  humorous  incident  of  a  Boston  court, 73 

A  Joan  d'Arc,  account  of  Miss  Oldoin, 347 

Akers,  Paul,  Mrs.,  poem  by, 139 

A  laughable  adventure,  by  J.  H.  Spencer, 319 

"Alabama,"  the  cruise  of  the, 87 

"  Alabama,"  the  end  of  the,  described  by  a  Confed 
erate,    238 

"  Alabama,"  the  destruction  of  the,  a  poem, .  ...    539 

Alabama,  the  Union  men  of,  described, 215 

Alabama,  an  instance  of  the  freedom  of  speech  in,  354 
A  Ibemarle,  story  of  the  destruction  of  the,  ....  533 

Aldrich,  T.  B,  poems  by, 9 

"  Alex, "how  he  got  his  pocket  Bible, 160 

Alexandria,  Mo.,  incidents  of, 304 

Alger,  Horatio,  Jr.,  poem,  by, 243 

Alienations  of  war,  father  and  son, ,  .  347 

Allen,  Tom,  Captain,  the  dead  brought  to  life,    ..     58 

Alligator,  a  soldier's  adventure  with  an, 303 

« All  we  ask  is  to  be  let  alone."  by  H.  H.  Brow- 
nell 29 


A  lover's  letter,  curlons  specimen,.  ........  5*1 

A  man  of  nerve, ..................     54 

A  Masonic  incident, 134 

Ambiguity,  an  anecdote, 464 

Amenities  of  war,  incidents  of  General  McCall'a 

experience, 340 

American  geography,  French  notions  of, 2J4 

A  military  execution  in  the  army  of  the  Potomac,    394 
Amnesty  proclamation,  how  received  by  tne  rebels,      23 

A  Mohammedan  Colonel, 134 

Among  the  rebels  at  Camp  Deunison,   .......   488 

Amputation,  how  it  is  performed, 349 

An  affecting  incident  of  the  hospital, 341 

An  agreeable  surprise  }  none  of  them  dead,    ....   300 

A  narrow  escape, 125 

A  national  hymn,  by  Park  Benjamin, 71 

Anderson,  Kobert,  General,  at  Fort  Suniter, ....     27 
Anderson,  Robert,  General,  the  providential  deliv 
erance  of,    441 

Anderson,  R,  M,  song  by, 520 

Anderson,  T.  M.,  his  account  of  his  capture  and  es 
cape,  194 

Andrew,  John  A.,  anecdote  of, 484 

Andrew,  John  A.,  eloquent  peroration  of, 519 

An  editor  before  the  cabinet 32 

A  negro's  prayer, 289 

A  new  Knight  of  the  Garter, 541 

An  epitaph  by  a  rebel, 66 

A  night  in  Missouri  with  the  fleas, 408 

An  incident  of  the  great  South  Carolina  expedition,   453 

Antietam,  incidents  of 129 

Antietam,  Corporal  Roach's  incident  of, 161 

Antietam,  the  dead  at, 170 

Antietam,  a  Masonic  incident  of, 299 

Antietam,  a  young  woman  at  the  battle  of, .  ....   451 
Antietam,  heroism  of  General  Sturgis'  division  at, .    45" 

Antietam,  the  charge  at, 461 

Antietam,  the  Seventh  Maine  at, 462 

Autictam,  the  missiles  used  at, 406 

Autietam,  the  story  of,  by  George  W.  Smalley,  .  .    46J> 

Antietam,  Buruside  at  the  bridge  of, 476 

Antietam,  Richardson's  incidents  of, 485 

A  patriotic  artist,  anecdote  of  Powers,  the  sculptor,   406 

A  patriotic  Maryland  lady, 5-13 

Apocalypse,  "  All  hail  to  the  stars  and  stripes,"  by 

Clarence  Butler, 164 

Appeal  to  volunteers, 134 

Apple,  Peter,  how  he  caught  a  rebel, 64 

A  practical  joke, 541 

At  Port  Royal,  by  John  G.  Whittier, 430 

A  psalm  of  life,  as  chanted  by  Gideon  J.  Pillow  and 
his  boys  on  ret  reating  from  Lafayette,  Georgia, 
June  24, 1864 0  261 


548 


INDEX   TO    ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


A  race  for  life,  "the  pig they  didn't  want,"    ....     49 

A  raid  by  a  negro, 4:31 

A  rainy  day  in  camp, 12 

Ardut's  Michigan  battery,  wonderful  precision  of 

the  firing  of, 193 

A  rebel  killed  by  a  woman, 514 

A  rebellion  in  heaven, 503 

"  Arkansas,"  some  account  of  the  ram, 501 

Arkansas  tactics, 201 

Arkansas  Post,  a  Hoosier's  account  of  the  capture  of,  307 

Army  discipline,  some  account  of, 

Army  discipline,  curious  incidents  of, 

Army  signals,  their  eflicacy  and  value, 

A  romantic  incident,  in  which  Governor  Curtin  takes 

part, 

"  Arter  revenge  like  a  four  year  old," 

Articles  of  war,  the  third  article, 

A  sanitary  incident, 

A  sharp  ride,  experience  of  Sir.  Cones, 

A  singular  incident,  how  Alex  got  his  pocket  Bible, 

A  snowball  battle, 

A  soldier's  last  letter,  an  incident  of  Gettvsburg, . 

A  song,  by  Fitzgreene  Halleck, 

A  Southern  martyr,  nameJess, 

A  Southern  scene,  a  poem, 

A  Spartan  girl, 

A  spunky  prisoner  from  the  South, 

A  square  meal,  description  of, 

A  strange  incident, 

A  substitute  wanted, 

At  Gettysburg,  a  poem, 

Atkins,  J.  D.  C.,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  his  speech  on 

the  capture  of  "  Lincoln  guns," 255 

A  touching  incident  of  the  war, 199,    §14 

A  true  experience,  by  Frank  Cahill, 497 

A  true  Kentuckian,  Willard  Davis, 3:55 

At  the  front,  an  incident  of  President  Lincoln's  fu 
neral,    486 

Averili,  W.  W.,  General,  one  of  his  "  outrages,"  .     5? 

A  verse  of  welcome, 4S3 

A  war  picture  of  Chickamauga,  by  a  Southerner, .  .   438 
A  Yankee  iu  Dixie,  by  Corporal  Purduin, 107 


312 

630 

202 

451 
321 
312 
404 

49 
1(51 
389 
457 
127 
372 

69 
118 
480 
407 
£00 

830 

499 


Baby  on  the  battle-field, 62 

Badeau,  Adam,  the  literary  soldier, 122 

Baker,  Colonel,  at  Ball's  Bluff, 41 

Baldwin,  P.  P., Colonel  Sixth  Indiana,  bravery  of,  at 

Chickamauga, 389 

Hflloon  reconnoissance  of  Fits-John  Porter,  ...  343 

Ball's  13 hi  if,  the  story  of, 41 

Ball's  Blulf,  Grceuhall's  reminiscences  of, 137 

Ball's  Bluif.  See  Lecsburg, 452 

Baltimore,  the  heroine  of, 30 

Banks,  N.  P.,  General,  how  his  army  was  saved  in 

the  Valley  of  Virginia, 123 

Barbara  Fritchie,  by  John  G.  Whittier, 490 

B;:rtou,  Clara,  '-the  angel  of  the  battle-field,"  ...  244 

Bartow,  Colonel,  bravery  of,  at  Bull  lluu, 209 

I»"M»<'t1,  Peter,  exploit  of, 71 

Biittle  anthem,  by  John  Xeal, 125 

Battle  cry  of  freedom,  a  song, 332 

Battle-field,  feelings  on  the, 385 

Battle  hyrnn  of  the  republic,  by  Julia  Ward  Howe,  103 

Battle  in  the  air,  a, 109 

Beaufort,  S.  C.,  incidents  of  the  fight  at, 151 

Beauf  >rt,  S.  C.,  incidents  of  the  capture  of,  related 

by  a  negro, .  458 


Beau  regard,  P.  G.  General,  his  advice, 253 

Beauregard,  anecdote  of  his  bells, 317 

Be.auregard's  bells,  sale  of,  at  Boston,  .......  455 

Beau  llackett  as  a  Zouave, 13 

Bfdnrd,  Charles  A.,  heroism  of, 82 

Bedford  boy  "  Alex,"  the, «  .  Hi 

Belgian  muskets,  kill  at  both  ends, i£? 

Belmont,  after  the  fight,  incidents  i elated  by  John 

Seaton, 138 

Belmont,  the  colored  hero  of, 426 

Belmont,  3Iajor  Blcdsoe  Harmon's  incident,'!  of.  .  455 

Belmont,  the  dead  at, ftii) 

Benedict,  Lewis,  Colonel,  at  Port  Hudson,  ....  2iX) 

Benjamin,  Judah  P.,  narrative  of  the  escape  of, .  .  4bi 

Benjamin,  Park,  hymn  by. 71 

Bennett,  L.  G.,  engineer,  narrative  of  a  tour  through 

the  South-west, 323 

Berdau  sharpshooters,  death  of  one  of  the,  ....  222 
Berdun  sharpshooters,  "  Old  Seth  "  of  the,  account 

of, 3:J'J 

Berton,  Peter,  his  adventure  in  Virginia,  .....  133 

Bethel,  before  the  battle  of, 97 

Beyond  the  Potomac,  by  Paul  H.  Hayne, 132 

Bible  on  the  battle-field,  the, 23 

Bible  captured  in  battle, 00 

Bible  anecdote  of  General  Lander, 128 

Bible  Incident  of  Antictam, 129 

Big  Bethel,  a  Confederate  story  of, 78 

Billy  Bray,  a  story  of  the  draft, 427 

Birds  in  battle, 253 

Blacksmith,  a  patriotic,  of  the  14th  New  York  State 

Volunteers, Si 

Black  Tom,  a  poem, 223 

Bob,  the  4i  bully  boy,"  one  of  Sherman's  men, .  .  .  411 

Body  guard,  description  of  a  model, .  .  • 77 

Boggs,  Commodore,  his  account  of  the  boy  hero 

«»  Oscar," 223 

"  Bohio,"  strategy  of  the  captain  of, 3(J8 

Boight,  Captain,  23d  Kentucky  regiment, 7 

Boker,  George  II.,  poems  by, .  .  .  106, 143,  180,  214,  539 
Booth,  Major,  speech  of  the  widow  of,  at  Fort  Pick 
ering, 413 

Booth,  Mary  H.C.,  poem  by, 318 

Border  scouts,  the  Brccdins  and  Norrises, 407 

Boston,  humorous  incident  in  a  court  in,  .....  73 

Botham,  Captain,  of  Michigan,  gallantry  of,  .  •  .  .  303 

Both  legs  too  short,  an  incident, 317 

Boughton,  Dick,  his  incidents  and  scenes  in  the  war,  236 

Bo  wen,  John  W.,  a  romance  of  the  war, 200 

Bradbury,  William  B.,  song  by,  .....    .....  527 

Bragg,  Braxton,  General,  how  he  was  deceived  about 

the  whiskey, 447 

Brandon,  William  C.,  an  incident  of  the  hospital,  .  341 

Brandy  Station,  story  of  the  fight  at, 4u3 

Brashears,  William,  a  Union  volunteer  in  Arkansas,  325 

Brave  officers  make  a  brave  army, 510 

Bray,  John,  account  of  his  escape  from  Richmond,  142 
Breckiuridge,  John  C.,  how  he  escaped  from  the 

country, 396 

Breedin,  the  border  scout 407 

Bristoe,  Virginia,  an  incident  of, 179 

Brock  way,  llufus,  some  account  of, 126 

"  Broke  the  connection,"  an  incident  of  Champion 

Hills, 356 

Brooks,  W.  T.  II.,  General, 336 

Brooks,  W.  T.  II.,  General,  anecdote  of, 214 

Brother  against  brother, 132 

Brother  Jonathan's  lament  for  sister  Caroline,  by 

O.  W.  Holmes, <«> 

Brown,  E.  B.,  General,  a  brilliant  exploit, .....  71 


INDEX    TO    ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


549 


Brown,  E.  B.,  General,  order  on  the  hen  ism  of  Miss 

Schwartz, , 126 

Br  >wn,  Henry  C.    See  Religious  Music, 48 

BJ  oxvclow,  W.  (Jr.,  (Parson,)  his  opinion  of  Zolli- 

eoffer, 464 

nrouuell,  H.  H.,  poems  by, 29,417 

r.runnr,  Charles,  a  brave  Pennsylvania!!, 348 

tfryant,  William  Cullen,  poems  by, 100,227 

Buchanan,  James,  the  other  Abou  Ben  Adhem,  .  .      73 
Buchanan,  James,  ancl  the  Pottstown,  Pennsylvania, 

bank  bills, 291 

Buell,  D.  C.,  General,  his  strategy  at  Pittsburg  Land 
ing,    3!7 

Buford,  General,  an  anecdote  of, 254 

Bull,  H.  C.,  Lieutenant,  captures  a  secession  flag,  .    231 

Bullard,  W.  N.,  the  story  of, 218 

Bullets,  the  tone  of,  and  the  songs  they  sing,  ...     82 
Bullets,  the  touch  of,  a  cure  for  treason, ......     94 

Bullets,  praying  for  an  equal  distribution  of,  ....    128 

Bull  KUTI,  the  modern  Gilpiu,  a  ballad  of, 36 

Bull  Ihm,  incidents  of, 39 

Bull  llun,  horses  at, 70 

Bull  Run,  incidents  of, 118,  120,  269 

Bull  Kim,  Stonewall  Jackson  at, 234 

Bull  Hun,  Edwin  S.  Barrett's  adventures  at, ...    .  258 

Bull  I  fun,  story  of  the  flight  from, 2G2 

Burns,  Anthony,  the  rendition  of, 80 

Burns,  John,  the  hero  of  Gettysburg,  story  of,    .  .    29G 
Burnsirle,  Ambrose  E.,  General,  at  Ktioxvillc,  ...    357 
Burnside,  General,  scenes  on  the  march  of,  in  Ten 
nessee,  395 

Burn*;ide  at  the  bridge,  an  incident  of  Antietarn, .  .   476 

Ihiehwhackers,  female,  at  the  South, 423 

Butler,  B.  F.,  General,  anecdote  of,  "  Get  your  shirts 

at,  Moody »s," v 131 

Butler,  General,  and  one  of  the  Virginia  reserves, .    182 
llutler,  General,  his  correspondence  with  the  Nor 
folk  Perfectionists, 239 

Butler,  General,  anecdote  of,  "  Shoot  another,"  .  .   342 
Butler,  General,  anecdote  of,  "  That  dear  old  flag,"    428 

Butler,  General,  epigram  on, 429 

Butler,  General,  sells  Beauregard's  bells, 465 

Butler,  General,  anecdote  of,  "  Almond  eye,"  .  .  .    508 
Bntlor,  Rev.  Dr.,  impressive  scene  at  the  church  of,  457 

Butterfield,  General, 51 

Butterfield,    Captain,   Eighth   Ohio ;  incident   of 
Romney, 83 


o 


Cahill,  Frank,  a  true  experience  by, 497 

Calhoun,  John  C.,  the  spotted  hand,  an  anecdote  of,  30 

Call  all !  Call  all !  a  poem, 34 

Camp  anecdotes, 127 

Camp,  Henry  W.,  a  soldier  with  the  right  spirit,    .  123 

Camp  jewelry,  a  description  of, •  528 

Camp  life,  described  by  a  soldier, 504 

Canadian  sympathy,  a  verse, 409 

Captain  and  the  chaplain, 140 

Capturing  a  gun,  how  "  Old  Seth  "  did  it 339 

Card-playing,  inordinate  love  of, 358 

Carney,  Sergeant,  the  bravery  of,  at  Fort  Wagner,  145 

Carpenter,  Captain,  of  the  Jessie  scouts, 45 

Carrick's  Ford,  incidents  of, 227 

Cnrte-de-visite,  a  poem, 113 

Carter,  Captain,  his  scouting, 53 

Carter,  Sergeant,  halts  a  whole  rebel  regiment,    .  .  152 

Caseaux, ,  of  New  Orleans, 358 

Cavalry  service,  incidents  of  the, 400 


Cavalry  song,  by  E.  G.  Cutler Z& 

Caveuder, ,  sufferings  of,  the  Tennessee  hero, .    114 

Challon,  Father,  a  hero  of  Chickamauga, Ss>7 

Chambersburg,    Pennsylvania,   story  of  the  inva 
sion  of, 5  •<) 

Champion  Hills,  an  incident  of, 3V:. 

Chaplain  and  the  Captain, 140 

Chaplains,  who  and  what  they  are, ,  ,    401 

Charge  of  the  Mule  Brigade,  the,  by  Thomas  tl. 

Elliott, 2?5 

Chase,  S.  P.,  Chief  Justice,  anecdotes  of, 402 

Ch..ttanooga,  incidents  of, 223,  251,  4S2 

Che  citharn,  B.  F.,  General,  the  escape  of, 30 

Chickamauga,  death  of  a   young  woman   on   the 

battle-field  of, J58 

Chickamauga,  father  Challon  a  hero  of, 297 

Chickamauga,  battle  of  owls  and  crows  at, 109 

Chickamauga,  or  the  river  of  death,  description  of, .  2"'i4 
Chickamauga,  the  battle-field  of,  described,  ....  373 
Chickamauga,  the  stream  of  death,  a  poem,  ....  342 

Chickamauga,  good  shooting  at, 345 

Chickamauga,  Thomas's  great  fight  at, 376 

Chickamauga,  heroic  conduct  of  officers  at,    ....    306 

Chickamauga,  story  of  Captain  Ogan  at, 388 

Chickamauga,  "a  little  hurt  "at, 397 

Chickamauga,  a  war  picture, 433 

Chickamauga,  the  star  brigade  at, 341 

Chickamauga,  Colonel  Wilder's  incidents  of,  ...  530 
Child,  L.  Mnria,  her  sketch  of  William  Fuller, ...  95 

Christian  Commission,  what  it  does, 3>>6 

Christian  Commission,  incidents  of  the, SOI 

Christian  Commission,  Rev.  Robert  J.  Parvin's  in 
cidents  of  the, 508 

Christian  Commission,  Rev.  George  J.  Mingin's  ad 
dress,    511 

Christmas  among  the  freedmen, '.'2 

Christmas  with  the  slave, 4<»a 

Cincinnati,  the  siege  of,  by  T.  B.  Reed,    .......   536 

Civilities  of  war, 307 

Claiborne,  the  contraband,  how  he  escaped,   ....     76 

Clapp,  Zeruah,  Mrs.,  anecdote  of, 338 

Clayton,  Rev.  Mr.,  his  kindness  at  Camp  Dennison,   488 

Clem,  Johnny,  the  drummer-boy, 100 

Close  quarters,  fighting  at, » 161 

"  Close  up,"  an  anecdote  of  Philippa, 356 

Coffee  for  the  Southerners, 500 

Cole,  Daniel  R.,  adventures  of  a  spy, 398 

Coleman,  General, 403 

Collins,  Maurice,  his  heroism  at  Spottsylvania,  .  .  188 
Collyer,  Robert,  Rev.,  his  narrative  sermon  on  the 

battle  at  Fort  Donelson, 2U2 

Collyer,  Robert,  his  account  of  Old  Hantah,  the 

nurse, 79 

Comedy  of  battle, .305 

Condc,  Samuel,  bravery  of,  on  Pope's  retreat, ...    263 

Cones,  Mr.,  the  ride  of, 49 

Confederate  song  of  freedom,  by  Emily  M.  Wash 
ington,     2H8 

'*  Confiscate  de  ole  'oman," 544 

Connecticut,  a  patriotic  boy  of, 128 

Conscription,  relentless  at  the  South, 431 

Conservative  chorus,  a  verse, 45i 

Contraband,  a  talk  with  a, 22* 

Conundrums,  one  of  a  teamster, .    179 

Conundrums,  a  Southern  one,  ...........    511 

Conway,  H.  A.,  incidents  of  Alexandra  Mo., .  .  .    304 

Coolness  in  battle,  anecdote  of, 311 

Coolness  on  the  field,  an  instance  of, 182 

Ccoper,  Sandy,  r  is  adventure  in  Virginia,  .....  133 
Corinth,  an  orator  riisturbed  at, 67 


550 


INDEX-  TO    ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Corinth,  a  wife  on  the  battle-field  of, 85 

Corinth,  an  iucideiit  of, 419 

Corinth,  the  hero  of, 4(33 

Oorse,  Major,  his  exploit  at  Island  Number  Ten,    .   335 

Cotton  -doodle,  by  a  lady  of  the  South, 414 

Cotton    is    king,   "  Give   ua    this    day   our  daily 

cotton," 234 

Cox,  James,  Sergeant,  his  bravery  at  Olustee,  .  .  .    359 
Crane,  J.  L.,  Rev.,  his  remarks  concerning  General 

Grant, X)2 

Cr&ven,  T.  Augustus,  address  to  the  officers  of  the 

navy, 34 

Crawford,  General, .     25 

Creed  on,  Father,  speech  of,  the  Sunday  after  Presi 
dent  Lincoln's  first  call  for  troops, 400 

Crook,  George,  General,  how  he  lost  his  boots, .  .  .  J70 
Cross,  Edward  E.,  heroism  of,  at  Frederieksburg,  .      11 

Cross,  E.  E.,  Colonel,  at  Antietam, 300 

Crowninshield,  Lieutenant,  noticed, 224 

Cruelties  of  war,  the, 140 

Culbertson,  Willie  F.  B.,  an  incident  of  home, ...    134 
Culpepper,  the  farmer  of,  who  took  no  sides  in  the 

rebellion, 248 

Cumberland,  Sailor  Willard's  story  of  the  destruc 
tion  of  the,    . 410 

Cummings,  Robert,  a  hero  boy  of  the  Harriet  Lane,  302 

Curiosities  of  army  life, 372 

Curtis,  General,  incidents  of  his  march. 300 

Gushing,  Captain,  the  exploit  of,  in  Cape  Fear  River,  240 
Cuehing  Lieutenant,  his  exploit  with  the  Albeniarle,  533 

Cutler,  Elbridge  Gerry,  song  by, 23» 

Cutler,  Miss,  tribute  to  the  memory  of, 343 


Dabney,  the  colored  scout, 207 

Dahlgren,  Ulric,  the  story  of, 291 

Dahlgren,  iflric,  another  story  of, 479 

Danville,  the  colored  school  at,  described,  .....  487 

Darlington,  W.  B.  Major,  adventures  of, 125 

Davis,  John,  the  heroic  sailor  of  the  Valley  City,  .  346 

Davis,  what  the  name  means, 137 

Davis,  Jefferson,  a  Southern  girl's  lines  to,    ....  251 

Davis,  Jefferson,  story  of  the  capture  of, 411 

Davis,  Jefferson,  on  his  election  as  president,  ...  479 

Davis,  Willard,  a  true  Kentuekian, 335 

Day,  Ishmael,  the  story  of, 280 

Day,  Ishmael,  poem  to, 281 

Day,  Ishmael,  the  ballad  of, 347 

Dead  brought  to  life, 58 

December  in  Virginia,  a  poem, 130 

Delrees,  John  D.,  anecdote  of, 407 

De  Kay,  Drake,  how  he  captured  Smithfield,  Va.,  70 

De  Kay,  Drake,  exploit  of,  on  the  James  River, .  .  393 

Delaney,  Frenchy,  the  story  of, 189 

De  Montieil,  Colonel, 44 

Demoralized,  but  not  scattered, 214 

Dennison,  F.,  Rev.,  a  heroic  chaplain, 370 

De  Peyster,  J.  L.,  Lieutenant, 360 

Desolations  of  war, 50S 

Devil,  to  the,  or  Washington, 50 

De  Villiers,  Colonel,  Eleventh  Ohio,  adventures  of,  154 

Dick,  the  drummer, 68 

Dirge  for  a  soldier,  in  memory  of  General  Philip 

Kearney, 143 

Dirge  for  one  who  fell  in  battle, 407 

Discipline,  time  to  get  sober  in, 405 

Discovering  a  friend, 134 

Dodging  shells,  when  to  do  it, 253 


Dog,  a  faithful,  at  the  battle  of  Pittslurg  Landing,  120 
Dog,  faithfulness  of  John  Ferguson's,  at  the  battle 

of  Pittsburg  Landing, 358 

Dogs,  anecdote  of  "  Shep," 455 

Dorshohner,  Major,  story  of  Zagouyi's  charge  at 

Spriugnc'.d, 112 

Doughnuts,  a  feast  of,  in  Maine, 72 

Dow,  Neal,  General,  in  Libby  Prison, H9 

Draft,  operations  of  the,  at  Savannah, 77 

Draft,  an  editor's  lines  on  tlie, 241 

Drhtt,  Billy  Bray,  a  story  of  the, 427 

Draft,  one  of  a  hundred,  an  incident  of,   ......  533 

Dragoon's  song,  by  George  H.  Boker, .......  186 

Dranesville,  negro  captures  rebels  at, 4C.7 

Dranesville,  incident  of, 499 

Dreams,  the  pleasant  ones  of  the  soldiers, 359 

Driving  home  the  cows,  a  poern, 511 

Du  Barry,  Frank,  his  burial  at  sea, 193 

D::gau,  sufferings  of,  in  East  Tennessee, 59 

Dunksburg,  Mo.,  ainnsing  account  of  a  battle  at,  .  423 

Dunn,  James  L.,  Dr.,his  description  of  Clara  Barton,  244 

Duryea,  General,  at  the  battle  of  Bethel, 97 

Duskie,  Miss,  a  Southern  heroine, 224 


B 


East  Tennessee,  a  scout  to,  by  the  Lochiel  cavalry, .  16 

East  Tennessee,  life  in, 69 

East  Tennessee,  loyalty  manifested  in, 321 

Education  in  the  army, 289 

Edwards,  William  B.,  Sergeant,  story  of  the  adven 
tures  of, 304 

Effective  Recognition, 112 

"  Ein  Feste  Burg  1st  linger  Gott,"  by  John  G. 

Whittier,    .  .  .*. 148 

Elegy  on  my  leg, 09 

Elliott,  Thomas  II.,  poem  by, 225 

Ellsworth,  Elmer  E.,  Colonel,  story  of  the  death  of,  3i)l 

Ellsworth,  Elmer  E.,  Colonel,  his  last  speech, .  .  .  105 

Enlisted,  by  W.  A.  Kendall, 24 

"  E  Pluribus  Unurn,"  a  poem,  by  John  Pierpont,  .  475 

Essex  gunboat,  heroism  on  the, 47 

Ethan  Spike,  account  of  the  secession  of  Hornby, 

Maine, 34 

Everybody  resembles  his  neighbor  in  the  army, .  .  372 

Execution  of  a  spy  at  Pulaski, 403 

Experience  on  a  gunboat,  an  incident  of  Southern 

sea  service, 446 

Exploits  of  a  foraging  party, 507 


Fair  Oaks,  General  Heintzleman  at, !90 

Fair  Oaks,  experience  of  Edmund  Q.  Andrews  at 

the  battle  of, 502 

Fair  Oaks,  an  incident  of, 412 

Faithful  unto  death,  a  story  of  the  war, 484 

Falling  Waters,  the  destruction  of  the  pontoons  at,  22 1 

Farewell  to  Brother  Jonathan,  by  Caroline,  ....  4'.H 

Farmer,  Samuel,  Captain,  of  Arkansas, 325 

Farragut,  D.  G.,  Admiral,  anecdote  of, 526 

Feminine  wrath,  an  instance  of, 131 

Ferguson  John,  faithfulness  of  his  dog, 3/>8 

Fernandina,  Florida,  an  incident  of  the  attact  on, .  10 

Fernaudina,  Flor' da,  the  colored  schools  of, .  ...  116 

Fever  and  ague,  a  Southern  cure  for, .........  464 

Fiddler,  the  rebel  "  Betsey," 40 

Fields,  James  T..  poem,  by, 329 


INDEX    TO    ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


551 


Fifteenth  army  corps,  the  badge  of  the,  ...... 

"  Fighting  by  the  day,"  an  anecdote  of  Lexington, 
Fighting  ministers,  some  account  of,  ........ 

First  experience  in  battle,  ............. 

First  fatal  shot,  the,  ...............   . 

Fishback,  "William  51.,  scenes  in  the  South-west,  .  . 
Fisher,  II.  D.,  Rev.,  narrative  of  the  massacre  a*: 

Lawrence,  ........  ,  ........ 

Jfive  days  a  prisoner,  the  experiences  of  _aarles    >. 

Phillips,  ..................  ,  . 

Flag,  love  for  the,  an  incident  of  the  hospital,  .  .  . 
Fleas,  a  night  in  the  army  with,  .......... 

Fletcher,  Sergeant,  Third  Vermont,  bravery  of,  at 

Lee's  Mills,  .................. 

Fletcher,  Pat,  the  Irish  regular,  ......... 

Florida,  the  troops  of,  complimented  by  General  R. 

E.  Lee,     ..........  .  ......... 

Florida,  a  curious  letter  from,  .  .   ......... 

"  Florida,"  the  cruise  of  the,    ........... 

Floyd,  John  B.,  an  epitaph  for,  by  a  soldier,  .... 

Floyd,  John  B.,  recollections  of,  by  a  Southern  sol 

dier,  ...................... 

Fon  Rodd,  John,  the  patriotic  family  of,  ...... 

Fontaine,  Lamar,  adventures  of,  .......... 

Foote,  A.  II.  ,  Commodore,  anecdote  of,  ...... 

Foraging,  some  account  of,    ............ 

Foraging,  the  way  it  was  done  by  a  Wisconsin  regi 

ment,    ..................... 

Force  of  habit,  in  a  railroad  Captain,     ....... 

Ford,  Tom,  Colonel  32d  Ohio,  how  he  catechised 

secession,  ................... 

Forrest,  N.  B.,  General,  how  he  acted  at  Tunnel  Hill, 
Forrest,  how  Lieut.  Mclntire  escaped  from  him,  .  . 
Forrest,  remarks  on  Fort  Pillow,  ......... 

Fort  Corcoran,  baptism  of  the  big  gun  at,  ..... 

Fort  Donelson,  incidents  of  the  fight  at,  ...... 

Fort  Donelson,  the  spirit  of  '70,  an  incident  .... 

Fort  Donelson,  reminiscence  of  the  surrender  of,    . 
Fort  Donelson,  llev.  Robert  Collyer's  incidents  of, 
Fort  Donelson,  incidents  of,     .........  317, 

Fort  Pickens,  letter  to  a  Yankee,  found  in,  ..... 

Fort  Pickens,  one  of  the  modes  of  attacking,    .  .  . 
Fort  Pillow,  incidents  of,    ............. 

Fort  Pillow,  Mrs.  Booth's  speech  on  the  atrocities 

at,  ......  ................. 

Fort  Pillow,  General  Forrest's  conversation  on  the 

affair  at,  .................... 

Fort  Sumter,  the  occupation  of,   .......... 

Fort  Sumter,  a  revival  in,   ............. 

Fort  Sumter,  a  providential  deliverance  at,    .... 

Fort  Sumter.    See  Sumter. 

Fort  Wagner,  an  incident  of,     ........... 

Fredericton,  Mo.,  the  old  negro  of,    ........ 

Fredericksburg,  incidents  of,     ........... 

Fredericksburg,  the  Minnesotians  at,    ....... 

Fredericksburg,  heroism  of  James  H.  Platt  at,     .  . 
Fredericksburg,  a  night  scene  at,    ......... 

Fredericksburg,  incidents  of  the  first  battle  at,    .  . 
Freedmen,  Christmas  among  the,    ......... 

Freedmen's  bureau,  anecdote  of  the  negro  woman, 
Freedman's  song,  the,  ............... 

Freedom  of  speech  in  Alabama,  .......... 

Freedom  of  speech,  au  anecdote  of   "Shep,"  the 

d°S»  ...................... 

Free  schools,  the  value  of,  ............. 

French  notions  of  American  geography,  ...... 

Fristoe,  James,  his  adventure  in  Virginia,  ..... 

Fuller,  John  W.,  Colonel  Twenty-seventh  Ohio,  .  . 
Fuller,  William,  one  of  the  army  of  martyrs,  .  .  . 
Fun  on  the  Rappahannock,  ............ 


51 
321 
466 
155 
398 
323 

322 

233 
.442 

40S 

349 
25 

241 
495 
101 
245 

432 
483 
56 
58 

507 

148 
541 

458 
157 
187 
450 
217 
80 
105 
192 
292 
4GG 
14 
63 
GO 

413 

450 
27 
3.57 
441 

136 
374 
118 
1L'3 
318 
3G6 
509 
22 
130 
505 
354 

455 
132 
214 

i:j:{ 
403 
95 
g 


G 


Galvestou,  incident  of  the  fight  it, i'C-5 

Ganter,  chaplain,  his  account  c  f  Wi]1.«h's  victory,  \ifi2 
Gardner,  Charles  Howard,  the  drummer-buy  of  tue 

Eighth  Michigan,  . 121 

Garfield,  General,  hero  sm  at  Paiutsville, 48 

Garfield,  General,  notice  of, MX) 

Garrabrant,  James,  narrow  escape  of, On 

Gates,  Charles,  an  amusing  incident, IttJ 

Gazley,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  anecdote  of,  .....  510 

Geary,  John  W.,  bravery  of, ..,.««  532 

Geary,  General,  at  Lookout, :.  :  <.  :  431 

Gere,  E.  B.,  Captain,  anecdote  of, :  ,  .  3?i 

General  Lee's  wooing,  a  poem, -  .  ,  3"8 

Generosity,  an  anecdote  of, :  =  .  478 

"  Gentleman  from  Jones,"  his  speech, ,  3">! 

German,  Delia  R.,  a  poem  by, 4.%G 

"  Get  off  that  stump  !  "  an  anecdote  of  the  long  Mis- 

sourian, 410 

Gettysburg,  an  incident  of, 14fl 

Gettysburg1,  scenes  on  the  battle  field  of, 20'J 

Gettysburg,  Illinois  at  the  battle  of, 215 

Gettysburg,  the  battle  of,  by  Howard  Glyndon,  .  .  2% 

Gettysburg,  the  battle  of,  by  Samuel  Wilkeson,  .  .  333 
Gettysburg,  an  English  officer's  anecdotes  of  the 

battle  of, 320 

Gettysburg,  "Whose  father  was  he?"  an  incident 

of, 321 

Gettysburg,  Lieutenant  Bayard  Wilkeson  a  hero  of,  306 

Gettysburg,  Bible  found  at, 382 

Gettysburg,  German  chaplain  at, 3*3 

Gettysburg,  how  John  Moscly  died  at, 407 

Gettysburg,  three  weeks  at, 49 

Gibson,  John  M.,  thrilling  adventure  of, 146 

Gillem,  Colonel,  and  the  soldier, 288 

Gillingham,  Ned,  adventure  of, 155 

Glassell,  W.  T.  See  "  Ironsides," 2.'J7 

Gle/en,J.  P.,  incidents  of  a  march  by, 383 

*'  God  save  the  South,"  the  Confederate  anthem  re 
viewed,  360 

Goddard.  C.,  Lieutenant-Colonel, 55 

Good  for  evil,  a  synonym, 145 

Goodridge,  Ellen,  faithful  unto  death, 484 

Good  shooting  at  Chickamauga, 345 

Gordonhire.  See  Romance  of  the  war, 200 

Gould,  Orrin  B.,  the  hero  of  Corinth, 4C.3 

Graham,  J.  S.,  Captain,  story  of  the  capture  of 

Mosby's  horse, -289 

Grant,  Ulysses  S.,  Lieutenant-General,  pumpkin-pie 

anecdote  of, 5 

Grant,  noticed, 81 

Grant  and  the  Dutchman  at  Shiloh, 182 

Grant,  a  story  of,  about  taking  Richmond, r.s'2 

Grant,  how  he  treated  a  politician, 209 

Grant  obeys  orders  in  camp, 225 

Grant,  a  Scotch  anecdote  of, 254 

Grant  at  the  battle  of  the  Big  Black, 3*8 

Grant,  an  incident  of  the  Wilderness, 408 

Grant,  a  verse  of  welcome  to, 483 

Grant,  account  of  his  war  horse  and  his  love  cf 

horses, 484 

Grant,  some  things  concerning, 5G2 

Gratitude  on  the  battle-field,  an  incident  of  Fort 

Donelson, 1&? 

Great  Bethel,  Sergeant  Goodfellow's  bravery  at, .  .  307 

Greble,  Lieutenant,  at  Great  Bethel, 73 

Green,  William  N.,  Captain,  the  bravery  cf,  .  ...  124 

Greenbacks,  a  poem £82 


552 


INDEX    TO    ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Greenleaf,  Charles  H.,  his  account  of  the  saving1  of 

Banks's  army, 123 

Grenewald,  Leonard,  bokl  exploit  of, 221 

Greyhound,  Pollard's  story  of  the  capture  of, .  .  .  170 

Griarson,  General, 187 

(irierson's  raid,  incident  of, 5!0 

Cross,  Q.  J.,  his  story  of  Gettysburg1, 209 

Guerrillas,  how  they  were  scared  at  Curlew,  Ivy., .  63 


M  agerstown,  incident  of, 841 

Hale,  Henry,  the  scout  of  the  West, 46 

Half  an  hour  among  the  rebels  in  Philadelphia,   .  .  351 

Halleck,  Fitz-Greeue,  a  songby, 127 

H;;!pine, Charles  G.,  "Paddy  on  Sambo,"  by,  .  .  .  2(50 

1 1  alpine,  Charles  J.,  song  by, ,  .  .   .  .  300 

Hamilton,  Corporal,  adventure  of, 133 

Hampton,  Wade,  Major, 125 

1  sauna,  J..  Marshall,  poem  by, 410 

Hannah,  the  old  nurse, 79 

Hanover  court-house,  incidents  of  the  battle  at,  .  .  70 
Havduway,  Robert,  Mrs.,  a  noble  woman  of  the 

South, 480 

II ardee,  General,  and  the  straggler, 1«7 

If  urdee,  his  "tactics  "  thrown  hi  the  shade,   ....  344 

Mardee  outdone  as  a  tactician, .  359 

Marker,  General,  his  brigade  at  Rocky  Face, ....  345 

Harlan,  Colonel,  and  the  Presbyterian  minister,  .  .  00 

Harmon,  Bledsoe,  Major,  incidents  of  Belmont,  .  .  455 

"  Harriet  Lane,"  Uobert  Cummings,  the  hero  of  the,  302 

Harrington,  John,  bravery  of,  at  Lee's  Mills,  .  .  .  rU'j 

14  Harry  Flash,"  poem  by, 119 

Hart,  John,  Mrs.,  heroism  of, 300 

Hart,  Joseph,  the  guide  of  West  Virginia 73 

Ilarlz,  Asa,  song  by, 153 

liaehrouck,  A.  H.,  Captain, 93 

Hatchie,  a  baby  found  on  the  battle-field  of,  ....  02" 

1]  iyes,  Alex.,  General,  his  latest  thoughts,  ....  134 

Hayes,  Alex.,  his  bravery  at  Gettysburg, 414 

Hayne,  Paul  II.,  poem  by, 132 

Ilayne,  the  Kentucky  partisan,  by, 403 

Haven,  John,  the  bravery  of,  at  Scarytowu,  Ya.,  .  223 

"  Hawkins  Zouaves  "  at  the  bridge  at  Antietam, .  .  477 

Heart-rending  boat  ballad,  the, 180 

lleatherly,  cruelties  of  war, 140 

Hecker,  William  M.,  adventures  of, 528 

Helena,  incidents  of, 307 

Hendershot,  Robert  Henry,  the  drummer-boy  of 

the  Kappahaunock, 245 

IT endrick,  James,  faithful  unto  death, 484 

lleiikefer,  Hiram,  an  incident  of  the  hospital,    .  .  .  358 

Herndon,  W.  II.     See  Lincoln, 209 

Ilerndon,  his  reminiscences  of  President  Lincoln, .  5">8 

Heroism  under  suffering, 56 

Heroism  of  a  boy  on  board  the  gunboat  Galena,  .  .  400 

Hess,  F.  W.,  Captain,  bravery  of, .').';'.) 

Hill,  D.  II.,  General,  his  algebra, 47 

Hill,  John  F.,  to  and  from  Libby  Prison,  by,    ...  270 
1  Sines,  Captiiin,  how  he  escaped  with  General  Mor 
gan, 314 

lliuks,  Edward  W.,  Colonel, the  first  Massachusetts 

man  in  thu  war, 402 

Hoatf,  Joseph,  a  remarkable  prophecy  of, 24 

Holmes,  Oliver  Wendell,  poems  by,     .   .  .  8,52,114,400 

Home  Guards,  "  Iv'e  jined'  ern," t;7 

Home  Guards,  Sparrowgrass  on  the, 94 

Home  life  m  the  South,  a  description  of, 205 


Home  scene  in  the  Sout  i, 72 

Homesickness  in  the  hospital, 129 

Homespun  dress,  a  Southern  song, 174 

"  Home,  sweet  home,"  an  incident  of  the  camp, .  .  312 
Hooker  Joseph,  Gene:  al,  how  he  tulked  to  a  cav 
alry  )rigadkr, 305 

Hooker,  General,  at  Lcokout, i;n 

Horrors  of  the  war, 3:.»o 

Horse,  an  affectionate  one, 533 

Horses  at  Bull  Run,  account  of  s :>me, 7; 

HosiMtals,  sketches  :'n  the, f>0 

Hospitals,  incidents  of  the, 358 

"  Housatonic,"  the  torpedo  boat  that  sunk  the,  .  .  3f>3 

"  Housewife,"  the  value-  of  a, 192 

How  a  captain  was  captured, .  355 

Howard,  O.  O.,  the  Christian  soldier, 495 

Howard,  O.  O,,  his  incident  of  Sherman's  march,  .  493 

Hovr  brave  men  suffer  and  die,  by  B.  F.  Taylor, .  .  181 

How  I  r-nlistcd,  a  story  of  the  war, 334 

How  Pat  entrapped  an  officer, 528 

How  the  baby  was  named, 340 

How  to  clean  a  well, 179 

How  to  preserve  your  country,  an  anecdote, .  .  .  .  3J7 

How  to  cross  a  river, 7 

Howe,  Julia  Ward,  pocrn  by, 103 

Howe,  Orion  P.,  the  drummer-boy, 104 

Howland,  Mrs.,  poem  by 82 

Hoxie,  Joseph,  hi*  liberality, 117 

Ho  1  Yankee  boys  throughout  the  West,  by  R.  Tomp- 

kius, 177 

Humors  of  the  camp, 280 

Hunter,  John  T.,  the  first  Union  volunteer,  ....  338 
llurd,  Phiueas  B.,  Mrs.,  her  sufferings  with  the 

Sioux  Indians, 248 

Ilutchings,  W.  V.,  how  he  used  a  slave  hunter,  .  .  44G 
Ilyman,  11.  G.,  Lieutenant,  gallantry  of,  at  Spottsyl- 

vania,   .                                                                   .  155 


"  I  fights  mit  Sigel,"  by  Grant  P.  Ptobinson,  ...  202 

Illinois  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg, 215 

Illinois,  the  spirit  of, 291 

Incident  by  the  way, 178 

Incident  in  the  cars, 176 

Incident  of  the  hospital,  the  affection  of  a  boy,  .  .  355 

Incident  of  the  hospital,  how  Charlie  died, 72 

Incident  of  the  battle-field,  the  value  of  the  little 

"  housewife," 192 

Incident  of  the  South, 488 

Incident  that  carries  its  own  comment, 35 

Incident  with  a  moral 30 

Indiana,  Eleventh  regiment  of,  at  a  flag-raising  in 

Kentucky, 400 

Indiana's  roll  of  honor,  . 388 

Indian  strategy  at  Petersburg, 175 

Inheriting  wounds,  an  anecdote  of  the  hospital, .  .  126 

"  In  sttitu  quo,"  an  incident, 124 

Irishman,  a  brave,  goes  for  his  whiskey  flask  on  the 

field  of  battle, >  261 

Irishman,  adventures  of  an,  at  Bull  Run, 503 

Irishman,  his  view  of  a  shell, 140 

Irishman,  how  Pat  entrapped' an  ofQcer, 526 

Irishman,  a  cosmopolitan, 545 

Irish  gunner,  account  of  ere,  at  Frederitksburg1,  .  .  319 

Irish,  regular,  anecdote  cf  the, ...  25 

Irish  wit  always  ready, 85 

«'  Ironsides,"  a  Southern  accoaat  of  the  attack  oil 

the,   .                           237 


INDEX    TO    ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


553 


Island  No.  Ten,  an  Incident  of, 335 

"  Is  that  mother?"  a  touching  incident, 06 


Jackson,  T  J.,  (Stonewall,)  anecdotes  of, 123 

Jackson,  T.  J.,  some  account  of  his  peculiarities,   .  171 

Jackson,  T.  J.,  administers  the  sacrament,    ....  256 

Jackson,  T.  J.,  soldiers'  admiration  of, 337 

Jackson,  T.  J.,  obedience  to  orders  sustained  by,    .  375 

Jackson,  T.  J.,  anecdote  of  "  drive  'em  in  the  river,"  307 

Jackson,  T.  JM  how  he  acted  at  Bull  Run, 234 

Jackson,  T.  J.,  a  notice  of, 166 

"  Jackson,  by  Harry  Flash," 119 

Jackson,  Thomas,  heroism  of,  at  Beaufort,    ....  152 
Jallonack,  II.,  captures  an  old  Bible  on  the  battle 
field,    66 

Janvier,  F.  d'Haes,  poem  by, 384 

Jenkins,  Elijah  D.,  heroism  of, 300 

"Jessie  scouts,"  exploits  of  the, 45 

Joan  of  Arc  in  the  West,  how  she  recruited, .  .  .  .  121 

Joe  Parsons,  a  Maryland  brave, 68 

John  Brown's  song, 509 

Johnson,  Andrew,  an  incident  of  Nashville, ....  334 

Johnson,  Andrew,  and  the  Ohio  boy, 485 

Johnson,  Willie,  the  drummer-  boy  of  the  Third  Ver 
mont,    427 

Johnson's  Island,  a  story  of, 412 

Joke  on  a  rebel  editor, 50 

Juvenile  patriotism,  cases  of, 542 


K 


Kearny,  Philip,  General,  anecdotes  of, 314 

Ktflley,  General,  and  the  secession  girl 65 

Kelley's  Island,  story  of  the  fight  at, 386 

Kendall,  W.  A.,  poem  by, 24 

Kenesaw,  incidents  of, 200 

Kentucky,  spirit  of  a  farmer  in  the  legislature  of,  .  221 

Kentucky,  partisan  rangers  in, 160 

Kentucky,  a  flag-raising  in, 400 

u  Kentucky  !  O  Kentucky  !  "  a  poem, 236 

Kerr,  Orpheus  C.,  farewell  address  to  the  mackerel 

brigade, 10 

Kight,  Dempsey,  a  hero  indeed, 151 

King,  Captain,  the  man  who  would  not  be  taken  a 

prisoner, 30 

King  Cotton,  in  a  tableau, 91 

King,  Curtis,  the  wonderful  old  sqklicr, 130 

Kinney,  B.  J.,  incidents  of  Alexandria,  Missouri,  .  304 

Kirksville,  Missouri,  an  incident  of  the  battle  of,  .  464 

Knoxville,  Tennessee,  incidents  of  the  siege  of,  .  .  356 
Knoxville,  Tennessee,  scenes  on  the  entry  of  Burn- 

eide's  army  into, 395 


Ladd,  Luthor  C.,  apocalypse, 164 

Lander,  General,  and  the  Bible, 128 

Landreth,  William  K.,  his  poems, 180 

Lawrence,  account  of  the  massacre  at, 322,352 

Learned,  J.  M.,  patriotism  of  his  family, 28 

Lee,  Robert  E.,  General,  compliments  the  Florida 

troops, 241 

1 1 ee,  General,  at  Gettysburg, 320 

Lee,  General,  an  English  picture  of, 526 

Lee's  Mills,  Virginia,  instances  of  bravery  at,  ...   349 


Leesburg,  Southern  incidents  of  the  bavtie  at, ...  4:->2 

L.  E.  G.  on  my  leg, 69 

'*  Let  me  kiss  him  for  Us  mother,"  an  incident,  .  .  217 
"  Let  us  love  our  flag,"  an  incident  of  the  hospital,  142 
Letters  from  home,  their  vilue  in  the  army,  .  .  .  529 
Letters  from  soldiers,  how  aiany  were  written,  .  .  413 

Letters  to  the  soldiers,  ., 23 

Lewinsville,  an  incident  of, 253 

Lexington,  Missouri,  Colonel  M  illigan's  story  of 

the  fall  of, 415 

Libby  Prison,  the  3seape  from,  in  February,  1864,  .  149 
Libby  Prison,  to  and  from  the,  by- John  F.  Hill, .  .  270 

Libei'tytown,  Maryland,  incident  of, 126 

Life  and  death  of  a  patriot  soldier, 144 

Lincoln  Abraham,  and  the  paymaster, 22 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  reminiscences  of, .  28 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  abutment  anecdote  of, 32 

Lincoln,  Abraham.  See  an  editor  before  the  cabinet,  32 
Lincoln,  Abraham,  a  dying  soldier  prays  for,  ...  83 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  what  the  name  means, 137 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  account  of  a  visit  to, 144 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  kindhcartedness  of, 166 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  splitting  the  difference,  ....  167 
Lincoln,  Abraham,  had  very  little  influence  with  the 

administration,  . 177 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  story  of  Bill  Sykes's  dog,  ...  194 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  his  first  speech, 209 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  his  indorsement  of  the  report  of 

F.  W.  Smith's  court-martial, 213 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  "  good  on  the  chop," 217 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  lines  to, 247 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  draft-horse  anecdote, 248 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  his  tribute  to  the  women  of 

America, 206 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  story  of  the  German  Lieutenant,  269 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  "  peg  away,"  story  of, 304 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  anecdote  of  "  blasting,5'  ....  365 
Lincoln,  Abraham,  the  last  inauguration  of, ....  382 
Lincoln,  Abraham,  "  sugar-coated,"  anecdote  of,  .  407 
Lincoln,  Abraham,  anecdote  of  the  slaveholder,  .  .  410 
Lincoln,  Abraham,  a  beautiful  anecdote  of,  ....  427 
Lincoln,  Abraham,  his  pass  to  Richmond  of  no  effect,  435 
Lincoln,  Abraham,  anecdote  of  the  nomination  of 

Judge  Chase, 440 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  anecdote  of  his  choice,  "  an 

election  or  Richmond," 447 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  Senator  Sherman's  sketch  of,  .  449 
Lincoln,  Abraham,  the  Blondiu  anecdote  of, ....  453 
Lincoln,  Abraham,  "  no  vices  and  few  virtues,"  .  .  457 
Lincoln,  Abraham,  reminiscences  of  the  Presiden 
tial  life  of, 482 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  characteristics  of, 489 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  his  interview  with  the  "Western 

farmer, 610 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  a  Southern  anecdote  of,  ....  5?7 
Lincoln,  Abraham,  Mr.  Ilerndon's  reminiscences  of,  534 

Linn  Creek,  Missouri,  an  incident  of, 321 

Lipscomb,  Martin  Meredith,  the  story  of  Colonel 

Dahlgren, 480 

Little  Eddie,  the  drummer-boy, 6 

Little  John  ClciA,  the  drummer-boy, 160 

Lochiel  cavalry,  a  scout  to  East  Tennessee  by  the, .  16 

Logan,  John  A.,  General,  anecdote  of, 482 

Logan  guards,  the, 10 

Lohrnan,  F.W.  E.,  the  story  of  Ulric  Dahlgren, .  .  480 
Longfellow,  Henry  W.,  the  Cumberland,  by,  ...  183 

Long-street ,  General,  at  Gettysburg, 320 

Longstrcet,  at  Lookout, 431 

Looking  alike,  or  how  to  polish  rag-jed  shoes, ...  187 
Lookout  Mountain,  an  incident  of, .........  201 


554 


INDEX    TO    ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Lookout  Valley,  incident  of  the, 431 

Louisiana,  the  pelican  of,  a  dirty  bird, 52 

Love  for  the  flag,  an  incident  by  the  way,  ...       .    315 

love,  Iiate,  and  piety  on  the  battle-field, 541 

Lovell,  Mansfield,  song  about, .  .  . Ill 

Lowell,  J.  Russell, 437 

I  owell,  Robert,  a  poem  by, 529 

Lucky  and  unlucky,  an  incident  of  Cold  Harbor, .  .  487 
;<  Lynun  Beecher  Adams,"  an  incident  of  the  war,  354 
Lyon,  Nathaniel,  General,  at  the  taking  of  Potosi, 

Missouri, 226 

Lyon,  Nathaniel,  his  memory  cherished  by  the  sol 
diers,    235 

Lyon,  Nathaniel,  how  his  body  was  saved  by  Mrs. 

PLelps, 458 

«*  Lyon,"  a  poem, 97 

Lytle,  General,  the  death  of, 221 


M 


Mackie,  John  H.,  Dr., 428 

Magoffin,  Beriah,  Governor, 171 

M  igruder,  J.  B.,  General,  anecdote  of, 488 

M  aine,  Seventh  regiment  of,  heroism  at  Antietam,  462 

Manchester,  Missouri,  capture  of  a  secession  flag  at,  331 

Mangum,  Willie  P.,  Jr.,  how  his  life  was  saved  .  .  79 

Manly,  Ann,  the  heroine  of  Baltimore, 36 

March  along,  by  George  H.  Boker, 214 

Marching  along,  a  song,  by  W.  B.  Bradbury,    .  .  .  527 

Marriage  in  camp,  a, 166 

k<  Maryland,"  a  song,  by  James  R.  Randall,  ....  48 

ffi  Dryland,  the  2d  regiment  of,  at  Antietam,    ....  46F 

Massachusetts,  first  man  from  in  the  war, 462 

Massachusetts,  patriotism  of, 519 

Masonic  incident  of  Antietam, 299 

Mattoor.,  George  B.,  a  juvenile  warrior  of  experi 
ence  , 225 

Maury,  Harry,  the  first  Southern  Admiral,   ....  411 
McAllister,  Bryan,  account  of  au  interview  with 

Forrest  at  Fort  Pillow, 450 

McCall,  George  A.,  General, 340 

McClellan,  George  B.,  General,  how  he  was  helped 

in  West  Virginia, 73 

McClellan  at  Antietam, 4G9 

McClellan's  soliloquy,  by  a  daughter  of  Georgia,   .  358 

McClernand,  General,  his  heroic  servant, 426 

McCook,  General,  his  pass  for  a  rebel, 70 

McCullough,  S.  R.,  account  of  a  noble  Southern 

girl, 402 

McDougal,  Joseph,  how  he  was  captured  by  John 

Morgan, 213 

McFadden,  Eddy,  an  incident, 50 

McGilvery,  Mrs.,  her  exploit, 75 

Mclntyrc,  Lieutenant,  how  he  escaped  from  Forrest,  187 

McKee,  John,  Lieutenant,  poem  by, 156 

McKim,  Lucy,  Miss, 98 

McKnight,  Major  of  General  Loring's  staff,pocm  by,  153 

McLaughlin,  John,  the  boy  soldier, 121 

McX-il,  Colonel,  at  Kirksville  battle, 464 

McNeil,  Hugh,  Colonel,  anecdote  of  South  Moun 
tain,  338 

McNoill,  Jesse,  Lieutenant,  his  exploit, 115 

McPherson,  Jamos  B.,  General,  how  he  was  killed,  197 

*'  M.  D.'s,"  heroism  of  the  mule  drivers, 302 

Meagher,  Thomas  Francis,  at  Bull  Run, 209 

Meagher,  Thomas  Francis,  an  incident  of  Fair  Oaks,  412 

Meredith,  Sol.,  Colonel,  anecdote  of, 253 

"  Merrill's  horse,"  the  bravery  of,  at  Kirksville, .  .  464 


Merrimac  and  Monitor,  the  fight  in  Hampton  Road*,  404 

Military  necessity,  resolves  of  the  correspondents,  34S 

Mill  Spring,  incidents  of  the  retreat  from, 69 

Mill  Sprivg,  an  incident  of, 71 

Milroy,  General, 133 

Mingius,  George  J.,  Rev.,  his  address  before  the 

Christian  Commission. 511 

Minnesotians  at  Bull  Run, 526 

Mirrors  vs.  chickens,  an  iurident, 140 

Mission  Ridge,  negro  song  of, 302 

Mississippi,  speech  of  the  gentlt-rnan  from  Jones  in 

the  con )  cntion  of, 351 

Mississippi  River,  a  thrilling  scene  on  the, 359 

Mitchell,  W.  H.,  Re".,  prayer  for  .left'.  Davis.  ...  68 

Mobile,  incidents  of  the  waundoi  M,, 460 

Montgomery,  Colonel,  narrative  of  his  escape  from 

the  Confederates, 284 

Montgomery,  James  E.,  his  experience  at  the  battle 

of  West  Point, 219 

Mooney,  Father,  baptizes  the  big  gun  at  Fort  Cor 
coran,  .  . 217 

Morse,  Rev.  Dr.,  on  etymology, 137 

Morgan,  James,  Brigadier  General,  anecdote  of, .  .  478 
Morgan,  James,  Brigadier  General,  his  incident  of 

Rocky  Face, 203 

Morgan,  John,  General,  incidents  of  his  raid,  .  161,  213 
Morgan,  John,  General,  how  he  escaped  the  Rabun 

Home  Guards, 222 

Morgan,  John,  General,  verses  supposed  to  have 

been  written  by,  on  surveying  his  solitary  aboae 

in  his  cell  in  the  Ohio  penitentiary, 254 

Morgan  John,  General,  narrative  of  the  escape  of,  314 

Morse,  George,  the  North  Woods  guide, 174 

Morton,  O.  P.,  Governor, 171 

Mosby,  incidents  of  a  fight  with, 93 

Mosby.  the  capture  of  his  horse, 289 

Mosby,  outwitted  by  the  Yankees, 374 

Moscly,  John,  how  he  died  at  Gettysburg,  ....  457 

"  Most  thar,"  anecdote  of  a  Vermonter, 253 

Mule,  how  an  old  woman  loved  her, 318 

Mule,  story  of  the  Zouave, 390 

Mule-drivers,  heroism  of  the, 392 

Mulligan,  William,  Colonel,  his  account  of  the  fall 

of  Lexington, 416 

Mulligan,  William,  Colonel,  a  beautiful  incident  of 

Lexington, 465 

Mullooney,  Patrick,  his  adventures  in  the  service, .  503 
Murkland,  John,  Sergeant,  bravery  of,  at  Antietam,  134 

Music  among  the  soldiers 47 

Music  of  the  Port  Royal  negroes, 98 

Music,  Sherman's  love  of, 178 

Music,  songs  upon  the  battle-field, 245 

Music,  the  effect  of, 546 

My  love  and  1,  a  song  by  Asa  Hartz, 153 


N 

Nashville,  Tennessee,  the  American  flag  In,   ,  ,  «  ,  267 

Nashville,  an  incident  of, ,  c  534 

Neal,  John,  battle  anthem  by, 125 

Nealy,  Mary  E.,  the  '•  Maul,"  by. 393 

Neglcy,  General,  on  free  schools, 132 

Negley,  General,  anecdote  of  taking  the  oath, ...  410 
Negley,  General,    and   the  whiskey  drinker   '  of 

Gooletsville," 457 

Negro,  speech  of  a,  on  Christmas, 22 

Negro,  Claiborne  the  Contraband, 7fl 

Negro,  a  frightened  Contraband, 141 

Negro,  music  of  the  P  >rt  Royal, »S 


INDEX    TO    ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


555 


Negro,  the  colored  schools  at  Fernandina, 116 

-  Negro,  patriotism  of  a, 58 

Negro  schools  at  Newbern, 131 

IS  egro  Sergeant  of  Pa'ducah, 139 

Negro,  the  worship  of  the, 14ft 

Negro,  an  observing, 131 

Megro,  his  life  to  himself, 170 

Negro,  the  story  of  a  North  Carolina, .,222 

Negro,  how  one  got  off, 253 

Negro,  the  clothes-line  telegraph  of  a, 263 

Negro,  Dabney,  the  negro  scout,     .........    267 

Negro,  danger  of  attempting  to  run  guard  of  a,  .  .  286 

Negro,  the  prayer  of  a, 289 

Negro,  Robert  Small,  the  hero  of  the  "  Planter,"  .  298 

Negro,  song  of  Mission  Ridge, 302 

Negro,  Millie  of  Helena, 307 

Negro,  endurance  of  colored  troops, 341 

Negro,  "  one  of  God's  noblemen,'" 350 

Negro,  the  old  man  of  Fredericton, 374 

Negro,  servile  insurrection  in  the  South, 409 

Negro,  William  Stains,  the  hereof  Belmont,  ...  426 

Negro,  a  raid  by  a, 431 

Negro,  incidents  of  Beaufort,  related  by  a,  ....  458 
Negro,  anecdote  of  a  negro  who  did  not  dare  to 

"  trus'  de  Lord  twice," 464 

Negro,  Christmas  with  the  slaves, 465 

Negro,  account  of  Commodore  Porter's  guide,  .  .  466 
Negro,  what  one  captured  at  Dranesville,  .....  467 

Negro,  an  incident  of  Chattanooga, 482 

Negro,  the  colored  school  at  Danville, .  487 

Negro,  how  they  deserted  their  masters, 507 

New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  a  Union  woman  at, ....  63 
New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  Judith's  account  of  the 

capture  of, Ill 

"  New  Orleans  won  back,"  a  lay  for  our  soldiers, 

by  Robert  Lowell, 529 

Ncwsham,  T.  J.,  noticed, 80 

Newspaper  correspondents,  the  resolves  of  the, .  .  348 
New  York  fireman,  what  he  intended  to  do  after  his 

time  was  up, 286 

New  York  Sixty-ninth  regiment,  anecdote  of  the,  .  391 
Ninth  army  corps,  how  thieves  were  treated  in  the,  180 

Norris,  the  border  scout, 467 

North  Carolina,  the  cruelties  of  war  in, 206 

North  Carolina  vs.  South  Carolina, 398 

Northern  bravery,  Southern  ideas  of, 80 

Notes  from  an  officer's  journal, 320 

Notes  from  the  saddle,  by  the  "  Courier," 420 

Not  yet,  by  William  Cullcn  Bryant, 227 

Nowlan,  William  C.,  spirit  of,  at  the  battle  of  the 

Hatchie, 461 


o 


Obedience  to  orders,   an    anecdote  of   Stonewall 

Jackson, 375 

Obeying  orders,  an  anecdote  of  General  Butler,  .  .  508 

O'Brien,  Fitz-James,  poem  by, 231 

October,  a  thought, 502 

Ogan,  Captain,  Fourteenth  Ohio  regiment,  at  Chick- 

amauga, 388 

Ohio  at  Stone  River,  .   - 365 

"  Old  Abe,"  the  soldier  bird, 193 

Old  Dick,  the  drummer, 68 

"  Old  Greenbacks,  I  know  ye," 402 

Old  Hannah,  the  nurse, 79 

"  Old  Seth,"  the  sharpshooter, 339 

Old  woman's  welcome  to  the  flag, 218 

Oldom,  Cornelia,  the  exploit  of, 347 


Olustee,  Sergeant  Cox's  bravery  at, 359 

On  board  the  Cumberland,  by  George  H.  Boker, .  .  108 

One-arm«vJ,  the  story  of  the, 167 

One  of  a  hundred,  an  incident  of  the  enrolment,  .  .  533 

O'Neil',  Phil,  an  incident  of  Fair  Oaks, 112 

Only  a  private,  a  strange  scene, 92 

On  the  shores  of  Tennessee,  a  poem, 44 

Orator,  disturbing  an, 07 

Orpheus  C.  Kerr,  his  definition  of  patriotism,  .  .  .  270 

Oscar,  the  boy-hero  of  the  Varuna, 223 

Osterhaus,  P.  J.,  General,  at  Pea  Ridge, 119 

Our  country's  call,  by  William  Cullen  Bryant, ...  100 

"  Our  rights,"  a  Southern  anecdote, 288 

"  Out  raking  oysters,"  an  anecdote  of  a  raw  recruit,  365 

Owls  and  crows,  fight  at  Chickamauga, 169 


Paddy  on  Sambo  as  a  soldier,  by  Private  Miles 

O'Reilly, 269 

Paducah,  Tennessee,  the  negro  Sergeant  of,  ....    139 

Paducah,  the  story  of, 147 

Paintsville,  incidents  of  the  battle  of, 48 

Parsons,  Joe,  heroism  of, 68 

Parting  words  to  the  Yankees, 08 

Parvin,  Robert  J.,  his  account  of  the  Christian  Com 
mission,  508 

Pass  for  a  rebel,  a,  how  General  McCook  gave  one,     70 
Passing  to  the  front,  an  incident  of  the  Christian 

Commission, 371 

Patience  under  suffering, 56 

Patriotism  of  a  Boston  boy, 92 

Patriotism  of  a  Norfolk  negro, 58 

Patriotism,  Orpheus  C.  Kerr's  definition  of, ....   270 

Pea  Ridge,  incidents  of  the  battle  of, ,    119 

Peninsular,  Virginia,  incidents  of  the, 313 

Pennsylvania  Bucktails,  the,  at  South  Mountain,    .    338 

Perry,  F.,  his  adventures  in  the  South, 105 

Perry,  J.  B.,  Captain,  at  Antietam, 200 

Peteet.    See  Romance  of  the  war, 200 

Petersburg,  Virginia,  narrative  of  a  raid  from, .  .  .    370 

Pets  in  the  army, 373 

Phelps,  John  F.,  heroism  of  the  wife  of, 458 

Phenomena,  a  remarkable, 373 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  a  welcome  in, 243 

Philadelphia,  the  glory  of,  volunteer  refreshment- 
room,    281 

Philadelphia,  half  an  hoiir  among  the  rebels  in,    ..   351 
Philadelphia  volunteer  refreshment-room  described 

by  a  lady, 281 

Philips,  Charles  O.,  Lieutenant,  his  experiences  as 

a  prisoner, 239 

Phillippa,  an  anecdote  of, 3: 6 

Picciola,  a  poem, 206 

Picket  conversation,  an  account  of  a, ........   459 

Picket  duty,  the  amenities  of, 323 

Pictures  of  war,  one  of  the, 181 

Pierpont,  John,  poem  by, 475 

Pigeon,  account  of  a  loyal, 79 

Pike,  Albert,  poem  by, 94 

Piketon.  incident  of  the  battle  of, 155 

Pillow,  Gideon  J.,  General,  his  "  psalm  nf  life,"  .  .    261 

Pillow  Guards,  a  challenge  from  them, 160 

Finer,  George  B.,  anecdote  of, 179 

Pirates,  taken  by, 26 

Pittsburg  Landing,  anecdote  of  a  dog  at, 130 

Pittsburg  Landing,  incidents  of,  ..........    358 

P.  ttsburg  Landing,  Buell's  strategy  at, 317 

"  Planter,"  etory  of  the  es<  ape  of  the, .  „ 208 


556 


INDEX    TO    ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


Platt,  James  H.  J.,  heroism  of,  at  Fredericksburg,  318 

Platt  e  Valley  steamer,  how  she  was  brought  to,  .  .  94 

I'lojtsaut  dreams,  an  anecdote, 359 

Pleasant  Hill,  La.,  an  incident  of, 146 

riiuikett,  Sergeant,  heroism  of, 134 

i'oj-e,  Mary  E.,  a  Southern  woman, 542 

Porter,  Edwin  A.,  story  of  his  bravery, 207 

Porter,  Fitz-John,  General,  the  balloon  reconuois- 

sance  of, 343 

Port  Hudson,  the  charge  at, 290 

Port  Hudson,  the  twin  brothers  at, 322 

Port  Hudson,  an  incident  of  the  passage  of,  by  the 

fleet,      52(5 

Port  Hudson,  story  of  the  fight  at, 531 

Postal  ufl'uirs,  curious  superscription, 10 

Potosi,  Mo.,  story  of  the  capture  of, 22(5 

Potter,  R.  B.,  Brigadier-General,  how  he  treated  a 

thief, 180 

Powers,  Hiram,  anecdote  of  the  sculptor, 408 

Prairie  Grove,  the  story  of, 505 

Prairie  Grove,  bravery  of  Lieutenant  W.  S.  Brooks 

at  the  battle  of, 527 

Prentiss,  William  O.,  Rev.,  his  apostrophe  to  cot 
ton,    234 

Prentiss  Guards,  a  challenge  to  the, 160 

"  Price's  appeal  to  Missouri,"  by  M.  Jeff.  Thompson,  481 

Private  soldier,  a  tribute  to  the, 240 

Prize  money  and  bullets  to  be  equally  distributed, .  128 

Prophecy,  Joseph  Hoag's, 24 

Prophecy,  a  woman's, 27 

Pryor,  Roger  A.,  his  feat  at  Fort  Sumter, 25 

Pryor,  Roger  A.,  how  he  was  captured  and  how  he 

escaped, 59 

Pugh,  William  P.,  his  adventures  in  the  South,  .  .  105 

1'urdum,  Corporal,  a  Yankee  in  Dixie, 107 

'•«  Put  it  in  gold  letters,"  an  anecdote  of  the  South,  490 


Q 

Quakers,  conscript  at  the  South, .  22 

Quaker,  a  patriotic  woman, 314 

Quaker  guns  at  Frankfort,  Ky., 182 


Rabbits,  hunting  of,  in  the  army, 9 

Rabbits,  account  of  one  in  battle, 319 

Ragged  shoes,  how  to  polish  them, 187 

"  Rally  round  the  flag,  boys,"  an  incident  of  the 

hospital, 235 

Randall,  James  R.,  poems  by, 11,  48,  408 

Ransom,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Eleventh  Illinois  reg 
iment,  bravery  at  Charleston,  Mo., 228 

Rat,  a  surgeon, 153 

Rattlesnakes  vs.  rebels, 544 

Read,  T.  Buchanan,  Sheridan's  ride,  a  poem  by, .  .  399 

Reading  in  the  army, 501 

Reading  the  lists, .  1?0 

Rebel  attempt  to  take  a  train,  and  how  it  came  out, 

by  Daniel  D.  Steclc, 532 

Rebels,  a  po<jm, 32 

Rebel  song,  found  at  Fort  Bartow, 47 

Reeve,  A.  Z.,  incidents  of  his  experience  in  Tennes 
see,    158 

Reichenbacher,  Martin,  account  of  a  raid  from  Pe 


•iburg, 


370 


Reid,  William,  a  hero  of  the  Owasco, 295 

Religion,  true  soldiers, If 


Religious  music  among  the  soldiers, 47 

Reno,  General,  his  last  moments, 208 

Reprieved  at  last, 173 

Resaca,  Georgia,  the  mocking-bird  of, 193 

Resaca,  Georgia,  incidents  of  the  battle  of,     ....  346 
Rhode  Island,  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  regiment 

of, 209 

Richmond,  Virginia,  the  first  American  flag  over,  .  360 

Richinun'  en  the  Jeems,  a  song, 219 

Riker,  Lafayette,  Colonel,  the  last  moments  of,  .  .  460 

Rip  Van  Winkle,  in  West  Virginia, 383 

Roach,  William,  Corporal,  incident  of  Antiotam,    .  161 

Roanokc  Island,  incidents  of, 44, 17 

Robie,  Colonel,  the  bravery  of, 4:H 

Robinson,  Grant  P.,  poem  by, 202 

Rockingham,  Virginia,  a  girl  of, 149 

Rockwood,  E.  P.,  his  experience  at  Cold  Harbor, .  487 

Rocky  Face,  Georgia,  an  incident  of, 203 

Rocky  Face,  Georgia,  gaining  the  crest  of, 345 

Roll  Call,  by  N.  G.  Shepherd, 118 

Romance  of  the  war,  a, 200 

Romney,  Virginia,  an  incident  of, 83 

Rosecrans,  Bishop,  anecdote  of, 14 

Rosecrans,  W.  S.,  General,  secret  service  of,  ....  53 

Roseerans,  General,  anecdote  of, 131 

Rosecrans,  General,  conversation  with  the  Confed 
erate  Captain, 349 

Ross,  Frederick  A.,  Rev.,  anecdote  of, 32 

Rosseau,  Lovell  II.,  General,  ;md  the  rebel  clergy 
man,  32 

RoKseau,  General,  his  incidents  of  Shiloh, 50 

Rosseau,  General,  incidents  of,  on  the  march  to 

Nashville, 45$ 

Rosser,  General,  his  operations  on  the  border,     .  .  i'J5 

Russell,  Colonel,  Tenth  Connecticut  volunteers, .  .  44 

Russell,  W.  II.,  ye  Londonne  Times  correspondentc,  199 

Ryder,  William,  a  genuine  uo'bleman, 182 


Salute,  "  a  kind  of  a," 15 

Sanitary  Commission,  the  "  marked  articles  "  of,  .  247 

Sanitary  Commission,  '7t5  and  '04,  an  incident, ...  338 

Sanitary  Commission,  what  it  does, 366 

Sans  culotte,  an  incident, 517 

Sansom,  Emma,  of  Cherokee,  account  of, 145 

Sargent,  Lucius  Maulius,  "  Sigma,"  poem  by,  ...  479 

Satan  or  the  rebels, 329 

Savannah,  amusing  account  of  drafting  at, 77 

Scenes  in  the  hospital, 2S6 

Schofield,  Joseph,  traitor's  coat-of-arms  described 

by, 447 

Schwartz,  Miss,  heroism  of, 126 

Scotland,  friends  to  America  in, 420 

Scott,  J.  Traviso,  his  parting  words  to  the  Yankees',  69 
Scott,  William,  the  dying  soldier  who  prayed  for 

the  President, 82 

Scott,  William,  the  sleeping  peutinel,  .......  884 

Scouts  and  spies,  the  value  oT, 141 

Scouts,  the  story  of  Wallace's, 386 

Scouting  adventures,  as  +old  by  a  cavalryman, .  .  .  613 

Seaton,  John,  incidents  of  Beluiont,  ty, 1^8 

Secession  catechised, 4f»8 

Selheimer,  John  B.,  Captain, 10 

Sen-lines,  Captain,  of  the  Alabama, 5:59 

Servile  insurrections  at  the  South, 409 

Seventh  regiment  N.  Y.  S.  M.,  the  march  of  the,  by 

Fitz  James  O'Brien, 228 

Seward,  William  H.,  attack  on,  by  Payne, 363 


INDEX    TO    ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


557 


Seymour,  Charles  C.,  his  death  at  Memphis, .  .  .  .468 

Shackleford,  Colonel,  exploit  of  his  regiment, .  .  .  35 

Staler,  Henry,  gallantry  of,  at  Gettysburg,  .  .  .  224 

Shanly,  Charles  Dawson,  poem  by, 381 

Sharpsburg,  incidents  of, 181 

Shells,  and  how  they  are  dodged, .  <  394 

Shell  on  board  ship,  what  it  did, 425 

Shepherd,  N.  G.,  poem  by, 116 

Sheridan,  Philip,  General, 125 

Sheridan's  early  orders,  a  poem, 435 

Sheridan's  ride,  by  T.  Buchanan  Read, 399 

Sherman,  John,  Senator,  sketch  of  President  Lin 
coln, 449 

Sherman,  W.  T.,  General,  his  letter  on  Oriou  P. 

Howe, 104 

Sherman,  General,  his  love  of  music, 178 

Sherman,  General,  incidents  of  his  march, .  170,  339,  4% 
Sherman,  General,  Southern  opinion  of  the  army 

of, 186 

Sherman,  General, his  flank  movements  described  by 

a  Southern  woman, 221 

Sherman,  General,  how  he  treated  the  British  consul 

at  Savannah, 350 

Sherman,  General,  his  reign  at  Huatsville  described 

by  H  Southerner, 428 

"  Sherman's  in  Savannah,"  a  poem,  „ 194 

Shiloh  Milla,  incidents  of, 50 

Shiloh,  reminiscence  of  the  battle-field  of, C4 

Shiloh,  an  incident  of,  spiking  guns  at, 182 

Shiloh,  thrilling  incidents  of, 203 

Sights  on  the  battle-Held,  a  story  of  Shiloh,  ....  438 
"  Silent  Observer,"  the  adventure  of  a,  in  Western 

Virginia, 353 

Sill,  General,  his  quaker  guns  at  Frankfort,  Ken 
tucky,  182 

Simmons,  Mrs.,  of  Jasper  county,  Mississippi,  en 
ergy  of, 120 

Simons,  Ned,  the  old  negro, 117 

Sioux  Indians,  Mrs.  Kurd's  narrative  of  her  suffer 
ings  among  the,    248 

Sixteenth  Army   Corps,  incidents  of  its  passage 

down  the  Mississippi, 359 

Skedaddle,  a  poern  by  T.  B.  Aldrich, 9 

Skedaddle,  origin  of  the  word, CO 

Slave  labor,  llev.  W.  O.  Preutiss  on  the  power  of, .  234 

Slave  song  of  Fernaudiua, 117 

Slave's  prayer,  a, 51 

Sleeper,  Henry,  a  strange  scene, 92 

Small,  Robert,  the  hero  of  the  "  Planter," 208 

Smalley,  George  W.,  the  story  of  Autietam,  by, .  .  409 

SioJth,  A.  J.,  General,  his  discipline  in  the  army, .  313 
Smith,  C.  F.,  General,  incidents  of  a  flag-raising  in 

Kentucky, 400 

Smith,  Charles  IT.,  Fourth  Iowa  cavalry,  adven 
tures  of, 476 

Smith,  Diana,  the  heroine  of  the  North-west,    ...  223 
Smith,  Franklin  W.,  Abraham  Lincoln's  indorse 
ment  of, 213 

Smith.  Morgan  L.,  General, 51 

Smith,  W.  F.,  General, ..*....  336 

Smith  (Extra  Billy),  Governor,  his  tactics, 359 

Smithtield,  Virginia,  how  it  was  captured  by  Drake 

De  Kay, 70 

Smuggling    in    camp,    the    Irishwoman   and   her 

chicken, 11 

Snowballing  in  the  army, 3:0 

Snowbiiiliug  in  the  Southern  army, 389 

Snow-Bird  and  Owasso,  a  tradition, 342 

Soldier  Morals,  an  incident  of  Sherman's  march,    .  170 

Soldiers'  Aid  Societies,  a  poem 55 


Song  of  the  croakT,  by  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.,  ....  243 

Song  of  the  negro  boatmen,  by  John  G.  Whittier,  .  430 

Song  of  the  sol 4iers,  by  Charles  G.  II alpine 3(50 

Songs  upon  t>'o  battle-field, 2J5 

*'  South  Carolina  Gfeutleman,"  a  poem, 15 

South  Carolina  vs  North  Carolina, 3!>3 

Soutliern  ideas  of  Northern  bravery, 80 

Southern  mathem  ttics,  D.  II.  Hill's  algebra,  ....  47 

Southern  prisons,  life  in, 104 

Southern  rights,  an  anecdote, 288 

Southern  victories,  "  couldn't  understand  them,"  .  243 
"  Southrons,  hear  your  country  call  you,"  by  Albert 

Pike, 94 

Sou  th's  true  balance,  the, 25 

Sparrowgrass'  proposition  for  the  Home  Guards,  .  94 

Spencer,  J.  II.,  anecdote  related  by, 319 

Spies,  the  value  of, ;  ill 

Spiller,  C.  C.,  Captain,  incidents  of  the  retreat  from 

Mill  Spring, 69 

Spiritualism  at  the  White  House, 337 

Sports  in  the  army, 9 

Spottsylvania  Court  House,  gallantry  of  Lieutenant 

Ilymau  at, 155 

Spottsylvania  Court  House,  incidents  of, 183 

Spring  at  the  Capital,  by  Mrs.  Paul  Alters 139 

Springfield,  Zagonyi's  charge  at, 442 

Spy,  adventure  of  a, 39 

Spy,  execution  of  a,  at  Pulaski,  Tennessee, 403 

Squire,  T.  II.  Surgeon,  his  tribute  to  Miss  Cutler, .  344 

Stains,  William,  the  colored  hero  of  Belmont, ...  423 

Stedrnan,  Edmund  C.,  the  cavalry  charge  by,  ...  455 

Steedman,  General,  at  Chickarnauga, .  .......  389 

Steele,  Daniel  D.,  poem  by, 532 

Stcele,  William  Henry,  heroism  of,  at  Beaufort, .  «  1M 

Stevens,  A.  B.,  Rev.,  the  revival  in  Fort  Sumtcr,  .  35? 

Stevens,  Hazzard,  Captain, 177 

Stevens,  Genera',  the  death  of, 177 

Stoddard,  R.  H.  poem  by, 3t9 

Stone,  Newton,  Colonel,  the  last  words  of, .....  205 

Stone  River,  an  incident  of, <-....  299 

Stone  River,  Ohioans  at, 305 

Stonewall  Jackson's  way,  a  poem,  .........  99 

Storey,  Marshall,  his  adventure, S3 

Story  of  the  one-armed, 107 

Strategy,  a  Captain's,  on  the  Mississippi, 03 

Streight,  A.  D.,  Colonel,  his  raid  through  the  South,  194 

Strong,  W.  E.,  adventure  of, 233 

Stuart,  George  H.,  his  incidents  of  the  Christian 

Commission, 501 

Stuart,  J.  E.  B.,  General,  an  anecdote  of  the  death 

of  his  child, 382 

Stuart,  J.  E.  B.,  General,  the  death  and  burial  of, .  203 

Sturgis,  General,  incidents  of  his  expedition,  .  .  .  175 

"  Substitute  wanted,"  a, £30 

Suddenly  awakened,  a  confused  idea  of  history, .  .  519 

Sumner,  E.  V.,  General,  as  a  stage  driver, 23 

Sumuerat  Antietarn,  an  incident, 201 

Sumner,  General,  reminiscences  of, 189 

Sumter,  Fort,  how  it  was  provisioned, 251 

"  Supping  in  heaven,"  a  soldier's  story, 350 

"  Surgeon  Rat,"  an  incident  of  the  hospital, ....  153 

Swan,  Frank  H.,  paymaster,  anecdote  of, 533 

Sykes,  Bill,  President  Lincoln's  story  of  his  dcy, .  194 

"  Sykesy,"  what  he  would  do  after  the  war,  ,  ,  ,  .  286 


T 


Tableau,  exhilitiou,  at  Murfreeaboro* W 

Taken  by  pirates,  a  Btcjy,,  ..»«.»...»»..     36 


558 


INDEX   TO    ANECDOTES,    POETRY,   AND    INCIDENTS. 


Taking  the  oath,  how  a  young  woman  did  in  Rich 
mond 482 

Taking  the  oath  in  Tennessee,  an  incident,     ....  410 

Talk  with  a  rebel  picket  in  Mississippi, 99 

Taylor,  B.  F., 181 

Taylor,  Maria,  heroism  of, 167 

Teamster's  conundrums, 179 

Telegraph,  the  clothes-line, 203 

Tenant,  Dick  S.,  at  Arkansas  Post, 310 

Tennessee,  a  rebel's  adventures  in, 11 

Tennessee,  Union  in,  an  anecdote, 52 

Tennessee,  the  story  of  the  Fourteenth  regiment  of,  220 

Tennessee,  J.  P.  Glezen's  incidents  of  the  march  in,  383 
See  East  Tennessee. 

Tennyson's  poems  read  in  the  army, 35 

Terry,  Alfred,  General,  and  Colonel  Olmstead,  an 

anecdote, 346 

Texan,  a  "  pressed,"  an  incident  of  Pleasant  Hill, .  146 

The  ancient  mariner,  by  Anthracite  Hill, 448 

"  The  angel  of  the  battle-field," 244 

The  ballad  of  Ishmael  Day, 347 

The  battle-cry  of  freedom,  a  song, 332 

The  battle  of  Gettysburg,  by  Howard  Glyndon,  .  .  296 

The  bonnie  blue  flag,  a  Southern  song, 246 

The  brier-wood  pipe,  by  Charles  Dawson  Shanly,  .  381 

The  captain's  wife,  by  Theodore  Tilton, 191 

The  cavalry  charge,  by  E.  C.  Stedrnan 455 

The  common  soldier,  a  poem, 407 

The  Confederate  primer, 122 

The  Cumberland,  by  Henry  W.  Longfellow, .  ...  183 
The  dead  cavalier,  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  by  J.  Marshall 

Hauna, 446 

The  dead  drummer-boy,  a  poern, 51 

u  The  doctor  know'd  what  he  giv'  him,"  an  incident 

of  the  hospital, 291 

The  dog  of  the  regiment,  a  poem, 410 

The  drummer-boy  of  the  Eighth  Michigan,   ....  424 

The  drummer-boy  of  the  Third  Vermont, 427 

The  dying  patriot,  a  story  of  the  Essex, 404 

The  dying  soldier, 138 

The  dying  soldier's  dream  of  childhood, 28G 

The  eagle  of  Corinth,  a  poem, 369 

The  fight  of  the  Hatteras  and  Alabama,  a  song>  .  .  91 

The  first  fatal  shot, 398 

The  first  rebel  admiral, 411 

The  Florida's  cruise,  by  a  foretop-inan  of  the  C.  S. 

S.  Florida,  a  song, '. 188 

The  freedman's  song, 505 

The  gallant  Sixty-ninth,  an  Irish  toast, 391 

The  great  bell  Roland,  by  Theodore  Tilton,  ....  75 

The  guerrillas,  by  S.  Teakle  Wallis, 86 

The  heart  of  the  war,  a  poem, 517 

The  hero  of  Sugar  Pine, 158 

The  hospital,  a  poem, 312 

"  The  house  that  Jeff  built,"  a  recitation, 429 

The  Jaguar  hunt,  by  J.  T.  Trowbridge, 542 

The  Kentucky  partisan,  by  Paul  H.  Hayne,  ....  403 

The  last  man  of  Beaufort, 28 

The  little  drummer,  by  R.  H.  Stoddard, 389 

The  little  flag-bearer,  an  incident  of  Arkansas,    .  .  500 

The  Maul,  by  Mary  E.  Nealy, 393 

The  meeting  on  the  border, 171 

The  men  of  the  Cumberland,  a  poem, 371 

The  inocking-bird  of  Ilesaca, 198 

The  modern  Gilpin,  a  ballad  of  Bull  Run, 36 

The  new  ballad  of  Lord  Lovell, Ill 

The  new  river  shore,  a  ballad,  by  W.  H.  Landrith,  180 

The  old  rifleman,  by  Frank  Tickuor,  M.  D.,  .  .  .  .  424 

The  old  Sergeant,  by  Forceythe  Willson, 2(54 

The  patriot  Ishmael  Day,  by  W.  H.  Haywarcl,    .  .  281 


The  picket  guard,  by  Mrs.  Rowland, 82 

The  present  crisis,  by  James  Russel   I,-  well,  ...  437 
The  rebels  on  the  border,  a  story  of  the  invasion  of 

Pennsylvania, 520 

The  ride  of  the  wounded  I  ngade,  .........  364 

The  river  fight,  by  II.  H.  Browuell 117 

The  secret  service,  Carter's  exploits 53 

The  Seventh,  a  song  by  Fitz- James  O'Brien, ....  231 
The  sharpshooter's  lanut ;  on  the  tanks  of  the  Po 
tomac,  251 

The  sleeping  sentinel,  by  F.  d'Haes  Janvier,     ...  381 

The  song  of  the  camps,  by  J.  R.  M., 525 

The  song  of  the  South,  by  R.  M.  Anderson, ...  520 

The  South  boys,  a  song, 91 

The  Southern  Cross,  by  St.  George  Tucker,  ....  483 

The  Southern  Cross,  a  song, 208 

The  Southern  wagon,  a  song, 397 

The  spotted  hand,  an  anecdote  of  John  C.  Calhoun,  30 

The  spirit  of  '76,  an  anecdote, 87 

The  stars  and  bars,  a  Southern  song,    .......  213 

The  stars  and  bars,  a  canzonet, 91 

The  stars  and  stripes,  by  James  T.  Fields,     ....  329 

The  traitor's  coat  of  arms,  described, 447 

The  twin  brothers,  an  incident  of  Port  Hudson, .  .  322 

The  voice  of  the  North,  by  .John  G.  \Yhittier, ...  22 

The  wood  of  Chancellor sville,  by  Delia  R.  German,  450 

The  woods  of  Tennessee, 1C9 

The  wounded  soldier,  by  Lieutenant  John  McKee,  156 
"  There's  life  in  the  old  land  yet,"  by  James  R. 

Randall,      11 

Third  article  of  war,  the, 313 

Thomas,  George  II.,  General,  his  fight  at  Chick  a- 

inauga, S76 

Thompson,  M.  Jeff.,  General,  a  poem  by,    .  .       .  .  481 
Thompson,  N.  A.,  sells  Beauregard's  belJa  at  Bos 
ton,    465 

Thoughts  of  home, 353 

Thome,  Mary  Lee,  the  wrath  of, 431 

Three  weeks  at  Gettysburg,  a  jourral, 489 

Ticknor,  Frank,  the  old  rifleman,  u  poem,  by,   .  .  .  424 

Tilton,  Theodore,  poems  by, 75,  191 

Time  to  leave,  or  how  the  negro  got  off, 253 

Tipton,  cruelties  of  Avar, 140 

To  Canaan,  by  O.  W.  Holmes, 52 

Tod,  David,  Governor  of  Ohio 463 

Tomkins,  R.,  poem  by, 177 

To  President  Lincoln,  a  poem, 247 

To  the  women  of  the  South, 542 

Torpedo  boat,  the  history  of  the  one  that  sunk  the 

Housatonic, 363 

Tranter's  Creek,  Incident  of, 499 

Travis,  Buck,  his  capture  of  "  Lincoln  guns,"  .  .  .  255 

Treason,  how  it  should  be  treated, 95 

Trout,  Jacob,  a  chaplain  of  the  Revolution,   ....  401 

Trowbridge,  J.  T.,  poem  by, 512 

Trumpet  song,  by  O.  W.  Holmes, 114 

Tucker,  St.  George,  poem  by, 483 

Tuttle,  Ira  B.,  his  daring  adventure  ic  the  South,  .  244 

"  Twinkly  twinkle,"  or  how  they  dressed  fritters,  131 

Tyler,  John,  why  he  is  like  an  ass, 34 

Typo  warriors,  some  account  of  the,    .......  152 


Unacquainted  with  the  ropes, 478 

Uncle  Sam  in  Virg  nia, , t>10 

Uncle  Sam  every  wliere,  an  anecdoie  of  a  wwun  led 

Dutchman, 484 

Uiicle  Tom  at  Mumfordsville. 467 


INDEX    TO    ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS. 


559 


finder  the  Washington  elm,  by  O.  W.  Holmes,   .  .  8 

Union  men  at  the  South, 215,  242 

Doited  States  national  anthem,  by  William  Ross 

Wallace, 487 


Value  of  life,  as  estimated  by  a  negro, .  ......  170 

Van  Clcve,  General, 158 

Vaneman,  Corporal,  adventure  of, 133 

Van  Zant,  G.,  and  President  Johnson, 485 

Vermont  brigade,  the,  described, 335 

Vermonter,  one  who  was  "  most  thar," 253 

Veterans,  how  made  comfortable, 51 

Vicksburg,  Mississippi,  incidents  of  the  siege  of,    .  103 

Vicksburg,  the  church  and  cemetery  at, 218 

Vicksburg,  the  dead  at, 297 

Vicksburg,  story  of  the  surrender  of, 3u5 

Vicksburg,  passing  the  batteries  of, .  420 

"  Villiam  and  his  havelock,"  by  Orpheus  C.  Kerr, .  542 

Virginia  Reserves,  one  of  the, 182 

Virginia,  spirit  of  the  women  of, 123 

Virginia,  the  loyal  girl  of, 200 


W 


Wadsworth,  James  S.,  General,  the  patriotism  of,  235 

Waifs  and  estrays, 180 

Walker  Joseph  D.     See  Prentiss  Guards, 160 

TValktt,  Thomas  H.,  how  he  named  his  baby,  ...  340 

Wallace,  William  Ross,  poem  by, 487 

Wallace's  mounted  scouts,  a  story  of, 380 

Wallis,  S.  Teakle,  poem  by, 80 

Wanderers  at  the  IS' ortli, 486 

Wanted  to  "  get  out,"  a  story  of  Johnson's  Isl 
and, 412 

Ward,  B.  CM  the  fighting  clergyman, .  28 

Ward,  Frank,  story  of  his  charge  at  Springfield, .  .  442 

War  spirit  of  a  soldier, 461 

Washburn,  C.  C.,  General, 307 

Washburne,  Elihu  B.,  his  bravery  at  Bull  Run,  .  .  202 

Washing-day  in  camp, 302 

Washington,  D.  C.,  impressive  scene  in  Dr.  Butler's 

church  at .  457 

Washington,  George,  the  granddaughter  of, ....  28 
Washington,  George,  an  incident  of  the  death  of  a 

member  of  the  family  of, 224 

Washington,  George,  General,  the  death  of,  ascer 
tained  in  West  Virginia, 383 

Washington,  Emily  M.,  poem  by, 288 

Waterbury,  Connecticut,  a  patriotic  boy  of,  ....  128 

W  at crford,  Virginia,  how.it  was  saved, 314 

Waters,  William,  his  adventure, 83 

Webb's  Cross  Roads,  incidents  of, 143 

Weber,  James,  the  boy-hero  of  the  Galena,    ....  400 
Webster,  Daniel,  an  impressive  scene  at  Washing 
ton,  458 

Wedding  on  horseback,  a, 151 

Wedding  party  brought  to  grief, 57 

Weer,  Colonel,  how  he  crossed  a  river, 7 

Welles,  Gideon.     See  John  Davis, 346 

Western  Virginia,  adventures  of  a  "silent  obser 
ver,"  in, 353 

West  Virginia,  General  Washington  dead  in,    .  .  .  383 
Wh.'iloy,  K.  V.,  narrative  of  the  remarkable  escape 

of, 235 

W  hat  are  trumps  ?  by  Janaee  R.  Randall, 467 


What  shall  we  do  for  Jeff  Davis?  a  poem, 489 

"  When  you  is  about,  we  is," 0 

"  While  God  he  leaves  me  reason,  God  he  will  leave 

me  Jim,"  a  poem, 318 

Whiskey  in  camp,  or  how  General  Bragg  was  de 
ceived 447 

White  House,  Virginia,  incident  of, 27 

Whittier,  John  G.,  poems  by, 22,  118,430,  1W5 

Whittier,  John  G.,  his  conversation  with  the  Ala 
bama  planter, 215 

Who  first  answered  the  President's  call  ? 10 

"  Whose  father  was  he:"'  an  incident  of  Gettys 
burg,     B21 

Wife  on  the  battle-field,  a, 85 

Wife,  the  devotion  of  a,  an  incident  of  Vicksburg, .  22 

Wild  Cat,  incidents  of  the  battle  at, 84 

Wilder,  John  T.,  Colonel,  his  incidents  of  Chicka- 

mauga, 530 

Wilderness,  Virginia,  incidents  of  the, 125,408 

Wilderness,  an  anecdote  of  the, 203 

Wilkeson,  Bayard,  Lieutenant,  a  hero  of  Gettys 
burg,    366 

Wilkeson,  Samuel,  account  of  the  battle  of  Gettys 
burg,    333 

Wilkins,  Captain,  experiences  of,  after  his  capture 

at  Chancellorsville, 113 

Willard,  L.  B.,  an  affecting  incident  related  by,    .  .  235 

Willard, ,  sailor  of  the  Cumberland,  his  story 

of  her  destruction, 410 

Williams,  T.  J.,  Captain,  account  of  the  escape  of,  183 

Williamsburg,  Virginia,  an  incident  of,    ......  281 

Willich,  Colonel,  story  of  his  victory, 252 

Will  son,  Forceythe,  poem  by, 2M 

Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  story  of  the  occupa 
tion  of, 187 

Wilson,  Fanny,  the  adventures  of, 413 

Winthrop,  11.  C.,  his  interview  with  Senator  Ma 
son,   32 

Winthrop,  Theodore,  Major,  how  he  was  killed, .  .  481 

Woman,  a  brave  one,  captures  secessionists,     ...  7 

Women,  heroism  of,  in  Tennessee, 59 

Woman,  a  Union,  at  New  Orleans, 63 

Women.    General  Kelley  and  the  secession  girl,    .  65 

Women.    Mrs.  McGilvery's  exploit, 75 

Woman,  how  one  died  at  Alexandria,  . 76 

Women,  heroism  of  the  Southern, 77 

Women.    A  wife  on  the  battle-field, 85 

Women.    A  Spartan  girl  in  Baltimore, 118 

Women.     Mrs.  Simmons  of  Mississippi, 120 

Women,  spirit  of  the,  in  Virginia, 123 

Women.    A  girl  worth  having, 140 

Women,  loyal,  of  Tennessee, 142 

Women.    Emma  Sansom,  of  Cherokee, 145 

Woman,  death  of  a  young,  on  the  field  of  Chicka- 

rnauga, 158 

Women.     The  little  girl's   kindness  to  the  sol 
diers,    181 

Women.    An  old  woman's  welcome  to  the  flag, .  .  218 
Woman,  a  Southern,  describes  Sherman's  flank 

movements, 221 

Women.    Diana  Smith,  the  heroine  of  the  North 
west, 

Women,  President  Lincoln's  tribute  to  American, . 
Women,  how  a  loyal  girl  saved  the  war  maps, .  .  . 
Women.  A  young  woman's  description  of  the  re 
ception  of  the  American  flag  in  Nashville,  ... 
Women,  Miss  Cornelia  Oldom,  bravery  of,  .... 


223 
266 
266 

267 
347 

Women.    "  She  regretted  it," 350 

Women,  how  they  appeared  in  Tennessee, 383 

Women.    A  noble  Richmond  girl, 402 


INDEX    TO    ANECDOTES,    POETRY,    AND    INCIDENTS, 


n.    Female  bushwhackers  at  the  South, .  .  .  423 

en.    "  That  dear  old  flag," 423 

omen     The  wrath  of  Mary  Lee  Thome, 431 

Women     How  Mrs.  Johnston  was  deceived,  .  .  .  440 
Woman.    A  negro  woman's  description  of  the  re 
treat  from  Yorktown, 458 

Worner..    An  incident  of  Corinth, 449 

Woman,  a,  at  the  battle  of  Autietam, 451 

Woman,  a  belligerent  one,  at  Brauchville,  South 

Carolina, 456 

Woman.     How  Mrs.  Phelps  saved  the  dead  body  of 

General  Lyou, 458 

Woman.    An  even  chance,  a  story, 481 

Woman,  how  a  young,  took  the  oath  in  Richmond,  482 

Women.    Noble  ones  at  the  South, 486 

Women.    Female  patriotism  at  the  South,    ....  509 

Woman's  sacrifice,  a  tribute  to  Miss  Cutler, ....  344 

Women  of  the  South,  industry  of  the, . 360 

Wood,  A.  K.,  Colonel,  orders  his  own  execution, .  442 
Wood,  Captain,  Fourth  .Rhode  Island,  how  he  cap 
tured  a  schooner, 253 

Wood,  T.  J.,  General,  at  Lookout  Mountain,    ...  201 

Wormouth,  Ezra,  his  coolness  in  battle, .  ......  310 

Wounded  soldier,  the  experiences  of  a,  ......  248 

Wright,  Clark,  the  Yankee  soldier,  a  graphic  ac 
count  of  liim, 241 

Wysa&a,  Qeserai,  anecdote  of, 157 


Yankees  "  got  no  horns,"  an  incident  of  Williams- 
burg,    4si 

Yankees  vs.  Hyenas,  Justinian's  comparison,  .   .  .  423 

Yankee  kindness,  instances  of, 488 

Yankee  strategy  on  board  the  Bohio, 393 

Yankee  Vandals,  a  song, .  .  , 107 

Yankeei sm  on  the  fk'kl, isg 

Yates,  Richard,  the  spirit  of, 291 

"  Ye  Londoime  Times  correspondents,  his  1'ulle 

liunne  Lettere," 199 

Yorktown,  Virginia,  who  raised  the  flag-  at,  ....  99 
Yorktown,  a  contraband's  description  of  the  retreat 

from, 458 

Yorktown,  incidents  of, 545 

"  Youens  and  Weans,"    »,.......,,,..  jjyi 


Zagonyl,  Colonel,  story  of  his  charge  at  Spring 
field, ' 442 

ZollicoSer,  Felix  R.,  General,  at  Wild  Cat 84 

ZollJC'iffer,  General,  Parson  Browuiov*  's  opinion  of,  464 

Zollicoffer,  General,  thf  death  of, 145 

Zouave  juiel  tiie  mule,  the,  .............  j££ 


ovl*°UE. 


VD  06444 


BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


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